2009 Top 10 Global Trends for Small Businesses

Just a week ago, Laurel Delaney shared her Top 10 Global Trends for Small Businesses for 2009.

1. Disruptive innovation will be both the coolest and hottest new growth strategy in 2009 because it will transcend all boundaries and transform businesses.

2. dotMobi will take global root in 2009.

3. Diverse global business partnerships will shine and outperform those businesses that don’t make these critical alliances.

4. Exporting (from the USA) will prevail in the first quarter of ‘09 and might start to strengthen later in the year.

5. Twitter will replace the “call me” statement with “Twitter me” due to technology, convenience and time constraints.

6. Entrepreneurs and small businesses will learn, if they haven’t already, everything there is to know about how to take a business global.

7. Optimism will fuel global small businesses that have the guts to press on, even in the face of insurmountable obstacles.

8. Women entrepreneurs will rule the global marketplace.

9. Trusted crowds will become profitable clouds.

10. Green and global are a marriage made in heaven because everyone wants to save the world.

Check out the detailed explanation of Laurel for each trend. Read more on Laurel's post -Top 10 Global Trends for Small Businesses for 2009.

Sales Taxes Soon On The Web

By Rachel Metz of The Associated Press hosted by Google,

NEW YORK (AP) — Shopping online can be a way to find bargains while steering clear of crowds — and sales taxes.

But those tax breaks are starting to erode. With the recession pummeling states' budgets, their governments increasingly want to fill the gaps by collecting taxes on Internet sales, which are growing even as the economy shudders.

And that is sparking conflict with companies that do business online only and have enjoyed being able to offer sales-tax free shopping.

Sparkling conflict indeed, Rachel! It isn't just the companies who enjoy offering a sales-tax free shopping but online shoppers like me who most of the time shops at Amazon is very beneficial on my part as well. However, I am always willing to obey the law if this happens but still wished that this order won't be pursued. If ever, companies will surely charge additional prices to compensate for this sales tax.

Export Vulnerable To?

Business Standard published a small business news about global business exporting vulnerabilities.

Exporters are amongst the worst hit Indian businesspersons in the current global scenario. Their problems go back to 2007, when in the midst of a booming global economy, large capital inflows into India contributed to a sharp appreciation of the rupee, which eroded their profitability and even competitiveness. Just as they were coming to terms with this unexpected development, the situation changed dramatically.

As the world’s major markets slipped into recession, export volumes began to decelerate, with absolute year-on-year declines becoming visible in October. The subsequent sharp depreciation of the rupee helped shore up margins, but could not obviously offset the continuing drop in volumes. The early numbers for December provided some relief, with the year-on-year decline showing up as a mild 1.2 per cent, compared with declines of 12.4 per cent and 9.8 per cent in October and November, respectively.

However, the outlook for both the US and European economies points to GDP declines during 2009; so exporters should not expect any turnaround in their fortunes for several months. To the extent that a recovery is expected in the Indian economy in 2009, it will be driven by domestic demand in response to falling interest rates and fiscal stimuli. And so, for the first time in a decade, exports may have a zero- or low-growth year.

The above were just a fraction of the news and while reading through the whole article I was a bit confused. Could you please check it out and point to me the vulnerabilities that Business Standard write up intended to tell their readers? Check the post here -> Export vulnerabilities!

How to begin to get global

So you want to take the plunge and go global with your product or service. How do you begin?

Let me give you a competitive start: Produce the highest quality product or service at the lowest cost and sell that product in every market on the face of the earth. If you do this, you will successfully globalize your company.

The real reason for exporting is to globalize your company and prosper in the 21st century and beyond. Any product or service can be exported. You just need a track (or a plan, as my colleague Tim Berry would say) to run on and a manageable process.

Thanks to Laurel Delaney for the very helpful post over American Express blog where she pointed out the basics and the must-do in getting our business global.

About Laurel Delaney courtesy of American Express:

Global business expert Laurel Delaney is the founder of GlobeTrade.com. She also is the creator of “Borderbuster,” an e-newsletter, and The Global Small Business Blog, all highly regarded for their global small business coverage.

What is more inviting to Laurel's post is the precise and detailed tips such as the track plan on closing an export deal, preparing the export team, how to enter the market and a lot more.

Check out her post - On Your Mark, Get Set, Go Global to get the detailed explanation of each tip mentioned above.