Archives: August 2009

To Generate Sales Leads, Develop an Inbound Marketing Strategy

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on August 31

Finding new customers used to involve expensive marketing programs like direct mail, events, or telemarketing. But these outbound efforts only surface one or two leads out of every 100 target...

Sometimes I Feel Like Giving Up!

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on August 28

Have you ever been so frustrated that you questioned yourself and wondered, "Why continue?" You're not alone. Many of the most successful people in life and business have endured setbacks...

Mastering the Art of Password Creation

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on August 27

Like many computer users, small business owners often feel overwhelmed by the burden of managing all of the passwords they need to use on a daily basis. Fortunately, there are...

Join Your Customers In the Cloud

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on August 26

Twenty years ago, customer service was all about picking up the phone and having a conversation with an expert who could help with any concerns. Today, more than 50% of...

Protecting Your Company from a Catastrophe

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on August 25

Hurricane season is here, and while it's always important to have enough insurance to recover from a natural disaster, the stakes are even higher in today's economic climate. With models...

The Innovation Knowledge Transfer

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on August 24

Until recently, companies were dealing with the challenge of a retiring workforce and knowledge exodus. In the aerospace and defense industry alone, clients like Pratt & Whitney, Rocketdyne, and Honeywell...

Group Passwords and Password Age

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on August 21

As small businesses increase their employee base and branch out to other areas and regions, business owners often falter by implementing group passwords to make IT easier on their employees....

Don't Rely on Age-Based Categories to Market to Women

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on August 20

Defining a female audience by age is a time-honored marketing tradition. It's simple, and at a glance, gives what would seem to be a snapshot of the target consumer. But...

Cover All Your Online Bases

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on August 19

In the current business environment, old and new businesses alike need to digitally connect with customers to effectively cultivate their brands. We live in a digital age, so your business...

It's Not About You, It's About the Customer

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on August 18

A few weeks ago I conducted a follow-up sales seminar with a client. I was attempting to reinforce the behaviors I had earlier emphasized that would cause what I call...

Just Do It Today

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on August 17

What is your plan for today? It's important to realize that we live in 24-hour cycles. How we see today matters. If we see today as a gift, we will...

Dispelling Two Sustainability Myths for Small Businesses

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on August 14

Sustainability has become the watchword of our age. And who can argue that seeking to meet our own needs without adversely affecting future generations isn't a cause worth throwing our...

Create a Greener Office

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on August 13

Changing the way your office prints can be the first step toward reducing your company's environmental footprint. Going green is good for the environment and can also help your small...

Get the Most Out of Your Communications Efforts

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on August 12

Whether the medium is Twitter, Facebook, a podcast, or a corporate blog, there have never been more outlets available to companies looking to engage in dialogue with their stakeholders. In...

How a Leader's Beliefs Drive Results

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on August 11

It's been said that "thoughts are things." As a leader, it's critical to be aware and mindful of your thoughts, as they drive the results you get. For example, I...

Take Time to Develop Yourself

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on August 10

Working on your own ability to lead makes great business sense. Without developing yourself from time to time, those familiar tactics and strategies you used to succeed earlier in your...

Question Authority

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on August 07

People in positions to lead hinder themselves and others by having too many answers and not enough questions. In fact, truly bad decisions are made by those who fail to...

Responding to an E-Discovery Request Without Breaking the Bank

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on August 06

Being faced with a regulatory inquiry or a lawsuit is nothing short of a potential disaster for a small company. Legal fees, looming penalties, and time away from work take...

Align Sales and Marketing Efforts to Increase Profitability

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on August 05

Sales and marketing materials are often wasted because of inconsistent messages between the two. The sales department may be thinking, "marketing does not know what I need to say to...

Don't Neglect Those Pesky Software Updates

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on August 04

Modern software can do amazing things, but like a car, it needs constant maintenance to run properly. Updating and patching desktop software is critical to keeping your business safe. Remember...

Help Employees Manage Online Risk

Posted by: Rod Kurtz on August 03

The explosion of Web-based applications and tools has made the Internet infinitely more useful, but they also come with a new set of potential threats and dangers to your business....