Small Business Trend Alert: What to Watch in 2012

Consider this week’s post the MyCorp crystal ball to seeing the future of small business! Now that January is in full swing, we thought it would be a good time to take a look at what small business trends are currently developing. As we move full speed ahead into the rest of 2012, take a look at the trends below. Don’t let your small business fall behind!

Internet Search Boom

We all know how important it is to have an online presence. In 2012 your presence is more important than ever. According to physorg.com, the number of internet users worldwide in 2011 jumped to over 2 billion- wow! Take away two lessons from this number in hopping on the social bandwagon.

1) Make sure you have an online presence! Web solutions are easy and inexpensive. No website? No excuse! Consider working with our affiliates at Network Solutions to help you get started.

2) Even if your website is up and running, make sure people can find it! Working on your Google and Bing presence is extremely important, as there are likely a number of businesses that offer the same services as you do. Look into working with companies and websites that can help boost your search rating and always try to link back to your website and contact information whenever possible.

Mobile Marketing and Payment

Welcome to the era of the smart phone. Need directions? Download a Google app to use their maps. In what year was Martha Stewart born? Ask Siri. What’s the temperature in Antarctica? Ok, you get it. Smart phones aren’t just for personal use. They have transitioned over into the business world. Pretty much anything you can do with a computer can be done on a smart phone. Locating a business, finding user reviews and even paying bills and checking bank statements can now be done on a phone.

Make sure your business is prepared! Consider having a mobile website app created that is tailored to smart phone use. Monitor your reviews on sites like Yelp that have mobile apps making your businesses’ reviews accessible easily on the go.

Hiring

As we’ve mentioned before, hiring usually picks up in the first quarter. Many businesses create new business plans and need extra man power to implement new ideas. Consequently, unemployment rates usually drop in the first months of the year. Get on the hiring bandwagon. If you haven’t already done so, meet with leaders of your company and discuss a new business plan or brainstorm new ideas. There is a wealth of talent out there and they could be beneficial to your company! Consider hiring a social media manager to strengthen your online presence, or advertising interns to help out in your marketing department. These positions are vital in the age of social media and they won’t cost you an arm and a leg to implement. Look into part-time internships for college students. They will gain experience by helping you, and you will boost your business presence by hiring them!

2012: Year of the Female Business Owner?

Sure, we might be a little bias due to the fact that our awesome CEO is a woman. However, women owned businesses are popping up all over the place! One trend we are seeing involves former stay at home moms starting new businesses. Marketing, cake decorating and design consulting are all great examples of popular woman owned businesses that can be successful working from home.

Many resources are available to female small business owners such as the National Women’s Business Counsel and the SBA Office of Women’s Business Ownership. Once you’ve figured out your business plan, let MyCorporation help. We can help you through the entire process of incorporating your business including creating a website and printing business cards.

Keep an eye on the small business trends of 2012 to make sure you are one step ahead of the game. As we said, focus on your web presence, mobile applications and consider hiring a few extra hands. Need help? Give us a call! Happy 2012!!