Small Business Labs

JANUARY 19, 2021

   Social selling is defined a variety of ways, but at a high level we like LinkedIn's definition : "Social selling is about leveraging your social network to find the right prospects, build trusted relationships, and ultimately, achieve your sales goals." " Social selling isn't new.  3%) to 10% in 2020.  

Social Media 192

Social Media 2014 Clothes 2020 192

Small Business Labs

OCTOBER 12, 2010

Reports and Resources Intuit 2020 Research Report Todays Hobbyists are Tomorrows Hobbypreneurs Homepreneurs: A Vital Economic Force Research Brief - Small Business Credit Outlook The Economic Stimulus Package: Whats in it for Growing Businesses? The report covers 20 key demographic, social, economic and technology trends. 

2020 100

2020 2010 Retirement 2005 100

Small Business Labs

DECEMBER 3, 2018

The 2019 edition of one of our favorite trend reports - JWT Intelligence's annual forecast of 100 trends to watch in the coming year - is out.  As self-employment continues to explode, a wave of freelancer-first networks and platforms is emerging, offering help and advice to self-employed workers.

2019 178

2019 Health Networking 178

Small Business Labs

SEPTEMBER 19, 2017

It nicely covers the topics mentioned in the report title. Key quote from the report on the size of the "human cloud": "SIA estimates that total human cloud spending reached between $47 and $51 billion globally in 2016.   The report is excellent and well worth reading.   So the gig economy is big. 

2016 160

2016 Networking Management 160

Small Business Labs

JULY 17, 2018

As the chart below shows (click to enlarge), in 2018 about 1 in 5 (22%) full-time independent workers reported using online talent marketplaces to find work over the past year, up from just 3% in 2012. 24% report planning on using them over the next year and over a third of those using them (35%) plan to expand their usage.

2018 124

2018 2012 Networking Skills 124

Small Business Labs

MAY 12, 2015

They are places where members work, network, learn and socialize together.  Networking related: 82% said coworking has expanded their professional networks. Learning related: 69% reported they learned new skills. 68% reported they improved their existing skill set.

Networking 100

Networking Skills Learning 100

Small Business Labs

JULY 25, 2017

Key quote from the report: Driven by a surge in on-demand labor platforms and online work management solutions, traditional hierarchies are being replaced with open talent marketplaces, which four-fifths (80 percent) of health executives surveyed believe will drive profound shifts in their economics.

2017 160

2017 Health Networking Management 160

Small Business Labs

DECEMBER 7, 2017

The National Young Farmers Coalition's report Building a Future with Farmers covers the demographics, issues and needs of young farmers (those under the age of 40). According to the report: Farmers over the age of 65 now outnumber farmers under 35 by a margin of six to one, and U.S.   The St. . 

Networking 178

Networking UPS 178

Small Business Labs

JUNE 20, 2017

As the blue bars in the chart below show (click to enlarge), only 3% of independent workers reported using online talent marketplaces to find work in 2012. Younger independent workers, who tend to be more tech savvy and have less developed professional networks, use them more than older independents. By 2017 this grew to 20%.

2017 118

2017 2012 2018 Networking 118

Small Business Labs

NOVEMBER 20, 2017

According to a recent GigWalk press release : "Gigwalk’s Cloud Market solution instantly connects businesses to a network of over one million Gigwalkers in North America …" GigWalk's gig walkers are mobile independent workers who execute a variety of tasks for GigWalk clients.

Promotion 170

Promotion Networking 170

Small Business Labs

NOVEMBER 30, 2015

adults (54%) have gone online to look for job information, 45% have applied for a job online, and job-seeking Americans are just as likely to have turned to the internet during their most recent employment search as to their personal or professional networks. And the information in this report is up to their usual high standards.

Job Hunting 100

Job Hunting Social Media Phones Networking 100

Small Business Labs

JULY 8, 2014

Last week the Freelancers Union released How to Live the Freelance Life , a report based on a survey of more than 1,100 freelancers nationwide that asked freelancers about their work, money, lifestyle, and values. The role networks and cross freelancer collaboration is both large and growing.     2.     2.

Lifestyle 100

Lifestyle Collaborate Networking Interviewing 100

Small Business Labs

NOVEMBER 4, 2014

And, of course, the survey respondents stressed the importance of networks and networking, a topic we've covered a lot lately. .  Personal attributes such as flexibility, integrity, persistence and being a self-starter are also important success factors.

Networking 100

Networking Stress Skills 100

Small Business Labs

MARCH 1, 2012

Digital Consumer Report, Q3-Q4 2011 (free, registration required) describes in detailed the digital connectedness of Gen Y, which they describe as 18-34 year olds.  Key quote from their blog post on the report : The latest Census reports that Americans 18-34 make up 23 percent of the U.S. 53% of online video users.

2011 100

2011 Networking UPS 100

Small Business Labs

OCTOBER 21, 2014

It also shows the importance of networks in finding work.  This group also reported word of mouth was their dominant source of jobs.   It's not surprising networks are important, but it is surprising how important. .  This group also reported word of mouth was their dominant source of jobs.

Networking 100

Networking 100

Small Business Labs

JULY 30, 2013

Deloitte's The Open Talent Economy suggests the traditional employment model is giving way to a networked model that consists of a "portfolio of full-time employees, contract and freelance talent, and, increasingly, talent with no formal ties to a company at all."  To see last year's report, click here.

Networking 100

Networking Collaborate AT&T 100

Small Business Labs

JULY 9, 2015

The 2015 MBO Partners State of Independence survey results , which we worked on with MBO Partners, shows that most independent workers report being happier (79%) and healthier (59%) working on their own. Coworking brings an enhanced social experience, networking and opportunities to learn new skills - as well as a good place to work.

2015 100

2015 Networking Skills Learning 100

Small Business Labs

DECEMBER 1, 2015

This is basically a new name for  The Internet of Things  (IoT), a term coined in the late 1990's and defined by Wikipedia as: the network of physical objects or "things" embedded with electronics, software, sensors and network connectivity, which enables these objects to collect and exchange data. 

2020 100

2020 2014 2015 Networking 100

Small Business Labs

JULY 11, 2011

One of our "go to" sources for insights and information on distributed work and telework are Kate Lister and Tom Hamish from the Telework Research Network     In addition to deep knowledge on the topic, they are also data intensive - much appreciated here at Small Business Labs. 

Networking 100

Networking 100

Small Business Labs

AUGUST 31, 2015

The Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA) - a leading, global analyst firm focused on the use of contingent workers by businesses - recently released a report on the human cloud. It's only available to their members.

Monster 100

Monster 2014 Filing Stress 100

Small Business Labs

JANUARY 9, 2017

Written by futurist and urban planning expert Greg Lindsay (who's also an expert on coworking), the article's descriptions of the key trends are: The first trend is how the shared office and the network have replaced the solo entrepreneur in her garage as the incubators for new companies and ideas. Workers

Cubicle 100

Cubicle 2014 Networking Skills 100

Small Business Labs

APRIL 26, 2012

Forrester issued a report saying wearable computing is about to take off.   Forrester believes that consumer interest in wearables for applications in health and fitness, navigation, social networking and gaming is starting to grow.  Most of have been targeted at health and fitness.

Health 100

Health Google Facebook Networking 100

Small Business Labs

MARCH 15, 2011

Network Solutions recently released its 2010 State of Small Business report and it has lots of interesting information, including data on social media usage by small businesses. As the chart below (chart 14 from the report) shows, Facebook is used by 27% of small businesses for business purposes. 

Facebook 100

Facebook Social Media 2010 Networking 100

Small Business Labs

OCTOBER 29, 2014

They also provide tools and reporting functions that provide contingent talent buyers visibility and analytics related to an organizations contingent workforce scope and spend.  They use names like "private talent cloud" and "private talent network" to describe their offerings.

Elance 100

Elance Management Legal Confidence 100

Small Business Labs

OCTOBER 17, 2011

Last year we reported on  the growing interest in developing biotech coworking labs.    The effort we reported on has come to fruition.    bioCurious , a 2400 square foot coworking lab, is now open for business in Silicon Valley.    bioCurious is an example of this trend. 

Equipment 100

Equipment Networking AT&T 100

Small Business Labs

MAY 5, 2010

Reports and Resources Intuit 2020 Research Report Todays Hobbyists are Tomorrows Hobbypreneurs Homepreneurs: A Vital Economic Force Research Brief - Small Business Credit Outlook The Economic Stimulus Package: Whats in it for Growing Businesses? social networking sites play a major role in the web marketing industry.

Facebook 100

Facebook Social Media 2010 Retirement 100

Small Business Labs

AUGUST 24, 2010

Reports and Resources Intuit 2020 Research Report Todays Hobbyists are Tomorrows Hobbypreneurs Homepreneurs: A Vital Economic Force Research Brief - Small Business Credit Outlook The Economic Stimulus Package: Whats in it for Growing Businesses? Carolyn is leading the coworking study and Steve is a member of the project team.

2010 100

2010 Social Media Retirement Networking 100

Small Business Labs

OCTOBER 26, 2011

According to a recent report by Pew Research , about 11% of adult Americans own a tablet computer.    If the report was from anyone but Pew, I would be more that a bit skeptical.             Several blogs cover the report in detail so I won't bother. 

AT&T 100

AT&T Networking 100

Small Business Labs

MAY 3, 2010

Reports and Resources Intuit 2020 Research Report Todays Hobbyists are Tomorrows Hobbypreneurs Homepreneurs: A Vital Economic Force Research Brief - Small Business Credit Outlook The Economic Stimulus Package: Whats in it for Growing Businesses? Carolyn is leading the coworking study and Steve is a member of the project team.

2010 100

2010 Social Media Retirement Networking 100

Small Business Labs

AUGUST 6, 2012

.   Industrial clusters are successful because of the economic advantages that come from a tight network of customers, suppliers and cluster-related talent. They are enabling infrastructure where connections are made, networks established and new business ideas, approaches and even companies are built.

Suppliers 100

Suppliers Networking Skills Training 100

Small Business Labs

MARCH 17, 2011

There's some really interesting data in the Network Solutions State of Small Business report on the impact of social media on traditional websites.    While 9% sounds low, last June only 2% reported plans to spend less or eliminate their traditional website due to social media. 

Facebook 100

Facebook Social Media AT&T Networking 100

Small Business Labs

MAY 7, 2013

Older workers are more likely to have the skills, networks and financial resources to become successfully self-employed. See his report on self-employment in the U.S. for Based on our interviews and other research on the independent workforce, there are several reasons self-employment increases with age: 1.

Retirement 100

Retirement Interviewing Networking Skills 100

Small Business Labs

NOVEMBER 2, 2010

Reports and Resources Intuit 2020 Research Report Todays Hobbyists are Tomorrows Hobbypreneurs Homepreneurs: A Vital Economic Force Research Brief - Small Business Credit Outlook The Economic Stimulus Package: Whats in it for Growing Businesses? Carolyn is leading the coworking study and Steve is a member of the project team.

2010 100

2010 2015 Retirement 2020 100

Small Business Labs

APRIL 21, 2015

Freelancer.com, one of the world’s largest freelance hubs, reported that even back in 2012 more than one-third of their 3 million users were Indians. There's also a rapidly growing startup community in India. These startups need space and commercial offices are both hard to find and expensive in most of India's cities.

Elance 100

Elance 2012 Expenses Networking 100

Small Business Labs

OCTOBER 5, 2010

Reports and Resources Intuit 2020 Research Report Todays Hobbyists are Tomorrows Hobbypreneurs Homepreneurs: A Vital Economic Force Research Brief - Small Business Credit Outlook The Economic Stimulus Package: Whats in it for Growing Businesses? Carolyn is leading the coworking study and Steve is a member of the project team.

2010 100

2010 Retirement Restaurants 2020 100

Small Business Labs

SEPTEMBER 4, 2010

Reports and Resources Intuit 2020 Research Report Todays Hobbyists are Tomorrows Hobbypreneurs Homepreneurs: A Vital Economic Force Research Brief - Small Business Credit Outlook The Economic Stimulus Package: Whats in it for Growing Businesses? Carolyn is leading the coworking study and Steve is a member of the project team.

UPS 100

UPS 2010 Retirement 2020 100

Small Business Labs

MAY 17, 2010

Reports and Resources Intuit 2020 Research Report Todays Hobbyists are Tomorrows Hobbypreneurs Homepreneurs: A Vital Economic Force Research Brief - Small Business Credit Outlook The Economic Stimulus Package: Whats in it for Growing Businesses? .  Carolyn is leading the coworking study and Steve is a member of the project team.

2010 100

2010 Retirement 2020 2005 100