What small business owners can expect from 2012

By mid-January, resolutions have been broken, the sheen of the new year has worn off and the holiday season becomes a distant memory once the all-too-familiar daily grind sets in. It's easy to forget that 2012 has barely begun, but the fact is, there are still more than 11 months left of the year that are ripe with possibilities.

In a recent article for MSN's Business on Main, small business and entrepreneurship specialist Steve Strauss examined what 2012 likely has in store for small enterprises.

First, the economy may be looking up for the first time in a while, with 2011 ending on a positive note. Thanks in part to the demand for seasonal workers, unemployment fell below 9 percent, and consumers opened their wallets to buy holiday gifts after a long period of general austerity.

Small business owners were feeling optimistic too, according to the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB). In December, NFIB observed a 1.8 point rise in optimism in the sector for the second consecutive month, while reports of positive earnings trends were 6 points better.

Additionally, 2012 is set to be a banner year for mobile, as the percentage of online searches conducted from smartphones continues to rise. Given the increasing popularity of the channel, it's important for small business owners to ensure their company's website is compatible with mobile, and perhaps even consider mobile business marketing campaigns.

Election coverage has been almost impossible to ignore in recent weeks, with the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary both occurring earlier this month. There's likely to be continued debate about how to cultivate small business growth in the country ahead of the general election in November.