Tips from February 11, 2010 The Small Business tips today discuss how to find customers. Chamber of Commerce: Introducing your business at your Chamber of Commerce will give you a start in connecting with other small businesses in your area. Additionally, ask for a link on your Chamber's website to yours about your new business opening. Use the support and organization in your favor to find customers in your area who are passionate about the small business cause. Networking: Use your friends, family members, and business contacts to your advantage. Talk to them about your new business, and ask if there are any contacts they know that you can network with. Don't forget about social networking online as well! Competition: As silly as it sounds, some of the best places to find your customers is by researching your competition. Find out what they are doing wrong, and what their customers are dissatisfied with. Use that to your advantage when starting out on yo... [Read Full Article]

Management and OperationsIdentify New Consumer NormsThe recession has changed how customers shop, possibly forever. Entrepreneur.com Management and Operations Resolving Employee Complaints Before They Hit the Internet The question is what to do about employee complaints about the workplace. It's more than a matter of damage control. Trying to repair the harm to internal morale, recruitment efforts, and corporate reputations after the fact is not as effective as preventing the damage in the first place. ManageSmarter.com Management and Operations [Read Full Article]

Management and Operations“Enlightened” Profit. A Better Way To Build A Business.Values are the key to building value. More and more of today’s CEO’s now see a three tiered metric of profit as essential to building a strong and sustainable company. TheWisdomGuy.comManagement and OperationsWhen Bad Things Happen to Good Business Owners and EntrepreneursStuff happens. As a business owner and entrepreneur, the more successful you become, the more you open yourself up to criticism, negative feedback or just plain being attacked. BusinessKnowHow.com Management and Operations [Read Full Article]

We've all seen the holiday-themed TV shows and movies with large, elaborate Christmas parties for employees with dinners, complimentary gifts, and the ever-so dangerous open bar. As a result of the recent economic struggle, many holiday parties are being cancelled.   A few years ago, many businesses offered employees bonuses, gifts, and holiday themed parties, as well as some perks for clients. Instead, businesses are turning to different strategies when deciding ways to thank employees and customers. According to an American Express OPEN Small Business Holiday Monitor, a survey of about 500 business owners, only 31% of business owners plan to give year-end bonuses this year, which is down from 44% last year. Additionally, only 16% will give raises, down from 30% in 2008. Almost 25% of businesses have stopped all gifts, but 28% are coming up with creative gifts, bartering, or incentives to avoid spending money. If your small business usually throws an annual holiday party, thi... [Read Full Article]

Tips from November 11, 2009 The Small Business tips today discuss ideas and options for holiday marketing promotions. Offer discounts or special offers on certain days to drive in holiday business. It's a standard ploy, but consistently works. Give your customers a thoughtful gift. Set out homemade cookies, give one of your favorite holiday recipes; perhaps on a direct mailer or a pick-up in the store. Something special relating to your product or service would be the best idea. Free sells. Reward loyal customers with additional discounts to your standard holiday promotions. Maybe an extra 15% off for them during a specific weekend. Give your gift cards a holiday makeover and add a bit of holiday flair. You'll capture the eye of the holiday gift shopper more easily this way.  Daily Overview: What gets you through the door of a store around the holidays? Be inventive, creative, thoughtful an... [Read Full Article]

Tips from July 22, 2009 The Small Business tips today discuss how to write an e-newsletter. Put ad placements at the end of your newsletter. Putting it at the front turns off readers. Include discounts in your ads. Simple. Short. Consistency. Provide your content in a template that people will want to read & is easy to read. Put your customers first. Your e-newsletter must benefit your readers, even if they aren't, or never will be, your customers. Send your e-newsletter to current customers by asking for their email at checkout. NEVER send to people who don't want it! Daily Overview: Structuring your e-newsletter correctly is essential for consistent readership and improved business marketing. [Read Full Article]

Tips from Wednesday, March 4, 2009 The Small Business tips today will be about how to enhance your sales. Try educating your customers thoroughly on your product. Let them know you understand their needs. What are your customers' actual needs? Determine what sort of product or service would fill those needs. Prove that you or or service are an asset to your customer. That you will improve or enhance their lives. After doing a great job, follow-up. Stay in touch with the attitude of how to better serve. Daily Overview: The best ways to enhance your sales are through education, determining customer needs, being an asset & following up. [Read Full Article]

Tips from Tuesday, March 3, 2009 The Small Business tips today will be about building your business with referrals. The most overlooked method to finding new business is interacting with your current clients. If a customer compliments and is excited over your work, ask them to put it in writing to use in marketing materials. Try out a referral incentive program: gifts, discounts, etc. When ending a business transaction remind them that if they liked your work to tell a friend who would benefit from your services. Daily Overview: Keep your biggest asset in mind: your customer. Ask for referrals and send a formal thank you note to seal it. [Read Full Article]