Some small business owners are choosing to save money and in some cases save their businesses by moving their offices home, according to this article in the Dallas Morning News.
“We’re seeing probably twice as many businesses doing that compared to a year ago,” says George Cloutier, founder and chief executive officer of American Management Services, an Orlando, Fla.-based consultant to small businesses.
The article discusses the unique difficulties a small business owner may encounter moving their business to their home, including business image, zoning and tax issues, employee perceptions, moving costs and the distractions that must be managed when working within your home and family environment.
Local ‘mom and pop’ businesses who are effectively using Twitter and other social media were singled out recently by blogger Grace Boyle on her blog, ‘Small Hands Big Ideas‘:
“Call me a localvore (pertaining to not only food, but any local business). Coming from a small town I recognize the importance of the Mom and Pop stores and I love the sustainability that can be found from local business. So although I’m still a newbie to Boulder, I wanted to give a shout out to some local businesses that I think are doing their part online, by giving back and holding down, being unique in what they offer.”
Are you using social media yet?
Have you tried Twitter, LinkedIn or Facebook?
How about writing a blog, or even commenting on some?
If not, don’t wait too long to start your learning and determine what’s right for you.
Business owners who have taken the leap into soap media are finding benefits, and lots of them according to a recent industry report.
Most of the business owners doing some marketing using social media have only been doing so for a few months.
But here are the benefits they found:
81% said social media generated exposure for their business
61% saw an increase in their web traffic or e-mail newsletter subscribers
56% said their participation lead to new partnerships
52% felt using social media generated qualified leads
48% said they were able to reduce their marketing costs
35% felt social media helped them close business deals
For more reading on this survey and the benefits business owners saw when they used social media, click here.
And for some tips on how business owners use Twitter for very practical purposes, like a restaurant posting their daily specials or a real estate agent posting new house listings, click here.
If you want to be successful,
it’s just this simple.
Know what you are doing.
Love what you are doing.
And believe in what you are doing.
Will Rogers
American Humorist
1879-1935
“Profit in business comes
from repeat customers,
customers that boast
about your project or service,
and that bring friends with them.”
W. Edwards Deming
American Consultant,
Stastistician and Educator
1900-1993
