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11 Small-Business Internet Myths Debunked

Lindsay Holloway who writes for Entrepreneur.com had this great article published on another great source for small business info, thestreet.com, Jim Cramer's site.

Over the past decade, Justin Kitch has helped hundreds of thousands of entrepreneurs establish a Web presence through his Web site host and creator company, Homestead.com.

Although those clients have made his business possible, he's seen a fair share of entrepreneurs hesitant to embrace the Internet. Their hesitancy comes down to 11 different myths about the Internet -- misunderstandings that are "unfortunately perpetuated by the natural tendencies of small business owners," says Kitch. "They're cautious and conservative; they're afraid of technology and change."

In an effort to educate entrepreneurs, Kitch debunks these 11 myths:

Small Business Advocate: Refuse to participate in recession talk in 2008

Now here is some recession advice I can get behind.

"Refuse to participate in recession talk in 2008" by Jim Blasingame the Small Business Advocate

"It sure seems that this year we're going to experience the ancient Chinese curse, "may you live in interesting times."

Two thousand eight is going to be very interesting for many reasons, but clearly, one of the most interesting is the economy.

Some folks are wringing their hands about the possibility of a recession. But, in my opinion, for every indicator that could cause a recession there is another that will help us avoid one. Frankly, I think one of our greatest challenges this year is resisting the inclination to talk ourselves into a recession.

My proposal is to refuse to participate in a recession. One of the ways we can do this is by focusing on tried and true business operating fundamentals. If you're with me, here are ten fundamentals you should focus on immediately:" More

A Lesson For Small Businesses from Big Auto's Disastrous Missteps

Fortune Small Business which is found on CNN Money has great articles on Small Business.

Jonathan Blum is their Tech Editor and he brought this story on how small business owners can learn from Detroit's Mistakes. 

If I had my druthers, I'd rather learn from someone else's screw-ups than face another of my own bone-headed business blunders. So I was all eyes and ears here at the North American International Auto Show, which opened to the public over the weekend after several days of press previews and glitzy industry events. If ever there were a poster child for how a small business should not play the innovation game, it's here at this massive shrine to All Things Automotive. More 

Be sure to see our list of Innovation Tools below.

Tips for Small Businesses on Surviving a Recession

Deborah L. Cohen who covers Small Business for Reuters shares these tips for surviving a recession. Whether we have one now or not remains to be seen. Nevertheless these points apply to good times or bad.

"If a recession does take hold, small- to mid-sized companies will be among the hardest hit. Lacking the resources of bigger players in their industries, they are usually the first to get called in by skittish banks and suppliers during a credit crunch. Yet there are many steps smaller businesses can take now to hedge against a sustained downturn. Here's what some experienced busines owners and consultants say they've learned to do to prepare for a slowdown in business activity."  More

The Risk of Doing Nothing

When faced with business change is prompted by challenges, opportunities, demands or an advantage we have many choices.

One of them is to do nothing. Let things run as they are, hope for the best, wait to see what happens. This option, doing nothing, often appears to have the least risk. This is rarely true.

Competitive Intelligence: Outsmart the Competition

Paul Cashnelli is the assistant Director of the Bergen County, NJ Small Business Development Center. He is a part of the statewide New Jersey SBDC found in 1977 under an act of congress.

Today it is a dynamic organization offering a variety of educational and business resources are available to counsel and train small business owners to finance, market and manage their companies. Clients are assisted in exploring their business ideas, developing and assessing their business plans, making cash flow projections and accurate financial statements, and formulating marketing strategies. International trade, government procurement, technology commercialization, e-commerce, manufacturing Mentor/Protege and information services specialty programs are coordinated from NJSBDC headquarters.

This article was written by Paul and offers excellent tips on "Outsmarting" your competition.

 

20 Quick Tips to Building a More Successful Business

New York Enterprise Report published by Robert S. Levin is a rich source of business information and resources.

In the current issue Gene Marks gives 20 Quick Tips for Building Your Business. They cover points "from throwing out your financial statements to outsourcing your phone system, these pointers will give you ideas that can quickly impact the bottom line."

Read it Here

Small Business Studies Reveal Mixed Views on Future Economic Conditions

Like most business owners you are probably wondering what 2008 holds. The answer to that question is really "It Depends."

We see many companies prospering like never before and others in complete decline, and of course most in between. Those who are taking steps to respond to current conditions positively moving ahead.

Two recent studies show a mixed outlook.

AllBusiness.com, Inc.,announced the results of its 2007 year-end "SMB State of the Union Study" and SMB Barometer. AllBusiness.com is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dun & Bradstreet, and a leading online resource for businesses, The study of 400 business owners, conducted by Frank N. Magid Associates found that "Overall Business Sentiment Among SMBs is Positive."

A few days earlier Discover Business Card released these findings from their Discover Small Business Watch a monthly index measuring the relative economic confidence of U.S. small business. "Economic confidence among small business owners is off slightly for December, down a half-point from the previous month, as small business owners expressed less confidence that economic conditions are getting better, either in the general economy or with their own businesses. At 92.7, the Discover Small Business Watch is down from 93.2 in November, a full 17 points lower than at the same time a year ago."

Thinking About Taking Your Business Global

Alessandra Bianchi, writing for Fortune Small Business Magazine presents great insight into moving into the global market place.

The days when only big corporations could do business internationally are over. How to turn your company into a multi-national one.  Read the article here: Take Your Business Global

She writes: " Has your small business gone global yet? In an increasingly wired world, adding an international dimension - whether through importing, exporting, outsourcing, manufacturing overseas, or forming a strategic partnership - is now the province of both mom and pop ventures and large conglomerates. It is becoming almost as easy to do business in Peru as it is in Peoria.

So how do you take the first step to expanding internationally? Here are some guidelines."

Entrepreneur.com offers tips on 2008 New Year Resolutions

Found these tips on Entrepreneur.com business blog.

"If your only New Year's resolutions involve working out and cutting back on your coffee intake, you should check out Rhonda Abram's list of resolutions for entrepreneurial companies for 2008. Abrams, president of The Planning Shop, a publisher of books for entrepreneurs, says she's optimistic about 2008, despite the likelihood of an unsettled economy. Here are a few of the resolutions she shares in this USA Today article:

• Evaluate what you did right. See how you can continue or increase your commitment to the positive ways you currently run your business.
• Treat your employees right. If you have high turnover and dispirited employees, resolve to change the way you hire, manage and reward your staff.
• Get your financial information organized. If you're using a word processing or spreadsheet program, get a good, easy financial accounting program. "

Posted by Kristin Edelhauser

Entrepreneur.com Business Blog