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February, 2015

How Thinking Like The Janitor Makes You a Successful CEO

Submitted by Gabriel Bristol on Thu, 02/19/2015 - 12:02

What does it take to be a successful CEO? I have been asked some version of this question a lot throughout my career, mostly by up and coming executives. The answer I most often give raises a lot of eyebrows. Most are intrigued, some think I’m joking and a few believe I am being curt and dismissive. On one occasion my response even made someone angry.

Starting a Business? The Top Online Resources to Help You Get Started

Submitted by Elena on Fri, 02/20/2015 - 12:25

How much is an hour of your time worth? Eighty-six percent of small business owners said an hour of their time is worth $50, according to a recent Google study—and 12 percent said it's worth a whopping $500. With that kind of value on time, it makes sense to use the best online resources when starting your own business. We've got the top tools that help you manage everything that needs to be done in the startup phase.

Take Your Brand to an Entirely New Level

Submitted by Dave Thomas on Mon, 02/23/2015 - 10:39

Marketing your brand as a small business owner can seem like a challenge sometimes.

Despite all the time, effort and money you put into marketing, it doesn’t always provide fruitful results. In fact, some small businesses will slash their marketing budgets, with a percentage of them all but doing away with marketing altogether.

5 Quick Win Negotiation Techniques Used By Skilled Negotiators

Submitted by Davis Miller on Mon, 02/23/2015 - 11:10

Skilled negotiators are smart, savvy and knowledgeable. They know exactly how to land the best deals and they’re usually not afraid of taking chances. Winning negotiations is not that difficult when you know what you’re doing. In fact, many things are not even related to the technique per see, but about the way negotiators apply them in business.  Here are 5 successful tactics that experienced negotiators often use to win.

Business 101: What You Need to Know Before Shipping Internationally

Submitted by Lizzie Weakley on Tue, 02/24/2015 - 11:01

Sending your products overseas normally means that your company is committed to international growth. By knowing a lot about the shipping process before you get started exporting, you will have a much greater chance of creating sustainable international growth.

How Far Do You Go for a Customer?

Submitted by Adam Groff on Tue, 02/24/2015 - 11:49

Your customers are the only reason your business is a business, so it's important to go the extra mile for them whenever you can. However, there is a point where every business owner feels as though they go too far for their customers.

Here are just a few ways you can ensure your customers are satisfied without going over the top:

Promoting Your Brand Isn't All About Facebook and Twitter

Submitted by Heather Legg on Wed, 02/25/2015 - 12:03

Promoting your brand is an essential part of your business.

You not only have to create it, prep it and sell it - you've got to promote your product.

Over the years, marketing has made a huge transition from print media and TV/radio media to social media. Don't let this new marketing slip by you.

The necessity of marketing outsourcing

Submitted by Dan Radak on Wed, 02/25/2015 - 12:12

No matter what line of work do you find yourself engaged into, the future success or failure both highly depend on the notion portrayed by one simple nine-letter word- marketing. Creating the values of your business and then shaping them to be, as much as possible, in accordance to needs the public, is no small task, but given the fact that future of your business, as well as your own future depend on it, it is something that should never be ever taken for granted.

Don't Waste Time - How to Have the Most Effective Work Meetings

Submitted by Meghan Belnap on Thu, 02/26/2015 - 11:17

While many of us enjoy direction and focus, there are some that hate the refining process that has to happen in order to visualize these goals. Professional meetings are necessary but they are sometimes the bane of many office workers’ existence. One of the main reasons for this is that many office meetings are run very inefficiently. No one likes to sit around feeling like their time is being wasted. If you want to make sure that your company’s meetings run smoothly, follow these tips to avoid wasting time and make them as effective as possible.

Three Affordable ways Small Businesses Can Weed Out Stress in the Workplace

Submitted by Deborah Rozman on Thu, 02/26/2015 - 11:48

Stress at work is a major issue for many Americans. According to a study from the National Institute on Occupational Safety and Health, 40 percent of workers reported their job was very or extremely stressful, while 25 percent view their jobs as the number one stressor in their lives.

Most business leaders recognize that stress can have a range of negative impacts on their individual employees. But some fail to realize that if left unchecked, stress can have a trickle-down effect that can taint the entire workplace.