New York SBDC Research Network

From MarketingProfs : Search engines keep getting smarter, but that doesn't mean SEO is no longer necessary. Your business will lose out to competitors if you're not working to keep it in the public eye. Although all SEO hinges on great content and a responsive website, local SEO has its own practices and requirements that influence how you rank locally. There are literally hundreds of local SEO ranking factors to consider, but what I've detailed here are five of the most important. 1. Create a targeted landing page for each location

Each year the New York Small Business Development Center recognizes outstanding small businesses in a variety of ways.  This Success Story from the  Manhattan SBDC  appears in our  2015 Annual Report .  Eric Beckman GKIDS Inc Manhattan SBDC GKIDS is the distributor of top-caliber, award-winning animated films from around the world. Founded in 2006 by Eric Beckman, past releases include many award winners and Eric is a founder of the New York International Children’s Film Festival. The company has scored four Best Animated Feature Oscar nominations – the most for an independent distributor – with The Secret of Kells in 2010, A Cat in Paris and Chico & Rita in 2012, and Ernest & Celestine in 2014.  As his business grew, Eric found that many NYC banks were unable to understand his industry and financing needs. GKIDS purchases rights upfront and receives the revenue in future periods. The revenue stream was fairly consistent and predictable but banks were unwilling to

From the FTC : The Federal Trade Commission wants businesses to know about important Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR) amendments that are now in effect. These changes make it unlawful for telemarketers to use three types of payment methods exploited by con artists and scammers. As of this month, it is illegal for telemarketers to ask consumers to pay for goods or services using cash-to-cash money transfers, such as MoneyGram and Western Union provide, or by providing PIN numbers from cash reload cards such as MoneyPak, Vanilla Reload or Reloadit packs. It also is illegal for telemarketers to use unsigned checks called “remotely created payment orders” to withdraw money directly from consumers’ bank accounts. As detailed in a press release issued in November 2015 , the FTC finalized the payment method bans amendments to the TSR late last year.  Business guidance about the new bans  is available.  New guidance warns consumers  that any telemarketer requesting payment using these meth

Self-insured employers, applicable large employers and health coverage providers are reminded that the  June 30  deadline to electronically file information returns with the IRS is approaching. The deadline to provide information returns to employees or responsible individuals was  March 31 . While the deadline to file paper information returns with the IRS was May 31, electronic filers have more time. This chart provides a reminder about the upcoming filing requirement and the  June 30, 2016 , deadline.                     Action Electronic Filing Due Dates in 2016 for… Applicable Large Employers – Including Those That Are Self-Insured Self-insured Employers That Are  Not  Applicable Large Employers Coverage Providers –        Other Than Self-Insured Applicable Large Employers* Electronically File 1094-B and 1095-B with the IRS Not Applicable ** June 30* June 30 * Electronically File 1094-C and 1095-C with the IRS June 30 * Not Applicable Not Applicable *If you file 250 or mor

From The Economist : Leaving the EU would trigger a recession and set real GDP back by 6% by 2020. This is one of the key findings from the latest report from the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), Out and down: Mapping the impact of Brexit. The report, which explores a post-Brexit landscape and its impact on key industrial sectors, suggests that the impact on specific UK industries would vary by sector and would be largely negative—although some sectors will find themselves more insulated than others. Other findings include: The uncertainty caused by a “Leave” vote would upset consumer and market sentiment, causing a 14-15% devaluation of the pound against the US dollar. Delayed investment and spending decisions would hit real GDP growth most in 2017. Weaker trade ties would exacerbate this decline from 2018 onwards, therefore, in real terms the UK economy would be 6%—or £106bn—worse off in 2020. Pharmaceutical exports, access to medicines and research grants could all be at r

From SSTI Because they focus on attracting mature firms through relocation incentives, job creation strategies at the state level are often misguided, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Despite this, many metropolitan regions are increasingly focusing their efforts on attracting and retaining the high-growth firms responsible for an oversized share of job growth and economic output. While considerable research has focused on the important role that startups and high-growth firms play in the national economy, relatively little has been done to apply a regional lens to this phenomenon. New research, tracks high-growth firms over a multiple-year period to assess how their changing operations can inform regional economic development. In The Role of Entrepreneurship in U.S. Job Creation and Economic Dynamism, researchers from the University of Maryland and the U.S. Census Bureau assess the importance of startups and young firms as contributors to job creation and

Each year the New York Small Business Development Center recognizes outstanding small businesses in a variety of ways.  This Success Story from the  Rockland SBDC  appears in our  2015 Annual Report .  Barbara Nochturft and Andrea D’Andrea Cornerstone Restaurant Rockland SBDC The Cornerstone Restaurant in Congers opened in September 1994 when owners Barbara Nochturft and Andrea D’Andrea, who had previously worked together, decided to start a venture on their own. Since 1994, the pair has served clientele savory and healthy breakfast and lunch options, and looked forward to growing the business. When Super Storm Sandy hit, an extended power outage forced the Cornerstone to close, caused extensive inventory losses, and derailed their growth plans.  Further complicating the restaurant’s recovery was the inability of suppliers to deliver fresh inventory as soon as the storm passed because many roads were still inaccessible. With true entrepreneurial spirit, Barbara and Andre