Small Business Trends

Everybody has questions when going into or running a business…everybody. If you have some burning inquiries you’d like to get answered, read our small business roundup below. Have we answered any of yours?

Marketing

Small business Karma: Is it anything but instant? Though Ivan Walsh talks, in this great post, about the importance of ”instant Karma” (as in the John Lennon song) to all aspects of business, but especially social media, it’s a fact this “karma” is anything but instant. Giving in order to receive is something your small business must be dedicated to for the long hall or it will be seen as simple marketing ploy or sales pitch. Build the instinct to give deep into the DNA of your business. Tweak Your Biz

Planning to use social media to market and network for your small business? Be aware of the big social media myths first. No, the idea that social media is a valuable tool that can help your small business grow exponentially and even globally is certainly no myth. Here, from Sarah Mitchell, are some social media myth busters just for you. GlobalCopywriting

Branding

What sets you apart? Few small business owners probably think of their product or service this way though they probably should. “What is your key point of difference?” asks marketing expert Susan Oakes. If you don’t have an answer to this question, it may be something for you to think about. Why should a customer or client choose you? M4P Marketing

Sales

How do you respond to objection? Whether you are part of a sales force for a small business or the chief cook and bottle washer of a new startup, handling objections from customers will be an important part of what you do. Responding to objections should never involve a scripted response. Here is a simple recommendation. Marcana

Finance

How to manage small business finances. More than simply cash flow from sales and contracts, small business finance includes balancing earnings against costs and other considerations. In this post, entrepreneur Ivan Widjaya explains four basic ways to manage finances in a small business. Have any of our readers tried any other options for managing finances. Let us know below. Noobpreneur

Tech

How can you best automate your home office for business? A wide array of options exists for streamlining work from your home office via automation. Running your small business from your home is now a reality and, in many cases, a good decision due to reduced overhead. But this post also looks at the latest programs and products that make working in this environment more productive. Basic Blog Tips

Customer Service

Why you should NEVER delete a negative review of your business, product or service. So someone has left a negative review of your product or service on your Website. Now what do you do? While it is both tempting and easy to push that delete button, think seriously before you do. Here are at least five reasons you should always think twice about removing negative comments. Outspoken Media

How to improve your business ecosystem? Success in your small business is not random. Strategies govern whether products or services connect with your prospects making them customers and clients or whether customer needs for products and services like the ones you offer go unfulfilled due to some disconnect in communications. How are you working to boost the health of your small business ecosystem today? The Lunch Pail

Startup

Why are most reasons to delay starting your new business wrong? From fear of failure to concerns you don’t have the necessary knowledge or skills, there are always reasons to delay launching a new company, if they look for them. There is always the possibility of financial failure or of embarrassment if do not go as planned. But entrepreneurship and small business ownership are about meeting these concerns head on and finding ways to overcome obstacles. ScottFox

Public Relations

How do you combat negative press? Like it or not, sooner or later the worst may happen. With no warning or through no direct fault of your own, your business has received some bad press. Maybe it was in relation to a product or service that a customer found to be less than effective. Perhaps it came because of an unfortunate association with a former employee or business partner who has stepped into trouble taking your business along for the ride. You need to be ready to respond and to have a strategy that can restore company and your brand and it can often start with social media. B2C Marketing Insider