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Brad Reid: Trade Secrets May Be Lost
Survey Says: Global Trade, Talent Wars, and the Rise of Facebook Addicts
New surveys find growth potential through exporting and social media, while the fight for top employees is starting to heat up.
Posted 5/ 28 10 at 5:00 PM | Business Trends, Technology, Advertising & Marketing, Management, Leadership, International Business, Online Business
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Looking to grow your business? A pair of recent surveys found that global trade and social media represent significant expansion opportunities for entrepreneurs. On the hiring front, despite high unemployment, a surprising number of employees are getting antsy and have started pursuing new opportunities -- underscoring the need for employers to focus on retention and keeping their top talent happy. Here's a closer look at the findings.Small Exporters Confident
Although they remain concerned about the economy, small and midsize businesses that are involved in global trade are more optimistic overall than non-exporters about their futures, according to a Business Monitor United States survey recently released by UPS.
More than one-third (35 percent) of small and midsize exporters said exporting had a "significant impact" on their sales. Just 24 percent said they were worried about meeting their business goals.
This doesn't surprise me -- I know several small-business owners who export, and I can attest to how it's revolutionized their businesses. Doing business overseas can provide a hedge against tough economic times at home. Want some advice on taking your business global? Check out my article in this month's issue of Success magazine.
War for Talent Heats Up
Do you think your employees are lucky just to have jobs? If so, you may want to rethink that attitude -- fast. As the economic recovery begins, a new "war for talent" is looming, according to a recent survey by Harris Interactive for Adecco Group North America.
Although 78 percent of employees in the Workplace Insights Survey say this is the worst job market they've ever seen, that's not stopping them from seeking new jobs. Eagerness to jump ship is highest among Generation Y -- 51 percent of Gen Y employees have already interviewed for a new job or plan to do so in the coming year. The same goes for 30 percent of Generation X employees, 29 percent of baby boomers, and (most surprisingly) 22 percent of workers aged 61 and up.
I just got back from attending the National Small Business Week festivities in Washington. One of the common themes expressed by so many of the state Small Business Owners of the Year was that they would not have found such success if not for their employees. So, if you're not already doing so, start working to retain your key people. That means acknowledging their contributions, listening to them, treating them with respect, and helping them develop new skills. If you can swing it, rewarding them with more money and perks certainly couldn't hurt, either.
Addicted to Social Media
Is your business on Facebook and Twitter yet? Well, your customers probably are. In fact, they may be downright addicted, according to the latest Retrevo Gadgetology study.
I confess the survey hit a little close to home for me. Nearly half (48 percent) of respondents check Facebook or Twitter during the night or as soon as they wake up. (I generally check my Twitter account within 15 minutes of getting out of bed.) Fifty-six percent of respondents check Facebook every day, and 12 percent check in every few hours. For whatever reason, iPhone users are more addicted than the general population -- 28 percent of them check social media or update their status before they even get out of bed in the morning!
Perhaps most interesting to business owners -- more than 40 percent of respondents said they didn't mind being interrupted for a social media message, 32 percent didn't mind being interrupted during a meal, and 7 percent were eager to receive messages even during, er, "intimate moments." (Perhaps not surprisingly, users under 25 were more accepting of such interruptions.)
Rieva Lesonsky is the CEO of GrowBiz Media, a content and consulting company that helps entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses. Follow Rieva at Twitter.com/Rieva and read more of her insights on her blog at SmallBizDaily.com.
Getty Images
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- WOMEN & WALL STREET: Most Powerful Women in the U.S. - InvestorPlace
- How to Thwart the Financial Advisors Mismanaging Your Money - The Motley Fool
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- JOBLESSNESS MADE WORSE: 200,000 About to Lose Unemployment Benefits - CBS MoneyWatch
- LOOKING UP: Consumer Sentiment Rises as Gasoline Prices Fall - 24/7 Wall St.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Any thoughts on how the public sector - federal, state & local government and public nonprofits can compete and/or take advantage of this workforce churn?
Warren Master, Editor-in-Chief, The Public Manager (www.thepublicmanager.org)
I love using Twitter and Facebook for my business!
Everyone knows me as ChefSamBFD..Boston Food Deisgn!!
I love using Twitter and Facebook for my business!
Everyone knows me as ChefSamBFD..Boston Food Design!!
There are many advantages to retaining your high quality emplyoyees. The biggest advantage is customer service. When an organization has a high turn over rate...it takes constant training, more errors are made, productivity is low and customer complaints increase. Also, there is a high cost to turnover. The costs to recruit, run advertisements, interview candidates, train new employees is very expensive.
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I have a trhiving business. I love Facebook.
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I have been surprized to find the number of customers that are relying on our Old Mill Feed & Garden facebook page to stay in touch with what is happening on a daily basis at our business. The feed and pet store customer-body is evolving to a leading edge group. Social networking is working pretty effectively for us, to communicate with current and potential customers.
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