Small business secrets...

Many of us use social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn as a fun part of our personal lives. But many small business owners are unaware of how social media can benefit their business, or are unsure of how to go about using social media for business purposes.

We all know that mobile web browsing has been on the rise in recent years - you only need to look around you to see countless people attached to their smartphones and tablets. And if you keep an eye on your website analytics, you’ve probably noticed an increase in the amount of mobile traffic coming into your small business website.

HMRC’s deadline for self-assessment tax returns passed a few weeks ago, and many self-employed workers and small business owners have already received a penalty notice in the post for failing to complete their tax return or pay their balance.

There is no shortage of business books on sale today. They are filled with the latest buzzwords, management trends and good looking charts yet most do little more than stating the obvious.

Many small businesses are unaware of alternative forms of financing, according to new research.

There’s no denying the popularity of Facebook - and by now we all know that it’s important for businesses too. In fact, there are more than 13 million local business pages on Facebook, which accumulate 150 million visitors daily. But I am surprised at the number of small businesses which seem to think a Facebook page is all they need.

The year has got off to a bad start for the High Street, with a number of large brands calling in the administrators. If nobody steps in to save them we’ll have to say goodbye to Jessops, Blockbuster and HMV - all staples of the High Street.

When you start up a business there is so much to consider - concerns about financing, building up your team and fine-tuning your products/services can take up all of your time. But to make all of this hard work count you will need customers. This is where marketing comes in, and a great way to start is with building your business website.