Small Business Trends

As the holiday approaches, it’s time to think of gifts and time off. (Yes, even for entrepreneurs and small business folk.) In particular, it’s time to think of Christmas gifts for your employees, perhaps? But before visions of sugar plums occupy your every thought, there are some business trends you may want to mull over during this holiday season, as well. For a bit of both, here’s our weekend roundup (pre-holiday rush edition.) Enjoy!

Operations

‘Tis the season to be frugal. Holiday gifts for employees are an important form of moral boost but the fact is it’s still important to stay within budget. Follow the story of one small business owner who gave back to her clients saving money at the same time by bartering with them for holiday gifts for her employees. For the rest of us, here are some simple low cost alternatives. Entrepreneur

When paranoia is a good thing. Hey, but don’t get too festive. There are some increasing dangers for your small business too this holiday season, and they go way beyond choosing the wrong gift for Joan in accounting. Law enforcement and security experts say small businesses are increasingly targets of cybercrime. Is your small business ready? Grow Smart Biz

Policy

Tax breaks and your business. OK, we know, of course, that the new tax bill awaiting the President’s signature will contain extension of unemployment benefits. But what else does the new tax bill have in store. As it happens, there’s plenty here for businesses as well so if you want to find out how or if your business would benefit, please feel free to look around. Market Watch

Hey, small business! Could you keep it down? New regs from OSHA may put pressure on small businesses to limit employee exposure to excessive noise. Lobbyists for the small business community as well as workers’ interest groups are all making their own kind of noise during a comment period that lasts until March 21. So, if you’ve got some thoughts on this you would like to share with OSHA, we encourage you do do so. You can also share your thoughts below. The Hill

Startups

Starting a green business…in cyberspace? Actually, green businesses can often be information business, and what better way to get one of those off the ground than with a green business Website of blog. Blogger Selena Narayanasamy gives a brief overview of how to go about it from choosing the right publishing platform to plug-ins and even where to sources for the best information and trends. Blog Godown

Launching a business with multiple partners. There may be many reasons for creating a business involving more than one owner including different levels of expertise, different contributions to the business etc. One thing is certain, however, says small business legal expert Jeff Fabian. A formal business agreement will be needed to decide upon the roles and status of each member in order to make your small business partnership a success. 365 Days of Startups

Branding

Who’s in control of your brand message? Did you know that few businesses take the comprehensive approach to branding that they should? Maybe it’s because they never fully realize the role that creating a strong brand identity can play in shaping not only messages your company sends about itself, but the messages about your company, products or services that are completely beyond your control. visiblelogic

Self-development

Stop ignoring those good ideas. Some people may say that ideas aren’t the most important part of business, but truth be told most business start with one. This said, Scott has an inspiring video about trying not to ignore your best ideas and challenging you to find ways of making them happen. Ideas can be powerful. How can you make yours a reality? ScottFox.com

Marketing

The art of influence. Marketing means influencing others and this in turn means getting their attention. But with all the information and messages bombarding us daily, how do you get yours to stick? Maybe the secret is not in your message at all. Maybe it has to do with the person for whom that message was intended. What are their thoughts, concerns or feelings? Do you know? You should. Youngentrepreneur

News

NYC becomes new tech startup capital.You might call it the Silicon Valley east. These days the Big Apple contains so many tech startups that despite the city’s relatively high unemployment figures, programmers are in high demand. Want to know the factors that are transforming New York City into a burgeoning tech business startup hot spot? Read the full story on this exciting small business success story and the mini job boom created in its wake. Wired.com