Archive of Business Articles – Chris Crum

• GoDaddy Survey: 75% of Entrepreneurs Believe Generative AI Gives Them an...
  Entrepreneurs increasingly embrace GenAI, foreseeing competitive advantages. GoDaddy’s survey reveals rapid adoption and optimism for AI’s potential in small businesses.... more
• GoDaddy Launches New AI tool to Save Small Business Owners Time
  With its new artificial intelligence tool, Airo, GoDaddy will help small businesses establish their online presences and appeal to new customers.... more
• Slack Survey: Many Owners Think This Is a Make or Break...
  With inflation and economic conditions continuing to worry small business owners in 2024, a survey shows that many hope their 2023 improvements will continue to pay off.... more
• SBA Announces ‘Empower to Grow’ to Aid Small Disadvantaged Businesses with...
  The SBA announces improvements to its 7(j) Management and Technical Assistance program to update its core services and advance equity in federal procurement.... more
• Yelp Updates Aim to Enhance Connections between Consumers and Local Businesses
  Celebrating its 20th year, Yelp announces new AI powered business summaries to help consumer decision-making and AI powered smart budgets to optimize business ad spending.... more
• Paychex Survey: Small Business Wage Growth Continues Downward Trend
  A recent survey finds that the rate of hourly earnings growth continued to decline at U.S. small businesses in 2023, although the number of jobs continued to grow.... more
• Software Advice Survey: Sixty-Eight Percent of Small Business Retailers See Above...
  A recent survey shows retail shrink is increasing due to theft and other factors, and businesses need to address it with increased technology for inventory management and security.... more
• SBA Shares Progress in Small Business Lending
  With lending increases in its microloan, 7(a), and Section 504 loan programs, the SBA heralds its progress in assisting small and minority-owned businesses.... more
• WIX Website Builder Adds Conversational AI Chat for Businesses
  WIX adds to its previous offerings with a new AI chat feature that enables businesses to build their websites with tailored recommendations, templates, and tools.... more
• US Chamber of Commerce Report Looks at Crime Risks to Business
  Organized retail theft has nearly doubled in the past year, affecting businesses of all sizes, according to a recent survey by the US Chamber of Commerce.... more
• Intuit Announces QuickBooks Bill Pay
  Intuit’s new QuickBooks Bill Pay will help small businesses with cash flow by managing bill payments to vendors and contractors and avoiding missed payments.... more
• NFIB: Inflation and Labor Remain Top Business Problems
  Optimism continues to decrease among small business owners due to inflation and labor scarcities, according to a recent National Federation of Independent Business report.... more
• Meta Announces Tools to Help Businesses with First AI-Powered Holiday Season
  With new tools and a marketing guide for small businesses, Meta (Facebook) offers ways to use AI technology for advertising during the upcoming holiday season.... more
• SBA Extends Moratorium on 8(a) Eligibility Requirement
  The requirement to have an established place of business in a particular location to participate in the SBA’s 8(a) Business Development Program will continue to be suspended through September 2024.... more
• Slack Gets a Productivity-Focused Update
  Slack has been given a new update, providing businesses seamless integration of apps, and allowing viewers to see all of their workspace channels from their home screen.... more
• SBA: Small Business Contracting Goal Exceeded for All-time High
  Federal procurement opportunities for small businesses set a record-breaking dollar amount, despite the continued trend of fewer small businesses receiving federal contracts.... more
• Intuit Announces Ad Network for Small Businesses
  Partnering with Dell, the new McAfee Business Solution will enable small businesses and their employees to better protect themselves from hackers, malware, and viruses.... more
• McAfee Announces New Online Protection Solution for Small Businesses
  Partnering with Dell, the new McAfee Business Solution will enable small businesses and their employees to better protect themselves from hackers, malware, and viruses.... more
• SBA Report Details Actions to Prevent, Detect, and Tackle Fraud
  In addition to reporting on fraud in the pandemic relief programs, the Small Business Administration is also working to enhance best practices for future emergencies.... more
• Google Expands Digital Coaches Program to Help More Small Businesses
  Google increases its assistance in underserved communities and adds ten states to its Grow with Google Digital Coaches program, which offers free workshops to small businesses.... more
• FreshBooks Survey: Two Out of Three Small Business Owners Will Try...
  According to a new survey, a majority of small businesses will be using generative AI within the next year on their business websites and social media platforms.... more
• SBA Announces Grant Awards for Outreach Organizations Focused on Veteran Small...
  Organizations focused on supporting Veterans small businesses will receive new grants from the SBA to assist with funding of new Veterans Business Outreach Centers.... more
• SBA Implements Rules to Address Persistent Capital Access Gaps
  Small business owners in underserved communities will have better access to capital through new rules recently implemented by the Small Business Administration.... more
• SBA Study Looks at Small Business Exporters
  According to a government report, the impact of small business exporters is higher than previously thought, as is the opportunity to grow and diversify their revenue through trade.... more
• Instagram Introduces New Ad Products for Businesses
  Businesses will have two more ways to get discovered and form “meaningful connections” with Instagram’s new ads in search results and Reminder Ads.... more
• NFIB: Inflation Still Top Business Problem
  The Small Business Optimism Index finds inflation still the chief concern, along with finding qualified workers for job openings and inventory increases.... more
• ADP and NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners) Survey Looks...
  A recent survey of women-owned small businesses finds their biggest concerns are affording payroll and employee benefits, hiring difficulties, and lack of technology.... more
• TikTok Launches TikTok Academy to Help Businesses Better Utilize the Platform
  The 101 Course and the Small Business Course are the first two curriculums in Tik Tok’s new Academy, designed to help educate businesses about the platform.... more
• NFIB Survey Looks at How COVID Continues to Impact Small Businesses
  Small businesses have resorted to increasing prices in order to offset higher wages caused by staffing shortages from the Pandemic, according to a recent NFIB survey.... more
• CNBC Report: FBI Worried About Cyber Crimes Targeting Small Businesses
  Despite survey results showing concern among businesses unchanged, recent reports from the FBI confirm a huge increase in cyberattacks on small and medium-sized businesses.... more
• Yelp Update Helps Service Businesses Manage and Generate Leads
  Improvements to Projects in the Yelp app will help consumers better manage their projects, while allowing businesses to generate leads through a redesigned message inbox center.... more
• TikTok Launches Audience Insights to Help Advertisers Better Understand Their Audiences
  With TikTok’s new Audience Insights, businesses can learn user interests, behaviors, and demographics, to help maximize advertising results.... more
• J.D. Power Survey: Small Business Owners Seek Advice from Banks in...
  Classified as financially unhealthy in a recent survey, the majority of small businesses want to reach out to banks not just for loans and credit but also for business advice.... more
• Small Businesses Get New Facebook Pages Experience
  Facebook introduces easier navigation between personal profiles and business pages and a more streamlined layout with its new access to Facebook Pages for small businesses.... more
• NFIB: Worker Shortage Still a Top Issue for Small Businesses
  Despite increased sales opportunities, many small businesses report few or no applicants for new employment openings, and a continued negative impact on business operations.... more
• SkyQuest Survey: Spending on Social Media Management Increased By 27% in...
  With the increased emphasis on social media marketing, a recent survey shows small businesses are also increasing their spending on social media management.... more
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce: In-Store Theft Worsening
  Small retail businesses are seeing an increase in theft, adding to consumer prices already impacted by inflation, according to a recent poll by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.... more
• Alignable Survey Looks at Record-Breaking Rent Issues for Small Businesses
  Small business owners, especially minority owners, are experiencing the highest percentage of rent delinquencies across all industries since the middle of the pandemic.... more
• Meta Launches Boost Small Business Studios
  Facebook’ s parent announces new resources to assist small businesses, including virtual and in-person training, photography workshops, and video creation support.... more
• SCORE Small Business Mentors Launch Rural Entrepreneurs Resource Hub
  Personalized support for rural small business entrepreneurs, including mentoring, webinars, and a Small Business Resilience Hub, are new offerings from Score.... more
• Meta (Facebook) Announces Improvements to Personalized Support for Small Businesses
  Meta announces an expanded business support program with its new Meta Pro Team, designed to provide marketing, technical, and other support for eligible small businesses.... more
• Yelp Highlights Updates to Yelp for Business
  With its new Request a Call feature, contactless payment options, updates to Yelp Connect, and eco-friendly options, Yelp continues to help businesses improve customer service.... more
• CNBC | SurveyMonkey: US Small Businesses Not Ready for Cyberattack
  Despite the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, a survey shows small businesses are more concerned with inflation and labor shortages than with cybersecurity threats.... more
• Meta Introduces New Ads and Messaging Tools for Small Businesses
  Meta announces new features for its Meta Business Suite, along with easier ways to create ads that start a WhatsApp chat, and new lead generation and customer acquisition tools.... more
• Instagram New Features Make It Easier for Businesses to Make Their...
  Instagram continues to add new features to support small businesses, including letting users advertise a product to their friends and family by adding product tags to their posts.... more
• NEXT Insurance Survey Looks at Frustrations of Small Business Owners
  Small business owners are frustrated about increased costs, supply chain issues, and employee hiring and retention, while also working longer hours and taking salary cuts.... more
• SBA Expands Pilot Program Targeting Access to Capital for Underserved Entrepreneurs
  The SBA extended its pilot Community Advantage loan program, increased the maximum loan size, lifted the lender moratorium, and simplified requirements for borrowers and lenders.... more
• SBA Women’s Business Center Network Expanded to All 50 States
  Emphasizing its commitment to create funding opportunities that increase equity for small business owners, the SBA announces a new Women’s Business Center in Anchorage.... more
• Facebook Messenger Gets Split Payments Feature, Vanish Mode
  Facebook adds new features to its Messenger App to provide for sharing of bill costs, enhanced audio controls, and increased privacy with message-disappearing capabilities.... more
• UpCity Survey: 82% of Small Businesses Increased Outsourcing Since Beginning of...
  As remote work continues during the pandemic, companies are increasing their outsourcing of business functions, noting increased flexibility, expertise, and efficiency.... more
• NFIB: Small Business Owners Reporting Inflation as Biggest Problem, Highest Concern...
  22% of small business owners reported that inflation was the most important business problem, according to the NFIB / Small Business Optimism Index survey.... more
• Small Businesses Look to Digital Payments for Growth
  According to a VISA survey, the increase in online sales during the pandemic and consumers’ need for secure systems have contributed to the use of digital payments by SMBs.... more
• JumpCloud Survey: Security Priorities Geared Toward Ongoing Remote-Hybrid Work
  A recent survey of IT professionals finds security of remote and hybrid work to be an ongoing concern during the pandemic, especially managing a remote workforce.... more
• Forbes Finds Tech Among Top Small Business Priorities This Year
  A recent survey by Forbes shows small businesses plan to prioritize investments in technology, their customers, and their employees in the coming year.... more
• Klear Survey: Influencer Social Media Marketing on the Rise
  Using micro-influencers in your small businesses social media marketing can help your brand authenticity, according to a recent survey, and can help you market to new demographics.... more