If you've got a great idea for a business that has the potential to drive profits and generate a customer following, there is still the matter of transforming your idea into reality. There is more to creating a small business than simply opening up shop.

Your potential employees are becoming more demanding in what they look for in a job, and are happy to go elsewhere if they feel the company doesn’t offer them the benefits that they’re looking for. It’s therefore important to think about what your business could offer in order to make sure that you appeal to those top candidates.

Following on from my second post on marketing your business on Twitter, here’s part 3 of the series on social media with some tips for using LinkedIn.

Following on from my original post on marketing your business on Facebook, here’s part 2 of the series on social media with some tips for using Twitter. According to 2015 Social Media Marketing Industry Report by Social Media Examiner, Twitter is second only to Facebook when it comes to social media popularity. The goal of marketing your small business on both platforms is the same: to actively engage current and potential customers. But Twitter requires different strategies.

Every day, billions of people use social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, making them essential for reaching existing customers and reeling in new ones. Do it right, and you’ve got an effective tool for engaging customers with your company. Do it wrong, and you lose the chance to connect.

The job interview. I’ve been on both sides of the interview desk a number of times in my business career. But I’m sure we all remember that very first job interview, fresh out of college or school, feeling a little green, nervous and picking at our unusually smart clothes.

Just like most other small business owners I know, I’m a fan of anything that can save me time or money – or even better, a bit of both. In my quest to cut down on hours and dollars I must have downloaded hundreds of apps which promised to revolutionize the way I run my company. And while some were swiftly deleted, others have proved invaluable.

Customer loyalty is something that’s always really interested me – as both a business owner and a consumer myself. We have so much choice now, where’s the incentive to stick with one brand or product?

Every year we see the publication of the Forbes list, ranking the wealthiest people in the world. I don’t know about you but I can’t resist indulging my curiosity by perusing the list to see who has made it.

Fiction loves a good business. Whether it’s in books, TV or movies, companies of every size frequently form the backdrop of compelling and captivating storylines. Sometimes, we wistfully long to be in the same fun place as the characters. Other times, we’re rooting for the evil, corporate demon to fail and fall.