A few weeks ago I stumbled across a site that I had not seen before. I was surprised that I had not seen it before… the content, the categories… all small business all the time; I spent a little time on the home page, the content… good. Fetched one or two and moved onto the ‘recently submitted’ page. Hello? I called again, HELLLLOOO Is anyone there? Oh, the disappointment! …not with the site or content but with the obvious lack of interest. A sea of articles, some very good… all with a single fetch. Where were the local searcherati?
A fetch is the social-media equivalent of the digg, thumbs up or sphinn. And the site to which I refer is Small Business Brief: a digg style style site focused on small business.
If you are reading this… you are probably interested in things that effect small business, local search and it is likely you run a small business. Let me give you a small sample of the type of content you’ll find there:
The Wall Street Journall asking, Should you sue for bad reviews?
Dazzlin’ Donna on Incredibly easy ways to use Flickr Photos legally along with a simple explanation of the creative commons license.
Non-Paying Customers: How Does a Small/Home Business Collect Overdue Payments
I found these articles within a single click of the home page in 2 minutes!
The only thing keeping this site from being awesome is your absence… please, stop by and check it out.
I plan on spending more time there… hope to see you.
Claimer: I have no affiliation with Small Business Brief. I don’t know, haven’t spoken with, haven’t leered at, glanced at, or in any way communicated with anyone associated with Small Business Brief. (this didn’t seem like a disclaimer, so I called it a claimer, is that ok? 
)
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Hi Tim,
I agree, Small Business Brief deserves more attention.
It’s an interesting situation.
You’ve got Sphinn, undoubtedly the most popular industry SM site, but the focus there has really veered towards news and Social Media. So many posts about Facebook, Twitter, etc. You do sometimes get super small business/local articles there, but they are more the exception than the rule, perhaps because the majority of sphinners are either working with medium/large firms and because there is major interest in Social Media.
But for small business owners and the people who work with them, Small Business Brief is a perfect, friendly resource.
Your post is making me feel badly for not having joined there yet. My work schedule is so nuts these days, I feel really happy when I get through all of my favorite blogs/forums/Sphinn, etc. by the end of the day. But, I believe SBB would be worth the time (if I could find the time!)
By the way, that article of Donna’s was just great, wasn’t it? I had no idea before reading it that it’s possible to use the photos that way. Really cool.
Nice post, Tim.
Miriam
Hey Tim,
I’ve always thought of Search Engine Guide and their associated forum as hidden gems.
http://www.smallbusinessbrief.com/forum/
I think what I love about them is they aren’t geared to search marketers. My sense, having lurked and contributed for a while, is they are more truly geared to small businesses trying to figure it out.
In other words (do keep this between us) the users there represent our perfect market
I believe in it so much that We’re actually sponsoring a dinner at their upcoming shindig in Houston http://unleashed.smallbusinessanswers.com/
So, in short (too late), I’m with ya. Search Engine Guide and the Small Business Brief, while successful enough, are definitely not getting their due.
Just goes to show, humbly plodding along doesn’t net you the attention of showboating.
Will
It’s true Miriam, I spend a lot more time on Sphinn too. There’s a lot of action there and one can learn a lot hanging around there… and time is a major factor.. I’m just trying to spend a little more time at Small Business Brief and it would be better with of the localers
Will, that’s interesting… I hadn’t thought about that. Please post about your time at the table; I would be most interested.
Another Digg-type site for small businesses is bizSugar (http://www.bizsugar.com). So far, it’s become my favorite. But like SBB, it needs a larger user base.
Thanks Susan, I hadn’t heard of them… I’ll definitely drop by there tonite and check it out.