2012 Changes Impacting Small Business

   It’s no secret that these days, times they are a changing – and quick. Just think back to five or ten years ago. Eight years ago, Facebook was but a dream. Four years ago, Group on wasn’t around. And ten years ago, Linked In was just launching. My, how times have changed.

So what changes can we expect to develop in 2012? Chances are, you can expect sites like Group on to be making some changes. As much as consumers enjoy daily deal sites, the businesses themselves may feel a bit differently. Many found they were unable to keep up with demand while they simultaneously watched their profits decrease from the heavy discounts offered.

One trend that we started to see in 2011 appears as if it’s going to continue into 2012 as well. And that would be the continued rise of entrepreneurial endeavors, many of which we can speculate grew out of necessity due to the economic climate. And speaking of the economic climate, there’s a ray of light there. Unemployment appears to be falling while the recent Holiday season found consumer spending on the rise. Could things be looking up in 2012?

And, of course, we can’t forget about the fast moving mobile industry. It appears smart phones are here to stay:

“It’s clear that the age of the smart phone is upon us. Indeed, Search Engine Land says more than 20 percent of all searches are now done on a mobile device. For the small-business owner, this is a huge opportunity. People are relying on their smart phones for everything from searching to shopping to preventing boredom.”

These changes impacting small business in 2012 and more are covered in a piece titled, “What Does 2012 Have in Store for Small Biz?” They also touch on “election year entanglement.” Check it out and tell us what you think about these changes and any additional changes you see on the immediate horizon that you feel will have an impact on small business in 2012.