Small Business Trends

This Small Business Trends roundup is all about getting down to business. Small business owners and entrepreneurs know that after all the planning its time to make things happen. But to do so, small business owners need to constantly keep learning, refine their business even while they are building it and always look for the new tool or new idea that can take their efforts to the next level. From tech to self-development to public policy to operation basics, we hope this post will give you the resources to keep on learning and growing as you get down to your small business.

Tech

40 WordPress plug-ins. All things considered, WordPress remains one of the most powerful tools for creating your small businesses Web presence in blog or Website format. And, truth be told, the platform’s plug-ins play a huge part in the system’s popularity and versatility in business and other fields. Nigerian entrepreneur Valentine Belonwu shares some of the top plug-ins in his arsenal. BigMoneyWeb.com

Never mix business with pleasure. As you probably already know, the most powerful online tool today to connect with friends old and new around the globe has also become one of the most powerful tools for small business, allowing for both marketing and networking on a global level never before feasible for the small entrepreneur. We are talking, of course, about Facebook. But keeping the personal and professional aspects of your Facebook account separate may be harder than you realize. Small@Blogging Tracker

Small business is going mobile. In the face of a growing competitive market, small businesses are using the mobile technology and communications revolution as resources to completely change the way business is being done globally. And the increasing trend towards global business models even for the smallest entrepreneur, is a part of that change. Noobpreneur.com

Self-development

Nine steps for moving forward. Moving your small business forward takes more than just planning or knowing what to do next. The important past is to take action. But sometimes, especially in the beginning, there’s simply no time for the extra exertion necessary to push your small business to the next level. But taking just a few minutes each day can help. MoxieWorks.net

Sales

Are you generating sales from your Web traffic? If the answer is no, it’s time to change your strategy and start looking at the amount of revenue your small business could be bringing in by visitors online. This article examines three distinct types of traffic that may be attracted to your site and the basic techniques your sales people should be using to prospect there. The Sales Progress Blog.

Policy

Don’t wait on the government. Some small businesses and small business groups are waiting eagerly, a bit too eagerly in our opinion, for passage of a Senate bill that, among other things, is being touted as a way to free up more lending for small business activity. But opinions are divided on whether the measure will really work. No matter what country or where in the world you call home, remember that waiting for the government to create the right environment for your business to operate is a mistake. Entrepreneurs create the economic climate, not politicians. WSJ

What’s the real key to getting small business moving? While some small business advocates might argue it’s the ongoing credit crunch that keeps the economy from rebounding and entrepreneurs from helping much in the rebuilding process, the fact remains that, here in the U.S. at least, cost of government also remains a factor. An annual calculation shows how the cost of government has affected small businesses’ potential customers and their spending power. National Review Online

The Book Shelf

Social Media Metrics. So what is this thing called social media and how does it work? Or does it really work at all? No doubt we’ve all heard these questions and knowing how to tell whether these oft touted online tools are truly living up to their promise is a question many small businesses are trying to answer. In this review, Pierre DeBois looks at Jim Sterne’s new book about finding the answers. Small Business Trends

60 free ebooks. While there is much to be said for getting your business up and running without over thinking, the fact is that more information for the entrepreneur is always a good thing. And though some information can be costly to obtain, much is also free, and freely available over the Internet. Nigerian entrepreneur Valentine Belonwu returns with this huge list of free business ebooks that may prove helpful in your venture. We hope you’ll have a look today. BigMoneyWeb.com

Success Stories

How simple is your small business idea? If you think your small business venture needs to be high tech and complicated, take a look at Jeremy Redleaf who turned odd jobs and the people who do them into a growing brand that has connected on a basic level with its audience. Your small business idea doesn’t need to be complex to be a success. Fast Company