About Susan Payton
Authored 14 articles.
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10 Ways to Avoid Becoming a Sales Robot
Features, March 11, 2014
“Hi, this is Ted and I’m from X Corporation. Do you have a few minutes?” I’m immediately up in arms. I know he wants to sell me something that I am 99% sure I do not want to buy (for the record, I’ve never made a purchase from someone cold calling me). Can you relate?
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Don’t Let That Business Plan Collect Dust on a Shelf
Features, December 10, 2013
Small business owners rank creating a business plan right up there with writing the dreaded high school term paper, college thesis, and bar exam rolled into one, says Tim Berry.
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Big Business Tactics Your Businesses Can Use
Features, August 30, 2013
Don’t buy into the idea that as a small business, you’re limited to your personal capabilities. Software is getting more affordable. And DIY is “in” right now in a major way. The lines blur between “big” and “small” business when it comes to tools and techniques like these.
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Ways to Hire Smarter in 2013
Features, January 23, 2013
Is hiring more employees one of your New Year’s resolutions? While hiring ultimately relieves your headaches in the long run by helping you and your team with workload, in the short run most entrepreneurs dread hiring because of the time and effort involved. Fortunately, there are ways to ensure you recruit more of the right candidates and waste less time with people who don’t suit your needs.
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How to Become a Masterful Company
Features, January 17, 2013
In his book, High Tech, High Touch Customer Service, Micah Solomon talks about using social media to provide stellar customer experience. He also outlines the profile of a “masterful company,” those that go above and beyond in the area of customer service. Using a few of his 12 characteristics of a masterful company, we show you how you can become one.
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Measuring Your Company Goals
Features, October 22, 2012
I’ve been making New Year’s Resolutions for my business for years. You could also call what I compile at the start of the year goals for my company. Rather than creating a stagnant business plan that I forget to update, I simply revisit what I want for my company at the fresh start of the year.
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10 Things Yoga Teaches Us About Running a Business
Features, August 03, 2012
It’s funny where you pull life lessons from, isn’t it? One never would think lessons on running a business will come from a yoga mat. You’d be surprised at the connections.
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Will Your Child Follow in Your Footsteps as an Entrepreneur?
Features, July 30, 2012
Looking back in the last twenty to thirty years, most kids had no idea what an entrepreneur was. Fast forward to today - a recent study now shows a whopping 46% of kids who know an entrepreneur are more interested in becoming one themselves. We look at some ways to teach and encourage kids the entrepreneurial spirit.
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Identifying Your Ideal Customer
Features, May 06, 2012
Who do you think your products or services appeal to? If your answer is “everyone” keep reading. Businesses with too large a target market (i.e. every household in America) struggle to get any customers at all, and here’s why: not understanding who your customer really is keeps you from being able to better serve that customer.
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5 Things Business Owners Shouldn’t Skimp On
Features, May 03, 2012
As small business owners, we’re all strapped for cash and we hate spending unnecessarily. That being said, not everything should be DIY. Sometimes trying to save money and do things yourself costs you more in lost time and lost business than you saved in cash.
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Are You Ready to Make the Jump into Small Business Ownership?
Features, February 05, 2012
There are two types of entrepreneurs: those that jump into a new business headfirst, and those that dip their toes in the water. In Making the Jump into Small Business Ownership, authors David Nilssen and Jeff Levy guide readers into the water, so to speak. They dissect what it takes to become a business owner into easy-to-digest chapters peppered with real-world examples.
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Why Small Businesses Love Cloud Services
Features, November 08, 2011
If anything’s beating out the skyrocketing growth of the mobile app market, I’d put my money on cloud services. These days, you can do everything in the cloud except your dry cleaning (or can you?). Here’s a look at some of the industries and companies that are moving into the cloud computing services arena for small businesses.
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Is Your Business Ready for the Holidays? 4 Invaluable Cash Flow Management Tips
Features, October 30, 2011
Many small business owners are caught unaware and lose out on potential sales, due to insufficient staff, running out of cash register tape (causing a long wait for harried shoppers) or even running out of product. Here are some tips to keep you on your toes long before you get sick of holiday music.
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Make the Transition From Employee to Entrepreneur
Features, October 25, 2011
People write a lot about how to grow your business, but what about those of you who either want to start a business, or who have started one but are still working your “other” 9 to 5? Here’s why you should dive head first (assuming you’re ready financially) into starting your small business.