Archives: July 2011

How to Create an Engaged Workforce

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on July 29

Nationwide job satisfaction is currently at the lowest ever recorded, down 26 percent since 1987. In addition, only 45 percent of US employees are satisfied with their jobs, and less...

When Small Businesses Should Encrypt E-mail

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on July 28

Small business owners may not realize that their companies are only as secure as the last e-mail they sent. It is for good reason that small businesses are being held...

Make Your Mobile Devices Work for Business

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on July 27

For the first time ever, smartphone and tablet shipments beat laptop and notebook shipments in the fourth quarter of 2010. Many of the mobile devices available today can start at...

Turn Your Business into a Book

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on July 26

What problem does your business solve? That's the question you need to answer if you want to turn your business into a book that attracts a whole new set of...

Security Steps for a New Website

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on July 25

When designing and launching a new website, many small businesses assume they don't need to address Web security since they are not "prime" targets. They could not be more wrong....

Make Better Use of Facts About Your Customers

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on July 22

Review the impression you are sending customers and prospects at all touch points and make sure your message is clear and consistent. In addition, make sure you have the ability...

Define Your Business Vision Clearly

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on July 21

Make sure you and your team agree on your company vision and have established clear goals and objectives for the upcoming six months, 12 months, and two years. Consider both...

Fire Undesirable Customers

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on July 20

It's difficult to think of customers as simply not worth your time, and firing some—especially when you're a new business owner—seems preposterous. However, there are going to be (if they...

Build an Employee-Driven Workplace

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on July 19

Common thinking is that employees need to be controlled, managed, and monitored to ensure productivity. Smart small-business owners are adopting the employee-driven workplace philosophy that translates into dramatically lower turnover...

Curb Tablet Costs

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on July 18

Tablets—especially the iPad—are inundating businesses. While there is growing acknowledgement that they need to be managed from an application and security perspective, drilling down into what impact these devices will...

Turn Prospects into Customers with E-mail

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on July 15

E-mail marketing is an essential part of any marketing mix for businesses looking to further connect customers with their brand. When done effectively, e-mail drives a site's return visitors and...

Use Social Media to Keep Your Customers Loyal

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on July 14

Sure, you want the phone to ring off the hook with new customers. After all, new customers mean more sales revenue, right? Whether you own a restaurant, spa, or CPA...

Check Instructions with Elderly Customers

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on July 13

Don't forget that the elderly are an increasingly important target market. And don't forget that the elderly forget more than younger people do. Researchers at the University of Michigan and...

Save Extra Dollars with Tax Planning

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on July 12

Many business owners miss some areas in which tax planning could help them save. If you are looking for cost-cutting ideas, here are four tax planning tips that may result...

Think Like a Designer

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on July 11

If not for the emergence of design thinking, some of the world's most innovative companies might not have the edge they do now. There are 10 tools that I teach...

Make a New Website Secure

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on July 08

When designing and launching a new website, many small business owners assume they don't need to address Web security since they're not prime targets. They could not be more wrong....

Questions to Ask When Hiring a Web Developer

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on July 07

If you are a business owner who is not an expert in Web development, finding someone you can trust to build your website is critical. To help with the vetting...

Optimize Your Company's Online Checkout Process

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on July 06

If your e-commerce site isn't performing as well as you'd like it to, go through your checkout process and make sure your site is optimized to successfully lead people through...

Protect Your Business from Cybercrime

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on July 05

Cybercrime has become big business and cyber criminals are looking for new targets. Bubbling up to the top of the list are small and midsize businesses. Why? Small businesses usually...

One Entrepreneur's Secret to Success

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on July 04

Whether embarking on a new concept or re-evaluating an existing business, entrepreneurs have to constantly revisit who they are and where they are headed. We need to continually feed that...

A Better Intranet System

Posted by: Today's Tip Contributor on July 01

No matter how big your business, nothing can get done without communication. Implementing an intranet system is a fast, reliable, and secure way to communicate within any business. If you...