Celebrate National Small Business Week

This week (May 16 – 21, 2011) is National Small Business Week and to celebrate, I am kicking off a weekly small business blog with St. Michael Patch.

Our community thrives on small business. In fact, there are more than two-dozen small businesses between my house and the corner grocery store alone (it’s true, I counted). Being a small business owner is rewarding and challenging. I get it. I’m a small business owner myself as well as a busy mother of four.

Whether your business is service-based, product-based, has an established storefront or is run from the comfort of your home, it can be a challenge to keep up with the daily tasks and commitments involved in small business ownership.

I’m here to help and to offer a few laughs and stress-relievers along the way.

Check back often for resources and articles about small business ownership, marketing, sales, social media and everything in between. Have a burning question or article idea? Leave a comment or email me.

In the meantime, be sure to visit the U.S. Small Business Administration to learn more about National Small Business Week and check out the list of resources to help you on your business journey.

And take time to celebrate this week! Whether you are an established small business owner, a newbie or thinking about launching your own business, you are making a difference in our community and we appreciate you!

Melissa is principal and creative director at Allée, a strategic communications consulting and design firm. She has been helping small businesses plan marketing, communication and new media strategies for nearly a decade. Melissa lives in Albertville with her husband and four children. Drop her a line on Facebook or Twitter.