Jun 04, 2012 06:00AM

Why Corporate Venture Capital Deals Are Small

Price Waterhouse Coopers and National Venture Capital Association recently released the MoneyTree Report on Corporate Venture Capital. Data from the report show that the average independent venture capital investment was $8.3 million last year, while the average corporate venture capitalist deal was only $4.2 million. Moreover, the ratio of the two has ranged from 1.7 to 2.9 for the past decade.

Why is the average corporate venture capital deal much smaller than the average independent venture capital investment?

Both Read More

From Small Business Trends

Why Corporate Venture Capital Deals Are Small

Jun 04, 2012 03:30AM

U.S. Job Numbers Weak in May: Are You Hiring?

The U.S. economy continues to add jobs, but the pace may be slowing, some figures indicate. Small businesses could again be a key factor in hiring and employment over the next few months, with most hiring happening at smaller companies while corporate giants cut back. Is your business hiring or planning to? Here’s a look at the employment situation and tips for when you plan to add people to your payroll.

Overview of Hiring

U.S. economy in May – creates Read More

From Small Business Trends

U.S. Job Numbers Weak in May: Are You Hiring?

Jun 03, 2012 01:30PM

Google Acquires Trust Seal Provider KikScore

Google has acquired the technology and assets of KikScore, a Washington DC and Denver-based provider of online trust seals for small businesses. �The announcement was made on the KikScore blog.

The KikScore product, which serves over 1,700 small businesses in various countries with its trust seals, will no longer be available as of June 28, 2012. �So if you are an existing customer, you will need to find an alternative. �The KikScore announcement recommends that website owners try out the Read More

From Small Business Trends

Google Acquires Trust Seal Provider KikScore

Jun 03, 2012 09:30AM

What Does the Cynical Client Need to Hear From You?

Truth is ? there?s a little cynic in most of us. It?s that part that doesn?t trust people to be the best of themselves ? and for good reason. But how do you serve the cynic? Because underneath all that armor just may be the ideal client.

Well, they need 3 core things:

#1: They Need A Product Or Service That Over Delivers�

The most effective marketing begins with a clear understanding of what your client wants and needs and Read More

From Small Business Trends

What Does the Cynical Client Need to Hear From You?

Jun 03, 2012 07:00AM

Read Small Message, Big Impact to Get Your Message Out in a Big Way

Wanna know a secret? �I’m a marketing expert and my elevator pitch STINKS. �Come to think of it, I don’t really have a good elevator pitch. �The other day I was at one of those networking events where people get up to introduce themselves and some of them have these snazzy, memorized elevator pitches. �I don’t have anything against those, but that really isn’t my style.

What about you? �Do you have an elevator pitch? �When did you put it Read More

From Small Business Trends

Read Small Message, Big Impact to Get Your Message Out in a Big Way

Jun 02, 2012 01:22PM

We Have a Winner in the MOO Free Business Cards Contest

On April 12, 2012, Small Business Trends announced the commencement of the FREE Business Cards Contest from MOO,�a digital printing company based in London (U.K.) and Providence, RI (U.S.), specializing in�printing Business Cards, MiniCards (half-sized business cards), Postcards, Greeting Cards, Stickers and Labels.

The contest ran for 30 days, collecting entries from April 12, 2012 until May 12, 2012 and up for grabs was $1000 worth of credit to spend at MOO under a new�MOO Business Read More

From Small Business Trends

We Have a Winner in the MOO Free Business Cards Contest

Jun 02, 2012 06:00AM

Read Likeonomics to Learn the Power of Likeability

Before you jump to any conclusions,�Likeonomics�is NOT about Facebook or clicking on ?like? buttons.� Wait a minute.� Let me re-state that.��Likeonomics�IS about hitting ?Like? buttons ? but not the Facebook kind ? the emotional kind.� The kind that build relationships and get people to trust you and do business with you.��Likeonomics: The Unexpected Truth Behind Earning Trust, Influencing Behavior, and Inspiring Action�is a new book by Rohit Bhargava (@RohitBhargava)

According to Bhargava, Read More

From Small Business Trends

Read Likeonomics to Learn the Power of Likeability

Jun 01, 2012 12:00PM

Will Your Child Follow in Your Footsteps as an Entrepreneur?

Growing up, I didn’t even know what an entrepreneur was. My parents both worked hard at their respective jobs, and held them for decades. But for my son, who’s seven now, the picture is drastically different. He’s got two parents who run their own companies – from home. His understanding of the workforce is unlike mine at his age. But he’s part of a generation that takes entrepreneurship as a given possibility, simply because he sees it every day.

I Read More

From Small Business Trends

Will Your Child Follow in Your Footsteps as an Entrepreneur?

Jun 01, 2012 09:00AM

Adrienne Graham of EmpowerME: No, You Can?t Pick My Brain

Ever been invited to lunch, dinner or a cup of coffee by a friend, family member or an associate, only to find that it was an invitation for a free consultation session cloaked as a social engagement? If this has ever happened to you, listen up as Adrienne Graham of EmpowerME joins Brent Leary to give you the strength to say, “No, you can’t pick my brain, it costs too much!”

* * * * *

Small Business Trends: Can Read More

From Small Business Trends

Adrienne Graham of EmpowerME: No, You Can’t Pick My Brain

Jun 01, 2012 06:00AM

Enjoy The Victory

I keep my ear to the ground for words and phrases that I can play with. It’s like this little unconscious screen you filter everything you come in contact with through. Most of the time when something sticks I jot it down on a scrap of paper and then mine those later for ideas. Recently, I ran across one with “told you so” on it and set to work on coaxing out a cartoon.

There’s plenty of low hanging fruit Read More

From Small Business Trends

Enjoy The Victory