Small Business

©2016 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved. Some may remember the classic movie Daddy Long Legs with Fred Astaire, (1955), the much-filmed story of a millionaire who anonymously sponsors, then falls in love with a young orphan (Leslie Caron). This is my version of the same theme but calling it Mommy Long Legs.  It's amazing what the sun does for you when it is behind your back while taking a photo.

©iStock/Bank215 UK Prime Minister David Cameron recently announced a referendum to take place Thursday, June 23, 2016 on whether Britain should remain in the European Union. In the article below I cover why the vote is about to be held, who wants the UK to leave the EU and how the outcome of the vote might impact small and big businesses. Read the entire article:   What Happens to SME Trade if Britain Leaves the European Union (EU)?

©iStock/remco86 What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners: Drawbacks to consider with a home office import/export business:  Parts I , II and III . The rise of the global small business economy. How to link small businesses to international markets. Anyone who still thinks trade agreements are effective and is willing to say so in public besides Laurel Delaney? Speaking of trade ... the Pew Research Center has a few words on it as it relates to China. How ten percent of Hult students from the Class of 2015 started their own business.

Catch all the great activities in Chicago for St. Patrick's Day. Photos courtesy:  ©2014-2015 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

©iStock/LDProd With more than a third of global online transactions now mobile, three key trends will become explosive growth drivers in 2016. Here they are. 3 Global Mobile Trends to Watch in 2016

Photo courtesy:   Apress What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners: How Hannover Messe offers manufacturers an entry into global markets (great resources mentioned here that are offered by the U.S. Commercial Service). Why small businesses win with LNG exports provision . Why a global slowdown won't stop U.S. businesses . Discover how the Global Entrepreneurs in Residence (GEIR) Program brings a trifecta of international entrepreneurial expertise to the University of Colorado Boulder. How to stop customers from returning products online. How the almighty book " Exporting:  The Definitive Guide to Selling Abroad Profitably " is being updated by Laurel Delaney.

©iStock/Doppelganger4 Whether you run a PR consultancy, manufacturing enterprise or international trade company, there are early warning signs that get ignored yet indicate right in your face your business is moving toward the slow road to deterioration. What are the signs?  You know it when you experience it:  Customers complain, everyone focuses on the past and so forth.  See if I'm right.  And if I've missed any, send me an email and I'll add to the post! The 7 Signs of Import/Export Business Deterioration

©iStock/3dsguru In an article I wrote for About.com Import and Export site, I talk about six, basic reasons for not going global and how to overcome them.  It's based on more than a hundred interviews over the years, where media reporters repeatedly ask me: What’s stopping small business owners and entrepreneurs from going global? Is it really that hard? Find out:   Six Biggest Stumbling Blocks to Going Global and How to Overcome Them

©iStock/BobYue The secret to billions of customers finding you is to build a world stage comprising of a combination of social tools such as a blog (like this one), Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest, as well as cultivate a brand presence on a website, mobile apps and other online databases. Using a proven e-commerce platform such as Amazon, eBay or Etsy is beneficial too, provided its visitors are in line with your ideal target market.   Just remember that each of these platforms takes a percentage of the transaction profits and, in some cases, they even charge a monthly subscription fee. I always caution people to read the fine print when it comes to your costs. After you test your products in new online marketplaces and enjoy significant revenue returns, it is then time to advance and create your own ecommerce platform to sell to the world and pocket all the profits. -- Source:   Business Success Strategies Q&A with Laurel Delaney: Going Global for Bus

©iStock/Rigamondis I've traveled to Japan more than a dozen times and have tremendous love for its people and the country.  Below I share some pearls of wisdom on doing business in Japan.  Think of these as insights that I've developed in my years of working with Japanese people. A Guide For Doing Business in Japan

©2015 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved. I am honored and humbled that Good to Great author Jim Collins asked for my input about updating his book, Beyond Entrepreneurship:  Turning Your Business Into an Enduring Great Company .   Thank you ever so much and I am sure when you update the book, it will become another best seller! Related post:   Thank you Best-Selling Author Jim Collins!

©iStock/IPGGutenbergUKLtd Let's appreciate and applaud those who export.  These people – all of them – add value to and enhance our lives. They push everything that comes into their hands out into the world for others to appreciate and enjoy too. They create jobs and make our world a better place to live. A big salute to exporters! Read more:   Let's Appreciate and Applaud Those Who Export!