Last month, during Small Business Week, small businesses descended on US Senators’ offices. They signed petitions, wrote letters and emails, even put up billboards. What was all the fuss about? Small businesses were trying to help save open and equal access to the Internet. The US Senate, in a bipartisan vote, tried to do its …
10 Tips for Small Biz Seasonal Survival
Memorial Day is the traditional kickoff of the summer season, and for many small businesses, that means customers flocking through the doors. For others, it’s the doldrums: customers don’t come, clients don’t call. Whether you sell surfboards or snowboards, picnic baskets or Christmas baskets, the health of your small business may be directly related to …
Become a Delightful Small Biz
In today’s world, a small business needs to stand out. To survive, you need loyal, even fanatic, customers. It’s tough to compete on price, or even convenience, so what’s going to make a difference? Delight and surprise your customers. Customers today spread the word about businesses. When they’re unhappy, they quickly blast you on social …
Surviving Amazon
If you ask most small businesses “What’s the biggest threat to your business?” they’re likely to say “Amazon.” This is especially true for brick-and-mortar retailers, but Amazon is disrupting just about every industry. If your small business isn’t yet threatened by Amazon, it will be. Now, Amazon isn’t the first big company to menace small …
Facebook: A Mixed Bag for Small Business
Many small business owners watched recent revelations about Facebook with mixed emotions. Like most Americans, they were surprised to discover how much information the social media collects on its users. Even more worrisome was learning that 87 million Americans had their data exploited by Cambridge Analytica, a firm with ties to Donald Trump’s campaign, to …
Best Small Biz Advisors Share Best Small Biz Tips
America loves small business, and next week, April 29 to May 5, America observes “Small Business Week”—dedicated to recognizing the best small business owners and entrepreneurs. I also want to recognize the best small business support in the country: the consultants of America’s Small Business Development Center (ASBDC) network. So I’m hosting a Facebook Live …
Best Place to Start a Business? Check Amazon
As a journalist covering small business, my email inbox is regularly filled with press releases from companies wanting publicity. Often, they’re announcing the result of some survey they sponsored. They’ll hire a polling company, gather some data, and put out a list: Best places to retire, Best places to raise children, Best this, Best that. …
Stop Talking and Start Doing
So, you always wanted to own your own small business? You dream of being your own boss? But you’re stuck in a rut. You’re still in a dead-end job with a boss you hate. Or you’re sitting on your couch at 11 am wondering, ‘What am I doing with my life?’ Well, it’s time to …
5 Ways to Tell if your Business Idea is Any Good
Almost every time I give a speaking engagement, a wanna-be entrepreneur approaches me with their great idea for a new small business. Often, it’s a new product. Sometimes it’s a new kind of service or an innovative app. What they all have in common is the ‘this-can’t-fail’ enthusiasm of the person with the idea. But …
