Offices today reflect the busy chatter of phones ringing, faxes being received, and computers processing loads of information by the second. Difficult as it may be to understand, there are simpler ways to get this same type of information processed and work accomplished without actually having a warm body within the office who is staffed to make ...

No matter what business you’re in, satisfied customers are the one common denominator all successful ones share. These days, we live our lives with mobile devices at the ready, and technology at our fingertips – and so do our customers. Technology should never be viewed as a replacement for customer service – but as a means to an end; a tool to ...

Online visitors are three times as likely to buy when they have direct sales representative support, according to the August 4^th crmbuyer.com article, “Keeping It Real With Multimedia Live Engagement.

With as impressive a statistic as this in mind, Live Chat gi ...

Every business will tell you that their customers are the most important aspect of growing a business, which is why so much emphasis is placed in developing this area.  You will find plenty of techniques used when trying to create and establish relationships with your clientele.  Some will suggest that you offer as much of yourself as ...

The Ins and Outs of Outsourcing

Scores of businesses are taking advantage of the power of outsourcing everyday. Maybe you’re wondering if outsourcing could benefit your business too.

What prevents many entrepreneurs from taking advantage of outsourcing is the feeling they can do it all, and that they want to control everything ab ...

 The recent demise of book giant Borders is, while tragic on many fronts, also a seismic shift in the marketplace, and demands that businesses everywhere take a lesson, lest we forget, in the words of Spanish American novelist George Santayana that, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” 

According to ...

Customers can make or break a business.  Ever heard the saying, "Your only as good as your last customer's impression"?  Your last customer should have the same impression as your first customer.  They each should be able to tell the same story in their own way.  Many businesses fail to listen to the needs of their customers ...

Every area of the country has to deal with mother nature and her fierce appetite for messing up even the best made plans.  Businesses have to make sure they implement strategies that can prevent their customers from getting in harm's way and prevent major losses in profit.  Unfortunately, in some areas profits are a distant thought whe ...

Cash flow, or the lack thereof, can often be a problem for small, new and growing businesses. In simple terms, cash flow is all about the amount of cash you’ve got coming in and going out, and when.

That being said, a cash flow projection, or cash flow budget, is as critical as a business plan or an income statement. Many questions may a ...

Good Manners Contribute to Your Company’s Bottom Line

We’ve all encountered people with bad manners – from the person who cuts in line, to the poorly written email, to the curt, unhelpful person on the other end of the phone. These encounters may leave us feeling frustrated and angry. And when it comes t ...

Small business owners face many challenges when starting out and can find that the squeeze on their budgets can be tighter than ever imagined.  Constructing a clear path that avoids destruction in all areas that are necessary to make things flow properly can provide its own set of issues.  Deciding what you can and can't afford to run ...

Branding is something that many companies have to think about from the inception of their businesses.  Deciding which direction you should go is difficult and can be hard to develop.  Small business owners spend a lot of time and money trying to conceptualize a brand that is true to the nature of the product.  Ever thought about w ...

Harnessing the Power of Social Media to Drive Customer Service

Social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube have revolutionized communication around the globe. Everyone, it seems, is embracing this dynamic phenomenon, individuals and businesses included.

Indeed, social media creates unp ...