The digital world is changing rapidly with profound implications for how small businesses are found online, in search, on mobile devices and in social media. Here’s my list of today’s 12 key digital trends with the greatest potential impact.
The digital world is changing rapidly with profound implications for how small businesses are found online, in search, on mobile devices and in social media. Here’s my list of today’s 12 key digital trends with the greatest potential impact:
About the Author
Daniel Kehrer, Founder & Managing Director of BizBest Media Corp., is a nationally-known, award-winning expert on small and local business, start-ups, content marketing, entrepreneurship and social media, with an MBA from UCLA/Anderson. Read more of Daniel's tips at
www.BizBest.com, follow him at
www.twitter.com/140Main and connect on LinkedIn at
www.linkedin.com/in/danielkehrer.
Sure, nobody wants to be labeled a Scrooge. But if you’re among the roughly 50% of U.S. businesses (and shrinking) that still offer traditional yearend bonuses, it might be time to join the 21st century – and plan for something different in 2013.
Sure, nobody wants to be labeled a Scrooge. But if you’re among the roughly 50% of U.S. businesses (and shrinking) that still offer traditional yearend bonuses, it might be time to join the 21st century – and plan for something different in 2013.
About the Author
Daniel Kehrer, Founder & Managing Director of BizBest Media Corp., is a nationally-known, award-winning expert on small and local business, start-ups, content marketing, entrepreneurship and social media, with an MBA from UCLA/Anderson. Read more of Daniel's tips at
www.BizBest.com, follow him at
www.twitter.com/140Main and connect on LinkedIn at
www.linkedin.com/in/danielkehrer.
Steve Strauss, founder of www.theselfemployed.com, gives advice for planning for small business success in the New Year.
Q: Any tips on what we should be doing now to gear up for next year? It turns out that unlike a lot of businesses, mine is very slow during the holidays, so I would like to use this time more productively. Thanks in advance.
Lars
About the Author
Steven D. Strauss is a lawyer and writer and is one of the country's leading experts on small business as well as an international business speaker. The best-selling author of 17 books, his latest is the all-new 3rd ed. of The Small Business Bible. You can listen to his weekly podcast, Small Business Success Powered by Greatland, visit his new website for the self-employed, TheSelfEmployed, follow him on Twitter, and "like" TheSelfEmployed on Facebook. You can e-mail Steve at: sstrauss@mrallbiz.com. © Steven D. Strauss
Owner/Founder
Deb Bastian and Kate Saliba
50 Terminal Street, Building 2
Charleston
MA
02129
United States
How SCORE Helped
We have had an excellent experience with the Boston chapter of Score for the past 4-1/2 years. We have benefitted from a valuable third party perspective on financial, strategic, personnel and innumerable other matters that arise in the daily operation of a small business.
We meet with Score on a quarterly basis and are held accountable to our projections and strategic goals discussed in prior meetings. We greatly appreciate the objective feedback we are given with regard to our questions and issues. Through the consistent and reliable nature of the guidance provided by our advisor, Score has played a crucial role in helping navigate our business through financially challenging times and ultimately enjoying healthy growth. It is evident that our advisor genuinely cares about our business and its success. We are honored to be involved with the organization.
smudgeink.com
As part of her job, Kris Hart-Zamecki regularly coached young women in the foster care system to follow their dreams. Then one day, she realized she needed to follow her own advice. After years in the motorcycle industry, she had the experience and insight necessary to develop a great product. All she needed was a little insight into the basics of business planning from the experts at SCORE to help her create a successful business out of it.
www.royalriding.com
My Successes
Royal Riding designs, manufactures and sells custom seat covers for motorcycles, wheelchairs, saddles and truck cabs. The company’s mission is to “enhance your riding experience better than you ever imagined.”
Thanks to a $50,000 loan from the EDC-VC, Royal Riding has been able to purchase new product, solicit new distributors, develop new product lines and hire two additional employees.
The company recently received a Spirit of Small Business Award from the Pacific Coast Business Times. In just three years, sales have soared to 19 times their first year’s revenue!
What's Great About My Mentor?
Of her SCORE mentors Kris comments, “When I walked into SCORE I was on the brink of bankruptcy, they walked me through a batch of bad product, employee theft, business plan development and expansion, and kept me accountable with my own financial reports. But most importantly, they have been my biggest cheerleaders when I wasn’t sure if I could do this or not!”
How SCORE Helped
Kris came to SCORE already having started her business but with no clear plan for where it was going. She said, “I had not written a business plan, I had done everything backward. At this point, the only things going for me were a great product and determination!” She says the “How to Write a Business Plan” workshop taught by mentor Michael Scotto made her fall in love with SCORE and put her on the fast track to a clear vision for the company and ultimately obtaining the financing she needed. Kris said, “Without SCORE I would have never known of this loan agency, the EDC-VC, and I would have been bankrupt. Now I’m flourishing.”
Broward SCORE held one of its quarterly events at Nova Southeastern University. Grow Your Revenues with On-Line Resources was the topic. Workshops, led by subject matter experts, dealt with the various on-line resources that are available to small business owners to help them grow their business.
The workshops covered:
Related Topics
Published Dec. 7, 2012
Running my commercial printing business is more than a full-time job, and I often feel like I’m out of touch with what’s happening outside the business. How can I keep current on business- and industry-related developments in an efficient manner? Read more.....
Published Dec. 6, 2012
SCORE ExpertAnswers
Whether you're starting up or running an established company, an up-to-date business plan is critical for planning and reaching your goals. In this issue of SCORE ExpertAnswers, SCORE Mentor Mark Lowenstein provides expert advice on mastering this essential business tool.
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Why is the process of developing a business plan as valuable as the plan itself?
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About the Author
Following more than 30 years as a sales and marketing executive for many leading technology companies, Mark Lowenstein turned his attention to sharing his experience with others. He served on the business faculties of Newberry College and College of St. Joseph, teaching graduate and undergraduate courses in management, marketing, international business, strategy, and entrepreneurship.
More recently, he became a mentor with SCORE’s Cape Cod, Mass., chapter, helping new and experienced entrepreneurs tackle the challenges of building small businesses, with special emphasis on one of the most fundamental aspects—the business plan.
1628 NW 28 street
Miami
FL
United States
What's Great About My Mentor?
Dan Reinhardt would not give up until he got what was needed.
How SCORE Helped
My Score counselor helped me with a large need for financing to overcome a working capital shortage. He worked with me through 4 different organizations until he got what I needed and has not stopped!
Here are 10 common mistakes that small businesses make with their websites, and how to fix them.
In this age of social media and digital everything, you can’t afford to be a website weakling. If your competition has a killer online presence, and you don’t, you lose. Today’s consumers look online more than ever before. Even business owners who think they don’t really need a “best in class” website are missing more than they think.
About the Author
Daniel Kehrer, Founder & Managing Director of BizBest Media Corp., is a nationally-known, award-winning expert on small and local business, start-ups, content marketing, entrepreneurship and social media, with an MBA from UCLA/Anderson. Read more of Daniel's tips at
www.BizBest.com, follow him at
www.twitter.com/140Main and connect on LinkedIn at
www.linkedin.com/in/danielkehrer.
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