FREE Small Business Webinar: Overcoming Challenges Related to Marketing & Capital

A recent study revealed that our nation’s small businesses fall below average in their ability to fulfill two vital aspects of running a business: 1) Generating Capital, and 2) Creating Effective Marketing Strategies.

Join us April 30, 2009 from 2:00-3:00 p.m., ET for the Grow Smart Business Webinar, a FREE Webcast hosted by Network Solutions® CEO Roy Dunbar. This live event features an all-star lineup. 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.

Learn more or register now at: http://growsmartbusiness.eventbrite.com

Want to know your score? Simple go to http://growsmartbusiness.com/small-business-survey now to take The Small Business Success Survey.

Professional Development Can Help Your Business Succeed

“Small business owners have challenges in growing business revenues. Half report moderate or no success in doing this.” – The Small Business Success Index* (SBSI)

The statement above is quite frightening; however, many entrepreneurs neglect to take heed of its warning. Rather, they go on to use their limited capital on unnecessary investments, thinking they’ll reap the rewards in upcoming years. In many cases, their rate of return is much lower than anticipated, and instead of basking in their newfound wealth, they struggle to make ends meet. The SBSI explains, “The ability to overcome challenges around capital and marketing can have a major impact on small business success.”

In the effort to control cost and achieve business success, “a plurality of business owners expect to hold spend steady through 2009; [however] 23% plan to increase this in the area of professional development.” So why is professional development such a worthwhile investment? The answer is simple. A well-educated workplace makes well-educated decisions.

Free Professional Development Opportunities
If you wish to engage in professional development but do not have the funds to do so, you’re in luck. Many consulting agencies and professional organizations now offer complimentary Webinars almost on a daily basis. You may also access sites like MySolutionSpot.com and SolutionsArePower.com, both of which offer relevant and industry-specific information for free. The more you educate yourself, the more likely you will be able to overcome your challenges.

*The Small Business Success Index, an ongoing measurement of the overall health of U.S. small businesses, was commissioned by Network Solutions, LLC and the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business.  To take the survey yourself, click here.

Small Businesses Performing Well Despite Economic Downturn

The  economy may be unfavorable, but small businesses aren’t doing as poorly as some would expect. In fact, the majority of small businesses are doing quite well. According to the Small Business Success Index* (SBSI), an ongoing study of U.S. small businesses, “nearly 70% of small businesses are actually projecting revenues that are at or ahead of 2007 levels, despite the economic situation.” So, how are these businesses performing well when so many larger, more affluent companies are suffering?

The answer is easy. Many small businesses have the skills necessary to endure and excel in a recession. They are accustomed to having limited access to capital, so they already know how to operating efficiently, while spending conservatively. The SBSI further explains, “Among ten long-term business goals, small business owners are the most successful in minimizing costs and reducing risks. Half are highly successful in doing this.”

To view other findings from this study , please go to the Small Business Success Index Highlights.

*The Small Business Success Index, an ongoing measurement of the overall health of U.S. small businesses, was commissioned by Network Solutions, LLC and the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business. To take the survey yourself, click here.

Why Your Site Urgently Needs Web Security

If you haven’t noticed, there is an explosive number of people falling prey to credit card fraud and stolen identities, yet according to a recent small business study, “only 21% of all businesses – whether or not they currently have a Web site – plan to have a Web site with security features in upcoming years.”* This number indicates that many businesses still have not recognized the need for Web site security.

So what is Web Security?
Web security refers to a series of techniques applied to protect sensitive data from unauthorized use. Security measures typically involve password protection and data encryption, a process in which data is scrambled so that it cannot be understood without a deciphering mechanism.

Web Security helps you gain user trust.
If you own an ecommerce site or a site that solicits memberships, you are constantly asking your users to supply their personal information and/or payment information. Therefore, it is particularly important for you to have a secure Web site.

Most consumers are reluctant to enter sensitive information when viewing an unsecured site. They know that the risk of fraud is overwhelmingly high. In fact, one study claims that 70% of consumers will only purchase from shopping Web sites that display a security protection seal.** You can prove the legitimacy of your site by displaying an official security certificate, such as the SiteSafe™ Site Confirm Seal issued by Network Solutions®. Once these consumers see that your site is trustworthy, they are more likely to become a new customer.

* The Small Business Success Index, an ongoing measurement of the overall health of U.S. small businesses, was commissioned by Network Solutions, LLC and the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business. To take the survey yourself, click here.

** According to a Jan 2006 IBM® Cybercrime Survey of 700 participants

Small Businesses Are Still Profiting Despite the Economic Downturn

Today, Network Solutions® and the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business announced the launch of the Small Business Success Index, an ongoing report on the overall state of US small businesses. Their benchmark survey indicates that small businesses are doing just fine despite the recession. In fact, the majority of the small businesses that participated in the study made a profit in 2008. To view the results of this study, go to: http://growsmartbusiness.com/small-business-success-index-highlights/