4 Essential Questions for New Businesses

Starting a new business is so exciting, but it can be daunting! There is so much to keep track of, so much to do, and seemingly not enough hours in the day. How do you even begin?

New business team meeting

While no one can give you the get-rich-quick recipe to instant success, there are tried and true ways of networking and finding a reliable customer base. Here are 4 essential questions new business owners should ask themselves on their path to success.

1. Traditional vs. Email Marketing

Snail mail gets a bad rap. The truth is that it is easier now more than ever to reach thousands of customers with the click of a button.…

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How to Improve Employee Morale and Productivity

A person’s emotional and mental wellbeing impacts their quality of work. That is a given. It is why benefits extend beyond healthcare and go into what wellness bonuses employees will receive. A gym membership, for example, or perhaps a wellness retreat at the end of the year.

Productive employees with high morale

Improving employee morale and productivity needs to be done in several stages. You need to care for their wellbeing, yes, but you must also help them progress. They need to feel like they have a viable future with your company if they are to stay.

To help you reach the goal of a productive and hard-working staff, you’ll want to follow this guide:

Improve the Office Environment

The office is where employees spend a good chunk of their day and it should, therefore, be one that is comfortable to work in.…

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The World’s Most Famous Scams

Scams are part of the business world.  To keep yourself and your business ‘safe’, you need to be aware of the various types of scams.  One of the best way to get educated in the Scam 101 is by learning from ‘the best’ (read: infamous scammers.)

Scammer

Here are some of the world’s most famous scams – read on, and learn how to deal with scams better.

Bernard Ebbers’ greed

This former Baptist college physical education teacher founded Long Distance Discount Services Inc. in 1984. (LDDS). The organization eventually grew into the second largest telecommunications holding company in the United States. Ebbers’ closest business partners were the pizza delivery guy and the DJ.…

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Steps to Organize Your Small Business

When you operate a small business, there’s a lot that you’re juggling at any given time. You may feel like you have your hand in a little bit of everything, even if you have employees.

It can quickly get overwhelming and be tough to keep up with everything unless you have a system for organization in place.

Tidy and clean office

An organized business is important for several key reasons. First, when your business is organized you’re going to be operating at a peak level of efficiency, which will improve productivity. You’re also likely to see higher revenue because you’ll be better equipped to build long-term relationships with your clients when you’re organized.…

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Why Brand Safety Must Be Addressed in Your Digital Marketing Plan

Business owners put great effort into establishing and building their brand image. From the initial decision of what to name the company to the advertising strategy, all decisions help create an image that consumers associate with a brand.

Brand image safety

“It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that you’ll do things differently.” – Warren Buffett

Mr. Buffett is spot on in his observation regarding how quickly hard work can be ruined. Brand safety, or lack thereof, is an ever-present risk in today’s digital marketing world. Business owners who engage in digital advertising must ensure that their team and agency, if applicable, keep brand safety top of mind throughout the campaign.…

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When Looking for Investors, Tread Carefully Around Angels

There are plenty of studies floating around the Internet that suggest that banks are hesitant to loan money to entrepreneurs. That is unless they don’t really need it. No surprise there.

Angel investor

One of the studies, conducted by Florida Atlantic University College of Business, noted “bank lending to small businesses … is still depressed several years after the end of the U.S. financial crisis that started in 2008.”

So what should an entrepreneur do? Definitely explore alternative sources of debt financing. More on that later.

What should an entrepreneur not do? Sell a piece of their company to an angel investor to finance their business.…

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Preparing to Go into Business with Someone: What To Consider

Entering into a business partnership can be life-changing in a positive way, but also a negative way. Too often, there are big problems that arise down the road because business partners don’t do their due diligence on one another, or they ignore red flags.

Choosing business partners

A strong business partnership can mean that the two of you bring together complementary skills and backgrounds to improve the success of your business. A business partner may also bring financial benefits to the situation. However, a business partnership can quickly turn sour without the necessary steps being taken upfront.

The following are things to know and do before you go into business with someone.…

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3 Ways To Make Your Business More Environmentally Friendly

In today’s world, it’s of the utmost importance that everyone concern themselves with what impact they’re having on the world around them. Ideally, people would have a positive impact on the people they come in contact with and no impact at all on the environment they’re surrounded with. However, this simply isn’t the case in most situations.

Eco-friendly business practices

Especially for businesses, your impact on the environment can be even more pronounced than that of individual people. So to help you turn your impact into something that’s less noticeable and more positive, here are three ways you can make your business more environmentally friendly.…

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7 Tips to Master Your Next Performance Review

Performance reviews are an extremely useful technique for employers and employees. Employers use them as a basis for raises and to address any ongoing challenges. Meanwhile, employees can use a performance review as a guide for enhancing their career potential and productivity.

Conducting performance reviews.

For both parties, a performance review can be an awkward, nerve-wracking experience. By using these tips, you can master your next review and make the most of the experience.

Know What to Expect

When it comes to being nervous, one of the best ways you can relax is by knowing what will actually happen. Read through the steps involved in giving a performance review.…

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Creative Ideas to Improve Your Employees’ Wellness

When you run a business, one major goal is to retain your best workers in the long run. Employee wellness programs help you do this by rewarding and taking care of your employees. In addition to improving your compensation package, wellness programs can help reduce absenteeism and encourage productivity.

Company fitness program

These kinds of programs are in high demand among today’s job seekers, so it is extremely important to put them in place. If you are struggling to think of the right ideas for your company, the following wellness ideas can help.

Healthy Cooking Classes

Whether you are trying to appeal to full or part-time employees, classes are an excellent way to reward them.…

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