Still think SM’s a shiny new toy?

I don’t know if you’ve been paying attention to the quite-interesting findings of the Small Business Success Index (I mean, who could pay attention to *real* news when Kevin Smith got booted off Southwest Airlines and kicked up a stink about it).

Anyhoo… there’s a lot of cool stuff in it but what’s very interesting is that it finds (and by it I mean the research & report sponsored by Network Solutions – this blog’s home and host – and the University of Maryland’s Smith School of Business) that the adoption of social media by small business has doubled since last year.

Let me repeat that: the adoption of social media by small business has doubled by last year.

Not only that, but 45% of the businesses surveyed expect social media to be profitable within 12 months.

12 months? Take that, ROI-doubters!

True, it’s not all champagne and roses (50% say it takes more time than they expected and 17% are concerned about the potential for folks to use SM to criticize their businesses online) – but overall it’s very interesting. Go take a look at it (and while you’re about it, I strongly recommend you download a copy of the SBSI).

There’s a Twitterchat tomorrow night to discuss these findings as well as clue small business owners into how they can use SM effectively to grow their business. It’ll be moderated by Anita Campbell, editor of Small Business Trends, so do mark your calendars and join the chat on Twitter from 8 – 10 pm EST, using the #sbchat hashtag.

(I’d join you but I’m going to be in jolly old London, so you’ll just have to fill me in).

Adoption has doubled in the last year. Quite something, eh?

Image: Jason Rhode, Creative Commons

Shonali Burke is editor of Women Grow Business and one of the country’s leading business communicators, who was named to PRWeek’s inaugural top “40 Under 40″ list of US-based PR professionals. She specializes in creating and implementing integrated (online and off), results-based, measurable communication programs for clients both large and small at Shonali Burke Consulting. An accredited business communicator, she is also Adjunct Faculty at Johns Hopkins University’s M.A. in Communications program and active in the local communications community as President of IABC/Washington. Talk to her via her blog, Waxing UnLyrical or Twitter.

Share Your Thoughts on this article here: Small Business and Social Media: The Small Business Success Index (SBSI)

Quick reminder on some great news!
A range of Women Grow Business bloggers are scheduled to present at the first GrowSmartBiz Conference this September. …agenda to be released soon so please check back shortly!

And(!) WIRED’s Editor-in-Chief Chris Anderson, also great author of The Longest Tail and Free will keynote the event.

So get ready for these panelist topics:

• Driving Small Business Performance with Marketing & Innovation
• Raising Capital with Effective Finance Strategies
• Getting Ahead in the Current Economy
• Integrating Traditional Marketing with Social Media

Check out more info and RSVP.

More events for entrepreneurs and your small biz:

• Small business events and write-ups, plus suggested networking events for women entrepreneurs per Women Grow Business.

Share Your Thoughts on this article here: Quick Reminder (you're invited!): WIRED's Chris Anderson, Small Biz Talks, and More

Great news
A range of Women Grow Business bloggers are scheduled to present at the first GrowSmartBiz Conference this September. …agenda to be released soon so please check back shortly!

And(!) WIRED’s Editor-in-Chief Chris Anderson, also great author of The Longest Tail and Free will keynote the event.

Seeking your opinion
So on a related note, would you cast your vote?

The GrowSmartBiz Conference needs your help. Do you have ideas or topics such as green business or how to secure government contracts that you’d like to discuss with other small business owners? Now’s your chance. We’re leaving one panel discussion (for our September 29th conference) up to you.

The topic winner will be announced on August 10, so make your suggestion and cast your vote today!

Just quickly click here to cast your vote.

Thank you!

The panel suggestion that you vote in will be accompanied by the following planned topics for the Grow Smart Business event:

• Driving Small Business Performance with Marketing & Innovation
• Raising Capital with Effective Finance Strategies
• Getting Ahead in the Current Economy
• Integrating Traditional Marketing with Social Media

And want to save $100 on conference registration?
Read more about the GrowSmartBiz Conference and register by August 7 to receive $100 off registration.

Thanks again for casting your vote and helping to make this the best conference possible for small business success.

See you there!

More events for entrepreneurs and your small biz:

• Small business events and write-ups, plus suggested networking events for women entrepreneurs per Women Grow Business.

Share Your Thoughts on this article here: C'mon(!) Cast Your Vote by August 10 to Choose the Final Panel Topic for the #GrowSmartBiz Conference

This event looks fantastic and timely.

And remember Network Solutions CEO Roy Dunbar? Last week he moderated the Grow Smart Business webinar with a great mix of entrepreneurs.

Roy will present again on May 8th, 2009 where he will deliver the Morning Address at the 2009 Business Summit and Expo entitled:

Small Businesses and How They Measure Success.

His discussion will focus on a newly released Small Business Success Index, jointly researched and prepared by Network Solutions and The University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business. This “report card” gives some very intriguing examples of how small businesses are faring during these uncertain times. The discussion will be followed by Q&A.

About the Expo:
Each year the DC Chamber of Commerce and the Washington Business Journal host a Business Summit that focuses on the unique advantages of doing business in the Nation’s Capital. This year’s Summit – “After the Storm: Emerging Stronger than Before,” will explore what you should be doing during this recession to position your business for economic recovery. Our keynote speaker is Richmond Federal Reserve Bank President Dr. Jeffrey Lacker.

The event includes extraordinary speakers
-plus opportunities to exchange ideas, explore business partnerships and access to an advanced copy of the State of the Business Report prior to its release in the Washington Business Journal. The State of the Business Report, created annually by a local economist, highlights the challenges and opportunities we face in our city.

How you can register
After the morning address there will be educational seminars listed below and you can register here.

More on featured topics:

Accessing Capital

Focusing on available sources of capital for companies, such as federal and local government grants, credit unions, traditional banks, and angel investors.

How Healthy is Your Business

Providing general guidance on how to ensure the overall health of a business from financials to HR practices to operational standards.

Strategic Management

Discussing how to utilize the down economy to prepare for the future, whether it is through employee skill improvement, workforce development, or savings policies that will allow businesses to be best prepared to seize the time when the economy rebounds

Construction Bonding

Speaking to the growth in the capital area given the amount of stimulus money coming for shovel ready projects that will require companies to secure bonds prior to performance.

Again to register, visit the Chamber.

(image by Iaanba, Creative Commons)

Apart from minor edits, this write-up was mostly cross-posted from at Solutions Are Power

Share Your Thoughts on this article here: Upcoming Event: 2009 Business Summit and Expo (where the Small Business Success Index Takes the Stage)

Reminder (and re-posted from last week):
Please join us for next week’s fantastic webinar hosted by Grow Smart Business. Imagine a free-of-charge event packed with uber resourceful experts just waiting to help your business – with more info per last week to follow.

See you there!
*****

Some talented business thinkers, leaders, movers-and-shakers are headed to the Internetz near you!

Ideas will soar at this event (and you’re invited).

(image by Jody Art, Creative Commons)

Small business success, brainstorms, and you

At the end of this month, Grow Smart Business – a new Network Solutions blog, resource hub, and home to the Small Business Success Index – hosts its first webinar.

The What:
Learn from the risks taken, lessons learned, and success attained from a great webinar panel. Join entrepreneurs and business leaders for this free, live webcast. And get a chance to learn from their experience in securing capital and deciding their approach to marketing.

The When:
Thursday, April 30 from 2-3pm ET,

The Who:
Roy Dunbar, CEO of Network Solutions, will host the conversation. And the speakers include:

Kristina Bouweiri, CEO of Reston Limo, the largest independent limousine service in the U.S.

Anita Campbell, Editor of Small Business Trends

Kelly Muccio, Founder of Lost Boys, a fashionable clothing store recently featured on Good Morning America

Surfy Rahman, Co-owner of Indique, a popular DC-area restaurant chain.

Don’t just walk, run to register!
Visit http://growsmartbusiness.eventbrite.com.

More from:

• CEO Marissa Levin on valuing good personal credit & starting her business with a $50,000 Costco line of credit;
• Small Business Trends and the top (10) outsourcing decisions trending in small business;
• Truly Amazing Women blog interviews Kristina Bouweiri, discussing leadership and turning lemons into lemonade.

Share Your Thoughts on this article here: TODAY, 4/30th: Join Us as Rock Star Entrepreneurs Share Tips for Small Business, a (free) Webinar Event

Reminder (and re-posted from last week):
Please join us for next week’s fantastic webinar hosted by Grow Smart Business. Imagine a free-of-charge event packed with uber resourceful experts just waiting to help your business – with more info per last week to follow.

See you there!
*****

Some talented business thinkers, leaders, movers-and-shakers are headed to the Internetz near you!

Ideas will soar at this event (and you’re invited).

(image by Jody Art, Creative Commons)

Small business success, brainstorms, and you

At the end of this month, Grow Smart Business – a new Network Solutions blog, resource hub, and home to the Small Business Success Index – hosts its first webinar.

The What:
Learn from the risks taken, lessons learned, and success attained from a great webinar panel. Join entrepreneurs and business leaders for this free, live webcast. And get a chance to learn from their experience in securing capital and deciding their approach to marketing.

The When:
Thursday, April 30 from 2-3pm ET,

The Who:
Roy Dunbar, CEO of Network Solutions, will host the conversation. And the speakers include:

Kristina Bouweiri, CEO of Reston Limo, the largest independent limousine service in the U.S.

Anita Campbell, Editor of Small Business Trends

Kelly Muccio, Founder of Lost Boys, a fashionable clothing store recently featured on Good Morning America

Surfy Rahman, Co-owner of Indique, a popular DC-area restaurant chain.

Don’t just walk,  run to register!
Visit http://growsmartbusiness.eventbrite.com.

More from:

• CEO Marissa Levin on valuing good personal credit & starting her business with a $50,000 Costco line of credit;
• Small Business Trends and the top (10) outsourcing decisions trending in small business;
• Truly Amazing Women blog interviews Kristina Bouweiri, discussing leadership and turning lemons into lemonade.

Share Your Thoughts on this article here: Rock Star Entrepreneurs and Your Business: Webinar Event on 4/30th

Some talented business thinkers, leaders, movers-and-shakers are headed to the Internetz near you!

Ideas will soar at this event (and you’re invited).

(image by Jody Art, Creative Commons)

Small business success, brainstorms, and you

At the end of this month, Grow Smart Business – a new Network Solutions blog, resource hub, and home to the Small Business Success Index – hosts its first webinar.

The What:
Learn from the risks taken, lessons learned, and success attained from a great webinar panel. Join entrepreneurs and business leaders for this free, live webcast. And get a chance to learn from their experience in securing capital and deciding their approach to marketing.

The When:
Thursday, April 30 from 2-3pm ET,

The Who:
Roy Dunbar, CEO of Network Solutions, will host the conversation. And the speakers include:

Kristina Bouweiri, CEO of Reston Limo, the largest independent limousine service in the U.S.

Anita Campbell, Editor of Small Business Trends

Kelly Muccio, Founder of Lost Boys, a fashionable clothing store recently featured on Good Morning America

Surfy Rahman, Co-owner of Indique, a popular DC-area restaurant chain.

Don’t walk just run to register!
Visit http://growsmartbusiness.eventbrite.com.

More from:

• CEO Marissa Levin on valuing good personal credit & starting her business with a $50,000 Costco line of credit;
• Small Business Trends and the top (10) outsourcing decisions trending in small business;
• Truly Amazing Women blog interviews Kristina Bouweiri, discussing leadership and turning lemons into lemonade.

Share Your Thoughts on this article here: Rock Star Entrepreneurs and Your Business: a Webinar Event 4/30th

What do you think?
There’s been a lot of research conducted over at Grow Smart Business about the ongoing health and success of small businesses.

And from this, the Small Business Success Index came to be. It was designed to measure how successful small businesses believe they are performing in six key areas of business that include:

• capital management
• marketing and innovation
• human capital
• customer service
• IT deployment
• compliance

2 minute podcast: the competitive edge of women-owned businesses

(image, The Edge, by ChristopherDale, Creative Commons)

To skip below and just listen-while-you work, here are initial ‘audio thoughts’ on why women-owned businesses may be more competitive.

What do you think from your observations of and experience with women-owned businesses?

Or for more reading, here’s food for thought per the index report:

Women-owned small businesses are slightly more likely to be “marginally” or “highly competitive” than others.

Based on those above (6) factors, I’ve been thinking on this assessment. And from my experience with women entrepreneurs it’s the customer service that stands out. They have demonstrated keen, well-rounded understanding of their customer needs and long-term development.

I continue to read more of this research and am asking colleagues and those in the community their thoughts especially about that related finding.

Quick note: the site will continue to be updated with research but certainly don’t hold back on thoughts you may have.

Share Your Thoughts on this article here: Stats in Stereo: a Two-Minute Podcast on Why Women-Owned Businesses Are More Competitive