Business Tip: Top Small Business Trends for 2011

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The way Canadians do business is changing in 2011, say experts, and it could be time for you to get on board. If you aren’t already, start pouring a little more time and energy (not necessarily money) in to how you manage, keep and balance relationships, especially when it comes to your small business.

According to Small Business Labs, which reports on trends in small business via their blog, there are several exciting and progressive directions business models are embracing for the new year – the biggest trend is “going local” and getting savvy with social media. But that goes beyond the yearly Christmas card your send or simply setting up a Facebook page for your business. It’s about staying in touch, being reachable and making your customers feel like your business is part of their lives, not just where they shop.

Whether you decide to embrace the trend to help draw new business, keep current customers loyal or just to simply grow, it’s the relationships you’re willing to make that will be catching the eye of customers in 2011.

Here are three ways to make sure you’re on their radar:

(via Small Business Labs. Original article here.)

1. Social Media Moves to the Small Business Mainstream: Small business owners are becoming more comfortable with social media, its benefits and what platforms (like Facebook, Twitter, blogs) are best to use for staying in touch with customers. Entrepreneurs are quickly realizing that there is a lot of benefit to social media, and the growth of social commerce is becoming as valuable as the dollars you poor into marketing or impressive product displays.

2. New Localism Continues to Flourish: Driven by changing demographics, new technology, economic pressures and growing concerns about the environment, more people are focusing on their families, friends and local communities.  Small businesses benefit from the growing number of locally-oriented customers and the opportunities created through “Buy Local” campaigns.  It is a long-term trend and the impact has been accelerated by 2008’s economic bubble burst.

3. Freelancers Realize They’re Small Business Owners: The last few years have seen strong growth in the number of freelancers, part-timers, temps and contractors.  Both groups will increasingly see themselves as long term freelancers and realize to be successful they will need to view themselves as small business owners.  This shift in thinking will improve their businesses and result in a stronger, more successful freelance community.

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