A business' relationship with its customers are the single most important connection it has. Customers are the life of any business, be it a service-oriented enterprise or a manufacturing plant. The larger and more solid your customer bases are, the more profits reeled in and, more importantly, the greater exposure your brand gets. Impressing your loyal patrons and building unshakable relationships with them, however, is easier said than done.

Your business’ reputation within the local community is essential to lasting success. If your company has a negative standing, even if only slightly, sales can drop off and lost business may be irretrievable. If positive, it may be only temporary, or not sufficient enough to sustain an acceptable approval rating in the minds of your consumers. Maintaining a positive perception of your business to your local community can be done with some easy tips and suggestions found right here.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that almost 63 million Americans volunteered for a non-profit organization last year. If you have a passion for giving back and a business you need to market, this is for you. Partnering your small business with a local or national charity might be the perfect solution to get your business off the ground in a philanthropic way.

It sounds like a no-brainer: Offer dramatic discounts through social media, and watch as new customers pour into your business.

They’ll come — that’s been proven. But as plenty of Groupon clients found out during the company’s heyday, a glut of new business at a heavily discounted rate can be too much of a good thing.

For a company to run successfully they must keep their building well cared for and their workplace must be extremely effective. There are many companies that do this, but the following companies know how to do it right.

If there's any club that nearly every entrepreneur wants to be a part of, it's the Fortune 500 club. But getting there is no walk in the park. Most businesses never make the revenue threshold required to be a part of that coveted list, but those who do share a few key traits that likely helped them rise to the top. Learning from these traits can help you make greater strides towards owning the next Fortune 500 company.

In today's tight business environment, you want your company to make a good first impression. If it doesn't, potential customers can immediately decide to use one of your competitors instead. Do you know some of the things that matter to potential customers? Make sure your company is doing the following right.

Over the years, office designers and employers have learned that the arrangement of an office space can directly affect worker productivity and mood. As a result, many employers have turned to more appealing office layouts and design themes.

Unfortunately, many professionals with access to important records at work do not keep that data protected. If you’re one of them, these simple steps are a great way to start protecting your information.

Categorize Your Records

First, you must know which records to protect. Many companies have an established system of three categories to classify all files. The first and least private category is external files. This information is available to everyone, including people outside your company. The next category is internal files.

As a strategy and finance turnaround consultant, I have worked with many companies in a crisis situation. A business owner's frantic call for help was usually prompted by a cash flow problem. The company’s bank account was dwindling. They questioned their ability to meet future expenses.  

Prior to meeting with the owners I would review the company’s financial statements. The income statement and balance sheet provide vital clues about historical performance. Within a short period of time I can piece together a story about the company—the good, bad and ugly!