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A few weeks ago, four top fashion designers announced that they had agreed to host live shoppable video hangouts using Google+ Hangouts on Air. As those who attended the events relate their experiences, it’s very clear that ecommerce will look very different a few years down the road then what it does today.

During each event, hangout participants from around the world were able watch their favorite designers talk about their products and hear about upcoming fashion trends. As the designers spoke, the featured items were available for shoppers to browse and purchase along the right side of the screen. There was even the option to add items to the Google Shopping Shortlist for those who weren’t yet ready to buy. The hangout also featured a Q&A session with the designers at the end.

Putting aside my personal opinions about what this is going to do to our off-line existence (why go to the store when you can have such a personalized experience from the comfort of your own home?) it’s very easy to see why consumers will be so attracted to this form of online shopping.

This goes way beyond the online shopping experience to be had on, say, Amazon.com where customers receive personalized product recommendations. As Belle Letz of IPG Mediabrands put it on Twitter, it’s the “Home Shopping Network for the digital age.”

I certainly won’t argue on that one.

The announcement of shoppable Hangouts instantly reminded me of another Google initiative that’s not officially open for business just yet: Google Helpouts. With Helpouts Google wants to connect experts via live video to those who are willing to pay for their advice or assistance. It’s a different service, but the idea behind it is the same: instant, personalized, “face-to-face” online commerce, and it promises to bring a “small business feel” to even the biggest of online retailers.

In short, Google’s Shoppable Hangouts will allow retailers, experts, and other influencers to communicate directly with customers and help to increase brand loyalty as a result. Whatever your personal feelings are about this new trend, if you are running a small business, it’s something definitely worth paying attention to.

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If you are running your own small business, it can frequently feel like there are just not enough hours in the week. After all, we’ve got many hats to wear, many tasks to accomplish, and limited resources to do it all. Thus, it’s little surprise that the title “small business owner” so often finds itself in the same sentence as “chronically over-worked.”

But, if you are constantly clocking in over 40 hours a week, then you may want to rethink your workload. Several studies point to the fact that consistently working more than 40 hours a week is just unproductive.

I recently stumbled upon an interesting post over at Salon.com that does a beautiful job of explaining the background behind the tried and true 40 hour work week as well as what has happened in recent years to glorify over-working and ultimately create the perception that more hours equal more productivity. There are a lot of good points in this post, and it’s definitely worth a read.

But, it still leaves small business owners and entrepreneurs with the problem of trying to get everything done in a limited amount of time. Because, let’s be honest here, even with all the nifty technology and tools that are supposed to make our work lives easier, our to-do lists just keep getting bigger and bigger.

Is there any hope?

I think there is. But, there are some tweaks to be made to your work schedule, and though they may seem small, they can really make all the difference.

Get the mindset right. First things first. If you really want to put some real balance back into your life, then you have to recognize the true value of having it- not only in terms of your personal life, but also in terms of your productivity within your business. If you want to accomplish more and do it better, then you have to be running on a full tank of gas, otherwise you’ll just stall out. Once you’ve accepted balance as a priority, you can move forward.

Only go over 40 hours a week in short bursts. One of the findings pointed out in the article mentioned above, is that working over-time for short periods, such as two or three weeks, can and does help to boost productivity. Work levels start to fall in incremental levels, however, as this OT becomes chronic. The take away here is that when you are working on your business, you should try to organize the work or project load in such a way that you are not steaming ahead the whole time. There should be deliberate peaks and valleys in your work cycle.

Take on temporary help. In order to smooth out your productivity without having to strain your personal schedule, one strategy is to bring in temporary help for very defined tasks. You can do this by creating micro-jobs within your business or by temporary hiring a freelance worker.

Bribe yourself. If you happen to be a workaholic, then you need to create situations that will practically force you to take a break from your hectic schedule. If you allow yourself to put in a ton of hours one week, for example, then do it on the condition that the following week you’re going to take off time to spend with family and friends. And, don’t trust yourself to keep to your promises, either. Get others involved to help you stay true to your personal commitments. You’ll be happier… and so will they.

In short, though today there’s a kind of glorification on over-working, it’s an extremely unhealthy way to work or live. By making a few, simple changes to the way you organize your time and to what you make a priority, you can bring back some much needed balance.

Ever since the passing of Steve Jobs, two years ago, all eyes have been on Apple waiting to see how the tech company will do without it’s iconic leader. If Apple’s latest product release is any indication, then things don’t bode so well, and it may stand as a shining example of why it is so important to stick consistently to your brand.

First there is the release of the iPhone 5C, or the “cheap” iPhone as some are calling it. (Though, even at $100, it’s still pretty expensive.) The new plasticy-covered phones come in a range of bright (borderline-tacky) colors- which by itself is already a departure from the norm. Apple products are known for their sleek colors and look. It adds to the “cool factor” that have made their products so popular in the first place.

But there’s more… the very idea of a cheap iPhone just sounds off, as much as a cheap Armani watch. The problem is that by offering such a product in the first place, by even allowing the word iPhone to be in the same sentence as Walmart, Radio Shack and just $45, it shows that Apple leadership is willing to move far from their brand in order to satisfy the whims of key analysts and investors.

I don’t know if Apple has been able to achieve its goals of penetrating the lower end of the mobile market. But, according to some recent reports, there’s pretty good indication that demand for the devices may be weaker than expected. Not a good sign.

Then there’s the gold iPhone and iPad. While I can at least hear the argument that this product may uphold the theme of exclusivity and trend-setting that fans of Apple have grown accustomed to, by choosing to deck out their device in gold, they’ve left the realm of hip and are walking dangerously close to flashy and cheesy. That’s my opinion, anyway.

At any rate, this recent product release just doesn’t look like Apple, and that’s a problem. It seems as though Apple’s lost it’s mojo. If the company continues to step away from the carefully crafted identity that has been built over the past decade, if it divests itself of its brand, then it won’t be long before it will start to fade away into tech oblivion.

As a small business owner, don’t ever forget that your brand has a very real value. It’s an asset, even if it may be hard to put a number on it. When you work long and hard to build a certain image, don’t just go and change it, unless you’ve got some really compelling reasons for doing so. The more you stay true to your key competencies instead of trying to be something you’re not, the more you will invest in your business some real staying power, and that’s no tall tale.

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Among corporate circles, Zoho is practically a household name as a robust customer relationship management (CRM) solution. But, for smaller companies, the range of products and services are often too much and too complicated.

That’s about to change, though. Several weeks ago, Zoho introduced a new CRM product specifically for small businesses called Zoho ContactManager. What’s interesting is not so much the effort to target smaller companies, but more it’s unique pricing strategy. After a 30-day trial (no credit card required), you can pay whatever you feel like paying, from as little as $1 a month.

The new ContactManager is an entry-level, cloud-based contact manager intended for small businesses that need to organize, share, and manage a broad range of business contacts. It gives users a unified view of activity related to a given contact, including email and social media activity, all in one place. The platform is also supported on a wide range of mobile devices.

Though there are other platforms out there already doing this for small businesses, Zoho brings with it, its vast experience and knowledgeable of the CRM and data management industry. This new product is particularly suitable for those who have yet to make the jump to any CRM solution, and instead are relying on “old fashioned” methods like an Excel spreadsheet.

Why would Zoho offer such a valuable service with such a “crazy” pricing model? Well, for one, it removes a lot of barriers, making it extremely cost-effective to at least give the platform a test drive. Plus, many small businesses may jump on board out of shear curiosity. Those who stick it out with the service may then pay more for add-ons and other product extras later on. Plus, if any of these small companies experience a major growth spurt down the road, they can then become customers of the full-featured CRM solution.

It definitely looks like a win-win for both small companies and Zoho in the CRM space.

Well, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has definitely gotten off to a rocky start. After its website, Healthcare.gov, officially opened for business, allowing uninsured Americans from 36 states to purchase health insurance online, it was quickly plagued by glitches that prevented many users from successfully signing up for an insurance plan. These hiccups have persisted, prompting critics of the ACA to call it a failure.

While it’s too soon to tell if Obama’s signature legislation will go the way of the dodo bird, the whole episode is just one more point in an already confusing health care landscape for small business owners.

One of the corner stones of the new plan is the SHOP Marketplace, scheduled to fully open in 2014. The SHOP health exchange market place is a Web portal where eligible small businesses with up to 50 employees can shop for and buy private health insurance for their full-time employees.

The goal with this online marketplace is to supposedly give smaller businesses the advantage of group purchasing power and just make the whole system more affordable. In some cases, small businesses may be eligible for a tax credit on employee premium payments.

The problem is that there are still many unknowns, like how much smaller businesses will really end up saving. All the delays on top of the on-going government shut down brings up the question of when the system will actually be up and running as planned, or if it ever will. This is particularly agonizing for those small businesses that are required by the new law to provide an employer-based healthcare plan in 2014.

All of this brings up many questions- especially for those running a small business hovering around the 50 employee mark:

Should you offer employer provided coverage or not? If you are employing fewer than 50 people, then you won’t be required to provide coverage. But, health benefits play a significant role in employee satisfaction. Deciding whether or not you are going to offer a health plan to your employees is a choice that affects more than just your bottom line; it also affects employee morale and retention.

Should you risk hiring more than 50 employees? If your business is going through a growth spurt and you need additional workers that will put you past the 50 employee mark, should you hire now or hold off till things settle a bit? The government has delayed the implementation of the employer mandate until January 1, 2015. After this grace period, small businesses face steep fines for each employee not covered by a plan. It may be worth the “risk” to hire now and see how much revenue those extra hands bring in.

What kind of health coverage should you offer? If you would like to provide some kind of coverage for your workers, but money is a concern. What are your options, especially given that healthcare costs are still very much on the rise?

According to the new legislation, the health care insurance provided by the business must pay for at least 60 percent of health care expenses, and employees may not be forced to pay more than 9.5 percent of their family income (before deductions and adjustments) for their employer-sponsored coverage. However, how you as a business owner are supposed to know the amount of “family income” of your employees is not yet addressed. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), on their healthcare.gov site, also defines a “comprehensive package of items and services, known as “essential health benefits.”

That’s a pretty hefty list of requirements that can feel like even more of a burden if you are struggling with lackluster sales.

The bottom line: as Obamacare starts kicking in, it seems that it’s generating more questions than answers for small employers. For now, the safest thing may be to wait it out a bit- at least until some of the most prominent kinks get ironed out.

As electronic payments become more common and the number of Americans without bank accounts rises, payroll cards have increased in popularity- especially among companies seeking to reduce payroll costs. But, if you are thinking of bringing payroll cards into your small business, make sure you choose your payroll card program wisely and that you are aware of the current legislation in your area.

With a payroll debit card, the value of an employee’s wages is automatically loaded on to the card for each work period. The employee can then use the card to get cash at the bank, withdraw funds from an ATM, or make purchases. In other words, it works much the same way as any other debit card connected to a bank account. The difference is that no bank account is needed.

According to the research firm Aite Group, nearly $43 billion will be loaded onto these cards this year. That is double the amount reported in 2010. By 2017, Aite predicts that the total will reach $68.9 billion.

For the businesses that use them, payroll cards offer an easy way to reduce the cost of processing payroll and distributing paper checks. It also gives those workers who do not have a bank account a simple way to access their money.

There are drawbacks, however, especially for workers. Many payroll card programs come with exorbitant fees that can significantly cut into workers’ wages. This can have obvious, negative affects on employee moral. Some upset workers have even gone so far as to take the issue to court.

That said, if you are considering using a payroll debit card program in your small business, you should shop around for a program that doesn’t support an excessive fee structure, and you also need to be aware of both state and federal wage rules. The American Payroll Association and the National Consumer Law Center offer some helpful guidelines for employers. Here are a few important ones to pay attention to:

• Employees must be able to access their full wages in cash at least once each pay period without fees. Free and clear access is required by the state wage and hour laws and is critical to the success of any payroll card program.

• Employees must have a choice of wage payment method and be able to change it. Under federal law, employees may not be required to receive their wages on a payroll card and must have the choice of another payment method.

• Employers should offer a payroll card that is widely accepted. The logo of a widely accepted payment brand (i.e., Visa, MasterCard or Discover) signals to employees that they can take their card to any bank that is a member of the payment brand and receive their full wages from the teller each pay period without fees.

• Employees must be provided free and convenient access to account information. Employees need free access to account information to check their balance, spot unauthorized charges, monitor fees and manage their finances. They should not be charged a fee for responsible behavior, such as checking their balance using an automated telephone system.

While so many Americans are still struggling to find sufficient employment, it seems small businesses are having a particularly hard time filling their available positions.

In a recent survey conducted by Robert Half, 60 percent of small business owners responded that their biggest challenge in hiring or managing staff is finding qualified workers to do the job. This response came out way ahead of the next biggest concern, maintaining employee morale and productivity, which received only 19 percent of the responses.

These findings mirror the results of a Wells Fargo Gallup Poll conducted earlier this year. The poll indicated that 53 percent of small business owners were finding it very (23 percent) or somewhat difficult (30 percent) to get the qualified employees they need, and 27 percent responded that the difficulty in hiring qualified employees has hurt their business over the past 12 months.

On the surface, this all seems counter-intuitive. But this trend is likely due to two reasons:

1. The majority of small businesses are relying on out-of-date recruiting and hiring processes. According to the Gallup poll, a mere 15% of small businesses are using the Internet to recruit new hires. The two biggest ways smaller companies are finding talent are via word of mouth (63%) and employee referrals (47%). Depending on the nature of the business, this can seriously limit the pool of potential hires.

Why are small businesses reluctant to use popular online recruiting platforms such as LinkedIn? It could be many have tried it, but were unsuccessful, and those yet to stick their toes in the water are probably overwhelmed by it all. This is a problem because today’s workforce relies on the Internet heavily for many things, including finding a job.

2. There has been a shift in workforce attitude. The fallout from our chronically under-performing economy is that people’s priorities have changed when it comes to what they are looking for in an employment situation. Numerous surveys point to the fact that today’s workforce is primarily concerned with their career advancement. It’s a trend that many small businesses may not have caught on to. Small businesses also have fewer resources than their bigger competitors to offer a desirable benefits package, such as health care benefits and retirement plans.

The bottom line here is that small businesses need to be aware of the changes that are happening among today’s workers if they really want to put all their struggle in hiring behind them.

If you are new to running a business, just the thought of creating a working business plan can be overwhelming- and this is on top of all the other things you need to master to get your business from ideation to operation. You don’t want to add to the mountain by consulting a ton of different resources.

Yet, this is precisely the mistake that many aspiring entrepreneurs make. Little do they know that all that information can actually be working against them, creating confusion, lack of direction, and inhibiting real action.

For this reason, I’ve compiled a short list of what I feel are essential resources that will give any new business owners the tools and knowledge they need to get the process of building their business going without being paralyzed by all the data, opinions, and options.

The Small Business Association (SBA)– The SBA has a ton of great resources that can help you start and build your business from scratch- including an assortment of tutorials, such as this one on creating business plan. You should also consult the directory of Small Business Development Centers to see if there is one in your area. These centers work in conjunction with the SBA to offer a variety of consulting and training services and other support.

SCORE– SCORE is another great resource to check out. They provide free mentoring to aspiring small business owners. You can also take a look at their free business plan template. It is very easy to follow and it comes with helpful explanations.

Getting to Plan B: Breaking Through to a Better Business Model– When it comes to business books, just the shear number of popular options could make you dizzy. Don’t worry about all the “must reads” out there. At most, don’t spring for more than two or three (though you’re pushing it) titles. If you are just starting out, then Getting to Plan B, by John Mullins and Randy Kamisar, one of the only books you need. It goes through the process of developing a successful business model, one that is bound to change along the way (sometimes many times over). It’s about $23 for a hardcover copy and $18 for the kindle version on Amazon. It’s well worth the investment. If you want to know more about the book, here is a thorough summary of the main concepts it covers.

If you take the time and effort to use these three resources to the fullest, you’ll have the basics in place to pursue your business idea and turn it into a successful, sustainable business.

Knowing where to turn to for advice and support in your business, can really make all the difference between success and failure. I know that may sound a bit strong if you are looking at this statement from the outside. But as small business owners, we see our fair share of ups and downs, questions, set-backs, and high learning curves. It’s the stuff that scares many aspiring entrepreneurs away. The minute they stick their toes in the water and it feels a bit chilly, they’re out in a flash.

In order to maintain some sense of balance, as small business owners, we need a place to ask questions, receive support, and get some much-needed feedback.

Ironically, though the Internet is seen as a super connector, bringing individuals together across tremendous physical and cultural divides, it can sure feel lonely if you don’t know where to put yourself. There are all these conversations going on, yet it may be hard to find them or even know where to jump in once you do.

That said, the following are some great online groups and communities for small business owners to check out:

LinkedIn Groups

Many business owners may have some vague idea that Linkedin is a place where business connections happen, but they may not realize the full potential of LinkedIn for business knowledge, support, and advice. This is where LinkedIn Groups comes in. While there are many great groups to choose from, the following three provide a consistent flow of quality posts and discussion:

Small Business Accelerator– This is a great networking and information sharing group for entrepreneurs. You have to apply to join.

Small Business Online Community– An engaged online group for small business owners. Like the group above, you have to apply to join this group.

Social Media Marketing Networking Club– This group originally got it’s start on Social Media Examiner and has since moved over to LinkedIn. It’s one of the best LinkedIn groups there is for small business owners and has a very helpful, supportive community.

Google+ Groups

Google groups are a relatively recent addition to Google’s G+ social network. But, they are all abuzz if you know where to look. Here are my top three picks for small business owners:

Building a Company– Content and discussions around the nitty-gritty of building a business.

Entrepreneurs, Self-Employed, and Small Business– An active community for new and upcoming small business owners

Social Media Strategy– Active discussion on social media for small businesses and non-profits

Notable Forums

Compared to the fast-paced flow of information and constant changes that have come to characterize social media, forums may seem like an old school tactic that has past its time. Not so! There are plenty of vibrant forums to turn to for advice and support. Here are my two top picks:

Open Forum– This well-known online community and forum is hosted by American Express. Ask and receive advice and keep up to date on the latest in small business news.

Small Business Brief– This forum has been around for a few years, and it still supports an active community

Business Blogs and Social Bookmarking

We can’t leave out business blogging communities and social bookmarking sites from this list. Many niche sites have an active and helpful following. The two best in my opinion are:

Firepole Marketing– “Marketing that works!” This blog has a very active, loyal, and cohesive following. It definitely pays to spend some time there not only to absorb the insights, but to learn from and connect with the other readers.

BizSugar– This is a social bookmarking site for small business news run by the same people behind Smallbiztrends.com, and it supports a pretty active community.

Last, but not least, one other option that I didn’t mention above is Facebook groups. The reason I’m not including examples here is due to the fact that you’ll be better off finding a smallish group on Facebook that is specifically targeted to your niche or interest. There offer a lot of potential engagement, though, so it pays to search around for something relevant and not spammy.

Now it’s your turn. Where do you hang out online for inspiration, support, and advice?

According to some recent studies, it appears U.S. small businesses are still struggling where it counts years after the Great Recession officially came to an end.

Sales generation continues to be a challenge. According to the Wells Fargo Business Insights Survey, almost half of all small businesses claim that in the past 12 months their company revenues either remained unchanged (27%) or have gotten worse (39%). Not surprisingly, a full 32% of the companies surveyed indicated that maintaining a good cash flow position continues to be a struggle.

The latest National Federation of Small Business (NFIB) Small Business Optimism survey seems to corroborate these results. The net percent of all small businesses reporting higher sales in the past three months compared to the prior three months plunged 17 points to a negative 24%. Earnings fell 13 points to negative 35%.

Capital spending among small businesses remains equally weak. According to the Wells Fargo study, more small business owners reported decreasing capital spending over the previous 12 months than those who reported an increase. This trend has persisted a since the middle of 2008. While the NFIB study, reported a 3 point increase in capital outlays over the past six months to 57%, it is still about 10% down from pre-recession levels.

Why are small businesses still struggling? Many point to several possible causes including: lack of real tax reform, the looming health care reform legislation, an over all slow down in the global economy, a fickle consumer confidence, and increased competition from big businesses.

All of these things coupled with the need to keep with the ever-changing trends in Internet-based marketing, are making running a successful business seem much harder now then it was a few years ago.

Whatever the case, it’s clear that small business owners still have their work cut out for them if they want to be successful, let alone operational, heading into the new year.