Small Business Trends

It’s that time again. Time for our daily roundup of top small business news from blogs we follow and other sources handpicked for your benefit by the Small Business Trends team. If you have a friend who values small business news, share this post with them today.

Marketing

What’s the buzz, tell me what’s happening? Here are some important guidelines for anyone interested in using Google Buzz in your marketing arsenal. Marketing Professor

Don’t fail to plan when it comes to marketing. Four simple steps can save you oodles of time and plenty of wrong turns. Bloggertone

Social Media

Talkin’ trash? Small Business Trends’ own Anita Campbell talks about freedom of speech in the new social media…and the responsibility that comes with it. Open Forum Innovation

Stories and conversations that position your brand. Tips for guerilla marketing in the world of social media. Closing Bigger

Finance

Why new credit card laws don’t apply to you. And why that may not be such a bad thing after all. Small Business Trends

Getting ready for a micro-audit. Even the smallest businesses aren’t below the radar of the IRS. Be sure yours is prepared. NASE

Operations

Home alone? When the only employee is you and your office is the couch or the kitchen table, consider these important productivity measures. Small Business CEO

How referrals can grow your business. And we’re not talking about the ones you get, either. Sales Tip a Day

Self-Development

Handling life’s little interruptions. When trying to run a business, things always get in the way. Stepcase Lifehack

Startup

How is building a business like having a child? Fresh from becoming a new father, Polish entrepreneur Karol Zielinski has some interesting insights. Karol Zielinski blog

Five reasons not to share equity. Why entrepreneurs may not want to offer their first employees a piece of the pie. Startup Nation

Tech

How is your small business using mobile technology? A recent report shows texting as the top form of mobile content usage. Is text marketing in your small business plan? comScore

Map out your favorite online small business tools. Check out a cool new interactive map tracking the growing list of tools you can use to promote your small business online and then suggests your picks. The Small BizNest

Policy

Is the economic recovery really a myth? Why government projections of an economy bouncing back may not have real validity. Reason.com

Thirty-six percent of Americans pay no federal income tax? This includes many families making over $50,000 a year but how does it compare with small businesses that are among the most likely to face audits. TaxProf Blog