Have you missed any of my posts around the Web this week? Read on for a quick roundup.

Why do female small business owners have more trouble getting financing? The answer could be traced back to the scarcity of women on corporate boards. Get the connection in my post on American Express OPEN Forum.

Have you tried Facebook ads and, if so, did they work for you? Find out what other business owners think about advertising on Facebook in my post on  Huffington Post Small Business.

How about selling products on Facebook? Few businesses have tried, but new data show consumers might be readier than you think to embrace buying on the social media site. Check out my post on Huffington Post Small Business to learn more.

Are your sales in a slump? Looking at your business with a fresh perspective can show you customers you might be missing out on. Find out more in my post on the SCORE Success blog.

How is consumer confidence? It depends on who you ask. See how optimistic different age groups are feeling in my post on Anita Campbell’s Small Business Trends.

Need tech employees to power up your website? Finding them may not be as simple as you think. Get the skinny in my post on Network Solutions‘ GrowSmartBusiness blog.

If you’re selling BtoB, you know “content marketing” is all the rage. Find out how to make content marketing work for you in my post on AT&T‘s SmallBusinessInSite.

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Have you missed any of my blog posts from around the Internet this week? Catch up here:

The “New Normal” is here to stay, but what does that really mean? Get the scoop on 5 trends shaping small business this year in my post on Anita Campbell’s Small Business Trends.

It’s official: Consumers love shopping with mobile devices. Find out why in my post on Network Solutions‘ GrowSmartBusiness blog. They also love daily deals–so if you haven’t used these yet, you might want to give it a whirl. Get more details on Network Solutions‘ GrowSmartBusiness blog.

Despite what you may read, you can get financing for your business–as long as you have the right stuff. To learn what that is, visit my post on the SCORE Success Blog.

And even without getting a loan (or increasing your sales) there are ways to take home more of what your business makes. Find out how to boost profits by making 7 small changes in my post on American Express OPEN Forum.

Is your business relying on virtual employees? Then you’re right in line with a growing trend–read my post on Huffington Post Small Business to learn more. But while employees are going digital, some marketing still works best the old-fashioned way–i.e., snail mail. Get the scoop in another of my Huffington Post Small Business pieces.

Want to be an expert in your industry? You already are–now, you just need to learn to promote yourself that way. Find out how in my post on the Industry Word blog.

Looking for ways to save money and boost your business in the coming year? In today’s guest post, Mike Pugh, Vice President of Marketing at j2 Global Communications, shares five cost-saving tech tips that can work for you.

Small businesses are looking for new ways to invigorate their strategies and find new tactics to grow business in 2012. Kick start the New Year with these cost-saving tech tips to add a double espresso kick to your productivity.

1. Slash your phone charges with an app – Look for a mobile app that saves on the hefty cost of cell phone minutes. Compare the first six months of eVoice – free – to the cost of minutes on your phone bill. The savings will cover those expensive lattes all year long, plus you’ll get features like a professionally recorded greeting, menu options, call screening, and call routing. After six months, the cost of a good virtual phone service still saves a bundle compared to expensive cell phone minutes or the recurring fee for a land line.

2. Take a bite out of your marketing budget – Traditional marketing tactics can be quite expensive. In addition to the costs of creating, printing and mailing your campaign, direct mail can be hard to track for success. With a good email marketing service, you can hit more prospects on a much smaller budget and segment your emails in a more personal way. For small businesses that don’t want to spend a lot of time on design, Campaigner’s Smart Email Builder does it for you in three clicks. For those on a creative buzz from the lattes funded by their new VoIP app, Campaigner also offers all the tools to develop one-of-a-kind email campaigns that are sure to catch the attention of your prospects.

3. Clear the desktop – You need to send a fax here and there, but the fax machine on the table is collecting dust and its land line bill hits hard every month. Sign up for an Internet fax service, like eFax, that allows you to send, receive and manage your faxes on your computer, tablet or smartphone. That way you can toss the clunker and replace it with a sleek cappuccino maker using the money saved on paper, ink and connection costs.

4. Sweeten your website – Customer impatience is at an all-time high. Any transaction, set-up, delivery, or customer service request that doesn’t move as fast as the customer’s expectations is likely to be abandoned. Customers won’t wait around if your site is slow to load. Make sure your site can handle the traffic peaks 24/7. Google Analytics is free and offers a simple snapshot of how fast your pages load. Also make sure that visitors can see what you want to share no matter what device they’re viewing, so test your user experience on smart phones, tablets and various email services.

5. Sleep soundly – After all the java, finish the night with a relaxing cup of Chamomile tea and the peace of mind knowing that your network is as locked up as your front door. Set up your security software to automatically check for updates and change your passwords periodically throughout the year to keep any cyber criminals from hacking into your system.

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Have you missed any of my posts around the Net this week? Here’s what I’m talking about:

Mobile shopping is hot–but what happens if your site isn’t up to speed? Learn what consumers are–and aren’t–willing to put up with when shopping on smartphones in my post on Network Solutions’ GrowSmartBusiness blog.

Speaking of mobile, the trend of “checking in” at locations could be poised to gather steam. Read more in my post on American Express OPEN Forum.

And speaking of shopping, it’s no secret men and women behave differently when shopping in retail stores–but did you know they shop differently online, too? Find out how your ecommerce site can cater to men or women in my post on AT&T‘s SmallBusinessInSite.

Read my picks for four other tech trends you need to get in on at SCORE Success blog.

Is your work force more of the same old, same old? Diversifying your team could be the key to greater financial success, new research reports. Get the skinny in my post on Anita Campbell’s Small Business Trends.

Does your business still market with direct mail? If you think that method is outmoded today, think again–and read my Huffington Post Small Business post to learn the industries where direct mail is actually a more effective marketing tool than online methods.

Looking for alternatives to hard-to-get bank loans? There are plenty of options–read my Q&A on the SBDC-LA website to get the scoop.

Feeling refreshed and ready to start the new year out on the right track? One area you must check on is your business credit rating. Your business’s credit score may be holding you back and you don’t know it. Just as you have a personal credit score, your business has its own credit score, which is as important to your business as your personal credit score is to you. Your business’s credit score can pave the way to growth–or it can be the roadblock that keeps you from achieving your business goals.

Knowing your business credit score can help you determine:

• How much business credit a supplier will extend to you
• What interest rates you will pay
• How much money lending institutions will loan you
• How your customers view you
• What your insurance premiums will be; and
• The level of potential investor interest.

Knowing your customers and vendors credit score can help you to know:

• The status of prospective customers’ payment practices
• Existing clients’ business conditions
• Suppliers’ historical relationships with others
• Notifications about changes to suppliers’ or customers’ business credit reports
• What your competitors are doing; and
• Other financially pertinent details.

To find out more about business credit scores, download this free ebook Business Credit: What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You from Experian and SmallBizDaily.

Click here to download your FREE e-book today!

Click here to learn about Experian’s business credit reports.*

*Experian is an affiliate of SmallBizDaily.com

Did you miss any of my posts from around the Net this week? Here’s what I’m writing about.

Keep your business one step ahead of the pack by learning the 6 trends you’ve got to know about for 2012. You can read them over on American Express OPEN Forum.

Did your business “give back” over the holidays? Keep the feeling going all year round–check out my post on Anita Campbell’s Small Business Trends to learn how.

Now that the frenzied holiday shopping season is over, how did it all shake out? Get the final tally of how much consumers spent, where, and what it means to your business on AT&T‘s SmallBusinessInSite.

Speaking of retail, smart marketers are using social media to stay in the game in 2012 and beyond. Learn more on Huffington Post Small Business.

Will consumer spending pick up in 2012? Get a handle on projections for the New Year in my post over on the Network Solutions‘ GrowSmartBusiness blog.

If your business gave bonuses in 2011, you’re part of a dying breed. Find out why bonuses are dwindling in my post on Huffington Post Small Business.

In 2012, it’s all about the money–you want to make more of it, right? To see what might be holding you back, check out my post on the SCORE Success Blog.

No matter what the New Year brings, I know your business can handle it. Get my tips for surviving in this rollercoaster economy over on the SBDC-LA website.

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Do you have enough money to run and grow your small business, or are you struggling to find capital? While you might think every small business falls into the latter category, a recent study by The Hartford discovered that for many entrepreneurs, getting the capital they need is actually not that tough.

When The Small Business Success Study asked entrepreneurs, “How easy is it for your business to generate positive cash flow in a typical month?” 58 percent of respondents said it was either “very,” “moderately” or “extremely” easy to do so. Another 21 percent said it was “slightly” easy. Only 20 percent said it was “not easy at all.”

In some ways, the study’s results might seem surprising. We hear all over the news that capital is “impossible” to get. But in reality, many of the experts I’ve talked to recently are saying that money is out there—you just have to try harder, be more prepared, and be more flexible than ever before. (That pretty much describes the state of business right now, so why should obtaining financing be any different?)

One key factor in whether you’ll find getting financing a breeze or a squeeze is whether you’re looking to grow your business, or whether you’re fine with the status quo. The Hartford found that respondents who were focusing on expansion were the ones who had the most trouble getting the capital they needed. Almost half (43 percent) of these entrepreneurs said it was “extremely” or “very” difficult to get financing, while just 23 percent of maintenance-oriented business owners said the same.

Why the difference? I’d theorize that entrepreneurs in the maintenance stage probably have older businesses that are more stable and have less trouble generating the capital they need on their own. In contrast, entrepreneurs who are expanding their businesses are probably in an earlier stage, less stable and need more money. As a result, they might have a harder time generating it internally and might face higher hurdles when they approach outside financing sources.

That doesn’t mean it’s impossible–it just means you have to work harder. Kind of sounds like everything in business today, right?

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By Connie Certusi,

With the year drawing to a close and speculation about how the economy will fare in the new year, many small business owners are introspective. They are contemplating what went right in 2011 and what they can improve in 2012 and are looking for some direction. Today’s guest blogger Connie Certusi, Sage Peachtree’s Executive Vice President and General Manager, offers some tips:

1. Review and revise your business plans. Were you unable to achieve your goals or meet your targets for 2011? As you head into the new year, it is worthwhile to evaluate why and determine if new tactics need to be added to the revised business plan. What course of action or changes can be made so you can resolve these issues? On the other hand, don’t be afraid to remove these objectives altogether. Changes in your industry or the economy may have played a major factor to why targets weren’t met and it may not be strategic to incorporate these goals into the 2012 plan.

2. Mobilize your manpower. Most of the business applications you are using or will consider in 2012 extend easily and inexpensively (often free) to smartphones and tablets. Many customer management systems, for example, let entrepreneurs and employees access marketing campaign and sales management features on an Android or iPad, and actions taken remotely are also reflected on their office system. Productivity seekers: look for device independent apps that work on almost anything. Techies: seek HTML5 based apps.

3. Get some intelligence, as in Business Intelligence. Something every small business should be doing in 2012 is to look at the data stored in their software. By taking the data and turning it into actionable information, businesses can save costs and increase profits. That’s what Business Intelligence (BI) does. But don’t be afraid that it’s too complicated – many software solutions now provide BI tools that are easy to use. One of the most popular ways: take the data stored in your ERP and CRM systems, pull it into Microsoft Excel, and then let business managers that already know how to use Excel analyze the data. Embracing Business Intelligence in 2012 will set business up for growth and higher profits.

4. Go hybrid. There’s a lot of hype about SaaS, cloud and other web solutions. However, most SMBs have existing software in place and cannot afford to move their entire company “to the cloud.” But to be successful in 2012, SMBs should start embracing a hybrid solution where on-premise software is connected to cloud-based services. This will allow SMBs to reap the benefits of the cloud without too much disruption. Some key areas to look at include Web-based sales tax calculation services that ensure small business are always charging the correct amount of sales tax; services that allow SMBs to electronically file taxes; and Web services that allow small business to create cost effective marketing campaigns that provide customers with a personalized experience. Connected Web services is a trend to embrace in 2012.

5. Give mobile payments a try. Mobile commerce will continue to be hot during 2012. It’s important to know that mobile payments are more than an iPhone processing a credit card, or a mobile phone replacing a credit card. Mobile payments are also about delivering information and building loyalty through an array of mobile devices used by consumers. While the allure of mobile payment offerings is strong, and the benefits, like the expansion of sales channels and low cost of entry, can be great, small businesses do need to be very careful not to put their business or their customers’ credit card accounts at risk. If a mobile payments vendor’s system does not focus on all aspects of payment security, regardless of what point-of-sale (POS) device they use, then they (and you) could run into problems. If mobile is a key part of a small business’ environment, then that business should work with processors that have tightly integrated, Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliant (at the hardware level) mobile solutions.

Also consider:

• Synch your accounting software with your accountant regularly- don’t wait until mid-year or year end!
• Take the opportunity to purge your old data- identify inactive customers, old inventory items.  Get rid of what you no longer need.
• Refresh your customer information- are there customers who used to do lots of business with you, but have lapsed?  Maybe outreach to them is in order.  Look at the possibility of offering a discount to those customers you’d like to win back, as well as your best customers, who will appreciate the perk.
• If you’re not already doing it, use electronic banking for easy record keeping
• Record everything electronically- scan statements, utilize tools out there to easily track receipts and financial records, so that everything is easily accessible and most importantly, able to be backed up remotely
• Back up your data- the IRS doesn’t care if you have a crash and lose your information!
• Track health insurance policies, review with your accountant, to see if you qualify for some valuable tax credits
• File Online- it’s the law!

Sage Peachtree is a leading global supplier of business management software and services for small and mid-sized businesses.

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Are you still waiting for the economy to bounce back to pre-recession days? You might be waiting a long time. Instead, check out today’s guest post by

Welcome to 2012 and the “new normal.” It’s time to accept that operating lean and mean will be necessary for the foreseeable future. Your mission statement, your business plan, your 2012 budget – everything needs to set a different bar with different sales and expense expectations that, in essence, represent your new 2012 business. If you’ve held on to that large office waiting for things to pick up, kept an extra car, maintained a larger-than-needed staff, have too many cell phones, etc., it’s time to start a “new business,” scrap what you can, and feel the relief.

This is about major regrouping, major renovation, and creating a brighter, less stressful, more optimistic view of the new year – your new normal. Here are 8 ways to get started.

1. Fire some customers.

Did you ever notice that the highest-maintenance, most time-consuming customers are the ones who pay you the least? Analyze the profit margin or lack of profit margin that each customer produces. Fire customers who are not helping you be profitable – period.

2. Reward your best customers.

Look at which customers are giving you the most profit, and coddle them, woo them, don’t lose them! Offer them frequent buyer rewards. Send them a small gift at their one-year anniversary. Give them a random call every few months to “check in,” thank them, and ask what else they might need. Treat them like gold.

3. Start relationships.

This year, it’s time to overhaul your sales behavior. Turn all one-time sales efforts into relationship sales. Start monthly maintenance plans, suggest auxiliary services, sell complementary products, or offer retainer plans covering 50 to 100 labor hours, for example.

4. Pay yourself.

Stop thinking you will get a paycheck sometime in the future. Build a minimum pay base into your budget to pay yourself. Just like dieting, when you starve yourself for too long, you will just gobble up too much food later on. Stop pretending that you don’t need to be paid.

5. Erase those expense lines.

Reduce your operating expense budget to the lowest possible number. If that means selling your car or closing the office, so be it. You can’t build a new profit base when you are still using yesterday’s expense model. Go through your expenses, line and by, and get rid of everything you can live without this year.

6. Outsource, outsource, outsource.

Whatever service you need, think long and hard before hiring a new employee and think long and hard before keeping an old employee. Look at each “department” or each “person” when you are trying to manage costs. Can you eliminate positions, combine jobs, delete processes, and outsource tasks? Outsource exactly what you need for the right amount of time and the right amount of money.

7. Update your networking.

From blogs to Twitter to LinkedIn to Facebook, invest in the presence you need to compete in the New Year. Businesses that don’t leverage social networking will be left behind. Jumpstart new relationships in 2012 with forum building. Update all your sites. Keep your online relationships fresh and dynamic with news, blogs, newsletters, tips, and surveys. Find an online forum in your industry and become a regular contributor.

8. Take your office with you.

With cloud technology, you are no longer bound to a desk. Log onto some new interactive cloud-based systems that can help you do your business anywhere. Make sure to triple-charge that Internet connection so you have it on all devices. Everything you once needed to do in your own office can now be done remotely. Best of all, when all of your employees are sharing files in the cloud, it makes for a much more cohesive, connected team.

Patricia Sigmon is founder and president of LPS Consulting (www.lpsconsulting.com), a 30-year-old technology firm that specializes in creating technology solutions for small to midsize businesses, with profit generation and return on investment as the focus. Sigmon also provides profit-generation advice in her boutique, profit-centric firm, David Advisory Group (www.davidadvisorygroup.com). A successful entrepreneur, a sought-after speaker, and a leading expert in the field of profit management, she is the author of Six Steps to Creating Profit: A Guide for Small and Mid-sized Service-Based Businesses (Wiley).

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This may sound hard to believe, but for many small business owners, money is a subject they’d rather not talk about. While the conventional wisdom is that entrepreneurs start businesses to get rich, anyone who’s been around small business owners knows that’s far from the truth. Far more often, people start businesses to turn a passion into a job; to escape from the world of employment; or to do something they love.

The problem with this approach is that when you think “Do what you love, and the money will follow,” the money doesn’t always follow. And for some people, that’s OK—at least for a while.

But eventually, it’s not so OK. If you’re not getting paid—or not getting paid enough—then the hard truth is, you’re not running a business, you’re supporting a hobby. With the end of the year just past and your 2011 taxes fresh in your mind, now is the time to take some steps to make 2012 a more profitable year for your business. Here are three steps I suggest:

• Face reality. If you avoid looking at your financials because you’re afraid of what you might find, it’s time to face the music. Who knows? The truth might be better than you think. Or it might be worse. Either way, you can’t improve the situation until you know what you’re facing.

• Learn accounting basics. I’m not saying you need to spend your life in a green eyeshade with a calculator strapped to your hip. But you do need to know what the key business financial statements are and how to read them. The good news is it’s easier than ever to do so, thanks to simplified accounting software that can show you your cash situation with the click of a mouse. You’ll also discover how to assess your profit margins and keep costs in check so you keep more of what you earn.

• Get tough on slow-paying (or no-paying) customers. Small businesses are based on relationships and I know it can be awkward to be honest with a customer you have a long-term relationship is about why he or she isn’t paying on time. But if you don’t have that conversation, you might never get paid at all. As soon as a payment is late, follow up in a friendly way. Most likely, the problem is a simple oversight, but if it’s something more dire, take the steps to work out a realistic solution for getting what is owed you.

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