Small Business Info

Twitter can be an effective tool for small business owners to promote their products and services and find new customers... if it's used wisely. Like any other social media platform, there are pros and cons, and many of them depend on the type of business you have and your marketing goals.

For many businesses, though, there are a lot of reasons to use Twitter to expand your reach and grow your business. To help you get started on the right foot, today's feature article provides five essential tips for using Twitter in your small business.

Feature Article:
5 Tips for Getting Started with Twitter in Your Small Business

Image © Twitter

Bartering in your small business can be an effective way to accomplish more while spending less. But bartering is not right in every situation, and you should make sure you take time to do the necessary research before you get started.

Today's feature article provides an introduction to bartering, including some reasons small business owners do it, ideas on how to find bartering opportunities, and tips for bartering successfully.

Feature Article:
Small Business Bartering 101

Along with business plans, marketing plans are one of the most powerful documents you will ever prepare for your business. Every business needs a marketing plan, and while some of the specifics will vary depending on your type of business and industry, there are some key sections that are universal.

Today's feature article includes a step-by-step marketing plan guide that will help you create your own plan that is relevant for your business, one that you can start using immediately. After walking through the steps, the document you create should grow with your business and become one of your most important tools that you use on a daily basis.

Feature Article:
How to Write a Small Business Marketing Plan: A Step-by-Step Guide

As a small business owner in any stage of business, you have a lot to think about. You are ultimately responsible for every facet of your business, even if you have staff, consultants or other support to help you fill in the gaps. One area many small business owners don't think about -- or one that gets put on the bottom of the list -- is how to create a retirement plan that will protect their future.

Retirement planning is a necessary process that helps you save money for the future, and it's especially important for small business owners.

Today's feature article will help you explore your options when it comes to retirement and get started with a plan that will help you start saving for your future.

Featured Article:
Retirement Planning Tips for Small Business Owners

Volunteering is a universal way to pay it forward by sharing your skills and experience to help others, and it's just as relevant for small business owners as it is for everyone else. In fact, there are a number of secondary benefits that come from giving back as a small business owner that are hard to find elsewhere.

Today's feature article lists five indisputable reasons to take time to do good for others, aside from the obvious benefit of making a positive difference. Take a look and start to explore ways you can give back in your community or industry.

Feature Article:
How Giving Back Can Help Your Small Business

Photo © winjohn

Email marketing is a staple when it comes to online small business marketing. And when you pair it with social media to grow your list, promote special offers and engage with your audience, using email marketing is a no-brainer for small business owners.

Creating and cultivating an email marketing list that is responsive and engaged takes time, so don't wait to get started. There are many different approaches you can take, but I narrowed the process down to four manageable steps that will help you create a plan to use email marketing in your business. Read today's feature article to get started.

Feature Article:
Four Steps to Using Email Marketing in Your Small Business

While being environmentally conscious should be a year-round perspective, Earth Day helps us remember the environment and all we can be doing to honor the earth. It's the perfect time to renew our enthusiasm for being green, even in our small businesses.

When it comes to the earth, the efforts of even one individual count, but there is certain strength in numbers that can't be ignored. So let's all make one environmentally friendly change in our small business this month.

Today's feature article includes five ideas on how you can make your business green and help the environment.

Feature Article:
Five Ways to Go Green in Your Small Business

Photo  © spekulator

Owning a business is like swimming. You can't just stop moving and expect to stay afloat; it's a constant process that requires steady movement. That's part of the reason why it can be exhausting to own a business.

So what do you do when you're completely overwhelmed? Here are five ways to keep yourself moving, even when you feel like giving up:

1. Walk away from the situation, take a break and come back with a clearer perspective.
2. Take one baby step without thinking about what comes next.
3. Stop trying to make everything perfect, just get it done.
4. Think about everything you've been successful at, especially the things that were really hard to accomplish.
5. Get an accountability partner to help keep you on track.

No, it's not always easy, but you're a business owner. If anyone can do it, you can. What do you do to push yourself through when you face a challenge?

For more motivation, read these articles:

• How to Get and Stay Motivated
• 10 Powerful Goal Setting Steps
• How to Overcome the Fear of Failure

Photo © tatlin

Tax Day is quickly approaching, so I hope this post doesn't apply to you. But in case you're still trying to get your small business taxes in order to file by April 15, here are some resources that might help:

• Should You File an Extension?
• Filing an Extension for Business Tax Returns
• What If You Can't Pay the Taxes You Owe?
• Last-Minute Tax Tips for Small Business Owners
• A Dozen Deductions for Every Small Business

Bootstrapping is a smart way for cash-strapped small business owners to improve their bottom line. In fact, entrepreneurs who bootstrap are self-sustaining, frugal and have a great ability to stretch a dollar. This can be good business practice for just about any small business owner.

While you may think of bootstrapping in terms of starting a business, there are ways you can bootstrap an existing business to become more efficient and productive for less.

Today's feature article shares seven tips for running your business on a bootstrap budget.

Feature Article:
7 Tips for Running Your Business on a Bootstrap Budget

Photo © mailsparky