Small Business Trends

There’s no reason for entrepreneurs to be down in a down economy. In fact, it’s been the inventiveness of entrepreneurs and small businesses in the past that have spurred on economic recovery. The key is learning to “sell out” and by this we mean working to expand your business and market in every way possible while carefully monitoring costs, retaining talent and maintaining customer service. It’s a strategy of growth based on looking for new business opportunities instead of government handouts or loans. This roundup will look at some of the techniques and philosophies you will need to grow…in any economy.

Marketing

Are you selling the problem? The fact is very few people will buy a solution to a problem they don’t have. If this sounds obvious, ask yourself why anyone should buy what your business sells. Don’t know the answer to the question? Then it may be you, not your prospective clients or customers, who are in trouble. Seth Godin’s Blog

Learning from the big guys. Many of the barriers to small businesses expanding into markets abroad may have little or nothing to do with financial or regulatory restrictions and everything to do with language and culture difficulties. Dan Brutto, president of UPS’s international division gives these tips to small businesses seeking to expand into foreign markets. Bloomberg BusinessWeek

Operations

Customer service is always important. Advocates of public this and public that should always bear this simple principle in mind, an idea every small business owner knows intuitively. The problem with public services is the same as the problem with huge business monopolies. Without incentive, these organizations always fail when it comes to developing a culture that cares about the people they serve. Small business owners understand that this is what gives them the advantage. TheStar.com

How much are employees costing you? Yes, we all know your people also add incredible value and are probably the lifeblood of your company, but how much does it really cost to keep them employed? Ken Kauffman believes you had better know the answer to this question not simply so you can rebuff demands for more money, but also so you can understand how these costs can and will impact you in the future. CFO Wise

More valuable than a great salary? If you’re trying to retain great talent, there are at least two reasons why you should keep attractive benefits plans in place despite tough economic times. 1.) Though it may be hard to believe, the economy and labor market will bounce back and you’ll be competing against employers who can offer more. 2.) One trend suggests benefits are more enticing to some employees than their paychecks. CFO Wise

Research

Using Google Analytics for your local business. When people think Internet marketing and marketing their existing business on the Web, their first thought might be the possibility of marketing their product or service to the world. That’s certainly one possibility. But did you know that simple online tools can help you understand much more about your local business too? Level Analytics

Online

How to distribute your blog. Your business blog can be one of your most effective marketing tools today. And learning to distribute it via another group of social media tools including Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn and be an important part of your content management strategy. Chris Brogan

Keywords and the candid camera. While video is all the rage for content marketing on the Web and falling prices have put it well within reach of many entrepreneurs, there’s much more involved in online video marketing than simply picking up a camcorder. In this article, Sosthenes Kwame Boame talks about some of the basics. Sociatic

Important Facebook strategies. Love it or hate it, Facebook will likely be a leader in online marketing for some time to come. Whether your business is B2B or B2C, large or small, Facebook can reach your potential customers and create networks like few other tools on Earth. Here are some guidelines for its proper use. Social Media Examiner

Startup

Do you have what it takes? Sure, it’s great to get all inspired about some of the ideas we’ve discussed in this roundup, about not waiting for an economic recovery to hit you but creating an expanding business even in a down economy. If you aren’t in business yet, though, there are a few things you should know about what’s needed to make your dream a reality. Startup Professionals Musings