SmallBusinessExecutiveInforming, Inspiring and Connecting Businesses
Top 7 customer service trends for 2012
By Richard Shapiro Guest columnist It’s the time of year when many people like to look back and reflect. I like to look forward and be prepared. What are the seven customer service trends for 2012 that will affect my business or your business? No matter what the trend or the year, it’s always imperative [...]
How to draft a winning game plan for your home-based business
By Greg Crabtree Guest columnist Whether your home-based business is by choice or necessity, focusing on three keys will provide a winning game plan: Define what success looks like. Choose simplicity for organization structure. And count the cost by paying vendors and taxes before you take money out of the business. As the owner, you [...]
Six ways to tap the power of thanks
By Todd Patkin Guest columnist If your organization hasn’t made a conscious effort to instill an “attitude of gratitude,” you’re ignoring a useful and lucrative tool. There’s no better time than right now at Thanksgiving to start showing your employees or co-workers that you appreciate their efforts and care about them as individuals. I learned [...]
Sorry I had to fire you, Sis, please pass the turkey
By Doug and Polly White Guest columnists Hiring and managing friends and family members is an issue that many entrepreneurs encounter on a daily basis. Why? Because, in our experience, entrepreneurs primarily hire friends and family members to fill their employment ranks. Is this a good idea? We interviewed one CEO who told us she had to fire [...]
Philanthropic Facilitation Act aims to stimulate economic growth, create jobs
By the Council on Foundations and the Americans for Community Development ARLINGTON, VA—The Council on Foundations—a nonprofit membership association of grant-making foundations and corporations and Americans for Community Development—the organization for the Low-Profit Limited Liability Company (L3C)— have announced that Representatives Aaron Schock (R-Ill.) and Jared Polis (D-Colo.) have introduced a bipartisan Philanthropic Facilitation Act of 2011 [...]
SBA offers marketing tips for Small Business Saturday
Submitted by the U.S. Small Business Administration Saturday, Nov. 26, marks the second annual Small Business Saturday, a day to support the local small businesses that create jobs, boost the economy and preserve neighborhoods around the country. First there was Black Friday, and then Cyber Monday, and now Small Business Saturday will help drive shoppers [...]
A buyer’s (middle) market: How to grow and thrive through acquisition
By Chris Blees Guest columnist – As past economic downturns have proven, companies that invest heavily in the right kinds of marketing and strategic planning will likely thrive when the market turns around. While companies can grow organically to increase market share, another way to accomplish this — and accelerate the growth curve — is [...]
In hot patent market, new rules expected to spur swifter filings
By Ann Meyer A business’s value often lies with its intellectual property, as Google’s planned buy-out of Motorola Mobility suggests. Google wanted Motorola Mobility’s 17,000 patents and was willing to pay $12.5 billion in the deal that was approved Friday by shareholders of the Libertyville-based mobile technology company, experts said. In general, 80 percent of [...]
How to break through business malaise
By Suzanne Ross Guest columnist It’s not news that people are tired of being marketed and sold to in the traditional manner. Yet the malaise threatens organizations from demonstrating their real customer and industry value. As companies build their market leadership, the aim should be to arm teams with what’s of most value to customers [...]
5 tips for working with control freaks
By Jim Warner and Kaley Klemp Guest columnists We’ve all seen her: The world revolves around her. She’s never wrong. Mistakes are personal affronts. And if you invade her space, you’ll get to see a Hollywood-worthy melodrama. Regardless of your skills or efforts, this diva picks relentlessly at your outputs. While it was entertaining [...]
