Hey, we are all trying to make a buck. So now, you can offer your products and services on the QuickBooks Online Community site. Or, if you need help with a QuickBooks related problem or looking for accountant or .. just want help with your small business, you can also send out an SOS.
Since we will continue to enhance this area of the site, let us know if you have any suggestions on how to improve it. Remember, it’s all in the way you use it – this part of the site.
When it comes to the internet these days, everyone is talking about the Long Tail. This term was originally developed by Chris Anderson,
who believed that products that are low in demand (or have minimal
sales) can make up a signficant market share. Or a signficant amount of
a companies revenue. And eventually, those customers that are buying
best sellers will want to try something different and invest in
products on the fringes — that are a bit more unique.. that are on the
fringes ….. (that are low in demand). So companies (big and small)
(ecommerce based and on the street corner) need to adjust and accept
that there will be multiple smaller communities forming around their
different product types. That customers are building relationships
around the products that interest them…………….So imagine if
your business could help faciliate this and help bring your different
groups of customers together. So the question becomes — what can
Intuit do to faciliate this. On the community site, we have groups of
users forming around product types (payroll, POS, etc.) or around
industries (non-profit or retail).. or maybe around some other concept.
So for all of us — small and large businesses — there is a long and winding road that leads to your front door. And over time, it will never disappear… because we have seen "the road before"…
It always leads me here…Leads me to your door…
Over time we will see the development of greater micro-segments —
small segments of customers that will form their own group voice… ..
And all of these small groups will make up a large percentage of
customers.
."
Yes,
shoe boxes are still in fashion. Recently, Access Markets International
(AMI) Partners, Inc., did a
survey of Small Businesses, which showed that more than half of SOHO
and Small Businesses do not use accounting software. They tend to use
shoe boxes (to store their receipts) or spreadsheets instead. Can’t
imagine what they give to their accountant at the end of the year.
Well, actually I can….When we talk to Small Businesses many of them
tell us that they do depend on the ‘boxes.’ The AMI recommends
that these companies think out of the box — and start using some sort
of accounting
software — especially to improve compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley and
other regulatory requirements, and the need to electronically exchange
information with larger customers and suppliers. Any suggestions on how
to communicate this to small businesses. We work closely with Small
Business Development Centers, who are a resource for entrepreneurs? I
am thinking about starting a forum/message board on the community site
called ‘thinking out of the box.’ Silly? Maybe. But it should get some
folks to start thinking about their finances.
Last week Intuit announced QuickBooks
2006 products —
PC Magazine, Accounting Software, SoftPedia, TechWeb and Beta News
As a small business owner and someone who is biased, I am looking forward to this new product.
Online Communities, Leadership, Teamwork, etc. 