Tips from October 13, 2009 The Small Business tips today cover knowing your customers.
Get the name, email address, and phone number of purchasing customers. Send them personalized coupons
Ask customers for their birthday (month and day) Send them a discount, coupon, or freebie on their day.
Learn your customers' names. As they return, address them personally. Cater to their buying trends.
Communicate with customers. Find out feedback by calling or mailing them a survey.
Daily Overview: Getting to know your customers can create a huge return for your business. Show you care and they'll come back.
By Cheryl Sowa · October 12 2009
small business tips, small business, customer service, communication
Tips from October 9, 2009 The Small Business tips today discuss providing leadership.
Be in touch with reality and optimism. Know which situations you can/cannot control & how to lead in hard times.
Inspire your employees. Go over your company's motivation and mission. Encompass your vision for all employees.
Stay informed on current situations to plan ahead. Thinking ahead shows you are concerned about the future.
Be honest. Tell the truth, even in tough situations when it is hard to accept. Take control and face the problem head on.
Daily Overview: Be a great leader with honesty, integrity, respect, and knowledge.
By Cheryl Sowa · October 12 2009
small business tips, management, honesty, leadership
Harris Interactive conducted a study with employees at various businesses and found some interesting results regarding vacations. 44% of employees dread the craziness of preparing for vacation at work the day before they leave. Additionally, 77% of employees believe the day they return from vacation is worse. How can you avoid the work related stress when it comes to a vacation? Here are a few tips to have a worry free vacation.Before You Leave
To-Do List: Before leaving for vacation, create a list of what you need to do when you get back home. Take a look at your schedule and see what projects, deadlines, meetings, and other events you'll have. Know what you have to do when you get back so you have no surprises.
Vacation Alert: Create an automatic vacation response for your email address. This allows customers, employees, and clients who email you to know you are out of town, and when you will be returning. This way, no one will be exp...
By Cheryl Sowa · October 09 2009
small business, organization, break, break
Tips from October 8, 2009 The Small Business tips today discuss how to boost morale.
Do something good for your business and for a good cause! Run a charity race as a company; donate time and money. Help out!
Provide incentives for good work. They could be something simple as dressing casual to extravagant as trips, days off, or a raise.
Boost morale through team building strategies. Try a role reversal: switch employee and management roles for the day.
Company outings will get employee minds off work & encourage fun outside the office. http://bit.ly/Cxmal.
Daily Overview: Be helpful, encouraging, and creative to give morale the boost it needs.
By Cheryl Sowa · October 08 2009
small business tips, small business, management, company outings
Being a small business owner comes with a ton of responsibility. One of the most important things small business owners need to remember is the effect that emotions have on the business, and most importantly, your employees. As a small business owner, you are the role model, spokesperson, and face behind your business. You assume a leadership role as your employees and customers look up to you. As a leader, it is important to be emotionally stable and in control to manage your business and employees. Let's take a closer look.PositivityAs the leader and one in control, it is essential for small business owners to be positive. It communicates that you are ready to take on any challenge optimistically. Positivity also comes in the form of being inspirational. Tell your story and how you got to where you are today to motivate others to think positively as well. It is important to remember that employees' moods are just as important as the owners'. Employee positivity keep...
By Cheryl Sowa · October 08 2009
small business, management, control, negativity
Tips from October 7, 2009 The Small Business tips today will discuss how to effectively coach your employees.
Present yourself as a leader. Mentor your employees and guide them on the right career path.
Communicate your expectations. Explicitly say what you want employees to do, outline the steps, and provide guidance.
Give employees time to prepare questions or concerns they have about your expectations. Get them involved in the process.
Ask for feedback. Find out what you're doing right, wrong, and how you can change to be a better coach.
Daily Overview: Coach as a leader, and encourage employees to form a team bond.
By Cheryl Sowa · October 07 2009
small business tips, small business, leadership, feedback
Tips from October 6, 2009 The Small Business tips today cover working towards a happy workplace.
Engage your employees. Reiterate your goals and have them working hard to get involved and participate.
Encourage productivity and offer rewards by giving hard workers breaks: they deserve it!
Ask for feedback. What keeps employees motivated? Engaged? Energized? Incorporate their suggestions
Make sure employees Say, Stay, Strive. Say good things; intend to Stay at your biz; Strive to give 100%.
Daily Overview: A good environment leads to happiness, which in turn will lead to productivity & satisfaction.
By Cheryl Sowa · October 06 2009
small business tips, small business, management, feedback
Government, Politics, and the Economy
U.S. Economy: Service Industries Grow for First Time in a Year
Thanks to the emerging recovery in housing and factories, service industries in the United States expanded in September for the first time in a year. Bloomberg.comManagement and OperationsAnchor Your Networking with Strong Relationships Your corporate associations are important to keep your business striving during these tough economic times. Entrepreneur.com Management and Operations
By Cheryl Sowa · October 06 2009
small business brief, small business, economy, internet
