Small Business Survey Results: Infographic

Thinking about starting your own small business? Take a look at this inforgraphic about small business:

Via: Business Banking

SCORE ExpertAnswers on writing a business plan

Every business needs a business plan. We don't write business plans in medical school. Some doctors who have creative business ideas never get the opportunity to explore them because they don't identify a viable business model.

SCORE is a nonprofit association dedicated to helping small businesses get off the ground, grow and achieve their goals through education and mentorship.

SCORE ExpertAnswers is a free service they provide and this one answers key questions like:

• Why is the process of developing a business plan as valuable as the plan itself?
• What are the risks of attempting to build a small business without a business plan?
• What’s the key to making projections with a higher level of confidence?

Read the "Master Your Business Plan" on Score.org

United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE)

The United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE) is the largest independent, professional, academic organization in the world dedicated to advancing the discipline of entrepreneurship. With over 1000 members from universities and colleges, for-profit businesses, nonprofit organizations, and the public sector, USASBE is a diverse mix of professionals that share a common commitment to fostering entrepreneurial attitudes and behaviors.

USASBE is built around four pillars that guide the ongoing development of our organization. The pillars include:

• entrepreneurship education
• entrepreneurship research
• entrepreneurship outreach and
• public policy

Interested in connecting with the USASBE? Attend the 2012 conference Jan 12-15, 2012 in New Orleans. More information can be found here.

Socially Successful: Simplifying Social Media for Your Business

You can register for these free SCORE webinars on social media:

Socially Successful: Simplifying Social Media for Your Business
Featuring best-selling author, Lon Safko

So, you have a Facebook page and you’ve sent out some Tweets. Is that all there is to social media marketing?

Social media marketing is a lot more than a Facebook page and a few Tweets. It’s about understanding all of the available tools, knowing which ones to use and how to use them. It’s about understanding “The Fundamental Shift In Power”, “Link Love”, “Google Juice” and SEO advantages to blogging. It’s about QR Barcodes and Mobile marketing, segmenting and day parting to achieve a 35% email conversion rate. It’s about in-game advertising, virtual worlds, and video marketing. It’s more than you ever thought!

Sales Strategy for your Business (SCORE ExpertAnswers: Expert Advice to Grow Your Business)

This is from a recent SCORE ExpertAnswers: Expert Advice to Grow Your Business

Sales Strategy for your Business
Melinda Emerson, CEO
MFE Consulting

Melinda Emerson, better known to many as SmallBizLady, is one of America's leading small business experts. Author of the national bestseller Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months and host of Twitter's #SmallBizChat weekly for emerging entrepreneurs, Melinda has provided guidance on marketing and social media strategies to small businesses and Fortune 500 companies alike.

Q: With so much uncertainty in today's economy, how can a small business owner keep his/her marketing tactics flexible?

A: Social media is one of the best ways for small business owners to track target audiences. Monitor blogs that cover your industry - including those produced by your competitors - to stay on top of the latest trends.

Develop signature materials such as reports and white papers to distinguish yourself as a thought-leader in your industry, and use social media to distribute them to your target audiences.

Growing with Online Marketing (SCORE ExpertAnswers: Expert Advice to Grow Your Business)

This is from a recent SCORE ExpertAnswers: Expert Advice to Grow Your Business

Growing with Online Marketing
Heather Dougherty, Director of Research
Experian Hitwise, NYC

Heather Dougherty is a leading authority in online commerce and marketing with Hitwise, a leading online competitive intelligence service that provides data and analytical tools to 100,000 clients in more than 65 countries. This month, Heather discusses how small business owners can can take advantage of online tools to advance their marketing goals and grow their companies.

Q: What are three questions a small business owner should ask when formulating his/her online marketing strategy?

A: Small business owners should ask themselves these three questions:

* What am I trying to accomplish with my online marketing? If you simply want to provide location, hours of operation, and other information, you need to make sure all of this data is correct and available in all local listings and search engines. If you want to educate potential customers about your products or services, use your website to provide the content and photos.

* Where to begin? Make sure customers can find you in local listings, then move on to your own website and promote your online presence through search engines or social media. Free options such as Tumblr or WordPress are a good way to get started on your website.

* What resources do I have? Prioritize what you are trying to accomplish and align with offline initiatives to repurpose as much as possible. Think about your content creation in all the different ways it can be used - print ads, website, social media, etc. Promote your online presence in your "brick and mortar" location if you have one, and keep your marketing consistent across all channels.

Starting and growing your own business

If you're thinking about starting your own business, you may want to attend a SCORE seminar or workshop in your area. SCORE provides mentoring and training services for people who are starting small businesses.

SCORE Seminars and Workshops are recommended for :
·      Anyone planning to start their own small business - either now or in the future.
·   Owners of existing small businesses wanting to invigorate and grow their Company.
 
SCORE Seminars & Workshops are led by former business owners and corporate executives
who volunteer their support for the local small business community. Learn from their wide experience.
Benefit from their practical, down-to-earth advice on these important business subjects :
 
Starting & Growing the Company.  
Funding & Financial Management.
        Sales & Marketing.                      
Importance of Good Planning.

SCORE's 13,000 volunteer mentors have more than 600 business skills. Volunteers are working or retired business owners, executives and corporate leaders who share their wisdom and lessons learned in business.

You can learn more about SCORE here: http://www.score.org/

SCORE "Counselors to America's Small Business"

SCORE "Counselors to America's Small Business" is a nonprofit association dedicated to educating entrepreneurs and helping small business start, grow and succeed nationwide. SCORE is a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

SCORE Has Helped 8.5 Million Small Businesses.

Every year, SCORE helps almost 20,000 businesses start.

SCORE's 13,000 volunteer mentors have more than 600 business skills. Volunteers are working or retired business owners, executives and corporate leaders who share their wisdom and lessons learned in business. Learn more about volunteering with SCORE.

Learn more about SCORE by visiting: http://www.score.org/