New York SBDC Research Network

From Forbes : Social media provides a powerful tool for outreach: Companies can share stories, talk about events or offers, or discuss services or solutions with interested customers or potential clients. But not every small business has set aside the time and money to establish an online strategy or presence. 12 Forbes Agency Council members share their top tips for small companies to improve their social media presence. Utilize the little time you have on social media to understand your customers and address their needs, not to promote your product.

From Forbes Hiring the right talent is critical to the success of any organization, and it’s especially important for a small business. One employee’s influence can potentially be felt more strongly in a small business than at a large organization. Likewise, when one person leaves a job at a small company, it can be more difficult to cover his or her responsibilities than it would be at a larger firm, especially since most small-business employees wear many hats. One good employee can also propel the business forward, while a bad hire can set back productivity, damage morale, and cost an employer both time and money. Small businesses created 79,000 jobs in January 2016, according to the ADP Small Business Report. How can hiring managers ensure that these jobs are filled by the best candidates who can set their small business up for future success? Joanie Courtney, senior vice president of Global Market Insights at job-search company Monster Worldwide, urges small-business own

From Forbes The economy’s continued expansion could have you, like many business owners, optimistic about your company’s growth prospects for this year and going forward. Eighty-three percent of businesses are somewhat or extremely confident that their business will grow in 2016, and on average, these businesses expect a nearly 9 percent increase in annual revenue over the next 12 months, according to a recent survey through the Pepperdine Private Capital Access Index report. Businesses with less than $5 million in annual revenue were among the most confident. That means you may need capital to add employees, buy more inventory or purchase office space in the coming months. Small businesses, however, historically report a tough time obtaining financing, with half of applicant firms (especially among microbusinesses and startups) reporting in 2015 they were approved for less than the amount requested. The head of the U.S. Small Business Administration has cited industry estimates

In 2013, organizations finally began in earnest to integrate social technologies into recruitment, development and engagement practices. In 2014, this social integration will become the status quo. The digital immigrants have now caught up to the digital natives – we are now all digital citizens. The fastest growing demographic on Google+ is 45-54 and on Twitter it is 55-64! And it’s a good thing that baby boomers and other older generations have embraced these tools, because using social media inside companies will be increasingly important in 2014 and beyond. More from FORBES .

We've searched high and low to bring you the first annual list of FORBES 100 Best Websites For Entrepreneurs . Whether you’re seeking advice on raising capital, scaling your business or looking for general industry insight, these sites are worth reading. The picks here are arranged in no specific order. Selected unscientifically, they have been chosen for their ability to address a range of topics of interest to entrepreneurs. Frequent posts and content quality helps get a nod. The list is a combination of practical tools – sites to crowdsource funding like Rock The Post or AngelList, or sites with educational resources, like Stanford’s eCorner – and inspirational advice from bloggers like Seth Godin and Steve Blank.

Burke, VA - The America's SBDC 'Biz Blog' was featured on Forbes.com on November 12, 2013 as one of the "100 Best Websites for Entrepreneurs." The article stated that they searched high and low for the best of the best. Whether an entrepreneur was seeking capital, growing their business or just looking for general assistance the Top 100 sites listed were "worth reading." Natalie Robehmed, Forbes Staff wrote "America's Small Business Development Center blog presents friendly lessons from founders who have been there and done that." "Recognition from Forbes is a real tribute to our blog contributors and partners. Content from leaders like Gina Watkins of Constant Contact, Ramon Ray, Eric Spellman, Benetrends and so many others is what makes us successful, relevant and a premier resource for our SBDC business advisors and their small business clients," said Charles "Tee" Rowe, President & CEO, America's SBDC.

Starting a new business from the ground up can be exciting – developing new ideas and selling these concepts to anyone who will listen is something many people thrive on. But it’s certainly not for everyone. What about those folks whose previous job experience or personality types might not transfer as successfully to starting a business by scratch? Another avenue to consider is franchising. Opening a franchise is no easy (or necessarily cheap) option but it definitely has some advantages: lower failure rates, instant name recognition, buying power, and so on. There are thousands of options out there – from donut shops to car repair to haircuts. How to decide where to start? There are many rankings of franchises available. One place to start is a list of the “best franchises for the buck” that writers from Forbes have put together . The authors of this report looked at four variables: minimum initial investment, total locations, survival rates, and training hours offered. So are th