Representatives from several organizations including the National Federation of Independent Business, National Small Business Association and The Small Business and Enterpreneur Council voiced concern in a Wall Street Journal post (http://blogs.wsj.com/independentstreet/2009/01/29/the-economic-stimulus-bill-whats-in-it-for-you/) stating that the economic stimulus program will do little to help provide relief to small businesses. Specifically, these organizations and small business owners were looking for tax certainty and relief in the areas of payroll and health insurance.
Small business advocates are concerned that the stimulus program is aimed too squarely at big business and industry bailouts with little focus on the market that drives job growth. Others were concerned that the package didn't do enough to get cash in the hands of consumers who can then purchase goods and services.
If small businesses are struggling, it makes our job as marketers to reach this group. What are you seeing? What are small business owners buying?
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
What do you think of the proposed SBA chief?
Karen Gordon Mills is President Barack Obama's nominee to become the head of the Small Business Adminstration. Ms. Mills currently is the president of private equity firm, MMP Group in Brunswick, Me. Early word on Ms. Mills is that she is an extremely intelligent and capable woman who will passionately promote the needs of small businesses. Others believe that she will help promote woman-owned small business.
What do you think?
What do you think?
Saturday, January 24, 2009
More or Less Small Businesses in 2009?
Interesting debate here around the idea of the number of businesses that will go out of business this year and that will start. According to leading analyst firms such as AMI Parnters and IDC, in any given year approximately 400,000 new businesses will start while 200,000 will shut its doors.
Personally, I think these numbers will be exaggerated in 2009 on both sides. First, I think that small businesses are feeling the pressure of consumers who have reduced their spending. You read stories on a daily basis about small businesses trying to lure people into their stores or restaurants with amazing deals (buy one dinner, get one free). It is becoming harder and harder for businesses to make payroll on a weekly basis. There will be causalties.
On the flip side, the number of people who have been laid off from major organizations (GE, Dell, others) first go into the job market looking for a new company to work for only to find that jobs are harder to find and competition for those jobs even greater. After a few months, the job seeker turns to looking at alternative methods for making a living. This often leads to an increase in consultants, new businesses and people buying into a franchise.
I think we will see countless small businesses start in 2009. That will give many organizations who target/market to small business owners significant opportunities. There are so many needs when starting a business including getting a loan or capital, securing legal advice and an accountant, incorporating your business and purchasing technology from accounting software and CRM solutions to point of sale and telecommunications. There will be the need to market your business through directory services, development of a web site and so much more. This will lead to many opportunities for many types of companies targeting the small business market.
What do you think?
Personally, I think these numbers will be exaggerated in 2009 on both sides. First, I think that small businesses are feeling the pressure of consumers who have reduced their spending. You read stories on a daily basis about small businesses trying to lure people into their stores or restaurants with amazing deals (buy one dinner, get one free). It is becoming harder and harder for businesses to make payroll on a weekly basis. There will be causalties.
On the flip side, the number of people who have been laid off from major organizations (GE, Dell, others) first go into the job market looking for a new company to work for only to find that jobs are harder to find and competition for those jobs even greater. After a few months, the job seeker turns to looking at alternative methods for making a living. This often leads to an increase in consultants, new businesses and people buying into a franchise.
I think we will see countless small businesses start in 2009. That will give many organizations who target/market to small business owners significant opportunities. There are so many needs when starting a business including getting a loan or capital, securing legal advice and an accountant, incorporating your business and purchasing technology from accounting software and CRM solutions to point of sale and telecommunications. There will be the need to market your business through directory services, development of a web site and so much more. This will lead to many opportunities for many types of companies targeting the small business market.
What do you think?
Small Business Owners and Social Media?
Alright, social media and digital media seems to be all the buzz these days. And, why not? Implementing digital campaigns to reach your target audience online is cost effective and can stimulate that peer-to-peer influence we hear that is so important when marketing to small business owners.
But when it comes to implementing programs, I often hear companies say that social media and digital campaigns are for marketing to consumers. They say, small business owners simply do not spend time on social media sites or blogging. They challenge the notion of developing and implementing programs that may only reach 5 to 12% of the target audience. Reasonable?
However, we know for certain that small business owners are spending at least 2 hours a day on average outside fo work on the Internet. They get there news here. They connect with business customers, familiy and friends here. They do research on products and services to buy here. And, they get away for a few minutes of there busy day here.
The point is that organizations who desire to reach small business owners should truly consider social media and digital campaigns. What do you think?
But when it comes to implementing programs, I often hear companies say that social media and digital campaigns are for marketing to consumers. They say, small business owners simply do not spend time on social media sites or blogging. They challenge the notion of developing and implementing programs that may only reach 5 to 12% of the target audience. Reasonable?
However, we know for certain that small business owners are spending at least 2 hours a day on average outside fo work on the Internet. They get there news here. They connect with business customers, familiy and friends here. They do research on products and services to buy here. And, they get away for a few minutes of there busy day here.
The point is that organizations who desire to reach small business owners should truly consider social media and digital campaigns. What do you think?
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