I have a magpie habit of spotting stuff online and parking the link to it, intending to come back later. Things have been particularly bad recently as I’m working on a new project, to be launched on an unsuspecting world in the next couple of weeks, so I’ve been hoarding advice aimed at start-ups and micro-businesses.
As a way of clearing the decks, here are 67 tips for new, small businesses gathered during my research. And no, I’m not doing them all myself. Yet.
Business planning and starting from scratch
- Business Link sales and marketing resources in 15 key areas
- Business advice for start-ups, including a new business idea evaluation tool to help judge whether your idea for a business is a good one.
- For faint-hearted starter-uppers: the inimitable Seth Godin’s take on why starting anything new is a good idea
Social networks
- 9 social networks your business could be using
- How to use Facebook to promote your business
- 10 ways for small businesses to use LinkedIn
- The nuts and bolts of QR codes (QR codes are “square bar codes” which can be read by scanners in camera phones.)
- Why social media is important for B2B businesses
- A case book of examples of how charities have used new technology to build business
- Website advice from Get British Business Online
Communications – the right words and the pictures
- 6 questions to ask before you spend money on graphic design
- 5 self-build website packages as recommended by Bitsy (though beware of using template builder sites which may be too rigid for business needs)
- 10 reasons why it’s a good idea to use a pro copywriter
- Media Trust offers guides and advice for range of communications issues – it’s aimed at the voluntary sector, but the advice is sound for most small business. Take a look – they won’t mind.
Consultancy and freelancing
- A Q&A from The Guardian about the pros and cons of becoming a consultant. This is specifically about the voluntary sector but lots of the issues are universal.
- Is there life after freelancing? Questions to ask yourself if you’re thinking of trading up from being a freelancer to setting up a small agency
- Freelance Adviser general advice on a range of subjects for freelancers
Sole Trader PR 
Many thanks for including my post ‘the nuts and bolts of QR Codes’ in tyoyur excellent list here. While this post, and many others likes it on my blog, are aimed at using the codes in education and the classroom there are so many uses for businesses.
A quick scan of some Twitter comments include;
QR Code Idea From Mesob Restaurant – http://2d-code.co.uk/restaurant-table-top-qr-code/
QR Codes for Real Estate: Tips and How to – http://www.realestateseo1.com/qr-codes-for-real-estate-tips-and-how-to
Hope these help.
All the best, David
Thanks for taking the time to update my list, David, it’s greatly appreciated.