Archives: October 2007

Will Insurance Costs Decrease or Increase as My Company Grows?

Posted by: on October 31, Categories: Operations & Technology

As a general rule of thumb, businesses become more attractive to insurers as they grow. Increased revenues and payrolls mean more risk, but they also mean a more statistically credible...

What Work-Life Balance Really Means

Posted by: on October 30, Categories: Leadership

Though work-life balance is an important emergent issue in today's workplace, many people misunderstand what this concept really means. Balance is more than a juggling act; it is about being...

Fax a Document Without a Fax Machine

Posted by: on October 29, Categories: Operations & Technology

It is no longer efficient to receive faxes on a standard fax machine. Instead, use a fax-to-e-mail service and subscribe to a fax number through an online fax service provider,...

The Basic Rules for Brainstorming

Posted by: on October 26, Categories: Leadership

Feeling stuck? One of the fastest and easiest ways to get unstuck is a simple brainstorm with your staff. Though it's a technique we're all familiar with, it's easy to...

How to Make a Sophisticated Phone System Affordable

Posted by: on October 25, Categories: Operations & Technology

Small businesses have been excluded from sophisticated phone systems with auto-attendant and extensions because of the prohibitive upfront cost. Until now, larger phone system vendors have largely failed to deliver...

Tax Answers for Home-Based Businesses

Posted by: on October 24, Categories: Getting Started

When you start your own business, your tax situation will change dramatically. Many new business owners get overwhelmed with the tax laws and regulations that govern their new venture. Luckily,...

A New Approach to Marketing Your Business Online

Posted by: on October 23, Categories: Doing Business Online

When examining ways to market their businesses online, many companies look no further than the ubiquitous click. For budget-conscious businesses that require a dollar spent to equal a customer gained,...

Be Aware of How Your Behavior Affects Others

Posted by: on October 22, Categories: Leadership

When leading a group of people, large or small, you must have a clear understanding of how your actions will be perceived by the people who report to you. Cultivating...

How Do I Contact Angel Investors?

Posted by: on October 19, Categories: Finance

Getting your business plan in front of the right people often takes an introduction by a third party so that it gets the attention it deserves. Do your research and...

Use the Three-Part Process when Providing Feedback

Posted by: on October 18, Categories: Leadership

A good leader knows how to communicate effectively with his or her employees about aspects of a job that were done well and those that were done poorly. If you...

Finding New Sales Prospects

Posted by: on October 17, Categories: Sales & Marketing

Prospecting is crucial to small business survival. In order to grow, your small business will need to expand its customer base. But even loyal customers eventually use other suppliers, so...

Get Your Point Across Clearly and Concisely

Posted by: on October 16, Categories: Leadership

Try this quick exercise. Pretend that a friend is an employee and that you need to give him an assignment specific to your business. The catch is you have only...

Reign in Your Emotions

Posted by: on October 15, Categories: Leadership

Seldom do employees want to be strapped in to the roller coaster of emotions their boss may experience at work. Excessive anger, panic, and even jubilation on your part create...

Improving Customer Service by Trailing Employees

Posted by: on October 12, Categories: Management & HR

Small businesses can learn a lot about their customer service from employees. One way to do so is for you to spend a day shadowing an employee and performing his...

What Is the Advantage of a Secured Line of Credit?

Posted by: on October 11, Categories: Finance

For business owners looking for some financial flexibility, one of the more inviting options is a secured line of business credit. Such a line of credit provides a business owner...

Dealing with Bounced Checks

Posted by: on October 10, Categories: Finance

When you accept a check as payment for goods or services, you do so with the faith that the customer has money in their account to cover it. When they...

Going Virtual

Posted by: on October 09, Categories: Doing Business Online

With experts predicting that 80% of Internet users will be members of virtual worlds by 2011, now is a good time to start thinking about your business's foray into digital...

Effective Affinity Marketing Programs

Posted by: on October 08, Categories: Sales & Marketing

Affinity marketing is promoting an established brand's products or services to a niche audience. The challenge with affinity marketing is finding the right audience. However, once found, the audience has...

Get More Bang for Your Ad Buck, Part II

Posted by: on October 05, Categories: Sales & Marketing

As more and more companies are looking to utilize the power of social networks for advertising and marketing purposes, there are a few considerations to keep in mind: •See beyond...

Get More Bang for Your Social Media Buck, Part I

Posted by: on October 04, Categories: Sales & Marketing

Small businesses are beginning to look at social media and bloggers to help reach a very targeted audience, but many are struggling when it comes to knowing how to tap...

Bank Loans for Small Businesses

Posted by: on October 03, Categories: Finance

Traditionally, banks are conservative with their investment dollars. Unlike many venture capitalists or angel investors, they are far more likely to approve a loan for an established business over a...

Five Tips for Avoiding Undercapitalization of Your Business

Posted by: on October 02, Categories: Finance

Undercapitalization, or lack of sufficient operating capital, simply means the money has run out. The concept is simple, but the root causes of undercapitalization are more complex. Knowing the factors...

Managing E-mail

Posted by: on October 01, Categories: Management & HR

Approximately 90% of all Internet users between the ages of 12 and 69 send or receive e-mail. This basic communications tool is almost universally used, according to the Pew Internet...