September 2011 Features

  • 4 Quick Tips For Improving Customer Feedback

    September 29, 2011

    Are you asking your customers how well they are enjoying their experience with your company? Waiting for them to post a review on Yelp, Amazon.com, eBay, Trip Advisor, etc., is like rolling the dice on your online reputation and hoping for two sixes. So, here are some ideas for creating a feedback loop so you can grab any praise, or fix any issues, before your customer gets to their web browser.

  • What Small Businesses Can Learn From Cooperatives

    September 28, 2011

    In most ways, co-ops are like any other business—they exist to generate revenue and serve consumers. But in a few important ways, co-ops are different. Most importantly, co-ops exist entirely to benefit their member-owners. Even if your business operates under a for-profit model, it could apply a few lessons from the co-op school of thought.

  • How To Hitch Your Business To A Cause

    September 27, 2011

    Initiatives may be called social responsibility programs or cause marketing, but the idea is the same: to do well by doing good. Helping a charity can encourage customers to purchase and to feel a greater emotional connection to your business.

  • 5 Tips For Becoming A Better Leader

    September 26, 2011

    Once their companies start to grow, many business owners suddenly realize that they’re no longer just entrepreneurs—they’re also leaders.

  • 5 Ways To Get More From Your Employees

    September 22, 2011

    We all know the drill. Get up, go to work, go home, repeat. Most of us go through those motions five days a week, every week. But time spent at work doesn't have to be just the filler between leaving home and coming home. And yet, for so many workers, it is.

  • Get Ready To Hire Generation Z

    September 21, 2011

    Just as companies have adjusted to the demands of generation Y, a new generation is set to graduate from college: generation Z.

  • Pride And Productivity: A Win Win Combination

    September 20, 2011

    Success in these tough economic times depends on a lot of different factors: market situations, pricing, competition, the economy, financing and much more. Two of the most important ones don’t really depend on the kind of economic times. They depend on how productive and how engaged people are, whatever the enterprise.

  • Recognize And Manage The 5 Stages Of Small Business Growth

    September 19, 2011

    Understanding the stages of small business growth and inherent problems can help you assess where you are in the growth pattern, and help you anticipate what’s going to be required to succeed. Owners, for example, will have to spend an extraordinary amount of time during the initial start-up period, and then have to learn to begin delegating work and authority as the company grows.

  • Lose Weight Fast—Your Business, That Is

    September 15, 2011

    Does your business need to lose weight? Mine did. In 2011, I spent far more money than what was coming in. That's okay. It's a new business. That's what's supposed to happen, right? You invest so that you can build up the business. Not always. And we must stay vigilant. We have to lose weight.

  • Are Your Customers Satisfied?

    September 13, 2011

    When business is rolling steadily along, companies often don’t spend time to asking customers how they’re performing—if they lose one, they just find another. But in tough markets it’s more important than ever to seek customer input.

  • The 10 Worst Things About Owning A Business

    September 12, 2011

  • The 3 Secrets To Extremely Loyal Employees

    September 08, 2011

    In the business world there is always a lot of talk about the importance of customer loyalty. But employee loyalty is every bit as important. Many people overlook the importance of employee, but to do so can be detrimental to your business. If you have not considered the issue before, there is no better time than now.

  • Investing in Your Community Will Boost Your Sales

    September 07, 2011

    No business operates in a vacuum. No matter where you are based, your company is part of the local community — and it can easily be part of other communities, both online and off. It's tempting not to worry too much about the community, of course. The most important focus should be your business's success, rather than trying to integrate with your neighbors. But the two aren't mutually exclusive.

  • 5 Interview Questions Every Small Business Owner Should Ask

    September 06, 2011

    Hiring is one of the most important and critical tasks for any small business owner. After all, your business is only as good as your people. But how do you know who the good people are? And how do you determine which candidates will perform to your expectations? Anyone can put on a good show for a few hours during an interview. What you want are people who will still be good in a few months. Nothing is certain, of course, but these five questions will help you see deeper into the candidate's mind and make the decision that is best for your business.

  • The Recipe For Business Success

    September 02, 2011

    Elizabeth Gignilliat, CEO of Parties That Cook, shares her recipe for business success.

  • Be The CEO Who Listens To His People

    September 01, 2011