New York SBDC Research Network

By Blake Droesch From eMarketer In this modern age of entertainment, one screen is no longer enough to satisfy most. We forecast 180.8 million US adults will be two-screen viewers in 2019—meaning that 70.1% of the adult population will use a computer or mobile device to browse online while watching either digital video or traditional TV. And even the most compelling film and TV content can’t grab the full attention of nearly half of US adults, according to a March 2019 report from CivicScience. Forty-eight percent of adults in the US engage with a second screen (smartphone, tablet or laptop) while watching their favorite shows and movies on TV, compared with 38% who do not. The remaining 13% either don’t watch TV, don’t own a smartphone, tablet or laptop, or they watch video only on mobile devices.

By David Mantey From ThomasNet Small and midsize manufacturers need to automate if they’re going to compete. That's according to industry insider Bob Doyle who discussed the state of the automation industry in a recent interview leading up to Automate 2019 in Chicago. According to Doyle, that’s one of the biggest myths about automation, that robots take jobs. He says that it not only creates jobs, but it creates higher paying positions. The investment in technology also helps companies become more efficient and subsequently hire more workers to keep up with growth. In February, the Robotic Industries Association (RIA) announced that robots shipped to North American companies increased by seven percent in 2018. What was particularly interesting is that shipments to non-automotive companies are up 41%. Most of the growth came from the food, consumer goods, plastics and rubber, life sciences, and electronics industries.

By Marco Carbajo From the Small Business Administration As a small business owner, it is important to have an understanding of business credit terms. Similar to personal credit, business credit determines whether your company can be trusted by the way it manages money. Like personal credit, business credit is a reflection of how well your company manages money. Why is business credit important? The Nav American Dream Gap Survey, 2015 revealed of small business owners surveyed, 45% did not know they have a business credit score, 72% did not know where to find information on their business credit score and 82% didn’t know how to interpret their score. The good news is that you don’t have to be a financial expert to negotiate the world of business credit. By knowing some key terms and definitions surrounding business credit, you can earn lenders’ trust and make your way to successful funding. Here are the top ten business credit terms you should know: 1. Accounts Receivable

By Jane Smith From Gallup Do your best to make everyone who reports to you, directly or indirectly, feel heard. Specifically ask, "Is there something I could have done better in that situation?" or, "What do you need from me?" Depending on your role, schedule team feedback sessions or company town halls with time dedicated to open Q&A. Hearing the true state of things can be jarring, especially if the culture at your company is for leaders to be cheerleaders for an initiative or change. You need to know how those changes affect people down the line. People want to do what you hired them to do. They also want to know that you depend on their expertise -- that their role is important, and you trust them.

Article by Lucy Koch From erMarketing Marketers and consumers feel differently about the delivery of an excellent customer experience. To reconcile this, marketers should turn their attention to consumers’ top concerns, such as privacy and personalization. In the US, almost half of marketers think they’re delivering an “excellent” customer experience, according to January 2019 research from The Harris Poll. But fewer than a quarter of consumers felt the same. Privacy, the concern emphasized most in the study, received 4.1 fewer points from consumers than from marketers. Additionally, 60% of respondents said they’d be less likely to shop or use services in the future if a company sent their personal information to other companies.

By Joel Libava From Small Business Administration Before I share my ideas on how you can get past your fear of buying a franchise, I need to address this issue: It’s perfectly normal to have feelings of fear when you’re thinking about buying a franchise. Let’s see if I can help alleviate some of these fears for you. Transition Fears You’re probably worried about the transition you’ll be making if you decide to move forward with the franchise opportunity you’re interested in. The transition I’m referring to is from employee to employer. And it’s a big one. The reason it’s so big is because of all the responsibilities you’ll have as the owner of a franchise. You’ll be responsible for things like: Hiring Payroll Inventory Marketing Operations Business Development Expenses And part of your fear has to do with the fact that you may not know how to do all of those things. The good news is that when you’re a franchisee, you’ll receive formal training on every aspect o

BY MELANIE LOCKERT From The Balance : If you have an introverted personality, you might shy away from some jobs that require a lot of face time or public interaction. There are numerous jobs and side gigs that are perfect for introverts, allowing you to make extra money without having to deal extensively with other people. How much you make depends on what you’re selling and how much time you’re willing to put into it — this can be a side hustle to make you a little extra money​ or a full-time business that can make you thousands of dollars a month. Also: Are you an introverted small business owner? You are not alone: Networking and social gatherings By Wayne Fowler For the Halton Hills Chamber of Commerce