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Small Business Tips: Prepare For Summer Staff

Fri, 09 May 2008 09:58:27 -0400

Summer job trends present opportunity to prepare for season, be thankful for current business benefits

If you know anyone looking for a summer job, or if you have been in that situation yourself, you know that seasonal hiring has a life of it’s own. Pools need lifeguards, working parents need summer sitters, landscapers need beefed-up crews, and teenagers need something to keep them busy. No matter how you look at it, seasonal hiring for summer jobs is underway.

Those of us who run a small business may be preparing to hire an intern or assistant for the summer months in order to lighten the load and get more done. But watch out, because according to CareerBuilder.com’s latest survey of more than 3,000 U.S. employers, summer workers may be acquiring bigger paychecks. Twenty-four percent of employers plan to pay their summer hires and/or interns more this year than they did last year. Nearly half (47 percent) plan to dish out $10 or more per hour; 7 percent will pay $20 or more per hour. Twenty-nine percent anticipate paying between $8 and $10 per hour while 11 percent expect to pay less than $7 per hour.

The survey reports that the most popular summer positions being offered include:

Office support (28 percent)
Customer service (19 percent)
Landscape/maintenance (14 percent)
Research (14 percent)
Restaurant/food service (8 percent)
Construction/painting (8 percent)
Sales (8 percent)

So as we plan for summer support staff, it kind of makes you think of all the summer jobs that you might have had to endure in the past. For instance, probably the worst summer of my life entailed kitchen duty at a retirement home. The reason? I have a weak stomach, and scraping “used food,” from the plates into the garbage resulted in my gag reflex being on constant alert. So to provide some humor, the survey also revealed that opportunities arise in unconventional areas as well. When asked about the most unusual or memorable summer jobs they’ve ever held, workers shared the following responses:

Chicken wrangler
Caretaker for diabetic monkeys
Clown in an underwater theater
Bomb painter
Gopher hunter
Picked burnt potato chips off a conveyor belt
Erased pencil marks out of used books
Scrubbed rubber ducks for national rubber duck race

Home Business Tips: Mental Health And Nature Go Hand In Hand

Wed, 07 May 2008 14:15:36 -0400

Home based business workers can feel isolated, alone but mental health tips can help

As a home-based professional, have you ever had days on end of meeting deadlines, skipping showers and missing out on much needed sleep? Or have you gone hours at a time typing at your computer, answering phone calls and tending to business without actually seeing another human being for days at a time? Sometimes I really think that the disconnect we experience from working out of our homes can take it’s toll, both mentally and physically.

Here are some statistics that may surprise you, according to the World Health Organization:

In 1960 the average age of onset of depression in North America was 55-years-old, but in 2007, the average onset age of depression in North America was 24-years-old.
Depression is expected to be the second largest single cause of disability in the world by 2020.

So if you find yourself feeling down, depressed or hopeless as you go through the day-to-day motions of managing your home business, consider the suggestions offered by Dr. Kathleen Hall, lifestyle expert in stress and work-life balance, and founder and C.E.O. of The Stress Institute and The Mindful Living Network. According to Hall, getting out in nature can help boost our moods and change our outlook. Why? Because researchers suggest that:

We make nature and social connections with animals, trees, clouds and our surroundings.
Sensory stimulation, like colors, sounds, fresh air and wind, all stimulate our senses.
Activity, like walking or making motions helps us produce endorphins and serotonin.
Escaping from our busy lives helps us reflect, think and come home to our self, which de-stresses and nourishes us.

Dr. Hall offers ways to incorporate "Ecotherapy" into your life:

Take a walk in nature during your lunch, after work or before bed.
Listen to nature sounds on a nature sound disk or machine a couple of times a week at work, or purchase a nature DVD for your television and computer with your favorite scenes.
Keep photos of you in nature around your office to remind you of how you love to connect with nature.
Keep a plant in your office, create a porch garden or visit a local park regularly.
Get an animal or keep a small aquarium. Animals nourish our lives, reduce depression and the risk of many diseases.

Small Business Management: Employee Retention

Wed, 07 May 2008 09:41:18 -0400

Small business tips for improving employee loyalty, increasing retention rates and keeping staff happy

When I had my first job many years ago, I remember how nervous I was not to make a mistake, to complete every project detail with precision and care, and to work above and beyond in order to make a good impression. I was hoping to thrive in my position, and stay with the company for years to come.

In today’s business climate, it seems like workers change jobs as much as their wardrobe. From a management point of view, this can wreak havoc in terms of training time and money, as well as morale and team unity. According to Dale Carnegie Training, evidence would indicate that a large number of employees in today’s workforce will change jobs every two years. In the first 10 years of their career, many younger workers may have as many as 8 jobs.

So, what can businesses do to retain top talent? Engaging employees is key. Peter Handal, chairman, president and CEO of Dale Carnegie Training, believes there are certain steps businesses can take to keep employees engaged and evoke loyalty in order to cultivate strong talent. He provides the following suggestions when considering programs focused on engaging employees and developing high potential talent:

Support employees in building strong skill sets. By supporting employees in building both technical abilities and transferable skills (communication, confidence, leadership, and people skills) an organization can demonstrate their interest in the development of their employees. A more holistic approach to employee development is a key first step in employee engagement.

Prepare employees for, and support them during, times of transition. Individuals face transition in both their personal and professional life. Starting a new job, taking on a new role, moving to a new location are all times when the transition can overwhelm an employee. By helping employees prepare for job and role transitions, supporting them during the transition, and then recognizing their successes in the new situation, organizations can create a connection with employees that strengthens their engagement with the team and their willingness to help others during their times of transition.

Foster a sense of ownership within employees. The old encouragement to “act like you own it” is good advice. The challenge is making the adage practical. It is difficult to build a sense of ownership when the plans, activities, and details are dictated to you. Managers need to find ways to actively engage employees in contributing ideas to plans, activities, and outcomes.

Help employees see the link between current efforts and future opportunities. When employees view their efforts as a disconnected series of activities it is easy to begin looking for other opportunities where their work can be more meaningful. Providing employees with a clear line of sight between their work and the larger initiatives of the organization is a solid method of engaging employees and retaining top talent.

Home Business Trends: Women and Entrepreneurship Contributions To Global Economy Reflect Gender Differences

Tue, 06 May 2008 11:50:17 -0400

New study shows women's entrepreneurship makes big impact in world, nation

When it comes to entrepreneurs, gender plays a part in current global and national trends. In fact, new findings show that women's entrepreneurship matters -- women are creating and running businesses around the world, contributing to economies that represent more than 70% of the world's population and 93% of global GDP (2007). Women's entrepreneurship is a key contributor to economic growth in low/middle income countries, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean according to The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2007 Report on Women and Entrepreneurship released by The Center for Women's Leadership at Babson College.

A gender gap persists -- both significant and systematic -- in new venture creation and business ownership, but the gender difference is more obvious in high-income countries but exists throughout all regions, with Europe and Asia showing a greater gap than Latin America and the Caribbean.

GEM data suggests that:

women who are employed and have built a social network of entrepreneurs are more likely to become entrepreneurs.
social and economic benefits of working are driving women's entrepreneurship more than increased education or household income.
women's level of optimism and self-confidence in starting a business is highly influenced by the culture and social norms of their native countries.
women entrepreneurs have less fear of failure than women who are not involved in entrepreneurial activity; yet they express a greater fear of business failure than men starting businesses.
fear of failure is also higher for women in all country groups compared to their male counterparts.
women in Europe and Asia low/middle income countries had the highest fear of failure rates (40.3%) compared to women in Latin America and the Caribbean (34.2%), and women in high-income countries (27.1%).

"Women's entrepreneurship varies widely across the globe," says Babson Professor Elaine I. Allen, principal researcher of the study, "It's a surprise that developing countries in Eastern Europe have low rates of women's entrepreneurship, closely resembling their highly developed European neighbors, while the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean have rates of women's entrepreneurship two and three times higher."

For more information on this subject, you can view the report at: http://www.gemconsortium.org/about.aspx?page=special_topic_women

Home Business Marketing: Enhance Company Image With Virtual Phone Service

Mon, 05 May 2008 13:31:06 -0400

Home based businesses and entrepreneurs can benefit from toll free services

I was working on a newsletter article last week and was trying to get in touch with an important source for the story. He is an attorney in his own small firm, and I was wanting to include his response to accusations aimed at one of his clients. I had heard from every other subject involved in the story but him.

So I called and left him a message with a voicemail system, which I assume went directly to his own office. I didn’t get a response. I called daily for three days, only to finally get an e-mail from him, saying that he was overseas, had just checked his messages, and would not have time to get a statement to me before the article went to press. Unfortunately, I had already been forced to finish the article for press time, and his side of the story was left unrepresented.

I’m sure this attorney was busy, but I was amazed that it wasn’t easier to get in touch with him, and I was astounded that he obviously checked his messages the old-fashioned way. I’m fairly sure that his client will not be happy that a statement was not promptly made on his behalf.

In today’s business world, you just can’t afford to miss phone calls or allow possible deadlines to get away, just because you can’t get your messages right away, or you have no way to communicate with clients or colleagues.
That’s why I always recommend to home-based businesses and entrepreneurs acquiring the services of a virtual office system. When you sign on with someone that offers toll free services, you are given the opportunity to launch and grow your business, no matter how small.

Companies like FreedomVOICE can help enhance your company image while increasing productivity, which in turn helps increase your profits. You will be available to clients, inquiries and new audiences. This can help increase your bottom line. With the vast features available with such a service, you can enjoy 1 800 numbers, unified messaging and follow-me call forwarding.

Once you have these features working for your business, you can gain the look and feel of an established corporation, which can save you the expense of purchasing costly and complicated phone system equipment that you may or may not be able to maintain on your own.

Gaining the benefits of a virtual office system is a simple way that will show you immediate results. And you won’t get caught out of town with no resources available to respond to calls promptly. Having such a system on your side may just keep you in contact with important people … like writers who need your input for a story. You never know who is trying to contact you.

Home Business News: Online Shopping Habits Remain Steady For Consumers

Sun, 04 May 2008 17:20:51 -0400

New survey reflects shopping trends for consumers in current economy

I was putting gas in my car last week, and I envisioned myself having a meltdown right there at the pump. I fantasized for a moment, just wondering what would happen if I began crying, screaming, and ranting about how I’d much rather spend that much money on a new summer outfit or a great night out. Of course, using that gas money on a night out or a trip to the shopping mall requires yet more money for the gasoline that I have to put in my tank in order to get there.

This train of thought led me in the direction of asking, "I wonder if I could actually do all my shopping online, and invite all my friends over to my house, in order to look good and have fun without having to pay for the gas." I figured I could purchase almost everything I needed online, except I couldn’t pick out my own fresh fruit. As for my friends, well they love me, but my living room doesn’t offer the ambiance of Tuscany or the entertainment of a live zydeco band. Go figure.

So what does this have to do with home business owners? Well, if you offer a product or service that is available online, this might just be the perfect time to pump up the sales efforts and try to entice your customer base with more online shopping benefits. After all, who can really afford these days to spend a Saturday hopping from place to place in order to complete the shopping to-do list.

If you’re wondering how consumers are feeling, take a look at these findings from a recent survey, 2008 Online Shopping Habits: What is Affecting Your Spending? The survey was conducted by Safe Home Products to learn how outside factors in the economy, fuel prices, and weather have and will affect online shopping habits for consumers in 2008.

"We gained some valuable information from the consumers who participated in this survey, for example over 56% of consumers believe fuel prices will affect their shopping habits in 2008, but the majority will not change their online shopping habits," said Barbara Staib, president of Safe Home Products. "This tells us that consumers plan to change their shopping behavior in other areas, but not in their online shopping. The majority of the consumers, at nearly 59%, plan to shop the same amount in 2008 as in the previous year. This is positive news to us as it means the internet retail economy should remain stable."

The study found that those who favor online shopping will continue to do so, and that consumers see online shopping as a way to save money. What this means for home business owners is that we have an area in which to focus. All we need to do is figure out a way to show value, savings and benefits when it comes to our products or services being offered online.

It might sound like a challenge, but if you take a look at your marketing plan, evaluate your advertising dollars, and tap into the online shopping market, you may just provide much needed relief to those consumers that are contemplating hissy fits at the pump. Just a thought.

Small Business Marketing: Holidays Provide Marketing Opportunities

Sun, 04 May 2008 14:49:19 -0400

Small business tips for promoting business, community involvement and good public relations

Tomorrow is Cinco de Mayo. Whether you really know what the day is about, we all love an excuse to celebrate another holiday, right? In fact, many have been celebrating all weekend, as restaurants, organizations and clubs have utilized this weekend as a pre-holiday build-up.

Holidays and observances present opportunities for small business owners and entrepreneurs to offer special deals, get involved with local events, and serve as sponsors or volunteers. This helps with increasing company awareness in your community, building better relationships with potential and current customers, and attracting new business.

So what exactly is Cinco de Mayo? Well besides the obvious - it being on the fifth of May, the origin of the observance goes back to 1862, when outnumbered Mexican troops defeated the invading French forces of Napoleon III at the battle of Puebla. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are more than 28 million people of Mexican descent in the U.S., some 9 percent of the total population. Nearly 11 million of these live in California.

So now that you know why you drink tequila and dance to salsa music on this holiday, you also might find ways to make such observances work for you. For instance, you could offer one-day specials, an in-store party, or have a Cinco de Mayo theme for the week that ties in your products or services. If you sell a product, you could offer $5 off, or increments of $5 off, and tie it in with the fifth of the month. There are countless ways you can make a holiday or special observance, no matter how well-known or how obscure, an opportunity to bring attention to your business.

The trick is that you have to think of it well before the actual day is here. Actually, when such days occur, it’s a perfect time to conduct a little research to begin planning for next year. Take time out tomorrow to review your newspaper, or watch local news to find out what smart or creative things other businesses are doing to incorporate Cinco de Mayo into their business marketing. Bars and restaurants are masters at doing this, and sometimes you can borrow great marketing techniques by observing what they do.

Once you spot an idea or event that sparks your interest, brainstorm on some of the ways you could incorporate the same ideas, and write it all down. If you don’t already, you need to have a file that is specifically for future marketing ideas. Anytime you spot a great marketing or promotional idea, write it down, keep a copy of what has inspired you, and file it away for later. Then you can start planning how you’ll incorporate those ideas into next year’s marketing plan.

Just like Cinco de Mayo, we all love an opportunity to celebrate and have a good time. If you can combine that willingness to have fun with a business opportunity, you can have the best of both worlds.

Home Business News: Self-Employed Women Show Wage, Salary Earning Diferences

Fri, 02 May 2008 11:11:30 -0400

Women that work for themselves tend to be older, better educated

Sometimes when I'm in my office at home, staring at the computer screen and praying to the inspiration gods to hit me with what they've got, I wonder if I'm alone. "Is there anyone else out there like me, self-employed and burning the midnight oil to stay ahead?"

If you're in the same position, you'll be interested in the findings of a new report that provides a glimpse into the lives of us female entrepreneurs. According to the findings, self-employed women differ from their wage and salary earning counterparts in several human capital areas. Most notably, self-employed women tend to be older, are better educated, and have more managerial experience than wage and salary earners.

These findings are contained in a report, Human Capital and Women's Business Ownership, just released by the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration. "Human capital factors such as education and experience have long been known to have a positive correlation with entrepreneurship," said Dr. Chad Moutray, Chief Economist for the Office of Advocacy. "This report delves deeper into women's business ownership and shows that factors such as occupational skills and entrepreneurial preparedness are essential to women's entrepreneurship."

The report, written by Business Development Advisors with funding from the Office of Advocacy, also compares human capital factors of self-employed women and men, as well as between self-employed whites and minorities. Comparing self-employed women to other working women, the authors found that:

Self-employed women have greater educational attainment.
Self-employed women are more likely to be in managerial occupations.
Self-employed women are more likely to work in non-traditional occupations.
Self-employed women are likely to be older.

For more information and a complete copy of the report, visit the Office of Advocacy website at http://www.sba.gov/advo.

Home Business Resource: Marketing, Networking Site Provides Tool For Business Owners

Thu, 01 May 2008 09:44:27 -0400

Social networking site helps home based business owners connect with local community

We’ve talked before about social networking, and how home based business owners can utilize such resources to work for them. So I’m always on the lookout for new sites that allow smaller companies to market their products and services. With this in mind, I heard about a new local business review site, "Yelp for Business Owners,” that has been launched. It’s a suite of free features that allows business owners to be a part of Yelp's online community.

"Every day thousands of consumers discuss local businesses on Yelp.com, and until now it has been difficult for business owners to constructively participate in the conversation," said Jeremy Stoppelman, Yelp's co-founder and CEO. "With the launch of Yelp for Business Owners we've completed the positive feedback loop, so local businesses can connect with their most vocal customers in a positive and productive way."

If you want to check it out, here's the scoop. By logging on to http://biz.yelp.com business owners can:

Message customers who have reviewed their business.
See how many prospective customers viewed their business page.
Update business information instantly (i.e. hours of operation, categories).
Receive new review email alerts.

Prior to this launch, Yelp's community of reviewers served as a basic resource for local businesses in cities around the U.S., in some cases enabling small mom-and-pop operations to become, as company representatives say, “overnight successes.” It might be a good resource for your business.

Social networks can be a valuable tool for home businesses, because they can allow business owners to get connected. This is sometimes a difficult task when you’re not going to an established large company with networking opportunities already in place. Home business owners have to take the extra step to make those connections and build a rapport with community leaders, buyers and customers.

There are a variety of networking sites available that can help with marketing and promoting your business. Ask your colleagues and business community members what sites they have found work best for them. Look for a site that connects with your target audience, and utilize it in order to raise your visibility and company brand.

Home Business Tips: How To Fight The Stress Bulge

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 11:24:06 -0400

Gaining weight in times of stress can lead to workplace anxiety for home based business owners

Okay, we’ve all been there. We’re stressed because clients owe us money. We’re stressed because our supplier just went bankrupt. We’re overwhelmed because we have a deadline looming, or we’re fretting about getting more business. Ugh. It’s enough to make you reach for a box of Ding Dongs. Or a gallon of ice cream. Or both.

Stress at work is hard enough, but it also caused some of us to reach for the junk food. In fact, when we’re facing a particularly difficult week, we often skip meals, go through the drive-thru to save time, or pig out as a way to cope. Which leads to weight gain, an unhealthy body, and sometimes depression over gaining weight and feeling unhealthy. It’s a vicious cycle.

Here are some tips to help battle the stress bulge, and stay healthy while remaining productive:

Clean your cupboards. When you work at home, you have immediate access to all the junk you have in your cabinets. That bag of chips is just too easy to get to. So if you have ice cream, candy bars and all the other items that a trainer would have a heart attack over, get rid of them and keep healthy food items available for snacks.
Take a walk. Schedule a couple of twenty minute walks in your day. Take your cell phone and make a quick call while you walk. Or dictate a to-do list as you strut your stuff. Find ways to get active, and substitute activity for stress-eating.
Cut down on caffeine. Oh, it’s so hard to pass up that third cup of coffee or can of soda when you’re running on fumes. But all those servings of coffee, tea or soda contribute to frayed nerves. Try to back down on the amount of caffeine you’re taking in, and substitute with flavored water or caffeine-free versions.
Get some sleep. Yea, right! Sleeping is a coveted luxury, isn’t it? As hard as it might be, allow the time you need to get a full-night's sleep, as often as you can. Sleep-deprivation not only takes a toll on you physically, it can affect your perspective and good-judgment.
Socialize. It’s easy for entrepreneurs to get so busy and caught up with meeting deadlines and sealing deals, that we become isolated. Stay in touch with colleagues and friends. Schedule social outings or lunches. By maintaining contact with others, you’ll be able to get out of your office and feel connected to other humans.

Working out of your home can have so many benefits, but as with anything else, there are downsides as well. Succumbing to stress and the negatives that come with it is a trap that you can’t afford to fall in.

Home Business Tips: Virtual Office Systems Provides Relief

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 10:20:49 -0400

Home office professionals and entrepreneurs find accessibility with phone system benefits

Managing the day-to-day administration of paperwork, phone calls and accounting is one of the most difficult challenges of a home business professional. You don’t have the support system that you find in large corporations, with switchboards, trained customer service personnel and personal assistants. So when you’re running the show all on your own, you need help. It’s that simple.

One of the easiest ways to find help is to contact a virtual phone system provider, which can immediately make your life easier. By setting you up with a toll free number, and by providing you with the benefits that a competent provider can offer, you can propel your business to the next level. Here are some of the ways you’ll benefit:

Accomodations for travelers. Some of us travel across town, the state or the country in order to meet clients and get our business done. That’s a lot of time on the road, and if you’re not reachable, you’re losing clients. With a virtual phone system you’ll never miss another call! You can get the “follow me” voicemail solution that will find you no matter where you are. The phone service can try as many numbers as you'd like until they reach you. They can even screen your calls, so that you can decide which calls you want to take and which ones you'd like to send to voicemail.

Consultant assistance. With a phone service, you can create the important image of success a consultant needs to succeed, as well as serve your clients better and create more billable hours. Call forwarding will allow you to maximize your availability during working hours and free yourself from calls after hours. You can control the numbers where you can be reached as well as the times of day and days of the week you are accessible.

Home business management. With a virtual phone system, you can present an image of success and professionalism that will give your customers a sense of confidence in your company. You will have a voicemail solution that allows you to work successfully from your home without sacrificing your personal life.

As a home office manager and entrepreneurs, finding help can be crucial for the success of your business. By finding a virtual office system that works for you, you can take a positive step in improving your business.

Home Business Resources: Young Entrepreneurs Benefit From Mentoring, Resources

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 11:05:15 -0400

New online resource offers business information, entrepreneurship advice and career tips

For those of you who are starting a new company or testing the waters in the world of entrepreneurship, it’s sometimes hard to know what to do and where to go for help. Young entrepreneurs, in particular, can benefit from the advise and experience of seasoned professionals. With this in mind, SCORE “Counselors to America’s Small Business” has developed a new section specifically for young entrepreneurs at the SCORE Web site, www.score.org. The new content area offers valuable mentoring and resources to help high school, college-age and 20-something small business owners succeed.

Visitors to www.score.org/young.html will find the following resources:
Insights for Young Entrepreneurs features key articles on:

Entrepreneurship as a career choice; Web site design; university assistance; and how to start smart.
Resources for Young Entrepreneurs lists more than 35 organizations, groups and Web sites that offer news, strategies and assistance.
Competitions for Young Entrepreneurs features eight awards that help encourage and recognize business success.
Stats on Young Entrepreneurs provides the latest research and facts on Generation X and Generation Y entrepreneurship.
How SCORE Can Help You highlights SCORE’s free online and face-to-face counseling, low-cost workshops and free eNewsletters.

Here are some ways entrepreneurs have benefitted from these services:

Since her college days, Celina Duffy has run her own painting, graphic design and greeting card business called Tagline Communications. For help growing her business, she received advice and mentoring on building a portfolio, business planning, marketing and accounting.
University of Oregon student Scott Jones couldn’t afford a fleece jacket, so he learned to make one himself. Encouraged by friends, he turned this into a successful and growing business, Beyond Fleece. Willamette SCORE counselors helped him with his business plan, financing, bookkeeping and marketing.
After graduating from his hometown university, Ryan German decided to open a restaurant that focuses on Mediterranean food and homemade Italian ice cream. Before starting his business, SCORE counselors helped him fine-tune his business plan, find a location, obtain a bank loan and design a logo.

Home Business News: Award Winner Inspires Entrepreneurs

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 18:28:34 -0400

National Small Business Person of the Year proves that starting small can mean big business

If you ever find yourself sitting at your home office, staring at your computer, and wondering if it’s all worth it, take notice of those who have found success from starting small. A perfect example is a story of a young lawyer who recognized a business niche when a friend had trouble finding an internship, and was just named National Small Business Person of the Year for turning his idea into a multi-million dollar Web site. The announcement was made last week during ceremonies at the U.S. Small Business Administration's celebration of National Small Business Week 2008.

"Shawn Boyer is a perfect example of the creativity and inspiration it takes to become a highly successful entrepreneur in America today," said SBA Administrator Steve Preston. "He identified an unmet need and filled it, and today, barely eight years later, his company, SnagAJob.com, has become a hugely successful site for posting and finding hourly and part-time jobs, connecting millions of registered job seekers with active job postings. In doing so, Shawn demonstrated the qualities that make small businesses such a powerful force in the American economy, and in their communities," Preston said.

First runner-up is Angela R. Timm, founder and CEO of Cottage Garden, Inc., in Bainbridge, Ind. Two entrepreneurs tied for second runner-up: Deborah Moore, founder and CEO of AccuStat EMR of Myrtle Beach, S.C., and George Burciaga, founder and CEO of smarTECHS.net, of Chicago, Ill.

The National Small Business Person of the Year and runners-up were selected from among the 53 state small business winners, including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam, who are being honored last week in Washington, D.C, as part of National Small Business Week.

The top winner, Shawn Boyer, 36, was working as a transactional attorney for a Washington, D.C., law firm when a friend asked him to go online to help look for a summer internship. He was surprised not to find many sites geared towards internships or hourly jobs, and thus was born his idea. When it became obvious that no one was fulfilling this need, Shawn researched the business, left his job as a lawyer and started the company.

In barely eight years, SnagAJob.com has become a hugely successful part-time and hourly job-posting site, connecting millions of registered job seekers with active job postings. The business started in 2000 with two full-time employees crammed into a 1,000-square-foot space in a medical office park. Today it boasts 110 full-time "snaggers" in a 35,000-square-foot SiliconValley-like facility overlooking a lake in Richmond. Revenues have grown each year, and the company became profitable after its fourth year. Yet Shawn's passion goes beyond the bottom line, leading him to a level of volunteerism and community involvement that has become a big part of the drive behind his company's success.

The winners are selected on their record of stability, growth in employment and sales, financial condition, innovation, response to adversity and community service. For more information on these companies and on the rest of the state Small Business Person of the Year award winners, visit the SBA Web site at http://www.nationalsmallbusinessweek.com.

Small Business Resources: New Book Helps Small Retail Businesses Compete With Big Business

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 16:56:42 -0400

As rebate checks give Americans extra spending money, small business owners can gain a competitive advantage

There are many ways that small businesses have an advantage over big businesses. You can offer specialized products, and you can build personal relationships with your customers. But you can also feel like you’re the underdog, in a nation filled with super centers and retail outlets. If you want to capture a piece of the market that big retailers have, you’ll be interested in a new book that explores this issue.

The questions is this? How can the small retail business owner capture a piece of the $43 million the National Retail Federation (NRF) recently predicted would be pumped into the economy in the coming months as Americans receive their tax rebate checks? 41 percent of Americans surveyed plan to spend their windfall. Even with President Bush's Economic Stimulus Package starting to take effect, most economic experts say we are now in a recession with the stock market all over the board and the cost of staples going up.

So, how does the small mom and pop business get its fair share of these second quarter consumer dollars when people are flocking to the "big boys" like Wal-Mart, Target or Costco to get the best bang for their buck? Authors Steve O'Leary and Kim Sheehan of the new book, Building Buzz to Beat the Big Boys say a small business owner's competitive advantage is word of mouth marketing (WOM).

According to the authors, today's marketing environment has changed. Traditional advertising such as television, newspaper and direct mail is still important to build awareness of a business -- but it is no longer enough. WOM is now the most effective form of promotion available as it combines the most modern strategies, tactics and channels with the most basic human behavior: People talking to people.

"The Internet -- web sites, blogs, and social networking sites -- is pushing this change in marketing to consumers and giving the consumer more control and choice," say O'Leary and Sheehan. "This change can provide the small business owner with an advantage over the big chains. There is a basic road map to the process of creating word of mouth and customer communities which we call the 4Cs -- customers, conversations, community and commitment."

Combined with WOM, the 4Cs can help owners of small retail businesses "beat the big boys":

Customers. Today's consumers are different from five years ago. They want more information, and they want opportunities to provide feedback to the store owner. These dialogues are the first step in enhancing relationships with customers.

Conversations. Word of mouth leads to "buzz." Identify "store Champions" who can help create the "buzz" for the store and its products or services.

Community. Community is a group of people who share social interaction and some common ties and who share an area (physical or cyber space) for some of the time. Local coffee shops and Starbucks have embraced and marketed this concept to build "store Champions." A store's online community is also a key element of its WOM marketing campaign.

Commitment. An online community should be the central focus of a store's community-building efforts. There are three different ways to support and enhance your online community: in-store, employee, and community outreach.

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