Ideas for National Small Business Week, May 12-16

National Small Business Week is a recognition of the “critical contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners” by the President of the United States. Each year since 1963, the Prez has issued a proclamation acknowledging you for all your hard work. And you 100-percent deserve it!

DID YOU KNOW? America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners and their employees make up more than half of the American workforce. Also, small businesses create about two out of every three new jobs in the U.S. each year.

As part of National Small Business Week, the U.S. Small Business Administration takes the opportunity to highlight the impact of outstanding entrepreneurs, small business owners and others from all 50 states and U.S. territories. “Every day, they’re working to grow small businesses, create 21st century jobs, drive innovation, and increase America’s global competitiveness,” says the U.S. Small Business Administration.

This year, National Small Business Week is May 12-16, and the U.S. Small Business Administration plans to hold events in San Francisco, Washington D.C., Boston and Kansas City. You can sign up for updates here.

With this in mind, it’s a good time to be motivated to make some small business improvements! Do your business some good by considering the following tips and information from the U.S. Small Business Administration:

1. Hire an employee. So often small businesses start up with just you, the small business owner, handling everything from finances to operations to marketing, you name it. Are you in a place where you can hire an employee now? It’s a big investment, but also an investment in the future of your business. Hiring an employee will take some of the weight off of your shoulders so that you can concentrate on the business side of things. Find out about employment and labor laws, including required employee benefits, as well as writing effective job descriptions right here.

2. Learn the law of the land. You might have jumped in to market and advertise your business — kudos to you for being on the ball! — without reading up on the basic rules that come with labeling, advertising and marketing your services. Brush up on those things now, with these tips on how to ensure your claims are truthful, not deceptive (even unintentionally so!) and that your marketing tactics don’t break any laws. This includes email, telemarketing and more.

3. Find out how you stack up. In order to succeed, it’s always good to know who your competitors are and how your small business stacks up, right?! Try this helpful SizeUp tool, which will “help you manage and grow your business by benchmarking it against competitors, mapping your customers, competitors and suppliers, and locating the best places to advertise.”

“America’s small businesses reflect the best of who we are as a Nation — daring and innovative, courageous and hopeful, always working hard and looking ahead for that next great idea. They are our economy’s engine and our biggest source of new jobs.  So this week, as entrepreneurs across our country keep striving to turn their dreams into reality, let us keep investing in them and doing everything we can to help our small businesses succeed.” —Barack Obama, President of the United States, 2013 National Small Business Week Proclamation

What are you doing in anticipation of National Small Business Week? Leave us a comment on our 123Print Facebook page, tweet us @123Print or write a note below. Good luck with your business this year!