1. Reflect on Industry Trends
Whatever your industry or niche, now is the time to take stock of the major trends that helped shape and define 2009 for small businesses in your sector.
Your research methodology should be multifaceted and involve your entire social network. So turn to trusted editorial and data resources for year-in-review pieces and predictions on upcoming trends. Involve staff members and ask for their take on what’s happening now and what they expect in the year ahead. Use your website, Facebook Page, Twitter() account, or other social media distribution channels to gauge what your customers and clients think.
Use the feedback and resources, pool the collected information, and look for commonalities. Group similar ideas into categories, and make notes about whether or not your business, products, services, and processes are relevant to the trends you identify.
2. Set New Social Media Goals
Once you’ve had time to reflect on and absorb the trends that pertain to your business, you need to switch gears and start setting new goals. Given that 2009 was a breakout year for brands using Twitter and Facebook(), now is the time to think about a 2010 social media action plan.
Take stock of your social metrics. Instead of looking at how many followers, fans, retweets, and replies you have, calculate your growth rate per month per data point for 2009. If your growth rate is accelerating month to month, set a projection for the coming months and identify ways to keep your content fresh, your community engaged, and interest in your social presence strong.
If your growth rate is slumping, use the first few months of 2010 to fix the problem. Test() different scenarios in January and February and measure whether or not your efforts are making a positive impact.
The same holds true for Twitter and social media content analysis. Hopefully you’ve been using various tools to document types of feedback – think positive reviews, friend recommendations, constructive feedback, and negative mentions – that flow in through social media channels. If so, set realistic expectations for improvements in each area.
3. Go Local
Location-based services and social networks finally found their footing in 2009 with mobile applications like Foursquare() and Gowalla() driving home the value of location-sharing. Twitter certainly helped the movement when they implemented location-aware tweets.
Ultimately the coming year will highlight how important location data can be. Applications will bring context to status updates in and around city neighborhoods, and smart businesses will find ways to leverage the location data to offer special deals, promotions, and local-only fare.
4. Master Twitter Lists
If used correctly, Twitter Lists can be both an educational tool and a means to demonstrate your leadership in your niche. While the premise is simple – group Twitter users together by subject, topic, or theme – the practice can be quite rewarding.
Master Twitter Lists by investing time and energy into finding great lists to follow (try Listorious) and building great lists of your own. In fact, if you act fast you can create a list that your peers may look to as the default list of experts on a given topic or subject. Build a great list and you’ll become a thought leader and a credible resource.
You might find success with Twitter Lists that highlight a very niche category, lists to pool together the media folks that cover your beat, or lists that include the best businesses in your space. You could even build lists to recognize employees, customers, fans, or clients. You might also apply the local logic from resolution number three to build a list of locals.
5. Experiment with the Experimental
Use the New Year as an excuse to try something new. Every year the web offers up hundreds of new experimental services and ideas, and while you don’t have time to try them all, if you’re able to pinpoint the applications with the most traction, your early adopter status will come with long-term rewards.
As an example, Google Wave(), which is still in preview mode, was an instant hit upon release, until people started using it and getting confused by its purpose. Wave isn’t washing out to sea anytime soon. So, as Google() perfects the new communication channel, you have an opportunity to dive in and get creative with ways to use Wave for business or pleasure.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Friday, February 5, 2010
Proposed bill would ban debit card surcharges in California
In the interest of protecting consumers, Sen. Jenny Oropeza today introduced legislation to stop retailers from imposing surcharges on those who use their debit cards.
“During these difficult economic times, it is more important than ever to protect consumers and ensure they are not nickel and dimed out of their hard earned pay,” Oropeza, D-Long Beach, said after introducing Senate Bill 933. “Regardless of whether you’re buying milk for the kids or gas for the car, having an additional fee piled on just for using your own debit card is unconscionable.”
Oropeza cited figures showing that since 2005, more than half of total transactions nationwide have been paid with a credit or debit card. Beginning in 2006, more purchases were made with debit cards than credit cards, she added.
While charging consumers for using a credit card is currently prohibited, no similar protection exists for consumers using their debit card.
Consumers Union, sponsors of SB 933, agreed with Oropeza’s goals. “Especially at a time when more consumers are moving toward using debit cards to be more financially responsible, they should not be made to pay an extra fee for using a debit or prepaid card,” said Michelle Jun, a staff attorney in Consumers Union’s San Francisco office.
A date for the first policy hearing on Oropeza’s measure has not yet been set.
“During these difficult economic times, it is more important than ever to protect consumers and ensure they are not nickel and dimed out of their hard earned pay,” Oropeza, D-Long Beach, said after introducing Senate Bill 933. “Regardless of whether you’re buying milk for the kids or gas for the car, having an additional fee piled on just for using your own debit card is unconscionable.”
Oropeza cited figures showing that since 2005, more than half of total transactions nationwide have been paid with a credit or debit card. Beginning in 2006, more purchases were made with debit cards than credit cards, she added.
While charging consumers for using a credit card is currently prohibited, no similar protection exists for consumers using their debit card.
Consumers Union, sponsors of SB 933, agreed with Oropeza’s goals. “Especially at a time when more consumers are moving toward using debit cards to be more financially responsible, they should not be made to pay an extra fee for using a debit or prepaid card,” said Michelle Jun, a staff attorney in Consumers Union’s San Francisco office.
A date for the first policy hearing on Oropeza’s measure has not yet been set.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Long Beach City College Young Entrepreneur Project
Long Beach City College (LBCC) has been awarded a $30,000 grant from Verizon to support its Young Entrepreneur Project. The Young Entrepreneur Project (YEP) is an accelerated 7-week training program designed to teach participants the fundamentals of starting and running a small business, and to assist potential entrepreneurs in identifying if entrepreneurship is an option for their current or future aspirations.
“Helping to create jobs for our students and to grow the local economy is a vital function of community colleges,” said LBCC President Eloy Oakley. “LBCC is grateful to Verizon for supporting this program because it is helping to create opportunities that otherwise would not exist for our students.”
“Verizon is delighted to support Long Beach City College’s Young Entrepreneur Project. It’s an important program for strengthening our communities by growing and developing our future entrepreneurs,” said Mike Murray, Verizon’s Director-Government & External Affairs.
Participants in the YEP start with an orientation session, followed by the intense 7-week training program that provides tangible skills that will give them the basic knowledge required to start and run a small business enterprise. “At the end of this program, our students know the basics of how to start their own company and have contacts with other local business experts,” said Bret O’Connor, the YEP Coordinator. “We have helped hundreds of young people explore entrepreneurship as a career path and helped launch new businesses. For example, some of our graduates are now selling custom suits that they manufacture in China and another group started a promotions company.”
The Young Entrepreneur Project is a program of the Small Business Development Center at Long Beach City College. The SBDC provides one-on-one business advising and training seminars in marketing, financing, business start-up, international trade, and procurement programs to small businesses. The SBDC can be reached at 562-938-5020.
“Helping to create jobs for our students and to grow the local economy is a vital function of community colleges,” said LBCC President Eloy Oakley. “LBCC is grateful to Verizon for supporting this program because it is helping to create opportunities that otherwise would not exist for our students.”
“Verizon is delighted to support Long Beach City College’s Young Entrepreneur Project. It’s an important program for strengthening our communities by growing and developing our future entrepreneurs,” said Mike Murray, Verizon’s Director-Government & External Affairs.
Participants in the YEP start with an orientation session, followed by the intense 7-week training program that provides tangible skills that will give them the basic knowledge required to start and run a small business enterprise. “At the end of this program, our students know the basics of how to start their own company and have contacts with other local business experts,” said Bret O’Connor, the YEP Coordinator. “We have helped hundreds of young people explore entrepreneurship as a career path and helped launch new businesses. For example, some of our graduates are now selling custom suits that they manufacture in China and another group started a promotions company.”
The Young Entrepreneur Project is a program of the Small Business Development Center at Long Beach City College. The SBDC provides one-on-one business advising and training seminars in marketing, financing, business start-up, international trade, and procurement programs to small businesses. The SBDC can be reached at 562-938-5020.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
15 Reasons why every business needs a Website!
1. It is the most cost-effective way to advertise.
2. Your customers expect it.
3. You will sell more products and services.
4. You will be able to provide information to your customers more cost effectively.
5. You can receive feedback via your Website.
6. It is much easier to stay in contact with distributors and sales reps.
7. You can provide better customer service.
8. It's the best way to stay competive-considering that most of your rivals already own their own Websites or are looking into getting one.
9. Your business will grow immediately. Any small. local business has the ability to be an instant international sensation with franchise penetration in every city - simply by getting on on-line presence.
10. Your business will look more professional.
11. You will gain credibility. A professional, well-designed site makes your business look successful, and builds trust in your company and its products/services.
12. You are open 24/7 without any added overhead and your sales potential may increase exponentially.
WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? MY COMPANY OFFERS INCREDIBLE WEBSITE SOLUTION FOR A VERY AFFORDABLE PRICE.
CHECKEDANDBALANCED.VPWEB.COM
13. You have the ability to update sales information in real-time
14.It is much more convenient for your customers to purchase your goods and services on-line than by physically coming to you location.
15. You can't afford not to. With Internet sales increasing almost 400% in the last six years, it's just good common sense to boost your business onboard the Internet superhighway.
2. Your customers expect it.
3. You will sell more products and services.
4. You will be able to provide information to your customers more cost effectively.
5. You can receive feedback via your Website.
6. It is much easier to stay in contact with distributors and sales reps.
7. You can provide better customer service.
8. It's the best way to stay competive-considering that most of your rivals already own their own Websites or are looking into getting one.
9. Your business will grow immediately. Any small. local business has the ability to be an instant international sensation with franchise penetration in every city - simply by getting on on-line presence.
10. Your business will look more professional.
11. You will gain credibility. A professional, well-designed site makes your business look successful, and builds trust in your company and its products/services.
12. You are open 24/7 without any added overhead and your sales potential may increase exponentially.
WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? MY COMPANY OFFERS INCREDIBLE WEBSITE SOLUTION FOR A VERY AFFORDABLE PRICE.
CHECKEDANDBALANCED.VPWEB.COM
13. You have the ability to update sales information in real-time
14.It is much more convenient for your customers to purchase your goods and services on-line than by physically coming to you location.
15. You can't afford not to. With Internet sales increasing almost 400% in the last six years, it's just good common sense to boost your business onboard the Internet superhighway.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
When is it time to hire a Bookkeeper?
Most likely, you started your small business because you enjoy the challenges of being an entrepreneur. You are devoted to your company, your employees and your clients. You're on top of the world and the future is bright. There's nothing you haven't thought of and nothing that could get you down, except…
1.You loathe the thought of entering receipts into a financial system or software program.
2.You spend too many hours working late in the office tackling bookkeeping issues.
3.Your frustration level grows higher each time you work on your books.
4.At tax time, you stumble to get your paperwork together for your accountant or CPA.
If you are spending more than a few hours a month managing your paperwork, payroll, and taxes-- chances are you could benefit from the services of a professional bookkeeper.
If your small business has grown to the point where it is getting difficult for you to keep up with the paperwork, you don't have time for bookkeeping, or the budget to hire an in-house bookkeeper, an outside professional bookkeeping service may be just what you need.
Spend more of your valuable time running your business
Allow for more free time with friends and family
Or, whatever else you would rather be doing besides bookkeeping
If you are like most small business owners, you're lucky to find a receipt when you need it—for something purchased a month ago. And for most of us, unless you do bookkeeping for a living, you probably live with an overflowing receipt box that gets higher and higher until tax time arrives and maybe beyond.
Here's a question:On a daily or weekly basis, how much time does it take you to organize your receipts and bookkeeping? If you're finding it's taking way too much time away from making your business successful, then it's probably time to look for someone who can assist you with these tasks.
Sometimes it's better to free up your time for those things that are more important to you and vital to the success of your business.
Listen to your inner wisdom, and if/when the time is right and your budget will allow, hire someone to take off the pressure. Your peace of mind will be well worth it.How much time do you spend keeping track of:
Receipts, budgeting, invoices, bank accounts, payables, receivables, and payroll?
What about tax documents and the yearly hassle of filing your taxes?
Managing all of these little details can easily consume a great deal of your valuable time, and as you are well aware, time is money!
Maybe it's time to call for help!
checkedandbalanced.vpweb.com
OH, WAIT! BOOKKEEPING!
2.You spend too many hours working late in the office tackling bookkeeping issues.
3.Your frustration level grows higher each time you work on your books.
4.At tax time, you stumble to get your paperwork together for your accountant or CPA.
If you are spending more than a few hours a month managing your paperwork, payroll, and taxes-- chances are you could benefit from the services of a professional bookkeeper.
If your small business has grown to the point where it is getting difficult for you to keep up with the paperwork, you don't have time for bookkeeping, or the budget to hire an in-house bookkeeper, an outside professional bookkeeping service may be just what you need.
Spend more of your valuable time running your business
Allow for more free time with friends and family
Or, whatever else you would rather be doing besides bookkeeping
If you are like most small business owners, you're lucky to find a receipt when you need it—for something purchased a month ago. And for most of us, unless you do bookkeeping for a living, you probably live with an overflowing receipt box that gets higher and higher until tax time arrives and maybe beyond.
Here's a question:On a daily or weekly basis, how much time does it take you to organize your receipts and bookkeeping? If you're finding it's taking way too much time away from making your business successful, then it's probably time to look for someone who can assist you with these tasks.
Sometimes it's better to free up your time for those things that are more important to you and vital to the success of your business.
Listen to your inner wisdom, and if/when the time is right and your budget will allow, hire someone to take off the pressure. Your peace of mind will be well worth it.How much time do you spend keeping track of:
Receipts, budgeting, invoices, bank accounts, payables, receivables, and payroll?
What about tax documents and the yearly hassle of filing your taxes?
Managing all of these little details can easily consume a great deal of your valuable time, and as you are well aware, time is money!
Maybe it's time to call for help!
checkedandbalanced.vpweb.com
Friday, November 6, 2009
Start a new business or look for another job?
After losing my job back in March due to a reduction in workforce I was forced to learn and re-think a lot of things, as I'm sure is true of everyone in this economic climate right now.
I was fortunate enough to have access to an outsourcing company that was able to help rebuild my resume. I had not been in the "job market" for quite some time and it was amazing to me how much everything had changed.
Resumes are written with a different theme to them now. Employers don't want to see what your job descriptions and duties are anymore, now they want to see your accomplishments and what was affected by your duties. You have to quantify all your duties with money and/or time saved and by how much, the scope of the job duty and who and what is effected by your efforts.
Today everything is about computers. There are no more job postings in papers; they're all on the internet and you need to become very savy in it's use to stand out and get noticed. Most of the jobs posted on Monster or Career Builder are employment agencies trying to make sure their data bases are full just in case they get a call for a job opening, they need to have someone available to send.
I did get another job after my job loss. It was a temporary contract that was suppose to last 3 months. I was told that it was a temp to hire job and that after the contract was up I would be able to apply for the position permanently. After working in this position for 1 month I received a call from the employment agency one morning as I was getting ready to walk out the door for work. She informed me that, without her knowledge, this company had continued to interview for this position and had hired someone else and my services were no longer needed.
Then came the re-thinking part, I had to realize that age and experience relate to another problem I see happening with people in the employment climate of today. If you are over 50 and trying to find a job, interviews are intimidating, expecially if you are insecure about your age. Though we may like to believe that and are told that the world doesn't discriminate, well, think again. It does. There will be 100 reasons why you didn't get a job when you had more experience and credentials than someone else 20 years younger who applied for the same job. Of course the employer can't ever admit to that, but they are looing out for the best interest of their company, even if it means not hiring someone older.
This is where I decided to try my hand at something I've always wanted to do: BE MY OWN BOSS! If you take a 50-year-old self-employed accountant, bookkeeper (or whatever your specialty is), you will have customers/clients confident in your experience rather that using it against you. If you are starting out on your own after you have worked for someone else for 30 years, then use it to your advantage, because it won't matter with the tables turned. They need YOU, which is why they're looking for your expertise. Your experience and your age will be one of your assets.
If there is anyone out there in the same situation, I would love to network and brainstorm ways to make your business grow. I am available for resume writing, bookkeeping for small businesses, QuickBooks consulting or just trading information.
checkedandbalanced.vpweb.com
I was fortunate enough to have access to an outsourcing company that was able to help rebuild my resume. I had not been in the "job market" for quite some time and it was amazing to me how much everything had changed.
Resumes are written with a different theme to them now. Employers don't want to see what your job descriptions and duties are anymore, now they want to see your accomplishments and what was affected by your duties. You have to quantify all your duties with money and/or time saved and by how much, the scope of the job duty and who and what is effected by your efforts.
Today everything is about computers. There are no more job postings in papers; they're all on the internet and you need to become very savy in it's use to stand out and get noticed. Most of the jobs posted on Monster or Career Builder are employment agencies trying to make sure their data bases are full just in case they get a call for a job opening, they need to have someone available to send.
I did get another job after my job loss. It was a temporary contract that was suppose to last 3 months. I was told that it was a temp to hire job and that after the contract was up I would be able to apply for the position permanently. After working in this position for 1 month I received a call from the employment agency one morning as I was getting ready to walk out the door for work. She informed me that, without her knowledge, this company had continued to interview for this position and had hired someone else and my services were no longer needed.
Then came the re-thinking part, I had to realize that age and experience relate to another problem I see happening with people in the employment climate of today. If you are over 50 and trying to find a job, interviews are intimidating, expecially if you are insecure about your age. Though we may like to believe that and are told that the world doesn't discriminate, well, think again. It does. There will be 100 reasons why you didn't get a job when you had more experience and credentials than someone else 20 years younger who applied for the same job. Of course the employer can't ever admit to that, but they are looing out for the best interest of their company, even if it means not hiring someone older.
This is where I decided to try my hand at something I've always wanted to do: BE MY OWN BOSS! If you take a 50-year-old self-employed accountant, bookkeeper (or whatever your specialty is), you will have customers/clients confident in your experience rather that using it against you. If you are starting out on your own after you have worked for someone else for 30 years, then use it to your advantage, because it won't matter with the tables turned. They need YOU, which is why they're looking for your expertise. Your experience and your age will be one of your assets.
If there is anyone out there in the same situation, I would love to network and brainstorm ways to make your business grow. I am available for resume writing, bookkeeping for small businesses, QuickBooks consulting or just trading information.
checkedandbalanced.vpweb.com
Why QuickBooks?
Quickbooks is fast and easy, leaving you time to focus on your clients and their needs.
WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO GET STARTED?
QuickBooks has been designed for small business owners who aren't experts in acounting and bookkeeping. Using Quickbooks will help simplify work you already do-- like paying bills, invoicing customers, tracking sales tax, and much more.
WHO ARE CERTIFIED QUICKBOOKS PROADVISORS?
Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisors are professionals who work with small businesses. These ProAdvisors are QuickBooks experts-- they've completed a comprehensive QuickBooks training course and exam in order to become certified. They can get you started on the right foot, aiding in set-up, training and troubleshooting.. even helping you move from whatever your current accounting method is to QuickBooks.
Even if you already have an accounting professional serving you, if they don't happen to provide QuickBooks-related setup, training, and consultation services, you should consider contacting a local Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor.
WHAT COULD YOU LEARN?
Here are just a few examples of what you could learn:
CERTIFIED QUICKBOOKS PROADVISORS ARE HERE TO HELP!
QuickBooks users who get help through a ProAdvisor or accounting professional have a high satisfaction level with QuickBooks. Whether you need help setting up and customizing QuickBooks, lerning how to more efficiently use the software, or better understanding the financial data you currently have in Quickbooks, your local ProAdvisor is available to help you get the most out of the software.
Posted by Checked and Balanced at 9:23 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: accounting software, Quickbooks, success
WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO GET STARTED?
QuickBooks has been designed for small business owners who aren't experts in acounting and bookkeeping. Using Quickbooks will help simplify work you already do-- like paying bills, invoicing customers, tracking sales tax, and much more.
WHO ARE CERTIFIED QUICKBOOKS PROADVISORS?
Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisors are professionals who work with small businesses. These ProAdvisors are QuickBooks experts-- they've completed a comprehensive QuickBooks training course and exam in order to become certified. They can get you started on the right foot, aiding in set-up, training and troubleshooting.. even helping you move from whatever your current accounting method is to QuickBooks.
Even if you already have an accounting professional serving you, if they don't happen to provide QuickBooks-related setup, training, and consultation services, you should consider contacting a local Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor.
WHAT COULD YOU LEARN?
Here are just a few examples of what you could learn:
- Whether using financial software can save you time
- Which edition of QuickBooks is the best for your unique business needs
- How to manage your cash flow at start-up
- How to accurately track expenses and income
CERTIFIED QUICKBOOKS PROADVISORS ARE HERE TO HELP!
QuickBooks users who get help through a ProAdvisor or accounting professional have a high satisfaction level with QuickBooks. Whether you need help setting up and customizing QuickBooks, lerning how to more efficiently use the software, or better understanding the financial data you currently have in Quickbooks, your local ProAdvisor is available to help you get the most out of the software.
Posted by Checked and Balanced at 9:23 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: accounting software, Quickbooks, success
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