Women band together in small business

Small business marketing is hard enough as it is with so many different outlets being forced on business owners. With the emergence of social media networks, companies are often overwhelmed with having to be a part of every single website in order to increase their brand. Considering it's already difficult for small business owners to be successful in an unfavorable market, a group of women have teamed up to make sure they aren't at a disadvantage with their businesses.

In 2007, Kathy Minchew started the Purse Strings Network, which is a group of women who own small businesses and get together for monthly chapter meetings to share business challenges with each other, the Washington Post reported.

According the the source, the women work in a variety of industries that range from information technology to marketing, with at least two bonds in common - their involvement in business and being women.

“The people in this are from all different walks,” Minchew said to the Washington Post, but “the meetings are all about generic business” issues.

The organization has established three chapters as of now in the Washington, D.C. area. Membership has grown to more than 40 active members, the source reported. The benefits can be very helpful for small business owners looking to get their feet wet in the industry and expand their reach to a larger audience.

The organization is modeled after the Bootstrap Network, which is thought to be the male version of the Purse Strings Network.

Business 2 Community recently suggested that the future of marketing is about more than social media. The source said social media marketing is only a small aspect of making a business successful, which could be a great tip for business owners who feel like social media engagement is a requirement.

Business owners are often fed tons of information and statistics about the success of business after they sign up for a social media page, but establishing the company with a small consumer base before expanding can prevent many unsuccessful risks from being taken. Entrepreneurs must take one step at a time and develop a marketing plan before diving in.