Management and OperationsIdentify New Consumer NormsThe recession has changed how customers shop, possibly forever. Entrepreneur.com
Management and Operations Resolving Employee Complaints Before They Hit the Internet The question is what to do about employee complaints about the workplace. It's more than a matter of damage control. Trying to repair the harm to internal morale, recruitment efforts, and corporate reputations after the fact is not as effective as preventing the damage in the first place. ManageSmarter.com Management and Operations
By Cheryl Sowa · January 26 2010
small business brief, marketing, small business, economy
Tips from December 14, 2009 The Small Business tips today discuss marketing to Generation X via social media.
Use social media to promote a new product. Gen X is open to trying new things and value new opportunities, and they will respond the best to free trials.
Facebook fan pages need to be communicating with your fans, offering value and at a pace that isn't too intrusive. Gen Xers don't want to be annoyed with pointless and/or excessive updates. You also don't be silent. Find a happy medium.
Gen X is also active on Twitter. Tweet trivia to your followers and have a prize, such as a free gift or discounted coupons, to give to the first, correct or creative replies.
Write a blog. If you don't have one on your website or don't know how, sign up with a free service like Blogger. Be sure to give your potential readers a way to share your stuff, too. Have the
By Cheryl Sowa · December 14 2009
small business tips, marketing, small business, social media
Tips from December 7, 2009 The Small Business tips today discuss marketing to Baby Boomers via social media.
Facebook is a great channel for Baby Boomers. They're learning to reconnect with friends, family, and classmates online. Create a fan page, that is simple and user-friendly, for your business to target this generation.
Baby Boomers are just starting to get into Twitter. They appreciate basic deals and information with a very simple way to find these deals. Make your tweets very clear to Baby Boomers that you are promoting a deal or special savings.
Baby Boomers are influenced by viral campaigns. Create a channel for your business and put videos up on YouTube that Baby Boomers can relate to. Grasp their feelings about living life to the fullest and achieving their dreams.
Be patient with Baby Boomers & social media. Make directions as simple as possible; they did not grow up with the technology and must adapt to it.
By Cheryl Sowa · December 07 2009
small business tips, marketing, small business, social media
Government, Politics, and the Economy
U.S. Stocks Extend Global Rally on Retail Sales, APEC Pledge U.S. stocks added to a global rally, sending the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index to a 13-month high, after retail sales increased more than forecast and Asian government leaders pledged to maintain economic stimulus spending. Bloomberg.comThe Economy6 Steps for Surviving the RecessionThe news today just is not very good. Every time we think we are on the upside of the downturn, we get thrown for another loop, hit with another tax, told it will be just a few more months before all this turns around. BusinessKnowHow.com...
By Cheryl Sowa · November 17 2009
small business brief, small business, economy, economy
In The News
Workplace Shootings in Florida, Texas Again Put Focus on Violence on the Job The two shootings are the highest-profile incidents of workplace violence since a Yale University student’s strangled body was found in the university laboratory where she conducted research. A co-worker, Raymond J. Clark III, was later charged with the murder. Workforce.comManagement and OperationsHow to Resolve Workplace Conflict Conflict in the workplace is a painful reality and a key reason for poor productivity and frustration. Do you have people in your workplace that cause problems for everyone else? Do they create additional work for o...
By Cheryl Sowa · November 10 2009
small business brief, small business, conflict, productivity
You know, a 140 character limit really isn't a lot to share something significant in. Neither is 15 minutes though, especially not between three people trying to convey the effects of social media on an industry. Fortunately, a collection of some of the best minds in small business were able to do just that at the 140 Characters Conference in LA this past October. I was lucky enough to have been one of the 140 people asked to speak and represent the state of now. I wasn't alone in this. This conference was Jeff Pulver's baby. Jeff is a globally renowned thought leader, author and entrepreneur. He contacted Becky McCray of Small Biz Survival and asked her to put together a panel of people who could effectively speak on behalf of small business...
By Kim Fenolio · November 06 2009
social media, twitter, kim fenolio, characters
This week I am leading the small business panel at the 140 Characters Conference in Los Angeles, California. This is pretty significant for our company, and for each of you, in that I will be sharing how small business is being effected by the real-time internet. Basically, I’m going to talk about how Facebook and Twitter (social media) are helping your business in the current state of the world, even in this economy.
This panel and conference isn’t all about me. I’ll be sharing the stage with some fantastic co-panelists: Scott Townsend of United Linen and Neal Rohrbach of Idea Anglers. Together we hope to give you a rounded view of how small business works with these medias from beginning to end. We’re calling our panel Small as a Tweet. We’re taking a few questions up front. If there’s anything specific that you’d...
By Kim Fenolio · October 26 2009
small business, twitter, facebook, kim fenolio
Tips from October 14, 2009 The Small Business tips today will talk about how turning to social media will improve customer service.
Twitter allows for up to the minute updates for openings, new products, sales, and limited time offers.
Customers talk about experiences on Twitter: provide exceptional service and personalize to get great buzz.
Use Twitter to build up your small businesses by retweeting testimonials & customer satisfaction stories.
Build a community of customers with a Facebook Fan page. Ask for feedback & give new Fans coupons.
Daily Overview: Social media is an excellent way to keep up in real time and positivity about your biz.
By Cheryl Sowa · October 14 2009
small business tips, small business, customer service, social media
