Small Business Trends

How will big changes on the horizon like a major overhaul of the U.S. healthcare system affect small business and perhaps most importantly startup of new businesses in a brave new world of small business? There are other factors too, like changes in technology that bring both new challenges and new opportunities. But the key, as always, will be the leadership and inventiveness of small business innovators and we’ll hear from plenty of them too in this small business roundup from the Small Business Trends team for March 31, 2010.

Small Business Frontier

Could healthcare reform fuel a startup spurt? Maybe, say some experts but our own Anita Campbell begs to differ. Open Forum Managing

Promote your personal brand worldwide. There may never have been a better time to promote brand you. Powerful Personal Brand

SmashBurger wants to be your friend. The latest big burger chain is taking a lesson from small business and focusing on community. Open Forum Innovation

What’s the difference between a prosperous economy and two decades of stagnancy? Could it be how we treat our entrepreneurs? The Entrepreneurial Mind

Marketing

What’s the best way to connect with way too busy customers? How about helping them chill out? Here’s more. fuelNet

Looking for new prospects, partners or suppliers? Chris Hamilton has one word for you: Jigsaw. Sales Tip a Day

Social media

Can small business use social media to overtake corporate America? And should we really want to? HubSpot’s Inbound Internet Marketing Blog

How to throw a social media event for your business. Plus a little bit more about why this is important. Gorilla-Force Blog

Legal

Times are tough. Fraud makes them tougher. Here are some warning signs to keep in mind when an offer seems too good to be true. America’s Best Practices

Operations

Thinking about launching a new product? Don’t make a move before reading this. M4B Marketing

Here are 10 good questions to ask when hiring a bookkeeper. And a little bit more about why you should ask them. flyingsolo.com

Are you over planning? There’s no right answer, but, as Pat Henry suggests, it may be a question worth asking. Small Business Community

Tech

How can spending save you money? Spending on the right technology can save you big time in the long run. Inc. Technology

Policy

If you haven’t yet heard enough. Robb Mandelbaum takes us through the new healthcare legislation one more time. NYTimes Blogs

Small business provision extended through April 30. The U.S. Senate extends the period for government guaranteed loans. Has your small business had success with one of these? Small Business Trends