PaySimple small business survey reveals plans for more cloud and mobile in 2013
Of the thousands of PaySimple users surveyed in our latest Small Business Pulse Survey (results hot off the press!), nearly 50% plan to add more cloud-based technologies in 2013, and 53% plan to run more of their business via mobile. Other findings in the survey, shown here in a nifty infographic, include hiring plans, communication strategies and social media behaviors.
Cookies, Culture and Craft Beer. Join PaySimple for Denver Startup Week. Come by Wednesday, 10/24 from 2:30 – 6pm.
What do startups and craft beer have in common? They both call Denver home, and you can take in a little of each at PaySimple headquarters next week.
This Monday kicks off Denver Startup Week, a celebration of our innovative community in the areas of tech, design, business and social entrepreneurship. The week is comprised of a series of events, mostly free to the public, that showcase our entrepreneurial community.
PaySimple is sponsoring this year’s celebration and participating in three areas.
7 Ways to Stay Busy During the (real or contrived) Holiday Lull
I’ll spare you the passage-of-time clichés and get to the point: October is here, and that means the holidays are not far behind. Depending on your industry, you’ll probably hear one of two comments in the coming weeks:
- “Get ready for the holiday rush!” (certain retailers and service providers)
- “October is the last REAL month of the year, so we have to make the most of it.” (everyone else)
This particular post is for businesses more likely to hear the latter. While I don’t subscribe to the idea that October is the “last real month,” there are noticeable lulls during the holiday season that can seem unproductive. Consumers and businesses alike are often less engaged in November and December, so if your business depends on the typical M-F schedule, you have to be creative to stay busy. Here are some tips for navigating through slower weeks while, at the same time, positioning your business for a strong start to 2013:
What’s my cash flow? Find out with this handy calculator
Now more than ever, cash flow is critical for small businesses. An insufficient supply can delay projects, stunt growth or even shut off the heat! Fortunately, there are steps that small businesses can take to optimize their cash flow situation.
For starters, it’s helpful to determine the current state of your cash flow (the measure of how much money your business takes in vs. how much it pays out over a given period). We’ve developed a handy cash flow calculator to help you do just that.
The SMB forecast is cloudy (in a good way)
Isn’t the Internet handy? It gives us the ability to access free information from virtually anywhere, even from our pocket-sized super computers, formally known as cell phones. But what’s even greater than the free information is the universal access to our personal accounts for email, banking, and social networking from just about anywhere.
The impact of cloud computing is not limited to your personal life, though. Businesses use the cloud to manage critical operations such as customer relations, long-distance meetings and payment processing.
8 steps to launch an email marketing newsletter
Executing an effective communication strategy is vital in today’s connected world. Sure, you want to communicate special promotions and other marketing messages that will increase your customers’ interest in your product or service. But to be successful, you should also provide objective, interesting content they can enjoy and put to use.
An email newsletter is a great form of communication because it allows you take off the sales hat for a moment and talk to your audience in a different way. Not only does it help your brand, but crafting a newsletter is a soothing drill for YOU as well. But where do you start?
Save on PaySimple Pro between now and December 31st
Businesses that sign up for PaySimple Pro between now and December 31st, 2011, can save up to 50% on their subscription fee for the first three months of 2012! There is a catch, however: fast action equals more savings. For example, new merchants that sign up between now and November 15th will receive the maximum savings of 50% off for three months. November 15th – November 30th merchants will receive 40% off, and so on.
Please see the image below for the full schedule, or click here if you’d like to sign your business up for a fresh start in 2012!
How to make your customers comfortable with mobile payments
So, you’re all set up with a mobile payments solution for your business and ready to break it our at your next in-person customer encounter. Chances are that customers will not only be impressed in your new application, but they’ll appreciate being able to pay you on-the-spot.
But, as with any new technology, you’ll get the occasional naysayer, the “wait-and-see” consumer, as opposed to the “early-adopter,” if you will. But don’t sweat it.
We’ve come up with a list of ways to make your customers comfortable with mobile payments:
I ♥ Small Businesses Sweepstakes
From now until October 31st, PaySimple is giving you the chance to win an Amazon Kindle Fire in our “I ♥ Small Businesses” Sweepstakes! Simply like our Facebook page and fill out your name and email address to enter. Continue to follow our page for access to daily small business tips and insights, as well as future sweepstakes and contest offers for small businesses. If you’re more into tweeting, you can access much of the same information by following us on Twitter.
So, click here to enter, and perhaps you’ll be the lucky winner of a brand new Kindle Fire, courtesy of PaySimple!
No more Saturday mail? One more reason to go with electronic invoicing
The first thing I’ll do when I get home from work tonight is check the mail. I don’t know why, but I treat every trip to the mailbox like I’m going to collect a prize. Did the new issue of Sports Illustrated arrive? What did Netflix send me today? Did my parents remember my birthday this year (in their defense, they bat around .900)? Granted, there is a lot of coal in the stocking (bills, auto registration, etc.), but the good outweighs the bad in my opinion.
And Saturday is no different, except I usually retrieve it immediately since my dogs send out several warning barks. But it sounds like that will all change soon. In the age of digitalization, the United States Postal Service is hurting financially, and, along with first class mail, Saturday delivery may be one of its first casualties.
So aside from my own enjoyment, what else will suffer from the lack of mail on the sixth day?
