If you're starting your own business or currently work for a start-up, you wear a lot of hats. Any disruption in your business can eat up hours of your time and kill your productivity. Many start-ups are so focused on getting their business off the ground, that they overlook technology considerations that can help increase their productivity and enhance their efficiency. Unlike mid to large corporations that have dedicated IT personnel, start-ups typically do not have in-house IT resources to evaluate and deploy new technologies to pre-empt unforeseen issues, such as virus attacks, and streamline processes to increase efficiency gains. This is due partly to time and partly due to budgetary constraints. Small businesses want to focus on the next sale, not the next purchase. Largely for this reason, many small to medium businesses (SMBs) are categorized as laggers on the technology spectrum -- classified as conservative IT buyers and slow adopters of new technologies. This profile make it seems as if SMBs are risk adverse, when in actuality, SMBs are more risk takers than corporate employees ? after all, they've started their own business or are part of a start-up where the P&L is felt throughout the company.
So why are so many SMBs behind on the technology spectrum? As mentioned, without dedicated IT personnel making system recommendations, SMBs are on their own in terms of finding out the latest and greatest products. They need small business solutions that are affordable and scalable, and most importantly, do not disrupt business operations. Without the luxury of having dedicated IT resources, SMBs do not have time or the desire to seek out the latest gadgets or attend tradeshows featuring next-gen products.
This begs the question: how do SMBs stay on top of new technologies that can help them run their business more effectively? The technologies have to come to them: bring the new products to the SMB community.
The big trend with major hi-tech vendors in the past 2-3 years has been building marketing initiatives to tap into the SMB market. To many companies, the SMB space is still a gray cloud: how do SMBs behave and what are their demographics? Each company has its own definition of an SMB: ranging from less than 100 employees to less than 1000 employees. Many hi-tech manufacturers have beta programs, usability tests and focus groups to collect feedback on how SMBs react and behave. Many of these programs offer very attractive incentives such as free product, cash, corporate branded giveaways "tchotchkes" in exchange for some form of market validation: user feedback, quotes for a press release, or customer references to serve as real world proof points. These exchange opportunities are always available ? one just has to know where to look.
Here's a testament to the kind of exchange opportunities that are available all around us: in the July 2005 edition of Runner's World, there is an ad from Factory Outlets (http://www.factoryoutlets.com/) promoting its pre-launch site. Factory Outlets needs traffic to test its ordering, fulfillment and customer service systems and is giving away $350 worth of free merchandise in exchange for time. If you don't believe it, pick up a copy of Runner's World to get an authorization code into the site ? and shop your heart out (the merchandise is limited, but it's free).
Manufacturers invest millions of dollars into marketing to the SMBs and yet there has not been a centralized place where SMBs can get an aggregated listing of exchange opportunities offered by manufacturers. Until now.
SMBxchange, Inc. is a new technology community geared to providing exchange opportunities to SMBs, including useful tools and resources to help them run their business. By this, we don't mean resources on how to get a loan, where to get legal advice, etc. There are plenty of small business portals that do the job. The tools, resources and exchange opportunities featured on www.smbxchange.com are around useful technologies that can improve the way SMBs work -- perhaps even introduce products that people never knew existed. SMBxchange is a relatively new community and exchange opportunities are in the near horizon. Types of "exchange opportunities" will include: focus groups, beta programs, whitepaper campaigns ? where there would be some type of incentive (free product, cash, etc.) in exchange for user feedback.
Membership into SMBxchange is free and there is no obligation or commitment. By joining, members get access to SMBxchange newsletters and a secure members-only site where there will be a listing of opportunities that match the member's product interests. Members only participate in programs for products they're interested in. SMBxchange is the first community that bridges these two audiences (SMB and manufacturer) into a symbiotic environment. This is a community that brings the technology to the SMB, and aggregates opportunities and offers tailored to the SMB's product interests.
To join SMBxchange, complete the online form at www.smbxchange.com
Betty Liang, spent most of her professional career in various marketing management positions with companies such as Ricoh, Cisco, and Oracle. She is now focused on her own small business helping other small and medium businesses advance their technology capabilities through exchange opportunities.
taxi from O'Hare Bismarck .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareAre you a motivational speaker who consistently gets rave reviews... Read More
Q: I have outgrown my home office and need to... Read More
Q. I am a former pastor who left the ministry... Read More
There is a rather famous true story called "Acres of... Read More
Setting priorities in your business? Your first job is to... Read More
When do you need to get more involved with the... Read More
How often have you thumbed through a business opportunity magazine,... Read More
It is imperative to have your business legally prepared. How... Read More
Let me get right to the point. The single most... Read More
As the owner or an employee of a small-to medium-sized... Read More
More sales and more profit. Isn't that what you want... Read More
How do you sponsor an event and get personal introductions... Read More
With the massive explosion of start-ups and home businesses developing,... Read More
Home based travel businesses are no longer the wave of... Read More
As a successful small business owner,you're accustomed to long hours;... Read More
Starting your own e-commerce business can be quite the adventure.... Read More
As a Boat Detailing Specialist, you may want to offer... Read More
How do window cleaning franchise businesses start? It is a... Read More
When does your ego get in the way?Let's go back... Read More
At first glance, this topic may seem a little repetitive,... Read More
While driving through Pennsylvania farmland, you have probably noticed an... Read More
Do you like animals? Would you like to work for... Read More
In my 18 years of consulting I have heard it... Read More
Everything starts with a business plan: If you don't have... Read More
Most small business owners are faced with so many responsibilities... Read More
Granger Lincoln Stretch limo rentals ..A Small Business Opportunities Magazine is one of the new... Read More
Thinking of starting a business on line? If so there... Read More
There are several well-known truck washes in the Great State... Read More
Most small businesses will not even try to advertise on... Read More
In many industries, image is one of the last things... Read More
Last week's question from Anthony R. on how to choose... Read More
The difference between rates and wages is not always clear... Read More
Manufactured and Mobile Home owners know that the weather this... Read More
When you go into business for yourself, there are many... Read More
If you are the boss and you think your job... Read More
Most folks in the pressure washing business are happier to... Read More
Since you own a business you probably have liability insurance... Read More
This is the tale of two business plans with very... Read More
Financial Consultants are one of the fastest growing industries today.... Read More
Where do you find the right people for a business... Read More
As you may know, there are many ways to incorporate... Read More
Ongoing support for a franchise system is omnipotent. A major... Read More
The Workers' Compensation situation in this country is unbelievable. Why,... Read More
Do you know what your genius work is? It's the... Read More
If you are in the professional car care business you... Read More
Before you want to build your business, you need to... Read More
Outsourcing is the strategic use of outside resources to perform... Read More
Discover How Specialized Cost Containment Creates A New Win-Win Position... Read More
During the California Recall Election, I was very interested. Without... Read More
This year, some 700,000 American businesses will be sold. Most... Read More
Small Business |