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2010 Small Business Trends & Opportunities

This article explores various trends and opportunities for small businesses, including cloud computing, DIY marketing, green business practices, personal branding, mobile technology, and local online presence. It provides tips on how to participate internally and externally in each of these areas.

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2010 Small Business Trends & Opportunities

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  1. 2010 Small Business Trends & Opportunities

  2. 1. “It’s the Cloud, Stupid”

  3. Data Center Servers Traditional Computing Employee Computers

  4. Cloud Computing

  5. 1: “It’s the Cloud, Stupid” • How to Participate Internally • Key categories: • productivity software such as accounting & office • collaboration platforms for distributed workforce, clients, business partners • data backup services • marketing • Find apps that integrate with other apps; syncing with mobile apps a nascent area • Key issues: price, vendor reliability, security • Staff usage of Internet is double-edged

  6. 1: “It’s the Cloud, Stupid” • External Revenue Opportunities • “Productize a service” into an online application • Name it • Put limits around it • Give it a Web front end • Flat rate pricing – move away from time-based pricing • Replace hardware-related services with “soft” services • Hardware related services skrink & get commoditized • Make your website transactional: • Add appointment scheduling & customer service online • Look at existing apps for ideas in your market • “Borrowing brilliance” model by David Kord Murray

  7. 2. DIY Marketing Grows

  8. 2: DIY Marketing Grows • Save money, gain customer intimacy by doing marketing in-house • How to Participate Internally • Use lower cost technology instead of employee labor • Build a customer community online • Spread content far and wide • Hire people for their ability to use DIY resources/apps • Hire good writers and techno-marketers • External Opportunities – “Assist the DIYs” • Create apps (mobile and SaaS) to help businesses • “Teach” and “Help” the DIY market

  9. 2: DIY Marketing Grows • Resources – stunning array of DIY tools • Email marketing: Vertical Response; Constant Contact • Banner ads: PointBanner.com • Postcards: HP Creative Studio; USPS; Vista Print • Community & learning software: Prfessor.com; WordPress MU; BuddyPress; Ning; VBulletin • Follow-on marketing automation: Hubspot; Infusionsoft • SEO: LotusJump.com; SEOMoz; Knowem.com • DIY public relations: PRWeb.com • Advertising: Google AdWords

  10. 3. “Green is the Color of Business

  11. 3: “Green” is the Color of Business • Good Opportunity for Near Term – less certain long term • How to Participate • Combine passion for sustainability with your expertise • Event Planning: Seven Stars Events • Landscape Design: Fiddlehead Landscape Design • Switch to recycled packaging • Make your commitment open – to differentiate • Grants & stimulus fund available for green tech • Don’t “greenwash” – backfires with those who care

  12. 4. Everyone can be a Celebrity

  13. 4: Everyone Can be a Celebrity • Use executives’ personal brand to promote businesses, ala Richard Branson • Thought leadership, expertise based brand: • Gary Vaynerchuk (Wine Library TV) • Tony Hsieh (Zappos) • Tim Berry (Palo Alto Software) • How to Participate • Establish a resume site - your name as URL • Create content in your expertise • Establish social media “outposts” (company & execs)

  14. 4: Everyone Can be a Celebrity • Resources for thought leadership: • URLs: Go Daddy; Network Solutions • Blog publishing: Wordpress.com; WordPress.org: Typepad.com; Blogger.com • Self-Publish (lulu, kdpress) • Find a book agent: “Literary Marketplace” ref book (publishers no longer accept unsolicited manuscripts) • 3 “MUST” social media sites for personal-brand outposts: Twitter; LinkedIn; Facebook

  15. 5. The “Carry Your Computer” Trend

  16. 277,000,000 Mobile Phones in U.S.

  17. 5: The “Carry Your Computer” Trend • Computers and mobile devices converge • How to Participate internally: • Install stripped-down “M Dot” mobile template for your website (http://m.twitter.com) • Build a “text message list” – 96% of messages opened • Create an a mobile app for your biz, blog or website • Price and location services through barcodes, GPS • External Opportunities: • Apps development • Mobile consulting: tech and marketing specialists

  18. 5: The “Carry Your Computer” Trend • Resources • Create mobile website: Mofuse, Zinadoo.com • Mobile plugins for CMS packages like WordPress • Smashing Magazine create-an-app tutorial: • http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/08/11/how-to-create-your-first-iphone-application/ • Mobile marketing: FanMinder.com • Google the phrase: “create iphone app” • Apps directories: Appolicious.com

  19. 6. Location Based Presence Online

  20. 6: Location Based Presence Online • Local directory listings and marketing finally gaining critical mass • How to Participate • Claim listings; update all directories • SEO optimize for local: website and listings • Local businesses: offer coupons/discounts via Twitter, Facebook, Yelp, Merchant Circle, yellow pages online • Collect “location” information for marketing lists • Develop “community” online; enhances loyalty

  21. 6: Location Based Presence Online • Resources • GetListed.org • Latitude and Foursquare.com – create community • Google; Bing; Yahoo offer local listings • Twitter introduced Local Trends

  22. 7. Government Contracting Grows

  23. 7: Government Contracting Grows • Opportunities for next 3 years • Often more lip service than reality • Still, opportunities = $$ for small biz • External Opportunities • Break in through subcontracting • Relationship with decision makers is crucial – businesses in Washington, DC area beneficiaries • Women, Veterans and Minorities may find “gold” due to agency contracting goals • Don’t overlook state and local contracting opportunities

  24. 7: Government Contracting Grows • Resources • Per Dawn Rivers Baker of Microenterprise Journal: • Visit SBA contracting education center: http://www.sba.gov/training/governmentcontracting/index.html • Also register in Contractor Database:https://www.bpn.gov/ccr/default.aspx • PTAC counseling: http://www.aptac-us.org • SCORE and SBDC workshops and counseling

  25. 8. Harder to Get Found Online

  26. 206,000,000 Websites Worldwide

  27. 8: Harder to Get Found Online • More websites, more companies online • How to Address Internally • Longevity matters – start now • Don’t ignore an old website; keep it fresh • Develop internal expertise in online marketing & tech • Shift more marketing spend online • Do get outside SEO / SEM help • SEO is required knowledge for business owners – learn so you can communicate with pros

  28. 8: Harder to Get Found Online • External Opportunities • SEO growth: services plus DIY apps/tools • PR and marketing firms can add services • Endless range of online marketing apps to be built • Analytics; dashboards; “analytics interpreters” • Hosting • Social media marketing (“multiplying like rabbits”)

  29. 9: Crowdsourcing Customers

  30. 9: Crowdsourcing Customers • Customer input to design new products and services; improve existing ones • Idea not new – but the tools today make it easier, cheaper, faster • How to Participate • Create a “space” where customers can interact and provide feedback: • Ask questions on your web site or blog; open comments • Use online survey tools and bolt-on customer feedback apps • Create digital listening outposts on social media

  31. 9: Crowdsourcing Customers • Resources • Suggestion/customer service bolt-ons: • IdeaScale.com; UserVoice.com; GetSatisfaction.com • Online survey tools: • QuestionPro; SurveyMonkey; Zoomerang; SurveyGizmo • Social Media for listening: • Twitter; Facebook Fan pages and Groups; LinkedIn Answers • Product forums • Company blogs • Create a social media hub page like Akron Canton Airport site

  32. 10: More Sole Proprietorships

  33. 10: More Sole Proprietorships • High unemployment = more startups • 20+ Million small businesses with no employees • Some will remain “lean” – never hire employees • Most will be service based businesses • Opportunities serving these startups • Clearly distinguish your target market – “niche-ify” • Price your services for startups; encourage repeat business with recurring revenue streams • Virtual online services have appeal

  34. 10: More Sole Proprietorships • If you are starting up, consider something you know: • Pet businesses • Web businesses & “Productized services” • Kids services and products • Convenience services (“dog walking”) • Home based franchises • Apps development • Online content and social media services • Virtual assistance; virtual bookkeeping • Specialty foods (esp. for health & wellness) • Consulting in your old industry/old employer

  35. Questions?Thank you! Anita Campbell, Founder Small Business Trends SmallBizTrends.com BizSugar.com Twitter: @Smallbiztrends

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