Fellow blogger John Crickett is busy writing a new book: The Big Book of Business Ideas, and he needs your help.

John needs business owners to use as case studies and some ‘from the trenches’ advice on starting a business like yours.

What do you have to do?

Just take a few minutes to complete his questionnaire.

What’s in it for you?

Everyone who responds (and wants to be mentioned) will get an acknowledgment on the book’s website, all the case studies will be published on the his Business Opportunities and Ideas blog and the best ones will be included in the book – Giving you free publicity!

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Every successful business starts with an idea.  If you haven’t been immediately struck with inspiration, then coming up with a concept for your small business can be difficult and frustrating.  However, there are some tried and tested methods you could use to come up with an idea that suits you.

Firstly, you could try doing some research into current start-up trends.  The UK government publishes statistics on start-up types as part of their Small Business Service.  Mintel also conducts market research on the growth of different sectors.  It is generally advisable to enter a market sector that is either already well-established or is growing rapidly.  Although these sectors will be crowded, at least there is a guaranteed market there for you to fight for a share.

Some entrepreneurs find it easier to look for gaps in a market and attempt to fill them.  For example, if you learn about products that are doing well in other countries then you may be able to adapt them for sale here if no-one else is doing it.  Other variables such as the location of your business and its opening hours could result in a business opportunity.  If you can find a gap in the market that there is a genuine demand for, you could be on to a winner.

Other entrepreneurs have found business success simply by taking old ideas and breathing new life into them.  Try to work out why a previously popular idea has been on the decline and then come up with a way of making it popular again.  A small business can be very successful just by taking an existing idea and doing it better or differently to everyone else.

The Internet is a great way of modernising an existing concept.  Many successful web enterprises are based on very basic ideas that have simply been adjusted to make the most of technology.  The Internet can add extra value to many business ideas, either because of the 24/7 convenience it provides or by how it simplifies things that were previously time-consuming.

If you are determined to invent something unique, look for problems that require a solution.  New inventions can be a legal minefield involving copyrights and patents, but some of the best business ideas are often things that are so simple it is hard to believe no-one else thought of it first.

For more inspiration, follow me on Twitter or become a fan of WinWeb on Facebook.  I look forward to connecting with you!

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The top 5 tips weekly post is always full of hints and tips for small, home & micro business owners.

1. Pick one idea for an article and stick to it.  Don’t meander onto other topics, save that content for additional articles.

2. Simplify as much as possible.  Try to boil down content into its most simple form.

3. Avoid using jargon or theoretical terms.  Remember that if people are bored then they will stop reading.

4. Provide ways for the reader to interact, either by replying directly or contributing to a public discussion.

5. Set a timetable for providing content and stick to it.  Visitors to your website will then know what to expect from you.

If you have additional tips, please share them in the comments section.

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The winner of WinWeb’s Pitch of the Week competition this week is Kai Chew, founder of KafeChew Actuarial EduTech Co., who after seeing a problem came up with a business idea to help actuarial students gather all the information they need from one source.

Read more about KafeChew here and if you would like to enter WinWeb’s Pitch of the Week competition visit our Facebook page for more information – you could win superb free publicity for your small business!

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It is my belief that in order to succeed, businesses should have a distinct online presence. Being online enables small businesses to sell to customers across the country, even around the world, not limiting their customer base to those just around their chimneybreast.

I have spoken before about small businesses that want to stay small, and know that growth isn’t necessarily the measurement of success for small business owners. However, having a business website is not necessarily just about growth; it can be about maximizing your potential as a small business, no matter if your business is you selling cupcakes from you kitchen, or running an office with 10 staff.

People often say to me that their small business doesn’t have a website as it’s too complicated, takes up too much time or is too expensive. None of these problems have to be true; with the importance that websites hold for small businesses in mind, WinWeb.com have designed a range of one page websites, fully designed and populated with content, and that can be online in 30 minutes. All you as a small business owner is to do is choose your design, and provide details of your business.

Your business being online is about more that having a website though; having an online presence includes activities such as blogging, social networking and having active discussions with people within your arena. Increasing awareness of your business this way costs nothing but time, and can actually be fun!

As I have mentioned previously, I am looking to help small businesses to hold conversations, engage with each other and learn from what is happening in the big business world. It is for these reasons that when I was asked to contribute on Nasdaq.com I eagerly accepted; knowing that there is much that small businesses can learn from the big businesses on the Nasdaq.

My articles on the Nasdaq will focus on commentary and comparisons between how big businesses are acting and performing and the ramifications and lessons that are in these activities for small businesses. I hope you will join in the discussion; I hope to see you there!

For the latest information about SME Technology, follow me on Twitter or become a fan of WinWeb on Facebook. I look forward to connecting with you!

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The top 5 tips weekly post is always full of hints and tips for small, home & micro business owners.

1. Become comfortable with making quick strategic twists and turns.  Throw your five-year plan out the window.

2. Examine timetables closely and look for ways to compress the length of time that projects will take.

3. Follow-up sales leads within the hour, regardless of whether they come via email, fax or phone.

4. Make haste part of your corporate culture.  Reward employees who are able to get the job done quickly and to a high standard.

5. Remember that the speediest business is often the winner in today’s marketplace because consumers want instant gratification.

If you have additional tips, please share them in the comments section.

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The winner of WinWeb’s Pitch of the Week competition this week is Paul Stewart, founder of Uni Baggage, who after seeing a problem came up with a business idea to help students transport their belongings to and from University.

Read more about Uni Baggage here and if you would like to enter WinWeb’s Pitch of the Week competition visit our Facebook page for more information – you could win superb free publicity for your small business!

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Starting your own business can be a daunting time; even for the most seasoned business person. No matter how much corporate or retail experience you have of working in other organisations nothing can prepare you for the challenges, and exuberating feeling, of starting your own business.

Before you take the plunge it is a good idea to research, research, research the market in which you are looking to start a business. A large amount of start-ups fail due to lack of research about the marketplace they are about to enter. It might take time, but you will learn a great deal about how to, and how not to, do things!

Another vital action when starting a business is to network – you can begin to do this by using the power of the web to find relevant social media sites for your niche, and then branch in to face-to-face networking. Networking not only allows you to meet potential clients but you will also learn valuable lessons from people who are more experienced in the business world. Striking up the right relationships, and listening to peoples’ experiences, could not only build your customer base, but also stop you from making a lot of business mistakes!

There are a lot of places you can go for business advice; both in person and on the web. Larger businesses and organisations are becoming increasingly aware of the power that small business have; and the importance that the growth of small business holds for the future of our economy. This leads to initiatives like the one that has recently been launched by T-Mobile to find out about what small businesses need, and how perceptions of small business influence the way business is carried out. The aim of this initiative is to help business start-ups to find their feet and make their own path in their business journey. Have you got opinions on small business issues? Make your voice heard by visiting the site.

When starting a business it is also important to enlist the support of your family and friends. Chances are that running your business will not only take up your time physically, but to begin with you may also find yourself emotionally drained, and during stressful periods this can place huge emotional pressure on relationships. Make sure your family are fully behind you, and then you will know you can rely on their support whatever the future may bring.

Finding your feet in the business world can seem intimidating and daunting, but with the right support from people who have been there before, and from family and friends, can certainly give you the tools to take your business forward at the right pace, for you.

For the latest information about SME Technology, follow me on Twitter or become a fan of WinWeb on Facebook. I look forward to connecting with you!

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The top 5 tips weekly post is always full of hints and tips for small, home & micro business owners.

1. Researching your market first is critical.  You need to determine whether there is actually going to be a demand for your business.

2. Open a bank account specifically for your small business.  Keep your business dealings separate from your personal finances.

3. Make sure you fulfill all of your legal requirements.  This could involve various matters such as trademarks and tax submission.

4. Planning is important so that you don’t lose focus.  You will need an in-depth marketing plan and also a general business plan.

5. Set goals for your business, both long and short-term.  This will help to measure your achievements.

If you have additional tips, please share them in the comments section.

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As a great believer in the power of small business I can’t stress enough the importance of engagement, conversation and collaboration in the small business world; as the old saying goes “two heads are better than one” and even more than that is a bonus!

Big businesses have many employees, often a board of directors and shareholders who they can take advice, direction and input from. In a small business, however, this is not necessarily the case and this can often be to the detriment of the business. Collaboration is vital to moving forward, and that is why I believe it is vital for small businesses to talk to each other.

Over the next few weeks I will be introducing some exciting new projects I am working on to enable small businesses to collaborate, take advice and talk to each other. I encourage you and your business to get on board and become involved in each of these projects, helping you business to grow and thrive.

Success for small businesses must come from working together – rather than working as individual entities small businesses must collaborate. When working as a freelancer, home business or small business it can be hard to generate this level of collaboration and conversation; especially when your business takes up a lot of time leaving little time to network.

When working day in day out on a small business it can often be hard to see different ways to take your business forward. Speaking to other business owners, or reading blogs detailing the experiences of successful business people, can be a great way to further your business and increase the productivity of your small business.

I will be speaking here over the coming weeks about ways that your small business can engage in conversation and collaboration both with other small business owners as well as successful business people. I really hope you’ll join me!

For the latest information about SME Technology, follow me on Twitter or become a fan of WinWeb on Facebook. I look forward to connecting with you!

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