Welcome Back!
Here’s what you need to know as a small business owner and a Connected Commerce Council (3C) member to help your business maintain access to the latest digital platforms, tools and marketplaces.
3C Member Fly-In
A special thanks to the 27 3C Congressional Small Business Champions that came to D.C. and participated in meetings with Members of Congress to urge them to keep in mind the importance of digital tools, platforms, and marketplaces to small business success. The 3C Congressional Small Business Champions met with 40 Members of Congress and staff during the fly-in. 3C members also participated in a lunch and learn panel discussion, Breaking Down Barriers for America’s Small Businesses: Why Congress Must Pass a National Privacy Bill, that we hosted with the Progressive Policy Institute and Small Business Roundtable.
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Here are 5 things you should know for this week:
1. Digital tools are helping American small businesses boom in rural areas
According to a recent study by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Mississippi, Nebraska and Maine are the three states that have seen the most small- and medium-sized business growth through Amazon stores over the last year. Increased adoption of online tools and digital services have played a key role in this small business growth and could help create 360,000 jobs in rural communities over the next three years. Click here to check out the full study and see how your state ranks.
2. Sen. John Thune talks data privacy legislation
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation wrote an opinion piece calling for a bipartisan solution to data privacy legislation. Speaking with regulators from around the world, the Senate is closer than ever to proposing a data privacy bill. Click here to read the Senator’s full piece.
3. Small businesses are increasing their use of digital tools
Small businesses are increasing their investment in digital marketing as traditional marketing efforts trend down. Almost three-quarters of small businesses use social media as part of their digital marketing strategies to spread brand awareness and generate sales leads.
4. Digital Marketing Tips for Small Business Owners
The digital marketing options available for traditional small businesses can be overwhelming.
The team at Arianna Huffington’s Thrive Global break down tips for small businesses for:
- Optimizing a responsive website
- Facebook and Twitter advertising
- Perfecting your LinkedIn profile
- Setting up auto-responses for subscribers
- Remarketing tactics
5. Facebook announced a series of new initiatives for small business owners
In honor of National Small Business Week, Facebook announced that they are launching a series of initiatives aimed at small businesses and designed to make it easier to use their platform to grow your business. Three of the big features announced include automated ads, the ability for customers to book appointments, and video creation tools. Read more about the new features here.
3C Member Spotlight:
Adis Vila, President & Founder of Vila & Associates
Miami, FL
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As a Cuban refugee, Adis Vila knows all about hard work and achieving the American Dream. Adis was selected as a White House Fellow and became the Assistant Secretary and COO of the US Department of Agriculture. She later held posts in the private sector, both in the agriculture and telecommunications industries. With vast experience in business and various leadership roles, Adis launched her own consulting firm to assist other companies in reaching their full potential. As a lecturer, she has covered subjects as wide-ranging as cross-cultural management, foreign direct investments, and diversity and inclusion.
Read more.
