Of course, searching online for business advice could leave you even more confused and frustrated — but you obviously can't ignore this information gold mine. Within the depths of the Internet lie the answers to your every question, people around the world in similar professional predicaments, potential business partners, applications for loans, marketing tips ... the list goes on and on. It's no easy task to figure out which online sources to trust, so we've done some of the work for you. Here are 10 sites business owners can check out for advice, information and moral support.
10: Facebook
A Facebook company page is a no-brainer for any business, so we hope you have that set up already. Without Facebook, the only time most of your customers will have contact with your business is when they decide to type in your URL and visit your website. But when they like you on Facebook, you can pop into their news feeds any time with a photo or an update. It's a perfect way to stay fresh in their minds without seeming pushy or intrusive. If they have questions, it might be more likely that they'd ask while they're on Facebook rather than email or the phone.
9: Departments of Economic Development
The website for your state's Department of Economic Development is a one-stop shop for everything you need to set up a business there. Some of what you'll find will be the broad information that's available on any number of other sites that provide advice for small businesses, but most of it is specific to your state. You could learn how to apply for a loan on a general small business site, but you won't have much luck trying to figure out how to get a business license in Missouri. So before you follow any advice you find on a national site — especially of the financial or tax variety — check with your Department of Economic Development first.
8: U.S. Small Business Administration
If you haven't been to SBA.gov yet, put that on top of your to-do list right now. The Small Business Administration is probably the ultimate resource for business owners in the United States. You can find official information on every aspect of running your company there, from writing a business plan and registering to getting funding and doing taxes. There are also online training courses, software downloads, live chats with counselors, and advice on business law and licensing.
7: LinkedIn
LinkedIn's user interface is slick but no-nonsense, as befitting the most popular social media platform for professional networking. And professional it is: This is not Twitter, Facebook or Instagram, where you can be creative and let it all hang out. On LinkedIn you stick to the facts. You might already have a personal profile on the site, but you can take things to another level by adding a company page and promoting it. (Note: Incomplete pages don't show up in LinkedIn search!)
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Small Business Trends is an online magazine that's been around since 2003. It's consistently named a top resource for entrepreneurs by business blogs and other industry publications. If you're new to online business, head straight to the "Startup" section or check out the site's substantial archives for help on just about any question or issue you might have: site optimization, building an online community, blogging, hiring, finances, you name it. Old hands can get breaking economic news, stay on top of trends in their specific markets and read refreshers on closing sales and promotional strategies. The company also presents two sets of reader-nominated awards every year: the Small Business Book Awards and the Small Business Influencer Awards.
5: Your Bank
It's not the most exciting aspect of running a business, but the way in which you deal with your bank can have a big effect on your efficiency. A disorganized banking relationship can really ruin your productivity, but a good one can help things run so much more smoothly. You'll probably do a lot more banking for business purposes than you ever have for personal reasons, so it helps to know the ins and outs of your banking program.
4: Mastermind Groups
Starting a business — especially if you're launching an online company by yourself — can be a lonely endeavor. When you're working alone from your home office, it can be frighteningly easy to lose your sense of direction. Without a sounding board, you also might have a lot of unanswered questions about the state of your business. Sure, there are plenty of places you can go online for advice, but sometimes you need the reality check of an actual face-to-face conversation.
3: Entrepreneur Magazine
If you Google any keyword in the general environs of "small online company" or "business advice," you'll soon realize that Entrepreneur magazine has cornered the market — its articles consistently pop up at the top of the search results page. Expert SEO and a well-known brand is part of the reason for this, but the best keyword placement and site-tweaking in the world won't matter if the articles aren't good. Entrepreneur pieces usually aren't very long — in fact, they come with a handy read-time icon that rarely exceeds a few minutes. They're custom-made for the quick searcher with a short attention span. But they're informative and filled with buzzwords and exciting ideas, which is why people come back for more.
2: IRS.gov
Hanging out on the Internal Revenue Service's website probably isn't your idea of a good time. It would probably rank dead last on most people's list of things that are a good time, but sometimes we have to do things we don't like. And unless you're a tax accountant who happens to be running an online business, chances are you might need a little help come tax time. Yes, even if you hire an accountant (which we do recommend), you should still familiarize yourself with the myriad wonders of the business tax world. The IRS's Small Business and Self-Employed Tax Center is the place to do that.
1: National Federation of Independent Businesses
NFIB is an advocacy organization for small businesses that boasts 325,000 members in the United States [source: NFIB]. Its website is a treasure trove of information on how to run your business, with a specific focus on government. NFIB.com is your place for advice on how to navigate specific government programs (like the Affordable Care Act) and information on how new laws and policies could affect your business. Anyone can check out most of the info on the site, but NFIB members have more access to the site and can also get deals on insurance, credit-card processing systems, cell phone service and computer equipment, among other things.