The key to growing a healthy business in a tough economy is to have a base of repeat customers providing a steady stream of revenues. As a small business owner, having a loyalty program can set your company apart from the competition.  Below are several strategies you can initiate to foster more customer loyalty.  (Remember, good old-fashioned customer service is what can differentiate your business from the big guys.)

Offer a cash discount. Credit card processing fees can eat into your profits. Let your customers know that if they pay with cash, you will pass the savings on to them. Gas stations have routinely done this, typically offering discounts such as 10 cents less per gallon. Now, restaurants, dry cleaners and other service businesses are getting in on the action, offering flat or percentage-based discounts.   (If you offer a cash incentive, make sure to note it in marketing materials and on your website and social media profiles.)

Get your game on. There’s a new factor in mobile loyalty programs: fun. “Gamification” is the latest wave in customer retention, allowing businesses to extend their reach and to better monetize their websites.  Location-based social media platform Foursquare gives merchants the chance to reward frequent customers who “check in” via the service to become “mayors.” Other mobile gaming programs, such as SCVNGR, allow consumers to win prizes at participating locations by completing challenges, such as posting a photo of their meal to Facebook. Prizes may include free goods or discount codes.

These games do more than foster loyalty; they encourage user engagement and social media activity—essential for building your brand. The word of mouth on your company’s fun-factor alone can help drive more sales and repeat business.

Implement a card-based loyalty program. One of the simplest and cheapest ways to reward your customers is to print up a punch card offering a free gift after a certain number of purchases. Coffee, sandwich and frozen-yogurt shops; nail salons; car washes; and recreational businesses all use such enticements.

Go digital. Punch cards too retro? Consider digital loyalty programs. These not only reward your customers, they help you by automatically keeping track of sales information and offering insight into spending patterns.

New mobile services are integrating loyalty programs with QR codes. Some companies provide customers with a personal QR code, tied to a credit card account, that they can scan to make payments at participating merchants, receiving credit dollars that can be applied to future purchases. With other services, QR codes are printed on receipts and can be scanned by consumers using a free app, enrolling them in loyalty programs. QR codes allow customers to interact with their rewards accounts and engage with your brand online, and they allow you to create customized rewards based on consumer preferences.

Support your community. Box-store weary consumers are now more eager to patronize their local small businesses. Do your part by utilizing local vendors and products. You may want to institute a reciprocal program with a nearby business to use each other’s goods or services and to note the relationship in advertising, signage or marketing materials—letting customers know that their purchase supports not just your business, but the community at large.

Follow up with a call. A follow-up phone call after a service visit or major purchase will always be appreciated; it lets your customers know that they remain a priority even after the work is completed and the bill is paid. Thank them for their business, inquire if your work or product met with their satisfaction and ask if they have questions or if there’s anything else they need. Just think of the minute or two you spend on the phone as an investment in future sales.

Send a note. Luxury retailers have been doing it for years: sending handwritten thank-you notes to regular clients. It’s an effort that makes customers feel special and will keep them coming back to you. A personal email may work, but a handwritten note has more impact.

The little things matter. Ask for your customers’ mailing address or email when you see them, add an email sign-up link to your website, or put out a bowl for business cards, offering some small prize in return. You might also ask customers to fill out a form with contact information, product preferences and date of birth. Send a note after a significant purchase and on major holidays and birthdays. Just remember: Your customers have entrusted you with their personal information—don’t abuse the privilege. Keep your correspondence significant and to a minimum, and make it clear that you won’t resell names or data.

Shaping Your Product/Service

Customer feedback is probably one of the best ways to make your business successful. Think of it like this; through negative feedback, you can shape your product/service into something you know the market will love.

Most people think that bad feedback comes from people they have never even done business with, or with some of their ‘bad’ clients, so they decide to ignore it. This is, in fact, a complete myth; most of the negative feedback you will get will be from some of your most loyal customers. Not because they want to put you down; because they want to remain your best customers.

Think of it like this; ‘bad’ customers, if they encounter a problem of flaw with your product/service, they will simply move on to the next company who will solve this problem for them. Whereas for a loyal customer, they want to tell you about the problem, hoping that you will fix it and they can remain customers of yours.

Think of it like this; customer feedback is a free way to conduct market research. Your clients will tell you how they want their product/service. They will tell you about any problems they have; although you may have to prompt them to do so; perhaps through a quiz of survey.

Free Marketing

Well, who would say no to some free marketing? Quite a few businesses actually, so it seems! Customer feedback, when it is good, can be used in a multitude of ways, the obvious one being testimonials.

Every time you get some good feedback, you should ask the client if you can use it as a testimonial on your website, leaflets, sales letters; anything which you send to a prospective client. Likewise, when you get bad feedback, you should act upon it immediately, because it really will result in not only your product/service getting better, but perhaps some more business!

Think about it; if you had a problem with a company that you bought from, and you complained about the problem then it was solved, how much more likely would you be to talk about that than just receiving a product and there being absolutely no flaws to it?

Starr Hall posted her blog on February 6th, 2012.  Read more here.

As Facebook continues to enhance its fan page options, businesses are not only struggling to keep up with the changes, but they also are still trying to figure out how to brand and market their pages. Because of some of the changes, strategies you used just last month to increase your “likes” and interactions with fans may not be as effective.

Here are a few quick branding fixes that will make it easier for prospects to find you, as well as some tips on getting more fans–or what I prefer to call interested prospects.

No.1 – Brand the URL. If your fan page URL is still set with a bunch of numbers, you are making it harder for prospects to find you and missing out on a branding opportunity. Facebook recently lifted the requirement that you get 25 “likes” before you can name your fan page URL. Now, all you need to do is go to www.facebook.com/username and set your name in the URL, which is great for branding purposes and easy link referrals. For example, instead of www.facebook.com/1283743hreu818, my link is now www.Facebook.com/StarrHalldotcom.

Related: New Tools to Create a Facebook Fan Page

No.2 – Name your page appropriately. Once you reach 100 friends, you cannot change the title of your page, so make sure you choose wisely from the start. Your brand name is the ideal title to make it easy for people to find your page when they search. You still can change the title if you have less than 100 likes by going to edit page, selecting Basic Information from the menu at left, changing the text in the Name field, and saving your edits.

No. 3 – Take prospects to a welcome tab, not your wall. When you send people to your fan page and have them land on your Wall, your posts probably won’t be enough to entice them to “like” you. Posts are just you talking. Even if you’re giving valuable information, prospects need a reason to be your fan. Instead of having them land on your Wall, set up a welcome tab. A welcome tab can include a greeting and an enticement, such as an e-book or video series, to encourage visitors to become fans. Such sites as woobox.com offer free trials and step-by-step tutorials to help you customize your page, including tabs.

Related: Understanding the Value of a Facebook Fan

No. 4 – Engage potential fans. You need to offer something that will engage people. For instance, you can use Facebook applications to create a poll or launch a game. These can be located on your welcome tab. Wildfireapp.com, for instance, provides a free trial so you can navigate its engagement applications. If you decide to use its programs, services start at $5 and go up from there, depending on which tools you use. SocialUps, a company that specializes in creating games for fan pages, starts at $300. One of SocialUps’ most recent game apps was launched at www.facebook.com/vitalyte, a fan page for Vitalyte Nutrition Products that was started three months ago and now has nearly 100,000 followers. The downside of some gaming applications is that they can gain access to your page and randomly post messages.

Related: Is Facebook Advertising for You?

No. 5 – Check market insights. Is Facebook Advertising for You? Recent enhancements to fan page analytics make it easier to know your prospects, including their sex, age and where they live. Also, you can see which posts they like best and follow a viral report showing if they did something on your page that their friends could see. Such viral activity extends your reach to friends of friends. However, this option only allows you to see that your fans are talking about you to other people; it doesn’t share information about whom they’re sharing with.

Facebook fan pages are quickly turning into Facebook websites and interactive business tools. With access to millions of prospects, it’s important to brand your page well, make it easy to find and keep the content up-to-date and engaging.

Starr Hall

Starr Hall is an international speaker, author, publicist and social networking expert. She’s the CEO of StarrHall.com, a consulting and training company based in Avila Beach, Calif.

Your company will always have haters, those unhappy customers who go out of their way to trash your product, service or customer service at every opportunity. They often find their way onto social media, thanks to the low barrier of entry and promise that any invisible comment can find its way onto the highly visible first page of Google results. But such negativity can actually be good for your business. Here’s why:

They highlight points of vulnerability. Look past the hurtful comments and ask yourself: Do the haters have a point? While they’re reacting in an unconstructive way, a genuine grievance might drive their rage. Addressing that flaw only strengthens your company.

Their minds can be changed. Most of your haters won’t harbor deep rooted or long term animosity. Perhaps they felt slighted by customer service, or misled by a salesperson. If you can find a way to fix that experience and make it right, that same person can be transformed into your biggest advocate.

They validate your social media efforts. Let’s say you’ve spent a lot of time building relationships on Facebook and Twitter. If a disgruntled customer starts hating on your brand, there’s a good chance loyal customers will rise to your defense. Observers will see the complaints—but they’ll also see the rebuttals.

They keep people talking about your brand. It’s not that any publicity is good publicity. But if you find a way to take control of the conversation, you’ll wind up with positive publicity you wouldn’t otherwise have.

Welcome your company’s haters—and use their agitation to fuel positive change.

With online retail in particular, trust is a critical element in building sales. Here’s how to demonstrate your company’s reliability.

Any selling relationship has a lot to do with trust. A salesperson needs to be able to listen, to understand the buyer’s situation, and to know his or her product; vendor name and experience also help break down barriers to doing business. In online sales, trust can be even more important—because a buyer isn’t touching a product, or looking a salesperson in the face. People go through a lot of stress when they buy online doing research, confirming with friends, etc. Especially as the price point of the item/services grows larger. So trust is what relieves the stress of purchasing decisions.

One of the most effective ways we are able to add comfort and trust to the customer’s experience is by constantly talking to our customers–not only before and after a purchase is made, but after the delivery is made as well. What can you do? Call and ask whether customers received what they ordered, and whether they were pleased. By engaging your customers one on one, you not only leave the customer feeling confident about their purchase and your company, you also learn about your business–and some things you may be able to improve on.

Here are a few strategies to build trust online.

Be Available

Make sure you’re there to answer the phone–and if you don’t answer the phone, respond within an hour of the call or email. For instance, if you are open 9 to 6, Monday through Saturday try testing out this protocol. For anybody who calls or emails during those hours guarantee an hour response time for any message left. Remember, there is a lot of competition for your business nowadays. Make sure these customers come back, refer other people and feel secure with their decision. A number of your competitors do have large sites up–but they don’t have a dedicated person there to answer the phone.

Be the Experts

Make sure all of our customer service representatives who answer the phone are expertly versed in what you sell, so they have the expertise to answer the customers’ questions. This allows the customer to feel comfortable with the decision: knowing that your customer service people have the knowledge to answer any question they have.

Be Accommodating

Give the customer an option to return the product within 30 days for any reason. For example, if [something is] damaged [and] they call and report that within two days, they can return it.

Take away: a quick response, industry product knowledge and a strong return policy are critical for building trust–and having happy customers come back.

Technology enthusiasts from all over the world are descending on Las Vegas this week for the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), which kicks off tomorrow. Most consumers will be on the hunt for advancements in products including smart cars, smartphones and high-definition televisions. But small-business owners can also find value at this massive electronics show.

For example, there will be advancements in work tools such as notebook PCs, improvements in consumer products with unexpected business applications including Internet-connected televisions. Also, expect plenty of upgrades to popular business software.

Here are the major business tech trends to watch for:

1. Smart TVs: The Next Small Business Display

What is it: It should come as no surprise that there will be a vast number of consumer-oriented TVs on display at CES. But with a slew of Internet-connected “Smart TVs” expected to be unveiled, next-generation TVs aren’t necessarily a passive device anymore. They might actually have a place inside your business as high-tech signage, a waiting room addition or a conference room display.

Who’s doing it: Google TV has been leading the smart TV charge, but it is expected that mainstream makers such as South Korea-based Samsung and Irvine, Calif.-based Broadcom will show updated Android-powered sets. On top of that, Apple Inc. is expected to announce its own advanced interactive television solution later in 2012.

How to make it work for you: These smart displays should function like a giant smartphone or tablet, able to display weather, news, sports and other content side by side with company marketing material on-demand. A retail store or bakery might use it as part of its point-of-sale marketing, displaying menus with client-created pictures or other content. Or a smart TV can be deployed as a Web-enabled employee kiosk on the sales floor or in the break room.

2. Microsoft Making the Call on Windows 8

What is it: Tech giant Microsoft is expected to focus this year on its upcoming Windows 8 operating system. Windows 8 will likely become available for public beta testing sometime early in 2012, raising the question: What’s in it for small companies?

What will work: In early demos, Windows’ new user interface works similar to the Windows Phone mobile environment, with a start screen that features a well-laid-out grid of apps that let users quickly dive into programs. Windows 8 also manages multiple monitors, has full integration for Microsoft’s cloud-based Office 365 and the Windows Phone tools, and security has been improved.

What won’t: Even though Windows 8 boasts what might be Microsoft’s best user interface ever, it might be a difficult sell for small businesses. A number of companies still have not upgraded to Windows 7. Many still use Windows XP. So, Windows 8 might be a couple steps ahead what many firms are currently used to. Plus, some businesses might not be able to justify the expense and hassle of migrating to a new OS when so many of the changes are merely cosmetic.

3. The Business Case for Ultrabooks

What is it: Ultrabooks are a new family of super-thin, ultra-light notebook computers. Upwards of 50 new models are expected to be demoed at CES this year from the major laptop makers. Asus, Toshiba, Lenovo and Acer have either announced, or already have their own Ultrabooks in circulation.

The term Ultrabooks is actually copyrighted by Intel, which is pushing for this new breed of notebook as it struggles to keep the PC relevant in the age of mobile devices. Ultrabooks usually don’t weigh more than about three pounds, are less than an inch thick and offer rapid start-up times.

Who can use it: Ultrabooks can potentially be a useful tool for just about any business. They are similar to tablets in terms of portability, convenience, weight and bulk. But they also have built-in keyboards and powerful processing speeds compared to tablets. They are comparatively priced at about $1,000.

If you get in on these three trends, these latest tools can offer your business a serious technology boost.

This article was first seen in Entrepreneur on January 9, 2012 and written by Jonathan Blum.  (Jonathan Blum is a freelance writer and the principal of Blumsday LLC, a Web-based content company specializing in technology news.)

You probably know your customers, but do you really understand them?  Knowing your customers — information typically collected by a business — means you generally know who they are demographically, their age, gender, location, etc.  Most small businesses do a good job on this front.  When it comes to understanding customers, however, many companies come up short.

If you desire to possess a true understanding your customers and their needs, it is essential that you interact with them as often as possible. Moreover these interactions should be deep, broad, and come via a number of different methods. If you want to get inside the heads of your customers, try implementing any or all of the following tactics:

1. Use Social Media and Networking to Your Advantage: Your social media platform is an ideal way to interact with your customers. Encourage real-time input from your customers. You can also use these channels to address conflict or misperceptions among your customers. If you don’t have a social media strategy, check out several of our previous blog posts to help you get started.
2. Customer Surveys: Whether conducted in person at your store, via the phone, on your website, pushed out during a webcast, through direct mail, or through any other medium, a properly structured survey will allow you to elicit answers to your most important questions. What better way to find out what your customers are thinking than to ask them. Surveys today are relatively inexpensive and easy to implement.
3. Form a “Beta” or “Test” Customer Group: Offer incentives to get your customers and prospects to join a group that will help you generate new ideas, provide feedback on your products and services and collaborate on marketing approaches. Gaining direct insight from the market you’re selling into is invaluable.
4. Annual Customer Reviews: If you are in a service business, annual customer reviews are an invaluable way to gather feedback.  Customers will appreciate that not every contact has to be about a new sale. An annual review is an opportunity to connect, or reconnect, with your customers in a way that encourages their participation. Incorporating reviews into your business process allow you to close the loop on any knowledge gaps on a regularly planned basis.
5. Gather Intelligence: Whether it is competitive intelligence, market research, or other forms of business intelligence, the more you know about your customers the better you will be able to meet their needs. Experian’s market and customer profiler reports can provide you with insight about the customers in your local area or a complete analysis of your existing customers.

Bottom line…Only by truly understanding your customers, will you be able to exceed expectations and build real loyalty.

Many small businesses haven’t taken advantage of utilizing LinkedIn.com to expand their network and grow their business.

When used effectively, Linkedin can help businesses gain new business leads, collaborate with other like-minded business owners, and get help from others.

Here are some simple ways to optimize your business profile to get more out of LinkedIn:

Create a Vanity URL

By default, LinkedIn assigns you a URL that uses a numeric code (which doesn’t mean anything). However, you can go into your settings and click on “Public Profile” to get the option to use your company name in your URL (e.g. linkedin.com/company/your-name-here).

Add Relevant Keywords to Profile

To improve your chances of appearing for relevant searches in LinkedIn, you should incorporate a variety of relevant keywords in your company description. This will help you show up in more LinkedIN search results.

Request Recommendations from Employees

A great way to get more relevant traffic to your profile – and make your company stand-out is to get recommendations from current and past employees.  This is a great way to make a favorable impression on people who are learning more about your business (and potentially considering doing business with you).

Start a Group

A great way to network with others is to begin a group on a topic that is relevant to your business or customers.  If your a local small business that only does business in a certain city, you could start a group about industry in the city you work in (e.g. Huntington Beach Small Businesses). This can help you network with other local businesses that can bring you more business. Groups also help you become a thought leader in your area of expertise.

Update your company status regularly.

Share what’s happening in your industry or company.  Link to interesting articles and provide value to employees and companies that follow you to acquire more likes and comments.

Best Practices from the LinkedIn Blog

Here are some other LinkedIn tips for small businesses . . .

“Offer news, tips and other insightful, relevant information about your industry or business. Get your followers engaged and build relationships. Don’t just sell all the time or blast them with promotional messages. Become friends first! If you build it, the business results will come. A pithy, punchy status update can go viral and expose you to a broader audience as your Followers share, “like,” or comment on company-driven content with their own professional network . . . Solicit feedback from your followers; find out what they want from your company. Ask questions, watch how they respond and interact with users who are commenting.” - Mike Grishaver.

“Acquire new customers through online recommendations and word of mouth. Satisfied customers are the best source of new customers. Increase your word of mouth referrals by asking your happy clients to write you a recommendation, which will be published on your LinkedIn profile and will be broadcast to their entire LinkedIn network. And use the many forums on LinkedIn to share the knowledge you’ve gained in your area of expertise. This is a great opportunity to win new business or at least find prospective clients to pitch your business to.”  - Guy Kawasaki.

“You can be in the loop on potential business opportunities by following companies of interest to you. Most importantly, this feature can deliver insights – you may be surprised at – such as the pace of hiring at your nearest competitor or the start of a whole new industry as you see web technology companies hiring geography teachers.”  - Ryan Roslansky.

“What makes LinkedIn different and incredibly helpful is the instant access to my professional network with an easy to use interface. As a former venture capitalist I used LinkedIn to source deals, check references for management, and connect with entrepreneurs. I also use LinkedIn to generate buzz about my new business and keep my personal and professional network up-to-speed on my culinary happenings. Adding my profile link in outgoing emails adds credibility and the extra qualification nudge with certain requests.” – Divya Gugnani

“Being a small business owner carving out a niche against the big players is very challenging. . . my LinkedIn profile has attracted clients and generated leads and referrals from the US, UK, Australia and throughout Asia . . . I also actively participate in relevant user groups on LinkedIn. Groups is a great platform to engage in discussions and connect with like-minded professionals to learn and share, whether it’s for business or personal interest. And, most importantly, helps establish my thought leadership in a space I’ve carved out for myself as a small business owner.” - Linda Ruck

“Focus on nurturing your network by seeing what questions they’re asking and helping them when you can. You’ll build greater trust and rapport, and your support of your network will come back tenfold when it’s time to ask a favor!” - Patrick Crane

We had an opportunity to interview best-selling author Chris Brogan.

His company, Human Business Works, helps companies with customer acquisition, nurturing and engaging potential customers, and community building.  

His books Trust Agents and Social Media 101 are excellent resources for any small business owner who wants to use social media to promote his or her business effectively. And Chris Brogan’s blog is ranked #6 in the AdAge Power150 top marketing blogs.

Brogan’s new book Google+ for Business: How Google’s Social Network Changes Everything is all about helping businesses understand how to use Google+ to network and engage with fans and customers.  .

In this interview, you’ll learn:

• Why Every Business Should Create a Page in Google+
• How Google+ is Drastically Different than Facebook
• Why Chris Advocates Businesses to Actively Post in Google+ (Unlike in Facebook)
• Smart Ways Businesses Can Utilize YouTube Hangouts in Google+
• What Types of Circles Your Business Might Want to Create
• And Much More

Read the complete interview with Chris Brogan about Google+ . . .

Chris, you have been a Google+ evangelist since the beginning. You even abandoned Facebook to devote more of your time to Google+. When did you realize that Google+ was more important for your business than Facebook?

Chris: Facebook works well as a platform to connect me with people I already know, like friends and family and old work colleagues. Google+ connects me with people who are like-minded, and who share similar interests. Which set of people are more apt to help me land a client? Google+. My friends and family referrals can only stretch so far. Because most businesses rely on the kindness of strangers to survive, I recommend Google+.

Business owners might feel that maintaining a Facebook page and a Twitter account is enough. How is Google+ different and why should businesses create a page and begin writing/sharing engaging content?

Chris: Two or three years ago, it was difficult to convince a business owner that Facebook or Twitter was worth it. Now, they’re not willing to transition to the newest network, run by the biggest search engine in the world? I’m fascinated by this digging in. It shows that business owners aren’t seeing the platforms for what they are: a gathering place where potential prospects can be invited into a business relationship. Saying no to the biggest up-and-coming social network run by one of the richest companies on the planet seems a lot short-sighted.

You wrote Google+ for Business: How Google’s Social Network Changes Everything to provide advice on leveraging Google+ to improve business communication, content promotion, and much more. Aside from social networking, what are ways businesses will benefit by owning a page in Google’s ecosystem?

Chris: 69% of people start their online activity around a need with search. The number one search engine in the world, Google, has opened a social network to help people better interact with and find what they want. Posting information to the public on Google+ immediately impacts search results because Google (the search engine) indexes Google+ (the social network). If three out of four humans start their search to fulfill their needs with a search engine, why wouldn’t you want even more potential opportunity to interact with those searchers?

When business owners first create their pages, they might feel lonely since they are unable to circle people (until first circled back). What is your advice for them to help them get noticed and added into relevant circles?

Chris: I’m almost sad that business pages have already launched. So many people didn’t take the opportunity to make relationships happen before those pages landed, and now they’re wondering why no one is rushing in to circle their company page. Humans make relationships. Humans do the footwork before the business page comes into view. I knew Esteban Contreras from Samsung long before I saw the Samsung page. We’d interacted a lot. When the Samsung USA page opened, I circled it right away due to my affinity for Esteban. I’m friends with Jennifer Cisney from Kodak, and so I interacted with her page long before Kodak opened up a presence. The same is true for your business. Humans connect. Make a relationship and the business page will get some traction. But don’t wait for that. Think of the business page as a business card. Would you ever let a salesman wait around to sell until he or she had a business card?

During your Google+ Business Webinar in November 2011, you suggested that businesses should think about posting every six hours. This is a much more aggressive posting strategy than businesses might be used to (especially compared to Facebook). Why should businesses be active on Google Plus?

Chris: Google+ is tied to Google, the search engine. The more opportunities you have to influence potential direction of prospects to your business is a positive thing. I also think that because it’s a new and budding network, that more “seeding” has to happen to keep people interested. I note that larger companies are still only posting once a day at present. Then again, they don’t get the engagement I’m seeking.

What types of circles should businesses think about creating so that they can message the right people with the right kind of content?

Chris: It depends on the business. Intel has three circles: tech enthusiasts, press stuff, and life at Intel. They split it that way. If you’re a plumber, you probably don’t have plumbing enthusiasts (then again, what do I know?). Circles for my professional page include “prospects, collaborators, colleagues, allies, and unknown.” I use those to sort people so that I don’t upset any particular group by sharing too much (or the wrong) information.

What are some ways small businesses could utilize YouTube hangouts in Google+?

Chris: Hangouts are live video events. You can have up to 10 people in a hangout (the host +9). To me, they are a great way to handle customer service issues, a wonderful way to do training/education, a great method by which to share business advice, to have meetings, to consult, and more. Hangouts are one of the best features of Google+. YouTube videos shared on Google+ get a lot more engagement by a higher caliber of person. I find that comments on YouTube itself are useless. On Google+, I have the exact opposite experience.

When Google+ page analytics gets introduced, what type of data do you think will be helpful to business owners – and how can they use this data?

Chris: Analytics will help people see what type of content they share drives what level of engagement. They will also see more click-through activity, more sense of how long someone interacts with your profile and/or other parts of your account, and more. It will really help people decide what to spend their time on.

How do you envision successful Google+ business pages will operate in the future?

Chris: Google hinted at what business pages would do with Google Places. With Google+, once Places integrates with business pages, and given all the other tools you can use on Google+, I believe that this network will be a very robust and de facto part of business communication and collaboration.

Sure, the idea of running your own show, being your own boss, making your own money is a common dream.  But what most people don’t realize is that startups involve a lot of time, energy and often money.  Although it may seem rewarding to start up your own company, it can be brutally painful.  If you are still unsure, read on…

Can You Work With A Partner?  When it comes to starting a business, I’d say you’d ideally want between 2 – 4 fouders.  Going at it alone can be daunting.  Who will hold you accountable for results? More than four people and it often becomes impossible to make quick decisions.  (Of course there are many startups that came about from a single person’s efforts and many that had more than four founding members.)  Regardless of how you go about partnering or not, there’s no getting around the fact that a startup will test you to your limits.

Are You Old Enough or Young Enough?  This might sound like a strange question. The truth is age does matter when it comes to launching a startup.  The bottom line is, forming a startup means you opt to put your entire life on hold to make this one venture take off.  You most likely won’t have time to do anything else but work – figure you’ll be sqeezing your entire work life into four years or so.  Starting a company isn’t for everyone, so think about your life and lifestyle before jumping in.

Can You Secure Early Funding?  Not having enought money top operate your new business will hurt your chances for success.  You need to figure out how much money you’ll need and where that money will come from.  The idea is to calculate what it will cost you to get established and operate for one or two years, and then raise money for that period of time.

Can You Limit Your Spending?  Once you’ve secured the money, you’ll need to spend as little as possible.  Here are a few money saving tips.

• Avoid hiring a complete staff.  Stay lean.  Use temps or contract workers when needed.
• Resist paying yourself lavishly
• Save money and pour it back into the business
• Avoid buying lavish office furniture – buy it cheap, used or borrowed from friends and family

Successful companies take time to mature.  You don’t have to get big quickly.  You just have to have enough money to keep on moving forward.  It takes time to reach sustainable profitability, so be patient but dilligent.

Do You Want To Make A Lot Of Money?  Who doesn’t right?  But there are many reasons entrepreneurs want to be rich.  Here are four varying scenarios:

• Poverty – some people grow up ina lifestyle of peverty and want to get out of that to help their parents/family get out if it too
• Generosity – some entrepreneurs want to be wealthy enough to help causes they believe in
• Control – some want to be rich to have independence and live their lives as they want
• Lofty Desires – others just like the idea of owning yachts, multiple homes and the ability to travel the world

You’ll need to decide what’s most important to you.  It’s  not easy making money on your own, but there are ways to live comfortably and maintain a “life.”

Take Away: Being an entrepreneur is a demanding lifestyle.  It requires a lot from you as a person.  You’ll be challenged in so many ways.  But you’ll also be rewarded in ways you don’t even know about now.  A startup is not for everyone, as I mentioned.  It’s a good idea to evaluate if you do have what it takes to start to build a company.

If you think you do, what are you waiting for?  Tell us on our Facebook page what you think it takes to run a startup!