New Small Business Topic

[Evan]

Hello everyone,

I'm on the lookout for new topics to add to my site. We just launched a Franchising section and are planning Human Resources section. Do you have any thoughts for a new section?

Here's a list of what we currently have:

Angel Investors
Branding
Bank Loans
Business Coaching
Business Plan
Franchises (New)
Insurance
Legal
Marketing
Public Relations
Sales
Small Biz Loans
Venture Capital

[Shimmy]

Thanks Evan. A Human Resources section would be great. Information and templates for hiring the right people, training, retention ( always an interesting an useful topic), conducting performance appraisals, information on discipline and documentation, conflict resolution, exit interview information, etc.

This would be really useful because most small companies don't have set HR guidelines/policies.

Thanks!

[Jessica]

True enough...most small business hire friends, family or students and their HR practices are very basic. Templates are very useful especially for things like performance appraisals and interview questions, things like that.

[Evan]

Thanks Shimmy and Jessica - we'll be launching the HR section on Nov 21 so stay tuned!

Any suggestions out there for what section to create for December?

[Shimmy]

Not sure if you have it but more practical sales advice for different industries?

[Evan]

Hi Shimmy,

We have a section on Sales Advice.

What did you have in mind for something more industry specific?

[allgl8]

Hi Evan,

I do a series of seminars for low income individuals who want or are starting their own buisnesses.

One of the topics that I cover are budgets and routines and time management.

[Evan]

Hi allgl8,

We just launched a new section of the site for Starting A Business Articles.

If you have relevant content, let me know and we can set you up as a VIP Author so you can share your knowledge with our entrepreneurs.

[terriz]

Hi Evan,

How about a section for the self-employed -- an entrepreneur of a slightly different stripe? (we call them Solo Entrepreneurs )

Peace,
Terri Z

[Evan]

Hi Terriz,

Thanks for the idea - what kind of topics do you see being discussed that are different from the ones we have now?

[terriz]

Hi Evan,

I was thinking more along the lines of having a Solo Entrepreneur forum under "Other Entrepreneur Topics".

We (soloists) are interested in the same topics -- starting a business, marketing, growing -- but our concerns on these topics are a little different. How to self-finance your business startup (as most of us do); how to develop our brand when WE are our brand (many of us are service professionals); how to grow our business without hiring employees. Stuff like that

[Evan]

Hi terriz,

This is the main challenge - how to identify topics that are specific to solopreneurs that doesn't overlap with other areas as you mentioned - starting a business, marketing, growing, etc.

Many of the companies (non-solo) that I speak with or people who are wanting to build companies have issues about self-financing, developing a personal brand, and growing without having to hire more staff.

Perhaps you could put a topic or two in the Other Entrepreneur Topics and we can see the response!