Grant Wickes (@gwickes)

As a technology vendor that sells to small business (prime target is companies with 5-99 employees), Wasp researches its customers quarterly. One of the questions we ask relates to IT spending.

Two things stand out in our most recent survey:

1. How little money is spent on IT (all hardware and software)…almost 30% spend less than $5K per year and almost 45% spend less than $10K per year

2. Attitude and intention to spend… budgets are being reduced and sales cycles are extending. 36% expect to reduce spending in 2010 compared to 2009

So like the survey Rieva references, spending in SMB for technology is being squeezed. We find sales are not being lost, just postponed and delayed. So stay in touch with your prospects and customers… the need is there and budgets will eventually open up.

Cheers, Grant ... See all content Hide content

3 months, 3 weeks ago onWordpress in smallbiztrends.com

Sounds like a great Thanksgiving read!

I believe the entrepreneurial spirit has always been present in the younger generation, it’s just that the barrier of entry (capital required, go-to-market, access to talent) to start a business are now significantly less than ever. The Internet is truly the amazing enabler.

Should be a fascinating decade ahead!

Cheer, Grant

3 months, 3 weeks ago onWordpress in smallbiztrends.com

Great step forward… now got to get in touch with the Google guys and have them add barcodes to these coupons… Be a big help to processing these electronic offers at checkout…

If anyone knows the right person at Google to contact, please let me know (gwickes@waspbarcode.com) We (Wasp Barcode) have software that can create the barcodes.

Thanks, Grant

3 months, 3 weeks ago onWordpress in smallbiztrends.com

Still somewhat of the wild west with social media… Lots of participants coming and going as the venue gets tested, tweaked and figured out. Still best to pick your spots and stay at it.

Loved Andee’s comment about tough to solialize at any level…

Cheers, Grant

3 months, 3 weeks ago onWordpress in smallbiztrends.com

Great to see this level of interest in teaching entrepreneurialism.

While I believe that successful entrepreneurs have an inherent born trait (an amazing passion and commitment to do what they believe, regardless of other opinions or roadblocks encountered), training goes a long way to help.

To answer Martin’s question, many local colleges offer certificates or full degrees in entrepreneurship , so you may want to look at your local college for similar help. We are fortunate in Dallas to have SMU and the Caruth Institute of Entrepreneurship (http://bit.ly/4p2BXD) led by Jerry White. Jerry is really a pioneer in this effort. As a long time educator to entrepreneurs, he has helped many with business skill and training that augments their passion and desire to succeed.

So you may want to look to your local college searching their site for entrepreneurship programs.

Cheers, Grant ... See all content Hide content

3 months, 1 week ago onWordpress in smallbiztrends.com

Another post with great thought provoking information and actionable items. Well done Lisa and thanks!

Often you get complacent on marketing efforts like SEO (or any other marketing activity that you’ve invested in) especially if you’re previously put in the effort and developed a baseline of success that is “motoring along”.

This post is a terrific reminder to not sit back and rest on your laurels. While the initial effort takes lots of work, on going effort is equally important. So thanks for the complacency wake up reminder. ... See all content Hide content

2 months, 2 weeks ago onWordpress in smallbiztrends.com