Small Business Trends: 2008 Predictions Series
I have always found the New Year predictions to be quite interesting. I once bought up several of the tabloid newspapers with New Year predictions and stuck them in my closet. Those predictions were great conversation at the New Year’s eve party a year later.
Well, I missed the predictions this year, so I’m trying to catch up. This post begins a three part series on 2008 job and business predictions. This first post is a list of trends we can expect to see in small businesses. In “Ask an Expert: Big Trends in Small Business, Part 1” | “Part 2” at USAToday.com, Steve Strauss predicted:
- “Networking 2.0 is 180 degrees, 100% different.” - Networking is not about connecting electronically through social networks such as Facebook, MySpace, or LinkedIn.
- “Work smarter, not harder.” - With technological advances, we are able to do more work from where ever we wish. Expect more job-sharing, outsourcing, working from home, and virtual offices
- “Green is the new black.” - Businesses will find ways to work more ecologically safe and money will be available for more green business ventures.
- “It’s the economy, stupid!” - Growth is slowing as small businesses spend less and credit tightens.
- “China’s capitalist revolution touches everything.” - China’s continued economic impact will be felt in some way in nearly every business transaction.
- “Search is still king.” - Businesses need to understand the value of the technology search function to put their business in front of the consumer.
- “Say hello to your new assistant - your cellphone.” - We will see continued technological advances in the use of cellphones that take us far beyond just typical voice communication.
- “Entrepreneurs of the world unite.” - There will be a continued increase in small and microbusiness development.
- “The year of marketing creatively.” - Expect to see more nontraditional marketing competing for an already over-stimulated consumer.
- “Your PC is going virtual. Is your business?” - Businesses will use more online applications, virtual communication, and helpful gadgets.
What small business trends do you expect to see in 2008?
Next in the series, employment trends from CareerBuilder.com.
[Photo Credit:Bitterjug]
3 Responses to “Small Business Trends: 2008 Predictions Series”
By Heather on Feb 4, 2008 | Reply
Hi Coryan
Great blog - I came here via Shari’s tag to me and am enjoying your posts. Will subscribe too.
Our small business is changing dramatically so we can eventually work from the road in an RV. We still need someone in the office to manage the small amounts of paper we still have left and have a new person starting today who will eventually work from home on a remote access to our office server. The comment on social networking resonates too - that is also creating new ways of working and connecting with clients.
By Coryan on Feb 4, 2008 | Reply
Heather, thanks for dropping by and subscribing. It sounds like your business is experiencing a few of these predictions already…especially the mobility of the workplace. Actually, working from an RV sounds awesome. I wish you the best!