Ever since the economy took a nosedive in 2008, I have watched with total amazement as presidents, Congress, economists and the mainstream media have totally and completely ignored the single most important factor in the U.S. economy: Small businesses create virtually 100 percent of the net new jobs in America.
Cloud-based business applications, also called Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), are leveling the playing field for small companies worldwide. Instead of buying servers and other infrastructure, and hiring an IT team to run it, small business owners can simply subscribe to powerful apps that can help them save time and lower costs on everything from accounting, to customer service, to marketing, and beyond.
Social media and small business were made for each other. These companies have little or no marketing staff. Social media offers the opportunity to reach millions of potential consumers through virtual channels. The cost savings are significant, and the reach is amplified, but business owners better bring their "A" game.