Attorneys: Reach Out to Small Biz

Here is an interesting post from Legal Marketing Blog about how 51% of small businesses avoid hiring lawyers because they fear the cost yet 25% believe legal issues are the biggest risk to their business.  Obviously there is a disconnect.

How to Market to Small Businesses

1.  Let them know you welcome small businesses as clients

2.  Join Chamber of Commerce, a BNI chapter and other small business hubs

3.  Offer set fees for common legal tasks

4.  Write a blog focused on legal issues in a particular small business sector

5.  Make sure you include all this in your website messaging!

Small businesses adopting social media

According to a recent study this is how small businesses are faring in the social networking world.

75% have a company page on a social networking site

57% build a network through a site such as LinkedIn

39% maintain a blog

16% use Twitter as a service channel

Reuters launches small business news site

Looks like its just a collection of newswires and small business blogs but its worth checking out.

http://www.reuters.com/finance/smallBusiness

Friday Freebie: Inc. Magazine

Small Business Trends  http://www.smallbiztrends.com/ has an offer for a couple free issues.

http://smallbiztrends.tradepub.com/free/minc/

Friday Freebie on Tuesday!

This is too good to wait three days.  A free download on social media called, “Let’s Talk: Social Media for Small Business”, by John Jantsch of Duct Tape Marketing.  I’ve downloaded it myself and it looks like a really good, easy-to-read primer on a subject that will be, if its not yet, critical for most small businesses.

Here is the link to the download courtesy of Small Business Trends

Friday Freebie: How to Survive Tough Times

We all know that these aren’t easy times to be in business.  We also know that much of the boom bust cycle is psychological; people believe their houses will always go up in value so they take risks and use the equity in their houses which stimulates the economy.  When they don’t believe the value of their houses will always go up, then they stop.  Today’s freebie is a newsletter from “My Own Business.org” which has other great resources as well including a free course in starting up a small business.  Here is the link and what I think is the most important tip:

“Look for opportunities in adversity. The best bargains and business acquisitions become available during recessions. “

Friday Freebie: bizSugar video

Take two and call me in the morning

Digg.com for biz peeps!

Check it out.