By Karen Kerrigan –
Last week, the nation celebrated Small Business Week! Of course, SBE Council celebrates entrepreneurs and small businesses every day and we know how important it is for you to have access to tools and information that can help your business compete and thrive during this challenging period for our economy. This week’s Business Intelligence update provides some helpful content and ideas on a variety of fronts. And for all of the Mom entrepreneurs, business owners, and employees of small business America out there…here’s wishing you a very Happy Mother’s Day!
Summer Interns: An Answer to the Employee Shortage?
In a Small Business Insider post, Big Ideas for Small Business® founder and small business expert Barbara Weltman writes that there are many compelling reasons to have a summer intern work in your company. Barbara observes:
“There’s really no downside to having a summer intern. Just be sure to hire well, be clear about expectations, and follow compensation rules.”
In the blog post, she covers some key rules and where to look for these summer employees.
AT&T Celebrates Small Business Week with Special Offers Thru May 2022
What are the new offers?
Square: With the purchase of AT&T Business Fiber or AT&T Wireless Broadband, customers will receive waived credit card processing on up to $10K in card sales from Square.
AT&T Business Mobility: Looking to add a new line? Learn how eligible customers can get up to $1,000 in bill credits.
How is AT&T celebrating Small Business Week?
Sweepstakes Entry thru May 14: AT&T Business is kicking off the week with our Not Small in Spirit Sweepstakes to celebrate small businesses and the way they have adapted to change. The sweepstakes offers small business owners the opportunity to win a $10,000 grand prize or 1 of 10 additional $2,000 prizes and runs May 1-14, 2022. To enter, click here.
Read more on upcoming webinars here.
These U.S. Cities Have Had the Most Luck in Getting Workers Back Into the Office, Fortune
Some cities “have fared far better than others, according to new data from Kastle Systems, an office security company that tracks workers’ badge swipes and keycard usage at more than 2,600 buildings it manages across 47 states.”
The 5 cities with the highest office occupancy rates, according to Kastle’s data:
1.) Austin – 58.8%
2.) Houston – 50.9%
3.) Dallas – 49%
4.) Los Angeles – 39.8%
5.) Chicago – 37%
The 5 cities with the lowest office occupancy rates, according to Kastle’s data:
1.) San Jose – 31%
2.) New York City – 32.9%
3.) San Francisco – 33.4%
4.) Philadelphia – 35.3%
5.) Washington D.C. – 36.6%
Read the full article and list here.
Here’s How Americans are Downgrading Their Summer Vacations Due to Inflation, Forbes
Staycations are likely back. “Two-thirds of travelers say that gas prices will impact their travel decisions in the next six months, with more than a third (37%) saying they will “greatly impact” their plans.
“A third of travelers (36%) say they will choose a destination closer to home, while about a quarter (26%) say they will cut back on entertainment and recreation.” How can your small business – or local community – tap into the vacay downgrade? Read more on the data here.
SCORE Webinar
Boom! Explode Your Business by Getting Clients with Bigger Budgets, May 12 – 1:00 p.m. ET
Time is money for business owners, especially start-ups and solopreneurs. That’s why it is important to know how to attract high-paying clients who will give you the most significant turnaround on your investment.
In this valuable webinar, bestselling author and USA TODAY’s small business columnist Steve Strauss will show you how and where to find bigger, better and higher-paying clients and customers. Additionally, you will learn how to:
● Pitch to high-paying clients
● Convince them to say yes
● Land a high-paying client that will lead to more high-paying clients
For more information or to register for FREE click here.
6 Marketing Specifics that Apply to Every New Venture, Startup Professionals
As Martin Zwilling, CEO & Founder of Startup Professionals writes in a blog post, “Marketing is everything these days.”
Based on the guidance provided by marketing coach David Newman in his classic book “Do It! Marketing,” Zwilling outlines pragmatic marketing tips for small businesses. He notes that “Good marketing is not rocket science.” And that you need to consider marketing and selling the same way that you buy.
Meta Announces New Resources for Diverse Businesses and New Tools for All Small Businesses
During National Small Business Week, Meta’s CCO Sheryl Sandberg announced a host of new tools, product offerings and partnerships designed to help small businesses more easily engage with and reach customers through its apps.
Small businesses will soon be able to more easily use and integrate apps like Whatsapp in the free Meta Business Suite, advertise through Messenger, and even solicit and share quotes with customers over Instagram.
Meta also announced a new global partnership with Adobe to small businesses and will provide free access to training and tools. For more on this “Express Your Brand” tools and training opportunity – such as how to engage your customers on social media – click here. This includes a gift of a one-year premium subscription of Adobe Express for 10,000 business owners.
You Tube Marketing: The Complete Small Business Guide for 2022, Crowdspring
Did you know that YouTube is the second-most popular social media platform and the second-largest search engine? “With over 2 billion active users, YouTube offers small businesses one of the best ways to reach customers and prospects,” writes Mary Kyamko in her YouTube Marketing Guide for Small Businesses for Crowdspring. She notes:
“Growing your YouTube channel requires patience, understanding data, and trends, and experimenting with various tactics. You could get lucky and go viral overnight, but this doesn’t guarantee stable growth. That’s why it’s vital to invest in smart marketing strategies to build long-term growth.”
Bonus Content on Video Marketing via Small Business Currents:
“If you’re one of the business owners who is not sure if video marketing is worth it, the ROI reported in the Wyzowl survey is pretty impressive. They say video marketing helped:
● 94%: increase the understanding of their products/services
● 93%: boost brand awareness
● 87%: increase traffic
● 86%: generate leads
● 82%: increase dwell time
● 81%: directly increase sales
Karen Kerrigan is president & CEO of the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council.