Every business has an area of their business online they are trying to improve or expand.

My new company (http://www.theinternetconference.net) just launched in November 2011 and so our challenges are many as a startup. We are working on improving the site, adding more interactive options, marketing and building our web presence, etc.

What is your companies biggest online challenge in 2012 and how will you meet the challenge?

Defining THE biggest challenge is difficult, since there are so many challenges to running a small business. But, the one area I want to focus on is being more consistent with blogging and continually adding great, useful content to my website. I really fell that this is the best way that I can grow my business right now. From all the webinars I’ve watched and articles and books I’ve read I know what I need to do. The difficulty comes in setting priorities and buckling down and doing it.

I have to agree with  @michaelmurphy… my challenge is to blog on a consistent and more active schedule.  It seems with everything else I do in my business, all the blog articles in my head never quite make it to the keyboard.  

I think one of the biggest obstacles bloggers need to get over is self-doubt.  So many people I have spoken to ask why they should blog.  Then the next question is always “Who would want to hear what I have to say?”

If we can get over that obstacle, the rest is easier.

@valeriejoydeveza @lisaschulteis @valeriejoydeveza

Thanks for the great input!!! I agree that confidence is one of the biggest issues when it comes to blogging. One of the biggest obstacles that leads to a lack of confidence, I think, is the belief that they don’t know what to write.

The other day I wrote an article on how to get ideas and inspiration for blogging (http://www.theinternetconference.net/index.php/online-magazine/dont-know-what-to-write/). To be a good writer with good ideas means you also have to listen and read.

It also takes time. I have made it a habit over the last six months that the first thing I do in the morning from 6:30 – 8:00 am is do some reading, and add a blog entry.

Are there any other challenges that someone may have moving into 2012?

@donpurdum @swrightboucher @michaelmurphy @lisaschulteis @valeriejoydeveza @einsley:

I’m not a fan of the word challenges…I prefer opportunity.

The biggest opportunity for flyte this year is to grow our list. I believe the list is at the heart of most small businesses’ and non-profits’ success or failure.

I’m going to be working hard to create value for joining our list beyond just our “email bait” articles, including discounts to our educational programs, special opportunities for networking, and more.

Here’s to a profitable 2012 to all of you!

@rich-brooks I love that! 

@donpurdum @swrightboucher @michaelmurphy @lisaschulteis@einsley Have a profitable 2012 guyz!

@einsley to get “word of mouth” started. Focus on the clients that you already have. Give more VALue to them and they will start that “word of mouth”. 

You may also start with this things I’ve listed below:

1. Add call to actions to your website to ask your visitors to SHARE your content. 
2. Ask your current clients to give you a testimonial and recommendation online. You may give them some incentives if you like to encourage them.

@valeriejoydeveza – great post!

@Rich Great idea to shift our mental images to positive self-reinforcing ones.

I appreciated Valerie’s comment about increasing value and developing a viral strategy to get your content out there.

My biggest challenge is how to use FACEBOOK to sell my artwork on a regular basis.I am a graphite artist working on prints,original art,posters for Yankee Fans and need help and guidance in marketing and selling…I’m a newbie to all this and need all the help I can get and am looking forward to learning and networking and helping in whatever way possible for others.I’m really looking forward to this!

I may be confused but thought this was a small business forum and not just a blogging forum.  For a small but hopefully growing product based business, I see the major challenges to be growing more traffic, converting traffic to prospects and converting prospects to customers such that revenue and profits grow substantially.

This will be approached using multichannel marketing based on SEO and complemented with content marketing (blogging, article placement, and social content) and social media marketing (FB, Twitter, YouTube, and others) all with the intent of growing community around the products and related information.  Community will in turn develop relationships that can turn into a value add marketing opportunity. 

The view has to be from the outside – in so that community can be developed. Not the inside out of advertising (which does have its place) which does not always play nice in social networks.