I know. It’s been a while since I posted here. I’ve been busy. I have launch fever. In the last few weeks I’ve launched a new business, two websites and some new features on Publishing Talk (a bookstore and a jobs section). Now I’m relaunching this blog, with a new theme that aggregates more of my social media presence from across the interweb.

After what feels like the longest pre-launch period in history, Small Business Studio finally came into the world two weeks ago at the Business Startup show at Olympia. Although I’ve been doing client work for many months through this brand, we hadn’t officially launched, or even had our own website, until then.

We were rushed off our feet for two days, had lots of interest, and made loads of new contacts. I spend most of the Friday in the 1-2-1 advice sessions, offering advice to small business owners on ‘Smart Marketing‘. But we also managed to squeeze in fizzy wine and mince pies on the stand. There are some pictures in our Flickr group.

I also launched the new One World Trust website the same week. This is a Reed Media project, and the first of an increasing number of websites to be delivered through that brand. In fact, Reed Media work is increasing as fast as SBS at the moment, so I’m very pleased to have met potential freelancers as well as potential clients at Olympia.

Look out for more launches next year. Launches are good. Relaunches are also good. Relaunching, repositioning and  recalibrating to stay close to your market all help prepare for, survive and thrive in a recession. Small businesses are good at that. We have the flexibility to adapt and change.

For me this isn’t so much a change as an expansion. Social media for small businesses is such a growth area at the moment – and a sector that is typically buoyant in a recession. There seems no let up in startups during a downturn – and I’m hoping this one will be no exception.