Like in weeks past, rather than give you fluff I’m cutting back the list this week to a top 3. I hope you enjoy the articles that made the cut!

1] This quick case study shows you How to Increase Sales When Customers Aren’t Buying. With our less than stellar economy at the moment being adaptable is key.

2] 5 Lessons Your Mother Taught You About Business takes those age old adages your mom used to / still does say and applies them to business. Number 5 is my favorite.

3] 5 Things Small Business Owners Need to Know About Capitol Hill is a really well thought out piece, definitely worth checking out.

This week’s video is an excerpt from the TV show 2 Broke Girls. Remember – even awkward situations can be business opportunities!

1] When you’re starting out, your business plan can give you great direction for day to day and year to year decisions. Here are 5 Ways to Take Your Business Plan to the Next Level.

2] I don’t know if I agree with the authors premise that cellphones are all that complicated but I will agree with his advice. 6 Startup Lessons from the Complexity of Cell Phones will give you 6 quick ideas to mull over.

3] A Ridiculously Simple Way to Get More Revenue and Build Your Audience - with a title like that how can you not read the article?

4] 5 Tips for Handling Complaints on Social Media is something everyone should know. As much as we hope everyone loves our products and services, you need to be able to take your customer service online when there is an issue.

5] This article may be good for introverted business owners. How to Talk to Strangers at Professional Events can make networking events a lot more fun and profitable.

Need a little inspiration this week? Check out this awesome center ice goal – even when things look hard, remember they’re not impossible.

The internet was a little light with quality information this week so instead you get two articles and two funny videos.

1] Creating a Small Business Website is something you definitely need to do in this era of dot.com. I completely agree with number six on the list. Make sure your web page is mobile accessible as the majority of people are now viewing data on their phones instead of their pc’s.

2] Fun is the Most Underutilized Tool in Business. Who hasn’t wanted to have a little fun at work from time to time? Not only will it boost morale but it can create a closer knit team which can be an invaluable asset for a small business.

And now for the videos! The first one this week is a followup to last week’s “Work Week Survival.”

Lastly, since tomorrow is Cinco de Mayo, here is Ellen scaring the bejeezus out of people with a mariachi band! Happy Cinco de Mayo everyone!

1] Want to boost your marketing? Well, The Washington Post says Marketing Starts with a Conversation with Your Team, Not your Customers.

2] Financing Small Businesses: Do’s and Don’ts. This quick list runs down a few options to consider when looking to finance your own small business.

3] Do You Have The Personality To Work At A Small Business? It’s not for everyone, but is it right for you?

4] Here are 4 Ways To Take The Vacation You Need. You deserve a break!

Hope you’ve survived the work week this week! Happy weekend everyone!

1] Have you heard of cash mobs? LA Times’ article ‘Cash Mobs’ Mobilize to Boost Small Businesses – and to Socialize highlights this interesting new trend.

2] A Surprising Cure for the Most Common Family Business Problem is a really interesting take on the “normal” family business structure.

3] Working Remotely: Is It Right For You? This article helps you weigh the pros and cons and find out if it’s really for you.

4] 10 Ways Successful Entrepreneurs Beat the Odds offers strategies and common threads that link successful businesses.

5] The food trucks that come out to The Stove Works every Wednesday could probably teach you a thing or two. Here are some Social Media Lessons From Food Truck Owners. 

We made it past the tax deadline this week! So I couldn’t resist poking a little fun at ourselves. Enjoy!

1] Did you ever wonder Why You’re a Startup Founder? This article may shed some light on that for you.

2] New Small Business Lessons in Social Media gives you a list of articles all related to what you should know about social media right now. There have been a lot of changes lately so make sure to check this out.

3] With the new bill having been passed here is What Small Businesses Should Know About Crowdfunding.

4] Raising the Floor on Pay discusses the possible increase of the minimum wage and what that might mean for small business owners.

5] It’s always a good reminder to learn How to Perfect Your Elevator Pitch. This comes in handy every single day whether your seeking out potential clients or bump into someone new at the grocery.

The clip this week is just a reminder that sometimes it’s the little things that make life hilarious… enjoy!

1] Postal Service Aims Direct-Mail Deal at Small Businesses. After the USPS raised their rates earlier this year they must have felt a little bad about the burden they were putting on small businesses. Well, now they want to help you target your potential customers starting at only 14.5¢. 

2] No Money to Pay Your Taxes? We hope you’re never stuck in the situation these small business owners found themselves. Although, we do applaud their creativity and resourcefulness.

3] Twitter Writes a New Guide for Small Businesses… and It’s Pretty Good. All the pundits in the world can tell you how to use social media, but now Twitter is taking the main stage. They released a guide directed at small business owners all about how to use the site to their best advantage.

What if today’s technology was created 20 years ago? LinkedIn created a parody video with that concept in mind:

Who is here today you ask? Well, we have:

Yumbii

Wow!

Good Food

Champion Cheesesteaks

and of course

King of Pops

Make sure you come and snag a picnic table on this gorgeous day before they’re all taken!

And for this week’s tip we have a video from the IRS:

The food trucks today are:

Yumbii

King of Pops

Pressed for Time

Did you know that the IRS has social media tools to help you make sense of everything this tax season?

IRS2Go, YouTube, Twitter, Podcasts, & Widgets to put on your website can all be found over at irs.gov. They post in English & Spanish, and even American Sign Language on YouTube. Make sure to check them out to stay up to date this tax season.

As the Marketing Associate & Office Coordinator one of my jobs is to update and write this blog. I’m also the voice over on our Facebook page where I post interesting articles, tips, and info about what’s going on around here at SBS. Make sure to check it out and like us to stay in the loop! I’m also the office contact point for any scheduling or general inquiries. My info is at the bottom if you need to get in touch with me.

Before I started with SBS in August 2011 I had recently graduated from Georgia Tech with a BS Architecture, Minor History. Over that summer I interned with The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation where I revamped their Facebook page and worked closely with their Marketing and Communications departments. I’ve always really liked design and when the opportunity arose to combine that with my social media skills I jumped on it. My favorite thing about my job is communicating with our clients through our social media outlets so send me a message some time!

Outside of work I don’t have a significant other, kids, or pets, but I do have great friends that I love to hang out with and go rock climbing with on the weekends. I also volunteer as a literacy tutor for the Atlanta-Fulton County Library System and am an alumna of the Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity. I’m also really crafty and have been working on making a quilt from all of my college t-shirts.

I live nearby in Little Five Points and absolutely love my neighborhood. The 5 minute commute time isn’t bad either! But, if I could live anywhere it would be a tie between Peaks Island, Maine or Boston, Massachusetts.

My favorite movie is Inception and I mostly listen to country or 90′s alternative rock music. The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand is my all time favorite book and if I could have super hero powers I would like to be able to teleport so that I could travel the world without having to pay crazy airline fees.

You can reach me by email at caitlin@smallbizservices.com or by phone at 404.873.0470 ext 10. I’m also on Facebook & LinkedIn.