Small business owners today typically have to wade through a bevy of service providers when it comes to their online presence. There is more noise in the marketplace and more options than even five years ago, but the guiding principles of common sense and value are timeless.
Browsing: small business
More small business owners are planning to add employees and boost compensation levels, signaling a slightly more positive economic outlook for 2014, according to the most recent Business Confidence Survey released by Insperity, Inc.
Plaza Del Sol has developed an exciting and affordable lease concept designed especially for independent retailers. The management group is revamping a 400,000 square foot shopping center in Kissimmee, FL, formerly Osceola Square Mall, to provide an international plaza ambiance, while still maintaining its bevy of popular anchor stores.
The Company Corporation, a leader in helping small businesses incorporate and form limited liability companies (LLCs), has announced the launch of a new contest for small business owners, “Share 5 Small Business Tips for a Chance at $5,000.”
The ASD Las Vegas trade show, March 16-19 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, is offering some exciting new educational programs. Launching this year is the Independent Retailer Conference, an action packed array of sessions for small business operators, co-founded by Retail Minded and Nolcha Events.
The Experian/Moody Analytics Small Business Credit Index rose 1.2 points to 117 in Q4 2013, the fourth consecutive quarter of improvement in small-business credit conditions and the highest index reading since data tracking began in 2011. Findings indicate that small businesses are now reaping some of the benefits of the nearly five-year-old U.S. recovery, according to Experian.
Social media can help indie retailers reach current and potential customers. 59 percent of consumers see social media active companies as more approachable and 64 percent of users want companies to use it to answer their questions. Here are social media trends that were on the rise in 2013 and how they can help your small business in 2014.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and Yelp are partnering to provide America’s small businesses with the information they need to engage with online reviewers and monitor their online reputations. According to the 2013 Local Consumer Review Survey from BrightLocal, 85 percent of consumers read online reviews about local businesses. In addition, trust in reviews is increasing, enabling consumers to form opinions faster and act on those opinions.
Hundreds of businesses each year receive grant funding from various government agencies and non-profit organizations. Such funds must be used to start a new business or enhance an existing one, and do not have to be repaid. Others can be used for innovation research.
GoDaddy, a domain name and website provider, and Microsoft Corp. have formed a strategic partnership to offer Office 365 as GoDaddy’s core productivity software to its small business customers.