How To Drive Business And Leverage Trends … Without Driving Yourself Crazy

1. How To Drive Business And Leverage Trends … Without Driving Yourself Crazy Anita Campbell SmallBizTrends.com @smallbiztrends

2. So, Are You Ready to Run a Small Business?

4. Advice and Trends for Startups and Young Businesses

5. Stick With It.  Most People Give Up WAY Too Soon.

6. Startups: Figure Out Your Revenue Model.  Early. • Many of us are "accidental" entrepreneurs and we're bootstrapping. • Find something to sell as early as possible, that: • is moderately priced • has a short sales cycle

7. Outsource.  Partner.  Sooner.  More. • 3 Game Changers: • Hire temps, interns and independent contractors initially. • Select low-cost service providers from blogs, trusted colleagues and online • Partner with motivated companies that bring you revenue 

8. Marketing

9. Make friends. Even with competitors. Word-of-mouth and referrals come from unexpected places. Over 80% of small businesses: referrals their biggest source of new business

10. Be Ubiquitous --  It Builds Brand • Goes for personal and company brands • Social media is perfect for this! • Develop micro-communities SELECTIVELY- • Schedule your time • Divide and conquer (with staff)

11. Protect And Defend Your Brand • Sign up for Knowem.com

12. DIY Marketing Grows

13. DIY Marketing Trend • 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 • Hire people for their ability to use DIY resources/apps • External Opportunities – “Assist the DIYs” • Create apps (mobile and SaaS) to help businesses • “Teach” and “Help” the DIY market

14. 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 • Social Media: Knowem.com; SocialOomph • DIY public relations: PRWeb.com • Advertising: Google AdWords

15. Plan.  Prioritize A Confusing Landscape

16. Goin’ Mobile

17. The “Carry Your Computer” Trend

18. 277,000,000 Mobile Phones in U.S.

19. The “Carry Your Computer” Trend • Computers and mobile devices converge • How to Participate Internally: • Install stripped-down mobile template for your website • 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

20. Operating Your Business

21. Learn A Little Technology • If you don’t understand some technology: • you'll spend more money • everything will take longer • you won't get the best from service providers or staff " ... new trend of geek marketers." Steve Rubel says:

22. Get organized! Find Tools

23. Cloud Computing

24. Keep A Sense Of Humor.  Something’s Bound To Go Wrong.

25. Thank You! Anita Campbell SmallBizTrends.com @smallbiztrends