Features

• Small Businesses Drive Job Creation

  May 18, 2012

  Two and a half years following the end of Great Recession, hiring rates are still very low, but the number of people separating from their jobs -- quitting or being fired -- is even lower. However, Small businesses exhibit job churn at three times the rate of larger businesses.

• Team Building: Getting the Message Across Without Micromanaging

  May 11, 2012

  When the list is longer than the time you have, it’s easy to sacrifice some important things just to get through the day. For the small business owner, communication with your team is one of those things that can get lost.

• Identifying Your Ideal Customer

  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.

• 5 Things Business Owners Shouldn’t Skimp On

  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.

• What Type of Financing Is Right For Your Business?

  April 29, 2012

  When it comes to securing money to start, expand, or just continue your business, you’ll need to choose wisely. Some options will be too complex, others too risky. Some will provide too much, and others not enough. We give a snapshot of the various financing options that might fit your needs.

• How Small Business Can Benefit from Time Tracking

  April 26, 2012

  As a small business owner, it can be hard to justify going through the motions and controls of the larger corporations. Your time is already limited and enterprise software can be quite expensive. So when I say that you really should be comprehensively tracking employee time, you might be skeptical. Lets look at why you shouldn’t be.

• 4 Steps To Succeed In The Government Marketplace

  April 22, 2012

  The U.S. Federal Government buys nearly $100 billion worth of goods and services from small businesses each year – but cracking this market as a small business can be challenging. If your small business is interested in selling to Uncle Sam, we share a four-step plan that summarizes the process of entering the federal marketplace succesfully.

• 4 Surprising Things Great Sales People Say

  April 19, 2012

  A lot of people in the sales business seem to think that there is a standard expectation of what a “good sales person” is supposed to sound like. We’ve built up this idea that a “good sales person” is supposed to be relentless, energetic, good at building relationships, always eager to close the deal, and unwilling to take “no” for an answer.

• States Rely Heavily on Tax Incentives, But Few Evaluate Whether They Work

  April 12, 2012

  Every state offers tax incentives to attract, retain, and expand businesses and jobs. But no state ensures that policy makers rely on good evidence about whether these investments deliver a strong return, A new study examines outcomes at a time when most states are trying to rebuild their budgets and many have not regained private-sector jobs lost during the Great Recession.

• 3 Hot Demographics Your Business Can Profit From in 2012

  April 11, 2012

  Remember when the Baby Boomers were the hottest consumer group to target? The Boomers are still pretty influential, but this year, three different age groups are making waves with their size, influence and purchasing power. Here’s a closer look.

• Running a Business Takes Action, Planning

  April 09, 2012

  Running a business takes action and planning. There are times when being the boss means decisions must be made quickly with limited information and limited time. However, long-term it is also helpful to have plans for day to day operations and growth. Today’s wrap-up looks at both sides of this critical balance.

• Improved Outcomes Without an Increase in Skill

  April 08, 2012

  Improving and helping capture knowledge are always at a premium in organizations, and sometimes can actually help improve outcomes in your business without an increase in skill set from your employees. Curt Fowler of Fowler & Company talks about the use of checklist to help improve work outcome in your organization.

• 5 Things Business Owners Shouldn’t Skimp On

  April 04, 2012

  As small business owners, we’re all strapped for cash and we hate spending unnecessarily. That being said, not everything should be DIY (do-it-yourself). Sometimes trying to save money and do things yourself costs you more in lost time and lost business than you saved in cash. We spotlight some alternatives.

• 4 Social Media Practices That Boost Results

  April 02, 2012

  Is your business in the current social media cycle? If not, then you seriously need to think about changing that. Here’s the reality and the truth … Social Media is NOT a fad. It has done nothing but grow in use and popularity since its inception. Businesses must embrace social media to stay relevant in today’s ever-expanding social world.

• The Total Package: A Marketing Message That Resonates

  April 01, 2012

  Your company focus and marketing message should be so clear that it’s driven home in every opportunity you get. There should be a consistency in the message and that’s where your branding pieces come in to play. But before you start printing things, the message has to be core and clear.

• Developing Your Interview Skills for Attracting and Assessing Talent

  March 29, 2012

  Peak Focus Founder and Principal Jerry Scher talks about the final step in the recruiting and hiring process - the interview.

• How to Take Advantage of the Financial Crises in State Governments

  March 28, 2012

  What might a state budget crisis mean to you? Consumer spending is likely to slow if residents lose their jobs, worry about losing their jobs, or face rising costs for things that used to be funded by the state (like school programs) . That’s bad news for B-to-C companies. But if your business sells B-to-B, the news could actually mean opportunity.

• Choosing a Web Design Company

  March 27, 2012

  Fifteen years ago, finding someone to build you a website was the easy part – mainly because there were only a handful of people that actually could. Now, web design companies are as common as the websites they create.

• Become “The Strategist” Your Business Needs

  March 26, 2012

  Who has been responsible for the overall strategy of your business? As small business owners who wear many hats, by definition, it’s been YOU! But as your business grows, you may be tempted to fall into the trap of thinking that you don’t know as much as the MBA next door and this might lead you to outsource your strategic thinking and planning. Cynthia Montgomery, the author of The Strategist: Be the Leader Your Business Needs, and a professor at the Harvard Business School says “Don’t DO IT!”

• An Often Overlooked and Undervalued Investment

  March 25, 2012

  Financial Advisor Bil Sadler shares about an often overlooked and undervalued investment - the emergency fund.

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