A new tool is available to give users options when it comes to Google Hangout graphics. Hangout Magix was unveiled on May 4 by entrepreneurs Alex Kozak and Bertrand Diouly.

The app is intended to work alongside Hangout Toolbox, a Google+ extension that is available on the left sidebar of Google Hangouts.

“Hangout Toolbox already lets you add some graphic elements to your presentations, but it’s very basic,” said Kozak. “Hangout Magix gives you more options.”

The tool requires minimal design skills or experience, according to Kozak. Anyone can use the tool for free directly on hangoutmagix.com. Users can change around the design elements that appear on the screen during Hangouts, including text, backgrounds, colors, and logos. The design elements can be made to appear on the lower third of the screen, the sidebar, or even toward the top.

By simply clicking on the text part of the demo screen and typing a new title and subtitle, users can change the text to include their name, job title, social media accounts, a call to action, or whatever they choose.

Then they can choose from a predetermined group of background styles and colors to appear behind the text.

They can also add a logo to appear to the right of their text by choosing from a selection of popular logos or uploading a custom company logo. Once all the elements have been customized, users can download the file and then use Hangout Toolbox to add the design to their Hangouts.

Once Hangout Toolbox is open, users need to turn on the custom overlay option on the right side of the screen. Then upload the file created with Hangout Magix. Users can upload graphics to use with both Google Hangouts and Hangouts On Air.

Kozak is a self-proclaimed “Google Hangouts fan.” He said that the idea for Hangout Magix came to him just a few months ago out of a desire to have more options to customize his own Hangouts. Diouly had been involved in creating some similar graphics tools, so the two were able to form a partnership and quickly launch the new tool.

Hangout Magix is still a work in progress, according to Kozak, as the creators are looking to gain feedback from users.

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The video shows Psy singing and dancing in a unique “horse” style in a variety of settings. It’s fun, it’s upbeat, it’s even a bit campy.

The video (embedded below) was first released in July 2012 and soon went viral on YouTube. In December 2012, the Gangnam Style video became the first YouTube video to reach one billion views. Today, it is still the most viewed video in YouTube history.

What is Gangnam style in a business context?

The video’s success is an example of the power of social media in viral marketing. Psy was a relatively unknown musician (at least to many in the West) before Gangnam Style became a YouTube sensation.

Then, thanks to the powerful reach of YouTube, and the fact that the video was also shared on social channels like Twitter and Facebook, Psy and Gangnam Style became global sensations.

Because of the song’s catchy upbeat tune and massive popularity, some businesses, such as Intel, adopted the Gangnam Style dance or song to use with their own marketing campaigns.

Even now, in 2013, Gangnam Style still has legs. Currently Psy is appearing on U.S. television in a Gangnam Style commercial for the pistachio industry. And President Obama referred to Gangnam style in the White House recently.

Why has Gangnam Style been so successful?

There are a few different factors that led to the viral success of Gangnam Style.

First, the video was meant to be fun and not take itself too seriously. It was a bit uninhibited and “over the top.”  

Second, the video gave viewers the opportunity to participate. Fans could try their hand at the Gangnam Style dance. Many even created their own YouTube parody videos.  MIT produced a version that featured professor and activist Noam Chomsky.

Online entrepreneur Adeyemi Adisa said: “Just as Gangnam Style music video is catchy and encourages viewers to participate or even do their own parody, businesses need to make their customers participants rather than just customers.”

Third, Psy’s video was different from other videos at the time. This helped to grab attention. It got people talking about and sharing the video with others.

What can my business learn from the success of Gangnam Style?

Gangnam Style demonstrates the power of interjecting personality into marketing. Psy created the video himself without a huge budget. And the video is memorable because it is a bit “over the top.”

Marketer Hamilton Wallace says that small businesses should not let lack of resources hold them back, but use authenticity to their advantage. The fact that Psy created the Gangnam Style video himself, had fun with it and “set it free” is what helped attract so many views, he says.

So in your small business, try employing “Gangnam Style.” Enjoy what you do and let it show. Inject some personality into your marketing and your business. Do it with a style people remember — your own Gangnam style.

Image credit: remix from Psy video

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The iPhone has become ubiquitous in recent years. But as a business user, is it really the best choice for you?

Aside from things like call clarity and photo quality, much of the iPhone’s appeal comes from the variety of applications available. The Apple App Store and Google Play have over 700,000 apps available for both the iPhone and Android systems. But tech and productivity companies often release iOS apps before Android versions. And although it’s not without its faults, Siri is probably the best voice assistant available on any current smartphone.

Android Advances

The obvious competitor here is Android. A January comScore study shows Android phones with 52.3% of the overall smartphone market share, and Apple with 37.8%. But with Android there are a lot of different phones to choose from. A few of the ones likely to be considered by professionals are the Google Nexus 4, HTC Droid DNA, HTC One X+, and the Samsung Galaxy S III.

In a post on TechHive, Andy Ihnatko explained his own reasons for switching from an iPhone to a Samsung Galaxy S III using Android. Aside from a better keyboard and more convenient speech-to-text option, Ihnatko cited the easier customization and better collaboration options between different apps. Specifically for business users, the Galaxy S offers a larger screen and a keyboard that can make typing long emails easier.

It also has a near field communications (NFC) chip that gives users the ability to communicate with other phones nearby and even lets you share photos, videos, and other files by just tapping your phone against another phone.

There’s also S-Voice, a feature similar to Apple’s Siri. But both Siri and S-Voice have taken a lot of criticism and don’t necessarily present a reason for anyone to switch to either device.

BlackBerry Comes Back

Then earlier this year, another familiar competitor re-energized itself with a new platform. BlackBerry launched a new smartphone operating system, the BlackBerry 10, that it hopes will become a major competitor in the business market. Conrad Flynn made a bold prediction in a recent blog post – that BlackBerry 10 would become the number one corporate smartphone provider this year.

He cited the company’s refocus on the professional market specifically rather than the overall consumer market, saying that the level of integration BlackBerry provides with things like Google Apps and Gmail is something that can’t be found on other devices.

Flynn, who was an early adopter of BlackBerry and currently uses a BlackBerry Bold phone, also said the messaging features on BlackBerry let users integrate things like email, IM, Twitter, LinkedIn, and more, rather than providing the more traditional separate email experience of an iPhone or Android phone. “All these little things can save users just that little bit of extra time, and while that might not be as important to the everyday consumer, it can definitely be appealing to the professional user,” he said.

Sales forecasts of the new BlackBerry devices have been strong at 2+ million units per month, per a Seeking Alpha report.  The report quotes analyst Peter Misek in predicting that sales of the more traditional physical-keyboard device, the Q10, will eclipse sales of the Z10.  BlackBerry’s newest physical keyboard device plays to business users.

Miscrosoft Windows Phones

There are also other options from companies like Microsoft, including the HTC Windows Phone 8x and the Nokia Lumia 920. These phones run on the Windows Phone 8 operating system, so they include a lot of the features Windows users are accustomed to.  They don’t, however, yet have nearly the number of apps available as Android and iPhone.

The bottom line is that there are a lot of options to choose from. Different phones and their features are better suited for different types of users and businesses. So going with the most popular or well-known option isn’t necessarily the best choice. Research each phone’s useful features and downsides.  Unstand the difference between using a smartphone for business purposes versus personal use – needs can be very different.  Thoroughly investigate the options to get a phone that’s the right fit for your business.

The post Looking for a Business Smartphone: Don’t Automatically Choose the iPhone appeared first on Small Business Trends.

3D printing is like having a small-scale manufacturing device right in your home or office.

3D printers are devices that can create three-dimensional objects.  Most 3D printers create objects in plastic. Some use ceramic, metal or other materials. There’s even a 3D printer that forms items out of chocolate or cheese.

How does 3D printing work?

In a way, the term “3D printing” is misleading. It sounds like a 3D printer somehow folds ordinary paper into objects – like origami.

But that’s not how 3D printing works.  Instead, 3D printers start with a computer-generated design for an object.  Then the printer forms a three-dimensional object out of plastic or other material. Most 3D printers work by layering the material in thin layers over and over until the material builds up.

The technology isn’t new. According to Bloomberg Businessweek, aerospace companies and auto manufacturers have been using large, industrial-grade 3D printers for about 25 years. What’s new is the availability on the market of cheap 3D printing options affordable by small businesses.

Recently, 3D printers became a sensation online, when one was used to create a functioning handgun. The YouTube video demonstrating it has over 3 million views. The U.S. State Department has demanded the files be taken offline.

How can small businesses use 3D printing?

3D printing can be used to create prototypes of new products.  It can be used for industrial design and even small-scale manufacturing operations.

For inventors and small business manufacturers, developing product prototypes can be a laborious and expensive process. 3D printing can simplify prototyping by allowing creators to make digital files of their new designs and then simply print them on-premise. For certain items, this could prove easier than fabricating prototypes by hand. It can be less expensive than finding an outside facility to produce prototypes.

In certain cases, 3D printers can even be used for the manufacturing production process itself.

Examples of 3D printed items

3D printed items can be used in a wide range of industries.  Its use is not limited to creating prototypes.  Here are some examples:

• Architects have used the technology to create small models of buildings or pieces to see how they fit together in real space.
• Toy builders could use 3D printing to make small dolls or action figures.
• Jewelry designers could use 3D printing to create bracelets, pendants or other accessories.
• People have even used 3D printers to create much more complicated items like clocks, human prosthetics, and cars.

Pros and Cons of 3D printing

Pros

• Protoyping Speed –  One of the main advantages of 3D printing is that it can speed up the prototyping process. Rather than having to design a conceptual model and then finding the materials and equipment necessary to create a physical prototype, businesses can simply design the model digitally and then print it.
• Reduced costs - Aside from the initial investment in the printer and materials, there isn’t much cost associated with 3D printing if you do it yourself.

Cons:

• Production Speed - If you’re a small-scale manufacturer or crafter, 3D printers can be used for the manufacturing process. But the printers are relatively slow. This makes them unrealistic for manufacturing large quantities.
• Intellectual property - Another concern is that 3D printing could give people an easier way to create counterfeit items based on digital designs of others.

What is the cost of 3D printing?

3D printers still vary greatly in size, capacity, and price. Industrial grade 3D printers go for up to $1 million.

However, you can find affordable, do-it-yourself options on the market. A 3D printer called the Cube (pictured), made by 3D Systems, can be purchased online and will be available at Staples stores in June for $1,299. The Cube is preassembled and can hook up to a Wi-Fi network, allowing users to download their designs and print them into real objects. Or you can insert a USB stick with the design and print.

Other small 3D printers run as low as $999. There’s even an open source 3D printing community called Fab@Home.

For those who don’t own a 3D printer, there are online 3D printing services like Shapeways that allow users to create digital designs and have them printed and shipped by the company. Users can even set up their own shops to sell their designs to others.

Image: Cube 3D printer by 3D Systems

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Have you asked yourself, “What is responsive Web design?” Responsive Web design is an approach whereby a designer creates a Web page that “responds to” or resizes itself depending on the type of device it is being seen through.  That could be an oversized desktop computer monitor, a laptop, a 10-inch tablet, a 7-inch tablet, or a 4-inch smartphone screen.

Responsive Web design has become one of the hottest trends in 2013.  This is due in part to the  growth of smartphones and other mobile devices. More people are using smaller-screen devices to view Web pages.

In fact, Mashable even dubbed 2013 the Year of Responsive Web Design. Pete Cashmore wrote,  ”For those of us who create websites and services, all this leads to a singular conclusion: A million screens have bloomed, and we need to build for all of them.”

What Does Responsive Web Design Look Like?

The purpose of responsive design is to have one site, but with different elements that respond differently when viewed on devices of different sizes.

Let’s take a traditional “fixed” website.  When viewed on a desktop computer, for instance, the website might show  three columns. But when you view that same layout on a smaller tablet, it might force you to scroll horizontally, something users don’t like. Or elements might be hidden from view or look distorted.  The impact is also complicated by the fact that many tablets can be viewed either in portrait orientation, or turned sideways for landscape view.

On a tiny smartphone screen, websites can be even more challenging to see. Large images may “break” the layout. Sites can be slow to load on smartphones if they are graphics heavy.

However, if a site uses responsive design, the tablet version might automatically adjust to display just two columns. That way, the content is readable and easy to navigate. On a smartphone, the content might appear as a single column, perhaps stacked vertically.  Or possibly the  user would have the ability to swipe over to view other columns.  Images will resize instead of distorting the layout or getting cut off.

The point is: with responsive design, the website automatically adjusts based on the device the viewer sees it in.

How Does Responsive Web Design Work?

Responsive sites use fluid grids. All page elements are sized by proportion, rather than pixels. So if you have three columns, you wouldn’t say exactly how wide each should be, but rather how wide they should be in relation to the other columns. Column 1 should take up half the page, column 2 should take up 30%, and column 3 should take up 20%, for instance.

Media such as images is also resized relatively. That way an image can stay within its column or relative design element.

Related Issues

Mouse v. touch: Designing for mobile devices also brings up the issue of mouse versus touch.  On desktop computers the user normally has a mouse to navigate and select items.  On a smartphone or tablet, the user mostly is using fingers and touching the screen.  What may seem easy to select with a mouse, may be hard to select with a finger on a tiny spot on a screen. The Web designer must take “touch” into consideration.

Graphics and download speed: Also, there’s the issue of graphics, ads and download speed. On mobile devices, it may be wise to display fewer graphics than for desktop views so that a site doesn’t take forever to load on a smartphone.  Larger ad sizes may need to be exchanged for smaller ads.

Apps and “mobile versions”:  In the past, you might have thought about creating an app for your website — say an iPad app or an Android app.  Or you would have a mobile version specifically for BlackBerry.

But with so many  different devices today, it’s getting harder to create apps and versions for every device and operating platform. As Smashing Magazine wrote, “When will the madness stop? It won’t, of course.”  A responsive design that is flexible enough to be viewed on multiple devices just makes sense.

Why Small Businesses Need to Switch to Responsive Web Design

More people are using mobile devices. A recent Pew study found that 45% of American adults own a smartphone, and 31% own a tablet computer. As we reported yesterday, smartphone shipments outpace those of regular mobile phones, and tablet growth is surging.

Check your traffic and you might just be shocked at how many visitors are getting to your website  through mobile devices.  (In your Google Analytics, select “Audience” on the left side, then “Mobile” to see what proportion of traffic is from mobile devices. You can even drill down to see which devices are sending the traffic.)

Responsive design templates are everywhere now, for purchase.  If, for instance, you have a WordPress site you can visit a reputable template gallery such as ThemeForest and search for “responsive WordPress themes.”  Purchase one for under $50. Your Web developer can then customize it for your logo and brand.

Editor’s Note:  Here at Small Business Trends, we are working on a new responsive design. Shouldn’t you?

Responsive Design Photo via Shutterstock

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Social media is used by businesses to increase brand loyalty, share new products, and even gain new customers. Every company uses social media differently, some more successfully than others. Below are ways to tell if your company is a social media success.

30 Ways to Tell if You’re a Social Media Success

1. Customers Seek You Out

In the early days of creating a social media account, you likely had to try very hard to find new connections and convince them that your brand was worth following. If customers begin finding you without you needing to go through all this extra work, you’re well on your way to social media success.

2. Your Message Gets Across

Even if you have a sizable network, your social media campaigns are worth nothing if your customers don’t hear what you have to say. If customers acknowledge your message, or if you use tools like Facebook analytics to see that many of your connections actually viewed your posts, you’re on the right track towards social media success.

3. You Gain Website Traffic

It’s likely that one of your main social media goals involves getting your followers to a separate website, whether that’s your online store, your company’s site or your blog. Social media can be a great tool to bring visitors to your other sites, if you’re using it effectively.

4. Followers Interact With You

A high follower count alone doesn’t necessarily make you a success if none of your followers respond to your posts. A more accurate sign of success is whether you gain responses, likes, retweets and engaging interactions from your followers.

5. People Talk About You

This is related to the point above. But instead of followers talking directly to you, they are talking to their other connections about you. This could mean they’re recommending that others follow you or try one of your products that they recently purchased.

6. People Share Your Links

Even more specifically, having others share your links to products, blog posts or other online pages can really mean they like what you have to offer.

7. You Gain Insights

Social media is so much more than just a way for you to broadcast your company’s message. You can learn a lot from following others and tracking your company’s mentions. Companies that do this successfully can gain a lot more than higher website traffic.

8. Your Target Audience is Clear

In order to use social media effectively, you have to know who you’re talking to. You should be able to scroll through your followers and see that most of them fit into the audience you’re trying to target.

9. You’ve Found a Good Balance

There are so many social networks and types of posts. You should be able to figure out which networks and which types of posts work best for you and your target audience, instead of just broadcasting new product listings or blog posts across every single social channel.

10. Your Content Has a Clear Focus

You should be able to scroll through your timeline or your twitter feed and see how each post fits together and works towards accomplishing your company’s overall social media goals.

11. You’ve Become an Authority

Your followers trust what you have to say and even others in your industry look to you as an industry authority.

12. People Ask You Questions

Along those same lines, if your followers come to you with their questions, whether it’s just a general question about your industry or more specific question about a particular product, you’re headed towards social media success.

13. Issues Are Brought to Your Attention

Not everything your company does, in social media or otherwise, is going to be perfect. But when there are problems or issues, if your customers on social media bring them to your attention so that you can correct the problem, you’re gaining social media success.

14. You Don’t Need to Advertise

Most social media outlets offer advertising options that can be very useful for companies just starting out. Although these ads can also be helpful for more established companies, you shouldn’t necessarily need them if you’re accomplishing all your social media goals.

15. You Keep It Simple

Social media shouldn’t be complicated. You should be able to quickly sum up your social media strategy and see that you are following through with it.

16. Customers Appreciate You

Not only should customers interact with you, but you should also be able to tell that they are happy with what you have to say. If they thank you for responses or recommend you to their own networks, you know they appreciate you and you’re heading towards social media success.

17. You Find Useful Trends

Aside from just using social media to gain insights about your own brand, you should use it to gain insights about your industry and/or network as a whole.

18. You’ve Tested Different Strategies

You can’t know if what you’re doing is right for you unless you’ve tried other things. You should have tested out different strategies at some point and know that your current one gets the best results.

19. You Keep Your Campaigns Organized

If you’re a seasoned social media vet, you should have a pretty good system for organizing your social media campaigns and initiatives.

20. You’ve Found a Way to Measure Impact

Whether it’s through services like Google Analytics or the built-in tools on many social media sites, you should have a way to quantify results so that you know you’re on the right track towards social media success.

21. You Don’t Spend All Day on Social Media

It might be tempting to use social media non-stop, especially if you’re constantly talking to customers. But you should be able to accomplish your goals without spending all day monitoring tweets or Facebook mentions.

22. You Maintain Relationships

More than just responding to individual messages, you should be using social media to actually keep in constant contact with your connections. And they should do the same with you.

23. You Create Brand Advocates

If you do successfully maintain relationships on social media, you have probably created some brand advocates – those who continually share your links and recommend your company to friends.  If this is the case, you’re inching closer towards social media success.

24. You Have a Plan

You shouldn’t go into social media without knowing what it is you want to accomplish, though many companies do. If, by now, you have a clear-cut plan, you’re that much closer to social media success.

25. You Accomplish Your Goals

Once you have a plan, you should see that you’re accomplishing what you set out to do, whether that’s increasing brand awareness, gaining website traffic or gaining valuable insights.

26. You Receive Suggestions

If your customers or others in your network come to you with ideas for new products or website features, it means they want to see you succeed and they think of you specifically when they have ideas related to your industry.

27. Your Network is Constantly Growing

Social media can turn into a numbers game for some companies. But there is no magic number of followers or interactions that means your brand has become a social media success. A better gauge is whether your network, both in terms of followers and interactions, grows steadily.

28. Customers Treat You Like a Real Person

Social media users don’t want to follow companies. They want to follow people. If your followers treat your company like a friend, you’re likely running your account like that of a person, rather than a brand.

29. You Gain Customers

Even if gaining new customers isn’t one of your main social media goals, at some point new people will come across your profiles and, hopefully, support your business.

30. You Listen

Social media is not a one-way communication street. The sooner your company stops treating it as one, the sooner you can realize social media success.

Of course, there are different levels of social media success, but if you’ve achieved at least some of the items mentioned above, you’re well on your way.

Thirty Photo via Shutterstock

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Kabbage Inc. reports paying out more than $200 million in annualized cash advances to more than 100,000 small business customers so far in 2013.

The company says the advances represent a substantial increase over the estimated $15 million in annualized cash advances paid out a year ago.

Kabbage is a financing company specializing particularly in loans to small online merchants working from home offices that sell goods on Amazon and eBay.  Eighty-two percent of Kabbage customers use money from Kabbage to buy inventory, for example.

Last month, the U.S. Small Business Administration reported an increase in small business lending for the first time in 10 quarters. Overall, the SBA report found small business lending had increased by four-tenths (0.4) of a percent, from $584.1 billion in September last year to $586 billion by the end of 2012.

The SBA report noted an increase of loans in several categories including under $1 million, between $100,000 and $1 million, and under $100,000 in the final quarter of last year. However, the Kabbage Inc. report suggested some loan sizes are still underrepresented.

According to Kabbage’s latest lending numbers , the company’s advances have grown by 298% from 2012 to 2013, while SBA loans under $150,000 have decreased by 8% in that time. (See graphic above showing year-over-year growth,)

Because Kabbage mainly funds home office businesses, particularly those that sell goods on sites like eBay and Amazon, their numbers aren’t necessarily indicative of growth in small business lending as a whole.

The company is also just a few years old, so the increase in lending could be more indicative of its own growth and access to funding than of general economic factors. For instance, Kabbage just closed on a $75 million financing from Victory Park Capital and Thomvest Ventures. This represents the company’s largest funding transaction to date.

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Are you considering selling your small business?  Perhaps you think it’s a good time to sell, considering that more businesses have been bought and sold this year than at this time last year, according to a BizBuySell survey.

However, valuations of those businesses could be lower in 2013, thanks to some tax changes. So if you want to get the best sales price possible, there are likely some steps you should already be taking. And allow yourself enough time to sell a small business.

Most owners don’t realize that selling a business can be so time consuming, according to Bob Pullar of Owners University, who recently suggested that owners spend three to five years preparing to sell in order to get the best price possible. Pullar said that preparing your business for sale over time will allow you to demonstrate how well your company trends over time, both financially and operationally.

And those who don’t take the time to properly prepare are leaving money on the table. According to Pullar, an owner that takes the time to complete all the necessary valuation enhancing projects can see an increase of up to 400% in valuation, depending on their industry.

So what steps do owners need to take to make sure they get the best sale price? Pullar recommends having three to five years of audited or reviewed financial statements, along with an annual business plan and three-year projection.

In addition, owners should have a detailed succession plan, which includes key managers to run the business after the sale, other employees who are key to the business’s success, and up-to-date contracts with third party suppliers.

According to a PriceWaterhouseCoopers survey (DOC), 79% of business owners identified maximizing the financial return as their top objective for succession. But not all of those owners said they had a succession plan in place. In fact, the most common step taken to prepare for succession was improving profitability by cutting costs and restructuring debts and compensation.

Though profitability improvements can certainly have an impact on valuations, Pullar said that most companies don’t require any massive changes in this area when preparing to sell. And even those that do need to make significant changes should begin preparations early and not discount the other steps involved in improving valuations.

“The most important thing for an owner to realize is that they can’t afford to wait until they know 100% that they want to sell their businesses,” said Pullar.

There is no magic formula for making sure your business is ready to sell. Targeting buyers and evaluating your business’s value can vary by industry. But having a plan and allowing enough time to implement it is essential for any industry.

Image: Sold via Shutterstock

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Vimeo, Dropbox, Foodspotting, Soundcloud – what do all these have in common?

Besides being successful tech startups that you’ve probably heard of and likely even used, they were all founded by young people. The founders of these startups and more young entrepreneurs are the focus of a new documentary called The Startup Kids.  The film is now holding screenings before audiences of startup entrepreneurs. Screenings are being held in cities in Europe, Canada, the United States, Australia and Vietnam, among other places.

Technology has opened doors for young entrepreneurs to start companies without previous access to a lot of resources and funding. It has also made it easier to reach large groups of people without traditional marketing methods.

“Young people often have less to lose,” said Vala Halldorsdottir, co-creator of The Startup Kids. “It’s maybe harder to bootstrap a business when you are older and have a family and loans you need to pay off.”

Halldorsdottir knows this because she is a young entrepreneur herself. She and her business partner, Sesselja Vilhjalmsdottir, created a successful board game production company in Iceland in 2009. The two business partners filmed The Startup Kids together after their company took off.

Motivating others is why they created The Startup Kids. “We were so motivated after our success that we wanted to motivate others to do the same,” said Halldorsdottir.

The Startup Kids Also Documents Challenges

But the documentary isn’t just about how great starting a business can be. The young entrepreneurs interviewed in the film, including those from Vimeo, Dropbox, Foodspotting and Soundcloud, also outline the difficulties of starting a business.

“I don’t know why anybody thinks that startups are all rainbows and sunshine,” said Founder of Grove, Leah Culver, in the film’s trailer, shown below.

Founder of Dropbox Drew Houston (pictured above, from the film) added, “Everything you’re doing is basically something you’re just barely qualified for or not qualified for. It’s like jumping off a cliff and having to build your own parachute.”

Even Halldorsdottir and Vilhjalmsdottir faced their own startup challenges as they created their board game company. It was during the Icelandic financial crisis that began in 2008, when traditional job prospects were hard to come by.

After the two beat the odds and found success with their company, Halldorsdottir said they learned a lot about entrepreneurship. And they learned even more while interviewing others in the United States and Europe for The Startup Kids.

“Entrepreneurs are the same everywhere,” she said. “They are ambitious and hard-working, with the ‘I’m going to change the world’ mentality.”

Halldorsdottir and Vilhjalmsdottir turned to Kickstarter to fund their documentary project. They raised over $23,000 to defer production expenses and travel to the United States and Europe to interview people. The film is available on iTunes and Amazon and on DVD through The Startup Kids website.  Watch the trailer below:

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As a small business owner, free time is probably not something you have a whole lot of. What you do have a lot of are tasks to accomplish and deadlines to meet. So how can you better accomplish these tasks in a shorter amount of time?

Below are 50 time saving tips to help you save time throughout your workday.

50 Time Saving Tips for Small Businesses

1. Set Goals

Each morning, write out a detailed to-do list of the things you want to accomplish that day.

2. Create a Plan

Figure out when and how you’ll accomplish each item on your daily list – will you need help, supplies, etc.?

3. Prioritize by Importance

It’s inevitable that sometimes you’ll have to cut items off your to-do list, so decide early what the most important items are and prioritize.

4. Prioritize by Urgency

You’ll need to get to those projects that have urgent deadlines so leave the ones that are due next week for later.

5. Break Down Large Tasks

If your list includes some overwhelming items, break them down into smaller, more manageable tasks.

6. Be Realistic

Don’t expect to accomplish everything in an hour. Know your limitations and your abilities.

7. Track Your Time

In order to better understand how you really spend your time, take a few days and write down everything you do and how long it takes. Include breaks, email, social media and everything else, so that you’ll find out what your biggest time wasters are.

8. Set Deadlines

Need some motivation to complete a project? Set a deadline for yourself and tell others about it so they can help hold you accountable.

9. Keep One Eye on the Clock

You don’t want to constantly obsess about time, but you also don’t want to let the day get away from you because you weren’t paying attention. Stay on track.

10. Set Reminders

If you have a deadline or meeting coming up, set a reminder on your phone that will go off shortly before.

11. Schedule Breaks

Everyone needs to take breaks throughout the day, so make sure to account for them when scheduling your tasks for the day.

12. Schedule Time for Email and Social Media

Email and social media can be big time wasters. Don’t respond to every email as it comes in and don’t leave Facebook or Twitter open all day. Instead, schedule a short block or two throughout the day to accomplish these tasks.

13. Use a Central Social Media Management System

If you use social media for marketing purposes, you likely have more than one account. Using a central dashboard like HootSuite can help you avoid going back and forth between sites, and even allows you to schedule posts throughout the day so you don’t need to constantly sign back on.

14. Avoid Distractions

Aside from social media and email, there are a number of other distractions that can cause you to waste time throughout the day. If you work at home, turn off the TV. If you work in an office, take a different route to the water cooler to avoid chatty co-workers.

15. Stick to One Task at a Time

Multi-tasking can sound like a time saver, but it isn’t. Focus on one task, complete it and then move on.

16. Batch Tasks

It can be helpful to do similar tasks consecutively. For example, make all your phone calls for the day back-to-back.

17. Incentivize Tasks

When you have a really difficult task to complete, give yourself a reward for completing it. It can be as simple as taking a break.

18. Focus on Results

You should have an idea about why you are doing each task on your list. Ask yourself how each item will impact your company and focus on results.

19. Don’t Stress Over Unimportant Details

If something doesn’t have a big impact on your business, don’t stress about it. Perfectionism can be a big time waster.

20. Create Good Habits

Create a habit of sorting files regularly, responding to emails in a timely manner and quickly accomplishing any other tasks that show up on your to-do list so that it quickly becomes routine.

21. Eliminate the Non-Essential

Remove items that no longer serve a purpose to your mission, both physically and electronically.

22. Use Email Filters and Archives

Use email filters and archives so that you don’t spend hours looking for a particular message. Your email program most likely offers easy tools to keep all your communications organized, so make wise use of those features.

23. Limit Meetings

Meetings can be essential, but they can also turn into time wasters if they go on too long or happen too frequently. Accept and schedule only important meetings.

24. Hire a Virtual Assistant

Virtual assistants can help you with mundane daily tasks like email, bookkeeping, scheduling and research. Consider getting yourself some help if you need it.

25. Utilize a Project Management Platform

Services like Basecamp offer your team a way to communicate in groups, set deadlines and share and edit files without having to keep up with several different email threads.

26. Keep Projects in One Place

For both completed projects and those still in progress, have one folder or area where you know you can find them.

27. Avoid Rush Hour

If you commute or have to travel for meetings, take traffic and construction into account so as to not waste time en route.

28. Have Virtual Meetings

Avoid traveling when possible and instead consider the use of programs like Skype or GoToMeeting.

29. Automate Payroll

Rather than manually tracking hours and expenses, invest in a payroll system that will do all the work for you.

30. Take Notes

Keep a notebook with you at all times to jot down notes and ideas or use an app such as Evernote to store ideas, images and more so you don’t spend time trying to think of them later.

31. Take Advantage of Technology

There are so many time saving and organizational apps and services available such as Dropbox, which lets you bring your photos, docs and videos anywhere . Find the ones that work for you.

32. Don’t Get Carried Away

Attempting to master and utilize too many productivity applications and services at once can be a time waster. Don’t use so many of them that you spend more time on them than you save.

33. Delegate

Ask your team to take on tasks that you don’t have time for or those with which you know they’d do a good job.

34. Invest in Accounting Software

Keeping endless spreadsheets can lead to a lot of headaches and wasted time. Keep all your account information organized in one place.

35. Keep an Organized Workspace

Don’t spend hours rifling through your desk looking for a particular document when you could just implement a filing system and find it in seconds.

36. Back Up Your Files

Whether by external hard drive, hard copies or online backup, create backups of all your important files in case of a computer meltdown. Consider an online service like Carbonite or Mozy for this purpose.

37. Keep Templates for Commonly-Used Forms

Don’t spend time writing the same paragraphs over and over again when you could have a general template saved. Just go in and make a few updates each time you use it instead of starting from scratch.

38. Utilize Shortcuts

Use keyboard and browser shortcuts and keep all your commonly used programs in an easily accessible location on your desktop.

39. Automate Expenses

Make use of automatic bill pay services whenever possible to avoid late payments and time spent actually paying bills each month.

40. Use a Cloud-Based Calendar

Calendar apps can keep you updated on important meetings and deadlines and don’t take long to update. Consider using Google Calendar for this purpose.

41. Have a Collaboration System

Whether you use a platform like Basecamp or Google Docs or stick to more traditional methods, you should have a set system for collaboration so that your team doesn’t get confused and unorganized.

42. Say “No”

Don’t take on tasks just because someone asks you to. If you don’t have the time and it won’t help your business, don’t do it.

43. Make the Most of Down Time

Time spent in waiting rooms, on the subway or even on long elevator rides could be used to update your calendar, write notes or accomplish other simple tasks.

44. Clean Up Old Files

Ridding your computer of old files can not only keep you from having to wade through them while looking for more relevant files, but it can also speed up your computer and save you from a fate of endless loading pages.

45. Use Mobile Apps

There are mobile productivity apps, mobile calendar apps, mobile list apps – all of which can help you accomplish tasks and save time while not in front of a computer.

46. Know Your Habits

If you’re an early bird, get your most important tasks out of the way early. If you’re a night owl, don’t force yourself to turn in big projects in the morning. Play to your strengths.

47. Shorten Your Workday

In a blog post on Freelance Folder, Lexi Rodrigo explains that cutting time off your workday will force you to accomplish more within the time allotted.

48. Leave Room for the Unexpected

Things you didn’t plan for will come up throughout the day. Take this into account when making your to-do list.

49. Have Quiet Hours

If you work in an office, put a “do not disturb” sign on your door while you’re working on an important task. If you work from home, silence your phone for that time. If distractions come up when you’re in the zone, you can lose your concentration and end up spending way more time than necessary.

50. Don’t Over-Schedule

You might be overly optimistic in the morning about how much you can get done that day. But creating a too-full list is only going to overwhelm you later in the day.

If you implement even just a few of the time saving tips listed above, you will start to notice a difference in your workday and your productivity – and you may even notice that you have a little more free time.

The post 50 Time Saving Tips for Small Businesses appeared first on Small Business Trends.