Business Tips

Nearly 90% of businesses are expecting to use social media for customer service this year (Source: Social Media Today).

While most small businesses survive at least one year, less than half make it past five years.

Taking notes? There’s an app for that. But I’m not interested.

Everything slows down as the summer months approach. People take vacations, offices close early in the day and everyone moves at a more leisurely pace … but that doesn’t mean your business has to suffer.

The key to connecting with your target audience online is the creation of compelling content.

We all know that networking is important to grow your business, but walking into a room full of strangers can be intimidating. So how can you overcome awkwardness at large networking events?

We’ve got the secret to success. No joke.

Almost everyone likes a person with a good sense of humor. Studies even show humorous people are more successful and are more likely to be in positions of influence.

If you think that going green at work is difficult, think again.

I’ve heard a lot of common beliefs from some otherwise smart business leaders. Don’t fall for these myths:

In the business world, the key to success is staying on top of current events in your career field, while conquering office task flow. A messy desk can lead to chaos and lack of knowing where to find things when a client calls.

If you want people to engage and talk with you, ask better questions. We all know that the answer to “How was your day?” will typically be “fine.” Ask a more open question.

Continuing education is beneficial for companies and employees. It’s something our agency encourages throughout the year, whether it’s through conferences, webinars or trade association memberships.

Why are some companies wildly effective with branding while others struggle? It’s good news that money is not the answer. The key is realizing that branding is comprised of two parts – the brand and brand messaging.

It started with passion. Then the idea. Now you even have the whole business plan with all the details addressed. What you likely do not have is the money. A business pitch competition could possibly be just the thing to get your startup truly started.

Procrastination: we’ve all dealt with it at some point. But did you know it goes deeper than just putting off a task? In our minds, each task falls into one of four categories: expectancy, value, time or impulsivity. Or in layman’s terms, we don’t care, we’re not getting the wanted results, our time is too valuable, or we’re just downright impulsive.

How many times have you clicked or read an email just to get that unread number to zero? You just wasted a microdecision on opening an email, reading it, and not doing anything with it.

Sharon Hill worked at IBM when a company-sponsored meeting on etiquette gave her a business idea. Hill started hosting seminars internally at IBM and outside the company.

Spring is in the air and that means it’s time to freshen up your office surroundings. Clutter-busting tips include:

Business leaders can be overwhelmed by the myriad of managing styles. Inc. reports it may be possible to narrow it down to two thinking patterns: management- and leadership-focused.

Blogging is a perfect way to develop a promising business. Each blog written on your website means opportunity for improved search results and increased website traffic.

Conferences are great for expanding your network and assessing the market.

While executives often cannot predict a crisis, they can expect that one will affect their company at some point.

Ever watch an interview and wonder what the heck the person being interviewed wants us to know? That happens because they don’t even know what their messages are.

Clear internal communication keeps everyone on the same page. Here are some reasons why keeping everyone informed benefits your business.

Teamwork is an important part of most workplaces. Building off of one another often leads to a resolution or a creative new idea.