Comments on: Why Many Small Businesses are Still Struggling http://bestbizpractices.org/2010/01/03/why-many-small-business-are-still-struggling/ Because America runs on small business! Sat, 31 Jul 2010 14:04:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Miryam Salazar http://bestbizpractices.org/2010/01/03/why-many-small-business-are-still-struggling/comment-page-1/#comment-1048 Miryam Salazar Tue, 26 Jan 2010 03:15:31 +0000 http://bestbizpractices.org/?p=1265#comment-1048 Mike, Thank you very much! The hardest step is the first! Mike, Thank you very much! The hardest step is the first!

]]> By: Mike Clough http://bestbizpractices.org/2010/01/03/why-many-small-business-are-still-struggling/comment-page-1/#comment-1008 Mike Clough Thu, 14 Jan 2010 13:24:53 +0000 http://bestbizpractices.org/?p=1265#comment-1008 Well Sunday, the next step is to build a strategic marketing plan utilizing the organic Web 2.0 elements that make sense for your business. Then follow the plan you create. To secure a better idea of many of the organic Web 2.0 elements available, check out the Web 2.0 Marketing series starting at http://bestbizpractices.org/2009/08/16/web-2-0-online-marketing-series-overview/. I hope this will help you! Well Sunday, the next step is to build a strategic marketing plan utilizing the organic Web 2.0 elements that make sense for your business. Then follow the plan you create.

To secure a better idea of many of the organic Web 2.0 elements available, check out the Web 2.0 Marketing series starting at http://bestbizpractices.org/2009/08/16/web-2-0-online-marketing-series-overview/.

I hope this will help you!

]]> By: Sunday Odiaka http://bestbizpractices.org/2010/01/03/why-many-small-business-are-still-struggling/comment-page-1/#comment-1007 Sunday Odiaka Thu, 14 Jan 2010 12:31:19 +0000 http://bestbizpractices.org/?p=1265#comment-1007 This is a very educative article. Now that I know what next? This is a very educative article. Now that I know what next?

]]> By: Lisa DiMonte http://bestbizpractices.org/2010/01/03/why-many-small-business-are-still-struggling/comment-page-1/#comment-989 Lisa DiMonte Fri, 08 Jan 2010 03:48:37 +0000 http://bestbizpractices.org/?p=1265#comment-989 Great article, Mike. I think Kelly's comments are on target. Once you join industry-specific online communities, contributing is vital, even if it's just to say, thanks for sharing or great article. Contributors like to know that their articles or blogs or forum posts are being read and appreciated. This starts the conversation. Great article, Mike. I think Kelly’s comments are on target. Once you join industry-specific online communities, contributing is vital, even if it’s just to say, thanks for sharing or great article. Contributors like to know that their articles or blogs or forum posts are being read and appreciated. This starts the conversation.

]]> By: Charles Schoeneberger http://bestbizpractices.org/2010/01/03/why-many-small-business-are-still-struggling/comment-page-1/#comment-987 Charles Schoeneberger Thu, 07 Jan 2010 22:07:31 +0000 http://bestbizpractices.org/?p=1265#comment-987 Mike, Good article overall, yes things are moving towards an highly customized media stream for all of us. Part of this downturn has been caused by the discounting of information via the Internet, everyone expects everything to be free. The bills need to be paid somehow, yet the younger generations are not accustomed to doing that. I have had an good SMB business idea in my head for the past few months, but the product is of the intangible information sort. Creating an short and medium term sustainable model is what is holding me back right now. Funding is very limited but eventually the dust will settle with the current information revolution so intangibles can be monetized that will be able to be sold. Your post (last paragraph) of 1:56pm on 1/5 is right on the mark, Web 2.0 (or whatever you want to call it nowadays), is just an information conduit. Right now that approach is better for tangible products than intangible products as the latter are often assumed to be free. Mike,

Good article overall, yes things are moving towards an highly customized media stream for all of us. Part of this downturn has been caused by the discounting of information via the Internet, everyone expects everything to be free. The bills need to be paid somehow, yet the younger generations are not accustomed to doing that.

I have had an good SMB business idea in my head for the past few months, but the product is of the intangible information sort. Creating an short and medium term sustainable model is what is holding me back right now. Funding is very limited but eventually the dust will settle with the current information revolution so intangibles can be monetized that will be able to be sold.

Your post (last paragraph) of 1:56pm on 1/5 is right on the mark, Web 2.0 (or whatever you want to call it nowadays), is just an information conduit. Right now that approach is better for tangible products than intangible products as the latter are often assumed to be free.

]]> By: Mike Clough http://bestbizpractices.org/2010/01/03/why-many-small-business-are-still-struggling/comment-page-1/#comment-986 Mike Clough Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:58:05 +0000 http://bestbizpractices.org/?p=1265#comment-986 Exactly! Well said Kelly. That is what "groups" are for. What many SMB get wrong is that when they join a group they try to "advertise" (mechanical model) to the group members. Members view this as spam and it actually harms the SMB owner. Then they feel that the organic model does not work. With the organic model they need to "pay it forward" and try to help and contribute to others and the community. In the end, it will all come back to them and they will find great success. I have helped many SMB owners learn how to help community members to come to them and buy from them rather than them going to to the members and trying to sell them something. Just one man's opinion, but one I respect. :-) Exactly! Well said Kelly. That is what “groups” are for. What many SMB get wrong is that when they join a group they try to “advertise” (mechanical model) to the group members. Members view this as spam and it actually harms the SMB owner. Then they feel that the organic model does not work.

With the organic model they need to “pay it forward” and try to help and contribute to others and the community. In the end, it will all come back to them and they will find great success.

I have helped many SMB owners learn how to help community members to come to them and buy from them rather than them going to to the members and trying to sell them something.

Just one man’s opinion, but one I respect. :-)

]]> By: Kelly Hayes http://bestbizpractices.org/2010/01/03/why-many-small-business-are-still-struggling/comment-page-1/#comment-985 Kelly Hayes Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:47:30 +0000 http://bestbizpractices.org/?p=1265#comment-985 Great article! One thing I think many small businesses can do immediately is to join online communities related to their industry and their customers and start contributing. Sharing knowledge is a great way to make new acquaintences. And sharing knowledge is the perfect "soft sell." Great article! One thing I think many small businesses can do immediately is to join online communities related to their industry and their customers and start contributing. Sharing knowledge is a great way to make new acquaintences. And sharing knowledge is the perfect “soft sell.”

]]> By: Mike Clough http://bestbizpractices.org/2010/01/03/why-many-small-business-are-still-struggling/comment-page-1/#comment-984 Mike Clough Wed, 06 Jan 2010 02:15:25 +0000 http://bestbizpractices.org/?p=1265#comment-984 Howard, you will probably hear several different explanations for Web 2.0. However, a good place to start is http://bit.ly/85BSfa. Others will probably have their own that they will share with you. Hope this helps, Howard. Howard, you will probably hear several different explanations for Web 2.0. However, a good place to start is http://bit.ly/85BSfa.

Others will probably have their own that they will share with you.

Hope this helps, Howard.

]]> By: Howard Schweibel http://bestbizpractices.org/2010/01/03/why-many-small-business-are-still-struggling/comment-page-1/#comment-983 Howard Schweibel Wed, 06 Jan 2010 00:00:38 +0000 http://bestbizpractices.org/?p=1265#comment-983 At the risk of sounding stupid, "what is web 2.0 ?" At the risk of sounding stupid, “what is web 2.0 ?”

]]> By: Melinda Emerson "Smallbizlady" http://bestbizpractices.org/2010/01/03/why-many-small-business-are-still-struggling/comment-page-1/#comment-982 Melinda Emerson "Smallbizlady" Tue, 05 Jan 2010 23:46:04 +0000 http://bestbizpractices.org/?p=1265#comment-982 Mike-- I like this article a lot. The nature of business has changed. The question now is whether or not small businesses (many of whom have hung on for dear life to survive) have begun to change and are prepared to meet their customers wherever they are online; and are prepared to provide even more value. Melinda Emerson @smallbizlady Mike–

I like this article a lot. The nature of business has changed. The question now is whether or not small businesses (many of whom have hung on for dear life to survive) have begun to change and are prepared to meet their customers wherever they are online; and are prepared to provide even more value.

Melinda Emerson
@smallbizlady

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