People You Need to Meet: Anita Campbell

Anita is the author of a focused and informative blog called Small Business Trends.  Anita has an amazing background and her passion for what she does is contagious.

Her blog provides a great service and she is definitely someone you need to meet!

Business Thoughts:  As stated on your blog, your past life includes titles such as CEO, general council, corporate executive and more.  Tell us how your past experience led you to your blog! 

Anita Campbell:  After I left the corporate world, I started consulting with other entrepreneurs and small businesses.  Mainly it was for friends, former employees and business colleagues.  I know a lot of entrepreneurs and business owners and they kept me very busy.  They asked me to help them with business plans, strategic planning and marketing.  I decided to start a blog as a way to provide them with additional information and insights.  I simply started writing, and before long the blog had a following.  Readers felt I was providing something of value, and so I continued with it.  Gradually I expanded it.  

BT:  Ok, so what is your "day job" now?

AC:  The blog has evolved to the point where it now is the flagship for a suite of five Internet properties.  It also serves as the hub for my consulting, writing and speaking activities. The nature of my consulting has changed.  These days I don’t consult for small businesses much – mostly it’s limited to some existing clients.  Instead, I consult about the small business market, particularly trends and what the future holds.   I have packaged up my insights and knowledge into certain saleable information products, and I expect to create even more of these over time.

BT:  Your blog's focus in on small businesses; why did you choose that distinction?  What is your definition of "small business"?

AC:  I chose small business because it is an area I know.  And there is a need.   Right now I focus on small businesses of under 100 employees, although that could change.  I also tend to focus on segments that are not as well covered by other publications:  non-startups (i.e., mature small businesses); non-venture-capital-eligible businesses; solo entrepreneurs; work at home Moms; family businesses.

BT:  The approach is a from-the-trenches one into the small business market.

AC:  What I do is spot up-to-the minute attitudes and behaviors that are happening right now among small business.  Here is what I look at:  What are small business owners thinking?  What are their values?  What lifestyle factors impact how they behave and what they buy?  What technologies do they use and how do they use them?  What are their attitudes toward companies that try to sell to them?  What needs do their businesses have that are not being met? And so on. 

At Small Business Trends we try not to duplicate what others are doing.  Instead we always strive to provide fresh perspectives and cover issues that don’t get much coverage elsewhere.  As soon as others start beating subjects to death, I start looking for something new and different.

BT:  What are you most proud of?

AC:  Having created something that people thank me for.  It validates what I am doing.  It makes me feel that I am contributing something useful to people’s lives.

BT:  What benefits do you get out of blogging?

AC:  Blogs – done right -- are the best networking tool I know.  This past year I’ve met more people through blogging than I ever could have through in-person networking. About 20% of those people have been local (Cleveland ,Ohio) and the rest are from all over the English-speaking world.  Blogging truly has expanded my horizons.

BT:  What else would like the readers of Business Thoughts to know about your or your blog?

AC:  I welcome everyone’s insights, whether you agree with me or not.  Please come over to Small Business Trends and leave a comment or two.  Your input is crucial to understanding what entrepreneurs and small businesses are thinking.  And, besides, I look forward to networking with you through blogging.  If you drop by and say “hi” I will come and visit your blog, and we can start a conversation.

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tags: people you need to meet | small business

Comments

[Anita Campbell]

Todd, thank you for such a wonderful series! I love the idea of "people you need to meet." After all, networking is one of the best things about blogs. again, I invite everyone to come on over an say "hi".

Best,
Anita

[K. Todd Storch]

Thanks Anita!

I hope everyone will go see your blog and check it out. Thank you for all you do!

Todd