The "Buy Local" Movement

For the best small business trends of 2010 and 2011, "Buy Local" was at the top of the list. There are many factors that contribute to this trend but the main reason is that we (as the consumer) want to support local businesses. This fantastic article by Debbie Swanson (posted at Freelance Switch) covers a few tips, as a small business owner, how you can make the most of this trend. Check out the article here.

Technology - tiny USB drives

I use jump drives (USB drives) on a daily basis so this Store 'n' Go Clip It USB Drive  from Verbatim in 2GB and 4GB formats would be extremely useful...

[image credit: Verbatim]

10 Things You Can Do to Keep a Customer - Ivana Taylor

This is a great article from Marketing Strategist Ivana Taylor with simple, but important points on keeping a customer. Summarized, those points are:

1) Calculate your customer net worth
2) Identify what is most important to your customers
3) Review the next customer letter you see and remove all elements of "corporate-speak" from it
4) Get employees involved in building your brand and communicating with customers
5) Create a "key account" plan for a critical customer
6) Offer an insane guarantee
7) Give them the star treatment
8) Create an advisory board
9) Monthly "surprise gift"
10) LOVE them

Check out the rest of the article on the American Express Open Forum here.

Keeping Customers for Life - Toronto Public Library

The Toronto Public Library has some amazing online resources - and you don't even need to have a library card! One of those resources is the Business and Personal Finance Blog. This post below highlights a couple ways to keep your customers coming back. There are also three books it recommends which are available at the Toronto library, but most likely could also be found at your local branch. Check out both the blog and this post here.

[image credit: Toronto Public Library]

Referrals

This is a great article from the American Express OPEN Forum written by John Jantsch, of Duct Tape Marketing, about referrals. He outlines 5 truths which are listed below:

1) People make referrals because they need to
2) All referrals involve risk
3) People don't refer boring businesses
4) The greatest referral truth is trust
5) Marketing is a system

Check out the full article here.



[image credit: Gabriella Fabbri]

Business Cards & Social Media

Mashable/Business posted a great article (with images) about how your business card can promote your social media presence. Some of the examples are obvious with direct design references to Facebook and Twitter while others are more subtle with a chat bubble surrounding the social media links or even just making sure to include Facebook and Twitter addresses on a generic business card. Check out the article here and see my own business card design below unfortunately void of my social media links, but that's why I only printed 500!

Technology to save money?

This article from Mashable/Business has extremely useful tips on how small businesses can save money using technology. Highlights include using Beta software (software in development) that is often free, as well as developing marketing social marketing programs through Facebook and Twitter.

Check out the full article here.

Tips from Canadian Youth Business Foundation Convention

This is the first post that falls under the category of "Tips and Tricks" for small businesses. The Young Entrepreneur Summit took place in June and the Biz Launch Small Biz Blog noted top ten key points from the event. My favourite is #6 "Business is not something you do to make a living, it's something you do to make a life." The rest of the points can be found here.