Small Businesses Use Of Social Media Marketing Doubles As Non-Essentials Are Being Cut 

Nearly 30% of small businesses in a survey say they have cut back on cleaning. This trend is part of a continuing saga of mixed signals about just how good or bad small business leaders are doing. 

One major expansion trend is the growing usage by small business marketers of social media outlets to deliver information and expand their sales footprint.  In fact, a recent analysis reported small business usage of social media as a marketing tool had jumped from 12% to 24% in the past year alone. Services to help smaller enterprises profitably utilize this growing marketplace are springing up.  One company, Digital Automat is offering a group of value-added products and services.

Small business confidence levels are reported to be slowly going up.  Bank lending is still a spotty proposition with some lenders seemingly loosening requirements while others are still being difficult.  While some small business owners see a bleak picture for 2010 and are hoarding cash, reducing payrolls and generally pulling in their horns, others say they are hiring.

What we do see is a slow recovery with consumers being careful about what they buy and svings rates increasing.  Sellers need to prove the value of their product or service to a greater extent than during the boom years. 

Business-to-business marketers need to do more to get buyers to make a commitment. Stan Rapp, a nationally known expert on promotion offers his ideas on improving small business marketing efforts. Video is playing more of a role in everyday selling and small business marketers need to put more emphasis on this media. An entrepreneur has launched one-step digital marketing and broadcasting platform.

At the same time, cash to grow small firms is still a dear commodity. However, financing small businesses may be a little easier if these suggestions are followed.  For those thinking of financing their business using a 401K, here are some caveats.

The year is just beginning and there are still shoals ahead but perhaps, as some indicators imply, positive growth is possible for many small business leaders