Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter and Square, advised employers not to underestimate the need for clear communication with employees and disclose how the challenge of communication to get the best out of Twitter in the early days. If you own a small business, Communicate constantly with your employees, interacting with customers on social media, but not too heatedly responded to negative customer reviews, self motivated with a sense of despair, make sure you accept debit and credit cards and do not listen to parents you when they tell you to get a "real job."
They are some of the guidance offered by the business leaders of Twitter, Square, Angie's List, AOL and others at the National Small Business Week last week, which is very focused on how technology is affecting small business owners.
When Twitter is still growing rapidly, often fall for the technical staff and operations staff "do not talk enough," said Dorsey on June 20 in a panel discussion at a National Small Business Week event in Washington DC
Business owners need to simplify the communication as much as possible within their organization, says Dorsey. He estimates that he spends a lot of time designing the organization's Twitter as he was designing the product.
If Twitter revolutionized the way small businesses communicate with customers, the latest venture Dorsey, a credit and debit card reader called Square, has revolutionized the way they trade.
Small, white card reader plugs directly into smartphones and tablets and charge a flat rate of 2.75% for each transaction. Square is simple compared to the point-of-systems other payments, which can cost up to $ 10,000 and change their rates depending on what type of credit card used, Dorsey said, adding Square, which is easier to apply.
Simplicity Square has made it popular not only among the mobile business such as food trucks and taxi cabs, but also in the business of brick-and-mortar small like a coffee shop.
Doug Povich, owner of Hook Lobster Pound food truck Red in Washington DC, praised Square effect on small businesses, as well as that on Twitter.
The food truck in Washington DC requires highly effective advertising. Because the law was originally intended to be 35 years old ice cream truck, food trucks in the city can only ask customers who flag them down, and they had to leave after they have served customers. In other words, customers need to line up before the truck even parked. Povich rely on Twitter to let customers know where and when food trucks will be parked. Without it, Povich said he would not have a business.
National Small Business Week celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, and for the first time, the Small Business Administration event held in several cities across the country. Seattle, Dallas, St. Louis and Pittsburgh hosts for one day every June 17 to 21 and Washington DC event held June 20 to 21.
Steve Case, co-founder of America Online who also founded the investment firm Revolution and chairman of Startup America Partnership, said that the event is spread across the country is a good way to involve employers outside the typical areas like Silicon Valley startup.
At a ceremony on June 21, beginning as a businessman telling case for the audience. He experienced some initial failures and hear advice from his parents that he should get a "real job," he said. But with AOL, he assembled a great team that he is dedicated to spreading access to the Internet.
This interactivity also has a weakness for small business owners. Customers are not happy to have a louder voice than ever before, thanks to social media and customer review sites. And the proximity of the Web can backfire on business owners who responded criticism.
Amy's Baking Company in Scottsdale, Arizona, makes the business social media small train wreck known in May. Husband-and-wife owners of the restaurant, Amy and Salomon "Samy" Bouzaglo, which was condemned at Facebook, Reddit, Yelp and other sites after they kicked off the reality show "Kitchen Nightmares" by chef Gordon Ramsey. The pair fired back - and often disgusting in all caps - on Facebook, which just invite a lot of criticism. Owner finally stated that their Facebook page has been hacked, and BuzzFeed called it "the most epic crisis brand on Facebook ever."
That's why Angie Hicks, founder of Angie's List, advised employers to delay of response to bad customer reviews, at least for a while. Response could not do more harm than a negative review, he said.
Customers always talk about business, Hicks reminded the audience at the National Small Business Week. Now, sites like Angie's List allows companies to take advantage of that feedback, he said.
Former Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants quarterback Fran Tarkenton has started 20 businesses since retiring from the NFL, and he said that motivation as a football player and as a business owner comes from despair. That's what makes him a major breakthrough in football, the Hall-of-Fame to participants at the National Business Week Small on June 21.
During his sophomore season as a backup quarterback at the University of Georgia, Tarkenton - desperate for playing time - ran onto the pitch, replacing starter who has been sitting on the bench between possessions. Tarkenton led the team onto the field and threw a touchdown pass, took a one-point lead over the University of Texas. Team will eventually lose the game, but Tarkenton football career that has jumpstarted.
Tarkenton advice for athletes and entrepreneurs: "Do not ever sit on the bench."