Small Business Trends

Learn more about what’s important to your small business today. Here is our latest roundup of the news articles and blogswe’re reading and what’s important, from Small Business Trends.

Policy

Is health care reform already hurting small business? Learning from Massachusetts. Small business owners decry health costs. SouthCoastToday.com

Is insurance regulation helping or hurting small business? A perspective from Hawaii. HMSA seeks 7.8% hike in small-business rate. HonoluluAdvertiser.com

Why FICA-tax breaks for hiring the unemployed won’t encourage new hires. Fifteen Billion Dollars but Not a Lot of Sense. The article notes that the Senate proposal “encourages companies to violate the most basic tenet of good business, which is to hire the most qualified people.” NYTimes.com

Congress will not be acting on credit card interchange reform this year — and less government interference is probably a good thing. No Interchange reform legislation in 2010. If your small business accepts credit cards, this article gives tips for how to shop around for the lowest interchange rates. Vantage Viewpoint

Credit

Small business borrowing is up…but so are delinquencies. Exclusive: Small business lending up third straight month. Reuters

Small businesses need more sales, not more loans. Economists Argue Small-Business Concerns over lending overblown. WSJ Blogs

No credit? No problem. Start your business with a 401k. But we here at Small Business Trends would add, “be very very careful – not everyone can afford to risk their retirement.” SmallBusinessFinancing.com

Marketing

Women make most small-business B2B purchasing decisions. National Association for Female Executives (NAFE) Honors Office Depot. MarketWatch.com

Be sure to weigh your return on investment in the new online marketing world. Services Combine Social Media, Marketing. WSJ Small Business

Michael Katz explains why your small business needs deadlines. I Walk the Line – Newsletter Marketing Tips. Charlie Cook’s Marketing For Success Blog

Don’t leave word-of-mouth marketing to chance. Use Case Studies to Increase Word-of-Mouth Marketing. HubSpot.com

Unlike the post office, the e-mail is going strong! Email Marketing For Small Business Slowing Down? Understanding Marketing

Operations

Ever wonder how your state ranks on energy costs? The “Energy Cost Index 2010″ ranks the 50 states and District of Columbia, as they affect small businesses, individuals and families.  The lowest cost states for energy costs are Wyoming, Kentucky and Missouri, in that order. Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council

Some great advice from venture capitalist Fred Wilson on the real nature of entrepreneurism. Rolling Up Your Sleeves and Getting Your Hands Dirty. A VC Blog

If these things really bug customers, why do businesses keep doing them? Are you listening to what customers are saying?  Watch this video to see what they are.  AllBusiness.com

Startups

Emma Jones says “Move over, Rupert Murdoch!” Become a media magnate from the kitchen table. Create a publishing empire from your home. Microsoft Small Business Blog

A surpising message to startups from local government leaders: Be adaptable and self-sufficient. Small businesses advised to think big. Recordnet.com

Jim Kukral talks about the importance of focusing on who you are. “I’m Not As Smart As Chris Brogan,” says Jim.  Then he explains why you should be you and quit worrying about trying to be someone else. JimKukral.com

Entrepreneur Johns Wu talks about finding the niche online marketing brass ring. Johns Wu – Founder, Developer, Sole Employee, and eventual Seller of Bankaholic.com.  This is a real-life story of a young Internet entrepreneur who became a millionaire before age 23, and retired. MO.com