George Washington Carver once said, “Where there is no vision, there is no hope.” As business owners, all of us have a vision; an idea of what we want to accomplish in and through our businesses. But as inspiring as having a vision is, where it falters is in failed execution. In the book of Habakkuk, the…
“Should I be on Facebook?” As a small business owner trying to make a name for yourself, it’s a no brainer, right? Of course you should. So you set up your Page and start posting. But oddly enough, not much is happening. You get a few “likes” here and there, but not the big numbers you expected. Frustrated,…
The ball has dropped, the corks have popped, and a new year is upon us. Just as celebratory confetti has cleared the streets of Times Square, 2014 has graciously bowed out, leaving 2015 to take center stage. And for small business owners like you and me, you probably have a list of things you’re going…
Ready or not, 2014 is packing its bags, making room for the hustle and bustle of a new year. With 2015 just three weeks away (seriously?), you’re probably scrambling to do what’s expected of you this season – send out holiday wishes. And chances are, you’re going to do what you’ve seen done before. Like…
While many holiday bargain hunters are already planning which big box retailers they’ll pitch their tents in front of this year, many small business owners are busy firing up social media and printing out coupons to commemorate the five year anniversary of Small Business Saturday, officially launched by American Express in 2009. But, the…
Customer engagement is perhaps the biggest challenge many small businesses face. Beyond the initial sale, many customers seem to disappear into a mysterious abyss and are never heard from again. And in the spirit of self-preservation, many of us immediately blame the customer. Â “We didn’t do anything,” we yell as we shake our fists…
Building a website is one of the most exciting parts of starting a business. You feel official, somehow. Your hard work, dreams, and caffeine induced brainstorming sessions all culminate into this tiny piece of the digital universe. But for many of us, the crushing reality is, building a website can be expensive. It can…
Warren Buffet once said that it takes twenty years to build a reputation and about five minutes to ruin it. And never has that been more true than now. In recent years, the popularity of social media and online review sites has skyrocketed. Consumers are looking to one another online to determine the quality and…
Think back to your last bad sales experience. You know, the one with that ultra aggressive sales guy (or gal) that went on and on for twenty minutes about how great their product or service was… blah, blah, blah. You never got a word in. And when it was finally over, you whispered a silent prayer to the heavens…
Several studies suggest that well over 40% of marketing budgets next year will be spent on online (digital) efforts. And at the core of those campaigns will be an emphasis on content marketing. Content marketing. Sure, to marketers like me, that term is as recognized and revered as search is with Google. But for some businesses…
When you’re ready to make a big purchase, do you…? A) go on a gut feeling B) see what people are saying about it online C) trust the salesperson The Answer Chances are, most of you picked “B.” Studies have shown that 90% of consumers say online reviews impact their buying decisions. And this doesn’t…
Let’s face it. We need repeat sales to make this thing called business work. Even our best efforts fall short if we fail to get customers to buy the right products, at the right price, at the right time, not just once, but over and over again. But many of us settle for becoming a one hit…