Small Business Trends

There is plenty of news to begin this week both on how impending healthcare reform will affect small business here in the U.S. and about the importance of new wireless regulation. But there are also some important marketing and business tips for the entrepreneur and small business owner of every stripe. Here is our small business news wrap-up for March 15 collected by the Small Business Trends team.

Policy

Will healthcare reform be another headache for your small business? Get out your asprin and check out this consumer guide. Yahoo! News

Government again helping to create jobs? For those who thought small business did this, U.S. Sen. Mary L. Landrieu, D-La. can set you straight. Small Business Trends

Small business and new broadband policy. Could universal Wi-Fi increase your business’s mobility? Yahoo! News

Marketing

Doctors join the world of word-of-mouth marketing…unwillingly. At least one group of small business professionals will have to be dragged kicking and screaming into a new era of customer service. Zane Safrit

Marketing goes Gaga. What the new queen of pop can teach every small business owner about customer loyalty. Church of the Customer Blog

Ingenious e-marketing without a Website. It’s a strategy bricks and mortar businesses of all kinds can consider. FMS SEO Blog

Operations

Dream in Word but live in Excel. The founder of City Winery talks about the importance of balancing practicality with vision. Open Forum Innovation

Entrepreneurship doesn’t have to be a lonely business. How networking and creating relationships can be critical to building your business. Inspire Enterprise

What you don’t know. It’s not easy to come to terms with your own shortcomings. Small Business Community

Tech

Mobile marketing mistakes. What small businesses can learn from big box SMS marketing errors. The Lunch Pail

Why outsourcing doesn’t have to be a dirty word. How to outsource your IT services for smart growth and competitive advantage. Gorilla-Force

Videoconferencing like a rock star. What tips and tricks will make your videoconferencing efforts stand out? Small Biz Bee

Startup

Have you tested your business idea? Here some ideas to determine whether your startup company is worth the time and money? Business Opportunities and Ideas

Planning a software startup? Entrepreneur Dharmesh Shah suggests some of the hottest categories in the field for those getting started. OnStartups

A look at profit & Loss. And why it can only tell you so much about your startup. A VC