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Smart Ways to Use Summer Interns in Any Business

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 21:05:59 GMT

Summer is a great time to consider the advantage of temporary labor. You know that project you’ve been putting off? How about the organization structure you wanted to build? What about that technology trial? Or maybe there's something you’ve been doing that could easily be managed by someone else so you can free up your time for things that require your attention?

As vacations loom and customer buying patterns shift, it’s an ideal time to explore temporary hires or interns. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers , businesses expect to hire 3.9% more interns than in the previous year, and 81% say they plan to increase or maintain intern hiring.

But if you think you can just bring in an intern, hand over a pile of small tasks, and call it a program, you’re missing a bigger strategic opportunity.

The smartest businesses do something different. They don’t use interns just to fill a chair or display them to the community to look like a business that’s worried about the future workforce.

They use them to tackle work that matters.

Don’t think your business could use an intern? Think again. Here are a few ingenious ways to get things done with the “summer help”:

Process Detective

One of the best ways to use an intern is as a process detective. Every business has systems that have grown messy over time. Maybe your onboarding is inconsistent. Maybe client files are stored in three places, and no one knows which version is right. Maybe your front desk, inbox, or quoting process depends too much on tribal knowledge.

An intern can document workflows, identify bottlenecks (they provide fresh ideas because they don’t know the history), and help organize procedures in a way that saves your team time long after summer ends. It’s not glamorous work, but it’s high-value work and the intern can learn a lot about process, efficiencies, and operations.

Customer Experience Reviewer

Interns can also be incredibly helpful as customer-experience reviewers. When you’re inside your own business every day, it becomes hard to see friction points. An intern has fresh eyes.

Ask them to walk through the experience as if they were a customer. Could they find the right information on your website? Was the contact process clear? Did your social media tell them what you do? Was your location easy to navigate? In almost every industry, there are blind spots the employees stopped noticing years ago.

Content Miner

Another strong use for interns is content mining. This is especially useful for businesses that know they should be marketing more consistently but never seem to have the time.

An intern can help turn existing knowledge into usable content. They can gather frequently asked questions, interview staff, organize customer success stories, pull together blog topic ideas, or help sort photos and video clips you already have. They may not be your final decision-maker, but they can absolutely help uncover the raw material your business has been sitting on. Put them to this task and you may uncover six months’ worth of content that no one can produce but you—an excellent way to stand out on social media.

Researcher

Summer interns are also well suited for research projects that tend to get pushed aside. Maybe you want to understand what competitors are doing, what events are worth attending, what partnerships might make sense, or what new audience segments you should be reaching. Maybe you want a clearer picture of local market trends or customer reviews. Interns can gather and organize that information (or use AI to do it) so leadership can make smarter decisions without spending hours chasing data.

Internal Knowledge Organizer

Another overlooked role is internal knowledge organizer. In many small and midsize businesses, important information lives in emails, sticky notes, shared drives, and one very loyal employee’s head. That isn’t a system. It’s a problem waiting to happen. What becomes of your operations if something happens to that employee? At some point every employee leaves. What information would walk with them?

An intern can help create shared resources, update templates, build simple reference guides, and make day-to-day information easier for everyone to find. That kind of cleanup can be the difference between having information at your fingertips or having to leave countless messages for past employees.

Event Planner or Worker

If your business hosts events, supports the community, or depends on local visibility, interns can help there too. They can assist with planning checklists, event follow-up, sponsorship tracking, guest communication, and post-event recaps.

They can help your business show up more professionally and more consistently. As we head into a season when networking, festivals, community programs, and business events often increase, that kind of support can make a noticeable difference.

But none of this works if the internship is built around filler. Interns don’t need to run your business, but they do need real assignments, some context, and a sense that their work matters. It’s good for them and for you. NACE notes that organized internship programs are linked to better conversion outcomes, and interns who are satisfied with their experience are far more willing to accept an offer from that employer later on.

If you’re bringing in summer help, think beyond the 2026 version of coffee runner. Think about what your business needs that your team never has time to tackle. Consider the projects that improve efficiency, strengthen visibility, and make future growth easier. That’s where interns can shine and that’s a much better use of a summer and a desk.

7 Ways to Capture Tax Refund Dollars This Month

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 20:06:15 GMT

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7 Things You Should Do Before Hiring for the Summer

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 20:13:34 GMT

It’s getting to be that time of year again—the summer scramble for capable employees. Colleges are about to go on break. High schools will finish up soon thereafter, and eager summer employees are looking for jobs now.

In the past, you probably posted a job, hired fast as fast as you could, and hoped for the best. But seasonal hiring doesn’t have to feel like a gamble. Done right, it can give you flexibility, protect your margins, and improve your customer experience. Done wrong, it creates more work than it solves.

Here’s how to hire for summer without regretting it by July.

Start With Demand, not Desperation

Most seasonal hiring decisions are based on a vague feeling that “it’s going to get busy.” That’s not a strategy. Before you post a single job, look at last year’s numbers. When did traffic increase? Which days or hours were stretched thin? Where did service break down?

Hiring should solve specific problems, not general anxiety. If Saturdays were your bottleneck, you don’t need more staff across the board. You need targeted coverage. When you hire with precision, you avoid overstaffing and protect your cash flow when business inevitably fluctuates.

Hire for Flexibility, not Perfection

It’s tempting to wait for the “ideal” candidate who can do everything. But in seasonal hiring, that mindset slows you down and limits your options. Instead, look for people who are adaptable, reliable, and willing to learn.

A college student who can work varied shifts and pick up new tasks quickly may be more valuable than someone with years of experience who needs a rigid schedule. Summer business is unpredictable. Your team should be able to move with it.

Flexibility also applies to how you structure roles. Instead of hiring for one narrow position, think in terms of coverage. Who can help at the front and jump in elsewhere when needed? That kind of cross-functionality is what keeps operations running smoothly when things get busy.

Shorten the Learning Curve

One of the biggest mistakes businesses make is assuming seasonal hires will “figure it out” or that the summer is short so why train them on everything. First, they won’t figure it out on their own or worse, they will… just not the way you would have preferred. Additionally, summer may be short but doing something wrong or a way your customers aren’t used to could cost you loyalty in the long run.

If you want temporary employees to perform like permanent ones, you need to set them up for success quickly. That means simple, clear onboarding. Not a binder no one reads. Not a rushed walkthrough during a busy shift.

Focus on the essentials. What do they absolutely need to know to do the job well in the first week? Create quick-reference guides, checklists, or short training videos. Pair new hires with someone who knows your standards and can model them in real time.

The goal is speed with consistency. The faster they feel confident, the faster they become productive.

Build a Team That Can Cover for Each Other

Summer schedules are notoriously chaotic. Vacations, last-minute requests, and shifting availability can create constant gaps if your team isn’t structured well.

This is where cross-training becomes invaluable. When employees understand more than one role, you gain flexibility without constantly adding headcount. It also reduces stress on your team. No one wants to feel like the entire operation depends on them showing up.

Set the expectation early that everyone contributes to the bigger picture. When people understand how their role connects to others, they’re more willing to step in where needed.

Don’t Ignore Your Core Team

Here’s where a lot of businesses struggle in the first few weeks of summer. They focus so much on bringing in seasonal help that they forget about the people who keep things running year-round.

Your core team is the anchor during busy seasons. If they feel overlooked, overworked, or responsible for “fixing” everything new hires don’t know, burnout isn’t far behind.

Involve them in the process. Ask for input on where help is needed. Let them contribute to training. Recognize the extra effort they’re putting in. Thank them. Give them a gift card or extra day off to show your appreciation. A supported core team will elevate your seasonal staff. An exhausted one will jeopardize your business future and company culture.

Think Beyond the Season

Not every seasonal hire is temporary. Some of your best long-term employees will come from these short-term roles.

Watch for the people who show up on time, take initiative, and connect well with customers. Those are the ones worth keeping in your pipeline. Even if you don’t have an immediate role, staying in touch gives you a head start the next time you need to hire.

Seasonal hiring isn’t just about filling gaps. It’s an opportunity to build relationships and strengthen your future workforce.

Use Your Chamber as a Hiring Advantage
If you’re trying to solve staffing challenges on your own, you’re doing too much. Your chamber is one of the most underused hiring tools you already have access to.

Start with visibility. Many chambers offer job boards, newsletter features, and social media promotion that put your open roles directly in front of a local, engaged audience. These aren’t cold applicants scrolling job sites at midnight. These people are already connected to the business community.

But the real value goes deeper than job postings.

Chambers are constantly making introductions. That includes connections to local colleges, workforce programs, and training organizations. If you need seasonal help, part-time support, or even interns, those relationships can shorten your search dramatically. Instead of broadcasting your need into the void, you’re tapping into a network that already understands your local market.

This is especially helpful when you need something more specific than “extra hands.” If your business requires certain skills, certifications, or experience, let the chamber know. Workforce development is a growing priority for many chambers, and they’re actively working to close gaps between what businesses need and what the local talent pipeline provides.

That might look like partnerships with schools, targeted training programs, or initiatives designed to prepare people for in-demand roles in your area. But none of that works if businesses stay quiet about their needs.

If you’re struggling to find qualified candidates, express it. If your industry has a skills gap, bring it forward. Chambers can’t build solutions in a vacuum, but they can be incredibly effective when they have clear direction from the business community.

At the very least, you’ll get access to better candidates. At best, you help shape a workforce pipeline that works for your business long term. And that beats posting the same job ad three times and hoping the algorithm finally shows your listing.

Sure, you can choose to do it like last year, just getting through the season. But while you’re doing the hiring work anyway, why not sure up your business’ future?

Outdated Business Practices Are Costing You More Than You Think

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 19:28:27 GMT

Hello. 1999 is calling. They want their business practices back.

If you’re old enough, that line may remind you of the classic 90s sitcom Seinfeld. But sadly, many offices are still running the same way that Elaine and George experienced way back when.

Why? Because it feels safe. Familiar processes, standard office hours, packed calendars, and old-school management habits may seem like signs of structure. But in today’s workplace, outdated practices slow things down and push good people away.

For Your Employees’ Sake

Modernizing your business does not mean chasing every new app, copying Silicon Valley, or handing your operations over to a chatbot and hoping for the best.

Instead, you need to take an honest look at how people work best today and build a workplace that reflects reality, not 90s office nostalgia.

This is not a call for ping-pong tables in the break room and pickleball courts in the parking lot. There’s a workforce need to adapt to employees because they’ve changed. Job candidates have changed. Customer expectations have changed. A business that refuses to evolve can start to feel harder to work for, harder to grow with, and harder to believe in.

Ax the Unnecessary Meetings

One of the clearest shifts in modern business is the end of the unnecessary meeting. People are tired of gathering for the sake of gathering. If a meeting does not solve a problem, move a project forward, or create true collaboration, it’s probably stealing time from work that matters. Modern businesses are learning to replace some meetings with better written communication, short check-ins, shared project tools, and clear accountability. This respects people’s focus and gives them more room to do their jobs well.

Be Flexible

Flexibility is another major factor in employee satisfaction. For years, many employers treated rigid schedules as proof of professionalism. Now, more businesses are realizing that results matter more than whether someone is sitting at a desk at exactly 8:00 a.m. every day. Flexible hours, hybrid arrangements, and work-from-home options are now seen as competitive advantages in hiring and retention.

That doesn’t mean every business can or should go fully remote. Plenty of roles require people to be on-site. But even in businesses where in-person work is essential, there are often opportunities to offer flexibility in scheduling, shift swaps, compressed workweeks, or greater autonomy over how work gets done. Employees notice when an employer treats them like responsible adults.

Embrace Efficiencies

Artificial intelligence is another area where modern businesses need a more practical mindset. AI isn’t magic. It’s not a replacement for judgment, leadership, or human connection. But it can be a powerful tool for efficiency. Small businesses can use AI to streamline routine tasks, summarize meeting notes, draft first versions of marketing copy, organize research, improve customer service workflows, and help employees spend less time on repetitive work.

Treat AI like an assistant, not an oracle. Businesses that use it wisely can save time, reduce burnout, and create more space for strategy and service. Businesses that ignore it entirely risk falling behind competitors that are learning how to do more with the same team size.

Think Employee Experience

Modern business also includes clearer communication, better technology, and stronger attention to employee experience. People want to know what’s expected of them. They want systems that work. They want onboarding that helps them succeed instead of just handing them a coffee mug and hoping it will work out. Employees want growth opportunities, regular feedback, and confidence that their employer sees them as more than a warm body filling a role.

This is critical when it comes to recruiting and retention. Small businesses often assume they can’t compete with larger employers on salary or benefits alone, and sometimes that’s true. But workplace culture, flexibility, professional development, and smart systems can make a major difference.

Employees are more likely to stay where they feel trusted, equipped, and respected. Candidates are more likely to say yes to a business that feels current, thoughtful, and well run.

Updating your practices also sends a message to customers. A business that adapts well internally is often better positioned externally. It can respond faster, communicate better, and solve problems more efficiently. Modern workplaces tend to be more resilient because they’re built to adjust rather than resist.

This is where your chamber can play an important role. Chambers are uniquely positioned to help small businesses stay current without feeling like they must figure everything out alone. Through workshops, networking, peer learning, leadership programs, and expert-led events, chambers can introduce business owners to new tools, new ideas, and new ways of thinking about workforce needs. Just as important, they create opportunities to learn from other local employers who are facing the same challenges and finding practical solutions.

And when you join the chamber, all your employees join the chamber. You may not be able to afford leadership training and professional development for all your employees, but they can get it from the chamber. Many businesses don’t think of this perk. They assume there’s one point of contact and that person reaps the chamber member benefits.

Becoming a modern business doesn’t require a complete reinvention. It starts with asking better questions.

· Are these meetings useful?

· Are these policies helping people do their best work?

· Are our systems making work easier or harder?

· Am I equipping the team for the way business operates now?

The businesses that thrive in the years ahead will not necessarily be the biggest. They will be the ones willing to adapt. Modernizing your workplace past 90s sitcom jokes makes you the kind of business talented people want to join, customers want to trust, and your community wants to see succeed.

How to Stop Being the Best-Kept Secret in Town

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 18:33:12 GMT

If you ask a small business owner where most of their opportunities come from, you’ll usually hear some version of the same answer: referrals, word of mouth, “someone who knew someone.”

Behind nearly every thriving local business is an invisible network of relationships quietly moving opportunities from one person to another. No big announcements. No flashy campaigns. Just a steady flow of trust being passed along behind the scenes.

This is how local economies work. Not just through marketing. Not just through pricing or location. But through connection and loyalty. And those connections take time.

The Network You Can’t See (But Feel Every Day)

Think about how business really gets done in your community.

A contractor needs an electrician and calls someone they’ve worked with before.

A new homeowner asks their real estate agent for someone who builds fences or builds organization in garages.

A banker hears a client mention they’re expanding and connects them to a commercial realtor.

A consultant introduces two clients who could benefit from working together.

None of this shows up in a formal report. But it drives real revenue, real growth, and real stability.

These moments happen because of relationships.

And more importantly, because of trust.

When one business refers another, they are putting their own reputation on the line. That doesn’t happen casually. It requires the confidence that the other business will deliver.

Over time, these small, consistent exchanges create a network that becomes one of the most valuable assets a business can have.

Why This Matters More Than Marketing Alone

Marketing gets attention but relationships get action. That’s because people are more apt to act on a word-of-mouth referral than a fancy ad campaign. When someone they trust says, “You should call them,” the decision is already halfway made.

That’s the difference between being visible and being chosen.

For small businesses especially, this invisible network often outperforms traditional marketing efforts. It’s more targeted, more credible, and more likely to lead to long-term customers. And best if all—more affordable.

But you don’t automatically become part of that network just because you opened your doors.

You must become known. Build trust through the quality of your good or services. And you have to be top-of-mind when the opportunity arises. There’s no ad campaign that can make that happen for you in a few hours. It’s a commitment to quality. It takes time to build a fully functional referral engine.

How Businesses Get Left Out

Businesses struggle when they’re disconnected from the flow of relationships in their community.

You can do great work and serve your customers well, and still be an unknown. If that’s the case, when opportunities move through the network, they’ll move right past you.

People refer who they know.

Which means being good at what you do is only part of the equation. Being known for what you do is the other critical half.

Where the Chamber Comes In

This is where the chamber plays a much bigger role than many people realize. A chamber isn’t just hosting events and sending newsletters. It actively shapes the invisible network of the business community. And chamber membership is like the golden ticket to the business community, if you use it.

Every conversation sparked between two members has potential because every time someone learns what another business does, a new connection point is created.

The chamber becomes the place where relationships begin, strengthen, and multiply. These introductions are the starting points for future referrals, collaborations, and opportunities.

The Compounding Effect of Connection

The real power of this network is not in one introduction. It’s what happens over time. You meet one person. That person introduces you to another. That connection leads to a project. That project leads to a referral. That referral turns into a long-term client.

And it works the other way too. Maybe you’ve been doing your own books and now you’re ready for someone else to take it over. You know that people you meet through the chamber have a connection to the community.

Now multiply those introductions and referrals across dozens or hundreds of relationships. It’s why consistent engagement matters.

Showing up once is helpful. Showing up regularly is what builds recognition. And recognition is what leads to being top of mind when opportunities move through the network.

A Simple Shift in Perspective

Many business owners think of networking as something they must do or conversely don’t have time for.

The more useful way to see it is this:

You are not just attending events or meeting people. You are positioning your business inside a living, moving network of opportunity. Every conversation makes known who you are and what you do. Every relationship increases the likelihood that someone will think of you when the right moment comes. Every time someone sees you in the community you’re building on that top-of-mind recognition.

And those moments happen quietly. In conversations you’re not part of. Between people who trust each other. That’s the invisible network you want working for you because when you’re part of it, your business doesn’t just rely on cold calling and mailers. Interested leads start finding you and wanting to work with you before they’ve even read your marketing copy.

The Hidden Shift Every Growing Business Owner Faces

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 11:20:17 GMT

If you’re a small business owner, you probably didn’t wake up one morning and declare, “Today, I’m going to be an executive.”

That would’ve required time for reflection and who has that when you’re running a business? Most entrepreneurs don’t get that luxury.

One day you’re making the thing, selling the thing, fixing the thing, or delivering the service. The next day you’re managing schedules, answering payroll questions, resolving customer issues, and trying to figure out why the printer refuses to cooperate with the accounting software.

Somewhere along the way, you stopped being the person who does the work and became the person responsible for making sure the work happens. This is the moment many small business owners quietly become what could best be described as the Accidental Executive.

You may never call yourself a CEO. In fact, most owners of small and mid-sized businesses would laugh at the idea. But if you’re overseeing staff, coordinating multiple functions of the business, making financial decisions, and setting direction for the future, you’re already operating at an executive level whether the title exists or not.

The Maker Phase

Nearly every small business begins in what could be called the “maker phase.” A person has a skill, a craft, or a service people want. A baker opens a shop. A contractor starts taking on projects. A designer begins freelancing. A consultant lands their first few clients.

In this phase, success comes from being good at the work itself. You’re the engine of the business. If you stop producing, the business stops moving. You’re also trading time for money and since there is a limited number of hours in the day, you can only grow so much under that structure.

For many entrepreneurs, this stage feels natural. The work is familiar. The results are visible. Effort goes in and something tangible comes out.

But there is another dynamic at play in those early days.

Most of your first customers aren’t buying because of a sophisticated marketing plan. They buy because they know you. They trust you. Someone recommended you. Maybe they met you through a community group, a chamber event, or a mutual connection.

You shake their hand. You show up personally. You solve their problem.

Those early relationships become the foundation of the business. They lead to repeat customers and referrals. In the beginning, your reputation travels faster than your marketing.

Then something interesting happens.

Customers start showing up more often.

The business grows.

And suddenly you can’t do everything anymore.

The First Hires Change Everything

Hiring the first employee is a proud moment. It signals growth and momentum. But it also quietly shifts your role.

Now someone needs direction, training, and feedback. There are schedules to approve, paychecks to process, and questions to answer.

Multiply that by three, five, or ten people and the nature of the job changes entirely.

The owner is no longer producing the work. You’re coordinating it.

Many business owners still think of themselves as the primary worker in the business even after this shift happens. But if your day is filled with conversations, decisions, troubleshooting, and planning instead of the original craft, the role has already changed.

You are no longer the maker. You’re the person running the operation. And you need to make that transition if you want to grow.

When Clients Miss Seeing You

There is another subtle shift that often surprises growing businesses.

In the early days, customers bought directly from you. They saw you on every visit. You answered the phone and handled the details. You were the face of the service.

As the business grows, that changes. Employees begin doing the work. New team members show up at client sites or in the store. You become the person overseeing the business rather than the person performing the service.

Often longtime clients feel that change. They might say something like, “We never see you anymore,” or “We miss working with you.”

It’s not necessarily a complaint. It’s simply a reflection of change and people don’t always like change. The client trusted you personally, and now the relationship is shifting from a one-to-one connection to a relationship with the company.

For many owners, this moment feels uncomfortable. It can create a sense that something important is being lost.

But it doesn’t have to be.

The key is making sure the client’s trust transfers from you to the organization.

One simple way to do this is to intentionally introduce your team as an extension of you. Let clients know who will be working with them and why you trust that person. Share their strengths. Position them as capable professionals, not just employees filling in for the owner.

At the same time, maintain a visible presence in the relationship. A quick check-in call, a brief email after a project, or an occasional visit can reassure clients that you are still engaged and accountable. You may not be doing the work personally anymore, but they are still guaranteeing the quality of the work.

The Uncomfortable Truth

This stage can feel frustrating because the skills that made you successful early on are no longer the skills the business needs most.

Being a great mechanic does not automatically prepare you to manage technicians, negotiate vendor relationships, and analyze pricing strategies.

Being a talented photographer does not immediately translate into managing a studio schedule, marketing campaigns, and customer service policies.

Running a growing business requires a completely different set of abilities. Leadership. Communication. Delegation. Decision-making. Strategic thinking.

These are executive-level skills, even if the business only has a handful of employees.

The uncomfortable truth is that many owners are never formally taught how to make this transition. Most are figuring it out in real time while trying to keep the business moving forward.

Why This Transition Matters

When business owners don’t recognize their role has changed, they often continue trying to operate as the primary worker while also managing the entire organization.

That combination rarely works for long.

Owners become overwhelmed. Employees feel micromanaged and confused about their role.

Recognizing the shift from maker to accidental executive allows owners to approach their role differently. Instead of trying to do everything personally, the focus moves to building systems, developing people, and creating structure that allows the business to operate effectively. Your work becomes less about personal output and more about guiding the entire operation.

Over the course of your business’ lifetime, your role will likely transition several times from doer to manager to executive leadership where operational duties fall to others.

The Chamber Can Help

This is exactly where business networks and community support become valuable.

Many small business owners are navigating these leadership shifts. Connecting with other business owners provides perspective that cannot be found inside the walls of your company.

Conversations at networking events, leadership programs, workshops, and peer groups often reveal something powerful. Nearly everyone is figuring it out as they go. Hearing how other owners approached hiring, delegation, growth, and leadership challenges can shorten the learning curve dramatically. The chamber environment creates space for those conversations to happen (and sometimes the leadership training too).

The Title Isn’t the Point

Whether someone calls themselves an owner, founder, partner, or president does not really matter. What matters is recognizing the moment when the business begins requiring executive-level thinking.

Once you shift from doer to manager (or exec), the path forward changes. The goal is no longer simply doing the work well. The goal becomes building a business where many people can do the work well and thrive. That’s the real difference between doing a job and leading an organization.

Brain Fog Is Costing Your Business More Than You Think – Here’s How to Clear It

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 21:13:09 GMT

For a small business owner, the most critical piece of equipment isn't your laptop, your CRM, or your delivery van—it’s your brain. When you are the visionary, the strategist, and the customer service department, your cognitive clarity determines your bottom line.

However, "founder’s fatigue" often leads to the dreaded brain fog: that sluggish, scattered feeling where making a simple decision feels like wading through molasses.

Here’s how to optimize your neural hardware for peak performance and clear the fog of overload. You do it for your equipment. You deserve (at least) the same level of care.

1. Master the "Context Switching" Fee

Every time you jump from an invoice to a marketing tweet to a customer complaint, your brain pays a switching fee. Research suggests this can lower productivity by up to 40%.

The Fix: Time-Batching. Group similar tasks together. Dedicate Tuesday mornings solely to social media content for the month and Thursday afternoons to invoicing. This allows your brain to stay in one "mode" and reduces the cognitive load of pivoting between these very different tasks.

2. Fuel the Biological Machine

Your brain represents only 2% of your body weight but consumes about 20% of its energy. If you fuel it with erratic caffeine spikes and skipped lunches, it will underperform.

The Fix: Prioritize neuro-protective fats (like Omega-3s) and complex carbohydrates that provide a steady stream of glucose. Most importantly, hydration is non-negotiable; even 2% dehydration can significantly impair tasks that require attention and memory.

3. Implement an "External Brain"

Brain fog is often the result of Open Loop Syndrome—the mental exhaustion caused by trying to remember ten different unfinished tasks. Just like on your computer when you have too many tabs open, performance decreases.

The Fix: Use a Capture System. Whether you use a digital app or a physical notebook, get every "to-do" or concern out of your head the moment it appears. When your brain knows the information is recorded safely elsewhere, it can stop using energy on that thought, freeing up bandwidth for deep work.

4. Optimize Your Sleep Architecture

Sleep isn't just downtime. It’s when your brain’s glymphatic system flushes out metabolic waste (essentially "washing" your brain). For a business owner, a missed hour of sleep is a direct hit to your emotional intelligence and decision-making speed, not to mention it often impacts your personality and desire to do the difficult work.

The Fix: View sleep as a non-negotiable business appointment. Aim for a consistent "wind-down" period 30 minutes before bed where screens are banned.

Quick Tips for Immediate Fog-Clearing

When you hit a wall in the middle of the workday, try these easy pattern interrupters:

· The 10-Minute Walk - Increases blood flow to the hippocampus and resets focus.

· Box Breathing - Inhale for 4, hold for 4, exhale for 4, hold for 4. Calms the nervous system.

· Single-Tasking - Close every tab except the one you’re currently working on.

· Cold Exposure - A splash of cold water on the face triggers the diving reflex, slowing heart rate and increasing alertness.

You don’t need to work more hours. Instead, make the hours you work more effective. By treating your brain with the same respect you give your business finances or equipment, you'll find that the fog lifts, leaving room for the clarity and innovation that started your business in the first place.

How to Write a Basic Business Plan

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 22:35:07 GMT

Starting a business is exciting. It’s also easier when you have a clear plan.

A business plan does not have to be long or complicated. It just needs to answer a few important questions:

· What are you building?

· Who is it for?

· How will it make money?

· And how will it operate day to day?

Whether you are launching a side hustle, opening a storefront, or preparing to apply for financing, this framework will help you create a solid foundation and answer the questions you’ll need to answer to be successful.

For this framework, we walk you through the steps with a fictitious business (Sunrise Bookkeeping) so you can understand how you might draft each step.

Step 1: Start with Your Business Snapshot
This is your quick overview. Short and clear.

Answer these questions:

• What is the name of your business?

• What product or service do you offer?

• Who is your ideal customer?

• What problem do you solve?

• How will you make money?

Example:
“Sunrise Bookkeeping provides monthly bookkeeping services for small local businesses that want clear financial reports without hiring a full-time accountant. We offer flat-rate packages and virtual support.”

If you can explain your business in a few sentences, you’re on the right track.

Step 2: Define the Problem and Your Solution

Every strong business solves a problem or meets a need.

Ask yourself:

• What challenge does your customer face?

• Why does that challenge matter to them?

• Why is your solution better, easier, or more convenient?

For Sunrise Bookkeeping, the problem is simple: many small business owners don’t have time to manage their books. They feel overwhelmed by tax season. The solution is ongoing, organized financial support at a predictable monthly cost.

Be specific. Clarity builds confidence.

Step 3: Identify Your Target Customer

Avoid saying “everyone” when it comes to who you sell to. Successful businesses start by focusing on a clear audience.

Describe:

• Who they are

• What stage of life or business they are in

• What they value most (price, speed, trust, expertise, convenience)

• Where they find services like yours

For example, Sunrise Bookkeeping may target local service businesses with 1–10 employees that need reliable reporting but are not ready to hire in-house staff.

The clearer you are about your customer, the easier marketing becomes.

Step 4: Outline Your Products or Services

List what you sell and what customers receive.

For each offer, define:

• What is included

• How much it costs

• What outcome the customer gets

Example packages:
Basic Monthly Bookkeeping – $400 per month – Includes transaction categorization, monthly reports, and reconciliations

Growth Package – $650 per month – Includes bookkeeping plus quarterly financial review meetings

Clear offers help customers say yes faster.

Step 5: Understand Your Market and Competition

You do not need complex research, but you should know who else serves your audience.

Answer:

• Who are your top competitors?

• What do they do well?

• Where is there room for improvement?

• What makes your business different?

Your competitive advantage might be:

• Personalized service

• Faster turnaround

• A niche specialty

• Flexible pricing

• Strong community presence

Chamber membership itself can become part of your advantage through visibility and local credibility.

Step 6: Create a Simple Marketing and Sales Plan

Now answer two important questions: How will customers find you? How will they buy?

List your main marketing strategies. Examples:

• Referrals and networking

• Social media

• Partnerships with other businesses

• Search engine visibility

• Local events

Then outline your sales process.

For example:
Inquiry → Discovery Call → Proposal → Agreement → Service Delivery → Follow-Up

Keep it simple and repeatable.

Step 7: Plan Your Operations

Explain how your business will function day to day.

Consider:

• Where will you operate?

• What tools or equipment do you need?

• What are your business hours?

• Will you hire help or work alone?

• What systems will you use for payments, scheduling, or customer service?

Operational clarity builds stability.

Step 8: Review the Financial Basics

Even a simple plan should include realistic financial thinking.

Outline:

• Startup costs (equipment, website, inventory, deposits)

• Monthly fixed expenses (rent, software, insurance)

• Variable costs per sale

• Average price per sale

• Estimated number of sales per month

Then estimate:
Monthly Revenue = Price × Number of Sales

Break-even point = Monthly Fixed Costs ÷ Profit per Sale

These numbers do not need to be perfect, but they should be thoughtful and grounded in research.

Step 9: Set Your First 90-Day Milestones

Turn your plan into action with clear goals:

• Finalize pricing

• Secure space or suppliers

• Build website and online listings

• Join professional organizations (these can be critical for networking, advice, and credibility)

• Launch with a promotional offer

• Gain your first 10 customers

• Collect reviews

A plan only works if it leads to progress.

When You May Need a Longer Business Plan

A basic plan works well for many small businesses. However, you may need a more detailed version if you are:

• Applying for a bank loan

• Seeking investors

• Purchasing a franchise

• Opening multiple locations

• Launching a capital-intensive operation

In those cases, your plan may require expanded financial projections, cash flow forecasts, and deeper market research.

Keep in mind, a business plan is not about perfection. It’s about clarity. It helps you make better decisions, communicate your vision, and build confidence in yourself and others. Most importantly, it gives your idea structure.

If you are starting or growing a business in our community, the Chamber is here to support you with connections, education, and local insight. We encourage you to take the next step and turn your idea into a well-planned reality.

How Do I Raise My Prices Without Losing Loyal Customers?

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 14:16:25 GMT

It’s a question that feels complicated. If you’re in business long enough, you’re going to have to raise your prices at some point. And yet when you do, it’s possible loyal customers may have big feelings about it. So how do you raise your prices without alienating the people who go you to where you are?

Why Pricing Conversations Get Weird

Costs creep up, your calendar fills, and suddenly you’re working harder for the same money. That’s not a growth plan. It’s a slow leak.

But you can adjust pricing without drama, without apologizing, and without putting your reputation on the line.

Pricing touches three sensitive areas at once for most business pros:

· Your confidence: Am I actually worth this?

· Your customers: Will they get mad and leave?

· Your market: What if competitors are cheaper?

You won’t lose customers because you raised prices. If your customers leave it’s because they don’t understand the value, or they feel surprised. Price increases feel like betrayal when they feel sudden or inexplicable. No one wants to pay more, but when they see the value of what you’re providing and they understand what’s behind the increase, you can likely keep them as a customer.

Before You Raise Anything, Do This Quick Check

You’re trying to run a healthy business. Remember that. Costs increase. There’s no way to continue to provide your goods or services at the same rate you did a few years ago (unless you had a ridiculous markup—and if so, good for you). But for most of us, this is a necessary cost of doing business these days and you have to keep up with the times.

Start with these questions:

1. What’s changed since your current pricing was set?
If your costs, time, labor, or demand have changed, your pricing should change too. Inflation is a business reality.

2. What’s the real cost to deliver your product or service?
Not just materials or payroll. Consider time, tools, admin hours, software, insurance, travel, prep, cleanup, follow-up, knowledge acquired to get you to this point. If you don’t count it, you’re donating it.

3. Where are you losing money without realizing it?
Common culprits:

· Custom work that turns into endless revisions

· Meetings that don’t lead anywhere

· Last-minute changes and reschedules

· Free add-ons that became “expected”

Three Pricing Moves That Don’t Scare Customers Off

You don’t have to “raise prices across the board.” Sometimes the smartest move is reshaping how people buy from you.

Move 1: Repackage instead of simply increasing
If you’re worried about blowback, don’t just raise the number. Raise the clarity.

Examples:

· Instead of “$125 per visit,” create “Standard” and “Priority” service tiers.

· Instead of “$2,000 project,” define three packages with different scopes.

· Instead of a single offering, create an upfront charge or membership, like a wine bar offering a membership club that’s more affordable in bulk than just a single glass, which benefit loyal members

· Instead of “hourly,” offer a flat-rate option for common work.

When you package, customers can see what they’re paying for. It becomes less about you being “more expensive” and more about them choosing what fits.

Move 2: Increase your minimums
This is the quiet hero of profitability.

Examples:

· Minimum project size

· Minimum order quantity

· Minimum monthly retainer

· Minimum delivery fee

Minimums cut out low-margin work that eats your week. You’ll likely lose the most price-sensitive customers, which sounds scary until you realize they’re also the most demanding per dollar.

Move 3: Adjust for urgency and complexity
Not all work is equal. Not all customers are equal. Pricing can reflect that.

Consider:

· Rush fees

· After-hours fees

· Complexity fees for extra revisions or custom requests

· Travel or onsite fees

· “Done-for-you” vs “DIY” options

When to Raise Prices

Timing matters because you want the change to feel intentional and not random.

Three good moments to adjust pricing:

· When demand is high and you’re booked out

· When costs have increased significantly

· When you’ve improved your results or delivery (faster, better, smoother)

· When you’ve gained new expertise or value

· When you roll out something new

If you’re already overloaded, raising prices can improve customer experience. You deliver better quality, which means higher prices.

The Conversation

This is where a lot of business owners hurt themselves. They over-explain, apologize, or sound defensive. Don’t do any of that. Your message should follow the four Cs: cursory, clear, confident, and customer-aware.

Here are a few scripts you can adapt for your business.

Script 1: Simple and direct
“Starting April 1, our pricing will be updated. This change reflects increased costs and allows us to continue delivering the level of quality and service you expect.”

Script 2: For loyal customers
“As a valued customer, you’ll have access to current pricing through May 1. After that, updated rates will apply. We appreciate your continued support.”

Script 3: When you’re shifting packages
“We’re updating our service options to make them clearer and more flexible. You’ll now be able to choose between three packages based on your needs. The new options begin April 2.”

You’re not asking permission. You’re informing them.

What If Customers Push Back?

Some will. That’s normal. The goal is not to avoid it, but to handle it professionally.

If someone says, “That’s too much,” try:
“I understand. If budget is a concern, we can look at an option with a smaller scope.”
Or:
“I hear you. Our pricing reflects the time and expertise required to deliver it well.”

If someone threatens to leave, stay calm:
“I’d hate to lose you, but I understand you need to choose what’s best for you.”

Most of the time, the customers you want will respect you more for being steady.

If you are still worried about raising prices with your loyal customers, grandfather them into their original pricing structure and raise prices for all new customers. However, this only works when you have room to take on new customers.

Eventually it will be inevitable that even your grandfathered customers will see a price increase. But if you want to put it off, that’s a way to do it.

A Quick Action Plan for This Week

1. Pick one pricing move: repackage, minimums, or urgency fees

2. Decide your effective date: give customers a reasonable notice window

3. Write your message: two to three sentences, no apologies

4. Update your materials: website, menus, quotes, proposals, booking links

5. Practice your response so you don’t panic when someone asks why

Then stand firm. Pricing without panic is really about leadership.

You don’t raise prices because you’re greedy. You raise prices because your business has to be sustainable to serve anyone at all. You’re building something that should last. Pricing is one of the ways you make sure it can.

And if you want a sounding board, a few examples, or a sanity check before you hit “send” on the announcement, your chamber community is exactly the place to start.

Strategic Partnerships: The Growth Engine for Local Businesses

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 14:31:40 GMT

By Lynette Vargas Garcia Blanks, Creative Director of Seattle Agenda and CEO of The

Networking Bee Group

Hey there, business builders!

Through my work with The Networking Bee Group and the Mercer Island Chamber of

Commerce, I've discovered a powerful truth: collaboration beats competition every time . The

most thriving local businesses aren't going it alone they're building strategic partnerships that

create mutual growth.

Let me share the partnership strategies that are transforming businesses right here in our

community.

Why Local Partnerships Are Your Secret Weapon

The business world has changed. Big retailers and online giants dominate on price and

convenience. But local businesses have an unbeatable advantage: authentic community

connections . When we partner together, we amplify our strengths and create experiences

customers can't find anywhere else.

3 Partnership Strategies That Drive Real Results

1. Co-Marketing: Double Your Reach

Skip the expensive ads. The best marketing happens when complementary businesses join forces.

I've watched a local coffee shop and bookstore launch a "Coffee & Pages" promotion crosspromoting

on social media and offering bundled discounts. Both saw 30% increases in foot

traffic.

Your move: Identify three businesses whose customers align with yours. Reach out with one

simple collaboration idea this week.

2. Joint Events: Create Community Experiences

Events connect people and they're easier when you're not solo. The Mercer Island Chamber's

"Thankful for Local Bingo" event perfectly illustrates joint event success. This past November

promotion brought together over 20 local businesses, from YogaSix and Island Books to The

Crawlspace Gastropub and Mercer Island Florist, creating a community-wide scavenger hunt that

drove foot traffic to every participating location. These collaborations create authentic

experiences customers love.

Your move: Think of an event you've wanted to host. Who would be the perfect partners to

make it happen?

4. Referral Networks: Build Trust-Based Growth

This is where magic happens. When you genuinely know and trust other business owners, you

become each other's best advocates. At The Networking Bee Group, we've built an entire

community around this principle.

I'm talking about authentic relationships where you confidently refer clients because you know

they'll be taken care of not transactional arrangements.

Your move : Schedule coffee with one local business owner this month. No agenda just build the

relationship first.

Keys to Successful Partnerships

• Start small: Test with a simple collaboration before formal commitments

• Communicate clearly: Set expectations about roles, success metrics, and problemsolving

• Seek complementary strengths: The best partnerships combine different capabilities

• Think long-term: Ongoing partnerships create sustained growth

• Celebrate together: Acknowledge wins to build momentum

The Mercer Island Opportunity

Our community is perfectly sized small enough for genuine connections, yet connected enough

to the Seattle area for real impact. When Mercer Island businesses collaborate, we strengthen not

just ourselves but our entire community.

Through Seattle Agenda and The Networking Bee, I've witnessed this transformation. When we

support each other, everyone benefits businesses grow, the community thrives, and we build an

economy our neighbors want to support.

Take Action Today

Strategic partnerships require intentional relationship-building, but you don't have to figure it out

alone. Start with one idea from this post. Reach out to one business owner. Have one

conversation.

That's how every great collaboration begins with someone taking the first step.

In our community, we rise together.

What partnerships will you explore? Let's connect at the next Chamber event!

— Lynette VGarcia Blanks

The 48-Hour Rule: Turning Business Ideas into Reality

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 00:18:40 GMT

Small business owners are usually not short on ideas. You have them in the shower, in the car, halfway through a client call, and even in the middle of the night. Ideas for a new service. A better way to onboard customers. A partnership you should pursue. A social post series that would actually sound like you.

No, the problem is not creativity. The problem is action.

Most good ideas don’t die because they were bad. They die because they never get translated into a next step while they’re still exciting.

That’s why you need the 48-Hour Rule.

The rule is simple:

If an idea doesn’t have a next action plotted and scheduled within 48 hours, it’s not a plan. It’s entertainment.

This is not a judgment on your executing abilities. It’s your business. The urgent pulls harder than the important. And once an idea slips behind payroll, customer emails, and the Tuesday fire drill, it rarely climbs back out.

So, let’s talk about how to make the 48-Hour Rule work in real life with time limits.

Why 48 Hours Works (And “Someday” Doesn’t)

A new idea creates a burst of clarity. You can see the path. You can picture the result. You feel a little lighter because you’ve imagined a better version of your business.

But clarity fades fast.

In 48 hours, two things happen:

Reality returns. Your current workload reasserts itself or you start doubting your abilities, your team’s abilities, your customer’s interests, or any other number of things that begin to cause…
The idea starts to feel bigger than it is. You forget the simple version and only remember the “perfect” version. This becomes next to impossible to put into action.

The 48-Hour Rule protects your idea from both. It forces you to do one thing before the moment passes: choose the next action .

Not the whole plan. Not the branding. Not the full rollout. Just the next action.

The Difference Between an Idea and a Next Action

An idea is fun, creative, exciting, while a next action is specific, physical, and schedulable. It’s something you can do without needing another meeting with yourself. Shy away from your action being “research.” It’s easy to get lost in it with little to show.

Here are examples:

Idea: “We should improve customer follow-up.”
Next action: “Draft a two-email follow-up template and save it in the CRM.”
Idea: “We should partner with another business.”
Next action: “Write one partnership pitch email and send it to two businesses by Friday.”
Idea: “We should raise prices.”
Next action: “List top 10 services, current prices, and margins in a spreadsheet by Thursday at 10 a.m.”

If you can’t schedule it, it’s not a next action.

How to Implement the 48-Hour Rule Without Blowing up Your Week

If you’re excited about your new idea, get something scheduled, even during a busy week.

Try this:

Step 1: Capture the idea in one sentence.
Not five paragraphs. One sentence. Put it in a running note on your phone or a single “Idea Parking Lot” document.

Step 2: Write the smallest next action.
Ask: “What’s the first move that would make this 5% more real?”

Step 3: Schedule it inside the next 48 hours.
Not “this week.” Not “soon.” Put a 15–30-minute block on your calendar. Treat it like a client meeting. Because it is. Your future revenue is sitting in the lobby.

Step 4: Give it a finish line.
The goal of that block is not perfection. It’s progress you can point to. A draft. A message sent. A decision made. A file created.

The “Two-Track” Trick for Busy Seasons

If you’re in a truly slammed stretch, use this adjustment: you only have to schedule one of two things within 48 hours :

The next action or
A decision to deliberately defer it (with a date)

That second option matters. Because “not now” can be a smart business decision.

If you can’t do the action, schedule a 10-minute decision block: “Do we pursue this in Q1 or not?” That keeps you moving.

What This Looks Like Over Time

The magic of the 48-Hour Rule isn’t that every idea becomes a big initiative. Instead, your business becomes a place where ideas get handled, not hoarded.

You’ll start to notice:

Fewer loose ends rattling around in your brain
Faster follow-through (which customers feel immediately)
More momentum inside your team
Better instincts about what’s worth doing, because you’re testing ideas in small bites

Action compounds in the way that matters reducing chaos and increasing innovation.

A Simple Challenge for This Week

Pick one idea you’ve been sitting on. Just one.

Write the next action. Schedule 20 minutes for it in the next 48 hours. Then do it.

That’s how businesses grow—small, consistent moments of follow-through.

Ask the Chamber

If you’re thinking, “I have ideas, but I need the right people, resources, or a push,” you’re not alone. That’s exactly what a chamber of commerce is built for: turning good intentions into traction.

Use your chamber for the kind of next actions that matter:

Ask them to make an introduction that leads to a partnership or something specific you need
Attend one event and meet your next vendor or client
Join one committee and get closer to decision-makers
Ask one question and get practical insight from business owners who’ve been there

Your idea may be game changing, but you won’t know until you execute. You may not have time to get it completely worked out and implemented, but you do have time to start with a 20-minute next step. Try the 48-Hour Rule this week. Then let your chamber help you turn that first step into a path.

Is Your Business Owner-Dependent?

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 16:58:16 GMT

It’s a simple question. Slightly uncomfortable. Surprisingly revealing.

If you stepped away from your business for two weeks starting tomorrow, no email, no Slack, no “just checking in,” what would fall apart?

Most business owners don’t love this thought experiment. Not because they’re doing anything wrong, but because many small businesses are built on proximity. You are the system. You are the memory. You are the fixer of last resort.

That works. Until it doesn’t.

We’re not suggesting this asking this question only when you’re about to plan a sabbatical or if you’re fantasizing about a beach with no Wi-Fi. This should be a quarterly question you ask yourself to test the resilience of your business.

What Usually Breaks First

When owners walk through this question honestly, a few pressure points show up again and again.

Decision bottlenecks are common. If every approval, answer, or green light runs through you, progress slows the moment you step away. Not because your team isn’t capable, but because the rules live in your head.

You’ve painted yourself into a corner, which at first feels good because the business needs you. But then the very thing that felt good starts wearing on you and you can’t get a moment’s peace even when you need one.

Customer communication is another. Clients know to “just call you” because you’ve always been responsive and why start at the bottom of the ladder if you can head straight to the top? That’s a compliment. It’s also a vulnerability.

Then there’s institutional knowledge . Passwords. Vendor contacts. Renewal dates. The little things that keep operations moving quietly in the background. When they aren’t documented, they’re fragile.

None of this means your business is poorly run. It means it’s human.

The Myth of “I’ll Get to it Later”

Many owners tell themselves they’ll systemize “when things slow down.” The problem is that things rarely slow down on their own. Growth adds complexity. Success adds volume. Even good seasons create strain.

Waiting for the perfect time to document processes or delegate authority often means never doing it at all. And the cost shows up in subtle ways: missed opportunities, delayed responses, and burnout disguised as dedication.

Don’t remove yourself from the business. Just remove yourself as the single point of failure.

Start Smaller Than You Think

You don’t need a 50-page operations manual to make meaningful progress. In fact, starting that big is usually why people never start at all.

Instead, focus on a two-week lens.

Ask yourself three questions:

· What decisions would stall without me?

· What questions would my team or customers ask first?

· What information only exists in my inbox or my head?

Then document just those things. If this seems overwhelming, dictate them to AI and instruct it to create an operations manual around that topic or create a shared document with clear “if this, then that” guidance. Include a short list of who handles what when you’re unavailable and a basic contact list for vendors and partners.

Go for clarity.

Delegation as Leadership, not Abdication

One of the fears that holds people back from doing this is loss of control. They worry if they hand over the reins that it will be done incorrectly.

Maybe. Sometimes.

But leadership isn’t preventing mistakes at all costs. It’s building capacity so the business doesn’t depend on one person’s constant presence.

Delegation done well includes context, not just tasks. It explains the why, not just the what. When people understand how decisions should be made, they don’t need to wait for permission.

That’s how trust compounds.

Another fear is the fear of being replaced. “If I give up my knowledge, they won’t need me.” You may also be afraid that if “I share my knowledge employees will leave me.”

The latter can happen anyway and if you give them opportunity for growth, they’ll be less likely to do so.

Why This Planning Matters Beyond Vacations

Even if you never plan to take two weeks away, this exercise still matters.

Life happens. Illness. Family needs. Unexpected opportunities. A business that can’t be flexible creates stress when flexibility is needed most.

On the flip side, a business that can run without constant oversight is more valuable, more attractive to partners and high-performing employees, and more resilient in changing conditions.

That’s not just good for you. It’s good for your employees, your customers, and your community.

Where Your Chamber Fits In

This is where chambers quietly shine.

You don’t have to solve this alone. Chambers of commerce connect you to peers who’ve already tackled these challenges. They host workshops on operations, leadership, and succession planning. They introduce you to service providers who help businesses document processes, strengthen teams, and plan for growth. They may also offer AI training that can show you easy, efficient ways to put together the manual that will make all of this possible.

Just as importantly, chambers give you space to think strategically instead of reactively. Roundtables. Mentorship. Conversations that pull you out of the weeds and back into the role of leader.

If this article made you pause, that’s a signal. Start the conversation. Ask your chamber what resources are available. Check out its calendar to see what low-cost (or even free) resources are available. Reach out to another member and compare notes.

You built a business to feed yourself and your family, but you’re past that stage now. You’re helping to feed others too. It’s time you ensure they can feed themselves as well.

Holiday Networking: Building Community and Growing Together

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 16:38:35 GMT

As we enter this beautiful holiday season, I want to share something close to my heart: the power

of genuine connection and community building for our small businesses.

After more than a decade of networking and bringing business owners together, I've seen

firsthand how the relationships we build during the holidays can transform our businesses and

our lives. This isn't just about exchanging business cards, it's about creating a supportive

community where we all thrive together.

Why Holiday Networking Matters for Our Community

The holidays offer something special: people are more open, more generous, and more willing to

connect authentically. When we come together during this season, we're not just building

business relationships, we're strengthening the fabric of our entire business community.

We Lift Each Other Up

Small business ownership comes with unique challenges. When we network, we create a circle

of fellow entrepreneurs who truly understand the journey. These connections become our

cheerleaders, our advisors, and our friends. Together, we're stronger.

We Expand Our Reach

Every conversation is an opportunity to share your story and discover new possibilities. When

you authentically connect with others, they become ambassadors for your business, naturally

sharing about you with their own networks. This organic growth is powerful and sustainable.

We Learn From Each Other

Our community is full of wisdom and experience. Through networking, we share insights,

strategies, and lessons learned. This collective knowledge helps all of us become better business

owners and community leaders.

We Create Collaborative Opportunities

Some of the most exciting business growth happens when small businesses collaborate. Through

meaningful networking, you'll discover partners whose strengths complement yours, opening

doors to joint ventures, cross-promotions, and shared success.

Simple Ways to Network This Holiday Season

You don't need a complicated strategy or perfect pitch. Here's how to connect authentically this

season:

Join Community Events

Look for holiday gatherings, Chamber events, local fundraisers, or business mixers. Come as

yourself, with an open heart and genuine curiosity about others. The best connections happen

when we're authentic.

Reach Out With Gratitude

Send personalized holiday messages to your business connections. Share your appreciation for

their support and friendship this year. These thoughtful gestures strengthen bonds and keep

relationships warm.

Create Connection Spaces

Consider hosting a casual gathering, a coffee meet-up, a virtual celebration, or a holiday open

house. When you create spaces for others to connect, you become a community builder, and

that's invaluable.

Give Back Together

Partner with fellow business owners to volunteer during the holidays. Serving your community

together builds deep, meaningful connections while making a positive impact.

Always Follow Through

After meeting someone new, reach out within a few days. Share that resource you mentioned,

make that introduction you promised, or simply say how much you enjoyed meeting them.

Reliability builds trust.

Lead With Generosity

Here's what I've learned at The Networking Bee Group: the strongest networks are built on

generosity, not transactions. When you focus on how you can support others, help them succeed,

and contribute to the community, everything changes. People remember your kindness. They

trust you. They want to collaborate with you and refer others to you.

This community-first approach isn't just good for business, it's good for the soul.

Your Holiday Networking Action Plan

I invite you to commit to three simple actions this season:

1. Attend at least one Chamber or community networking event.

2. Send personalized thank-you messages to five business connections expressing genuine

appreciation.

3. Connect two people in your network who could benefit from knowing each other.

These small, intentional steps create ripples of connection throughout our entire business

community.

Let's Grow Together

At Seattle Agenda and The Networking Bee Group, our mission is simple: to help small

businesses build authentic connections that lead to real growth. This holiday season, I encourage

you to embrace networking not as a business task, but as an opportunity to build the

collaborative, supportive community we all deserve.

When small businesses work together and lift each other up, our entire community flourishes.

Let's make this holiday season the beginning of meaningful connections that carry us into a

prosperous new year.

Here's to community, collaboration, and connection.

Lynette VGarcia Blanks

A Small Business Survival Guide for the Holidays

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 17:51:14 GMT

We’re fast approaching the time of year where it can like you’re running a marathon on a tightrope. Customers need attention. Promotions are queued up to be launched (or designed). Your inventory is giving you nightmares and you have huge goals for the end of the year.

And you’re supposed to stay cheerful, strategic, and somehow well-rested through it all.

But the problem isn’t your big aspirations for 2026, nor does the problem lie in trying to solve the things you can’t control.

It’s your habits.

James Clear’s Atomic Habits reminds us that meaningful results come from the small, repeatable choices we make every day. During the holidays, those tiny decisions are the difference between burnout and breakthrough. When you build systems that work even when you’re tired, distracted, or knee-deep in ribbon, the season gets lighter and your business gets stronger.

Here’s how to apply some of Clear’s most practical ideas to help you not just survive the holiday season, but launch into January with invincible momentum.

Start with a 1% Mindset

One percent doesn’t sound like much until you stack it day after day. You don’t have to reinvent your business. You don’t need a perfect storefront, flawless offers, or an Instagram grid that looks like a lifestyle magazine.

Instead, choose one area to improve just slightly. Take that one small step toward your goal.

· Maybe it’s tightening up your email promo schedule.
· Maybe it’s creating a smoother checkout flow.
· Maybe it’s something as simple as promising yourself (and following through on) a good night’s rest for the next month.

Small refinements reduce stress and increase sales. They also remind you that progress is happening, even in chaos.

Re-design Your Environment

Clear says our surroundings often shape our behavior more than our motivation does. This is especially true during the holidays when the pace is high and attention is scattered.

Look around your space with strategic eyes.

If your workspace feels cluttered, simplify it. If your best seasonal products aren’t visible at first glance, elevate them. If your team keeps losing pens, square readers, bags, or bows, create a “holiday command center” with everything in one place.

Tiny environmental shifts create smoother systems. And smoother systems prevent those frantic moments when you’re internally screaming, “Where did we put the gift bags?!”

Build Habits That Support Your Busiest Days

The season is unpredictable, so anchor your day with predictable habits.

A few anchors to consider:

• A 5-minute morning reset, before opening or seeing clients
• A quick end-of-day review: what sold, what slowed down, what needs restocking, what got clicks, what impact on our customers did we see?
• A customer-touch habit: one message, one email, or one thank-you note daily
• A “two-minute tidy” before leaving (your future self will adore you)

Consistency creates stability. When everything else feels like holiday improv, these anchors act like rhythm lines on the page.

Use Systems, not Willpower

If you remember nothing else from this article…pay attention…

Willpower gets weaker when you get tired. Systems don’t.

If you want to post consistently on social media, schedule a week’s worth of content on one calmer afternoon.
If you want to upsell a holiday special, script one clear line for every team member.
If you want to stay on top of inventory, set an alarm that reminds you to check key items before the weekend rush.

During the holidays, systems carry you when energy can’t.

Make Good Habits Easy and Bad Habits Harder

Clear’s “make it obvious, make it attractive, make it easy, make it satisfying” formula is your season’s secret weapon.

Want your team to use the upsell script? Keep it taped near the register or near each desk.
Want customers to sign up for your loyalty program? Put the QR code where people naturally pause and that can be more than one spot.

Want to stop scrolling between transactions? Keep your phone in a drawer.

Design beats discipline every time.

Don’t Forget Identity: Who Are You Becoming This Season?

In Atomic Habits, Clear says outcomes come from identity. While you’re navigating the busiest weeks of the year, take a breath and remember who you are as a leader.

· Are you the business that handles crowds with warmth?

· The business that makes people feel good?

· The business that takes care of its team so they can take care of customers?

When you anchor yourself in identity, your choices shift. You show up differently. You communicate more intentionally. You prioritize what matters instead of chasing every glitter-coated opportunity.

And your customers feel it.

Give Yourself Permission to Rest

This sounds counterintuitive in a season that thrives on hustle, but rest is productivity’s partner.
Clear reminds us that habits compound. That includes bad ones like exhaustion, resentment, and skipping meals.

Take care of yourself the way you take care of your customers. Breaks aren’t indulgent; they’re fuel.

Let the Season Shape You—Without Steamrolling You

You don’t need massive change. You need micro-moves that create calm, clarity, and steady revenue.

If you build the right habits now, January stops being a “recovery month” and becomes a runway. Your systems will be tighter. Your team will be stronger. And you’ll have proof that even small businesses can thrive in big seasons.

How to Protect Your Peace During the Busiest Season in Business

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 18:42:34 GMT

With the holiday season approaching with the speed of a bullet train (holiday prep, year-end sales pushes, family gatherings, budget reviews, etc.), it’s no surprise many of us feel our blood pressure and tension rise, while our patience comes crashing down. While this season is one of the most exciting of the year, it brings lots of extra stress.

But what if some of that stress was unavoidable?

Maybe we can’t keep that troublesome relative away but we can borrow wisdom from the minimalist movement and writer Joshua Becker’s article, “The Stress We Needlessly Bring into Our Lives.”

Here are four practical reframes you can share with your team and apply to your own workflow, designed specifically for business juggling multiple moving parts in busy months ahead.

1. Stop Comparing—Start Aligning

It’s tempting to look at other businesses and feel like you’re falling behind. Maybe their social media looks polished, their storefront’s decorated like a movie set, or their sales numbers seem untouchable.

But comparison steals focus.

Your business has its own rhythm, audience, and goals. Instead of chasing what others are doing, take stock of what’s working for you. Consistency and authenticity will always outlast temporary trends.

2. Simplify Your Season

Overcommitment is one of the biggest stress traps. For business owners, that often means piling on extra promotions, extending hours you can’t sustain, or saying yes to every collaboration that comes along.

You might be busy and pulled in many directions but it’s unlikely you’ll feel accomplished if you overcommit yourself to trying to do it all at the same time. Imagine if you wanted to paint your entire house. If every day you woke up and painted a different area for one hour, it would be a very long time before the house would feel complete. At the end of a month, you will have put in 30 or so hours in painting but you may not even have an entire room finished. You’ll feel depleted and dissatisfied even though you spent a month working on it.

This year, try doing fewer things better. Focus your efforts on what brings in customers or builds lasting relationships. Simplifying isn’t a step back; it’s a strategy for quality and control and doing more of what works, not more of a little bit of everything.

3. Build Breathing Room Into Your Calendar

Every business has busy seasons, but nonstop hustle doesn’t equal progress. Schedule short breaks or “quiet hours” each week to regroup, brainstorm, or catch up. You’ll make better decisions when you’re not rushing from one task to the next.

Encourage your employees to do the same. A calm, focused team provides better service and represents your business more positively, especially during the holidays, when stress levels tend to spill over.

4. Reevaluate Expectations

The pressure to please customers, employees, and family can quickly become overwhelming. But not every long-standing tradition or offer is worth the toll it takes.

If a particular sale or event no longer delivers value, it’s okay to let it go or reinvent it. Communicate changes early and clearly, and most customers will understand. When expectations are realistic, everyone wins.

5. Redefine Success for the Season

This time of year, we tend to measure success by numbers—sales totals, event attendance, new clients. But remember, success also looks like closing the year without burnout, keeping your team motivated, or maintaining great customer experiences through the chaos.

As Becker notes, “We can’t control everything. We can only control our choices.” Choose the ones that keep you steady, clear-minded, and ready for what’s next.

Running a business is demanding, and the holidays only amplify that reality. As your Chamber, we encourage you to slow down where you can, focus on what truly matters, and give yourself credit for how far you’ve come.

You’ve built something worth protecting—your time, your team, and your wellbeing included. As we move into the holiday season, we’re here to support your continued success, one thoughtful choice at a time. Let us know how we can help.

Beyond the Mixer: Maximizing Your Chamber Membership

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 19:21:25 GMT

If your chamber membership is gathering dust because you don't enjoy networking events, you're missing out on significant value hiding in plain sight. While mixers and ribbon cuttings get the spotlight, your membership includes strategic resources that can solve real business problems, even for those of us who hate “working a room.”

Your Chamber as Problem-Solving Partner

Before hiring expensive consultants or spending hours researching solutions or attending City Council meetings with time you don’t have, tap into your chamber's institutional knowledge. Most chambers field dozens of questions weekly from businesses facing similar challenges. Need a reliable commercial insurance broker? Wondering about local permit requirements? Looking for employee benefits providers? Your chamber staff has likely connected ten other businesses with exactly what you need in the past month alone. A simple email can save you days of research and connect you with pre-vetted resources.

Education on Your Schedule

Most chambers offer workshops, webinars, and training sessions that rival paid professional development—but at a fraction of the cost. Can't make the scheduled time? Some chambers now record sessions or offer them virtually. Topics typically span everything from social media strategy and financial management to HR compliance and cybersecurity. Review your chamber's upcoming calendar and block time now for relevant sessions. Even attending one quality program quarterly delivers ROI that exceeds most annual membership fees. Plus, chamber benefits are valid for your employees. You could send your whole marketing department or staff to the Chamber’s next session(space permitting).

Strategic Visibility Without the Small Talk

Hate networking events but still need visibility? Most chambers offer alternative exposure opportunities: member spotlights in newsletters, social media features, directory listings with SEO benefits, and more

Volunteer for a committee that meets during business hours rather than evening mixers. You'll build deeper relationships with fewer people while contributing your expertise. Economic development, public policy, events, or education committees often need people and meet in formats more comfortable than cocktail parties.

Make Your Voice Count

Chambers actively advocate on behalf of businesses with local and state government. Your membership gives you a direct channel to influence policies affecting your bottom line from zoning regulations to tax policies. Most chambers solicit member input on advocacy priorities but rarely hear from the majority of their membership. When your chamber sends advocacy surveys or requests feedback, take ten minutes to respond. Your specific challenges and stories give chamber leaders concrete examples when they're meeting with elected officials.

Your chamber membership is a toolkit, not a ticket to parties. Identify two or three benefits aligned with your current business needs and commit to using them this quarter. The return on investment is there. You just need to claim it.

The Hidden Cash Sitting In Your Business (And How to Find It)

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 18:45:41 GMT

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How to Fix Your Elevator Pitch

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 17:47:31 GMT

Think of the person in your circle (even tangentially) who comes to mind when you read the word, “boring.” Who is it?

Now ask yourself why you think they’re boring.

It’s your opinion, right?

Maybe all they do is talk about sports or maybe when you’re talking about sports, they want to talk about the weather.

Perhaps they’re not boring at all. Maybe it’s just that you don’t have mutual interests.

If your business is struggling to attract loyal customers, it might be that you’re suffering from the same thing. Maybe you’re talking about things your ideal customer doesn’t care about.

It’s time to get their attention and become much more interesting to them.

The Problem with Basic Marketing

The problem many businesses face when it comes to their marketing message isn’t that they are inherently boring. It’s that what they choose to make their message is not something that appeals to their ideal audience.

To captivate that audience, you need to first understand who the audience is, then present something that they need/want, and make that solution plausible/believable.

But sadly, most businesses and professionals describe their services in generic ways that sound dreamy but completely inactionable or boring such as:

A life coach who writes, “I help people follow their dreams.”

Or a bakery that posts, “We sell cookies.”

Why Generic Messaging Falls Flat

Now before you argue, “But it’s what we do,” consider this: when was the last time you searched, “How do I follow my dreams?”?

While you don’t have to go into long descriptions about what you do and how you do it, you do need to help your ideal client think to themselves, “That’s what I need.”

It’s time to tighten up your marketing message.

1. Identify who you’re speaking to and be specific. Is it moms? Doctors? Students? Who will see the most help from your offerings?

2. Solve a problem they already have. Marketing your product or service will be so much easier if you’re selling something they already know they need.

3. Use language that fits what they’re looking for. Again, very few people are googling, “How do I follow my dreams?”.

4. Show how you can help them get what they want. Your customers have needs, wants, and struggles. They need to trust you understand what that is and can help them.

5. Line up testimonials that speak the same language. If you go through all the work to craft your marketing message, you want to use testimonials that reinforce it.

So, let’s put that all together.

Remember the life coach who helped people follow their dreams? We’re going to transform that message from meh to mesmerizing.

Step 1. Identify the audience

Instead of using the generic “people,” the life coach drills down to the realization she works best with mid-career professional women who feel stuck in unfulfilling jobs.

Step 2. Solve a problem they already have

Their problem isn’t “I can’t follow my dreams.” It’s “I’m burned out in my career and don’t know how to pivot without starting over.”

Step 3. Employ the language they’re actually using

Her ideal client is more likely searching for phrases like “career change at 40,” “how to find a meaningful job,” or “get unstuck in my career” than “follow my dreams.”

Step 4. Show how you can help them get what they want

These professional women don’t just want “dreams.” They want clarity, confidence, and an actionable plan to shift into work that lights them up and pays the bills.

Step 5. Align testimonials

Instead of posting a generic “she helped me follow my dreams,” a stronger testimonial would read something like: “I went from dreading Mondays to launching a consulting business I love. She gave me the tools to make the leap with confidence.”

And you could get a testimonial like that by asking a successful client, “What’s changed in your life after working with me? Where were you before and where are you now?” That leads the client into formulating something much more substantial than, “She helped me so much.”

Are you ready for the revamped marketing message/elevator pitch?

Instead of “I help people follow their dreams,” it’s now…

“I help professional women in their 40s who feel stuck in unfulfilling careers gain the clarity and confidence to pivot into work they love without sacrificing income or starting from scratch.”

Hear the difference?

Now we know exactly who can benefit. There’s no mistaking it and anyone thinking of giving this life coach a referral knows who she’s looking to work with.

Those few simple words transform the original vague promise into something specific, problem-solving, and benefits driven. And that means people hearing it and reading it will know when they are the target audience.

Your Community Is Your Best Marketing Tool

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 21:20:39 GMT

Maybe you can’t afford a celebrity endorsement like Taylor Swift, but there are still plenty of lucrative opportunities to do something on a local scale. Influence marketing is changing. While businesses once chased celebrity endorsements and mega-influencers with millions of followers, smart companies are discovering that their most powerful brand ambassadors might already be customers or people sitting in the next booth at the local coffee shop.

The Importance of the Micro-Influencer

Micro-influencers (commonly considered individuals with 1,000 to 100,000 followers, although some groups refer to those with follower counts under 10,000 as nano-influencers.) are reshaping how businesses approach marketing. Unlike their celebrity counterparts, these local voices carry something money can't buy—authentic trust within their communities. Their followers aren't passive observers; they're engaged neighbors, colleagues, and friends who genuinely value their opinions.

Research consistently shows that micro-influencers generate higher engagement rates than macro-influencers. A study by Influencer Marketing Hub found that influencers with fewer than 10,000 followers achieve engagement rates of 7%, compared to just 1.7% for those with over 100,000 followers. More importantly for local businesses, 82% of consumers are highly likely to follow a recommendation made by a micro-influencer.

Since these micro-influencers are part of the community the buyer lives in, they’re likely to feel more connected and act on their suggestions because doing so requires minimal effort. Imagine a digital nomad telling you all the great places to visit in Thailand. If you’re located in Iowa, following in their footsteps is going to require saving for the trip and a lot of planning. On the other hand, if the influencer is giving tips about places in your community, you’re more likely to act immediately and often.

Finding Gold in Your Own Backyard

The beauty of micro-influencer marketing lies in its accessibility. These aren't distant celebrities. They're your customers, community leaders, local bloggers, and passionate hobbyists. They're the yoga instructor who genuinely loves your smoothie shop, the local photographer who always tags your boutique, or the high school teacher who raves about your bookstore on social media.

Start by auditing your existing customer base. Who among your regular clients has an active social media presence? Look for customers who already post about your business organically, engage meaningfully with your content, or demonstrate expertise in your industry. These natural advocates often make the most effective micro-influencers because their endorsement feels genuine rather than forced. You can also take a look at your favorable reviews. Google also makes it easy to see just how active they are in reviewing other businesses as well.

Building Partnerships

The key to successful micro-influencer partnerships is building that relationship. Traditional advertising feels intrusive, but when someone's trusted neighbor recommends a local business, it feels like valuable advice. This is why the most effective micro-influencer campaigns don't feel like marketing at all.

Instead of scripted posts, provide micro-influencers with experiences worth sharing. Invite them to behind-the-scenes events, offer exclusive previews of new products, or ask for their input on business decisions. When a local food blogger shares their genuine excitement about helping you choose your new seasonal menu, it’s great for both of you. You get the attention from their audience and the influencer appears to have a “secret in” to your business, making them look like VIPs to their followers.

Consider offering value beyond payment. Many micro-influencers are more motivated by exclusive access, professional development opportunities, or the chance to be part of something special than by monetary compensation. A fitness influencer might prefer a year of free classes over a one-time payment, especially if it includes early access to new programs they can share with their community. Instead of writing a check, consider how you can help them grow their base by giving them access to things others don’t.

Quick Cross-Promotional Networks

If you’re reading this and wondering how you’ll ever have time to find local influencers, try your chamber of commerce. While they may not know individual influencers, they likely have a good idea about which members are heavily involved in social media. Working through the chamber, you may be able to find a complementary business that is willing to talk you up to their audience. The chamber itself is also a local influencer so share what you’re trying to do with the staff as well.

The Mechanics of Local Influence

Effective micro-influencer campaigns start with clear objectives. Are you looking to increase brand awareness, drive foot traffic, or launch a new product? Your goals will determine which micro-influencers to partner with and what kind of content to create. Do your best to understand the micro-influencer’s audience. After all, you want their audience to be people who would buy from you.

Local businesses have unique advantages in micro-influencer marketing. You can invite influencers to your physical location, create content featuring recognizable local landmarks, and tap into community pride. A micro-influencer's post about discovering a hidden gem in their own neighborhood carries more weight than generic product placement.

Track meaningful metrics beyond follower counts. Monitor engagement rates, click-throughs to your website, foot traffic increases, and most importantly, sales attribution. Many successful local businesses use unique discount codes or landing pages for each micro-influencer to measure direct impact.

Building Long-Term Relationships

The most successful micro-influencer strategies focus on building lasting relationships rather than one-off campaigns. Treat your micro-influencer partners as extensions of your marketing team. Provide them with regular updates about your business, seek their feedback on new initiatives, and celebrate their successes alongside your own.

Create exclusive communities for your micro-influencer partners. Private Facebook groups or Slack channels where they can share ideas, collaborate on content, and access insider information make them feel valued and connected to your brand story.

Measuring Impact Beyond Numbers

While metrics matter, don't overlook qualitative indicators of success. Are your micro-influencer partners becoming genuine brand advocates? Do their posts generate meaningful conversations about your business? Are they referring other potential partners or customers?

Pay attention to the ripple effects. A single relatable post from a respected community member can influence their followers to become micro-advocates themselves, creating an organic chain of word-of-mouth marketing that extends far beyond the original partnership.

The Future of Neighborhood Marketing

As consumers increasingly seek authentic connections and local experiences, micro-influencer marketing represents more than a marketing tactic. It's a return to community-based commerce.

Businesses that master the art of turning neighbors into brand ambassadors will build deeper community roots and more sustainable customer relationships.

The next time you see a customer post enthusiastically about your business, don't just hit "like" and move on. That customer might be your next micro-influencer, ready to introduce your brand to their trusted network of neighbors, friends, and community members.

In the world of local business, sometimes the most powerful marketing voice belongs to the person next door.

Talking Websites: A Game-Changer for Small Business

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 17:45:37 GMT

If you’ve ever parented a teenager, you know talking back is not to be celebrated. But when it comes to your business website, talking back is the next big trend.

Most websites feel like digital brochures. You scroll, you click, you squint at tiny menus—and if you can’t find what you’re looking for in 20 seconds, you’re gone. On to the next one.

But what if you landed on a website that immediately addresses your needs:

“Hi there! Looking for a haircut, a color, or some products?”

You type “Color,” and the site replies:

“Excellent. Want to see our stylists’ availability this week?”

No scrolling, no clicking, no calling. Just the information you want right away.

That’s a conversational website—and it’s not just for tech giants. Thanks to new AI tools, even the smallest businesses can create sites that chat with customers, not just sit there looking pretty.

Why Conversational Websites Could Be the Next Big Thing

There are many benefits to a conversational website. Most visitors want quick answers but they don’t want to speak to a person. If they did, they would’ve called. This gives them the answers they want when they want them.

Additionally, a conversational website can:

Save time: Customers get quick answers any time of day or night instead of calling or emailing you. It will also save your employees time because they won’t have to put off customers to answer the phone or respond to an email.
Make sales easier: Instead of a clunky order form, a friendly bot can walk people through the buying process step by step. With advances in AI and search, people are migrating away from typing answers and questions. Most rely on verbal commands and conversations. Search and inquiries are becoming more and more conversational.
Feel personal: Customers want to feel seen, not like they’re filling out a tax form. A conversational flow makes your brand warmer and more approachable, especially when you create the tone for your virtual assistant.

But I Can’t Code

The good news is you don’t need to know a single line of code. Seriously. Tools are popping up every day that do the heavy lifting for you.

1. Build a Site Just by Talking to It

Platforms like Wix’s AI Builder let you describe your business in plain English—

“I run a bakery that specializes in birthday cakes and gluten-free treats.”

—then it generates a full website, complete with text, design, and images.

2. Replace Boring Forms with Friendly Chats

Instead of “Fill out this contact form,” tools like Landbot or Tidio turn that process into a conversation.

Bot: “What’s your name?”

Visitor: “Samantha.”

Bot: “Hi Samantha! Want to see today’s specials or book a table?”

Lead captured. Customer happy.

3. Let AI Test and Tweak Your Site for You

Services like Coframe quietly improve your site in the background. They test different headlines, buttons, and layouts to see what gets the most clicks—no knowledge of A/B testing required.

A Few Tips to Keep It Human

Even with all this cool tech, the magic is in your brand’s personality. Keep these best practices in mind:

Use your voice. If you’re a playful boutique, let your chatbot be sassy. If you’re a financial planner, keep it calm and professional.
Be clear it’s AI. Customers don’t mind chatting with a bot, but they do mind feeling tricked. There are some really good AIs out there. It may not be obvious to them that they are not talking to one of your employees. Be transparent about that.
Guide people forward. Every conversation should end with a next step: “Book now,” “Call us,” or “See more.” Anticipate what would logically come next.

Ready to Make Your Website Talk?

Your customers (and potential customers) want quick answers, easy booking, and a sense that someone’s listening and understands what they want—even if that “someone” is AI.

With today’s tools, you don’t need a tech team or a giant budget. You just need your unique voice and a willingness to let your website have a conversation instead of being a silent billboard. Internet interactions are becoming more conversational. Watch how people around you are using their phones. They’re talking to AIs more often than people. You want to make sure you’re prepared to answer them back.

5 Simple Numbers Every Small Business Should Track

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 19:37:24 GMT

If the thought of “tracking KPIs” makes your eyes glaze over, you’re not alone. For many small business owners, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) sound like something reserved for corporations with big budgets, bigger teams, and even bigger Excel spreadsheets. Who wants the hassle?

But here’s the truth: KPIs are just numbers that tell a story and if you’re not paying attention to them, you’re running your business with the lights off.

The good news? You don’t need 47 dashboards or a data analyst to track the KPIs that matter. You just need to choose a few that tell you whether you’re growing, stalling, or unknowingly throwing money out the window. Consider this article a crash course on basic KPIs.

KPIs You Should Be Tracking

If you’re like most businesses that are just beginning their financial tracking and analysis you’re concentrating on two things—what did I make and how much did I spend? That’s a great start but it’s a lot more nuanced than that.

If you’re ready to play in the big leagues but aren’t ready to hire your own analyst, here are 5 simple KPIs you should track (and you don’t need a business degree to do so):

1. Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC)

What it is: How much it costs you to get a new customer.

Why it matters: If you’re spending $100 to get a $50 sale, that’s not marketing—it’s expensive gambling.

How to track it: Divide your total marketing + sales costs by the number of new customers gained in that period.

Example: $1,000 spent / 10 new customers = $100 CAC

Pro tip: Keep an eye on every month. If it’s creeping up, your ads, outreach, or messaging may need a tweak.

2. Customer Lifetime Value (CLV)

What it is: The total revenue a single customer brings to your business over the course of your relationship with them.

Why it matters: It’s not the first sale that makes you profitable—it’s the second, third, and fifteenth.

How to track it: Average purchase value x number of purchases x average customer lifespan.

When CLV > CAC = happy business owner.

3. Lead-to-Customer Conversion Rate

What it is: The percentage of leads that turn into actual customers.

Why it matters: Getting leads is great. Very exciting when someone shows interest in you but converting them is where the money happens.

How to track it: (Number of new customers ÷ number of leads) x 100

Example: 10 customers ÷ 100 leads = 10% conversion rate

Pro tip: If this number is low, your follow-up process or sales messaging might need work.

4. Revenue per Employee (or per Hour)

What it is: A productivity metric that shows how efficient you or your team really are. It’s not about being busy, it’s about what you’re/they’re adding to the bottom line.

Why it matters: Working hard is great but seeing results from that work is critical to your business’ success. For instance, imagine one employee having a laundry list of work accomplished over 40 hours but no sales to show for it or an employee working three hours and making the week’s sales number. Which employee is more valuable?

How to track it: Total revenue ÷ number of employees (or hours worked, if you’re a solo act). This outcome calculates it in a general sense. If you want to figure out which employee is bringing in more revenue, you will have to create a system to assign sales to individual employees. Some PoS systems allow for codes, for instance, while most CRMs allow you to assign clients to salespeople.

This calculation helps you see if you’re scaling well or just staying busy.

5. Churn Rate (a.k.a. Goodbye Rate)

What it is: The percentage of customers who stop buying from you over a given period.

Why it matters: A leaky bucket never fills, no matter how much water you pour in.

How to track it: (Customers lost ÷ total customers at the start of the period) x 100

If this number is high, focus on customer experience, retention, and loyalty programs.

Tracking Tips

You don’t need to check these KPIs every day. Just set aside one hour a month to review them. Use a simple spreadsheet or dashboard, and ask:

What’s improving?
What’s declining?
What actions should I take based on this?

If you’re not sure what the trends mean, try plugging them into the AI of your choosing and ask it to run a basic analysis of the numbers and offer suggestions.

KPIs aren’t just vanity metrics—they’re your early warning system, your gut check, and your business GPS. Track them consistently, and you’ll be more attuned to your businesses and where it’s headed.

6 Questions Every Small Business Owner Asks

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 20:27:04 GMT

When you want to get to know someone better and have a great conversation, what do you do?

You ask them questions, of course. Questions get the conversation started and they show you have an interest in the person you’re speaking with.

The same is true of your business.

Asking and answering questions about the operation of your business can increase your efficiency and knowledge. By taking the time to perform a self-audit, you will get to know your business and process better and that means greater alignment with the needs of your target audience.

Get to Know Your Business with These Questions

When you first start your business, you probably stitched it all together on the fly in the least expensive way you could. After all, most of us aren’t backed by angel investors from the start. We cut corners to get going, to make things happen. It’s fine in the beginning. Bootstrapping is nothing to be ashamed of. But it can leave you at a long-term disadvantage.

That’s why at some point in the growth of your company, you need to ask yourself:

What Am I Proud of?

Questioning what you’re most proud of in your business can help you get to the root of your business story. Your story can help you connect with your target audience and increase your revenue. Take some time to think about how and why you help and what makes you beam with pride. Then incorporate that into your marketing.

What Do I Feel Ashamed Of?

Conversely, it’s important to know where you think your weaknesses are. If you’re ashamed of something that means you don’t feel like you’re doing your best and putting forth your best effort. Why is that? Is it because you’re not the best person suited for that activity or responsibility? Now that you’ve built your business, could someone else be doing that?

What Feels Clunky or Delayed?

When you talk to other businesses, watch videos on the subject, or hear others describe their operations, is there something that feels behind the times in your business? Could something run smoother or be more efficient? Don’t ask yourself how you would do it, just note the specific things that could make a difference. Look for the friction in your operations, administration, and/or sales process.

What’s Still Manual That Shouldn’t Be?

Tech has come a long way in the past five years. If you’re still using the same tools you did in 2020, it may be time for a revamp. Conversely, if there’s something you’re doing manually that takes a lot of time and coordination, find out if it can be streamlined with new technology. Chances are it can.

What Do You Hate Doing?

Is there something you hate doing in your business? Why is that? Again, is it competency, time, or resources? Maybe you hate invoicing, for instance, because you don’t see yourself as detail oriented and that’s a role where it’s required. You’re probably right. Get someone else to do it. Maybe you hate doing the books, but you have to be the one to do it. Look into ways that would make it more enjoyable for you such as using dictation.

What Bad Reviews Are You Getting?

Is there something in your operation that everyone hates? Are most of your imperfect reviews about the same thing? If so, it sounds like there’s a sticking point in your process. How can you remedy it so that you and your customers will be happier?

Like relationships, and items for that matter, it’s necessary to revisit the way things work periodically and ensure they’re functioning at their highest levels. Without occasional introspection and examination, your business could wither. Before you make sweeping change, asking yourself these simple questions can help you prioritize the change that is most needed and most likely to yield the best results.

Small Changes, Big Impact: Support Local Chamber Members This Small Business Month

Tue, 13 May 2025 15:28:55 GMT

Let’s face it, our daily habits often run on autopilot. We grab coffee from the same place, click the same websites when we shop, and call the same service providers without a second thought. Loyalty is great but what if, just for a moment, we paused and considered the impact of those everyday purchases?

Small Business Month is the perfect opportunity to rethink where your dollars go. Instead of defaulting to businesses that may have no connection to the community, consider supporting those that are actively invested in it, Chamber members. These businesses, both large and small, contribute time, resources, and leadership to make your town thrive. From sponsoring events to hiring local talent, they show up for the community every day.

Supporting small and local doesn’t always mean spending more. It just means being intentional. What if you swapped your routine drive-thru stop for a visit to the neighborhood coffee shop—even just once a month? Or replace a service you use with a chamber-member provider just down the road?

Those small swaps can lead to big results for your community, and they’re often more rewarding, too.

Where to Start?

Try these swaps:

Morning Routine . Your go-to coffee spot might be convenient, but have you tried a chamber member café lately? Many offer unique blends, homemade baked goods, and personalized service. Best of all, your dollars stay close to home, supporting jobs, community causes, and your neighbors.

Grocery Shopping . From local markets to butcher shops and farmers’ markets, you’ll find fresh products and friendly faces. Swapping even a portion of your grocery list to local vendors supports farmers, entrepreneurs, and small producers in your area.

Health & Wellness . Where do you work out? Where do you get your healthcare needs met? Many chamber-member businesses in these sectors offer wellness consultations, fitness classes, and personal service. Some cities even offer free or low-cost programs that introduce you to local instructors.

Dining Out . Next time you’re hungry, try a chamber-member restaurant. Whether it’s a taco stand, food truck, or family-owned diner, you’ll enjoy a unique dining experience, and know your meal helps a neighbor succeed.

Special Occasions . Need a gift, flowers, or a card? Shop small first. Local boutiques, florists, and artisans often carry one-of-a-kind items that are far more memorable than what you’ll find online. Many chamber members offer gift guides, curated selections, and even local delivery.

Ideas for Making the Switch

If you're ready to support local and chamber-member businesses, try this:

· Swap one of your regular purchases to a chamber member this month.

· Choose a chamber-member restaurant for your next meal out.

· Use your local chamber’s business directory to find trusted service providers.

· Visit a farmers' market or craft fair to buy locally made products.

· Look for the Chamber Member decal (or badge online), ask a business if they’re involved in the community, or next time you’re at an area event see which businesses are there and patronize them in the future.

What About Franchises?

Yes, many franchises are small businesses and chamber members too. Often, they're owned by residents who are invested in your community. That corner sandwich shop, dry cleaner, or gym? Chances are good the owner lives in town, employs local workers, and contributes to the same causes we all care about. If they’re Chamber members too, you can feel confident your dollars are staying local.

Why This Matters

When you support local businesses, especially Chamber members, you’re doing more than making a purchase. You’re investing in your community. Chamber-member businesses are often the first to step up and support schools, sponsor festivals, and donate to local nonprofits. They hire locally, mentor young professionals, and create the kind of vibrant, thriving economy we all want to see.

This Small Business Month, challenge yourself to be intentional in your purchases. Try a 30-day chamber member spending challenge and discover just how many great businesses are in your backyard or set aside a dollar amount to be spent with your neighbors. Not only will you enjoy personalized service and quality products, but you’ll also be part of something bigger—a stronger, more connected community. And, in that, everyone wins.

15+ Inexpensive Ways to Advertise Your Business

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 19:52:30 GMT

You know the old adage, “It takes money to make money”? While that may be true, marketing and advertising don’t have to cost a fortune. In fact, some of the most effective ways to get your business noticed are either free or surprisingly affordable (especially with the technology available). Whether you’re just getting started or trying to grow on a tight budget, here are 15 creative and cost-effective ideas to boost your visibility and draw in customers.

15 (plus one bonus) Cost-effective Ways to Get Your Business Noticed

1. Partner with Your Chamber of Commerce

Your local Chamber is a marketing gem hiding in plain sight. Many chambers offer affordable sponsorships, advertising in their newsletters, banner placement on their website, and opportunities to speak at or host events. Chamber membership also often includes social media shoutouts, ribbon cuttings, and business directory listings—all built-in exposure for your brand.

Chambers have excellent reputations in their communities as well as good relationships. Many tourists and new residents rely on referrals from the chamber when they come to town. Plus, the rates chamber’s charge for this type of high-quality exposure is very reasonable.

2. Get Active on Social Media

You don’t need to be on every platform—just the ones where your customers spend their time. Create short videos, behind-the-scenes posts, tutorials, or even humorous content to show off your brand’s personality. Authenticity performs better than high-budget polish. Be consistent with your posting too. The more people see you, the more they notice and recognize you. Soon you will be on their mind.

3. Run a Giveaway or Contest

People love free stuff. Give away a product or service in exchange for likes, shares, or email signups. It’s an inexpensive way to create buzz and grow your audience fast. Or run a contest when you host a pop-up or sponsor a table at an outdoor event (if it fits for your business). You’ll get to talk to a variety of people.

A fun contest that also gets you more visibility is encouraging people to check-in when they’re at your business. Then provide a quarterly prize to the person with the most check-ins.

4. Create Google Business Profile Posts

Google Business Profiles (formerly Google My Business) are free and powerful. Use posts to highlight new products, offers, events, or blog content. Bonus: It helps with your SEO.

5. Use Customer Testimonials and Reviews

Happy customers are your best marketers. Share their testimonials on social media, your website, and even printed materials. Ask loyal customers to leave reviews on Google, Yelp, or Facebook. Many people will write them when asked and when you make it easy for them to do so. Use links to get them where they need to be.

6. Get Involved in Community Events

Sponsor a little league team, host a booth at a local fair, or donate a prize to a nonprofit raffle. Community involvement builds trust and visibility with your target audience.

7. Start a Referral Program

Reward your current customers for referring new ones. A simple discount, freebie, or exclusive perk can motivate people to spread the word about your business.

8. Offer Free Workshops or Classes

If you’re an expert at something, share your knowledge. Hosting a free online or in-person workshop can position you as an authority while attracting new leads. Share hashtags at your event to remind people to share on social.

9. Pitch Local Media

Send story ideas or press releases to your local newspaper, TV station, or community blog. Journalists are always looking for local angles—your business could be the next feature.

10. Use Window or Sidewalk Signs Creatively

A clever chalkboard sign or window display can stop foot traffic in its tracks. Make people smile, laugh, or think—and they’ll remember your business.

11. Create a Loyalty or Punch Card Program

Encourage repeat business by rewarding customers who come back. Whether digital or old-school punch cards, loyalty programs keep your brand top-of-mind. It can also sway people to choose you more often. For instance, if they know they’ll get points from buying with you, they may go out of their way to do so knowing that they will benefit from it.

12. Offer a Limited-Time Promotion

Scarcity sells. Use urgency—“for 3 days only,” “first 10 people,” or “today only”—to create buzz and spike short-term interest.

13. Join (or Start) a Local Business Collaboration

Team up with complementary businesses for cross-promotions. For example, a coffee shop and a bookstore might do a “Read & Recharge” special. You both win.

14. Start an Email Newsletter

Email is still one of the highest-ROI marketing tools. A simple monthly email with updates, deals, or helpful tips can keep customers engaged and coming back.

15. Use Your Vehicle as a Moving Billboard

A magnetic car sign or vinyl decal can turn your commute into an advertising campaign. It's a one-time investment that works 24/7.

Bonus: Watch your favorite brands. What makes you stop what you’re doing or stops you from scrolling. Even if they’re in a completely different industry, ask yourself how you might use what they do to improve your marketing.

You don’t need a big budget to make a big impact. With some creativity and a willingness to show up where your audience is, you can get your business noticed without breaking the bank. And this isn’t a “choose one and you’re done” idea. These ideas are designed to get you thinking about what your audience will respond to. Then give it to them consistently so they get used to seeing you around.

And remember—your Chamber of Commerce is here to help. Reach out and ask about marketing opportunities available to members. You might be surprised by how many resources are already at your fingertips.

How to Turn Small Talk Into Big Opportunities

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 17:50:42 GMT

Let’s be real. Elevator pitches can feel like a late-night infomercial–a robotic recitation of what your business does with an added exclamation point at the end. But for business owners and sales professionals, every interaction is an opportunity. A truly effective elevator pitch transcends mere information delivery.

It's about forging genuine connections that can blossom into leads, partnerships, and lasting relationships. It's about making those precious few seconds count, not just for what you say, but for how you make the other person feel.

What most people get wrong in their elevator pitch is that they make it sound like a commercial and all about them, when it should be about your audience.

Forget the rigid templates and the pressure to cram every detail into a thirty-second spiel. This isn’t about broadcasting; it’s about initiating a conversation. The key lies in shifting your focus from simply explaining your business to creating a spark of interest and establishing a human connection.

If you take nothing else from this article know that:

the pitch must ignite interest

The Psychology of Connection in Brief Interactions

Humans are wired for connection. Even in brief encounters, we subconsciously seek common ground, shared values, and genuine interest.

Your elevator pitch should tap into this innate desire. Instead of launching into a list of features and benefits, start with a relatable problem you solve or a shared passion that drives your business.

Think about your ideal client or contact. What are their pain points? What are their aspirations? Craft an opening that acknowledges their world and subtly positions your business as a potential solution or a valuable resource. This approach immediately makes the interaction less transactional and more empathetic.

Storytelling Elements That Resonate

While quick is crucial, weaving in a concise narrative “elevates” your pitch. Instead of saying, “We offer marketing solutions,” try something like, “I help small business owners who are overwhelmed by social media finally find a consistent way to connect with their customers and grow their brand. I saw my own sister struggle with this, and that’s why I started [Business Name].” This personal touch and the hint of a story make your pitch more memorable and relatable.

Focus on the why behind your business. What motivates you? What impact do you hope to make? Sharing a sliver of your passion can create an emotional resonance that facts and figures alone can't achieve.

Tailoring Pitches to Different Personality Types

Not everyone responds to the same approach. Observe the person you're speaking with. Are they direct and results-oriented? Focus on the tangible benefits and your track record. Are they more relationship-focused? Emphasize collaboration and shared values.

Having a few variations of your pitch allows you to adapt to different personalities and contexts. Practice delivering each version so it feels natural and authentic, rather than forced.

The Importance of Active Listening Post Delivery

Your elevator pitch isn't a monologue; it's the opening line of a potential dialogue. Pay close attention to the other person's reaction. Are they asking questions? Are they nodding in understanding? Are they looking over your shoulder to be bailed out of the conversation the moment they see someone they know? Use their cues to guide the conversation.

Be prepared to elaborate on specific points that pique their interest. This shows you're genuinely engaged and interested in their needs, not just delivering a pre-rehearsed script. A thoughtful question in return can further deepen the connection and open doors for future interaction.

Ultimately, a successful elevator pitch is less about perfection and more about authenticity. It's about conveying your passion, highlighting your value, and making a genuine connection in a short amount of time. By focusing on building rapport and leaving a lasting impression, you transform a brief encounter into a potential steppingstone for long-term growth and meaningful relationships.

So, ditch the robotic recitation and embrace the art of the connection – and your pitch will get you all the way to the top floor.

10 Ways to Get the Most from Your Chamber Membership

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 21:42:27 GMT

Some people think chambers of commerce work magic—and in many ways, they do. But to see real results and get the most from your membership, you need to be involved. Joining is a smart move, but the true value comes when you actively engage.

If you’ve been wondering whether you’re making the most of your membership—or if you’re just starting out and you’re not sure how to get the most out of it—here are ten practical ways to tap into the value your chamber offers.

1. Show Up and Be Seen

The simplest way to maximize your membership is to attend events. Networking mixers, educational workshops, and signature events, and more, put you face-to-face with other members, community leaders, and potential customers.

Visibility builds trust, and trust builds business.

2. Introduce Yourself Online

We offer a member directory website listing, members Friday newsletter, and a social media member spotlight. Take advantage of it! Ensure your business profile is up to date, includes a compelling description, and links to your website and social media.

Tag us in your posts , we will share and engage boost visibility. We also offer more marketing exposure for members in the Friday newsletter. Ask us how to get involved!

Speaking of…

3. Use Member-Only Marketing Perks

We provide exclusive opportunities to advertise in newsletters (soon on our website), sponsor events, or be featured in business spotlights. These are far more affordable than traditional advertising and directly reach a targeted local audience. Ask about low-cost or free ways to get featured.

4. Host or Sponsor Events

Sponsorships aren’t just about logos on banners—they’re about association and visibility. Whether you sponsor a workshop, host a networking mixer, or provide space for a meeting, you position your organization as a local leader and supporter of the community.

Not into event sponsorships? There may be other opportunities, and maybe you even have a suggestion we haven't thought of yet. Many chambers are doing some innovative and fun events with creative sponsorship opportunities.

5. Participate in Advocacy Efforts

Your chamber is your voice at city hall and beyond. Stay informed about local legislation, zoning and parking issues, and economic development initiatives that affect your business. We host meetings throughout the year for you to connect with city leaders, regional stakeholders, legislators, and more—get involved to shape the future of your local economy. Additionally, voice your concerns and opinions so your chamber knows best how to advocate for you and your industry.

6. Leverage Learning Opportunities

From business planning to digital marketing to hiring best practices, we often host workshops and panel discussions to keep you abreast of trends and best practices. Use them.

These sessions can save you hours of research—and sometimes thousands of dollars. Plus, you know the products, services, and companies presented in these learning ops are vetted and (usually) chamber members.

7. Connect with Other Members

Chambers are a goldmine of potential partnerships. Need a CPA? Looking for a nonprofit to support? Want a trusted supplier? Look to your fellow members first. When you do business with others in the chamber, you contribute to a stronger, more connected local economy. These new partners may also send business your way.

8. Tell Your Story

People want to do business with people they know, like, and trust. Share your milestones, success stories, or community impact with the chamber staff. We are happy to highlight member achievements in newsletters or on social media—it’s great exposure and helps build your reputation.

9. Get Your Team Involved

Your membership isn’t just for you—it’s for your whole team. Encourage staff to attend networking events, professional development events and leadership programs, or industry roundtables. It can boost morale, expand your reach, and help with talent retention.

10. Ask Questions and Offer Ideas

Finally, know chambers are member-driven organizations. If you’re unsure how to plug in or have an idea for a new program or service, speak up. Chamber staff are eager to help and love hearing member feedback. Your input could lead to new initiatives that benefit the whole community.

Your Chamber is a Partner, Not Just a Provider

Chamber membership benefits your business even if you don’t partake in all its offerings, but you’ll get a lot more if you’re an active member. Whether you’re a solopreneur, a nonprofit director, or the CEO of a growing company, your chamber is there to support your success. Get involved, build relationships, and use the tools available. You’ll not only grow your business—you’ll strengthen your community in the process.

How Real Stories Are Boosting Business Sales

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 17:08:50 GMT

Social media is filled with perfect lives—you don’t see the dirty dishes in the sink, or the tears shed. You see the wins and the brags. The same is true of many social media accounts for business. As business owners we want to show our best selves. Anything less is weak and unappealing.

Or is it?

Lately, something interesting is happening. The most effective posts aren’t the polished ones with perfect lighting or studio-level graphics. They’re the real, raw, behind-the-scenes moments that tell the true story of what it’s like to run a small business.

From TikToks to Instagram Reels, business owners are discovering that authenticity—sharing the ups, the downs, and everything in between—helps them connect with customers in a meaningful way.

You can adopt this new highly effective approach as well.

Customers Crave Connection

People aren’t just buying products anymore—they’re buying stories, values, and the people behind the brand. Today’s consumers want to know who they’re supporting. They want to see the human side of business, not just the highlight reel.

That’s why honest storytelling is gaining so much traction. A short video about the time you overcame a setback, or a post about your “why” as a business owner, can do more than an ad ever could. It builds trust, invites engagement, and shows the passion behind the product.

We’ve also seen a lot of these types of videos where businesses share how they’re bouncing back from hurricanes, brush fires, and floods. The rebuilds are inspiring and help keep customers in the know.

Why Authenticity Works

There are real benefits to showing up as your authentic self online:

· It builds loyalty . When customers feel like they know you, they’re more likely to support you—especially during tough times.

· It boosts engagement . Real stories spark conversation. They get shared, commented on, and remembered.

· It sets you apart . Big brands can’t replicate your personal journey. That’s your advantage.

· It creates emotional connection . And connection drives action, whether that’s a sale, a visit, or a referral.

What Kinds of Stories Should You Share?

You don’t need to be a professional storyteller or social media guru to do this well. In fact, the more natural and honest you are, the better. Just sound like you. Your best friend should read the post and remark, “That sounds like you.”

Be vulnerable in a business savvy way. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

· The moment you decided to start your business

· A major obstacle you overcame and what you learned

· A behind-the-scenes look at your day (the chaos and the wins)

· A thank-you to your customers or team

· A mistake you made—and how you bounced back

· A natural disaster or other problem that required you to rebuild, restructure, or approach something in a different way

One important note: vulnerability doesn’t mean oversharing. Keep your stories focused on what will resonate with your audience. Aim to inspire, relate, or educate, rather than just vent.

Need Help Getting Started to Tell Your Story?

Storytelling may sound simple but showing up on camera or figuring out what to say can be a hurdle. That’s where your Chamber of Commerce can help. Many chambers offer marketing lunch and learns, social media tips, or networking events where you can learn what’s working for other local businesses.

Looking for guidance, tools, or even a platform to share your story more widely? Don’t hesitate to reach out to your chamber team. They’re here to support your growth—and amplify your voice in the community.

Show the Journey—Not Just the Destination

One of your most powerful marketing differentiation tools is already in your hands: your story. By showing the real human behind the business, you’re not just building a brand—you’re building a community of supporters who believe in what you do.

So, the next time you go to post, remember: perfection isn’t the goal. Connection is. And often, all it takes is hitting “record” and speaking from the heart.

How to Win Over Customers with Emotional Marketing

Mon, 24 Mar 2025 19:42:34 GMT

There’s a Jeep commercial circulating right now that stars Harrison Ford talking about choices and how life doesn’t come with an owner’s manual. It’s one of those ads you watch the entire way through because it’s evocative and makes you feel something. You hardly even notice that they’re selling a vehicle, but you buy into the lifestyle presented, which is Jeep’s goal.

Winning customers isn’t just about having a great product or service—it’s about making people feel something. The best brands don’t just sell; they connect, entertain, and even challenge their audiences.

If you want to turn heads and build a loyal customer base, you don’t need to have Jeep’s ad spend. You can use these five powerful marketing techniques in your email, video, and social media campaigns.

1. Surprise Them with the Unexpected

Have you ever seen a video of a ferocious gorilla cradling a stuffed animal? You notice it because it breaks the norm. It’s unexpected.

Shocking or provocative marketing makes people stop scrolling and start talking. Use bold visuals, unexpected comparisons, or tackle an issue in a way no one else has. The key is to be tastefully disruptive—shocking for the right reasons, not just for controversy’s sake.

Example: A coffee shop launches an ad/marketing campaign with the slogan, “Sleep is overrated.” The ad features people snoozing in unexpected places—like a boardroom or a wedding—only to wake up rejuvenated with a cup of their signature brew. It’s humorous, eye-catching, and reinforces the product’s value.

2. Align with What Matters to Customers

More than ever, consumers—especially younger ones (hello, Gen Z)—want to support brands that align with their values. Whether it’s sustainability, diversity, or social justice, people are willing to pay more for companies that stand for something.

Example: A fashion brand emphasizes its commitment to ethical manufacturing by showcasing the artisans who make their products, rather than just the clothes. The campaign highlights fair wages, sustainable materials, and real stories, making customers feel good about their purchases. Another example is a restaurant in Florida that printed on the first page of its menu that it pays the staff a living hourly wage with medical benefits as a reason for slightly higher dine-in prices.

3. Make Them Laugh

Laughter is appreciated by most people and humor makes brands more relatable and memorable. If you can cause someone to chuckle (with you, not at you), they’re more likely to remember your business—and even share your content.

Example: A bakery promotes its products with a campaign called “The Breakup Box”— designed for heartbreak recovery, featuring goodies decorated with phrases like “You were too good for them anyway.” It’s witty, shareable, and turns an everyday purchase into an experience.

4. Show What’s at Stake

Fear-based marketing isn’t about scaring customers—it’s about showing them what they might lose if they don’t act. It works well for industries like insurance, cybersecurity, and health because it highlights risks people may not think about.

Example: A cybersecurity company runs an ad featuring a business owner frantically calling IT after losing all their customer data to hackers. The tagline? “Hope is not a security plan.” It’s direct, powerful, and makes people think twice about their own vulnerabilities.

5. Tap into Nostalgia

People love reminiscing about the past. Nostalgia creates an emotional connection, making your brand feel warm, familiar, and trustworthy. Whether it’s referencing pop culture, childhood experiences, or past trends, nostalgia-based marketing can be a powerful tool.

Example: A toy store releases a campaign featuring classic ‘90s toys with the tagline “Some things never go out of style.” Parents who grew up in that era are instantly drawn in, eager to share a piece of their childhood with their own kids.

Hollywood knows this power better than anyone. They came out with a movie based on that creepy cymbal-banging, drum playing monkey toy from the late ‘60s-‘70s. If you were a child then (or watched the movie Poltergeist), you know what I mean. Nostalgia is not always heartwarming, but it does make you feel something.

The Winning Formula: Mix and Match

The best marketing campaigns often blend these techniques. A campaign can be funny and nostalgic, or shocking and value-driven. The key is to know your audience and choose the right emotional trigger that will make them stop, think, and, most importantly, take action.

(You’re still thinking about that monkey, aren’t you? That’s marketing power.)

Spring into Success with These Fun Marketing Ideas

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 17:35:52 GMT

Spring is a season of rejuvenation, growth, and vibrant energy. After winter, most people are thrilled to be outdoors and thinking about warmer weather. It’s a time for us all to come out of sleepy hibernation and explore our areas.

Spring is also the perfect time for you to connect with your customers, boost employee morale, and inject fresh life into your operations.

Here are a few fun ideas to celebrate the spirit of spring:

Embrace the Sensory Delights of Spring

One of the first things people notice in spring is the change of the smells in the air. It’s easy to create an inviting space by keeping this in mind. But smells aren’t the only captivating part of this joyful season.

You might build on this by:

Bringing the Outdoors In: Fill your workspace with the sights and scents of spring. Use fresh flowers, potted plants, or even nature-inspired artwork to create a refreshing atmosphere.
Using Seasonal Scents: Use diffusers with light, floral, or citrusy essential oils to create an uplifting ambiance.
Playing Spring-Inspired Music: Create a playlist of light, upbeat music.

Cultivate Growth and Renewal

Spring is an ideal time to start fresh. You might do this by decluttering, organizing, and/or refreshing your physical and digital spaces. Update your website, streamline your processes, and clear out any outdated materials.

Get your employees (or clients) excited about what’s to come by offering workshops, training sessions, or team-building activities that encourage growth and learning.

Additionally, we’re now almost through with Q1. It’s time to reassess your business goals and set new targets for the coming months.

Connect with Your Community

Winter is often seen as a season of hunkering down and hibernation. Spring, on the other hand, is a time for gathering. You can play this up in your business by:

Hosting a Spring Open House: Invite customers to explore your business, enjoy refreshments, and learn about your latest offerings.
Partnering with Others: Collaborate with other businesses or community groups to host a spring-themed event, fundraiser, or deals.
Support Local Farmers and Artisans: Feature seasonal products from local vendors, showcasing the best of your community.

Introduce Something New

Spring is about rebirth and freshness. You might offer discounts, special packages, or limited-time products and services that reflect the season.

If weather allows, you could host outdoor events or activities, such as a sidewalk sale, a pop-up shop, or a picnic for your team.

Help customers break out of their “winter shell” by creating interactive displays that encourage customer engagement, such as a spring inspiration board, a photo booth with seasonal props, or the ability to “try before you buy.”

You could also offer light, healthy snacks and beverages, such as fruit-infused water, salads, or smoothies. You needn’t be a food business to try this. For instance, a boutique might make cucumber water available to guests.

Marketing Strategies for Spring Success

If you want to bring new life to your business, keep in mind that spring is the perfect time to:

Emphasize the themes of renewal, growth, and positive energy in your marketing and messaging.
Use social media, email marketing, and in-store interactions to connect with your customers and share the spirit of spring—fun, festive, and bright!
Foster a sense of optimism and enthusiasm among your team members and your customers.

By embracing the growth and joyful themes of spring, you can create a vibrant and engaging experience for your customers and employees alike. Capitalize on the positive energy of the season and you’re sure to grow throughout the year.

How to Celebrate Women's History Month at Your Business

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 19:52:23 GMT

Women's History Month is a fantastic opportunity for you to recognize the invaluable contributions of women, past and present. It's not just about historical figures; it's about celebrating the women who drive your business, your community, and the world forward.

And let’s face it, it’s a great reminder to put some good cheer into the world. After all, people love feel-good narratives.

While it may be difficult to implement these ideas before the end of the month, you can always use them to plan for next year or make an announcement this month to unveil a larger plan rollout for another time.

Here are some creative ways to celebrate, internally and externally, at your business:

Internal Employee Celebrations: Fostering Appreciation and Growth

Like Mother’s Day, you don’t have to be a woman to celebrate the accomplishments and contributions of women. Make it enjoyable and welcoming for all.

Here are a few ways to encourage support for, and interest in, Women’s History Month:

Create a Women Who Inspire Spotlight

Dedicate a segment of your internal newsletter or intranet to spotlighting female employees, customers, or figures who inspire your team. Share their stories, achievements, and insights. But that’s just the beginning. Get your crew involved too. Create a "wall of inspiration" in your breakroom or office (or even your front lobby or register stand), where employees can post pictures and stories of women who inspire them.

Host Skill-Sharing Workshops or Lunch & Learns

Invite female employees to lead workshops on their areas of expertise. This empowers them and provides valuable learning opportunities for the team. For instance, your marketing maven could give a workshop on personal branding.

Organize a lunch & learn session featuring a female speaker from your industry or community. This could be a mentor, a successful entrepreneur, or an expert in a relevant field. Not only is this inspiring but could lead employees to see their career path in a new way.

Launch a Mentorship Program

Launch or promote existing mentorship programs that connect female employees with experienced mentors, either within or outside the company. Create a networking event specifically for the women in your company. If you have a smaller business where that is difficult to do, work with local groups like your chamber to create opportunities for networking, mentorships, and leadership development.

Create a Parent-friendly Job Program

One of the hardest parts of keeping women in the workforce is childcare. While your business may not have the budget to offer employees childcare or a subsidy to offset the cost, you may be able to offer alternative shifts that make parenting and work possible. For instance, you could offer a 9-3 shift to accommodate parents who have to pick up children from school or you could arrange job shares that would allow two part-time employees to share one full-time position. This would ensure the needs of the parents and the business are both met.

External Celebrations: Engaging Your Community and Customers

Women’s History Month has become increasingly popular over the past few years. Many businesses are hosting events and other celebrations. Here are a few ideas of how you can do the same:

Host a Female Author or Speaker

Partner with a local bookstore or library to host a book signing or speaking event featuring a female author or thought leader. If you don’t have time to host a speaker this year, try interviewing one for your newsletter on a topic of interest to your ideal audience.

Support Women-Owned Businesses

Feature products or services from women-owned businesses in your store or on your website. Offer a special discount or promotion for customers who support women-owned businesses. Call attention to the women-owned businesses you work with, such as vendors and suppliers, or highlight the stories of some of your employees.

Community Partnership

Partner with a local women's shelter, non-profit organization, or educational institution to host a fundraising event or volunteer activity.

Long-term idea: sponsor a scholarship or award for female students or entrepreneurs.

Educational Content

Create blog posts, articles, or videos highlighting the achievements of women in your industry or community.

Share educational resources and information about women's history and current issues on your website and social media channels.

Social Media Campaigns

Use relevant hashtags like #WomensHistoryMonth, #WomenInBusiness, and #CelebrateWomen to share stories, quotes, and images of inspiring women. Run a social media contest or giveaway that celebrates women's achievements.

Feature your female staff members and their roles within the company. Ask them to tell stories of the women who inspire them.

Customer Appreciation

Highlight female customers and their achievements through social media posts or blog posts. (with customer permission, of course).

Make It Part of a Larger Conversation

Women’s History Month is a way to instill appreciation for the struggles of women and their contributions to the many areas of our society—personally and professionally. But the historical tribute can also be the beginning of a larger conversation. Is equality something you want to make part of your employee culture? Do you want customers to understand that you have programs in place that help women receive equal pay to their male counterparts? How does this celebration of women tie into your culture of who you are or who you want to be?

By celebrating Women's History Month in meaningful and creative ways, you can demonstrate your commitment to gender equality, foster a positive and inclusive work environment, and strengthen your connection with your community and customers. This month isn’t just about clever marketing. It could be the beginning of a much larger conversation about workforce dynamics and culture in your company and beyond.

Are You Asking the Right Questions for Business Growth?

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 20:55:48 GMT

Growth isn't a passive process; it doesn’t just happen. Unfortunately, you don’t open a business and sit back and wait for it to grow. Businesses rarely go viral overnight and planning on doing so is like funding your retirement by playing the lottery every week.

Business growth is a dynamic journey fueled by strategic thinking and insightful questions that help you see things in new ways. As a business owner, you're constantly navigating challenges and opportunities, not to mention the competition.

But are you asking the right questions to propel your business to the next level?

Simply working hard isn't enough. We need to work smarter, and that starts with asking the questions that reveal hidden potential and drive meaningful change to attain growth.

Internal Questions for Operational Excellence

Every successful business rests on a solid foundation. Let's start by looking inward. Are your internal operations optimized for growth?

Consider these questions:

Are our current workflows efficient, or are there bottlenecks? Take a critical look at your processes. Are there redundant steps or outdated systems that could be streamlined?
Are we maximizing our existing resources? This includes your team, technology, and financial assets. Are you leveraging them to their full potential? A lot has changed over the past few years. It may be time to audition new tech and assess the skills gap that may exist in your business.
Is our team engaged and aligned with our goals? A motivated team is a powerful engine for growth. Are you providing them with the support and resources they need to succeed? Are they fulfilled in their position? A disengaged employee can do a lot of damage to a business and its service reputation.

Actionable Step: Conduct a brief internal audit. Map out your key processes and identify areas for improvement. Schedule a team meeting to gather feedback and brainstorm solutions.

External Questions for Market Understanding

Understanding your market is crucial for sustained growth. Sometimes markets change or new ones open up.

Ask yourself:

Who is our ideal customer, and what are their evolving needs? Customer preferences change. Are you staying ahead of the curve? For instance, if you were a business that served authors, with the recent growth in AI, how did that impact them and what they need from you? If you haven’t answered that question in five years, you’re likely behind your competition. Speaking of…
What are our competitors doing, and how can we differentiate ourselves? Analyze your competition to identify opportunities to stand out. Again, give them a fresh look. They may be doing new things you weren’t aware of. Additionally, sometimes your competition is not doing anything. If your ideal customer isn’t choosing you, are they choosing your competition or doing nothing? Why?
How can we enhance our customer experience to build loyalty and drive referrals? Exceptional customer service is a powerful differentiator. Don’t assume your service is excellent just because you don’t hear complaints. If they’re not talking about you, you’re average.

Actionable Step: Conduct a customer survey or analyze your customer feedback data. Research your competitors' online presence and marketing strategies.

Strategic Questions for Future Growth

Looking ahead is essential for long-term success. Consider these strategic questions:

What are our long-term goals, and how can we achieve them? Develop a clear roadmap for the future.
What new opportunities can we explore to expand our market reach? Consider new products, services, or markets.
How can we innovate and adapt to changing market conditions? Agility is key to staying competitive.

Actionable Step: Schedule a strategic planning session with your team. Brainstorm new ideas and develop a plan to implement them.

The Power of "Why?"

No, this time we’re not talking about YOUR why. Instead, channel your inner four-year-old and don't be content to stop at the surface. Dig deeper by asking "Why?" multiple times. This technique can help you uncover the root cause of problems and identify hidden opportunities. For example, instead of just asking "Why are sales down?" look at the larger picture and ask "Why are sales down? Why are customer leads down? Why is our marketing not generating enough leads?"

Use the word “why” and “and” with each question you answer. Your learning and understanding will improve.

Your Chamber is Your Partner in Growth

Asking the right questions is just the beginning. Your chamber of commerce is here to support you on your growth journey.

The chamber offers a range of resources to help you grow including:

Networking events to connect with other business leaders
Educational workshops and seminars to enhance your skills
Access to valuable market data and industry insights
Business counseling and mentorship

Growth is a continuous process of learning, adapting, and innovating. By asking the right questions and leveraging the resources available to you, you can unlock your business's full potential. Then reach out to your chamber of commerce to explore how it can help you take your business to the next level.

Building a Fanatical Following with Email

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 20:11:51 GMT

For many small businesses, email marketing is all about promotions and sales. But the most successful businesses know that an email list is more than just a sales tool—it’s a way to build relationships, create trust, and foster a sense of community without the concerns of a platform shutdown.

By shifting your focus from transactions to connections, you can turn one-time customers into long-term brand advocates.

Why Community Matters in Email Marketing

When people feel connected to your business, they’re more likely to stay engaged, refer others, and become repeat customers. A strong email strategy builds that connection by making subscribers feel valued and involved, rather than just being on the receiving end of sales pitches. They want to get to know you and get something in return. For a successful digital marketing relationship to be built, you must give both.

Here’s how you can use email to cultivate a loyal following:

1. Share Valuable, Relevant Content

Instead of only sending promotions, consider what information your audience would appreciate. Valuable content means “valuable” from their perspective, not yours. For instance:

· A retail store might send seasonal styling tips or product care guides.

· A restaurant could share behind-the-scenes stories, recipes, or pairing ideas.

· A professional service provider (like an accountant or consultant) might send bite-sized industry insights, checklists, or tips for success.

2. Create Exclusive Perks for Subscribers

Give people a reason to stay subscribed by offering benefits they can’t get elsewhere. These could include:

· Early access to sales or new products

· Special “insider” updates about your business

· Exclusive events such as subscriber-only Q&A sessions or webinars

For example, a local fitness studio could send subscribers a free at-home workout video each month, while a bookstore could offer early-bird sign-ups for popular author events.

3. Make Emails Interactive

We’ve all read (or trashed) boring salesy emails. They aren’t something we want to see in our inbox each week. Bad emails are a quick ride to Unsubscribeville.

Instead, encourage two-way communication so your emails feel like a conversation, not a broadcast. Keep in mind who you’re writing to and personalize your conversation to them by:

· Asking for feedback through quick surveys or polls. A salon or spa, for instance, could ask customers to vote on a new service they’d love to see offered.

· Inviting replies with personal questions like, “What’s your biggest challenge?”

· Running a contest or giveaway where participation requires a simple reply.

· Telling them you really want to hear from them, and you read every email.

4. Spotlight Your Customers & Community

People love seeing themselves recognized. Feature customer success stories, testimonials, or user-generated content about your product or service like a follower’s post from social media. Other examples include:

· A real estate agent might highlight a happy homeowner’s journey.

· A local café could showcase customer-submitted coffee art photos.

· A business consultant might feature a small business success story from their client list.

This approach makes customers feel valued and shows prospects that your business is trusted by others. Plus, in some cases, your customers will want to be showcased as well. So, they might share or post in the hopes you will highlight them in the future. It can be a great way to drive desired action.

5. Inject Personality & Authenticity

Your emails should reflect the human side of your business as well as your personality. Don’t be afraid to share a story from your weekend—particularly if it’s entertaining or educational. Always write in a conversational, relatable tone leaving a lot of white space.

You can also:

· Share personal insights or lessons learned.

· Give behind-the-scenes looks at your operations.

For instance, a boutique owner could share why they chose to stock a particular product, or a contractor could showcase a day-in-the-life video of their latest project.

The Long-Term Payoff of Email Marketing

When you use email to build relationships rather than just push sales, you create a community that trusts and supports your business. Plus, recipients are more apt to open your emails if they find value in them. This leads to higher engagement, stronger brand loyalty, and ultimately, more sustainable growth.

By making your emails feel more like a conversation and less like a commercial, you’ll not only keep subscribers interested—you’ll turn them into lifelong customers and advocates for your business.

And that sounds pretty good, doesn’t it?

Stop Spinning Your Wheels and Start Seeing Results

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 22:19:08 GMT

Has this ever happened to you? A brilliant idea sparks, you meticulously plan every detail, create beautiful spreadsheets, and envision the triumphant launch. Maybe you even practice a little Law of Attraction in your meditative practices each morning.

But then…<insert sad trombone sound>.

The plan sits there, gathering dust, because life has gotten busy, you’ve been plagued by self-doubt, or you moved on to the next exciting concept.

Sound familiar?

Or maybe you’re the opposite.

Maybe you’re all about action and no planning. You’re jetting off to the next hottest thing without seeing anything ripen and produce.

Many business professionals fall into this trap, leaning too heavily on either the planning or the action phase. We either over-analyze and never launch, or we jump in headfirst without a strategy and quickly burn out.

So, how do we bridge the gap and turn those well-laid plans (or exuberant energy) into tangible results?

Ready, Set, Go

Finding the balance between planning and action is crucial for success. Too much planning leads to paralysis, while too much action leads to a game of chaotic professional ping-pong, bouncing from one thing to the next.

Here's how to navigate that middle ground and start experiencing real progress:

1. Define Your "Why" and Set Clear Goals: Before diving into the nitty-gritty details, revisit the core reason behind your plan. Why is this important? What do you hope to achieve? Does it fit into what you’re already doing or is it a new undertaking altogether? If it’s new, do you aim to replace or enhance what you’re currently doing? Clearly defined goals provide direction and motivation, making it easier to prioritize and stay focused.

2. Break It Down: Large, overwhelming plans are often the biggest culprits of inaction. Break your grand vision into smaller, manageable steps. Instead of "launch a new product line," think "research competitor pricing," "develop prototype," "create marketing materials."

These bite-sized tasks feel less daunting and provide a sense of accomplishment as you tick them off. Building momentum is a large part of sticking with something long-term.

3. Embrace Imperfect Action: Perfection is the enemy of progress. Don't wait for everything to be flawless (or the timing to be perfect) before taking a step. Sometimes, "good enough" is better than "never done." Remember, even a small step is a step, if it aligns with your goals. That imperfect thank you note you send is better than the perfect note you never write.

4. Resist the Shiny Object Syndrome: In today's fast-paced world, it's easy to get distracted by the next "big thing." Don't be a "shiny object entrepreneur." Constantly chasing fleeting trends and abandoning projects when they don't instantly go viral is a trip to Nowheresville.

True success is built on consistency and perseverance. Focus on your core plan, refine it as needed, and stick with it.

5. Build Relationships, Not Transactions: Today's most successful businesses are built on strong relationships. You can't cultivate genuine connections if you're constantly flitting from one project to the next, across multiple disparate audiences, solely focused on quick wins. Invest time in building rapport with clients, partners, and even competitors. These relationships can be invaluable for support, collaboration, and long-term growth. Remember, people do business with people they know, like, and trust.

6. Review and Adjust: Your initial plan is just a starting point. Regularly review your progress, analyze what's working and what's not, and adjust your strategy accordingly. Be flexible and willing to adapt. The business landscape is constantly evolving, and your plan should too.

But this is where a lot of people stumble. They confuse new projects with timely adjustments. When things get rough or boring, they think innovation means a completely new undertaking. It doesn’t have to. Sometimes innovation is making changes to how you’re currently doing something and serving your market in a new way.

7. Celebrate Small Wins: Recognizing and celebrating your accomplishments, no matter how small, is essential for maintaining momentum. It reinforces positive behavior and motivates you to keep moving forward.

8. Create Daily Habits: Following daily habits can keep you on track and accountable toward your progress.

Bridging the gap between planning and action requires conscious effort and a shift in mindset. Not to mention, walking away from the idea of going viral. You still can, of course, but don’t make it your only goal. It’s too easy to get discouraged. Instead, transform your ideas into reality and achieve lasting success through these steps.

Embracing Imperfection to Strengthen Your Business

Mon, 10 Feb 2025 19:47:32 GMT

What do Han Solo (Star Wars et al), Walter White (Breaking Bad), and Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games) have in common? They’re terribly flawed and we love them for it.

Imperfection can also be a powerful asset for businesses when approached with the right mindset. So stop trying your best to be perfect and embrace imperfection as a way to connect with your customers. Here’s how:

How to be Perfectly Imperfect

You’ve probably heard the adage “finished is better than perfect” or “you can’t edit a blank page.” There’s something to be said for embracing life’s imperfections, especially in business. After all, everyone can relate, and imperfections are bound to happen. So you might as well make the best of them.

There’s a popular self-help book called “How to Keep House While Drowning.” It was written by a recovering overwhelmed housewife. It’s funny and terribly relatable, especially if you do most of the housework around your home. But it’s also a book about very boring things like dishes in a sink. You can use this same “common denominator” to relate with your ideal client.

Relatability

It's hard to identify with a perfect business or person. When someone is busy telling us how perfect they are or only showing us the perfect side of their lives, a distance between us will arise. After all, if your life is less than perfect how do you align with someone who is only showing you the sunny side?

Whether it's a fictional character, your best friend, or a business, seeing flaws makes us feel like that person or entity is going through the same things we are. This relatability can be loyalty-building when it comes to business.

Transparency

You can also turn mistakes into opportunities by being openly honest about your shortcomings. When you acknowledge errors and demonstrate a commitment to improvement, you actually build stronger relationships with customers. In fact, 89% of people believe a business can regain their trust if it admits to a mistake and transparently outlines steps to prevent future issues.

Authenticity

Companies that show their human side can gain a competitive edge. For example:

Domino's Pizza ran a campaign admitting their pizza had its issues , but they were addressing them.

Guess what?

It increased sales. Netflix publicly apologized for a pricing mistake, demonstrating accountability (and let’s not forget their Tyson debacle—again, they apologized instead of ignoring it). Coke went back to the original and admitted the change was a terrible idea. All of these companies received kudos for their honesty (and listening to customers).

Fearlessness

From an employee perspective, embracing imperfection can unlock creativity by removing the paralyzing fear of failure. When businesses create an environment that accepts mistakes as part of the learning process, employees feel more comfortable:

- Experimenting with new ideas

- Taking calculated risks

- Thinking outside traditional boundaries

Companies that remove the fear of failure can accomplish great innovation.

Healthier Work Environment

Transparency in leadership can also improve your business. When leaders acknowledge their own flaws it:

- Reduces stress among employees

- Increases job satisfaction

- Boosts overall productivity

If you’ve ever worked for a workaholic, you know their flawed views on work can be detrimental to your own.

But we’re not telling you to hang all your dirty laundry out on the line for everyone to see. There is a strategy behind using imperfection to build a stronger relationship with your customers and employees.

A Strategic Approach to Imperfection

The key is not to aim for mediocrity, but to view imperfections as opportunities for growth. Your business is never going to be perfect; but you can be perfectly relatable. Be real, be resilient, and be ready to learn and grow.

Our best relationships in life (and on the screen) are not between us and perfect people. Quite the opposite. We embrace flaws and appreciate when those around us do the same. Showing your less-than-perfect side will make you more endearing and solidify a long-term relationship between your business and your customers.

The New Employee Benefit Everyone Is Talking About

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 22:04:25 GMT

First it was pet insurance and foosball tables. Then it was Friday kegs in the office and goat yoga. While those benefits seemed like frivolous ways to bring fun to the office, the current benefit trend that everyone is talking about actually improves productivity and employee well-being (at least as reported by the employees).

And it’s likely something you never thought about offering. But before we tell you what it is, let’s talk about some of the results that employees who have used this benefit experienced.

According to a survey published by sidehustle.com :

· 72% saw an improvement in overall well-being.

· 69% experienced better focus.

· 68% felt lower stress levels.

· 62% saw increased productivity.

· 49% reported greater job satisfaction.

And…

Nearly 50% of employees said they would consider switching jobs if another employer offered this benefit (when their company did not). This new benefit trend could give employers that offer it a leg up on hiring.

So, what is this new benefit?

The Rise of Unhappy Leave

Okay, so leave is not a new benefit. Employees are granted parental leave, sick leave, Family and Medical Leave, and sabbaticals. But this new type of leave—unhappy leave—allows an employee to take time off for mental and emotional well-being. Industries leading this charge include tech, government, and education.

Many managers see it as employee recruitment and retention tools because it can help employees deal with stress. It can also provide a cooling off period where co-workers can “take a break from one another.”

However, there are apprehensions in offering this benefit as well. Surveyed managers cited concerns over:

· misuse or overuse

· workload coverage for employees on leave

· challenges in distinguishing unhappy leave from regular sick leave

· eligibility—what length of tenure would make employees eligible?

The trend originated in China with grocery store Pang Dong Lai offering employees up to 10 days a year of unhappy leave. Unhappy leave means employees can take time off without needing approval or justification whenever they feel “emotionally unwell.” The policy is intended to promote a healthy work-life balance. The big difference between this type of leave and others is that it cannot be denied by management .

Company culture has been a big concern for businesses over the past 15-20 years. Culture has been a big play in recruitment and trying to protect talent from being poached by the competition. Benefits are a big part of this. But companies want benefits that help with attracting and retaining employees, not just ones that look good on paper.

Popular Employee Benefits

Some of the most popular employee benefits with a proven return on investment include:

· Flexibile schedules (offering this benefit shows a 12% reduction in turnover rate).

· Remote work options.

· Professional development opportunities including personalized learning plans and career growth.

· Wellness programs such as on-demand therapy sessions, mindfulness and meditation programs, and designated mental health days (like unhappy leave).

· Eldercare and childcare benefits.

· Lifestyle Spending Accounts (LSAs) allowing employees to allocate wellness funds according to their unique needs and preferences.

· Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) to support various personal and professional issues.

· Recognition programs.

And now it appears that unhappy leave may have an impressive impact on recruitment and retention as well.

But is implementing “unhappy leave” as easy as writing it up through your HR department? Not exactly. If you create a leave program that does not have to be approved by management, you run the risk of your eligible employees taking it at the same time with little to no notice. Leaving the business in a lurch. But that’s not the only thing to think about before implementation.

Unhappy leave should be a component of your benefits design, not a simple add-on. According to a 2024 Forbes article , there are other organizational pieces you should pay attention to. These include recruiting for values, tailoring development to the individual, monitoring management (after all, that’s one of the top reasons people leave), and providing clear communications on employee culture and company vision.

Unhappy leave should not be used as a bandage for a broken employment environment. If you’re thinking about extending your leave program, make sure you also work on the other end, creating a better work environment so your employees will feel less need to use the perk.

The Power of Yes (and no)

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 22:44:48 GMT

The new year is an ideal time to get clear about your goals. Many people set incredibly inspiring resolutions and plot pathways to their best selves. If you’re one of those people—kudos to you. But if you don’t get straight on one thing, your intentions are going to fall flat.

Here’s the one thing you need to know about goal attainment.

Every yes is a no and every no is a yes.

Did you read that more than once?

Is it a little confusing? Like some riddle of the Sphinx or a quote in a fortune cookie?

Not really. Let’s break it down.

When you say yes to one thing, you’re saying no to another. When you say no to something, you have time to say yes to something else.

What Are You Saying Yes To?

For many, your holidays probably found you saying yes to a lot of things that didn’t align with your personal or professional goals. Maybe you exhausted yourself doing for others. Maybe you overspent because you wanted everyone in your life to feel special. Maybe you stayed up late at night worrying about the end-of-year in your business.

Where did those things get you? Did everyone in your life have a joyful, wonderful holiday without complaint? Did that money you spent have a good return on investment? Did your worrying make things better or solve any of your business stressors?

Probably not.

If you are serious about meeting your goals—no matter what they are—you need to weigh your choices and institute boundaries. If you’re focused on growing your business in 2025, for instance, and you’ve plotted out the perfect road to get there, you’re going to have to protect that path like you are a medieval warlord.

There will be distractions, plenty of them. Some of those distractions will come masked as “self-care.” You may tell yourself that you’re only watching one episode of your favorite show to “unwind.” Three episodes later and you’ve wasted one-fifth of your waking hours!

Sometimes the distractions come in the form of other people—Sally who wants your help with the bake sale or Timmy who needs a ride to practice. And you will need to help some of those people because they rely on you. But you don’t need to help all of them. Know the difference.

This year, as you’re planning your goals, give thought to safeguarding your time too. Goals are ineffectual if you don’t have any time to complete them. Some of that lack of time will be beyond your control like having to put things on hold while you take care of someone who is ill.

But much of your time is likely spent doing things that are just “busy work.” They are activities that aren’t moving the needle, or they’re actions that are performed haphazardly. Haphazard, or unfocused work, is the worst kind because it takes up a lot of time and energy but doesn’t help you make progress on your goals. Imagine playing a carnival game where the aim was to hit a target with a bean bag while blindfolded. Your attempts would be splattered all around (some may even end up in the next stall). Because without your sight, you’re simply trying to get the bean bag in the general direction of where you think the target is.

Now imagine, removing your blindfold and being given something like a hose with a powerful stream of water and being told to hit the target with it. It would be much easier because you not only know where the target is, you also have a constant, consistent stream focusing on that target.

You need the same in your life as you pursue your goals. You want a constant, consistent pursuit. That only comes from protecting the sanctity of your work with every yes and no you utter.

Decluttering for Greater Productivity

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 21:05:42 GMT

The new year often brings a renewed focus on fresh starts and improved efficiency. Many of us are wondering how we might earn more, be more productive, and enjoy a better work/life balance. But as you’re committing to goals for the new year, consider that what your business may need is some decluttering. It’s time to channel your inner Marie Kondo and tackle not just physical spaces, but also digital files, outdated processes, and even stagnant strategies.

Just like a cluttered home can lead to stress and lost productivity, a cluttered business environment can hinder growth and innovation.

Here's how you can embrace decluttering for a more successful year:

Tidy the Physical Workspace

This is not a slam on people who enjoy visual chaos (like me), but if you can’t locate the basic things you need, it might be time for a new system.

Consider how you might:

Clear the clutter: Dispose of or donate old equipment, unused supplies, and stacks of paper.
Optimize layouts: Reorganize workspaces to improve flow and encourage collaboration or easy access.
Embrace minimalism: A clean, minimalist aesthetic can reduce distractions and boost focus.

Digital Detox

We’re not suggesting you give up your electronics, but isn’t it time your efficiency tools actually work for you?

You can do this through:

Organizing digital files: How many times have you not been able to find something in your email or files? Hey, it happens to the best of us. That’s why you need to implement and commit to a clear and consistent file-naming system (preferably something in the Cloud) and archive or delete outdated documents.
Streamline your inbox: Unsubscribe from unnecessary emails (Gmail and Yahoo make that really easy), utilize filters, and adopt inbox zero practices.
Update software and hardware: Ensure all technology is up-to-date and functioning optimally.
Research new options. Pick your slowest day and do some quick YouTube research on efficiency tools or Google plug-ins. You can learn a lot in only a few minutes and there’s likely a way to use tools to streamline your current processes. But if you’re waiting for a golden ticket from these software or app companies, it’s unlikely you’ll get one. Just as you may need to perform continuing education or professional development activities each year, take it upon yourself to keep an eye on tech and the digital world. Speaking of…

Streamline Processes

You can’t make more hours in the day so maximize what you currently have by:

Identifying bottlenecks: Analyze workflows to pinpoint areas of inefficiency.
Automate tasks: Utilize technology (like AI or conditional software that helps you create “if, then” pathways) to automate repetitive tasks and free up employee time.
Eliminate unnecessary meetings: Encourage shorter, more focused meetings with clear agendas. It doesn’t take long to develop a reputation of being a time waster and your employees, vendors, and stakeholders will do everything they can to get out of your meetings. If people opt out, just how effective are the meetings anyway?

Revisit Your Strategy

If you find yourself saying things like, “But it always worked before,” then it might just be time to:

Reassess goals: Ensure your business goals are still relevant and aligned with your overall vision.
Eliminate stagnant projects: Don't be afraid to cut your losses on projects that are no longer serving your business. Just because you’ve spent a lot of time, focus, or money on something does not mean you should continue to do so.
Identify new opportunities: Create space for fresh perspectives and innovative ideas.

Go All In and Foster a Culture of Decluttering

The new year is an ideal time for early spring cleaning. Out with the old, in with the new. After all, if you can’t make room for new opportunities, you’ll be left with the old ones.

· Encouraging employee participation: Provide training and resources to help employees declutter their own workspaces and workflows. Encourage managers to find out what the greatest obstacles to their direct reports’ success are.

· Celebrating successes: Recognize and reward efforts to improve efficiency and productivity.

Making decluttering a continuous process: Schedule regular decluttering sessions to maintain a clean and organized work environment. Again, remember it’s not all about papers on a desk. There are many ways our work lives get cluttered but all of them eventually lead to breakdowns and inefficiencies.

By embracing these decluttering strategies, you can create a more focused, efficient, and ultimately, more successful business. After all, every garden needs room to grow. Your business does too.

How Small Businesses Can Score Big Media Wins

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 21:53:51 GMT

Public relations (PR) is just for big companies with tons of connections and celebrity endorsements, right? It can feel like a luxury for those of us with small businesses. Hiring a dedicated PR firm is often financially out of reach. But who has the time to learn the ropes of good PR while juggling everything else? It takes years or deep wallets to make those kinds of connections, doesn’t it?

Not exactly.

You don't need a fancy PR background or a hefty budget to generate buzz. With a little creativity and the internet, you can score big media wins.

Mastering PR Fundamentals

Before diving into tactics, let's make sure you’re not wasting your time. There are a couple of fundamentals you’ll want to have down first.

Define Your Story: What makes your business unique—I mean really unique? (And no, good customer service is not a unique value proposition.) What problem do you solve better (or differently) than anyone else? Identify your key messages and craft a compelling narrative that resonates with your target audience. (And, oh, you have to define your target audience too—and it’s not everybody. See below.)
Know Your Audience: Who are you trying to reach? What media outlets do they consume? Understanding your audience is crucial for targeting your PR efforts effectively. If you are trying to target women under 25, they’re not reading the paper version of the Wall Street Journal, for instance. Don’t waste your time pitching them.
Set Realistic Goals: What do you hope to achieve with PR? Increased brand awareness or likability? Website traffic? Leads? Defining your goals will help you measure success.

Generating Buzz on a Budget

Now, let's explore some cost-effective PR strategies that don’t require a public relations degree:

Harness the Power of Social Media

Build a strong presence on platforms relevant to your audience. Share engaging content, interact with followers, and participate in industry conversations. Remember, PR firms are successful because they know it’s a long game of building relationships. Use social media to connect and build relations with your ideal audience and people who work with them (like influencers, media, etc.)

Craft Killer Press Releases

Learn the art of writing concise, informative press releases that highlight newsworthy events, product launches, or company milestones. Don’t assume every press release has to be about a big event like an opening. There is a lot of need for feel-good stories these days. You can pitch these community connection pieces as long as you do your research to understand who is interested in them.

Build Relationships with Local Media

Connect with journalists and editors at local newspapers, magazines, radio stations, and blogs. Offer them exclusive stories or expert commentary related to your industry.

Leverage Online PR Platforms

Explore free or affordable online platforms like Help a Reporter Out (HARO) to connect with journalists seeking sources for their stories. This time of year, many news sources are doing stories on local business owners and the shop small movement. Getting featured can have a big impact on top-of-mind attention.

Become a Guest Blogger

Offer to write informative and engaging articles for relevant blogs and websites to reach a wider audience and establish yourself as an industry expert. Check with the chamber. They may have content needs.

Host Events and Workshops

Organize free events or workshops related to your business. This can attract local media attention and position you as a valuable resource in the community. If you do this, make sure your chamber knows as well so it can help you get the word out.

Partner with Other Businesses

Collaborate with complementary businesses on joint promotions or events to expand your reach and tap into new customer bases.

Don't Underestimate the Power of Referrals

Encourage satisfied customers to spread the word by offering incentives or running referral programs.

Building Media Relationships

Making media contacts doesn't have to be daunting. Here are some tips:

Start Local: Focus on building relationships with local media outlets first. They are often more accessible and eager to cover local businesses.
Do Your Research: Identify journalists and editors who cover your industry or area of expertise. Follow them on social media and familiarize yourself with their work.
Personalize Your Pitch: Tailor your pitch to each journalist, highlighting why your story is relevant to their audience. Keep it concise and to the point.
Be Persistent (But Not Annoying): Follow up on your pitches, but don't bombard journalists with emails. Respect their time and be mindful of deadlines.
Build Relationships, Not Just Contacts: Engage with journalists on social media, offer helpful information, and be a valuable resource. Building genuine relationships will pay off in the long run.

Effective PR doesn't require a big budget or a PR degree. Social media has made connecting easier than ever. You just have to be clear on your story and who it’s speaking to. By doing so, you can generate significant media attention and elevate your business to new heights.

Money Management Tips for People Who Hate Money Management

Mon, 18 Nov 2024 22:19:53 GMT

If you’re the typical small business owner, you began your business with an exciting idea, a passion. No one goes into business thinking, “I can’t wait to work on cash flow challenges.” And yet, cash flow is one of the top reasons businesses close their doors. It’s not that they aren’t making money. It’s that managing it is not everyone’s skill set.

Money management challenges are one of the most critical areas you need to master to be successful.

This article is here to provide general information. Consult a financial planner or tax professional for more long-term solutions.

5 Money Management Tips for Better Business

Here are some of the key issues and ways to address them:

Cash Flow Management

Many small businesses struggle with maintaining consistent cash flow. This can lead to difficulty paying bills, making payroll, or investing in growth opportunities.

You might have the money promised to you on paper, but not knowing when it will come in can be a challenge. Businesses at every level can be impacted by this so it takes consistent monitoring.

To improve cash flow:

· Create detailed cash flow forecasts and monitor them regularly.

· Encourage timely customer payments by offering incentives or implementing stricter payment terms. Enforce those terms and send out reminder invoices.

· Negotiate favorable payment terms with suppliers.

· Maintain a cash reserve for unexpected expenses or slow periods. According to a JPMorgan study of 597,000 small businesses, 25% held a reserve covering fewer than 13 days of expenses if other revenue dried up.

Budgeting and Expense Tracking

Small businesses often lack robust budgeting practices and struggle to track expenses effectively. If this feels like you, consider:

· Creating a detailed, realistic budget and review it regularly.

· Using accounting software (or an app) to automate expense tracking and generate accurate reports.

· Separating personal and business finances to avoid confusion. Your accountant will appreciate it.

· Assessing finances and adjusting budgets regularly as needed.

Debt Management

Taking on too much debt or mismanaging existing debt can be detrimental to small businesses. COVID brought on unparalleled times. One thing we learned from it is that you must be prepared for the known challenges and the unknown ones.

To manage debt more effectively:

· Be cautious about taking on unnecessary debt

· Prioritize paying off high-interest debts first

· Consider consolidating multiple loans to simplify repayments

· Build and maintain a good business credit score

Tax Compliance

Many small businesses underestimate the importance of tax planning and compliance.

To improve in this area:

· Work with a tax professional to stay on top of obligations and deadlines. If you don’t know a reputable one, check with the chamber.

· Regularly set aside money for taxes.

· Stay informed about tax laws and possible deductions.

Financial Planning and Analysis

Small businesses often lack the time or expertise for thorough financial analysis and planning. It’s likely something that’s best outsourced to a pro. Again, if you don’t know one, check with the chamber.

To enhance financial management:

· Understand and regularly review key financial statements including the balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement. It’s boring, but beneficial.

· Use financial management software to automate repetitive tasks and generate insights.

· Establish financial protocols and plans, no matter how small your business is. Doing so early will put you on the path to success.

· Regularly assess your business's financial performance and adjust strategies accordingly.

If you don’t have the money to work with professionals right now, talk to your chamber, SCORE chapter, and SBA. There are many low-cost options to help you get on the right track for long-term success.

How to Win at Content with AI

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 17:19:20 GMT

AI is one of the most efficient tools we’ve seen since the advent of the computer. But if you’re using it to generate content and then just copying and pasting, you’re missing out. And that kind of “laziness” could be costing you customers.

Here’s how a couple of quick edits can bring your AI-generated content from meh to aaaamazing.

First, we’re going to assume you can write a good solid prompt. Telling AI what role you want it to have (you are a brilliant small business owner, for example), who your audience is, what kind of content you’re looking for, and what tone you want, is essential to getting a solid first draft.

Here’s what you do from there to create non-robot-like narratives and articles.

Add Stats

Stats generated from AI can be questionable (unless you select a tool like Perplexity that cites its sources). That’s why it’s best to research your own. It’s even more effective if you source stats that are taken directly from your community. That gives your content a unique and local flavor.

Link It with Your Narrative

What’s your business story? Add parts of that into the article you just generated. You can include personal recollections, stories, and/or business examples. This livens things up but there’s another reason you want to add your own flavor.

AI-generated content is not copyrighted. If you use AI to create an ebook with no edits from you, there is nothing legally stopping your competitor from taking that content and replicating it word for word. However, if you make it yours with your personality and examples, it’s arguably no longer up for grabs.

Add Art

I know I’ll catch a little flack for this, but when you add your own artistic flair, you are again distinguishing yourself in the market. You are helping your audience get to know you, not AI.

Add a Theme

This is something the AI can do for you, if requested. Doing so helps differentiate the content generation it’s doing for you from that of your competition. If you are a plumber, for instance, and you identify an audience and tone that you share with your plumbing competition, then you ask AI to write a blog post about what to do with a leaky faucet, you could both end up with very similar pieces.

But if you add another step to the article and give it a theme, your post will be more unique. For instance, you might say write a post about how fixing a leaky faucet will make you feel better about your contributions to the environment. That little direction makes your article slightly different from everyone else. It will help give context and drive action on the importance of prompt repairs.

AI is one of the best productivity tools you can implement in your business. But you want to do it in a way that does not jeopardize the quality of your content. Adding emotion and placing your personality into the piece will make it your own.

Finally, while there are a lot of AI tools out there, be consistent in the ones you use for your business content creation. Speak to it the way you would a friend or a long-time employee. Show your personality. Upload pieces of content you’ve produced that you like. AI will respond to you in much the same way a beloved friend will learn your preferences and personality over time. If you do this, eventually the narrative and adding personality suggestions in this article will happen naturally with AI.

Now if only I could get it to fold my laundry. That would be a real win.

15 Respectful Ways to Honor Vets on Veterans Day (and Year-Round)

Mon, 04 Nov 2024 18:50:37 GMT

Veterans Day is Monday, November 11th, and it is the ideal time to express thanks to those who have protected our freedoms and way of life.

While you don’t have much time to pull it all together, honoring Veterans Day in a meaningful, non-commercial way can strengthen connections between your business and the community while showing genuine appreciation for veterans' service.

And you don’t have to stop there. You can extend the relationship year-round.

Honoring Veterans on Veteran’s Day

Veterans Day is similar to Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day in the way that it serves to remind us to thank those whose efforts go unrecognized. If you remember veterans throughout the year, you may not need the reminder of Veterans Day. But for many of us, it provides time to think about and appreciate their service.

Here are a few ways to honor them:

1. Host a Community Event: Organize a gathering at your business exclusively for veterans, such as a coffee hour or small reception. Offer complimentary refreshments and a quiet space for conversation. Create a welcoming environment for veterans and build a sense of community without a sales focus.

2. Share Their Stories: Dedicate a space in your store or on your social media channels to highlight veterans' stories. Encourage local veterans or their families to share their experiences, with permission, or partner with a local veterans' organization to collect inspiring stories. It’s a way to honor their service while educating and inspiring others.

3. Offer a Day of Service: Instead of focusing on promotions, close your business for a day (or a few hours) to volunteer with a local veterans' organization. Invite staff and customers to join you or make it a company-wide service day to give back to the community and show your appreciation in action.

4. Support a Veterans' Cause: Donate a portion of Veterans Day sales, or better yet, directly donate to a local or national veterans' charity without tying it to purchases. Display information about the cause in your store so customers understand why you’re supporting it.

5. Hold a Flag Ceremony or Moment of Silence: Start the day by inviting the community to join you for a flag-raising ceremony or a moment of silence. It’s a respectful way to honor veterans without any commercial agenda. Remember Veterans Day honors the living, while Memorial Day honors those who have passed.

6. Sponsor or Collaborate on a Veteran-Led Workshop or Talk: If you know veterans with skills they’d like to share (like woodworking, cooking, fitness, etc.), invite them to host a workshop at your business. It allows veterans to showcase their expertise and gives the community a chance to learn from them.

Make Veterans Day Everyday

There are other ways to honor and appreciate veterans year-round such as:

· Hiring a vet or a military spouse

· Offer flexible work arrangements and work-from-home options (so military spouses can continue to work for you even if their family is relocated)

· Providing discounts for veterans and active military

· Sponsor a veteran’s family

· Highlighting your employees who have served

· Support vets in a way that fits in with your business and mission (for instance, if you own a bookstore, carry a vet’s book)

· Be open to seeing the correlations between the work they did in the military and how that might fit your employ (for instance, they may not have direct customer service experience, but they’re used to delivering difficult messages)

· Partner (or work) with veteran-owned businesses

· Welcome new military families into the area; after all, they’ll be veterans someday

25 Tips to Increase Foot Traffic for Your Business

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 19:32:06 GMT

You have a great business. You offer items/services everyone needs, yet you’re struggling to get people in the door. What can you do?

You need traffic to increase sales, whether that’s online or in-person. If your business is struggling to bring in customers, you know that has to change if you’re going to survive. While there are many ways to improve your online traffic (search engine optimization, user experience, etc.), your physical business’ traffic is all about location.

But before you go and pack up your stuff to find a better location, let’s go over a few things you can do to increase your daily visitors.

The Right Foot

Foot traffic is great, but a bunch of Looky Lous aren’t going to pay your bills. You need to attract the RIGHT kind of potential customers. For instance, if you own a bakery that makes the most delicious dog treats ever, a parent looking for a Paw Patrol Birthday cake is not your ideal customer (unless they have a dog celebrating too).

Before you read the rest of these steps to help you increase foot traffic, you need to be sure of your ideal audience, their needs, and their challenges. Use that information to shape how you use the tips below.

25 Tips to Increase Foot Traffic for Your Business

Show Don’t Tell

Most businesses tell audiences what they do or offer. That doesn’t inspire action. It sounds good, but it won’t get someone who’s seated on their couch at home motivated enough to stop in. You need to show them why they need your product or service.

I don’t mean “show” in the literal sense (although images and video are great marketing tools). To motivate people to take action, you need to paint the picture of how your product/service gives them something they need or want.

You can do this through words and/or images. For instance, instead of saying, “We have the best bread in town,” (that’s nice, but I’m not leaving my home for that), say “our bread will make all the other kids at lunch jealous and we’re so sure of this, we want you to stop by for a free sample between 10-2 (nothing beats bread fresh out of the oven). Start winning the cafeteria lunch wars.” In that example, you’re playing on a fear of missing out and parental pride in packing the best lunch. Plus, you’re bringing them in with the offer of a delicious free sample.

Which brings us to the obvious…

Offer Something Delicious

Even if you don’t sell food, offering a free sample is a great way to bring in a crowd; just check out Costco on the weekends during their sample days. If you don’t sell food, you may wonder how offering a free sample of something you don’t sell will work. Give away something that fits with what you sell. For instance, if you have a bookstore, cook up a recipe from one of your cookbooks (hopefully a recipe you can make in-store in a crockpot so the delicious aroma permeates your place). A pet store might give out free pet treats. If you sell furniture (with a fabric care product), offer a messy treat and invite people to sit on your couch. Then show them how easy it is to clean.

Talk to the Chamber

Your local chamber probably receives a lot of visitors. Let the chamber know you want to increase foot traffic to your business. They may be able to send you referrals. Perhaps they have an event coming up that could help you increase visits. Make sure you tell them the type of audience you want to attract.

Here are a few additional ideas to increase your foot traffic:

1. Improve your curb appeal.

2. Ensure your storefront is spotless, windows are sparkling, and any outdoor signage is in top condition.

3. Create interesting window displays that change regularly to draw people in. Use bright colors and unique props. Highlight your bestsellers or new arrivals.

4. Use a sidewalk sign with a clear and enticing message, daily specials, or promotions.

5. Bring your store outside. During good weather (and assuming your city allows it), bring a few items outside to catch the attention of people walking by.

6. Make sure your store is well-lit inside and out, especially in the evenings. You don’t want to lose possible customers because they think you’re closed.

7. Team up for joint promotions. Cross-promote each other on social media or host a small "block party" event.

8. Offer a free class or demonstration (if your products lend themselves to it), such as a quick tutorial or a hands-on/making class.

9. Participate in farmers' markets, craft fairs, or community festivals.

10. Complete your Google Business Profile ensuring it is up to date with accurate hours, photos, and contact information. Encourage customers to leave reviews!

11. Run simple contests or giveaways on social media to increase engagement and attract new followers.

12. Offer free Wi-Fi to encourage people to linger in your store (or perhaps work there).

13. Play appropriate music to set the mood.

14. Use a subtle, pleasant scent to enhance the ambiance. Avoid anything too perfumy.

15. Ensure your store is easy to navigate and products are well-organized. Clutter and crowded aisles are not inviting.

16. Acknowledge each person who enters your store with a friendly greeting.

17. Offer assistance without being pushy.

18. Ensure your staff is knowledgeable, friendly, and provides excellent customer service.

19. Set up a comfortable seating area to encourage people to stay longer and browse.

20. Provide a charging station. It’s a welcome bonus, especially for visitors.

21. Offer water, coffee, or tea to make customers more comfortable.

22. Add an Instagrammable item. Some people lead an Insta life, and they want to show their followers all the interesting things they’re doing and places they’re exploring. Create cool photo backdrops in your business to become a stop for them.

By implementing these ideas, you can create a more inviting and engaging shopping experience that encourages people to visit and return to your store.

4 Simple Managment Tasks to Make More of Your Limited Time

Mon, 21 Oct 2024 18:41:32 GMT

If you ask anyone over the age of 20 what the date is, after telling you, they will probably say you how quickly time flies. How it seems like only yesterday it was _____. This is especially true when you own a business. There never seems to be enough time in the day to do what you need to do. And you no sooner pay one bill than it’s due again.

Making the most of the time you have is essential to business success. But how do you beat the clock? When you’re responsible for the entire business, how do you ensure you have the time to be your most effective?

The first answer to this question is delegation, of course. You can’t do “all the things,” but assuming you have a solid team you can count on, here are four management focus and productivity tips to help regain some of that control over your lost time.

1. Define a "Win"

Instead of getting lost in daily tasks, define what progress looks like for the week by listing 3-5 key goals. Create a “Weekly Win” card (on paper or electronically—wherever you will most likely use it) to keep the focus on the most meaningful accomplishments for that week.

Be specific about what makes it a “win.” For instance, if your win is lining up a new vendor for your operation, don’t focus on the number of calls you’ll need to make to find one. Focus on the outcome such as “A caterer by end of week and a cost savings of 2% over the last one.”

2. Maintain Energy Awareness

Burnout is often due to energy-draining activities. Track your energy level for the day (or, even better, week) and compare it to your calendar. What were you doing when you were most energized? What zapped you of energy?

Take that information and do your best to eliminate energy draining tasks. Assign those tasks to someone who is energized by them. (Think introvert versus extrovert. We aren’t all drained by the same types of activities.) If you must complete those tasks yourself, either modify them to be less draining, or sandwich them in between tasks that invigorate you.

3. Use a Daily Management Sprint

Allocate 30-60 minutes late in the day to tackle low-value administrative tasks or better yet find an AI that can do them for you. Administrative tasks rarely require heavy mental lifting so saving them for the end of the day is a great way to be more efficient. Save your mental capacity for heavier loads earlier in the day.

4. Invest in a Vision

Spend 30 minutes daily on activities that build a better future, such as reading, learning a new skill, or working on a project. It’s easy to do this over your morning coffee or lunch. Consistent effort can lead to significant long-term progress toward attaining your professional vision.

These four managerial activities can help you make better use of your time and increase your productivity. At first glance, the tasks may seem simplistic, but that’s why they work. They help us increase our presence, focus on goals, and eliminate things that are clogging up productivity and weighing down our plate.

How to Be More Engaging

Mon, 14 Oct 2024 19:30:55 GMT

If you want more views on your business content, you don’t have to be a celebrity (although that makes things a lot easier). All you have to do is help your audience get to know you, and by doing so, humanize your business.

Some people are gifted engagers. They naturally know how to get people interested in their stuff. But for most of us, it’s a learned activity. If you’re not a born engager, here are five things you can do to improve your business content.

5 Engaging Content Tips

First, you don’t have to share everything about your life, but opening up to your audience can go a long way in helping them know, like, and trust you.

It may feel awkward sharing something that has nothing to do with your business, but if you’re talking about a part of you, like your dreams and your struggles, people will identify with you and that increases the draw of your content.

Sharing the Challenges

My neighbor has an e-commerce wellness business. She was recently hit hard by Hurricane Helene. She lost the bottom floor of her home and all her products. Instead of hiding that from her audience, she has shared it in spades. Through live videos every day since the hurricane, she has documented her struggles and her triumphs, her bad times and her blessings. Her audience has been very responsive and when she’s back up and running, I have no doubt they will support the rebuilding of her business. She showed her audience her humanity and they have laughed and cried with her.

For the Love of the Team

Another thing you can share are the triumphs and tribulations of your favorite team, whether that’s your favorite pro, college, or little ones’ team. Don’t be concerned that if you show a love for “State” that you’ll alienate the “University of” crowd. After all, your sports enemies may get a kick out of teasing you after a loss.

Showing the Love

If you feel comfortable with it—and they support you doing so—share info about your family. People love to know you have family and friends. “Family” includes your pets. If you show the love, your audience will see you in a new light and feel a greater connection with you.

Once Upon a Time

We all started somewhere. Sometimes beginnings are comical, and we can barely believe we’ve made it as far as we have. Other times there are serious lessons to be shared. Talk about your origin story. How did you get to where you are?

Full Team Ahead

In addition to sharing stories and information about yourself, get your team involved. Encourage them to tell their stories as well as share their favorites. By helping your audience get to know you, they’ll see your business as something more than just a money maker.

When your business is competing on prices alone, it’s a slippery slope to the bottom cost. When they support you for a reason other than you being the cheapest in town, you’ll have more loyal customers as well.

Finally, it’s best to share this engaging content in the medium that you feel the most comfortable with and the form(s) you’ll stick to. That being said, video is one of the best ways to show your humanity and help people identify with you. If you’re not currently doing video, it may be the difference between a lukewarm following and one that takes off.

Why Agility Is One of the Most Important Things in Your Marketing

Mon, 07 Oct 2024 21:50:28 GMT

The market is volatile. No, we’re not talking about stocks. The needs and desires of your audience are evolving, and your business marketing needs to follow suit. If you’re not practicing agile marketing, you’re going to fall behind.

Agile marketing is one of the most crucial aspects of marketing for businesses today. It offers significant advantages in an ever-changing marketplace. And the public’s expectations surrounding it (bet you didn’t know they already expect agility in marketing) can mean a potentially costly mistake for businesses that aren’t implementing it.

What Is Agile Marketing?

Agile marketing is the practice that allows marketers to adapt to changing environments, whether that be social media trends, customers’ needs/desires, or responses using emerging technologies. When you are an agile marketing shop, you can make changes to your current campaigns quickly for the benefit of your customers and ideal audience.

If you’re a solopreneur, you are likely already doing this. But as your company grows, and departments emerge, agility often becomes a larger task and must be purposely addressed.

Let’s break that down…

Key Benefits of Marketing Agility

One of the main benefits of marketing agility is rapid adaptation. Companies with agile marketing capabilities swiftly respond and adapt to market trends, consumer behaviors, and emerging technologies. They are relevant and competitive in a fast-paced environment.

Agile marketing facilitates quicker decision-making, allowing teams to test and iterate strategies in real-time. They’re more effective in their data-driven marketing efforts.

By emphasizing flexibility and responsiveness, agile marketing enables businesses to better meet customer needs and preferences. This customer-centric approach fosters stronger connections with target audiences and drives loyalty.

Companies that embrace marketing agility gain a significant edge over their competitors.

With agile marketing you can:

· deliver products and services faster

· capitalize on new opportunities

· effectively respond to customer feedback

· have more fun with social media trends while gaining greater reach

It may seem like a small thing but having a team that can identify trends, create quick content, and exploit the trends can astronomically increase their audience overnight. Conversely, those that must run all marketing through multiple departments before getting approval will likely miss these opportunities for greater visibility.

So, how do you adopt agile marketing practices? Isn’t planning to be less of a planner an oxymoron?

Implementing Agile Marketing

To harness the power of agility in marketing, businesses should consider the following strategies:

· Foster a Culture of Flexibility and Empowerment. Encourage a mindset of continuous learning and customer-led marketing. Empower employees to make decisions based on your mission. It’s difficult to be agile with multiple levels of signoffs required.

· Leverage Data and Technology. Utilize real-time data analytics and advanced technology to enable personalized and effective marketing strategies. See the next section about Agility in Action for a real-world example of why this is important.

· Work in Sprints. Implement short, focused marketing campaigns to drive rapid progress and allow for frequent reassessment of effectiveness.

· Promote Cross-Functional Collaboration. Encourage communication and teamwork across different departments/areas to enhance problem-solving and innovation. Each of your teams may have a different view or knowledge of your target audience.

Agility in Action

Hurricane Helene impacted people in six states, nearly 200 people lost their lives (at the time of this writing), and over 150,000 households have applied for disaster assistance (this number is expected to rise rapidly over the next several days). The impact of this storm was much larger than most and if you market nationally, your marketing should’ve reflected this in some way.

Agile marketers tweaked or paused their messaging. Many large marketers did not. Facebook is a prime example of this. Although, to be fair, it was an ad from a business and not Facebook directly.

Facebook populated my stream with a paid post about swimming lessons when my street was underwater. While the irony (or perfect fit) made me laugh, it didn’t do the business that had paid for the ad any favors. They should’ve paused it. (Of course, the day after the flood receded my stream became home to all sorts of remediation and hardware store ads. The algorithm was working overtime that day.)

Next, I saw major retailers email (and text) marketing to my area with the same marketing campaigns they had been running prior to the storm.

With today’s access to data, this made them appeal callous and clueless. More is expected of businesses because of technology. Perhaps if it had just been my little town impacted, I wouldn’t have thought anything about their campaigns but since six states were involved, they looked like a prescheduled business with no one behind the wheel.

When there is a major news event (flood, fire, school shooting, or other devastation), at the very least, review the content of your prescheduled social media posts. You don’t want to post about it being a lovely beach day in the middle of a devastating hurricane, for instance. Email campaigns should also be assessed.

Marketing agility can help you from making a PR blunder when marketing nationally. It is a critical factor for business success. People know you have the data; they expect you to use it for good.

Many businesses have spent years collecting data. They’ve used to personalize their marketing. Because of this, they’ve created an expectation around personalization. If you have embraced personalization to get your customers’ attention, you need to be prepared to use it for assistance as well.

By implementing agile principles, you can enhance your business’ adaptability, improve customer engagement, and gain a competitive edge. As the business landscape continues to evolve with new tech, the ability to pivot quickly and effectively will remain a key differentiator for successful organizations and help humanize your business as well.

How Being the Bearer of Good News Can Be a Boon for Business

Mon, 30 Sep 2024 20:57:15 GMT

If you’re like many of us, you may have decided that watching the news is not in your mental health’s best interest. From angry rants to misinformation, it’s difficult to understand the benefits these days. That’s why focusing on positivity and feel-good stories can help your business stand out and create a sense of connection with your audience.

But what kind of “feel good” content can you provide?

Good News Topics for Small Businesses

Being the bearer of good news in your community will not only make people feel good, but it will also give you a reputation as someone who cares. When it comes to helping people to know, like, and trust you, this speaks volumes.

Here are a few ideas of things you can share:

Acts of Kindness

Share stories about employees or customers going above and beyond to help others.

Highlight local initiatives where the business or community members are supporting charitable causes. In the upcoming months, especially around the holiday, you’ll see a lot of this.

Customer Success Stories

Feature testimonials or case studies where a customer has had a positive experience or achieved a great outcome thanks to your products/services. Highlight what they have achieved as the primary story then mention how you helped as a secondary point.

Employee Milestones & Celebrations

Announce work anniversaries, promotions, or personal achievements of your team members. Celebrate employees’ birthdays, new babies, or life events (before sharing make sure they are okay with this publicity).

Supporting Local Causes

Share updates on any partnerships or donations to local charities, schools, or community projects. Post about volunteer efforts and the positive impact they are making locally. Ask your employees what their favorite causes are and give them a shoutout on social. For instance, if you have an adopted dog and believe in the importance of adopting and helping the shelters, share that.

New Products or Services Launch

Introduce a new product line, service, or offering that solves a problem or adds value. Highlight how these innovations are making life easier for customers or improving the community. Sometimes the way your product or service helps isn’t directly about your product but the makers who use it. Consider how Sharpie showcases the artists that use their permanent markers.

Eco-Friendly Initiatives

Share the steps your business is taking to become more sustainable—reducing waste, recycling efforts, or eco-friendly products/services. Post about local environmental wins, such as clean-up events or green energy milestones. Talk about how you’re supporting local initiatives and doing your part even if it’s not mandatory for you to do so.

Local Business Collaborations

Collaborate with other businesses in ways that benefit the community, such as joint discounts or events. Share stories of how your business is helping lift up other local entrepreneurs whether it’s through mentoring or working with young people who want to own a business.

Community Achievements

Celebrate milestones in your community, such as a neighborhood clean-up, school achievements, or local sports team wins. Congratulate students on their academic achievements. Share remarkable long-standing achievements or history about the area. Make people proud of your town and your business community. Recognize individuals in the community who are making a difference.

Health & Wellness Tips

Share tips, advice, or workshops on staying mentally and physically healthy during challenging times. Highlight how your products or services can help. For instance, if you run a restaurant, “star” the low-cal or low-carb options to make it easier for those on restricted diets.

Discuss what you do to unwind when you have a bad day. Highlight the success of customers or community members who have made strides in improving their health.

Positive Industry Trends

Share good news about your industry—innovations, recovery stories, or exciting new trends that signal growth and opportunities.

Customer “Thank You” Posts

Publicly thank customers for their loyalty, sharing heartwarming moments, photos, or stories from customer interactions.

Run campaigns where customers share their own good news stories, featuring them on your page.

Feel-Good Holidays or Observances

Celebrate small, positive holidays like National Compliment Day, World Kindness Day, or Random Acts of Kindness Week, encouraging others to spread joy.

Local “Hidden Gems” Features

Highlight local attractions, businesses, or nature spots that uplift the community and showcase positive aspects of the area. Create “good news tours” of local treasures that bring people together and inspire positivity. Send a call-out to some of your favorite businesses—a rising tide lifts all boats.

Small Wins & Milestones for the Business

Celebrate overcoming challenges and adapting in tough times, showcasing resilience and optimism.

Positive Customer Reviews & Feedback

Feature a regular "Good Vibes" post series where you share uplifting feedback from happy customers, making them feel appreciated.

Feel-Good Content (Quotes, Memes, Videos)

Share inspirational quotes, funny memes, or heartwarming videos that brighten up people's day and spread positivity. After all, everyone forgets their woes when they see videos of dogs being reunited with their owners.stud

By sharing the good things in your community, your business can foster a sense of togetherness, spread joy, help people temporarily forget their struggles, and build a strong, positive brand presence. Can’t we all use a little more of that?

10 Unique Ways to Get More Email Subscribers (plus 19 tried and true methods)

Mon, 23 Sep 2024 22:47:04 GMT

If you’re like most businesspeople, finding ways to get names on your emailing list can be exhausting. We all want tons of fans and followers. There’s value behind a list of people who are interested in what you offer. Most businesses start their list with people they know. But if you want to turn your email list into marketing gold, you need to get strangers (who will become potential customers) interested in you. That’s no easy task.

It’s the kind of activity that most of us avoid because the thought of it seems so overwhelming.

The Basics of Building an Email List

At the most basic level, your goal is to get people on your email list who want to stay in contact with you. From a business perspective, most people join an email list because they are hoping for discounts or special deals.

Here's a list of conventional methods to grow your business email list:

1. Website pop-ups – they’re annoying but they work

2. Lead magnets (e-books, whitepapers, etc.) – give something to get something

3. Blog subscriptions

4. Newsletter sign-ups

5. Webinars or online events – to view the free webinar they need to join the list

6. Social media promotions/ads

7. Checkout process opt-ins – if you sell online, remind customers to sign up for discounts

8. Contact forms

9. Landing pages

10. Trade shows or in-person events

11. Referral programs

12. Free trials or samples – again, you give to get

13. Contests and giveaways

14. Email signature links – some people like you so much, they’ll click on the link

15. Partner cross-promotions – you see this in webinars often where an influencer will support a fellow influencer with a complementary offering

16. Freemium model for software/apps – offer a product for free (or discount) with sign-up

17. YouTube video descriptions – this is prime real estate; if they like your content, they might “pay” with contact info

18. QR codes on printed materials – this is an easy way to get people to your sign-up form

19. Table tents – if your business has tables with people waiting or sitting at them, creating a table tent with a QR code to your sign-up list will get subscribers

These methods, offer tried and true ways to get more subscribers. But they’re also things that everyone else is doing.

Unique Ways to Get More Email Subscribers

If you want to stand out, try these things:

1. Interactive quizzes. Create fun quizzes that provide valuable insights, with results sent via email. These are popular with stylists, trainers, nutritionists, and other personal services professionals.

2. Virtual reality experiences. Offer a VR demo or tour of your products/services, requiring email registration. Developers and hoteliers use this for properties that have not yet been built.

3. Personalized infographics. Let visitors input data to generate custom infographics, delivered to their email.

4. Augmented reality business cards. Design AR-enabled cards that reveal additional content when scanned, prompting email sign-ups.

5. Gamified loyalty program. Develop a points-based system where customers earn rewards by providing their email and engaging with your brand. Online games use this approach by offering additional bonus “coins” or “powerups” for reviews and shares.

6. Time-sensitive digital coupons. Offer exclusive discounts that expire quickly, encouraging immediate email sign-ups. This is a very popular tactic on e-commerce sites.

7. Podcast bonus content. If you have a podcast, offer extra episodes or behind-the-scenes content to email subscribers.

8. Social media challenges. Run contests requiring email entry, with user-generated content shared on social platforms.

9. QR code treasure hunts. Create physical or digital scavenger hunts using QR codes, with prizes for email subscribers.

10. AI-powered product recommendations. Offer personalized suggestions based on user preferences, sent via email.

Growing a business email list requires a multi-faceted approach of conventional and innovative ways. Traditional techniques like website pop-ups, lead magnets, and social media promotions remain effective, while unique strategies such as interactive quizzes, and gamified loyalty programs can get you noticed.

Whether going the traditional route or doing something a little more innovative to get names on your email list, the key is to provide value to potential subscribers. Offer things like exclusive content, personalized experiences, or tangible rewards/discounts.

Ultimately, the most successful email list growth strategies align with your brand's identity and the preferences of your target audience, turning them into long-term, loyal fans.

How to Get Unstuck in Your Small Business

Mon, 16 Sep 2024 21:21:06 GMT

If you’re a business owner or feel responsible for a business (regardless of your actual job title), it’s not unusual to feel stuck. No, I’m not talking about the golden handcuff-kind-of-stuck where because of the cost of living, you can’t get off the work treadmill. I’m talking about feeling stuck from a mental perspective—completely uninspired.

Like the business version of writer’s block, when you’re stuck, you’re not feeling creative, and your business is paying the price for it. Yes, the simple answer to when you feel this way is to take some time off—a vacation or, if you’re able, a sabbatical.

But that’s simply not feasible for many of us.

So, what do you do to bring back that loving feeling? To feel the excitement you used to feel about your business? To see things from a new perspective again?

You must first recognize that there is a problem and then you need to shake things up.

6 Ways to Get Unstuck

These creative approaches to getting past business boredom may not all work for you. They’re not designed to. This isn’t a step-by-step list.

Consider how you might loosen a knob that’s stuck or a car that’s trapped in the mud or snow. You start off applying consistent pressure. When that doesn’t work, you shift to spurts of momentum and exaggerated force. And in the case of getting a car out of the muck, it’s often the rocking (the rhythmic application of force followed by a rest that creates rocking) that frees it.

Your mind (and outlook on your business) likely needs a little on/off switch, which can be accomplished by doing something different. If any of the following are part of your daily practice, skip over that idea or do it in a new way. Psychologists refer to this as Divergent Thinking.

1. Practice Mindfulness and Meditation

Engaging in mindfulness practices can help you improve focus, reduce stress, and enhance decision-making abilities. Regular meditation fosters a clearer mindset, allowing for better management of daily challenges and long-term strategic planning. With less stress, you may feel invigorated again.

2. Engage in Cross-Disciplinary Learning

Exploring subjects outside of one's industry can spark creativity and innovation. For instance, a tech entrepreneur might benefit from studying art or philosophy, which can provide fresh perspectives and inspire new ideas applicable to their business.

Cross-disciplinary learning isn’t hard, expensive, or time-consuming. Read a book, listen to an audiobook, subscribe to a newsletter in an area you know little about, join Blinkist to have access to thousands of book synopsis (like Clift Notes for adults), sit with an employee and ask them to teach you something—professional or about an interest they have. Learning something new can give you a fresh perspective.

Next, try to find correlations in the learning you’re doing. How do these seemingly random lessons fit into what you normally enjoy or pursue?

3. Seek Out Mentorship and Reverse Mentorship

While traditional mentorship is valuable, reverse mentorship—where younger or less experienced individuals provide insights to seasoned professionals—can offer new viewpoints on emerging trends, technologies, or even language (ever try to have a casual conversation with a Gen Zer? They use a completely different dictionary). This reciprocal learning can enrich your understanding of your market and customer base.

Check with your chamber. They may have a mentorship program or might be able to match you with someone who can expand your understanding in a new area of interest. If you don’t have time to invest in a new mentor/mentee relationship, attend one of the Lunch & Learns in a subject you would never have thought of attending before.

Again, look for correlations between what you’ve learned and how you might use it in your business or life.

4. Participate in Community Service or Volunteering

Engaging in community service can enhance leadership skills and empathy, which are crucial for effective management. It also allows you to build networks and understand community needs. If you don’t have an interest in a cause, talk to your chamber. They’d be glad to put you to work.

5. Use a Swipe File or mymind

Ever stumble across something that interests you, but you don’t have the time to pursue it? Well, that time is now. Take out whatever notes you’ve taken or swipe file you’ve kept and pursue something on your bucket list. If you don’t have a swipe file or bucket list, create one and start adding to it.

I use mymind because it keeps a beautiful visual representation of books I’m interested in, website articles I want to read, movies I want to watch, etc. Prior to the app, I was using my notes function on my phone but it’s harder for me to find the snippets I wanted to save on there. (My notes are extensive so I needed a better solution.)

If you’re always finding articles on the web that you don’t have time to read, try Pocket to save them for later. Pocket will also make suggestions on content to check out based on your interests.

6. Experiment with Personal Projects

Undertaking personal projects unrelated to your business can foster creativity and innovation. These projects allow for risk-taking in a low-stakes environment, encouraging problem-solving and adaptability that can translate back into the business realm. They can also reduce stress, help you meet new people, and teach you the value of patience. Who knows? Maybe you’ll even uncover a new love or revenue stream!

Why Having a Hobby Is Great for Business

Mon, 09 Sep 2024 18:10:37 GMT

No, this isn’t another article about how you can turn your hobby into a side hustle. But having a hobby can be great for your existing business. It may not feel like you have enough time for a hobby, but here’s why you should prioritize hobby time (or time spent cultivating one).

Why You (and Your Business) Need a Hobby

Hobbies aren’t time sucks. Having a hobby can significantly enhance your business and your well-being. “Hobbying” does not steal you away from your work. It contributes to it in several ways, including:

Enhancing Your Creativity and Innovation

Hobbies allow us to play in something we enjoy. They are ideal outlets for creative expression, which can translate into innovative ideas for your business. When you explore activities outside of your work, you can develop new perspectives and solutions that may not arise in a traditional business setting. Increased creativity can lead to unique products or services that differentiate your brand. When you take time for something other than work, your mind relaxes, and you can become better at problem-solving.

Relieving Stress and Improving Well-being

Hobbies provide a necessary break from the pressures of running a business. They can reduce stress, improve mental health, and increase overall happiness. A balanced mental state enhances decision-making and productivity. The change in focus from business to pleasure helps you unwind and use different parts of your brain.

Improving Networking Opportunities

Participating in hobbies (and the events surrounding them) can introduce you to new people and potential customers. These social interactions provide valuable networking opportunities, collaborations, and even new business ideas. Building relationships in a relaxed environment can foster trust and loyalty among potential clients.

To meet new people, you could take a class in your new hobby, go to a hobby-based meet-up, join a Facebook group around your hobby, or teach a class on your hobby.

Developing New Skills

Hobbies often require learning new skills, which can benefit your business. You may also learn from other creators on social media and apply some of those ideas to your business’s social media. Additionally, hobbies can improve skills such as time management, organization, and problem-solving, which are crucial for running a successful business.

Validating the Market

If you consider turning your hobby into a business, it can serve as a form of market validation. If friends and family are interested in purchasing your hobby-related creations, it indicates a potential market demand. This initial interest can provide the confidence needed to take the next steps toward entrepreneurship or launching an additional product or service in your current business.

Sometimes a hobby can have a strong tie into your business. For instance, a graphic designer may use their own photography hobby to generate images for clients.

Which leads us to…

Adding Financial Benefits

Transforming a hobby into a business can also lead to financial gains. Many people have successfully monetized their hobbies, creating a profitable income stream while doing something they love. If managed effectively, hobbies can provide financial relief and evolve into a significant income source.

Even if you don’t monetize your hobby, it may lend itself to creating a differentiator for you with your existing business. For instance, if you’re a plumber who enjoys painting, you could paint a mural on your van or send thank you cards to clients on one of your watercolor cards. Standing out in the market helps people remember you.

You may be thinking this is great, but you don’t have time for anything but your business. We know you’re busy but as we’ve just seen, taking a break is beneficial for your business. Here are a few ways you can find the time for a hobby.

You DO Have Time for a Hobby

Reclaim your precious moments with these ideas:

Think in Weeks, Not Days. Instead of squeezing hobbies into a daily schedule, look at your weekly calendar. Identify a few hours each week when you can dedicate time to something you love. Then schedule them in as a standing appointment.

Learn to Say No. If your schedule is overflowing, it's okay to decline additional commitments or delegate tasks. This frees up time for the activities that bring you joy. Understand the difference between being busy and being productive. Prioritize the things in your business that move the dial the most.

Re-evaluate Autopilot Mode. We all have moments when we zone out on social media or TV. (Hello, Netflix, my old friend.) Be mindful of how you spend this downtime, and see if you can swap some of it for hobbies. The problem with TV and screen time is that you can spend hours doing those things and still not feel like you’ve had a break. We tend to be unaware of that time. Instead, switch some of it for hobbies. Not only will you feel like you’ve had a break, you’ll get some mental health benefits from it as well.

Embrace Micro Breaks. Short breaks during the workday can boost productivity. Your day is likely full of moments when you’re waiting for something—a meeting, an appointment, a call, etc. Use these moments to do something enjoyable, like listening to music or reading during lunch. The key to making this happen is having your hobby/relaxing activity ready to go when you have micro break time. If you don’t have it ready, you’ll likely reach for scrolling through social instead. And that’s not a break.

Balancing the zaniness of running a business with a hobby can lead to many benefits for your mental health and your business. Don’t think of a hobby as time away from work. Think of it as a way to investment in your top employee—you.

How to Get More Love for Your Business on Social Media

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 23:34:04 GMT

Social media is becoming more and more frustrating, right? If you have used it to connect with your audience for ten years or so, you undoubtedly have seen crazy changes in your reach. If you’re new to the social media for business scene, reaching 2% of your audience probably feels pretty normal.

But if you’re not reaching your audience, how are they going to know who you are and all the wonderful things your business can bring them?

When it comes to building a loyal following, there are several things you can do. Ultimately, reach is still dependent on the platform’s algorithm, but every social media channel claims to respond to value. To reach more people, you need them to see you as providing valuable content they want to interact with. Here’s how you can start doing that.

Get Your Business in Good Social Media Shape

Before we get into strategy and posting ideas, it’s important to get your social media accounts in good shape. Make sure your profile is complete, up to date, and visually appealing. Use a high-quality profile picture and cover image. If you have a profile you are no longer using, don’t just leave it languishing. Add a few posts to it about where you are posting now. An image post or funny video can help people who find you on one platform, locate you on another.

Use analytics tools to understand where you are now. Identify what types of content resonate most with your audience. Check when they are most active. Use that to influence your posting content and scheduling. As you change your posting, track your progress to see what’s working.

Finally, keep up with the latest social media best practices and algorithm changes. They are always evolving changing.

Now, let’s talk about content.

Start with a Strong Content Strategy

We all know stories about how a video went viral, but for business you need to develop a strong and consistent strategy that revolves around dependable and valuable content. If something goes viral, awesome. But don’t count on it as part of your content strategy any more than you would see buying a lottery ticket every week as a way to fund retirement.

When creating a social media content strategy for business, you want:

High-Quality Content. The foundation of your social media presence is compelling and valuable content. Post images, videos (this is a must), and text that resonate with your target audience.
Consistency: Develop a content calendar to help plan and schedule your posts. Post regularly to stay top-of-mind with your audience. Consistency is key to becoming top of mind. Sometimes consistency can even trump value in the short term. For instance, there was an author on TikTok who created some of the most boring videos I have ever seen—speaking in a monotone about the details of everything she did every morning. She posted with the regularity that some people reach for their morning coffee. Darn if she didn’t grow a massive following on consistency alone. Every morning, there she was. And in the same way you might find yourself staring out the window in a daze while you make coffee, I watched her videos.
Variety: Mix up your content formats to keep things interesting. Try using images, videos, carousels, live streams, stories, and polls. But…keep to your branding so that people will know it’s you immediately.
Value: Offer educational, entertaining, or inspirational content that provides value to your followers.

Engage

The algorithms base their determination of valuable content on what people are interacting with. That means you must motivate them to go from a passive state of watching (or reading) to an active pursuit of commenting. That’s not always easy, but here are some best practices you can implement:

Respond to Comments and Messages as soon as possible. Show you value your commenter’s interaction. When appropriate, ask them questions in the comments. This will help continue the conversation. Speaking of…
Ask Questions and Run Polls: Encourage conversations and participation by asking questions and conducting polls. Stickers are an engaging way to do this on Stories.
Use Interactive Features: Utilize features like live streams, Stories, and Q&As to connect with your followers in real-time. Facebook, for one, notifies your followers when you go live.
Community Building: Foster a sense of community by sharing user-generated content. If someone posts a picture of your products or a review, share it and thank them.

Get More Views

Again, the algorithm has a lot to do with how many people see your content. Just because you post does not mean it will be seen. Recently, Instagram seems to be showing more content to non-followers than followers. Here are ways you can build on that:

Cross-Promotion. Promote your social media accounts on your website, email signature, newsletter, and other marketing materials. Make sure everyone who does business with you (or is researching your business) knows where to find you on social media.
Hashtags. Use relevant hashtags to help people discover your content. Research popular and trending hashtags in your industry and community. Speaking of trending, it’s okay to try a little…
Bandwagoning. Jumping on the bandwagon (or posting about something that’s trending or using trending music) is a good way to get new eyes on your content. It may feel a little insincere at first and out of line with your business, but if you do it in a fun way, it can show a lighter side of your personality and help people feel more connected to you.
Collaborations. Partner with influencers or other businesses in your niche or town to reach a wider audience. Do interviews, videos, social media posting battles, and other collaborations to get attention. Talk to your chamber. They may be able to help introduce you to the perfect business partner. Check out this “ sign war ,” which made it out of the social media trenches and onto a local TV station.

Building a loyal following takes time and effort. Be patient, consistent, and focused on providing value to your audience, and you'll see your interactions grow over time.

The Missing Key That Could Help With Employee Retention

Mon, 26 Aug 2024 20:11:26 GMT

Does your business seem to be a revolving door of employees? If so, there are several reasons why that could be true that have nothing to do with your business itself. It could be the nature of your industry. Some industries are seasonal or attract a more nomadic employee base that tends to wander. It could also be a problem with one of your managers or supervisors. Perhaps, it’s a lack of growth opportunities.

If you’re shaking your head thinking, “No, that’s not it,” and you’re wondering what it could be for your business, The 2024 Intuit QuickBooks Allstate Health Solutions Benefits Survey may provide some answers.

The survey of 1,000 employees from both small and large companies reveals just how important employee benefits packages are in today's competitive job market.

Here’s a summary of the key findings:

Benefits Have a Large Impact on Employee Retention and Hiring

With the costs of medical care these days, it’s not shocking to learn that 78% of the employees polled would consider finding a new job if their current benefits package was inadequate. Healthcare benefits rank as the second most important factor, after salary, when considering job offers. It suffices to say, if your business doesn’t provide healthcare benefits, you could be losing employees. It’s also difficult to become an employer of choice without offering healthcare.

But there’s more to employee benefits than just offering them. What they cost is also now a deciding factor in selecting an employer.

Employee Cost of Benefits

Even with a benefits program in place, 23% of employees struggle to afford their employer-provided benefits. A majority of workers polled (62% at smaller companies and 66% at larger companies) believe their monthly contributions are too high, especially given rising inflation and interest rates.

Sadly, 71% of workers at small companies and 63% at larger companies have difficulty saving for long-term goals due to medical costs. This issue disproportionately affects women, with over a quarter reporting significant financial setbacks (due to medical costs) compared to 18% of men.

What Benefits Employees Want

Okay, so benefits are important but what exactly do employees want? Nearly 60% of employees want options, including HMOs, PPOs, and FSAs. But healthcare isn’t the only thing that makes a benefits package attractive. 50% of employees at small companies and 61% at larger companies desire supplemental benefits such as dental, vision, mental health, and pet insurance.

If pet insurance surprises you, you should know that since 2018, the number of insured pets in the U.S. has increased by nearly 23% annually, with approximately 5.4 million policies active as of 2022, according to the North American Pet Health Insurance Association.

The Link of Benefits to Job Satisfaction and Productivity

As you might expect after reading this far, benefits are a large consideration in taking a job but benefits also tie into job satisfaction. The survey found that over 90% of employees at both small and large companies connect their job satisfaction to their benefits package. A substantial majority indicate that inadequate medical coverage could negatively affect their work productivity.

Laurent Sellier of Intuit QuickBooks emphasized that maintaining competitive and affordable benefits packages is vital for employee retention in the current economic climate. She said, “Our research shows that employees are placing higher value on health benefits when it comes to their job satisfaction, but many are finding it difficult to manage benefits costs in today’s economic climate. For that reason, maintaining competitive benefits packages at an affordable price is vital to employee retention.”

While benefits are an added cost for businesses, not providing them could impact employee productivity, satisfaction, and retention. It’s not an easy call as you’re considering your offerings but this survey underlines how important benefits are to employees regardless of the size of your business.

The 5 Most Common Mistakes Email Marketers Make

Mon, 19 Aug 2024 21:02:30 GMT

In marketing, it’s important to stay curious and notice what attracts your attention and what misses the mark. There’s a ton to be learned from all that spam.

The 5 Most Common Mistakes of Email Marketers

We've compiled a list of the most common things seen across industries. How many of these common mistakes are you making in your business emails?

1. Your email is coming from a big box.

Subject and sender are the two biggest reasons people open your emails. If you’re using a generic contact name, people won’t open it. Make the sender as human (sounding) as possible, unless your brand is the reason they would open it.

2. Not explaining who you are.

Most people get a lot of webinar invites and spam. Sometimes it’s difficult to tell which is which. If your business has a generic name that is not industry specific, it can be difficult to understand who it’s coming from. For instance, I received an email invite to a “must-attend” webinar to help with my “dream path.” The business name had the term “mastermind” in it. Was it for me as a business owner, me as a fiction writer, me as a chamber member, or me in one of my self-improvement phases. I guessed it was the latter. It turns out—I realized once I missed the webinar, and the replay showed up in my inbox—that it was for my college-bound son. Missed that.

If you want to be successful in building a relationship over email, assume they don’t know you, and give your recipient a clue as to which part of their life you’re involved in.

The trend these days is a casual tone but that makes people feel crazy when they can’t put a name with the business, especially when the business shares its name with a dozen out there.

3. Not using personalization.

Come on. Mail merge technology has been around since DOS days. It’s okay to use a first name in a subject line. Believe it or not, it does make people pay attention.

4. Not cleaning your database.

There are some email marketers that I get 2-3 emails from every time they have an offer. Why? Because I receive ads or emails from them asking me to sign up for a webinar or a freebie and I don’t realize which email they have so I accidently give them a second (or third) one. That’s on me. But they can run dupe checks on their database periodically, especially if they’ve collected something other than a name and email.

Sometimes I even get duplicate emails when I’ve given them the same email because they’re treating each freebie or event as a new list of names. Some of us are return visitors.

Don’t make that mistake. It messes with your open rates. Clean your database for dupes.

5. Not making the unsubscribe button visible.

All mass emails need an easy way to unsubscribe. Otherwise, people will get frustrated and hit the spam button, affecting your send rating. If you make people hunt for it, they will choose the easiest route, which will also be the most unpleasant for you.

So, do these mistakes sound familiar? Are you guilty? It’s easy to overlook these common mistakes when you’re trying to get your message out. Just remember, email is about connections. Anything you can do to improve that will help you become a better email marketer.

Fast-Track Trust: How to Win Customers Quickly

Mon, 22 Jul 2024 18:12:58 GMT

Trust is the cornerstone of customer relationships, driving sales and fostering loyalty. Yet, building that trust swiftly, especially in a competitive landscape filled with countless options for consumers, can be hard. Establishing credibility and rapport takes time and effort. (It’s the one thing you can’t buy at Costco.) But strategic actions can accelerate trust building. By focusing on transparency, communication, and consistently exceeding expectations, you can cultivate trust quickly and effectively. If you want to build trust with current and potential customers, check out these important values.

Transparency

Be upfront and honest about your products, services, and business practices. Clearly communicate your values, mission, and any potential limitations. If someone else is a better fit for what a potential customer is looking for, tell them that. When customers feel they have a clear understanding of your business and your commitment to helping them (sometimes above your own desire to land them as a customer), they're more likely to trust your intentions and buy from you again.

Communication

Engage in open and consistent communication with your audience. Respond promptly to all inquiries and feedback. Actively participate in conversations on social media and other platforms. Show your personality. By being accessible and responsive, you demonstrate a commitment to customer satisfaction (and seem like a real person, not just a finely crafted brand).

Your Word (and Actions)

Nothing erodes trust faster than broken promises or going back on your word. Ensure your products and services live up to the expectations you set. Consistently delivering quality and reliability reinforces your credibility and builds confidence in your brand.

Your word also extends past what you say into what you do. Actions matter, as does past buying experience. Take Amazon, for instance. Is it always the least expensive option? Absolutely not. But many people buy from the mega-retailer over and over because they count on a quick delivery. Think about what you want to be known for and how you might prove that to your customers through your actions.

Social Proof

Share customer testimonials, reviews, comments, and case studies that highlight positive experiences with your business. Potential customers are more likely to trust the opinions of their peers than slick marketing. Encourage satisfied customers to share their feedback online and on social media platforms. Listen on social channels so you know when they’re sharing.

Customer Service

Go above and beyond to meet the needs and exceed the expectations of your customers. Train your staff to be knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful. Address any concerns or issues promptly and professionally.

Coach your staff on anticipating additional questions. For instance, if someone is looking at a small pink shirt and asks if it comes in another color, but you know the other color only comes in a medium, lead with that. Instead of just answering the question by saying, “yes, blue,” anticipate their next question too. Say, “We also have blue but only in a medium. However, we can order a small for you, and it would be here on Wednesday” or “We have it in blue in a medium. They tend to run a little small. Would you like me to show you where it is?” Give all the information you have so the guest doesn’t have to keep asking you question after question. Providing exceptional customer service creates a positive impression, fosters loyalty, and often entices people to talk about their positive buying experience with others.

Personalization

Get to know your customers and their preferences. Tailor your marketing communication and offerings to their specific needs. Personalization demonstrates you value their business and are committed to providing a unique and satisfying experience. It also makes them feel special, something they won’t get from just any business.

Online Presence

Your website and social media profiles are often the first points of contact for potential customers. Many people “visit” businesses online before they go in person. Ensure your online presence is professional, informative, engaging, and up-to-date. Share valuable content, interact with your audience, and showcase your expertise. Save your rants for your pets. At least they won’t hold them against you.

Giving Back to the Community

Engage in philanthropic activities and support local causes that matter to you. Partnering with charities or organizing community events demonstrates your commitment to social responsibility and can resonate with customers who share similar values.

Authenticity

Let your personality and passion shine through in your interactions with customers and potential customers. People are more likely to connect with and trust a business that feels genuine and relatable.

Building trust takes time and effort, but the pay-off is great. Another company can always out price you, but it’s difficult to persuade a customer to do business with someone new when they have a trusted partner they enjoy buying from. By implementing these strategies, you can accelerate the trust-building process and establish lasting relationships with your customers. Remember, trust is an invaluable asset. It leads to increased sales, customer loyalty, and long-term success for your small business.

Digital Etiquette Tips

Mon, 08 Jul 2024 20:18:05 GMT

Internetting ain’t easy. There are all sorts of digital quagmires we get ourselves into putting words onto a screen and hitting send or post. It’s a tricky time navigating communication across the digital world. Since Emily Post is busy sorting out which fork goes where, it’s time we turn to her predecessor “Emily Posted,” your digital etiquette guru. Here are her top suggestions for better relationships in the virtual world.

Digital Etiquette Tips for Non-trolls

If you’re not trying to be a troll or a “Karen” (sorry to all the nice Karens out there), here’s what you need to do in the digital domain.

1. Avoid the Reply-All Rampage. Before sending anything on email or text, check the “to” line. No matter how clever your comment about your co-worker’s cat, do you really want everyone to know that you think Mr. Smoochy McMuffins would make a good throw pillow? Now everyone knows your true feelings and you’re the cause of a hostile work environment. Reply-all should NEVER be your detail setting. Speaking of…

2. Don’t Be a Caps Lock Crusader. When you use all caps, you're yelling at everyone. WE GET IT, YOU'RE EXCITED, BUT OUR EYES NEED A BREAK. Your email is not a ransom note. Calm it down and release caps lock.

3. Escape Emoji Overload. Oh, my fine friends. Emojis are not hieroglyphics. You don’t appear smarter for using them. If your emails and posts contain so many emojis that people need a decoder ring to figure out what you're saying, you have a communication problem. ��️‍♂️�� Note to the disgruntled person reading this now: I didn’t say not to use them, just try to use more words than poop symbols. There’s a professional ratio to adhere to. It’s published under the Meta algorithm.

4. Don’t Be a Meme Machine. Bombarding group chats with endless memes, thinking you're the funniest person in the world, is according to F. Scott Fitzgerald akin to “laughing at your own jokes,” (actually he said that about using exclamation points. Don’t even get me started on those. Are you really that excited?!!!!!) Additionally, not everyone appreciates the subtle art of SpongeBob humor. But I do, so send those memes my way.

5. Avoid the Voice Message Vortex. 1994 called. It wants you to check your voicemail. I know we all still have this feature on the phone, but no one uses it. I read voicemail transcriptions, which are…wait for it…texts. Think of this the next time you’re babbling on someone’s voicemail.

Also, don’t leave a voicemail and then text someone saying you left them a voicemail. That sounds a lot like a toddler butting into a grown-up’s conversation, “Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom.” Unlike in your marketing, one medium to get your point across is enough. Unless you haven’t heard from them in like two whole hours, and you need proof of life. Parents with kids who can drive get a special dispensation on this etiquette rule.

6. Don’t Send Worthless Emails. This is going to make a lot of people angry, but I heard it straight from developers, so that gives it digital cred, which is like street cred but for the internet. If all you have to say in an email is “got it” or “thanks,” and NOTHING else (yeah, I got a little excited there) let it go. No response is better than clogging up someone’s congested inbox with a simple thanks. This advice is null and void if you have anything of substance to add such as “Thanks, did you also have time to look over those sponsorship materials?” or “Thanks, did you know today is free Slurpee Day?” That is vital information and requires passing it along.

7. Avoid Producing an Attachment Franchise. Luckily, for most of us our email providers are getting smart enough to save us from ourselves but just in case, I’m adding this one because it’s an oldie and not a goodie. Ever have an email with an attachment become a franchise with a prequel, show, and sequel? Sure, you have. It goes something like this: First email: “Please see attached.” Second email: “Oops, forgot the attachment!” Third email: “Here it is for real this time.” Just don’t.

8. Don’t Put on a Free Show. Most of us have forgotten to take ourselves off mute on Zoom, honest mistake. But worse is forgetting to mute yourself entirely and turning your dog’s barking or your partner’s singing into an unintended concert for your colleagues. Still, that’s better than not realizing your camera is on. You really should get paid for that kind of exposition.

9. Be Judicious with Your Hashtags. Don’t use so many hashtags that your post looks like it’s been hijacked by a rogue bot. Also, emails don’t need hashtags. You also don’t need to use hashtags in real-life conversations. #PleaseStop #WeGetIt #EnoughAlready #EveryWordIsAHashtag

10. If You’re Not 13, End the Text Tsunami. Sending multiple short texts in rapid succession instead of one comprehensive message, means (Murphy’s Law) we can bet whoever’s on the receiving end of that chain is undoubtedly in the most important meeting of their life or attending a funeral AND PEOPLE ARE PISSED.

11. Ditch the Profile Picture Paradox. If you’re using a profile picture from ten years ago (or longer), people who see it and then meet you in person may wonder if they’ve been emailing with a time traveler. It’s time to switch out that Glamor Shot from the 80s. Instead use a current one with a subtle filter, if you really must. But don’t shock your audience when they first meet you or make them walk around at the conference looking for you (even though you’re standing right there) because they don’t recognize you from your online pic.

12. Get Off the Social Media Soapbox. Stop posting lengthy, unsolicited rants about your personal views, turning your feed into a digital diary no one asked to read. If you don’t, know I am a reader, and I will read every one of them, and judge you for it. Thank you for the entertainment.

13. Don’t Be a Group Chat Hijacker. People start a group chat for a reason. If you’re taking over group chats with off-topic conversations, turning a planning session for a picnic into a debate about the best type of cheese, know that someone out there has just silenced notifications from you, and this will be the last group chat you’re added to. Good luck finding out where that picnic is going to be held.

And…since we’re talking about group texts, there are a lot of fun mediums out there that allow groups of people to get all the same info in real time. This is ideal for urgent communication. However, thanking someone for telling you they’re at the location (or even giving them a thumb’s up) has now been shared with every member of that group. And then someone responds telling you not to post junk like that (but they use a more colorful 4-letter term), and then another posts that the responder should be kind, and then someone says be a better human, and then another tells everyone it’s a free country, and now there are more texts in that chat than dollars in the national debt.

That is exactly why we need someone like Emily Posted. You’re welcome.

Christina Metcalf is a writer/ghostwriter who believes in the power of story. She works with small businesses, chambers of commerce, and business professionals who want to make an impression and grow a loyal customer/member base. She loves road trips, hates exclamation points, and is currently finished with her digital don’ts tirade.

Sizzling Summer Strategies to Boost Sales

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 18:07:41 GMT

Summer is a season of change for many small businesses. School's out, vacations are in, and customer behavior shifts as people embrace the warmer weather and longer days. For some businesses, it’s a time of enormous revenue; for others, it can herald a long dry spell.

But with a bit of planning and creativity, summer can also be a season of growth and opportunity no matter what type of business you are in (except maybe snow plowing).

Here are a few ideas that you can start thinking about today.

Make It a Hot Summer

Summer offers unique opportunities to refresh your branding, engage customers, and capture the carefree spirit of the season. People are looking for ways to have fun and are in a vacation mindset even if they’re at home.

Try:

· Summer-Themed Promotions. Offer special discounts, bundles, or limited-time products that align with summer activities. Items like beach towels, picnic baskets, or refreshing beverages can be a nice freebie to include with purchase.

· Seasonal Décor. Spruce up your storefront or website with bright colors, summer imagery, and seasonal messaging to attract customers. Vacation’s all they ever wanted, as the song goes.

· Outdoor Events. If your business allows for it, host a summer BBQ, sidewalk sale, or outdoor workshop to draw in foot traffic and create a fun atmosphere. People won’t be able to ignore what looks like a party.

· Social Media Contests. Launch a summer-themed contest on social media to increase engagement and brand awareness. Picture contests work well this time of year.

Beat the Summer Slump

For some businesses, summer can bring a slowdown in sales.

Here are a few strategies to keep the momentum going:

· Target Staycationers. With the economy where it is and costs high, many people are opting for local getaways. Cater to staycationers with special offers or packages tailored to their needs. Some businesses offer in-state/local discounts. For those who don’t want to discount products, consider a bundle that might appeal to them or a buy now, get something in the future deal to entice them to return. Some businesses also consider membership programs where customers pay a flat fee and get unlimited services (or products) for a given time. This can help you bring in money in advance of the service/product.

· Focus on Online Sales. If foot traffic dips, ramp up your online presence and promotional efforts. Consider offering free shipping or special discounts for online orders. Use flash sales or free shipping to entice people to act now.

· Partner with Complementary Businesses. Team up with other local businesses to cross-promote each other's products or services, offering bundle deals or joint events.

The Chamber Connection

Your Chamber of Commerce can be a valuable resource for navigating the summer season. They often host seasonal events, workshops, and networking opportunities that can help you connect with potential customers and learn from other businesses.

By leveraging the Chamber's resources and expertise, you can:

Stay Informed. Get the latest updates on local events, tourism trends, and business opportunities.

Connect with Partners. Find businesses to collaborate with on summer promotions or events.

Access Marketing Resources. Utilize the Chamber's website, social media channels, or newsletter to reach a wider audience.

Get Referrals. Many tourists see the Chamber of Commerce as a good first stop when they get to town. Chambers are often asked where to eat, stay, and play. As a member in good standing, you may be eligible for referrals, or your Chamber may display business brochures or play videos. Contact the Chamber to find out how you can get in front of that audience.

With a little planning and creativity, you can make this summer your most successful yet.

Are You Worried About Inflation?

Mon, 10 Jun 2024 21:33:12 GMT

For the past two years or so, it feels as if economists have been avoiding the words recession and inflation. No one wants to hear those terms. They’ve been pointing to economic equations and data to show we’re not “technically” in a recession because unemployment is low or the inflation rate is lower than it was this time last year.

But if you’re feeling the pinch in your business, an economic turn of words means little to you.

So, what can you do to combat this word no one wants to talk about?

Surviving a Difficult Economy (even if you don’t want to use the “I” word)

To address inflation, which is the top concern for small businesses today , here are some strategies you can implement:

1. Raise prices strategically - Many small businesses have had to increase their prices to offset rising costs from inflation. This choice is always one to be done judiciously by analyzing expenses, profit margins, and what the market can bear. If you’re a small business, raising prices is never easy. But if you can find a way to provide more value in your product or service, it can be more palatable to the customer. For instance, adding in a free event invitation or incentive that costs you a minimal amount may make customers feel that while they’re being charged more, they’re also getting more.

2. Cut expenses - Review all expenses and cut any unnecessary costs. Renegotiate contracts with vendors, reduce inventory, and streamline operations to trim overhead.

3. Seek additional financing - Inflation has forced many small businesses to take on additional debt or financing to maintain cash flow. Options include small business loans, lines of credit, or alternative lending sources. Check with your local area too as there may be grants available for façade improvements, hiring, or other specific needs you may have. If you are a service provider, you may also be able to restructure your billing practices to improve cash flow. For instance, charging for part of the services up front or twice a month instead of monthly can lessen the time between payments.

4. Adjust inventory management - With costs rising, small businesses need to carefully manage inventory levels to avoid tying up too much capital in unsold goods. Just-in-time inventory and drop-shipping can help.

5. Increase productivity and efficiency - Look for ways to produce more output with the same or fewer inputs through process improvements, automation, and optimizing the workforce. AI may provide some cost saving solutions by increasing your efficiency or allowing you to do more (and thus bill more).

6. Diversify product/service offerings - Expanding into new areas that are less impacted by inflation can help offset losses in other segments of the business. You may have expansion opportunities with complementary services or goods that you can sell to your loyal audience. For instance, a trainer may also carry a line of supplements they believe in.

7. Connect with like-minded people – As much as your friends and family may be well-meaning as they listen to your concerns over business, unless they are business owners themselves, they may not fully understand or have solutions for you. Surrounding yourself with other business owners and getting insights into how they’ve been impacted and are surviving can give you a big boost in morale and much-needed hope. Joining the chamber or making it a point to attend their education and networking events can give you greater insights into how you might weather the storm.

The chamber is also often very knowledgeable about funding and grant opportunities as well as things that are working for other businesses in your area.

15+ Questions to Identify Your Ideal Client

Mon, 03 Jun 2024 20:51:56 GMT

If you are in a client services business (especially one where your clients might return over and over), one of the best things you can do to set yourself up for success is to understand who you want to work with and who aligns with your skills and talent.

If you’re just starting off, or you’ve fallen on hard times, it’s tempting to work with anyone and everyone. But you’ll end up sabotaging yourself in the long run when you choose to work with the “wrong” clients.

After all, there are limited hours in the workday. If you’re plugging just anyone into those spots, there may not be room for the clients that you find the most desirable.

Why Do I Need an Ideal Client?

There are two reasons you should get very clear on who your ideal client is—knowing who they are makes them easier to target from a marketing perspective and you’ll be more satisfied with your business in the long run.

But how do you know who your ideal client is? Isn’t your ideal client anyone who can pay?

Hardly.

Yes, you want someone who can pay but that shouldn’t be your only criteria. It’s important to understand how to identify the people you work best with.

Part of that is defined by the nature of your business or industry. But part of it is also how you want to shape your business.

First, ask yourself the following questions to understand your ideal customer. They may not all apply to your type of business, but they are a good start. Then use your answers to adjust your marketing and design a customer questionnaire to ensure you’re working with people who are a good fit for the kind of business you want to have.

15+ Questions to Ask Yourself to Identify Your Ideal Clients

While it’s tempting to work with “just anyone,” you will be more efficient, happier, less prone to burnout, and more passionate about your business if you are selective with your clients.

Ask yourself:

1. What kind of industries or products align with my interests/values? Conversely, what do I not support or have interest in?

2. What kinds of projects take my professional growth in the direction I’m most interested in?

3. What kind of communication mediums do I enjoy? (If you have a specific client possibility in mind, pay attention to their communication frequency.) Does their style align with mine?

4. What level of creative freedom do I prefer? Do I want to co-create or create alone?

5. How do I feel about being micromanaged? Will I market myself as an expert or an assistant?

6. How flexible am I with what I charge? Am I open to customizable projects or just specific services as laid out in my offerings?

7. Do I want to be on retainer with a few clients who control my schedule or have many clients and the freedom in my own scheduling?

8. Do I prefer working independently or collaboratively? Do I thrive when leading a project solo, or do I enjoy the energy and shared responsibility of a team?

9. What level of responsibility do I enjoy? Do I want to check-in and get sign-offs or only on final deliverables?

10. What types of tasks energize me? Do I enjoy the creative aspects of brainstorming and ideation, the detail-oriented work of implementation, or the analytical challenge of problem-solving?

11. What types of projects align with my skills and interests? Do I want to do, teach, or consult?

12. Do I excel in projects that require strong communication, technical expertise, or creative vision?

13. What is my preferred pace of work? Short quick projects/deliverables or longer ongoing projects? Do I thrive under pressure and tight deadlines, or do I prefer a more steady and predictable workload?

14. What environment do I like to work in? On-site, at home, or the freedom to do either?

15. Is there a demographic I love? For instance, maybe you like to work with new business owners in their 30s because you understand their motivations and you feel invested in the outcomes.

If you take the time to understand your ideal client, you will be much more satisfied in the long run. There are many people in the world you can help but when you find that ideal demographic, your work will be even more rewarding, and your clients will feel it too.

Providing a Better Customer Experience with AI

Mon, 13 May 2024 17:54:49 GMT

The business landscape is noisy and crowded for most of us. But keeping your customers happy and engaged is crucial to your success and their return. Artificial intelligence (AI) offers a powerful toolkit to elevate your customer experience in ways you might not have thought of. And it’s not about replacing your employees with robots.

As a small business owner, you can leverage AI to make your customers feel valued and keep them coming back for more.

Help Your Employees Focus Where They’re Needed Most

Some things you can automate, some you can’t. Some questions are easily answered (over, and over, and over throughout the day) and some require more thought.

What if you could hand off all the simple questions to “someone” who will never become impatient no matter how many times it’s asked the same thing? What if you could trust the answer will always be given in a professional way from the first time to the thirty-first? Imagine your website anticipating your customers' needs before they even ask.

AI-powered chatbots can greet visitors, answer basic questions, and even guide them toward relevant products or services. This not only saves you time answering repetitive inquiries but also provides immediate assistance, enhancing the customer journey from the very first click.

And this assistant never sleeps.

Trust your human employees with the “peopling” and relationship-building tasks and leave the virtual, repetitive work to AI.

After all, how many times can you tell someone your address and hours without feeling a little robotic anyway?

Help Customers Get What They Want Quickly

AI can also personalize the online shopping experience. By analyzing past purchases and browsing behavior, recommendation engines can suggest products that complement what a customer has already shown interest in.

Recommendations greatly increase the likelihood of a sale. It also creates a sense of feeling understood, like the website is offering exactly what you need.

Eliminate Frustrating Waits

Beyond sales, AI can revolutionize your customer support. One of the most common phrases you hear when calling any company these days is, “We are experiencing very high call volumes.” That’s usually followed by an annoying number of minutes that you will have to wait to get a human on the line.

It’s not that more people are calling. It’s that more companies don’t have the staff to support the call volume. Some have turned to “wait in line” call backs but there’s another solution.

AI-powered chatbots can handle simple inquiries, freeing up your staff for more complex issues. Chatbots can also be trained to answer frequently asked questions 24/7, ensuring your customers receive prompt assistance even outside of business hours.

Gain Important Customer Insight

The power of AI extends beyond your website. By analyzing customer reviews and social media sentiment, you can gain valuable insights into what customers think of your brand.

Using this data, you can identify areas for improvement and proactively address any customer concerns. AI can monitor social media and alert you if a customer expressed frustration, allowing you to reach out and resolve the issue before it escalates.

Give Customers What They Want Without Hours and Hours of Work

Finally, another way AI can improve the customer experience is through repurposing content. Some of your audience enjoys podcasts, others blogs, or short video clips. It’s time consuming to do it all but you should to meet your customers’ preferences.

In the past, repurposing took a lot of work. Today, there are AI products that can turn blogs into videos, videos into transcripts, and webinars into bite-sized TikToks and Reels with a couple of clicks. That way, you can give your customers access to the medium of their preference without spending hours repurposing it.

Finally, AI is not a magic bullet. And it takes some time to “teach” it. But it is a powerful tool that can help you personalize customer interactions, streamline processes, and ultimately, create a more positive and memorable customer experience.

Fire Up Your Email Marketing with These Action-Driving Subject Lines

Mon, 06 May 2024 22:08:27 GMT

As a business owner, you are well-served by collecting emails and running an email marketing campaign if for no other reason than to remain top-of-mind with your customers. When they’re getting emails from you with exciting news and great deals (who couldn’t use those these days?) they’ll get used to hearing from you and seeing your name.

But you want to do more than just be recognizable and remain top-of-mind. You want your emails to drive purchases. Even if you don’t sell online, emails are an excellent motivator and nurturer for in-person purchases—if you can get recipients to open them.

The Trick to Email Opens

There are two things that motivate people to open your emails—the sender and the subject line. Additionally, it helps if you’re sending them at a time when the recipient isn’t overwhelmed by other emails or in a hurry. Sending it when you’re not competing for attention is a good thing.

But since it’s difficult to know when someone is coming back from vacation or just broke up with their significant other (and so not in the mood to read anything), let’s concentrate on what you can control—the subject line.

Examples of Great Subject Lines

I get a lot of junk and I haven’t seen inbox zero in my personal email since I opened the account. But here are a few subject lines that stood out to me this week and why I thought they were great pieces of email marketing.

I'm So Sorry Christina :(

Is that a cliff hanger or what? It’s personalized to me, so it doesn’t look like a generic email (although it is. She’s a fitness guru I follow but don’t know personally.) And she somehow thinks she has wronged me. Of course I’m going to open it because…curiosity makes me.

This is not a subject line you can use all the time. Save it for special occasions when you want to get someone’s attention. It’s perfect if you sent out a notice for a time-sensitive promotion that your recipient didn’t take advantage of. You can resend it with this subject line and copy that reads, sorry you missed this spectacular …

Then proceed to extend the deal after you’ve made them wish they could turn back time.

Have You Seen These Crazy New Snack Containers

Another great example of curiosity driving an email open. What is this new crazy snack container? What could be so crazy about it?

I need to know.

You can use this technique for anything from a new item in your store to a new food you’re offering. You can also use it for a trend like “Have you heard about the latest whacky AI tool?”

Don't miss out! Fill up today and save 15 cents per gallon!

Nothing like using fear of missing out and a deadline of today. Am I running out to get gas now? I would if I wasn’t such a homebody. $.15 per gallon is a big savings.

Give your audience a deadline and be direct about what you’re offering.

You Can Punch Me in the Face..... If you register and attend

This guy is a very well-paid speaker and speaker trainer. He’s not at all buttoned up and stodgy so this tone works perfectly with his audience.

He also uses curiosity to drive clicks. When can I punch him in the face and why would I want to?

You don’t have to promote violence in your messaging, but you can say something equally as interesting like “You can buy me a coffee and call me your bestie.” Or “If you don’t agree, I’ll buy you a drink.” Everyone will want to know what they should not be agreeing to.

Simple Lifestyle Hack for Better Sleep

I often write about the importance of knowing your audience. Dr. Mindy Pelz sure does. She has a largely female audience as the author of Fast Like a Girl.

And what is one problem that seems to plague all of us these days (besides feeling like you have to take out a mortgage when you go to the grocery store)?

A lack of sleep (or insert whatever other common problem your audience faces).

Who couldn’t use this? Makes you want to click doesn’t it?

Finally, while these are fun examples, it’s important not to take advantage of your audience. Don’t offer them something that they won’t get (no promising images of Bigfoot unless you really have them) when they click. Click bait is the worst and it takes advantage of the trust they’ve extended you.

It will only happen once and then they’ll probably never click on any of your other emails.

Have some fun but always deliver on your promises. Unless of course it’s April 1.

Green IS the Color of Money: How Sustainability Equals Big Wins for Business

Mon, 29 Apr 2024 18:24:49 GMT

Even with costs escalating, consumers are increasingly making purchasing decisions based on a company's values. Sustainability and transparency are no longer just buzzwords – they're key factors influencing brand loyalty and attracting a new generation of eco-conscious customers.

According to recent research , consumers sustainability demands are rising and customers are willing to pay more for it.

Now is the ideal time to embrace going green for more green.

It’s More Than Just Saving the Planet

While environmental responsibility is a noble goal (after all, who wants to destroy the planet?), there are strong business benefits to embracing sustainability.

In the past, the fact that embracing sustainability practices in business was expensive halted a lot of forward movement in that area. However, things have changed.

Research shows customers are willing to pay more for products that are sustainably produced and services that are greener, making it beneficial for businesses to embrace the green movement.

Here's are some of the benefits your business may experience:

· Attract New Customers. Studies show that over half of consumers are willing to pay more for products and services from sustainable brands. Showcase your commitment to the environment to capture this growing market segment. If you have a brick-and-mortar business, talk to your customers about what makes you different as they browse. Understanding your commitment to the environment may drive sales.

· Boost Employee Morale. Employees who feel their company is making a positive impact on the planet tend to be more engaged and productive. Implementing sustainable practices can foster a sense of purpose within your team and make recruiting easier .

· Reduce Costs. Going green can lead to savings by reducing energy consumption, minimizing waste, or optimizing supply chains. You may also be rewarded for your efforts through tax incentives or grants.

· Enhance Brand Reputation. Demonstrating a commitment to sustainability builds trust with customers and strengthens your brand image. It positions you as a responsible and forward-thinking company.

Show, Don't Just Tell

Consumers are savvy and can see through “greenwashing” – empty claims of sustainability that don’t bear up under scrutiny like saying you recycle to save resources but then you leave all your lights on every night. Sustainability is a commitment that impacts every area of your business—front office and back.

Transparency is also crucial.

Here are some ways to showcase your commitment:

Clearly Communicate Your Sustainability Processes

Explain the steps you're taking to be environmentally responsible. This could include using recycled materials, sourcing local ingredients, or implementing energy-saving practices.

Partner with Eco-Conscious Organizations

Collaborating with other sustainable businesses or environmental non-profits adds credibility to your efforts and expands your reach. If you don’t know anyone who can help, your chamber may be able to introduce you.

Be Data-Driven

Show your environmental impact. Numbers sometimes mean more than words and help paint a clearer picture of the impact or your efforts. Track metrics like waste reduction, energy consumption, or your carbon footprint. Share this data with your audience to show progress and hold yourself accountable.

Going Green Doesn't Have to Be Overwhelming

While sustainability is a commitment that impacts all areas of your business, you don’t have to launch with a sweeping initiative that changes every business practice. Start small or in a way you can manage. Identify areas where you can make a positive impact. Then chart how you will expand your efforts over time.

Here are some practical steps:

· Reduce Paper Usage. Embrace digital solutions like e-receipts and online communication.

· Switch to Energy-Efficient Lighting. LED lighting options offer significant energy savings.

· Offer Reusable Shopping Bags. This simple step reduces plastic waste and promotes your brand. It might even make you a few pennies on every purchase.

· Partner with Green Suppliers. Choose vendors with sustainable practices throughout their supply chains. It not only shows your commitment, but it also broadens your impact.

By embracing sustainability and doing so in a transparent way, you're not just making a positive impact on the planet – you're also building a stronger, more resilient business that resonates with today's consumers.

AND…For those of you old enough to remember it, Kermit the Frog was wrong . It IS easy to be green.

Tips for Reining in Your Focus in a Distracted World

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 18:54:24 GMT

Small business owners and solopreneurs learn quickly that they must wear many hats. While this ability to work in every area of their business may save money in the short term, it doesn't take long to understand that multitasking can be bad for business. When your focus is diluted across many channels and business goals, you may find that you do a little bit of everything but never solidly complete anything. You spend a good part of your day putting out fires and starting projects and at the end may realize you didn't finish anything to your satisfaction.

That's why keeping your focus is one of the best things you can do for your business. It also models good behavior and sets your employees up for success. Here are a few tips on how you can keep your focus in a world that rewards anything but.

Retaining Focus in a Busy World

You are pulled in many directions throughout your day. There are internal and external things battling for your attention. Finding a way to silence these distractors can help you meet your business goals.

Silence Notifications

This is the most obvious one but also the hardest for most people to do. We’re conditioned to respond every time the ding that notifies us of an email or text goes off on our device. Even if you don’t attend to it at that moment, it has likely interrupted your thought and you’ll have to revisit what you were doing.

You may not have the luxury of silencing the phone at your business, but you can silence e-notifications. No, really. You can. You’ll survive. Set your devices to go in and out of Do Not Disturb throughout the day or give yourself designated 30-60 minute work sprints followed by 10-15 minute times to answer those emails or texts.

There are very few electronic communications that can’t wait one hour for a response. If you’re worried you’ll miss a customer communication and thus a sales opportunity, look into AI chatbot options or hire a message service. But do this only if you’re in a business where waiting 60 minutes is the difference between life or death (and even so, most doctors will tell callers on their message line that they should call the ER if it’s a life-threatening emergency). Most situations can wait.

Silencing notifications means you get your to-do list finished in a fraction of the time and with a much better, more focused quality. That focus yields better outcomes. Give yourself the gift of time by silencing those notifications.

Decide on Your Most Important Tasks and Keep a List

If you’re silencing notifications, you should have 30-60 minutes of limited interruptions. If you work behind a counter, in a brick-and-mortar business you will still have those interruptions but here’s how you will make the most of your day. You need two lists. The first list is comprised of 2-3 things that will make the biggest impact on your business TODAY. They are your short-term wins. They’ll move the needle quickly.

The second list is comprised of the things you can chip away at. They’re important, but they’re long-term goals or tasks that are not time sensitive. They could be quick wins or long undertakings but they’re things you can work on when you have a spare “minute or two.” As a business owner, you will always have unexpected time—waiting for a meeting or on a vendor, a slow moment at the store, you get the idea. Make a list of things you can do during that time that will impact your business. For example, use AI to brainstorm a new name for the newsletter. Look for a new color scheme (if you’re considering a rebrand.) Watch a video on YouTube on something you want to learn more about like digital marketing.

Most of the time when we have these stolen moments, we don’t maximize them. We go onto Facebook and remark about how big our friends’ kids are getting. While heartwarming, this is not a great use of time. Instead, make this list and keep it handy. (Storing it on your phone means you’ll likely have it wherever you are.) That way you can use your stolen moments for the greatest impact.

Fill Your Attentional Load

If you are working on mundane tasks that don’t require a lot of thinking, you may find you’re more easily distracted. Using music or other intentional distractors that you control can actually help you stay focused because it “fills” the part of your brain that requires stimulation. This action works in much the same way that a sail may flap in the wind with small gusts but larger gusts that fill it will keep it pulled tight with less flapping around.

Keep a Notebook

When something internal distracts you from your task, ask yourself if it is critical that you address that distraction now or can you table it for later. If it is not an emergency, write it down in a notebook (or digital note app) and return to it when you have finished your work. Once it’s in your notebook, let it go. Don’t let it continue to take up space in your mind.

Finally, retaining focus is not always about discipline. Nurture a curiosity as you go through your day. Look for connections on what you’re working on, your goals, and how they tie into the community, interests, and a host of other things. You will start to uncover an interconnectedness that may help you see additional possibilities for efficiencies and partnerships in your business. Sometimes, what initially identifies as a distraction, could be your next big idea.

Main Street Is Changing What the Remote Work Trend Means for Your Small Business

Mon, 08 Apr 2024 19:09:16 GMT

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Is This What’s Holding Back Your Sales?

Mon, 01 Apr 2024 19:36:25 GMT

Ask yourself a simple question—what’s holding your potential customers back from buying from you?

You might think cost. Perhaps it’s ease of purchase (online ordering), location, or not knowing about you. But there could be something much easier to fix than cutting your prices, moving, or rebranding/launching a huge marketing campaign. While all these things are important—pricing, location, and top-of-mind recognition—there is something else you could be doing to get more people in your business. You could be setting expectations.

What does that mean?

There is likely a need for what you sell or do. Or you wouldn’t have gone into business, right? Maybe your marketing is really great, and you’ve created a desire for your product or service among your audience. But unless you sell something that is an instant emotional purchase, doubt could set it and kill your sale.

This doubt occurs because the purchaser is unsure of your product or service, worries about the value, or is doing something they wouldn’t normally do/purchase (that includes purchasing from you for the first time).

To avoid this, you need to ensure they have the confidence to purchase from you. Help them imagine what you (your product or service) can bring them.

Do this by creating content. But not just any content.

Content and Sales

Let’s say you run a Facebook ad for a new service you’re offering or a discount to try your business. Hopefully, you’ve used the targeting features well and you get a lot of clicks on them. Potential customers are reading the info, and signing up for whatever webinar, service, discount, or info session you’re offering (gyms, I’m especially looking at you here).

Congrats. That’s great. You’re probably ecstatic with those leads. But then they fail to convert to sales. What happened? The leads seemed interested.

Something made them change their mind. Or did it?

First, many people treat Facebook ads and events like a try-before-you-buy situation. Just like people tend to post the life they wish they had on “the Book,” they seem interested in events and services when really, they’re just trying out the idea in their head.

Moving Potential Leads from Maybe to Gotta Go There

To help close these leads, you need to send several reminders with the kinds of subject lines that scream “open me.” When they see you in their email inbox often, it will be harder to forget their commitment.

But more importantly…

You need to manage expectations. This person is new to your business. They don’t know what to expect from you. They enjoyed your ad, thought this is for me, but then doubt sets in. They start wondering, what will this be like? Can I do it? Is it really for me? And a hundred other concerns. As in Newton’s Law of Motion—an object in motion stays in motion—a potential customer stays “at rest” until a force is applied to it. In this case, the force you are applying is addressing their questions and concerns ahead of the potential customer voicing them.

I recently signed up for an exercise class trial. It was a weak moment, a new exciting business in town, and I had a desire to get healthier. This particular exercise looked like fun but I’ve never done it.

Then doubt set in. Would I be the oldest person in the class? Would everyone else look like Barbie in Lulu? What do I wear? Can I handle it without throwing up?

The more questions popped into my mind, the more I thought about canceling. I dodged the business’ reminder phone calls. I didn’t confirm on their texts. I was 90% ready to hit the “unsubscribe to everything button” and then an email arrived.

It was friendly and upbeat. It answered all my questions and then some. (Minus the Barbie one.) And I’m going to the class. That email got me over my concerns without the embarrassment of having to raise them in the first place.

In your business content you need to do more than tell who you are and what problem you solve. That’s the beginning of the sales process. If you want to move people down that sales funnel, turning them into loyal customers, you need to address things that might be holding them back. You don’t do that by having a perky employee call and say, “let me know if you have any questions.” They won’t tell you. Instead, you need to anticipate those hesitations, address them ahead of time, and serve up the answers to them. If you do, they’ll not only be more likely to buy from you, but they’ll also see you as a business that “gets” them. And that’s the first step to building a loyal clientele.

If You’re a Gig Worker (or use them) You Need to Know This

Mon, 25 Mar 2024 17:39:53 GMT

If you’re a gig worker, or you use them in your business, it’s important that you are aware of recent legislation that went into effect this month.

What Is a Gig Worker?

A gig worker (independent contractor, freelancer, or contingent worker) is someone who works on a temporary, flexible basis, often for multiple clients or companies. They perform specific tasks, projects, or assignments for a predetermined period, rather than being employed full-time by a single employer.

The number of gig employees has grown exponentially over the past few years. In 2024, it’s expected there will be 76.4 million people working as freelancers and indie professionals). These people work in a variety of industries including ride-hailing (Uber, Lyft, etc.), food delivery, freelance writing, graphic design, consulting, and others.

Gig workers enjoy a level of autonomy and flexibility in choosing when, where, and how much they work, something that has become more appealing (and practical) post-COVID. During the pandemic, many people were working from home. Once companies called employees back to the office, some decided to leave traditional work environments for more flexibility.

The gig economy has also grown significantly in recent years due to technological advancements, changing labor trends/opportunities, and the desire for greater work/life balance.

What You Need to Know About The Independent Contractor Rule

The Department of Labor (DOL) introduced the new Independent Contractor Rule on March 11. It sets out six criteria for determining whether a worker should be classified as an independent contractor or an employee. This recent legislation has stirred up significant controversy among freelancers and businesses that rely on gig workers.

Here’s why:

This new rule, which replaces an earlier one from 2021 that designated two "core factors"—control over work and opportunity for profit or loss as the deciding factors for classification, poses new challenges for employers in categorizing their workforce. Companies that rely heavily on gig workers (like ride-hailing, food delivery, and creative services), may need to recategorize a significant portion of these independent contractors into unionized employees.

According to the press release issued by the US Department of Labor, “‘Misclassifying employees as independent contractors is a serious issue that deprives workers of basic rights and protections,’ explained Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su. ‘This rule will help protect workers, especially those facing the greatest risk of exploitation, by making sure they are classified properly and that they receive the wages they’ve earned.’”

But not everyone thinks they’re being “exploited.” Many gig workers, small business advocates, trade groups, and lawmakers have likened this new rule to California's Assembly Bill 5 (AB5), which took effect on January 1, 2020. It required many businesses to treat gig workers as employees. That rule impacted many freelance journalists because it capped the number of articles they could get paid for. AB5 triggered widespread outcry, leading to the California legislature passing over 100 exemptions for affected industries.

On March 21, the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Education & the Workforce moved forward with a proposal to repeal the rule. The committee approved the resolution in a 21-13 vote, paving the way for consideration by the entire House.

Additionally, the Independent Contractor Rule has prompted at least five lawsuits (at the time of this writing), including one with the US Chamber of Commerce and co-plaintiffs the Associated Builders and Contractors, Associated Builders and Contractors of Southeast Texas, American Trucking Associations, Financial Services Institute, National Federation of Independent Business, and National Retail Federation.

The complaint argues this rule will make it difficult for businesses that require the flexibility to be able to scale up or down quickly depending on employment needs (seasonally or otherwise), while also impeding on the freedoms of millions of gig workers to chart their own course of independent work life.

Many gig workers prioritize the flexibility and autonomy offered by contracted employment models, as highlighted in a study by the Harvard Business Review. Karen Anderson, founder of Freelancers Against AB5, strongly opposes the rule, describing it as 'disruptive and cruel.' According to Anderson, the law affects over 600 categories of professions within their membership, causing significant disruption and hardship.

On the other hand, the DOL says the legislation aims to safeguard workers' rights and ensure consistency through the Fair Labor Standards Act. Organizations like More Perfect Union support the rule, anticipating that it will result in higher wages and overtime pay for millions of gig workers.

In conclusion, the shift away from 2021’s simpler two "core factors" framework to a broader six-factor assessment adds uncertainty, leaving employers with challenges in accurately classifying their workforce. Whether you are a business using gig workers or are an independent contractor, this ruling—and the current lawsuits (and potential votes) surrounding it—will have a significant, precedent-setting impact on the independence of the worker. This ruling is just one more stop in the evolving landscape of employment classification but one that we should pay attention to.

Turning Your Passion into Profit: A Short Guide to Transforming Your Hobby into a Business

Mon, 04 Mar 2024 22:59:53 GMT

Whether it’s part of a work/life balance personal initiative, an idea to follow your bliss, or you simply want to change things in your life, if you have a hobby you want to turn into a business, we have some advice for you. It can be a huge leap of faith moving from a steady paycheck to relying on others to buy from you. But it can be done successfully if you do your homework first.

Going into business for yourself has the potential for personal and financial fulfillment. But it comes at great risk. For risk-averse people, this is the first challenge in going from hobby to business. As writer, speaker, and consultant Tim Ferriss wrote in his book The 4-hour Workweek, “People will choose unhappiness over uncertainty.” If you want to turn your hobby into a business, you’ll want to minimize the uncertainty. And that comes through planning.

Know the Facts About Opening a Business

There are many ways to go from hobby to business. You might sell items or perform services part-time while you continue to work for someone else. Some entrepreneurs put together a business plan and seek funding. But one of the most common ways to fund a new business is to use personal savings. Before you burn bridges with your current employer or risk your savings, create a plan to turn your hobby into a full-time business.

Step 1: Assess Your Hobby's Business Potential

Evaluate the market demand for your hobby-related products or services. Sure, what you make is really cool but is there a demand for it? If there isn’t, and you still want to proceed, you will need to educate your audience on the importance of your product or service.

Ideally, you will begin selling in your spare time at makers’ markets, festivals, events, and online. This should give you some insights into what works and what doesn’t before you officially launch as an “all or nothing” business. A trial like this helps with research and development for your business, marketing, and sales plans, which we’ll address in a little bit.

Consider the competition and identify your unique selling proposition (USP). What makes you different—and don’t say good customer service. That’s an expectation for your customers, not a USP.

Consider the time commitment, skills, and resources required to turn your hobby into a business and discuss them with the people who would be impacted such as your spouse. Coordinate things like childcare before it’s needed. Working for yourself is not a “cocktails at the pool” lifestyle. At least not initially. Working for someone else is a lot easier. As novelist and comic artist Oliver Marcus Malloy wrote, “Being self-employed means you work 12 hours a day for yourself, so you don’t have to work 8 hours a day for someone else.”

Step 2: Develop a Business Plan

Define your business goals and target audience. Who are you selling to? Who is your ideal audience? And don’t say -- everyone. Some people need your offering more than others. Find those people and get in front of them.

Choose a suitable business structure (sole proprietorship, LLC, etc.). While you don’t have to incorporate before your first sale, you will want to do so in the first year. Consult a tax specialist to understand what form of business will work best for you. Depending on your industry and offerings, you may want to consider business insurance and liability.

Outline your marketing and sales strategy. Now that you’ve decided who you’re going to sell to, figure out how you will do it and how you will get eyes on your product or service. Will you sell at public events like festivals or online running products out of your garage? There are many cost-effective solutions out there but having a strategy will help you from feeling like you need to chase every shiny object or opportunity that presents itself. Establishing business goals and a strategic plan will also give you a road map to direct you. A plan helps you decide what is worth your time and what isn’t in that crucial first year.

In line with your strategic plan/goals, create financial projections, including costs, pricing, and potential profit margins. Hobby businesses are often a labor of love, but if you enjoy eating and shelter, you need to understand if you’re succeeding or not. Plans give you that objective measure. There are many businesses that while they bring in money, still fail. That’s often because they don’t have a solid plan and end up growing too quickly where outlay overcomes earnings.

Step 3: Legitimize Your Business

Register your business with the appropriate government agencies. Obtain necessary licenses and permits. Check to understand your state and local obligations as well as federal.

Set up a dedicated business bank account. This will help keep your business expenses and earnings separate from other sources. Consider securing a business credit card or using a personal one for business-only expenses. Again, consult with a tax professional so you understand what you can write off for your business and so you keep accurate records and receipts.

Step 4: Build Your Brand and Market Your Business

Craft a compelling brand identity that resonates with your target audience. Utilize online platforms like social media and e-commerce websites to reach customers. You can begin doing these things for free (outside of the cost of your time).

Explore offline marketing options like local events and networking opportunities. The chamber has a wealth of information and connections. As the Voice of Business, they can help make the right introductions for you and lend your business legitimacy. It’s sometimes difficult to get people to take a chance on you. Chamber membership tells them you are a legitimate business with a vested interest in the community, not a hobby that may close shop tomorrow.

Step 5: Manage and Grow Your Business

Most people assume that the first year of business is the most perilous. That isn’t the case. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that while nearly 20% of new businesses fail within the first two years of opening, the riskiest time comes later. 45% of businesses close during the first five years, and 65% during the first 10 years. Only 25% of new businesses make it to 15 years or more.

While no business is a sure thing, if you implement efficient processes for production, inventory management, and customer service, you’re on your way to managing smart growth. Also, track your business performance through data analysis and adjust your strategies accordingly.

Regardless of how you initially funded your venture, consider seeking funding and exploring expansion opportunities. Your local chamber is a great source to find out about these and educate yourself on what’s available.

If you’re one of the estimated 42% of Americans who want to own a business, know that you’re in good company. Business ownership is one of the most fulfilling and challenging things you’ll do. It requires passion and perseverance and is anything but glamorous. However, if you’re like most of us, you’ll find that there’s nothing like it. It’s addictive. Just don’t be surprised if you realize you can never work for anyone else again.

Become an Addictive Brand

Tue, 27 Feb 2024 00:21:19 GMT

Does your morning begin post coffee? If so, then you know the importance of that routine (and caffeine addiction). Your morning just isn’t the same without it. You can create the same addiction to your business. It just requires a more carefully created artifice or brand. Without the help of caffeine or other addictive substance, you’ll need to use marketing and a persona that draws people in and makes them want to be a part of your business.

Whether you are a company of one or 100, there are ways to help customers feel a “need” for you. You just have to find the right combination of desires and attitudes.

How to Become an Addictive Brand

At the risk of pulling a bait and switch, I want to be clear that the idea is not to make EVERYONE addicted to you, but rather, your ideal customer. That said, tailor the suggestions below to appeal to your demographic. Let’s look at how others have done it successfully.

Be a Role Model

One of the reasons people love Taylor Swift is because she models good and generous behavior. For example, according to unnamed sources quoted in People Magazine, Swift gifted her Eras tour employees $55 million. It's this type of positive role modeling that makes parents and tweens love her.

While no one expects the average business to give like Taylor, encouraging generosity and giving back is an admirable trait in any business. You might give employees time to volunteer for nonprofits, host a holiday toy drive, or support a local sports team. Whatever way you choose to give back, know that people will appreciate it. Plus, you’ll feel like a bigger part of the community.

Listen and Love Them Back

Don’t put up walls and send out cease-and-desist letters when people celebrate your brand. As long as their social shares aren’t inflammatory, give them some social media love back. For instance, a novice makeup artist posted pictures of her work online. She tagged the makeup manufacturers of the products she used. Only one of the three commented on her post. Then they shared it. She was so touched by the shout-out (after all, she’s not a big-time influencer. She had very few followers at that point), that they are now all she uses. And guess what? She gives them a tag every time. That’s more eyes on their product.

Give Them More Than Products or Services

To be an addictive brand, you want to become part of their life. This means doing more than just selling them something. Consider how you might fit into your ideal customer’s life. Can you give them an escape? Can you solve a problem? Can you become a source of advice, entertainment, or education?

The answer lies in your audience but one of the most popular ways to become a part of their lives these days is by hosting events. Recently, I came across a florist who hosts events at a local brewery during the day. From flower arranging classes to bonsai shaping seminars, these classes draw a crowd. The florist and the brewery win. So do the attendees.

What business might you pair with to create an enjoyable time for your ideal customer?

Become a Lifestyle

I know I promised I would tell you how to become an addictive brand without caffeine, but I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Starbucks. Let’s move past what they sell. Starbucks has crafted an addictive brand (for seven dollars a cup in some places, I’m calling it a luxury brand).

People make jokes about how they can’t live without it. But it’s not the coffee they’re talking about, or we would’ve seen a decline in sales at the shop when they went into the grocery store. If you’re a Starbucks fan, you don’t talk about going to “get coffee with friends.” You use the brand name—going to Starbucks.

The company did this by becoming a lifestyle for its consumers. Customers bring work to the coffee house, meet friends, and go on first dates there. It’s a gathering place. It sells merchandise and even seems to have its own ordering language.

Plus, it uses gamification in its app to encourage its week-day customers to also buy on the weekends. It awards double stars for streaks of purchases (Monday-Saturday for instance).

You can begin creating a lifestyle brand by working with influencers and focusing on word-of-mouth marketing. Additionally if you want to be a lifestyle brand, make your business a hub of activity and encourage lingering.

And when you become a brand everyone is addicted to…

Remain Humble

Keanu Reeves has worked in Hollywood for decades. With a net worth estimated north of $380 million, he still regularly credits others with his success (like the stunt doubles in John Wick). Hollywood insiders also tell the tale of how Reeves waited outside of his wrap party for hours because no one recognized him. (I wasn’t there so I can’t say if it happened but it sure is good PR for his humble personal brand). Reeves is loved and celebrated for these traits setting him apart from so many of his peers.

When your business becomes the next big thing, practice the art of humility, how to make someone’s day on social media, and how to show gratitude. Your customers will notice.

Beyond Likes & Follows: Finding the Ideal Social Media Superhero for Your Business

Tue, 13 Feb 2024 02:21:17 GMT

Social media is a Hulk-size time suck, but it is also one of the most effective ways to connect with your audience. That’s also why it’s so dicey to freelance that kind of thing out. But there are a lot of really talented folks out there who can help you expand your reach and connect. You just have to find the right ones. And since everyone thinks they can post to social, there are a lot of ineffective people posing as social media superheroes. Here’s how you can separate the talent from the try-hards:

Ways to Tell a Social Media Trixter from a Superhero

It’s tempting to hand your social media over to an intern or the nearest teenager in your life. After all, they’re on the platforms all the time. But they’re connecting in a social way, amassing followers and likes and not concentrating on conversions. You need someone who understands how to nurture a relationship to end in a sale. That’s not to say a teen can’t do that. But you need to have a conversation with them to make sure you are on the same page about your ultimate goals behind social media. Additionally, you’ll want to talk about the following things:

● Stats and KPIs. If you’re working with someone to help you reach more people and increase your sales, you’ll want to know they have a track record of doing so already. If you’re their first client, make sure they can show you how they will gather the analytics and tell what’s working and what isn’t. Identify KPIs. If they tell you “Let’s try this and see.” That’s not enough. How will you “see”? If they guarantee 100 new followers before the end of the month, ensure you know what kind of followers they are. Speaking of…

● Know the target. Make sure your social media person understands audiences and the value of a like as it equates to your business goals. My TikTok is beginning to finally amass some likes. But guess what? They’re all from my teenage sons’ friends who enjoy making fun of my videos. They may “like” my stuff, but they will never buy from me. These are bogus numbers from a business perspective. Make sure your guru understands who you’re trying to target.

● Understand the offerings. Social media is not a science. What works for your ideal audience may not work for others. That’s why social media packages vary as much as restaurant food prices. Some people do retainers, some monthly and some hourly fees. Know what you’re paying for.

After you’ve narrowed down your list of social media people who seem capable, dig deeper into understanding how you would work together. Ask them to draw up a proposal or editorial calendar. Pay them for their time. Examine their ideas on how they plan to reach a larger audience. You’re looking for creativity here as well as things you may have already tried that didn’t work. No reason to work with someone who’s doing exactly what you’ve already done.

If They’re Going to Be You, They Must Know You

Finally, communication is key when looking for someone who will be representing you on social media. While a good social media person should ask you the following things about your business, if they don’t, make sure you communicate these important details.

Give specifics on your ideal audience.
Share past triumphs and trials.
Communicate the tone you want on your posts.
Agree upon the posting review process. Will you see posts before they go out?
Understand who oversees responses. If you do, will they call them to your attention, or will you need to monitor each day?
How far out will they schedule? Communicate how you want holidays to be handled and if there are any topics you don’t want to mention.
Will you supply content ideas and important dates to your business? This should be a partnership. If you’re running a sale, for instance, you should give your social media superhero notification of it and look for best ways to leverage this information.
Be clear about how you feel about content curation versus creation. Your social guru should have a strong understanding of how to leverage curated content for a larger audience without getting into permission problems.

The hardest part of handing your social media over to someone else is making sure their efforts fit your goals and remain authentically “you.” Don’t expect that putting someone else in charge means that they will take it off your hands in a “set it and forget it” kind of way. You want to remain a part of the social side of your business. After all, the success in that area is about building relationships and you don’t want to pay someone to do that for you. They can assist with the day-to-day posting, but the relationship should remain yours.

Transform Your Workspace for Productivity and Success

Mon, 05 Feb 2024 22:05:25 GMT

Creating the right office space is something you embark on every time you’re procrastinating. It can be a time suck or a filler. But investing time in establishing the right work space can improve your productivity, creativity, and organization, as well as make you more successful. Whether you believe in Feng Shui or not, you can transform your workspace into a harmonious and productive haven that will help you achieve more in the time it takes to watch your favorite TV show.

What Is Office Feng Shui?

Before you roll your eyes, hold on a moment. Office Feng Shui emphasizes the importance of balance and energy flow. Even if you find this hard to believe, there are plenty of studies that have been done about organization and its impact on productivity. Clutter also impacts our stress and anxiety levels so this alone is a great reason to give an office revamp some thought.

Office Feng Shui focuses on creating a harmonious and balanced environment within a workplace to enhance well-being, creativity, and overall success. The term "Feng Shui" translates to "wind-water" in English, symbolizing the flow of energy and the importance of balance in the natural elements. By applying these principles to an office setting, small business owners and employees can create a positive and supportive atmosphere that fosters productivity and success.

Feng Shui Tips for a Better Work Environment

While you may not be ready for a Bagua Map and other tools involved in Feng Shui, you can use beginner techniques to impact your productivity.

Declutter for Success

Clearing clutter in an office can have several positive effects on mental well-being and work including:

· Improved Focus and Productivity. Clutter can be distracting and overwhelming, making it difficult to concentrate on tasks.

· Reduced Stress. A clutter-free environment contributes to a sense of order and control, reducing stress. It can also create a more calming atmosphere, positively impacting mental well-being.

· Increased Efficiency. Knowing where everything is and having easy access to essential items can streamline work processes, saving time and increasing overall efficiency.

· Professional Image. A tidy office space conveys professionalism and attention to detail. It can make a positive impression on clients, colleagues, and visitors.

Quick Ways to Declutter While Multi-tasking

Most people will tell you multi-tasking is a bad idea. But if you’ve put off decluttering because you don’t have time, consider that you can do it while doing other things such as watching TV or listening to music, your favorite podcast, or an audiobook. Here are 8 steps to get it done quickly:

1. Set Clear Goals. Define the purpose of your workspace and identify what items are essential. This will guide you in determining what to keep and what to remove.

2. Sort and Categorize. Group similar items together. This helps you identify duplicates and ensures that everything has its designated place.

3. Use Storage Solutions. Buy organizational tools like shelves, filing cabinets, and desk organizers to maximize space and keep things in order. There are many attractive organizational options these days including wicker file cabinets and decorative boxes.

4. Digitize Documents. Reduce paper clutter by digitizing documents. It saves physical space and makes it easier to locate and manage files.

5. Declutter Regularly. Make decluttering a routine. Regularly assess your workspace and remove items that are no longer needed to prevent accumulating unnecessary stuff.

6. Prioritize. Identify the most important and frequently used things in your workspace. Keep these within easy reach. Archive or store less frequently used (or bulk) items.

7. Personalize Thoughtfully. Personal touches can make an office feel comfortable, but don’t overdo it. Choose a few items to personalize your space that don’t get in the way of working.

8. Create Designated Areas. Designate specific areas for different activities, such as a focused work area, a space for collaboration, and a storage area. This helps maintain organization and workflow.

Choose Colors Wisely

Colors have psychological effects. They can influence mood and productivity. Align your color choice with the nature of your business, the desired atmosphere, and whether you bring others into the space. Learn more about the psychology behind color.

Incorporate Natural Elements

Bringing nature indoors can boost morale and productivity according to a study featured in the Harvard Business Review. You can accomplish this easily by adding plants, opening curtains to bring in natural light, or even purchasing a small indoor water feature.

Personalize Your Workspace

Infuse your personality into your workspace. (Papa Smurf sits upon my desk holding a pen. He makes me smile, ties into what I do for a living, and reminds me of Hemingway.) Add artwork, motivational quotes, or unique decor items to boost morale and create a more enjoyable work environment.

Arrange Your Furniture in a Mindful Way

Arrange furniture to create a harmonious flow and maximize comfort. After all, you probably spend a lot of time in your office. Use comfortable pieces to enhance collaboration, communication, and overall efficiency.

By making simple changes to your workspace, you can create an environment that supports your business goals and fosters a positive and balanced work atmosphere. Best of all, you’ll create a space you enjoy.

Get Over Your Fear of Video and onto YouTube

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 15:50:16 GMT

There’s an untapped goldmine out there for your business—YouTube. Beyond the fact that it is the second-largest search engine globally (behind its parent Google), YouTube offers a unique space for businesses to connect with their audience, showcase expertise, and build lasting relationships. It’s time to get over your fear of video and embrace the world of YouTube because it can significantly impact your business growth and reach.

Why YouTube?

YouTube is not just a platform; it's a community, a space where you can showcase your personality, values, and expertise. Unlike traditional advertising, YouTube allows you to engage with your audience authentically, fostering a genuine connection that goes beyond a transactional relationship. But that’s not all. There are several other reasons why you should be using YouTube:

It's The 2nd Largest Search Engine

When it comes to online searches, Google reigns supreme. What many people don't realize is that YouTube, owned by Google, is the second-largest search engine globally. This means when users are looking for answers, solutions, or information, they turn to YouTube, especially those under 30. By creating valuable content related to your business, you position yourself to be discovered by a broader audience seeking what you offer.

Business Videos Are Not Interruptive, But Informative

Unlike traditional advertising methods and social media platforms where talking about your business interrupts a user's experience, YouTube users have a search in mind. Many viewers come to the platform with a purpose, actively searching for solutions to their problems or seeking information. By providing helpful content, your business becomes a welcome presence in their journey for answers or examples, leading to a more positive perception and engagement.

Some businesses are hesitant to share their knowledge because they think DIYers will glean what they can from them and never become a customer. While this may be the case in some circumstances, you can safeguard against this by not offering everything you know.

Additionally, creating videos solving issues you don’t want to handle can help ensure only pre-qualified customers contact you. For instance, if you sell tires do you really want people to come in just to get their tire pressure checked? Probably not as it ties up your employees in an activity that likely won’t turn into a sale. Instead, create a video showing people how to check it and how to know what their pressure should be for their car, and they’ll remember you as a knowledgeable, helpful person/business. They’ll likely come to you when they need a tire.

Multipurposed Content

Video offers a lot of opportunity to repurpose content. YouTube videos don't have to be lengthy, just valuable to your target audience. Creating a 10-minute video allows you to delve into topics in-depth, providing comprehensive insights. Afterward, extract shorter clips from the video to cater to different audience preferences and consumption habits (on Reels and TikTok, for instance).

Additionally, you can transcribe your videos into blog posts (or have AI do it for you). This improves accessibility for different audiences and enhances your online presence. Search engines love text-based content. A blog post allows you to target relevant keywords, boosting your discoverability across platforms. This repurposing strategy ensures a broader audience.

The Things No One Wants to Admit: Okay, this has not been verified so it’s just a guess on my part. But…I believe Google gives preference to high-performing content on its own platforms. There. It had to be said.

Revenue Share and Monetization

YouTube offers a Partner Program that allows eligible content creators to earn money through revenue sharing. By monetizing your videos (after reaching the minimum 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours over the past year), you open an additional stream of income for your business. This financial incentive can support your content creation efforts, making it a sustainable strategy for the long run.

Email List Growth and Retention Potential

One of the most significant advantages of a YouTube presence is its ability to grow your email list. By encouraging viewers to subscribe to your channel and join your email list, you create a direct line of communication. On average, YouTube subscribers tend to stay on an email list longer than subscribers attained other ways) and are more likely to become clients sooner. This probably has something to do with seeing the person (as opposed to just reading their words) and feeling like you know them.

Speaking of…

Establishes Know, Like, and Trust

YouTube is a powerful tool for building the 'Know, Like, and Trust' factor. Through your videos, viewers get to know your business, like your brand personality, and trust your expertise. This emotional connection is invaluable when it comes to converting leads into customers.

Even though we love our electronics, we still are social creatures. We want to see who we’re doing business with and get to know them. YouTube can help you build that human connection.

Finally, YouTube is not just a platform for cat videos and celeb interviews (although those are fun); it's also a potent tool for small businesses to connect with their audience, build trust, and increase revenue. By embracing YouTube, you can position yourself as an approachable industry leader, providing valuable content that resonates with your target audience. So, get over not liking the way you look on camera and start creating and sharing. Make YouTube a cornerstone of your business's digital marketing strategy and Google might just love you for it.

3 Copywriting Tips That AI Doesn’t Use

Mon, 22 Jan 2024 19:53:54 GMT

Recently an SEO expert who swore that search engines are biased against AI-written websites (websites that have not one word written by a human). He said AI-written websites are something search engines are discounting for (marking you down) because of the possibility of the sites being fake or holder sites. I can’t speak to the truth behind this but if you do still want to write some of your own copy, here are three copywriting tips you can implement today that AI isn’t using.

3 Copywriting Tips AI Isn’t Using

AI is masterful at sentence construction and grammar, but can it convince your audience to buy from you? Not like these three copywriting tactics can.

1. Think about how your audience speaks

When writing copy, you want to match your language use to how your target audience speaks and how they would search for you. For instance, are there slang references for your business or product that they would use? Incorporate that in your headings and blog posts. When reading (or skimming) the content of your site, you want them to think—they are just like me.

2. Use a conversational tone

Building on the suggestion above, think about writing the way your audience would speak about your product or service. For instance, instead of writing

We have many delicious options in our bakery including cookies, cakes, and pies.

That’s a lot of words that don’t do anything. People just want to know what you have at your bakery. So, make it punchy and don’t think about your elementary school teacher reading it.

Cakes, cookies, and pies worth blowing your diet over.

This works because it places what your audience may be wondering—what do they sell?—at the beginning and ends with an endorsement.

Advanced Copywriting Technique: read aloud the three baked goods mentioned in that sentence. Now mix up the order. See how the alliteration of the two c sounds (cakes and cookies) flows better than cakes, pies, and cookies? Also, the one, two, one syllable rhythm offers a nice variation. Rhythm is important because it allows a reader (since most of us hear the words in our head as we read them) to move effortlessly across the text. When that flow is missing, it’s like hitting a road bump. It slows the reader down and they lose interest, if only subconsciously.

3. Address what’s in it for them

If you do nothing else on your website, follow this one tip. Write from the point of what’s in it for your target audience—as they would perceive it, not what you think is the reason they should care.

What do you read in your reviews? What do customers tell you? When someone raves about you, what are they saying? Use that language to derive what they see as the benefit to what you’re selling.

Get creative. Don’t just write what you do. That’s not the true benefit. Instead, ask how does what you do make them feel better?

If you clean carpets, for instance, and your company has a sense of humor that your audience enjoys, you might write:

Carpets so clean your mother-in-law will have to find something else to complain about

It’s memorable, it’s identifiable, and it will resonate with your target market when they think, yeah, I’m tired of her judging me. I’m going to call this company. I need this.

AI is amazing for gathering your thoughts, outlining, and writing simple pieces. It’s also a great place to start for blogs and website content. However, AI is not yet capable of understanding the subtle nuances and creative approaches that will get your audience talking about you. Until the machines take over, business needs good copywriting, and these tips will help get you there.

Customer Loyalty: The One Thing Every Business Owner Wants This Year

Mon, 18 Dec 2023 21:19:04 GMT

If every small business owner had the opportunity to write a letter to Santa (or whoever grants Christmas wishes to business owners), they would likely all ask for the same thing—more loyal customers. Sure, the ask may sound different in each form of correspondence. It may be a request for more customers, higher revenue, more reviews, and the like. But all those things boil down to loyalty. Loyal customers spend more, tell others about their experience, refer people to your business, post to social media about you, and return over and over. They may even write a review or two. Building a loyal customer base is better for your business in the long run than simply getting more customers.

Building an army of loyal fans is no different than finding someone you care about the perfect gift. If you’ve ever done that, you can increase customer loyalty in your business. Here’s how:

Tips for Creating Customer Loyalty—the Best Gift You Can Give Your Business

If you want loyal customers, you must approach it in the same way you would any relationship. You must build it carefully, deliberately. This is not a transaction. You don’t flip a switch and see loyal customers outside your door waving their money at you for a Wonka Bar like the frantic scene in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Instead, you need to go about building loyalty with the same painstaking interest you would in buying your significant other that first thoughtful gift from you.

Understand the Recipient: Know Your Customers

The foundation of any meaningful relationship, be it personal or business-oriented, lies in knowing who they are and what they want. It’s common for people in a good relationship to say of the other, “They get me.” You need to help your target market feel the same about you.

To cultivate loyalty in business, you need a deep understanding of the customer. If you have the budget, conduct market research. Regardless of budget, everyone can pay attention to customer feedback and gain insights into their preferences, behaviors, and pain points. Just as selecting a gift requires knowing the recipient's tastes, building customer loyalty involves recognizing what your customer values most.

Tailor the Gift: Personalize the Customer Experience

When selecting the perfect gift, personalization is key. To achieve something meaningful, you don’t go with a gift card. You could give that to anyone. The same principle applies to customer loyalty. Tailor your products or services to meet the unique needs of your ideal customer. Utilize analytics to create personalized experiences for different marketing personas or types of customers you have. For instance, if you owned a candy store and most of your customers fell into two demographics—people under 25 and people over 40, you should sell to them differently because they have different desires. Your under-25 buyers might prefer sour candies and lots of them, while your over-40 customers may tend to buy fewer items but expect higher quality, looking for a luxury truffle, or perhaps a candy from their childhood, for example. You should appeal to your different types of customers by tailoring offers, exclusive discounts, or personalized communication. You want your customers to feel like your offer was written just for them.

Anticipate Desires: Stay One Step Ahead

Much like anticipating someone's desires when picking a gift, you want to proactively address your customers’ needs. Try to predict trends (or analyze how a popular trend may impact your products or services), introduce innovative options, and continuously improve your offerings. Again, this will make your customers feel like you know what they want and need. When someone feels like you’re looking out for them, you will be one of the first they think of when searching for the product or service you carry.

Understand Fears: Address Customer Challenges

Just as a thoughtful gift-giver considers what the recipient may face in life and gives a gift that can help with that, successful businesses must look out for customer concerns—both the ones the customers are aware of and the ones that could be a potential source of frustration in the future. Your marketing should address those challenges and show how you can help.

To create a more loyal customer base, you also want to remove any friction from their buying experience. For instance, if you’re offering a sale that seems “too good to be true,” make sure you use language that is clear and speaks to your ideal customer to remove any hesitation.

Build an Emotional Connection: Go Beyond Transactions

The most cherished gifts are often those that evoke emotion or give of oneself. Similarly, businesses can build lasting customer loyalty by going beyond transactions. Foster an emotional connection by telling your story, engage with customers on social media in a human way, share of yourself and your time, and demonstrate care for them. A brand that resonates on an emotional level will help customers view your business as more than just a provider of goods or services.

Building the relationship that creates customer loyalty is a gift for your customers and your business. It requires an understanding of your audience, a commitment to personalization, and an ongoing effort to exceed expectations. These are not small undertakings. But just as the ideal gift is appreciated by your loved one, your customers will value the relationship you are building and reward you with more referrals and revenue.

Unwrapping the Power of Holiday Email Marketing

Mon, 11 Dec 2023 20:17:34 GMT

The holiday season is not just a time for festive decorations and warm gatherings; it's also a golden opportunity for you to expand your reach and build a loyal customer base that you can market to interact with all year long. One effective way to achieve this is by leveraging the power of email marketing. After all, the holidays are the perfect time to build an email list because everyone is looking for value and savings. Building a list now can significantly benefit your business in the long run.

Email Marketing Quick Tips

Marketing gurus will tell you that marketing is about touchpoints and many channels offer that possibility, but email marketing is the best way to make a sale. But it’s not a short race. It’s a long-term relationship building method that yields great results. It’s nothing to dabble in. To make thousands of dollars from your email marketing, you need to give, give, give and there’s no better time to start giving than the holiday season.

During the holidays, people are more active online as they search for the perfect gifts, explore holiday deals, and plan celebrations. This heightened online presence provides you with a unique chance to capture the attention of potential customers and encourage them to subscribe to your email list.

Here’s a quick and dirty summary of how you can build a list and leverage it to drive revenue throughout the upcoming year and beyond.

If you need a little more explanation about the tech and components you’ll be using, this article is a good place to start.

Produce Engaging Holiday Content

The holiday season is the perfect time for creating engaging and relevant content. Whether it's festive newsletters, exclusive holiday discounts, gift guides, or seasonal promotions, your email marketing campaigns can stand out and resonate with your audience. By offering valuable content, you'll entice visitors to subscribe to your email list to stay updated on your special holiday offerings.

Offer Incentives and Giveaways

People love freebies and special offers, especially during the holidays. Use this time to create irresistible incentives for joining your email list, such as exclusive discounts, holiday-themed downloadable content, or entry into a festive giveaway. The allure of these incentives can drive more sign-ups and set the stage for long-term customer engagement. Make sure you create and suggest email sign-ups for your online and in-person audiences.

Build Relationships

Let people get to know you through what you share. Use your email campaigns to share the story of your brand, express gratitude to your customers, and showcase the values that make your business unique. Slip in a cute picture of your pet while you’re at it. By establishing a personal connection, you'll encourage subscribers to stay engaged.

Segment, Segment, Segment

As you gain subscribers, you'll have the chance to segment your email list based on things like preferences, purchase history, or location. This segmentation allows you to send more targeted and personalized content, increasing the relevance of your messages and ultimately driving higher conversion rates. For instance, if you haven’t heard from one of your loyal customers in a while, send them a “We miss you” discount to bring them back in.

The Gift That Keeps on Giving

Do you know the answer to when is the best time to plant a tree? Twenty years ago. What about the second best? Today. The same can be said about starting to build your email list. The best time to do that was last Christmas or the one before or the one…well, you get the idea. The second-best time is now.

With a robust email list, you have something that is yours and you use it to significantly boost your sales and conversions well into the future. However, while an email list is the gift that keeps on giving, you must also be prepared to give and give and give. Provide your audience with valuable information, content, and entertainment FOR FREE, over and over. Once you do this, and help them get to know, like, and trust you, you can occasionally ask for something from them in return.

Think of this relationship like one between a parent and a child. As the parent, you are going to give so much more than the child does. The relationship (at least in the beginning) will seem lopsided and you might be tired of everything you’re doing for them. But as the relationship matures, you will feel the love returned and be the better for it.

6 Local Business Growth Tips to Retain Your Authenticity While Scaling

Mon, 04 Dec 2023 20:56:22 GMT

When Shakespeare wrote, “And though she be but little, she is fierce,” he could’ve been referring to small business. The term “small business” often seems like an oxymoron. What small businesses lack in number of employees, they make up for in dedication, drive, giving back to the community, and unique charm. Those things resonate with customers seeking authenticity, personalized service, and a sense of community.

But when it’s time to grow, and take your business to the next level, you want to make sure that the very thing about you that is so appealing isn’t lost. You want to maintain your distinct local essence, and strike that delicate balance between growth and preserving your identity in the hearts and minds of your audience.

Embrace the Strength of Community Engagement

At the heart of any local business's success lies its relationship with the community it serves. Strengthening this bond can be a catalyst for growth. Engage with the community through events, sponsorships, and collaborations with other local businesses or organizations. This involvement not only enhances visibility but also reinforces your commitment to your roots, no matter how many locations you open.

Hosting workshops, supporting local causes, or participating in community events can continue your position as a trusted and valued member of the neighborhood. Moreover, actively seeking feedback from patrons and implementing their suggestions to tailor products or services can help you meet local preferences. This will continue to foster loyalty and word-of-mouth marketing.

Leverage Digital Platforms But Keep the Personal Voice

In the beginning, your social presence probably felt very personalized because you were likely the voice behind the business. But as you grow, your abilities are needed elsewhere. Posting to social media is likely one of those things you will outsource or entrust to someone in-house. But make sure you don’t lose your voice. Work with someone who will adopt the same tone and post on the things your audience is most interested in. Retain that local flavor that characterizes your business.

Utilize social media platforms to share stories, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and testimonials, showcasing your business's personality and values. Maintaining responsive communication online, along with personalized service through other channels, creates a seamless blend of technology and tradition, enhancing the overall customer experience. Additionally, give your audience multiple ways to interact with you to obtain resolutions to their questions and concerns. You don’t want someone feeling like now that you’ve grown, you’re less responsive.

Cultivate Unique Offerings and Specializations

If your success is due to specializing in niche products, services, or markets, don’t give that up unless they’re no longer lucrative. Don’t think that because you want to grow, you need to appeal to a wider audience. After all, that specialization was a unique selling proposition (USP), and it helped you build what you are today—drawing customers seeking distinctiveness and quality over mass-produced alternatives.

If that product or service is no longer as successful as it once was, try figuring out why. If your audience is the same, how have their needs or desires evolved. You can serve the same audience, but you may need to do it in different ways.

Foster Partnerships and Collaborations

Collaborations with complementary local businesses can be mutually beneficial, amplifying visibility and attracting diverse customer bases. For instance, a café might partner with a nearby florist for themed events or collaborate with a local artist to display and sell artwork within its space.

Additionally, forming alliances with nearby businesses to create joint promotions or loyalty programs can encourage cross-pollination of customers, fostering a sense of community among various establishments. You see this in digital marketing all the time when senders plug their peers in their newsletters. They are simply sharing audiences.

Expand Thoughtfully and Sustainably

Expansion doesn't necessarily mean extensive physical growth. Consider alternative avenues such as online sales, pop-up shops, or partnerships with local markets or fairs to reach new customers without compromising the small business ambiance. Establishing and managing multiple locations isn’t for everyone.

If you are interested in physical expansion, prioritize locations that align with your business's standards, values, and appeal. Think of your audience and its needs. Retaining a coherent brand identity across multiple locations is crucial to preserve the local feel when expanding your business's footprint.

Take a look at Grimaldi’s. It opened in 1990, in a small neighborhood under the Brooklyn Bridge referred to as DUMBO. It started humbly as a local pizzeria; but quickly became part of the heart and soul of the growing community. As Grimaldi’s expanded into other markets, it could’ve shed its Brooklyn vibe, being just another pizza place. But it held onto its roots and sold New York-style pizza in a New York ambiance. No matter which location you visit—Las Vegas, Dallas, or Tampa—you will be in Brooklyn, NY back in the neighborhood.

Invest in Employee Development and Customer Service

The backbone of your business's success lies in your employees and the quality of customer service they provide. Invest in employee training because your employees are your business personified. They communicate your business's values and commitment to personalized service in every interaction. Happy and well-trained employees contribute significantly to a positive customer experience, fostering loyalty and word-of-mouth recommendations.

Maintaining a high standard of customer service, coupled with a personalized touch, distinguishes local businesses from larger, impersonal corporations, creating a lasting impression on customers.

Successful small businesses possess a distinctive charm that resonates with customers seeking genuine connections and unique experiences. While expansion is a natural progression, preserving your business's authenticity is imperative. Balancing growth and your special something is an art and takes practice and compromise. But with a strategic approach, you can continue to thrive, serving as a favorite in the community while embracing new opportunities for success.

How to Craft Irresistible Offers for Your Biggest Holiday Sales Yet

Mon, 20 Nov 2023 20:26:38 GMT

Small businesses everywhere are enjoying the trend of shopping local. Many organizations, including the Chamber, understand the importance of helping the community realize the value of small businesses. Even with this help, your local business still has two major challenges—marketing (making sure people think about you when they’re ready to buy) and convincing them that shopping local is not an expensive undertaking, especially when 69% of people are saying they’re going to reduce non friends and family buying. While pundits believe spending will increase over last year, albeit not be a large amount, the reality of that prediction is yet to be determined.

With the specter of reduced spending hanging over us to dampen this holiday season, you may be wondering what you can do to ensure customer spending is directed your way. Creating a compelling holiday offer can set your business apart and drive more sales.

How to Craft an Effective Holiday Offer

Here are some essential tips and ideas to help you craft a successful holiday promotion:

1. Know Your Audience

Understand your target audience's preferences and buying behaviors during the holiday season. Tailor your offer to meet their needs and expectations. Consider demographics, interests, and past purchase data to create a more personalized and appealing promotion. If you know they’re in a hurry, for instance, think of offers that will help ease those time tensions.

2. Set Clear Objectives

Clearly define your goals for the holiday offer. Whether it's increasing sales, attracting new customers, or retaining existing ones, having a clear objective will guide your offer creation. Sure, for the holiday increased sales is probably your main goal but attracting new customers can help you year-round so keep goals in mind when crafting an offer.

3. Make a Big Impression

You want people to think about you when buying so the more creative your marketing, the better. Keep in mind that everyone has an offer this time of year. You need something that will make people remember you. Ask yourself how you can make your offer more fun or memorable.

Types of Offers and How to Market Them

Now that you know what to consider when creating an offer, let’s talk about the different types you might market. While discounts are effective, it’s understandable if you don’t want to drastically reduce prices to erode your profit margin. Often, it’s not that large to begin with. Discounts aren’t the only options out there as you’ll see below:

Limited-Time Offers

Create a sense of urgency by introducing limited-time offers. Whether it's a discount, bundle, or exclusive deal, time-limited promotions encourage customers to make a purchase sooner rather than later. Clearly communicate the timeframe of your offer to instill a sense of urgency that’s why Black Friday deals drive purchases. People understand they need to act or lose out.

Bundle Deals

Package related products or services together at a discounted rate. This not only adds value for customers but also encourages them to explore more of what your business has to offer. Highlight the savings they'll receive by choosing the bundle. Internet marketers do this well. Notice how they show what everything is worth individually compared to what you’ll pay when buying them together. It’s a very effective method to show greater value.

Exclusive Discounts for Loyal Customers

Reward your loyal customers by offering exclusive holiday discounts, bonuses (like gift wrapping), or early access to your promotions. This not only fosters customer loyalty but also makes them feel appreciated, increasing the likelihood of repeat business.

Gift with Purchase

Entice customers with a "gift with purchase" promotion. Whether it's a free product, an accessory, or a special edition item, this strategy adds perceived value to their purchase and can incentivize larger transactions.

Leverage Social Media

Promote your holiday offer across your social media channels. Use engaging visuals, create shareable content, and encourage user-generated content with a branded hashtag. Social media is a powerful tool to create buzz around your promotion and reach a broader audience. Take forget the video platforms.

Mobile-Friendly Promotions

Optimize your holiday offers for mobile users. Many consumers browse and shop on their smartphones first before you see them in store , so ensure that your website and promotional materials are mobile-friendly to provide a seamless shopping experience.

Collaborate with Other Businesses

Consider collaborating with complementary businesses to create joint promotions. This can expand your reach and introduce your products or services to a new audience. Choose partners whose values align with yours for a more successful collaboration.

Personalized Email Campaigns

Leverage your email marketing strategy by sending personalized holiday offers to your subscriber list. Use segmentation to tailor messages based on customer preferences and behavior, making your offers more relevant and enticing.

Monitor and Adjust

Track the performance of your holiday offer in real-time. Analyze sales data, customer feedback, and website traffic to understand what is working and what can be improved. Be prepared to adjust processes to maximize the effectiveness of your promotion.

Take advantage of this festive season to not only drive revenue but also to strengthen relationships with existing customers and attract new ones to your business year round.

Should I Use AI for My Business?

Mon, 13 Nov 2023 22:34:34 GMT

AI is certainly the “Belle of the Ball” these days but it’s also coming under scrutiny. It can save businesses a lot of time, but many professionals are afraid of what the adoption might mean. Is it right for you and your business?

First, unless you are off the grid, you’re likely already using AI for your business. If you use a grammar check, you’re using AI. If you’re employing a voice assistant or navigational assist, you’re using AI.

“AI” is a catch-all term for a host of business tools and capabilities. There are platforms like Bard and ChatGPT that can perform anything from parlor tricks of asking it fun questions and enjoying its answers, to much more complex analysis through enterprise systems. Asking whether you should use AI is a bit like asking, “should I take transportation to get to my destination” when you’re already on a scooter. The answer depends on where you’re going and what method (of transportation) you are asking about. For instance, if you want some new website copy, you don’t need an enterprise AI system. The free version of ChatGPT is fine (with your guidance, of course).

Whether you should use AI depends on various factors, including the nature of your business, your specific goals, budget, and the resources you have available. Here are some considerations to help you decide:

Considerations in Using AI for Business

Business Objectives

First and foremost, consider how AI will align with your business objectives. AI can be used for improving efficiency, automating tasks, enhancing customer experiences, making data-driven decisions, and helping you do more with your limited resources.

Competitive Advantage

Evaluate whether AI can give you a competitive edge . In some industries, AI can be a game-changer, enabling you to offer better products or services, optimize processes, or gain insights that your competitors may not have. In other industries, it might be best used as a search engine or preliminary content creator.

Data Availability

AI relies on data. If you’re going to have it analyze anything for you, then you need to have access to relevant, high-quality data to train and deploy AI models. If you lack the necessary data, you may need to invest in data collection and management first.

Budget

AI development and implementation can be costly. Consider whether your business has the budget to invest in AI, which includes expenses for software, hardware, talent, and ongoing maintenance.

Skill and Expertise

Building and deploying advanced AI solutions require expertise in machine learning, data science, and software development. You can hire AI professionals, outsource the work, or seek AI platforms and tools that require less technical expertise. Your ultimate desired results will shape the forms of AI (the scale and complexity) that you require.

Regulatory and Ethical Considerations

Depending on your industry and location, there may be regulations and ethical considerations related to AI usage. Some countries have banned it or regulated its usage. The Biden administration has voiced some concerns over ensuring digital safety .

Return on Investment (ROI)

Some AI is free while some requires a minimal investment ($20 per month). Other types of AI require major company initiatives. There’s an entry point for every business and budget. Evaluate the potential ROI of implementing AI. How will it impact your revenue, cost savings, or customer satisfaction?

Risks

AI is not always right. If it doesn’t know the answer to your question, it won’t reply that it doesn’t know. It will find the closest answer it can. That means using this tool comes with uncertainties and risks. Question responses, edit copy generated by AI. Speaking of risks, let’s talk about a few cons before you decide on adoption.

The Cons Behind AI

These are all solid points and questions you can ask yourself when deciding to implement AI on a beginning or more robust scale. However, it’s important to note that AI is not without its cons. Content generated by AI is not protected by the US Copyright Office. The creators of platforms like ChatGPT are also quick to point out that mistakes (or hallucinations as many industry people call them) can happen when asking it questions or having it create content. It’s not great at stats or dates, sometimes even quotes (sort of like that best friend who knows a little bit about everything and occasionally says something where you question their source).

Some large companies have blocked internal ChatGPT use (for instance), including JPMorgan Chase, Apple, Verizon, Spotify and Accenture, according to AI content detector Originality.AI, with several citing privacy and security concerns. Additionally, Italy was the first western nation to ban ChatGPT citing that it was easier to ban it than regulate it. Business leaders have also expressed worries about employees keying proprietary information into ChatGPT and their sensitive information emerging as an output by the tool elsewhere.

Should you use AI in your business? Unless you’re making a conscious decision to avoid it, you probably already are. But how much of your operations are machine driven is a choice. While you may not be ready to jump on the AI bandwagon fully, there are a lot of business efficiencies it can help you with. Creating copy and written communications is one of these areas. But just as you wouldn’t place a plank of wood in front of a circular saw and expect a house from it, you need to guide the process to create exactly what you’re looking for.

10 Ways Nonprofits Can Work with the Chamber to Finish the Year Strong

Mon, 06 Nov 2023 18:52:14 GMT

December is a critical time for nonprofits, as it marks the final stretch of the year to achieve fundraising and community impact goals. But what you might not realize is how a chamber of commerce can help your holiday giving campaigns. The chamber can be a valuable resource to support your mission going into December and beyond.

1. Year-End Giving Campaigns with a Twist

While a direct ask is nice, you’re one of many requests that a business is receiving this time of year. Instead, create unique year-end giving campaigns that stand out. Emphasize personal stories and impact achieved throughout the year. If you’re a member of your local chamber, they may be able to assist with promoting these campaigns through its network and marketing channels.

2. Collaborative Fundraisers

Collaborate with local businesses for joint fundraisers. Nonprofits can team up with chamber member businesses to host events or initiatives that benefit both parties. It's a win-win scenario for the nonprofits and the local economy.

3. Chamber Member Shop Local-Give Local

See if the chamber has a shop local campaign. If so, and you are a local charitable organization, see if they will also add a “Give Local” component to their campaign.

4. Volunteer Appreciation Events

Host a volunteer appreciation event in collaboration with the chamber. Recognize the dedication of your volunteers and express your gratitude. The chamber can assist in helping you promote volunteer opportunities. They may even want to get their board involved. But you won’t know if you don’t ask.

5. Community Impact Showcases

Work with the chamber to organize a community impact showcase event where nonprofits can display their achievements and projects from the year. This can help create awareness and support for their causes. If the chamber has a Leadership Program, they may have a nonprofit session day that you could be a part of. The chamber may also assist in promotion of your events.

6. Holiday-Themed Workshops

Offer workshops or webinars focused on end-of-year fundraising, grant writing, or volunteer management, with support from the chamber's experts and resources.

7. Networking Mixers

If you’re a chamber member, consider the benefit behind attending networking mixers or other chamber events where you can connect with local businesses and potential donors. The chamber can facilitate introductions and provide a platform for these connections to flourish. If you’re not a member, you can likely attend an event as a guest and try it out.

8. Year-End Gratitude Campaigns

Express your gratitude to donors, volunteers, and the community. Create heartfelt thank-you videos, letters, or events to show appreciation and foster strong relationships.

9. Leverage Chamber Resources

Talk to your chamber to better understand what resources are available to members such as marketing support, access to a network of local businesses, and promotional opportunities through chamber channels. Decide how you might work together for the better of the community as you take advantage of these benefits.

10. Plan for the Year Ahead

Use December as a time to strategize and set goals for the upcoming year. The chamber can assist you in developing sustainable plans for growth and community impact. Find out what their strategic plan is. Your work may align with their initiatives as well.

December is not just the end of the year; it's also the perfect opportunity for nonprofits to create lasting impacts and strengthen their relationships with the community. By implementing these ideas and utilizing the support of your chamber, you can finish the year strong and pave the way for a successful year ahead.

Let’s make a meaningful difference in our community.

Sustainable Eco-Friendly Practices for Businesses on a Budget

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 17:08:24 GMT

Whether it’s coming from mounting pressure from your city or state or requests from customers, the call for sustainability is growing louder. Small businesses, just like their larger counterparts, have a crucial role to play in reducing their ecological footprint. But for small businesses operating on tight budgets, embracing eco-friendly practices might seem like a daunting challenge.

Sustainability doesn't have to break the bank. In fact, there are numerous creative ways in which you can make eco-friendly choices without draining your resources. And since part of sustainability is reducing waste, let’s not waste any time and get right to ways you can start making a change today.

10 Ways to Reduce Your Business’ Carbon Footprint

Embrace Energy Efficiency

Small changes in energy consumption can lead to significant cost savings very quickly. Start by switching to LED lighting, using programmable thermostats, and turning off equipment when not in use. Unplugging items that aren’t in use overnight could help you end phantom energy costs. According to Colorado Springs Utilities , “the U.S. Department of Energy reports that 20% of our electric use goes to phantom loads.”

Want to make a bigger impression? You can also explore options like solar panels, which might have upfront costs but can result in long-term savings.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Implement a comprehensive recycling program in your workplace. Encourage employees to reduce waste by using reusable water bottles, coffee mugs, and cutlery. Consider upcycling and repurposing materials when renovating or redecorating your office or store. The key to maximum savings in this area is education.

Make sure everyone knows what you’re recycling and what steps are necessary to achieving the results you’re looking for.

Source Responsibly

When purchasing office supplies or products for resale, prioritize eco-friendly and locally-sourced options. By supporting local businesses, you not only reduce your carbon footprint but also strengthen your community ties.

Green Transportation

If your business involves delivery services, consider using electric vehicles or bicycles. Alternatively, you can encourage employees to carpool, bike, or use public transportation to reduce emissions. Some companies give employees who choose these options rewards or additional perks.

Go Paperless

Digitalization is not only cost-effective but also eco-friendly. Use cloud storage for documents and encourage customers to receive electronic receipts and invoices. This not only reduces paper waste but also streamlines operations. However, if you choose this option, you must prioritize cybersecurity.

Collaborate with Eco-Conscious Partners

Partner with suppliers and service providers who share your commitment to sustainability. Collaborations can lead to cost savings, shared resources, and increased brand reputation.

Educate Your Team

Create an eco-conscious culture within your small business. Educate your employees about the importance of sustainability and involve them in brainstorming eco-friendly ideas. Their input may reveal innovative, budget-friendly solutions. Some businesses reward employees for cost-saving ideas.

Sustainable Marketing

Consider eco-friendly marketing materials and strategies. Use recycled paper for flyers and brochures and invest in digital marketing to reduce the environmental impact of traditional advertising. If you use promotional items or business cards for your business, look into sustainable options that can be replanted, recycled, or reused.

Reduce Water Usage

Install low-flow faucets and toilets to decrease water consumption. Regularly check for leaks to prevent unnecessary wastage.

Green Certification

Look into green business certification programs, such as LEED or B Corp, that can help your business stand out as environmentally responsible and attract like-minded customers. Green certification may also open up your business for additional opportunities grants, funding, tax credits, etc. Talk with a sustainability expert to understand what this certification may mean for your business.

Sustainability is not only a hot trend and good for our environment but can also result in long-term savings and increased customer loyalty. By making eco-friendly choices, small businesses can contribute to a healthier planet and a healthier bottom line. Embrace these creative, budget-friendly ideas to minimize your environmental impact while keeping your business finances in check. Small changes can lead to significant impacts, and every effort counts in the journey towards a more sustainable future.

10 Fears You Need to Overcome as a Successful Business Owner

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 16:30:44 GMT

Starting and managing a business is no small feat. While you may feel empowered to start a business or work for yourself, it can be daunting. You may be facing a myriad of fears and uncertainties. Unfortunately, there’s no magical time that they go away. It’s not like once you pass the five-year mark, you become fearless. No, you must work at that and leverage your resources.

So, let’s explore the most common fears for business owners and the strategies for addressing them. One solution that can significantly ease these concerns is working with your chamber of commerce.

1. Fear of Financial Insecurity

Small business professionals often grapple with the fear of financial instability. The uncertainties of cash flow, profit margins, and economic downturns can be paralyzing.

To address this fear:

- Create a robust business plan that outlines your financial strategy and projections.

- Build an emergency fund to cushion your business against unforeseen challenges.

- Consult with financial experts or accountants for prudent financial management.

- Join your local chamber for access to financial resources, grants, and networking opportunities. While you can find this information on your own, it’s nice (and much more efficient) when someone else is calling it to your attention.

2. Fear of Failure

Fear of failure is a common psychological hurdle for small business professionals. It can manifest in self-doubt and reluctance to take risks.

To overcome this fear:

- Embrace a growth mindset; view failures as opportunities to learn and grow.

- Set achievable goals and celebrate your successes, no matter how small they may seem.

- Connect with mentors, business coaches, or industry peers who can offer guidance and support.

- A chamber membership can provide you with access to mentorship programs, business seminars, and other business pros that help build your resilience and confidence in your business venture.

3. Fear of Inadequate Marketing

Marketing can be one of the most hated activities for small business professionals. It can feel awkward trying to toot your own horn in a way that people will come to know, like, and trust you. But effective marketing is vital for business growth and fear of not getting it right can hinder progress.

To combat this fear:

- Develop a well-thought-out marketing strategy, emphasizing your unique value proposition. There is a lot of free advice on the internet about how to do this.

- Explore various marketing channels to find what works best for your business and what’s most appealing to your target market.

- Invest in marketing education and resources to enhance your skills.

- Join the chamber so you can connect with marketing experts and opportunities to promote your business to a wider audience through events and networking platforms.

4. Fear of the Unknown

When you start a business, there are many things you might not know. Even after being in business for years, there are things that come up that you hadn’t considered. (Hello, COVID) You may also be concerned about legal and regulatory unknowns. There’s great unpredictability in the business world. Fearing those things can paralyze you, preventing you from making necessary decisions, embracing innovation, and seizing new opportunities.

To address this fear:

- Consult with professionals to ensure your business complies with all regulations and you know what you don’t know.

- Stay informed about changes in local, state, and federal laws that affect your industry.

- Access the chamber to find out about local laws and legislative changes that may impact your business.

- Talk with business pros who have been in your position. Find out what they wished they’d known when starting their business.

5. Fear of Isolation and Networking

Many small business professionals fear the isolation that comes with entrepreneurship, as well as networking challenges. Your core friend and family group may not understand what it’s like launching or running a business.

To address these concerns:

- Attend local networking events and business meetups to connect with fellow entrepreneurs.

- Join the chamber. It provides access to a supportive community. Network with professionals who understand the challenges you face.

- Actively participate in chamber events, committees, and online forums to expand your circle of contacts and find collaborative opportunities.

6. Fear of Rejection

Starting a business is very personal. You put your heart and soul into the organization. When someone doesn’t buy from you, investors turn you down, or potential partners don’t show the interest you were hoping for, it can feel like rejection. That’s uncomfortable for most of us. As a business owner, you’ll also face complaints and negative reviews. That can feel extremely personal. Plus, the fear of rejection can be paralyzing, leading to hesitancy in taking necessary risks.

To address these concerns:

- Focus on your strengths and accomplishments to boost your self-esteem.

- Understand that rejection is a natural part of business and not a reflection of your worth. You won’t be everyone’s favorite.

- See rejection as an opportunity to learn and improve rather than a personal failure.

- Replace negative self-talk with positive affirmations and a growth mindset.

- Connect with experienced business owners or mentors who can provide guidance and support.

- Expand your professional network to seek out more opportunities and reduce the fear of rejection.

7. Fear of Success

Surprisingly, the fear of success is a concern for some business owners. Success can bring its own set of challenges, including increased responsibility, higher expectations, and fear of the unknown. Fear of success can prevent you from reaching your full potential.

To address this fear:

- Clarify what success means to you personally, rather than what others expect of you.

- Imagine the benefits and positive consequences of exceeding your goals.

- Divide large goals into smaller, manageable steps to make success feel less overwhelming.

- Acknowledge that success often requires change and embrace it as an opportunity for growth.

- Work on building self-esteem and self-worth, so you feel deserving of success.

- Recognize and address behaviors that could undermine your success, such as procrastination.

- Seek out a support system of friends, mentors, or coaches who can encourage and guide you.

8. Fear of Burnout

The fear of burnout is a genuine concern for business professionals who often find themselves wearing multiple hats and working long hours.

To mitigate this fear:

- Prioritize work-life balance and self-care to maintain your physical and mental well-being.

- Delegate tasks and responsibilities to trusted employees or outsource non-core functions.

- Collaborate with like-minded entrepreneurs who have successfully managed work-related stress.

9. Fear for the Welfare of Employees

Entrepreneurs often fear for the well-being and job satisfaction of their employees. This fear may include concerns about providing a safe and supportive work environment, offering competitive compensation and benefits, and ensuring the overall welfare of their workforce.

To reduce these concerns:

- Foster an environment where employees feel comfortable discussing their concerns, needs, and suggestions.

- Ensure that your employees receive fair and competitive salaries and benefits.

- Maintain a safe and healthy work environment by adhering to safety regulations and addressing potential hazards.

- Provide access to health insurance, wellness programs, and resources to support physical and mental well-being. Check with your chamber to see if they provide these types of resources.

- Encourage employees to maintain a healthy balance between work and personal life.

- Offer opportunities for skill development and career advancement.

10. Staffing Concerns

You may fear challenges related to hiring and retaining talent. These concerns include finding the right employees with the necessary skills, dealing with high turnover rates, and managing staff-related issues effectively. Working with the chamber can help you meet incredible potential employees who aren’t in the market for a new job, as well as introduce you to resources such as free job boards and more.

While fear is a natural part of the entrepreneurial journey, you have numerous strategies and resources at your disposal to address these concerns. Don’t limit yourself through fear. Embrace it. Let it fuel you and know your business has the potential to thrive and grow. There’s someone out there wishing that there was a business like yours. Make sure they know about you.

Spooktacular Business Ideas for a Thrilling Halloween Season

Mon, 16 Oct 2023 23:17:54 GMT

As the leaves turn golden and the air gets crisp, Halloween offers businesses a bewitching opportunity to embrace the spirit of the season and boost customer engagement. With a little creativity and a dash of spooky flair, you can draw crowds and appeal to your ideal customers. Here are some spooktacular Halloween-inspired ideas to help your small business shine during this spine-tingling season.

One note of caution: as in all marketing activities, it’s important to know your audience. A scary phantasma, for instance, would likely not appeal to small children just as talk of witches and devils may upset some adults. It’s important to understand your customers and celebrate accordingly.

Now, let’s get on with a ghostly good time.

Halloween-inspired Business Ideas

1. Haunted Happy Hours: Who said Halloween is just for trick-or-treaters? Host "Haunted Happy Hours" at your bar or restaurant, complete with spooky-themed drinks and appetizers. Encourage your staff to dress up in costume or host a costume contest for your patrons. Promote these events on social media and through your Chamber to attract the Halloween enthusiasts in your community. If your audience loves spirits, there are so many punny marketing options here.

2. Trick or Treat Extravaganza: If you have a physical storefront, turn it into a Halloween wonderland. Decorate your shop with cobwebs, skeletons, and pumpkins. Offer treats to visiting children and create a festive atmosphere that draws in families on their trick-or-treat adventures. This can be a great way to connect with your local community and leave a lasting impression.

3. Costume Contests and Workshops: If you run a clothing boutique or a costume shop, organize costume contests for your customers. Offer workshops on DIY costume ideas for those who want to get creative. This idea may seem like it interferes with business but it brings people in and they’ll likely buy something.

4. "Witchin' Workshops": Get your customers in the Halloween spirit by offering workshops related to your products or services. For example, if you own a bakery, host a pumpkin cupcake decorating workshop. A bookstore could offer spooky storytelling sessions, and a spa could run a Halloween-themed service concocting a special lotion mix. These workshops build a sense of community and loyalty around your brand.

5. Themed Sales and Discounts: Create Halloween-themed sales or promotions to entice customers. You can offer "spooky" discounts, such as 13% off or a "buy one, get one half off" deal. Decorate your website and social media profiles to match the Halloween theme.

6. Mystery Giveaways: Organize a series of mystery giveaways leading up to Halloween. Promote these on your social media platforms and encourage your customers to engage with your business online. Make the prizes Halloween-themed or related to your products and services, and the mystery element adds excitement and intrigue.

7. Spooky Decor and Selfies: Transform your business space into a Halloween haven and encourage customers to take photos in front of your spooky decor. Create a Halloween-themed backdrop and promote it as a perfect spot for selfies. Consider running a social media contest for the best Halloween selfie taken in your establishment.

8. Charity Events: Embrace the spirit of giving during this season of Halloween. Organize charity events like a "Trick-or-Treat for a Cause" campaign where a percentage of sales or specific products contribute to a charity. This not only promotes your business but also showcases your commitment to your community.

Halloween is a perfect time to infuse some fun and excitement into your small business. By leveraging the spirit of the season and offering creative and engaging events, you can draw a crowd and appeal to your ideal customers. Keep the atmosphere playful and spooky, not frightening for the widest appeal. Remember to tell the Chamber about your Halloween-inspired activities so they can help you get the word out.

Increasing Revenue with Experiential Selling

Mon, 09 Oct 2023 18:03:55 GMT

As costs rise and drive up the costs of goods, your customers are looking for value. Providing quality products or services is no longer enough. To truly stand out and succeed, you need to deliver unforgettable, engaging, and emotionally resonating experiences to your customers. This shift toward experiential selling has become increasingly vital, particularly in crowded and competitive niches. So, let’s delve into the concept of experiential selling and explore how you can refocus your business plan to prioritize it to capture the attention and loyalty of your audience.

What Is Experiential Selling?

Experiential selling creates an environment where customers can interact and engage with your products and services in enjoyable, informative, and memorable ways. Rather than solely emphasizing the functional aspects of your offerings, it's about selling the experiences they provide. Let's illustrate this with an example: If you sell bottles of wine (not as a restaurant), instead of focusing on the taste of the wine, you could highlight the experiences customers will enjoy with your wine. Creators of alcohol commercials are pros at this. They show people having a great time, and living their best life. They don’t bog you down with talk about taste. It might be mentioned but it’s the experience of enjoying it that dominates the commercial.

As a wine seller, your marketing materials could spotlight:

1. Getting together with friends to enjoy a bottle.

2. Appreciating the romance of a deep ruby red by the fire.

3. Pairing the wine with a delicious meal.

By showcasing the experiences your products offer, or the kind of experiences one might have with your product, you not only attract potential customers but also position your brand as distinct and unique among your competitors. After all, anyone can sell wine but you’re offering a lifestyle change/impact.

You can also do this in non-retail industries. For instance, as a real estate agent, you’re selling a home, and you can point out the chef’s kitchen. But why stop there? Why not mention that whether they are a gourmet cook or not, this kitchen has top-of-the-line appliances that make it easy to make a meal, it’s very accessible and offers plenty of storage. Invite them to walk the kitchen and see how the accessibility and efficiency of the space would make dinner prep so much easier or a holiday meal that much more enjoyable. You want them to imagine life in that kitchen as part of their new home. Tell the story. Paint the picture.

Why Prioritize Customer Experiences?

Prioritizing experiences in your business offers many benefits, including:

· Higher Sales Over Time: Businesses that embrace experiential selling tend to experience faster growth. Positive pre- and post-purchase experiences lead to long-term customer relationships and increased sales.

· Enhanced Customer Loyalty: Building a loyal customer base is crucial for profitability. Highlighting experiences fosters stronger customer loyalty, encouraging repeat purchases.

· Effective Word-of-Mouth Marketing: Satisfied customers who have memorable experiences become enthusiastic brand advocates. Their emotional connection drives word-of-mouth marketing, resulting in cost-effective promotion.

In the face of today’s economic challenges, consumer optimism is wavering. Focusing on creating engaging experiences where customers can interact (or imagine interacting) with your product before purchasing becomes a powerful strategy to prove the value of your offerings.

Refocusing Your Business Plan and Sales Strategy

To prioritize customer experiences, you don't need to overhaul your entire business plan or marketing materials. Instead, follow these three key strategies:

1. Gather Customer Data: Collect extensive customer data to understand preferences and needs. Use this information to improve product quality, adjust marketing campaigns, and better connect with your core customers.

2. Double Down on Personalization: Personalization is crucial in modern marketing. Address customers by their first names, provide personalized product recommendations, and offer customized discounts through loyalty programs to make each customer feel valued.

3. Sell Experiences: Incorporate experiential elements into your marketing materials and ads. Showcase the emotions and positive reactions customers can expect when they choose your products. Monitor ad performance and leverage successful strategies in future marketing campaigns.

Additional Activities to Improve Sales with Experiential Marketing

· Review your business plan and think about your customer journey to ensure that experiences are at the forefront of each stage.

· Redesign your website for better navigation.

· Rewrite copy and create videos to show someone who they can be or how your product or service fits into the ideal life they want to have. Help them create a visual of how they would be better off with you.

· Enhance customer service to provide valuable support to your customers.

· Host events so people see you as more than a business. Again, people pay more for an experience and are more likely to choose you over your competitors.

By prioritizing experiences, your business can thrive in a competitive market, offering unique and unforgettable moments that set you apart from the competition and provide that escape so many people are looking for right now.

A Solid Tip for Getting More Bang for Your Marketing Buck

Mon, 02 Oct 2023 17:22:09 GMT

Do you have a limited marketing budget? Do you think what you can accomplish with your budget is less than ideal because you don’t have the money of a large company? While that may seem true, there is one thing you can do to really move the dial and maximize your small marketing budget. Sure, there are many ways to get “free” marketing through social media and growing your referral network but using funds in a targeted way can have a huge impact on obtaining more customers and showing the community who you are.

What is Niche Marketing?

Niche marketing is the process of targeting a specific group of people with your marketing messages. This audience should be united by a common interest or need. By targeting a niche, you can focus your marketing efforts and resources on a smaller group of people, which can be more effective and cost-effective than trying to reach a broad audience.

It may seem contradictory to spend all of your money in one area but when your niche is well-researched and you know your product or service provides great value to that niche, you are positioning yourself for the richest returns on your marketing dollars.

Benefits of Niche Marketing

There are several benefits to niche marketing for small businesses, including:

● Increased effectiveness: When you target a niche, you can tailor your marketing messages to the specific needs and interests of your target audience. This makes your marketing more effective and likely to generate results.

● Reduced costs: Niche marketing can help you reduce your marketing costs by focusing your resources on a smaller group of people. This means you can spend less money on marketing and still get the same results, while personalizing your attention in a more effective way.

● Increased brand awareness: When you consistently appear in front of your target niche, you will start to build brand awareness. This means that people will become more familiar with your brand and more likely to consider doing business with you. By concentrating your efforts on a particular group, your product or service can become known to the group as "the" item or service--such as the runner’s shoe or the emergency plumber.

● Stronger customer relationships: Niche marketing allows you to develop stronger relationships with your customers. This is because you can focus on their specific needs and interests and speak just to them.

● Additional revenue. Customers will often pay more if they think you understand their needs and desires better than anyone else. Just look at all of the doggie daycare businesses out there.

Examples of Effective Niche Marketing

Here are a few examples of niche marketing:

Atticus. This software company offers a book writing and formatting platform for writers that targets indie writers. That doesn’t mean that a traditionally published author can’t use the product, but the indie needs more assistance in that area. Their content and messaging are directed to Indie authors.

Nike. When Nike started out, they were a running shoe. Their messaging targeted people who wanted a shoe that would help them maximize performance. They built a reputation on that and then moved into other areas.

Kirrin Finch. This LGBTQ clothing line served a need when they created clothes that worked for a more gender-fluid audience.

How to Target a Niche in Your Business

The first step to targeting a niche is to identify your ideal customer. Who are you trying to reach? What are their needs and interests? If you’ve been in business a while, look at who is your most loyal demographic and decide how you can better suit their needs. For instance, if you are a craft store and you notice 90% of your customers are painters, you could easily embrace this and switch most (if not all) of your marketing dollars toward speaking to that demographic.

Once you have identified your ideal customer, you can start to develop marketing messages that are tailored to their needs and interests.

Applying Your Marketing Dollars to Your Niche

Once you have identified your niche, you can start to apply your marketing dollars to that group. There are several ways to do this, including:

● Content marketing: Content marketing is all about value for your audience. You want to produce content to attract and engage your target market. Create content such as blog posts, articles, e-books, and infographics, with your audience’s needs and pain points in mind. Expand past the basics you want to teach your customers about your product. Educate, inspire, and entertain with things you know they will love. For instance, if you are a car wash that targets people who love their cars (they’ll pay extra if they think you will take care of their cars the way they would), you could create content about upcoming car shows, drive-in events, and car product reviews. In content marketing, the content shouldn’t all be about you and your product. But it should be about providing value to your customers.

● Social media marketing: Social media marketing uses social media platforms to connect with your target audience. You can use Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, and/or LinkedIn to share your content, run contests, and offer discounts. Which social media platforms you use depends on where your ideal customer is. Knowing this critical information can save you a lot of time from posting on ineffective platforms for reaching your demographic. For instance, if your target market is teens, don’t spend a lot of time on Facebook.

● Email marketing: You can use email marketing to send out newsletters, promotional offers, and other updates targeted to your audience and its needs.

● Paid advertising: Paid advertising can be a cost-effective way to reach your target audience quickly and easily. You can use paid advertising platforms such as Google AdWords and Facebook Ads to target your ads to people who are interested in your products or services. To save money and get a better return on your ad spend , be very specific about who you target.

● Chamber Sponsorships: Chamber sponsorships can provide a great return on your spend if their event reaches your target market. For instance, if your audience is business decision-makers, a chamber economic forecast event might be an ideal event to sponsor. Check with your chamber. They may have fun events you may not have considered like a dog stroll or field day. Often sponsorships are very affordable and provide a lot of local exposure.

A Final Word About Niche Marketing

Niche marketing is a great way for small businesses to achieve big success on a small marketing budget. By targeting a specific group of people with your marketing messages, you can increase your effectiveness, reduce your costs, increase brand awareness, and develop stronger customer relationships, not to mention make more money. But it’s important to do the research before selecting a niche. Done well, niche marketing will make your ideal customer feel heard, catered to, and valued. However, niche marketing is not a “one-and-done” activity. If you’re going to target an audience, you need to make a commitment to them and show them you understand—and can meet—their needs.

10+ Tips for Saving Money on Your Business Expenses

Mon, 25 Sep 2023 18:41:55 GMT

While the MetLife and U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Index reached its highest level of confidence since COVID in Q3 of 2023, there are still many businesses that are battling rising costs and trying to make every dollar count. According to the report, 33% of small businesses are saying the U.S. economy is in good health (up 9% points from Q2). The report read, “Small businesses also feel better about their own business health and cash flow: Two in three (66%) report that their business is in good health and roughly seven in ten (72%) say they are comfortable with their cash flow.”

But “comfortable with cash flow” doesn’t mean you can’t use some business savings tips.

10 Ways to Save Money in Your Business

1. Negotiate with your suppliers. Don't be afraid to negotiate with your suppliers for better prices. Many suppliers are willing to negotiate, especially if you agree to order in bulk or commit to a long-term contract. Perhaps you can qualify for a discount by consolidating vendors and using the same one for multiple needs.

2. Shop around for insurance. Compare insurance rates from different companies before you renew your policy. You can save a significant amount of money by switching insurers.

3. Take advantage of tax breaks. There are tax breaks available to small businesses. Be sure to consult with a tax advisor to learn about the tax breaks you may be eligible for including green incentives.

4. Outsource tasks that don't require your level of expertise. This may seem like an oxymoron that you should spend money to save money but let’s explore it. If you're spending too much time on tasks that you don't require your level of expertise, you should outsource them to a freelancer or virtual assistant. This frees up your time to focus on more important revenue-generating tasks. By spending a small amount of money, you can make a much larger sum.

5. Automate tasks whenever possible. There are many software tools that can help you automate tasks like accounting, marketing, and customer service. Automating tasks can save you a significant amount of time and money. Using AI to generate administrative correspondence and communications can also save you time that you could be using in revenue-generating pursuits.

6. Use free and open-source software. Examine your current subscriptions and fees. Are they all necessary? Can they be replaced by free and open-source software programs? If you’re not sure search online for free competitors of ___. You can find free versions of everything from operating systems to productivity software.

7. Barter with other businesses. Bartering is a great way to get the goods and services you need without spending any money. For example, you could barter with a local printer to get free printing services in exchange for promoting their business on your website.

8. Learn about member discounts for chamber members. If you're a member of a local chamber of commerce, be sure to ask about their member-to-member discounts. Many businesses offer discounts to chamber members on everything from office supplies to marketing services.

9. Get creative with your marketing. You don't have to spend a lot of money on marketing to be successful. There are many low-cost and free marketing strategies that you can use, such as social media marketing, content marketing, referral marketing and email marketing. Plus, you can learn how to use these through free videos on YouTube, e-book downloads, and possibly even a chamber lunch and learn program. (The chamber likely has some of the best, and most affordable, learning opportunities in your community.)

10. Offer referral bonuses to your customers. Referral programs are a great way to generate new leads and sales without spending any money on advertising. Offer your customers a bonus for referring new customers to your business. Even if you provide them with a gift certificate, chances are your referral bonus will not only make them more loyal (and may get some free social media marketing out of it when they post about it) but there’s a very good likelihood that they will buy more than the discount or gift card is for.

Bonus tip for saving money (everyone could use a bonus these days, right?):

Track your expenses. One of the best ways to save money on your business expenses is to track them. This will help you to identify areas where you can cut back. There are several software tools that you can use to track your expenses. Some of the most popular include: QuickBooks, Xero, FreshBooks, Zoho Expense, Expensify, and Concur Expense.

By following these tips, you can save money on your business expenses and boost your profits.

Improve Your Business Content with this Smart Content Marketing Tip

Mon, 18 Sep 2023 20:39:02 GMT

Content marketing has been around for a while now. It began when search engines like Google started ranking sites by—among other things—the quality of the content as perceived by the audience. This caused many marketers to increase the quality of their content. But if you’re still wondering if you have the right kind of content for your business, you should check out this idea from Mark Schaefer . It’s one of the easiest ways to decide if you have a strong mix that will help drive sales.

The Content Hierarchy of Needs

Most business professionals understand they need to produce valuable content. But exactly how do you do that? Marketing guru Mark Schaefer used Maslow’s hierarchy of needs to create a content-based pyramid structure. Here’s how using Schaefer’s structure can help you create the right types of content to impact your audience:

Addressing Basic Needs

The foundation of Schaefer’s pyramid is providing basic information and answering questions. This is the bare minimum of what anyone producing content should do for their audience. Many businesses address basic info in a Q&A section, but you can also create pages, blog posts, and videos dedicated to answering the questions you get most frequently.

Take some time to look at search and analytics. What are some of the most common questions asked in the industry or business that you serve? Use top-ranking keyword phrases in question form on your website and throughout your content.

Answering basic questions is a great way to rank in search but doesn’t do much for improving time on site or returns as website visitors get their information and leave. That’s why you need additional content including…

Teaching

After addressing basic questions about your product, services, and/or industry, consider what your ideal customer needs to know to make a good buying decision. This educational component can also include content like DIY tips, background or historical information, and best practices. A site that posts this type of relevant content entices people to subscribe and visit it again as a first stop in getting the answers and advice they need by a subject matter expert.

Emotional Connection

Here’s where the magic begins. Up until this point in the pyramid, you have been sharing what you know. You created content with basic needs and questions in mind, and you established yourself as a helpful thought leader, maintaining trust with your audience through your straightforward answers.

Now, you want to take your relationship to the next level by creating an emotional reason for your audience to seek out your content. You won their minds, now you are going for their hearts. You can do this by showcasing authenticity and vulnerability in your content. Share personal stories and experiences that relate to your niche or business views. Engage with your viewers actively through comments and social media to create a sense of community and foster a two-way connection.

Tailoring your content to address the pain points, concerns, challenges, aspirations, and emotions of your target audience ensures that they see themselves reflected in your content, creating a powerful emotional bond. Lastly, use storytelling techniques, visuals, and music to evoke emotions that resonate with your brand's values and messaging, leaving a lasting impression on your audience.

Inspiration

After you have established an emotional bond with your audience, they will look to you for inspiration. You can inspire them by tapping into their aspirations, passions, and desires. Start by setting a positive and enthusiastic tone in your content. Share your challenges and how you overcame them. Talk about others who have inspired you and share their success stories. Give actionable tips that your audience can apply to their own lives, making them feel empowered and motivated. Use your platform to showcase individuals who have achieved remarkable feats, highlighting their journeys and the lessons they've learned. Encourage open dialogue and engagement with your audience to foster a sense of community and support, encouraging them to share their own goals and dreams. Celebrate their accomplishments by calling them out and congratulating them. By consistently delivering content that uplifts and offers valuable insights, you can inspire and drive positive change in the lives of your audience.

Is Threads Right for Your Business?

Mon, 10 Jul 2023 19:26:19 GMT

Meta does it again. We have yet another social media platform to consider. Usually when advising businesses on whether they should participate on a social media platform, I ask them who their ideal client is and then we go by demographics. If your ideal customer is on the platform, go for it. If not, skip it—unless you just really enjoy being overextended in your posts and social media attention. But threads isn’t exactly a new platform. Well, it is technically. But if you have Instagram, it feels more like an extension.

What Is Threads?

Threads is the newest baby of the Meta world, and it’s taking aim at Twitter. Threads allows you to log in with your Instagram username. You have the option of importing from Instagram or creating a new bio from scratch. Just like Instagram, you can make your profile public or private. (For business, private isn’t going to do you much good unless you operate a Speak Easy or something where membership has its privileges.)

When you join, you’ll be asked if you want to follow the same accounts you follow on Instagram (even if these people haven’t signed up yet).

The app is powered by Instagram, and it uses your Instagram information to personalize ads and other experiences across the two platforms. According to the intro, Meta has plans to create a “fediverse” where people will be able to interact with one another across platforms. (Perhaps that means it will allow the young people on Insta to see what their oldie relatives are doing on Facebook and vice versa.)

As you would expect, you must agree to the terms and privacy policy on your data/data sharing, etc. Etc. One important thing to note in the Supplemental Privacy Policy, “You may deactivate your Threads profile at any time, but your Threads profile can only be deleted by deleting your Instagram account.”

The User Stats

At most recent counts, Instagram boasts 2 billion users while Twitter has only 250 million. If only a fraction of Instagram users sign up, Threads will quickly outpace Twitter. But it remains to be seen if the same communities on Twitter will switch to Threads. Twitter is big in the sports recruiting arena as well as the publishing pitch world. Will they make the switch?

What’s New with Threads?

Like most new platforms, it looks vaguely familiar but with slightly different functionality. After all, people don’t usually love big, sweeping changes. Threads adheres to this through a format that looks a lot like Twitter, but it allows for longer posts. Most Twitter users have a 280-character limit (remember the early days of 140 characters?), while Thread users can enjoy 500 characters (what will you do with all of them?) and the ability to upload a five-minute video.

Since Threads resembles Twitter more closely than Insta, it’s overcome one of my biggest pet peeves with the photo sharing platform. On Threads you can easily share links. Yippy!

To encourage the migration, Threads prompts people to follow the same individuals they do on Insta and then automatically sends a follow request. I logged into my new, linked account with about 100 requests waiting for me. I was surprised how many people had made the switch a day after the platform launched. According to early reports, Threads garnered 10 million users on one day and are now up to 30 million.

It looks like most are viewing it as an extension, not necessarily a new platform. And that’s understandable. Users in Threads can also easily switch to their Instagram profile with a click of the icon.

According to Meta, Threads was developed with features that “promote positive and productive discussions.” Users can manage who can mention or reply to them on the platform. Like Instagram, Thread users can utilize hidden word filters to exclude replies containing specific words from their threads. Managing profiles on Threads uses familiar activities such as unfollowing, blocking, restricting, or reporting through the three-dot menu. Additionally, any accounts blocked on Instagram will automatically be blocked on Threads as well.

In addition to these features, Meta has announced its plans to enhance Threads by making it compatible with the ActivityPub protocol. They also aim to introduce improved recommendations in feeds, real-time trend tracking, and enhanced search functionality.

Currently, Threads is accessible on both iOS and Android devices, and users can download the app from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

Will you explore Threads for your business?

How Does Your Business Compare to the Latest NFIB Small Business Optimism Index?

Mon, 26 Jun 2023 17:24:44 GMT

Recently, the May NFIB Small Business Optimism Index results came out. While they were certainly not surprising, if you’re feeling concerned about your business, you’re not alone. Seeing what others are struggling with (and what they’re doing in the face of these struggles) can be helpful. This article gives you the highlights of the Index results for May.

NFIB Small Business Optimism Index May Result Highlights

1. The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index increased by 0.4 points in May, reaching 89.4, but it has remained below the 49-year average of 98 for the past 17 months.

2. Small business owners' expectations of better business conditions in the next six months declined by one point to a net negative 50%.

3. Supply chain disruptions and labor shortages are ongoing concerns for small businesses, although their impact is less severe compared to last year.

4. Job openings that are hard to fill decreased by one point to 44%, a historic high.

5. The net percentage of owners raising average selling prices decreased by one point to a net 32%, indicating a downward trend but still at an inflationary level.

6. The net percentage of owners expecting higher real sales deteriorated by two points to a net negative 21%.

7. A net 19% of owners plan to create new jobs in the next three months, while 63% reported hiring or trying to hire in May, with 89% struggling to find qualified applicants.

8. Capital expenditures are a concern, with 57% of owners reporting capital outlays in the last six months and 25% planning capital outlays soon.

9. Small businesses face challenges with inventory management, as a net negative 3% of owners considered their current inventory stocks as "too low."

10. Labor costs and quality are top concerns, with 41% of owners reporting raising compensation and 24% citing labor quality as their top business problem.

11. Only 1% of owners reported unsatisfied borrowing needs. Financing ranked as the top business problem for only 4% of owners.

Key Takeaways:

To be more competitive in hiring, many small businesses are increasing what they pay.

Funding isn’t a large problem for 96% of small businesses polled.

Most businesses are still finding it difficult to hire.

Perhaps you’re viewing these results and feeling like this is stating the obvious. Workforce challenges are the main concern for most businesses, and it appears that raising salaries isn’t the panacea many assume it to be. That’s why it’s more critical than ever to become a part of your chamber and lend your voice to the issues.

What the Chamber Can Do for Your Business

The chamber can:

· Advocate for pro-business legislation and changes in laws to help improve the hiring situation.

· Bring the community together to tackle workforce development issues to help ensure your future employees have the skillset you need to be competitive.

· Educate you on HR trends that are helping companies become employers of choice in their communities.

These are all things the chamber does behind the scenes that most people don’t think about. Whether you are a member or not, they are advocating for a pro-business climate in your area and beyond. But if you’re not a member, your specific needs aren’t being heard.

Contact your chamber today. If you are a member, let them know your challenges. Ensure your voice is heard. If you aren’t a member, consider joining. Your local chamber has a plethora of resources that can help you and your employees navigate these difficult times. There is no reason you should be alone, nor is there a reason that you should have to start at square one when there’s an organization that is already in place and ready to help with advocacy and education.

About the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index

The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index is a monthly economic indicator that measures the sentiment and confidence levels of small business owners in the United States. It is published by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB). The index is based on surveys conducted among NFIB members, who represent a diverse range of industries and regions across the country. The index provides insights into the current and future expectations of small business owners regarding various aspects of their businesses, including sales, hiring plans, capital expenditures, and overall economic conditions. It is considered a key indicator of the health and outlook of the small business sector, which plays a crucial role in the U.S. economy.

Be Unforgettable: How Business Owners Can Standout at Networking Events

Mon, 19 Jun 2023 19:42:59 GMT

First, you’re probably thinking if everyone in the chamber (and beyond) reads this article and follows the advice here, no one will be unforgettable because we’ll all be following the same instructions. But in the words of the famous Dr. Seuss, “There is no one alive more youier than you” so being the same isn’t possible if you’re true to who you are.

With that in mind, let’s talk about how you can begin to standout and make worthwhile connections, even if you hate networking.

Why Should You Attend a Networking Event?

You either love networking or hate it, right? But networking events can be invaluable opportunities for you to expand your professional network, forge valuable partnerships, learn of opportunities before anyone else, and ultimately grow your business and/or career. Plus, they can be fun.

Still, when there are so many people in a room all trying to do the same thing you are—meet new connections—standing out in a crowd and making a lasting impression can be a challenge. But a necessary one because you want them to think of you when they need something.

Let’s explore the best ways for you to be memorable at the next chamber networking event, so you can meet potential clients, collaborators, and industry influencers.

6 Ways to Be More Memorable When Networking

Before we get into being memorable, it’s important to set a goal. Don’t go in hoping to meet “someone good.” Good means a lot of things. Do you want a good customer, a good business partner, a good influencer, a good friend, a good caterer…you get the idea. Knowing who you want to meet will help you devise a plan to be more memorable. Just as you would use different bait to attract a shark versus a deer, you’ll want to decide who you want to meet before working on how to be more memorable. Keep your goal in mind as you:

Shift the Focus

It can be awkward walking into a group or up to a person you don’t know. Most event hosts (especially the chamber) will be glad to introduce you to someone. Once they do, avoid awkward moments by focusing on the person you’ve just been introduced to. Asking someone what they do is good but often elicits a very short phrase, “I’m a lawyer,” for instance. Then you might say, “Wow. Great. My cousin’s a lawyer.” This conversation isn’t very memorable. On the other hand, if you ask them “What are you working on that you’re really excited about?” They’re going to open up. Another great hot topic is AI. Ask them if they’re using it or what they think about it.

Get them talking about themselves, their preferences, their knowledge/experience and listen. Speaking of…

Be a Genuine Listener

One of the most effective ways to be memorable is by being an active and engaged listener. Show genuine interest in the person you're conversing with, and ask thoughtful questions about their business, challenges, and goals. By listening attentively, you can demonstrate you value their insights and build a meaningful connection. People remember those who make them feel heard and understood.

Craft a Memorable Personal Story

Stories are powerful tools for connecting with others on an emotional level and they’re easy to remember. Develop a personal story that highlights your journey, passion, and the impact your business has made. Share it in a concise and engaging manner, leaving a lasting impression on your listeners.

Remember, a well-crafted personal story is not a monologue. The story may be about you, but it must have a broader appeal. You want someone to hear your story and be inspired to do something in their own lives, not feel like they’re watching a one-person, off-Broadway show.

Dress the Part:

Follow the event's dress code but wear something you love. Your appearance reflects your brand's image, and wearing a favorite item will help you appear confident, credible, and approachable. Wear something that showcases your style and is memorable without being silly (unless your business is silly, then go for it). For instance, a consultant I know always wears a hat; the kind of hat is dependent on the occasion. A dog walker may always wear dog jewelry. An author of a pirate book may wear a chain with a gold doubloon. These branding elements help them be more memorable.

Use Creative and Memorable Marketing Materials

Stand out from the crowd by designing unique and memorable business cards, marketing materials, or giveaways. Incorporate your brand's visual identity and ensure that the design aligns with your overall messaging. Add a personal touch, such as a handwritten note or a relevant quote, to leave a lasting impression. People often keep creative marketing materials, making them a powerful tool for staying top-of-mind.

Be “On” at All Times

Have you ever watched a video that shows a celebrity or a VIP when they don’t know there’s a camera or mic on them? Sometimes it ends badly, and they say (or do) something that is out of character for how the rest of the world perceives them. The same can happen in a networking event. Don’t have a great event exuding graciousness, then step into your car and lean on your horn only to find out the person you’re making rude gestures to is the individual you thought you had a great connection with only minutes earlier. Remember, as a businessperson, people aren’t just looking to do business with you at the event. They want to see that you’re the same person on the clock and off.

Networking events provide you with a platform to showcase your expertise, expand your connections, and leave a memorable impression. By getting others talking, being an engaged listener, sharing a compelling personal story, using great materials, and staying “on,” you can create lasting relationships that will benefit your business. Be authentic, be memorable, and let your passion shine through. Those types of actions are infectious.

Slay the Biggest Impediment to Adopting a Growth Mindset

Tue, 13 Jun 2023 18:26:15 GMT

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Before you read this article, open the internet, and ask “How many business professionals are busy?” For a little extra fun, substitute business professionals with your specific industry. You’ll see pages and pages of results and studies all saying the same thing—more than half of people are busy (some studies report well over 75%) and stressed because of it.

Busyness, not to be confused with business, is the top impediment to adopting a growth mindset, and yet most business gurus will tell you a growth mindset is exactly what you need to thrive as a business owner or high-performing employee/leader.

So why are we getting in our own way and what can we do about it?

Why Is a Growth Mindset Important?

A growth mindset is crucial for business owners and leaders because it helps them adapt to challenges, embrace learning, and continuously improve their business.

Here are some reasons why a growth mindset is important:

· Resilience: A growth mindset allows you to view challenges as opportunities for learning and growth. Instead of being discouraged by failures, you see them as valuable feedback and adjust your strategies accordingly.

· Innovation and Creativity: A growth mindset encourages business pros to think outside the box and explore new ideas by employing experimentation and taking calculated risks. Innovation helps businesses stay competitive in a dynamic market.

· Learning and Skill Development: Leaders with a growth mindset prioritize learning and personal development. They seek knowledge, acquire new skills, and stay updated with industry trends so they can make informed decisions and adapt to evolving customer demands. Speaking of…

· Adaptability: Markets and consumer preferences change. Business pros with a growth mindset are flexible and adaptable, willing to pivot their business model, explore new markets, or diversify their product/service offerings to stay relevant and seize new opportunities.

· Building Relationships and Networks: A growth mindset encourages leaders to seek collaboration and build strong networks because they understand the value of partnerships, mentorship, and seeking advice from industry experts. By leveraging these relationships, they can access resources, support, and new business opportunities.

While a growth mindset is critical to business growth these days, many people are feeling overwhelmed and way too busy. If we prize innovation, and we recognize professional growth and creative thinking are essential for today’s businesses to thrive, we must find ways to slay the biggest impediment to developing a growth mindset—busyness. Here's why:

When We’re Busy, We Suffer From…

· Lack of Time for Reflection: A growth mindset requires self-reflection and introspection to identify areas for improvement and develop new strategies. When we are busy and overwhelmed with tasks, we won’t (have or) take the time to reflect on our experiences, learn from our mistakes, and adjust our approach, all critical to growth.

· Limited Mental Space for Learning: A growth mindset focuses on continuous learning and seeking new knowledge and skills. However, when we are occupied with numerous responsibilities and tasks, we may struggle to allocate mental space and time for learning opportunities, such as reading, attending workshops, or engaging in professional development. When we’re excessively busy and find some downtime, we tend to use it for recuperation and performing unproductive activities as a “break.”

· Reactive Decision-Making: Busy schedules lead to reactive decision-making rather than proactive and strategic thinking. When we are constantly putting out fires and responding to immediate (and seemingly unpredictable) demands, it becomes challenging to think long-term, plan for growth, and consider innovative solutions.

· Lack of Prioritization: Being busy can result in a focus on urgent but less important tasks, rather than prioritizing activities that contribute to long-term growth and development. This can prevent us from allocating time and resources to initiatives that foster a growth mindset, such as experimenting with new ideas, investing in skill development, or building relationships with mentors and industry experts.

· Burnout and Exhaustion: Chronic busyness can lead to burnout and exhaustion, which kill motivation, creativity, and overall well-being. When we are drained and overwhelmed, it becomes challenging to maintain a growth mindset because we lack the energy and enthusiasm needed to embrace challenges, persist through setbacks, and seek out new learning opportunities.

While you may support the idea of adopting a growth mindset conceptually, and recognize its benefits, unless you are willing to scale back on busyness, instituting a growth mindset will be impossible. To overcome these challenges to attaining a growth mindset, it's essential to prioritize and manage your time effectively. Look to delegate tasks, set boundaries, and create dedicated time for reflection, learning, and strategic planning (schedule it in your calendar). If you’re in a position to do so, creating a supportive environment that encourages a growth mindset, such as fostering a culture of learning and innovation within the business, can also help overcome the impediments of busyness.

Our Population Is Getting Older. Is Your Marketing Holding Up?

Mon, 05 Jun 2023 19:35:42 GMT

It’s predicted that by 2040, 80.8 million residents of the US will be over the age of 65 (currently, we’re at 47 million). That’s more than double the number in 2000. While we can wring our hands all day worrying about things like social security and healthcare as the population ages, an older demographic can also be a lucrative market to explore for your business. With more people staying active longer , they’re more apt to make their own buying decisions as well. In the past, many seniors got to an age where younger relatives or caretakers were making their purchase decisions. That’s no longer the case. Plus, many seniors are working longer. In some cases, this means more disposable income.

Here are a few things you can do to be more appealing to an older demographic.

Online Marketing Tips to Attract Seniors

If you’re looking to market specifically to seniors and other older demographics, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

1. Ditch the fear. Don’t scare people into buying your product or service. It’s not nice and you’re better off promoting value or making it easy to buy from you. Seniors don’t want any hassle. If you make them feel comfortable, you’re more likely to get the sale.

2. Use the right kind of social media: Seniors are the fastest-growing segment on Facebook currently. In fact, half of seniors in the US are active Facebook users. Share pictures, articles, and clips. Stay away from asking for personal information. Many seniors are wary of this as they have friends who have been taken advantage of. Comment on posts and engage with your audience in a language that is understandable (lay off the made-up words and slang).

3. Try a few marketing channels until you find the right one(s). Facebook is the most popular, but some seniors are also on Insta. A few are on Twitter or TikTok. A Facebook group may work for you too. Try different channels until you find the right level of interaction to make it worth your while. Many seniors won’t buy directly from social, but you can still work on top-of-mind conversions and leading them into your physical business from online.

4. Clear the clutter. Seniors don’t want to waste their time scanning through a lot of junk. Get to the point with clear content, appealing visuals, and a call to action. Don’t hide content in weird spots on your site. They don’t want to search for the info they need. Most seniors prefer clear headers and tabs to long, scrolling design. Make clickable areas large to help unsteady hands.

5. Use video. While we don’t want to paint a picture of seniors as feeble bodies with bad eyesight, keeping some physical impairments in mind can help you make their online experience better. Clear, concise videos can help walk someone through a process, especially if they have difficulty reading. Chatbots can also help, although some seniors find this annoying and concerning.

6. Black ink, please. Light ink and fancy fonts are hard to read. Stick with black and get rid of scrolling fonts. Larger font size is also a good idea. When you use smaller print, people tend to assume you’re hiding something.

Attracting Seniors to Your Physical Business

To make your physical business location more appealing to senior citizens, you should consider the following strategies:

· Create an age-friendly environment: Ensure your business premises are easily accessible. Make sure there are ramps or elevators for those with mobility issues, clear signage, well-lit areas, and comfortable seating. Wider aisles or space between seats is also advisable.

· Train your staff: Provide customer service training to your employees specifically focused on understanding and meeting the needs of senior citizens. Sensitize them to be patient, respectful, and helpful toward older customers. Sometimes an older customer wants to tell you/your staff a story. If you want seniors to feel appreciated at your business, encourage your staff to listen.

· Offer senior discounts: Implement a senior discount program to attract older customers. Offer a percentage off the total bill, special pricing on specific products or services, or loyalty programs tailored to seniors.

· Simplify your communication: Make sure your marketing materials, signage, and website are designed with larger fonts and clear, easy-to-read text. Avoid using jargon or technical terms that may be confusing for seniors. Offer non-digital options. While many seniors enjoy technology, some do not. Duplicate your efforts online and off. Ask seniors their preferences and note them in your customer management system or list.

· Provide assistance: Assign staff members to assist seniors with any specific needs they may have, such as carrying their bags, providing personal shopping assistance, or offering guidance on product selection.

· Offer educational workshops or classes: Organize workshops or classes on topics of interest to seniors, such as technology training, health and wellness, or financial planning. Keep in mind, your event needn’t be directly related to your business. For instance, a bookstore could host a chair yoga event to bring in more active seniors. You could also partner with another business to co-host an event or expo. This not only attracts older customers but also positions your business as a resource for their needs. They will connect with you and think of you as their first stop.

· Build community partnerships: Collaborate with local senior centers, retirement communities, or other organizations that serve seniors. This can help you reach out to the senior community, establish trust, and gain valuable insights into their preferences.

· Incorporate senior-friendly products: Stock your inventory with products that cater to the specific needs and preferences of seniors. This could include items like ergonomic furniture, assistive devices, comfortable clothing, or health and wellness products.

· Seek feedback and adapt: Actively seek feedback from your senior customers to understand their experience and identify areas for improvement. Incorporate their suggestions to continuously enhance your business's appeal to our aging population.

Remember, today’s seniors aren’t the grandparents of yesteryear. (George Clooney is 62 and Denzel Washington is 68!) When you remove causes of death due to accidents, drug use, and suicides, people are living longer and more active lives. Keep in mind that people over 65 are a diverse group, and their preferences may vary. It's important to listen, be flexible, and continuously adapt your approach to meet their changing needs.

Gen Z Is Ditching the Traditional Search Engine. Is Your Business Ready?

Tue, 30 May 2023 20:49:12 GMT

This week, I had one of those rare moments where my teenage son talked to me in more than mono-syllabic answers. We were talking about AI and school projects. While AI is a boon for anyone tasked with repetitive time sucks, it’s a nightmare for school administrators and educators. Kids everywhere (other than New York, where it’s illegal) are using chatbots to do their homework, write school scripts and projects, etc. And because of AI’s generative language use, plagiarism trackers are ineffectual. But this article isn’t about “cheating.”

As into AI as I have been this past year, he still schooled me. Turns out Snapchat has a chatbot. It not only has natural conversation capabilities (any parent wishing to have a conversation with their child could certainly rename this chatbot with their kid’s name and have a lovely conversation.), but will answer any question you have for it. Additionally, TikTok is testing Tako , an in-app chatbot, and the company is looking at it to deliver more relevant content to its users. This is just the next step. After all, when kids want to know something, they search YouTube first. This hasn’t been a huge disruptor to search so far because YouTube is owned by Google. If chatbots start fielding more questions, which they will, this could will change everything.

So, what can we expect in the next year with AI searches increasing?

Search is evolving and if your business targets Gen Z, paying to rank for certain keywords is about to lose some forward momentum. We’ll see this impact first among changing search patterns with early adopters, but AI is so easy to use, it will quickly catch up to the rest of the generations.

Changing Your SEO Strategy to Meet the New World

AI chatbots on social media platforms are significantly changing the way search functions and the overall search experience. To prepare your business for the changes that AI is bringing to search and SEO, you need to do the following:

Understand AI and Its Impact

Learn about AI technologies, how they are being applied in search and SEO, and the potential implications for your business. Stay updated on the latest advancements and trends in AI to make informed decisions.

Focus on User Experience

AI-driven search algorithms prioritize user experience. Ensure your website provides a seamless and intuitive user experience, with fast loading times, mobile optimization, and easy navigation. Create high-quality, relevant content that meets user needs and engages your target audience.

Optimize for Voice Search

Gen Z rarely types. It’s all voice commands, all the time. If it wasn’t for text, they might lose the use of their fingers altogether. Voice search is going gangbusters now largely due to AI-powered voice assistants. Optimize your website and content for voice search by using conversational language, long-tail keywords, and structured data markup. Consider the context in which users may ask questions verbally and provide concise and direct answers. Not sure how your target market would search for you? Ask them and use as close to their natural language as possible. For instance, if your target market would request “fire pizza near me” instead of “best pizza near me,” it’s time to optimize for that.

Leverage Structured Data

AI algorithms rely on structured data to understand and categorize information on websites. Implement structured data markup , such as Schema.org, to provide search engines with additional context about your content. This can enhance your visibility in search results and improve the chances of appearing in rich snippets or other AI-powered search features.

Note: If this is too much for you, seek the help of a professional but perform your due diligence to ensure they have been keeping up with the changes that are coming with AI. Remember, you are paying for their expertise, so you don’t have to put in the time to become an expert in it yourself. Like paying someone to clean your house, you could do it, but your skills are needed elsewhere.

Embrace Natural Language Processing (NLP)

AI algorithms are becoming more proficient at understanding natural language. Incorporate natural language and semantic SEO strategies into your content creation and optimization efforts. Use relevant keywords, synonyms, and related terms to improve the contextual relevance of your content.

Monitor AI Algorithm Changes

This one is painful. It feels a bit like the hectic monitoring in kite surfing when trying to find perfect conditions. But it’s important to treat the constant updates and changes to search algorithms, particularly those driven by AI, like watching them is your business. After all, your livelihood depends on it. Major search engines often release updates that impact search rankings. Stay informed through industry publications and sites (like Search Engine Journal and Marketing AI Institute ), webmaster forums, and official announcements to adapt your SEO strategies accordingly.

Utilize AI Tools and Analytics

Take advantage of AI-powered tools and analytics platforms to help analyze data, identify trends, and optimize your SEO efforts. These tools can provide valuable insights into user behavior, keyword performance, content optimization, and competitor analysis.

Emphasize Quality Content and Authority

AI algorithms increasingly prioritize high-quality, authoritative content. Focus on creating comprehensive, well-researched, and valuable content that establishes your expertise and addresses user needs. Invest in building your brand reputation through thought leadership, guest blogging, and collaborations with industry influencers.

This is where a lot of businesses are going to fall down. With the ease of AI, many businesses will embrace content written by AI. However, what it is creating is put together (albeit quicker than I ever could) from various sources on the web, making it the opposite of creative, thought-provoking, and unique. Use AI for repetitive content that doesn’t matter (emails, perhaps) but do your own research for the thought industry pieces.

Foster Social Engagement

AI algorithms consider social signals in their ranking algorithms. Encourage social sharing, engagement, and reviews for your content and brand. Build a strong social media presence and leverage social media platforms to amplify your content and connect with your target audience.

Stay Flexible

AI technologies and search algorithms evolve constantly. Stay agile and adaptive in your SEO strategies. Continuously monitor and analyze your SEO performance, adapt to algorithm changes, and experiment with new techniques and tactics as the search landscape evolves. AI will not be “comfortable” for a long time. We have a lot of learning ahead.

It’s important to note that generative language models are not going to produce results for your business in the same way Google does when someone asks for the best ____ in town. But Gen Z is becoming more and more dependent on these AI-generated results. Now is the time to gear up your content, shaping what you want people to know about your business and industry. If your site can rank high enough that an AI uses it when drafting responses, you can begin to shape how customers relate to your goods and services.

Why Workforce Development Is a Big Deal for Small Business

Mon, 22 May 2023 18:25:19 GMT

Many small and medium-sized business owners think that workforce development isn’t in their “lane.” They leave it to the big guys to work with the chamber and community leaders to ensure the large businesses have the skilled employees they need for the future. But unless you are a business of one and plan on remaining that way, workforce development should be a concern of all sizes of businesses. Here’s why you should want to get involved:

Why Small Companies Should Get Involved in Workforce Development

While workforce development may seem like a daunting task for small companies, there are several compelling reasons why they should actively engage in these initiatives:

● Access to a Skilled Workforce: By participating in workforce development activities with the chamber and beyond, small businesses can play a pivotal role in shaping the skills and competencies of the future workforce. This provides them with a pool of well-prepared candidates who can contribute to their growth and success. A single small business isn’t the main employer of the area but collectively, there’s a good chance they are. Workforce development initiatives should consider and incorporate the needs of all employers when possible. The chamber can’t do that if you don’t get involved.

● Enhanced Competitiveness: A highly skilled workforce gives small companies a competitive edge in the marketplace. By investing in employee development, businesses can improve productivity, innovate more effectively, and adapt to industry changes with greater agility. While your company may not have the budget to fund employee development, a workforce development initiative might. Working with leaders in workforce development can help you contribute your voice to the initiative while also benefiting from their programs.

● Talent Retention and Attraction: Workforce development initiatives signal to existing and potential employees that the company and area value employee growth and development. This fosters a positive work environment, boosts employee morale, and increases retention rates. Moreover, small businesses that actively participate in these initiatives become more attractive to job seekers who prioritize professional growth and development. And may help get the small company’s name out there in the job market.

● Building Stronger Networks: Engaging in workforce development activities provides small companies with opportunities to build relationships with educational institutions, industry peers, and other stakeholders. These connections can lead to collaborations, partnerships, and access to valuable resources and knowledge.

While small businesses may have limited resources compared to larger corporations, they have a unique opportunity to make a significant impact on workforce development. By engaging with the chamber of commerce, local educational institutions, industry associations, and larger companies in the area, a small business owner can provide valuable insights into what’s needed in the years ahead. Workforce development is not only crucial for individual companies but also for the overall economic growth and sustainability of the community.

Many small business owners think that as an employer of only a handful of people, their insights aren’t critical to the community’s plans. However, small business often comprises the largest employment segment in the area. Hearing from businesses under 200 employees is just as important as hearing from the largest employer. If small business owners don’t step forward to share their needs, the only ones who will be heard are big businesses and unless you think their employment needs and yours are the same, it’s time to speak up.

4 Ways Copycatting Can Help You Build a Following on Social Media

Mon, 15 May 2023 19:54:48 GMT

Building a following on your desired platform on social media requires a bit of luck but there are some things you can do to help that luck (and other users) find your profile. But sadly, those things probably don’t have a lot to do with your business.

4 Ways Copycatting Can Build a Following on Social Media

Most business owners have tons of ideas for showcasing their goods and services. For those with a sexy brand, viewers eat that up. But you need to get there (to sexy brand status) before talking about yourself will be effective in building an audience. For the time being, go for these ideas below that use things that have already been done. Let’s work on gathering a crowd, so you have someone to talk to and hear your offers.

Give Them Something to Connect With

Think of your target market. How old are they? What gender? What stage of life? Now think about what that person finds amusing. What do they reminisce about or love? What are their sacred cows or what events/pop culture made the biggest impressions? Imagine you’re trying to woo Gen Xers. Take a trip down memory lane (in a Little Red Corvette, perhaps) with videos and posts from the 80s. Ask them questions about what kind of lunch box they carried. What posters did they have on their wall? Did they wear jelly shoes or have a Cabbage Patch Doll? Share what you or your employees remember from the 80s. Post pictures of the 80s. The time of our youth leaves a huge imprint on our lives. Use that power to reach your ideal audience.

Think Bigger

Many people are feeling lost these days. Financial losses, bank collapses, shootings, lots of bad news and it’s hard to always look past it. Be an inspiration. People need that. Talk about something larger than your business. Share life tips. Matthew McConaughey is building an empire providing logical inspiration. You can too even if it’s only in the form of image quotes. People want to be around a proponent of positivity.

Have a Shtick

Being an unusual presence on social media will get you noticed. But one unusual act is not enough to keep people coming back. Take a note from comedians and get a shtick or a gimmick. If you have a successful one, you’ll become known for it. Get on TikTok or Reels and:

· talk about crazy things your spouse asks you to do

· ask deep questions with funny answers or funny questions with deep answers (a funeral director wrote a book about outlandish questions she gets about the dead)

· point out obvious dumb ideas

· dress up your 4-year-old as your high school English teacher and let her give grammar advice.

Most people don’t like change and they bond with the predictability of a shtick. They’ll come back over and over to see what you’re doing next.

Use Pop Culture and Current Affairs

When it comes to building a social media following, don't be afraid to hitch yourself to a wagon and ride that gravy train. There are trends on social media, that everyone jumps on and while you may be thinking--everyone's doing it--do it anyway. If you can't think of a trend to copy after scrolling through your streams, listen to what people are talking about in entertainment monologues on comedic news programs and late-night shows. Try the opening monologue on a show like Saturday Night Live, for instance. If people are talking about it, you want to be too. Don’t forget local issues or frustrations that may be causing people to roll their eyes. If you can make light of it, people will respond.

The only exception to this advice is the topics of religion and politics. You don't want to alienate a potential customer or follower by talking about these divisive topics—with one exception. If you are sure your ideal demographic would enjoy it, then go with it (but keep it positive). Some businesses are closely aligned with political or religious ideologies; and in those cases, addressing taboo topics may actually work for you.

It seems like an oxymoron to tell you that to stand out you should be like everyone else. However, the crowd responds to familiarity, and that creates connections. So, if you can play with something people recognize and yet do it in a way that's all your own, you'll make an impression and build an audience on social media.

4 Ways You Need to Be Using Personalization in Business

Thu, 27 Apr 2023 18:37:15 GMT

No one wants to be a number. But there’s no better way to make those around you feel like one than by applying the same treatment to everyone across the board. Nope, individualization is in and it’s no longer a trend but an expectation thanks to companies like Netflix and Amazon. Through companies making suggestions based on past behavior, customers have now become accustomed to this level of service and knowledge of their preferences.

But “you might also like” suggestions aren’t the only places you should be using personalization and preferences in your business. Implementing them in the following areas will help you better connect with people and help them self-identify your business as one they want to support.

Communications

Allow your customers to decide how they want to hear from you and on what topics. Do they want emails on discounts and texts on flash sales? Maybe they don’t want your newsletter but want coupons. Give them the option to make a selection. Allowing them to choose their favorite kind of communication will increase your open rate because they’re receiving it in a format they like and only the information that is valuable to them.

On the other hand, if you just serve up business communications the same way to everyone, you’ll annoy many subscribers and they may opt out just because they find it tiresome.

Media

Hopefully, you’re using some form of content marketing or producing valuable resources for the things your audience finds interesting. A natural inclination for content producers--thanks to search engines unquenching needs--is to produce written content. And that is important. But your audience may also like video or podcasts. They may like step-by-step visual depictions or graphics.

You can poll them to find out their preference or create resources in all major forms of media and track what gets the most attention and interaction. This information may vary by platform. For instance, video may be your most popular kind of post to Facebook but long articles may be a favorite on your website. Speaking of...

Content Length

There’s a change we’re seeing in written content these days. Articles are becoming lengthier. While it’s still necessary to make it skimmable, search engines and people are looking more for definitive guides on subjects. They don’t want to spend hours researching. They want everything they need to know on the topic in an organized guide. This isn’t hard to produce. For instance, if you’re a CPA and you’re creating content for your audience, you may have created dozens of blog posts over the years on best practices for small business. You’ve likely penned blog posts on smart planning steps, tax deductions no one uses but should, and a million other helpful bits.

Take those and stitch them together into the Definitive Tax Guide for Small Business: 200+ Tax Tips You Didn’t Know You Needed. Your audience should love it and so will Google. Then take each of those tax tips and use them in image quotes on social media. That way people who love lengthy pieces have what they need and those who want bullet points get what they want too.

Employee Gifts and Contributions

Finally, when thinking about your business, don’t forget the needs and desires of your employees. If you’re giving employee gifts or bonuses, remember employees don’t all find value in the same thing. Some people love money, others don’t like the taxes they could be paying on sizeable bonuses. Some like gift cards, others feel like that shows them they’re only worth $25. Allowing them to select how they are rewarded goes a long way to making them feel appreciated.

Many companies are also donating money or employee time through volunteering to charities. If you do this, consider allowing employees to choose how the money is directed or which organizations receive the benefit of their time. It will mean more to them and they’ll be more passionate about the results.

Personalization is no longer a trend but an expectation. Implementing it is a way of connecting and building know, like, and trust. The best way to embrace personalization is by researching and asking those closest to your business what their preferences are. But be aware, if you do, you need to be ready to implement them. No one wants to be asked their opinion just to receive a pat response in return.

4 Types of Questions That Will Get Them Talking on Social Media

Thu, 27 Apr 2023 18:24:13 GMT

Unless you just like wasting a lot of your time, one of the only reasons to be on social media for business is to engage your audience. Maybe you could also argue that it’s to build a larger audience. If that’s the case, engagement is still where you must start. Social media platforms have become increasingly sophisticated and selective in what they show to whom. For that reason, without engagement (or money), you can’t build an audience.

Social media is social. So, before you start wondering how to get more engagement, think about how you would get the attention of someone you wanted to meet and become better friends with offline. First, you would need to create the chance for a meeting. That generally means being in the same locale as they are. The same is true of social media. If your ideal audience is on Facebook, you better be too. If they love Snapchat, guess what your new favorite site is?

After you’ve arranged a meeting, whether scheduled or accidental, you would want to ensure you have an enjoyable conversation. You would do that by doing your research and discovering what things you might have in common and you’d ask them questions about their preferences, likes, hopes, and dreams. The same is true on social media. Asking people questions is the easiest way to get them to engage with you. After all, most people like to share their opinion and long for the validation that social media comments provide.

But what questions should you ask? Certainly not political or religious-based ones (unless that’s crucial to your business). But these days, those types of questions seem to alienate and draw trolls more often than these crowd-building ones I’m about to share.

Have You Ever?

Yes, this type of question comes from a sometimes rowdy party game but it’s also a crowd pleaser. We’ve all seen the memes that list ten or so activities and ask participants to give themselves a point for every activity they’ve never done. They’re fun and often serve as conversation starters. You can do the same with a question. Ask things that won’t start fights like: have you ever watched the sunset and the sun rise during the same 24-hour period? Have you ever binge-watched a whole season of a TV show?

What’s the <Insert Superlative>

Another good type of conversation starter is asking people -est questions. People tend to enjoy topping one another. Questions like: What’s the farthest away you’ve ever traveled? What’s the most embarrassing thing your parent ever said to you? What’s the nicest thing anyone has ever done for you?

This or That?

These questions easily lend themselves to image posts. Ask a comparison questions like pancakes or waffles? Summer or winter? Beach or mountains? Not only can they be engaging but you can also gain some valuable insight from your audience about what they like. You can use this information when creating images and subject lines. Just keep in mind this information is indicative of your social media following and may not reflect your buying audience. Still, it’s a good place to start.

Self-Disclosure

When you begin to build up an engaged audience, you can start asking them self-disclosure questions like what advice would you give your younger self? These types of questions require a little more trust in your site because they dig deeper, but they can also give you good insight into the personalities of those who share.

Remember, questions are a fantastic way to get your audience to engage with you. If you’re asking questions and they aren’t responding, encourage people to use GIFS and emojis. They’re still interacting with you but they’re able to do it in quick ways that don’t require the major time commitment of a lengthy written response. In fact, it’s one their boss may not even notice.

3 Types of Business Stories that Appeal to Millennials

Mon, 24 Apr 2023 20:00:06 GMT

If you’re looking to increase your business sales among Millennials improving your storytelling is a good start. Telling your story effectively imparts a more human side to your business. It’s also memorable and develops an emotional connection between your business and your audience.

Most sales gurus will admit it’s the emotional side of the brain that drives purchasing, so storytelling gets your business where you want to be.

Effective Types of Storytelling for Gen Y

The following types of stories will improve your connection to Gen Y but they should never be used disingenuously. Use what fits your business. Don’t alter your story just to get likes or shares, or customers.

Saving the World

Compared to their cynical Gen X predecessors, at least 39% of Gen Ys polled believe they will do something in their lifetimes that will contribute to the world becoming a better place. Telling a story of how your business connects others and helps them help the world will appeal to this generation.

However, if you’re going to flavor your business story with a saving the world tone, make sure you tell it by how you are helping your customers do it not by your own super powers. Taking a more humble approach will attract this tech-savvy generation. Boldly making heroic claims will turn these uber-eager world changers off.

To Thine Own Selfie be True

It seems contradictory that at the same time they claim to want to make the world a better place, they are also eagerly capturing nearly every breathe they take in selfies. This generation of do-gooders is different than the Boomers in that they see a very individualistic role of how each will save the world. It’s an I will save instead of a we. This doesn’t mean they don’t want to work in group, quite the contrary but they want their individual contributions recognized and lauded.

If you’re looking to appeal to this generation, show them what is in your business, product or service for them. Tell your business story as it involves them and their future success, beauty, or meeting of individual goals. Cast your Gen Y customer as the hero of the story. She’ll take it from there.

A Life Fit for Instagram

Millennials have a strong notion for how life should be. Studies have shown that even though many of them graduated during a very difficult time economically, and many of them remain living with their parents much longer than previous generations, they’re also more apt to spend money on an experience than things. That’s good news for business like coffee houses and restaurants.

Telling your business story as an exciting service or experience will appeal to this group. Lacking in a large income does not discourage them from partaking in the finer aspects of life. They want what they want, which isn’t a starter home or a starter car. Showcase your business as a means to getting the life they want, or as a part of that life, and it will draw this generation in.

If you’ve been looking to reach Gen Y, telling your business story through social media and the Internet will get their attention but you need to use a business approach that they’ll find appealing. In some ways these young people have a lot more figured out. They know it’s important to give back, be kind to yourself, and enjoy life’s adventures while you have the time and interest, even if you don’t have the money.

Is Podcasting Right for Your Business?

Mon, 17 Apr 2023 18:21:51 GMT

Podcasting requires a time commitment. To create a successful podcast you need to make content available on a regular schedule. The most heavily followed podcasts come out on a predictable timeframe and listeners expect that content.

So before we get into the details of examining whether podcasting is right for your business, ask yourself if you're willing to commit to it. To build an audience you need to be.

There are several benefits to podcasting. As in the case of my friend, it is the perfect platform to set yourself up as a well-connected thought leader within your industry. It also allows people to get to know you as you share stories about your own experiences. Finally, there's something inviting about hearing the human voice. It makes us feel like we know someone even if we haven't met them. Hearing their voice creates a more intimate connection than simply reading their words on a web page.

But is podcasting right for your business? Let's examine a few things before deciding:

Is Podcasting Right for Your Business?

According to Edison Research , 51% of Americans have listened to a podcast at least once with 32% of them having listened within the past month (up from 26% last year). While those aren't overwhelming numbers, if your ideal audience is listening, you may have just discovered a way to make them a lot more loyal.

But let's get in to understanding whether podcasting can become a regular part of your marketing by asking these questions:

Does It Fit Your Ideal Demographic?

Since podcasting is a time commitment, you don't want to take it on if it doesn't work to help you achieve your marketing goals. If your ideal demographic does not listen to podcasts, it's likely not a good option for your business. You can figure this out by either doing your research on podcast listeners or asking people within your ideal demographic whether they listen to them or not. Don’t forget to ask if they would be interested in listening to one. Sometimes the fact that they don’t listen is merely because they haven’t found anything interesting.

Do You Have a Sought-after Area of Expertise?

Podcasts naturally fit a business that wants to showcase an area of expertise. However, since no one likes a braggart, it's also important to highlight the successes of others. Whether you do this by bringing on a guest to your podcast or you simply tell their stories for them, a successful podcaster will need to present valuable materials for your audience. That likely means you're going to educate, inspire, and/or entertain them. Is there a subject or topic that your audience is interested in that you could do multiple episodes on?

Do You Have a Niche?

There are hundreds of thousands of podcasts out there. Unless you have famous names involved breaking through clutter can be a challenge. One of the easiest ways to do that if you don’t have a celebrity host is to offer something nobody else does. Before creating any podcast go out to iTunes and do some preliminary research. For example, if your business is a marketing agency and you're considering doing a marketing podcast, go out there and look at what marketing podcasters are currently doing.

Does your podcasting plan fall along the lines of something that's already being done? If so, you may want to reconsider or find a new angle or niche. Instead of doing a generic marketing advice podcast you may decide you have a lot to say about different ways to help businesses market themselves for free. You could provide excellent information every week on all the ways that businesses can leverage free resources.

Get creative with your niche. The more specific a solution you can provide, the more likely you will have dedicated fans quickly.

Are You Willing and Able to Market It?

Again, the competition is steep (in some industries) with a lot of people already participating. Niching will help you stand out from the crowd but you'll still need to market your podcast. Marketing will likely include a mix of social media blitzes, email campaigns, website write-ups, and referral marketing.

If you interview people for your podcast you can ask them to help get the word out about their episode or the podcast in general. You can also contact influencers and ask them to listen and give you their feedback.

If you can't commit to the timing and work behind podcasting, but you love the idea of providing information in that format, you may want to look into creating flash briefings for the Amazon Alexa. These are micro tips that users can play through Alexa or the Alexa app. They're perfect for quick hit ideas that may fit your business better than a longer podcast.

Even if it's not ideal for you now, keep it in mind for the future. All that’s standing between you and an 80% increase in business may be figuring out your podcasting niche.

5 Ways to Improve (or Build) Team Culture in Your Small Business

Mon, 10 Apr 2023 18:35:57 GMT

Many small businesses overlook the importance of team culture. They might do so because they feel they have a transient workforce and people won’t stick around. It’s possible they believe they’re simply too small and team culture is for larger companies like Nike. But that’s not the case. A team or company culture is as important as your brand. You’re not too small for one of those, are you?

Why Team Culture Is Important to Small Business

Team culture is important in small business because it shapes the attitudes, behaviors, and interactions of employees within the group. A strong team culture can create a sense of unity and shared purpose among employees, which can lead to increased productivity, satisfaction, and revenue.

In a small business, the actions of every team member can have a significant impact on the success of the business. When employees share a common set of values and goals, they are more likely to work together effectively in achieving those goals. A strong team culture creates a supportive work environment that encourages collaboration, creativity, and innovation.

A strong culture can also help you attract and retain top talent. When employees feel they are part of a team that values their contributions and supports their growth and development, they are more likely to feel engaged and committed to their work. This, in turn, can lead to higher job satisfaction and employee retention rates. Even if you operate a seasonal business, employees who like your culture will return on their breaks and/or refer you to others looking for work. Plus, satisfied employees always provide better service.

How Do You Build (or Improve) Team Culture?

So how do you build a strong team culture in a small business? It’s easier than you think. You just need to focus on five areas of importance:

1. Defining business values and goals

2. Hiring the right people

3. Encouraging good communication and valuing input

4. Recognizing and rewarding success

5. Leading by example

Defining Business Values and Goals

Knowing who you want to be is the first step to building your company culture. Without this critical piece, you are putting your car together while you’re driving down the road. Not ideal, and likely to cause more confusion and inefficiency than if you took the time initially to put it all together beforehand. That’s not to say you can’t create or rework values and goals as an established business, but you’ll save yourself headache if you do it upfront.

After you have established your core values and goals, communicate those to your employees and your customers. This will help people know what’s important to you and what you stand for. Making your values and goals public will attract the type of people who like these things about you and identify with them.

Hiring the Right People

Hiring and training are some of the most expensive parts of your business. When you make a bad hire, you not only struggle to have them do the work, but you run the risk of their attitude or bad practices infecting the rest of your employees. Before you hire anyone, be clear on the kind of attributes you want in an employee. Sometimes an empty seat is better than one filled by the wrong person.

After you hire, remember the words of Perry Belcher, co-founder of DigitalMarketer.com, “Nothing will kill a good employee faster than watching you tolerate a bad one.”

Encouraging Open Communication

For your team to work together effectively, you want them to feel secure and welcome to bring up issues, congratulations, feedback, and any other kind of communication. You can do this by being easy to get in touch with and setting up regular communication channels. Find out how your employees like to communicate. If texting is their preference, so be it. Make sure you (and other levels of leadership, if you have them) are approachable.

When employees come to you with a concern or feedback, listen to them and respond to what they have to say. You may want to create an avenue where they can provide anonymous feedback too.

Recognizing and Rewarding Success

Recognition and reward are important to any high-performance team but what type of recognition/reward is valued by each employee varies. Understand what makes them happy. If you employ high school kids or college students, money and gift card rewards could be large motivators for them. If your employees have a family, a bonus day off may be a bigger draw. Make recognition a regular practice even if it’s just small recognitions you give. Everyone wants to feel appreciated.

Lead by Example

You (and your leadership) should be working examples of the team culture. You must model desired behaviors and encourage growth and development. If your team doesn’t see you doing the things you ask of them, it will erode the trust they have in you and discount what you say. For instance, if you stress the importance of work/life balance but they never see you go home, they’ll have a hard time believing you mean it.

Building a memorable team culture is an ongoing commitment. It will help you attract the right employees and customers. Being without a team culture is like deciding your business doesn’t need a brand. How will people recognize you without one?

Your Website May Be Killing Business If…

Mon, 03 Apr 2023 17:45:51 GMT

A website is one of the most potent marketing tools you have. It’s open when your best sales person is asleep and represents you even when your doors are closed. It can help you sell to people who have never been to your town, your state, or even your country. That’s why it is essential that your website represents the best of your business and serves as a sales tool and resource center for your audience.

There are a number of “gurus” out there who will tell you the best way to set up your site but the only thing that matters is how your audience uses it. You’re helping your competition if you’re:

Not Using the Important Space for What Interests Your Audience

Your most valued website real estate is your home page, specifically what people in the publishing business call “above the fold.” In the digital world that means the part of the homepage web visitors see without scrolling down. The size of the space differs on devices (speaking of which your website must be mobile responsive at this point. Here’s why. ), but the general rule of thumb is your most important information goes at the top. Please note: this should be the most important information for your audience, not what you see as the most important. You may think your tripled earnings for this quarter are pretty fantastic but your audience is probably more interested in what you have to offer them.

Not Telling Your Audience to Do Something

Call to actions are incredibly important. They dictate next steps of, ideally, how you’d like your visitor to behave. They don’t have to be salesy, and it’s probably best if they aren’t, until visitors get further interested in you and your offerings. They could be as simple as “Read More” or “Learn More” buttons.

If you don’t give your audience next steps, they may decide the little “x” in the upper right hand corner is a best next step. Don’t miss out on an opportunity to get them more engaged with your business and your content.

Making Customers Hunt for Information

What are the most common questions potential customers ask you? Is it your store hours? Maybe it’s your specialty. Whatever the question, that information should be easy to obtain without clicking through multiple pages. No one has the time or inclination to hunt for what they need. If you don’t serve it up easily, there’s somewhere else they can get it, and you can bet they will.

Loading Slowly

If your site loads slowly you are not only providing potential customers with a bad user experience but Google will penalize you too. Make sure you don’t have anything on your site that’s slowing things down. If your site appears slow on a high-speed business line imagine what home users are experiencing.

Making It All About You

Your website should be a resource for potential customers. It should provide all the necessary information about your business but the focus should be on answering customer questions and solving their problems. If you provide content that answers questions about your services/products or the industry you work in, or you offer content that entertains, people have a reason to return. Return visits and sharing your content will make Google more interested in your site, which means higher rankings, more organic traffic, and less expensive ad words.

Your website should be a resource for your audience and a sales engine for you. With the right materials placed properly you can create a vehicle that moves visitors along the sales pipeline, while providing them a much needed service with valuable content. The most important thing about your website are your customers. Keep them in mind with all web designs and alterations, and in your content creation, and you’ll have a strong web presence.

AI for Business: Bewares and Boasts

Mon, 27 Mar 2023 21:48:02 GMT

AI for Business: Bewares and Boasts

Practical ways to use it in business and what to avoid

At first glance, especially for people who have trouble writing or have difficulty starting out and collecting their thoughts at a keyboard, AI can feel like the smartest kid in the class offering to do your homework for free, forever. It seems like a huge win and I’m not saying it isn’t. But there are a few things you should be aware of as well as some tasks it does tremendously well that could save you a lot of time and energy.

AI “Doesn’t Always Get It Right”

Google’s new Bard (AI) issued this statement to all users, “Bard will not always get it right.
Bard may give inaccurate or inappropriate responses. When in doubt, use the ‘Google it’ button to check Bard’s responses.” This is true of all AI. AI is not a sentient being. It gets its answers and content by crawling the web and condensing information. Sometimes that can cause problems.

It doesn’t:

· Fact check or verify stats and attributions/citations

· Sift out bad info (if that information is mentioned in a variety of places)

· Have any vested interest in producing SEO-rich content for you (unless you use an AI program that is created for that)

· Know what your audience responds to

AI Has Different Levels of Sophistication

There are many free options out there as well as AI/bot starters where you can build your own “in minutes.” It’s important to know that each one has different capabilities and claims—some have a plagiarism detector, for instance, so you needn’t worry about the copy it creates for you being flagged as duplicate content.

It’s Only as Good as What You Feed It

The real benefit of using AI lies in its ability to create content in a fraction of the time it takes for a human to write it. Even talented writers using dictation software or ones blessed with 100+ words per minute typing skills, can’t research and write a 300-word blog post in a minute.

But the content is only as good as the instructions you give it. For instance, if you were producing a blog post about Golden Retrievers, as a dog walker your blog would be different than that of a dog breeder/dog show participant, which would be different still from a vet’s perspective written for other vets. The level of sophistication and knowledge is different for each of those audiences. You will need to express that in the directions you provide the AI if you want a good piece of content that fits the needs and understanding of your audience.

AIs Struggle with Same Names

When I asked Google’s AI Bard what Bard does really well as research for this article, it responded with things that a bard/storyteller excels at, not what it does. (However, when I asked “what do you do well?,” it provided a satisfactory answer.

So, if your business shares a name with something else or you’re using a play on words or employing a name/word in a different context, the program may not produce helpful results.

5 Things AI Does Well

Now that you know what to watch out for, let’s cover a few things it does really well. Using AI for these things can save you lots of time.

1. Help you brainstorm. If you’re rewriting your business tagline and you have part of it but can’t think of the perfect ending, try giving an AI writer a prompt such as, “help me finish my <insert type of business> tagline <insert what you have so far>.

2. Come up with invite language. Basic invite language is a breeze for AIs. Canva has one built in.

3. Write simple emails or letters. Creating form letters can be a pain but not with AI. Feed it the necessary info and you can move on to a better use of your time.

4. Create an org chart. Provide your positions and it will give you what you need.

5. Produce content without colorful language. Many writers lament that the content AI creates is boring. It lacks colorful language and stories. While it can create stories for you, it won’t add a story example to a blog post. However, “boring” is not always bad. If you want to create content that lacks biased language AI might be the way to go. Don’t ditch your editor yet but I have not come across any use of language bias when employing an AI assistant.

Is using AI right for you and your business? Perhaps. But keep in mind, it is a tool, not an additional employee. It can produce content in a fraction of the time, but it requires oversight. It does not always generate content ready to be used as is. If you envision what it creates as a starting point product like how a sous chef does the prep work for a top chef, you have a good understanding of how you might use it in your business.

3 Easy Things to Help You Attract More Customers for Your Business

Mon, 20 Mar 2023 22:05:05 GMT

Starting a new business is difficult under the best circumstances. But in today's economic climate, it's difficult to make a name for yourself when most people are trying desperately to cut back on expenses. Yet, you shouldn’t get discouraged. There are easy (and free) ideas out there that can help. Here are three tips to bring in more customers as a brand-new business.

First, a “new business” is generally a business that has existed for less than a year. However, if you're still struggling to make a name for yourself but you've been in business for several years, these tips still apply.

Tip #1: Spend Time Working on Your Business Every Day

What you should be doing depends on the type of business you’re in. But generally, there are skills that all new businesspeople need. For instance, digital marketing. Digital marketing and social media marketing are two of the least expensive forms of marketing and they’re ideal for getting your name out there. However, these forms of marketing can feel alien if all you've ever used social media to do is share pictures of your vacations and pets. If you don't have a good grasp on how to develop know, like, and trust using digital platforms, this is one of the first things you'll want to work on. There are many free online resources to help you learn.

If you are well-versed in marketing, there are still other areas of your business that you could spend time on such as market research, researching your competition, exploring the needs of new demographics, understanding your ideal customer's needs, outlining goals, and learning what you need to know from other businesses in your area.

Make a list of the things you think are critical to your business and write out the components/steps you need to learn. Then take this list and assign each item an amount of time you think it would take to either research or learn what you need to know about it. Keep this list next to where you work. That way when you have downtime in your business you can immediately start on the smaller tasks on your list. You will have interruptions so keep a notebook nearby (or do it electronically). In it, detail what you've learned and where so you can easily go back to your research/resources and continue where you left off once you’re able to.

Tip #2: Learn to Sell

Selling can be one of the most intimidating things about starting a new company, especially if you're an introvert. Talking about your business feels like talking about yourself and most of us were raised not to brag. However, talking about your products or services is not bragging.

It's easier to sell if you think of yourself as doing your customer a favor. They have a problem; you're a problem solver. Go into each customer interaction with that mentality. You are here to help. Doing so will not only make you feel more comfortable but your potential customers as well. People respond to those they believe have their best interests at heart. Pushy salespeople are no longer effective. Helpfulness motivates sales.

Tip #3: Consider What Your Audience Doesn't Know and Educate Them on It

If you're fortunate, buyers understand what you're offering and know why they need it. However, with most businesses, this is not the case. Even in established businesses, there's an element of education that is required.

Why you and not the other business down the street?

What makes your product or service unique?

Video is an incredible medium for addressing these questions. You want customers to know, like, and trust you. People are more apt to trust someone they can see. That way, they can read body language and feel more at ease with positive facial expressions. You should use all types of content, but video is especially valuable for new businesses trying to get their name (and face) out there. Don’t worry if you hate the way you look on video. There’s a filter that can help.

Finally, if you're a new business and you're trying to build a loyal customer base, one of the easiest ways to get the word out is to join your chamber. The chamber staff knows businesspeople as well as local leaders. The chamber can make helpful introductions and make suggestions based on their experience working in your community. Most people are surprised when they find out the number of inquiries chambers receive. Visitors and new residents often stop at the chamber to learn more about the town they're in. In addition to working on your business, adopting a helpful approach, and educating your audience, partnering with the chamber is an important part of any sales and marketing strategy for a new business.

4 Reasons You Need to Get Involved with the Chamber Today

Mon, 13 Mar 2023 21:49:49 GMT

Businesses join the chamber of commerce for several reasons. Years ago, it may have been expected; just something you did when you opened a business and wanted to be in good standing in the community.

But these days it’s more likely a business joins because there is a direct advantage to them personally. Maybe they wanted a ribbon cutting or need the advocacy or wanted a marketing opportunity that membership allowed them.

Yes, there are many reasons to join the chamber and tons of benefits your business can receive from membership. But aside from simply writing a check and receiving a set of benefits, there are reasons why you should become personally involved with the local chamber of commerce.

Plus, the chamber extends its benefits to all of your employees so you can use chamber membership benefits as employee benefits. Share this with them as well.

4 Reasons to Get Involved with the Chamber

Let’s place the advocacy, marketing, advertising, and public relations benefits of chamber membership on the back burner. This article is about what the chamber can do for you and your employees specifically, not the business. Yes, the chamber can bring more attention to your business, which can create more sales opportunities, but these benefits and this personal involvement are things that can help you outside of the business.

Education Opportunities

The chamber has a number of education opportunities where you can learn about important matters sometimes for free (or at a very low cost). Chamber webinar topics may include things like diversity, how to excel in social media, and economic interests in your area. They can help you become a more well-rounded professional, change careers, or get up-to-date on important topics in the community.

Leadership Experience

The chamber offers a lot of opportunities to volunteer for different committees or events. You may find a volunteer position in a subject that interests you like women leaders, diversity, workforce development, or marketing. Not only can these volunteer positions be added to your resume, but volunteering could also help you meet people with similar interests and help you grow your professional network. Speaking of…

Networking

Getting involved with the chamber can help you meet more people and grow your professional network and make friendships. Even in communities where social gatherings are still mostly virtual, chambers have networking sessions to help you stay connected.

Business Expansion and Hidden Opportunities

As you grow your network, you may learn of additional business possibilities that you could add to your business or you could use to launch a new one. You may learn of seed money, grants, SBA funding, or private opportunities.

Often business deals get made before anything is formally published or requested. Being personally involved in the chamber may help you be a part of those types of discussions and make you aware of opportunities before they become public.

The same may be true of the hidden job market. A contact may tell you they’re looking for someone before posting it on a job site, giving you the advantage.

Chamber benefits for your business are amazing. They can really help you increase your number of customers and get your name out there. But those aren’t the only benefits. If you get involved individually, there are many benefits to your professional growth and career. Plus, those benefits can be given to all of your employees too. That can be a real selling point for someone looking for a great company culture.

How to Find a Complementary Business to Help Yours Grow

Mon, 06 Mar 2023 21:47:24 GMT

If you’re a small- to medium-sized business that is trying to carve out a place for itself in a competitive market, you want to differentiate yourself from the competition. One way to do that is to offer something no one else is doing. You can create a new product or service or go after an untapped market. But if you’ve already tried all of those and you’re looking for something else, it’s time to find the peanut butter to your chocolate or the peas to your carrots.

Partnering with another business can help you both offer something to your markets that neither has seen. Here are three ways to find your perfect complementary business so you both can profit.

Finding the Ideal Business Collaboration

If you’re old enough, you may remember the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup commercials that showed two people enjoying very different snacks—one a chocolate bar and one a jar of peanut butter. Inevitably the two collided, one had chocolate in their peanut butter, and one claimed to have peanut butter on their chocolate. But either way, a scrumptious dessert was born. The same can be true of your business.

You don’t need a formalized partnership with stakes in one another’s business. Instead, you can create special collaborations, offers, or referrals that are mutually beneficial to the businesses and your audiences.

Brainstorm Businesses That Fit Yours Like Peanut Butter and Chocolate

Make a list of businesses that provide a complementary service or product that you don’t offer but would benefit your target market. Ideally, the collaboration between you and this business should create something that other businesses aren’t doing. For instance, a bar that doesn’t serve food may pair up with a food truck to provide bar patrons with easy access to food while food truck aficionados can enjoy an alcoholic drink. Since some food trucks have sizable followings giving them access to your parking lot or a place to park can bring in new customers for you as well.

Think About What Your Customers Want

Building on that, make a list of what you hear customers asking for that you don’t currently do/offer. Take that list and decide whether those ideas make sense for your business. You can then decide to offer a new product or service line based on those customer requests, or you can collaborate with someone who has already created a successful business doing those things. For instance, if you own a gym, you could create a juice bar on-site or offer a healthy menu planning service. You could also work with someone to fill those needs. Here too there are options. You can rent some of your space to that business or create an affiliate or referral program so your gym members receive discounts for those other products or services at the other business’ location.

Decide What Is Stopping Customers From Buying

Is there something that is prohibiting potential customers from buying from you? What is the wall to purchase? Identify what is holding people back and solve it through collaboration. For instance, if you sell something large like furniture but you don’t offer delivery, partnering with a delivery or moving company may increase your sales. Some people don’t have the means (strength or room) to bring a large item home. But you may not want the headache of employing movers and covering the insurance. A partnership of this kind can benefit everyone.

Business collaborations can help your business, the collaborator’s business, and (both of) your markets. By understanding what your customers need and want, as well as what holds them back from buying, you can create a satisfactory collaboration that benefits everyone and serves to separate you from your competition. This way, you’ll gain exposure to a new market or additional customers as well as improve business relationships. If you’re not sure how to make connections with other businesses, contact your chamber. They can put you in touch with someone looking to grow in a similar way.

7 Ways to Know It's Time to Raise Prices

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 17:56:21 GMT

The tongue and cheek answer to this question is that it's time to raise prices when your revenue is no longer covering your expenses.

But don't ever wait that long!

Instead, you'll want to raise prices long before your business revenue is causing you to have sleepless nights.

Here are 7 ways to know it's time:

First, as the business owner, it is within your discretion to raise them at any time. Some businesses raise them every year, some like grocery stores or gas stations, raise them whenever supply and demand require it. But if you're one of those businesses that hasn't raised them in over a year, I'm talking to you.

Consider the following:

The Market Supports It

If your product or services are on the lower end of a bell curve, it benefits you to raise them. While you may believe low price differentiates your business from the competition, so does going out of business. Do some research to see what others are charging. You can still stay on the lower end but never be the lowest.

Your Services or Offerings Have Changed

Sometimes the market dictates that you bring additional services under your umbrella or the industry embraces doing things in a different way than when you first started your business. Maybe your products are more heavily regulated or maybe the process you take requires more steps. If something has changed, and you're offering more, you can charge more.

You Offer More Value Than the Competition

Everyone wants a good price but you can price yourself too low. If you do, it will begin to affect the way in which people view you and the quality of your services and offerings. Think about the value you offer your customers then price your goods and services accordingly.

Your Target Market Has Changed

Think about car manufacturing businesses. Most have an economy line/brand and a luxury brand. They're owned by the same parent company and sometimes even use the same chassis in their designs but their market is different. If you are rebranding and want to enter a new market, like making the switch to a luxury brand, you will have to price your goods or services accordingly.

You're Getting New Brochures

If you include pricing in your brochures and you're ready to do a print run, consider your business pricing. You'll save yourself some money if you increase prices and then run your brochures with the new pricing.

You've Hit Your Production Ceiling

Whether we're talking goods or services, if you can't produce any more in the time you have or with the money that you have, you've reached a revenue ceiling. If you're content with your current salary at that revenue ceiling, don't raise prices. If you're not, do the research and start thinking about it. You'll either need to do that or change your offerings in some way.

You Offer Something Nobody Else Does in a Way No One Else Can

There are plenty of entrepreneurs out there who have cornered the market doing something no one else wants to touch. For instance, a street sweeper at the turn of last century could make a good living removing horse manure from the streets and selling it to farmers. It's an icky job but one with little competition. If you have a niche like that, congratulations. Now name your price. If you don't, you can always consider what you could do to drill down to find a need in the market and become the only "street sweeper" out there.

While no one wants to hear of a price increase, most customers expect it at some point. If you fail to meet their expectations, eventually they will wonder why you are priced so much lower than everyone else. And the bias around "getting what you pay for" will negatively influence their views on your services.

10 Examples of Business Videos You Should Be Making

Mon, 20 Feb 2023 22:32:43 GMT

Video is the new black.

More than ever before, people are turning to video to learn how to do things from solving complex math equations to playing video games. In order to capture a portion of the video-viewing audience, you need to think about different ways in which you can start using video for your own business.

Today’s Video Is More Than Just Commercials

Only a few years ago, when video marketing first started taking off, video was largely promotional. Commercials, tours of your company, services you provided, and other promotional ideas were all the rage only a short time ago.

Today’s business video has evolved. What audiences are looking for now is entertainment, education, and inspiration. If you’re not providing that in video form, they’re likely ignoring you.

Modern Video Ideas for Your Business

YouTube is the second largest search engine outside of Google. It’s bigger than Yahoo, Bing, and AOL combined as it processes over 3 billion searches a month.

A key to getting found is the content of your videos (and how they’re tagged). Today’s video viewers are looking to learn something, be entertained, or walk away feeling a need to take action. Here are a few ideas on how you can do that with your business video.

Information/Education

As mentioned earlier, a large number of people are performing searches on YouTube to find out targeted information. They have a need or a question, and YouTube videos provide their answers. Keep this in mind when creating videos for your business.

Video content ideas include:

● How to use your product or answering popular questions about it

● How to succeed in your industry

● How to create something with your product (Sharpie markers has a slew of user-made videos you can reference.)

● TedX-type discovery videos

Entertainment

Entertaining your audience is another great way to get shares and engagement with your videos. Some businesses create entertaining videos that have very little to do directly with their product or service.

Entertaining video is probably the most popular type of video on Facebook. Queue the cat reel. Keep in mind, fewer people would search for how-to videos on Facebook than they would on YouTube.

Video content ideas for entertainment include:

● Telling your ideal audience’s stories. Check out Converse’s All the Stories Are True videos.

● Video challenges. There are tons of them out there but two of the most famous are the Ice Bucket Challenge and Police Lip Sync Challenge.

● New uses for your product or service no one thought about (try a little humor).

Inspiration

Inspirational video is the type of thing that evokes emotion and a desire for action. There are millions of them on Facebook and YouTube.

Video content ideas that inspire include:

● Sharing your favorite cause with the community.

● Telling your career story. What made you want to go into the business you chose? Or share a struggle you encountered along the way.

● Sharing your 10 greatest customer moments.

These are just a few ideas to get you started on different ways of looking at video for your business. Viewer habits are moving away from heavy commercial type videos. They’re looking for something to inspire, entertain, or educate them. Your audience is searching for video that will help them solve a problem or teach them a way to do something.

This type of search is very much ingrained in the younger generation. They think to go to YouTube first when learning a new skill, sometimes even before “Googling” it.

Are you prepared to meet this growing demand for video?

4 Valuable Things You Can Share with Your Business Audience

Mon, 13 Feb 2023 21:10:52 GMT

Becoming a resource for your customers or clients is one of the first steps to gaining their trust and helping them think of you when they need assistance. If they know, like, and trust you they’re more apt to do business with you. But what type of content can you share to accomplish this? And how can you become a resource for them on the Internet?

Sharing worthwhile content means knowing your audience and who you’re trying to reach. For instance, sharing tips for how to cook a succulent steak isn’t going to establish your business as a resource for vegans. But sharing the same old same old industry information can get boring for your audience and for you. Here are a few things you might not have thought to share:

Something That Has Saved You Time

Most people are incredibly busy these days. Hacks and productivity time savers are very popular things to share. When you can add an individualized touch to it, having had experience with the tool, service, or app; people will be much more interested.

A Funny Story

Humor has a way of connecting people. If you’re not sure how to share humor by telling a funny story, watch a stand-up comedian’s routine (the family-friendly kind). Notice that they talk about things we can all relate to. Think about Jerry Seinfeld. He simply points out the obvious. Watch Dana Carvey’s early stuff about his kids. These masters of comedy share things that are common human experiences. You can do the same. Humor is relatable and relating to someone helps them get to know you, which is critical to building the know, like, and trust that leads to more sales.

A Product, Service or Membership You Love

It’s the golden rule, right? Do unto others… If there’s something you’ve tried and loved, why not share it with your tribe? Even if it’s not directly related to your business. Here’s why. First, you’re making another business owner or staff feel good. You’re sending on a compliment. If they listen on social media, there’s a chance they’ll see it and, at the very least, check you out. In order help ensure this, link to their site or tag them in the post. You’re also assisting your tribe because you’re sharing something you found worthwhile. And finally, people appreciate those who aren’t always talking about themselves.

A Helpful Reminder

Is there something your audience is interested in? Perhaps the hours of the local fireworks display? Even if the interest does not directly have anything to do with your business, you can share it as a resource. Ever notice when you find someone who seems to be in the know you turn to them for help on things that aren’t even directly associated with them? Maybe you sought out your favorite teacher for career advice when you were younger and that career advice had nothing to do with their specialty. You likely did so because you trusted them and valued their opinion. You can become the same valuable resource for your community.

Sharing content that your audience needs is an incredible way to build loyalty and top of mind recognition. Just remember it needn’t all be business related. Being a community resource is an even better way to build connections than sharing solely about the product or service you offer.

DOES MY BUSINESS NEED BRAND AMBASSADORS AND HOW DO I GET THEM?

Mon, 06 Feb 2023 18:19:58 GMT

Any size business can benefit from a group of loyal customers who sing its praises. You just need to know how to motivate them and give them something to talk about.

Steps to Creating a Successful Brand Ambassadors Program

1. Decide What You Want

As with most marketing strategies, you want to figure out your goals. Are you looking for more shares on social media? Do you want people who will try your new products or services and talk about them with their friends? Do you want to increase reviews on online sites? You need to know what it is that you want from them before you start recruiting.

2. Know Who You Want

Your brand ambassadors will represent your company, so give careful thought as to who you want that to be. They should represent your ideal customer. One of the biggest mistakes businesses make is in believing that being all things to all people will mean more sales. Drilling down to your ideal customer is a much more effective approach because you can talk directly to them and their challenges.

Selecting the wrong demographic for your ambassadors can minimize sales. For instance, if you’re trying to create a very on-trend teen brand, using middle-aged mom brand ambassadors won’t match your brand. It may inspire more moms to want to foot the bill for your fashions, but it will mean less teens want to wear them.

3. Recruit Based on Goals

How you recruit brand ambassadors is based largely on your goals. For instance, you’ll recruit bloggers by reaching out directly to influencers who match your ideal customers. An idea for mass recruitment is to run contests or sweepstakes to be part of the ambassadors’ group. Creating exclusivity around it will increase sign-ups.

If you have a small, relatively unknown business reach out to your most loyal customers and let them know you’re putting together an exclusive group and you’d like them to be a part. Be specific about what’s in it for them such as special member preview sales, discounts, swag, etc.

4. Provide Frictionless Ways to Help Them Do What You Ask

Whatever it is you’re asking them to do, make it easy on them. If it’s a social media ambassador program, give them a content round-up of your most popular content, making it easy for them to share to their networks. If it’s blogger outreach you’re doing, give them exclusive opportunities to review new services or products ahead of everyone else.

5. Give Them Something Too

You don’t want your brand ambassador program to turn into a pay-to-play situation. That’s not ethical and doesn’t sit well with an audience knowing there was an exchange of goods and services for whatever they’re providing you. However, since they are doing you a favor, you should find ways to delight them as well. For instance, send them special “insider” swag. Comment on and circulate their content. Make an introduction that you know will be of use to them. Find little ways to increase their loyalty by being a good business “friend.”

Why All Businesses Need Brand Ambassadors

Brand ambassadors can provide an amazing service to any size business because word-of-mouth marketing is among the most powerful kind. People believe other customers, even if they’ve never met them. A successful brand ambassadors’ program can increase customer loyalty, but only if you meet their needs as well. Having a team of ambassadors should never be solely about your business. Give them a reason to want to help you by helping them.

6 Steps to Starting a Business

Mon, 30 Jan 2023 22:55:25 GMT

6 Steps to Starting a Business

63% of people in their twenties want to be their own boss, according to a 2013 University of Phoenix study. And while it’s arduous work, the lure of the freelance and entrepreneurial culture these days is incredibly strong. Some people are called to it with a unique idea or talent, while others spend years mulling over what kind of business they want to start.

It always surprises me when people are more in love with the idea of “a business” than “the business.” Many these days know they want to be entrepreneurs long before they have the idea that will help them become one. But if you’re ready, here’s how you can begin your path to business ownership.

Find Your Product

Many people decide on a product or service and then try to find a market to sell it to. This makes the process a lot more difficult. Instead, do some market research and find an underserved market or niche and ask yourself what they need. Knowing their challenge will help you solve their problem. Solve it and you have loyal customers and fewer marketing difficulties.

Create a Business Plan

Now that you know what you want to do or sell, figure out the details of how you’re going to set up a business around it. It will be impossible to get any sort of funding without a solid plan so start here first. A business plan is like the architectural blueprints of the structure, operations, and growth plan of your business.

If you’re completely lost about how to go about putting that together, seek out the help of the Small Business Administration (SBA), your local economic development organization, or your chamber of commerce. These groups can assist you in gathering materials and ensuring you’re doing what needs to be done.

Raise the Money

Funds are critical to a business start-up. Decide where they’re going to come from. Most business owners self-fund in the beginning. You can do this by using your own savings, asking friends and family to contribute, or borrowing the money. Some turn to sites like Kickstarter. Others will approach Angel Investors. The SBA, economic development council, incubation labs, and local chamber of commerce are all good places to ask about resources. They won’t be able to fund your pursuits, but they will know the options available.

Understand Legal Protections and Taxes

There are some legal protections for businesses. Discuss them with a professional to decide which one is best for you. You’ll also want to check out what local requirements there are to register your business as well as the fees, licenses, permits, and taxes you’ll pay. You’ll be well served to set aside money for your quarterly taxes, so you’re not surprised by your taxes owed at the end of the year. A tax professional who specializes in small business can help answer your questions.

When you register your business with the state you’ll need to select your business name. You’ll also need to get an employer identification number (EID) and its possible your state will require a tax ID as well.

Think About Location

Today there are a million options when it comes to the location of your business. Brick and mortar is still an option but if you don’t have the start-up costs for rent, you can do a lot online. Decide whether you will have a physical location or operate out of your home. There are also services that can act as your physical office space when you need it for things like meetings. Virtual assistants can answer your phones to make your operations seem larger than they are while you grow.

Track Everything

When you meet with your tax professional have them give you an abbreviated course in what’s deductible from a business perspective and what isn’t. Then make sure you implement a system to track it all. This will make life around tax time a lot easier for you and/or your accountant. It will also help you optimize your deductions. One thing your tax professional may suggest is opening a business bank account, so you’ll have a better way to track revenue and out-going expenses.

If you’re ready to start a business, your local chamber should be one of your first steps. Think of it as a one-stop shop for all your business needs. They can help you with marketing ideas and connections. No one knows the business community better than your chamber. Make an appointment to see them today.

7 of the Best TED Talks for Small Business

Mon, 23 Jan 2023 20:50:56 GMT

One of the hardest things about running a business is finding the resources you need – be it human resources, financial resources, or educational resources. There's no question you know your product, service or industry but what do you know about running a business or social media, or marketing, or sales? And how has it changed since you last learned it all?

Finding good quality (inexpensive) learning resources to keep you at the top of your industry can mean the difference between success and struggle. A chamber membership is a great investment for your professional and business development as is some time spent absorbing the innovative ideas of others. TED talks are an amazing opportunity to learn (on your schedule) from a few of the brightest minds in our world. Best of all, the talks are free.

Here is a list of some of the best TED talks for small business owners:

Got a Wicked Problem? First Let Me Tell You How to Make Toast

This 10-minute video from Tom Wujec presents a basic activity with interesting insights into business teams and processes, asking people to visually represent how they make toast. He discusses how different teams approach the activity from their own center – people, process or technology. The video provides some nice insight into people’s thinking and what they consider to be the most important part of the toast-making process.

How Great Leaders Inspire Action

If you’ve never watched this powerful 20-minute video by Simon Sinek , turn off your email, let your calls go to voicemail, and watch. Now. In it he talks about how people don’t buy your product, they buy the “why” behind what you do. Do you know your why? You’ll be thinking about it after watching this.

How to Make a Splash in Social Media

If you don’t have a lot of time, here’s a 4-minute gem from Alexis Ohanian (Reddit) on becoming a hit in social media. Even though it’s from 2009, it’s still a funny story.

What Makes Us Feel Good About Our Work?

The 20-minute talk from Dan Ariely provides good insight into what satisfies us, and it’s not money. Knowing the secret to inspiring work is something most small business owners understand but if you need an encouraging boost, check this out.

3 Ways to (Usefully) Lose Control of Your Brand

If you think you own your company’s brand, think again. With social media and public access to broad audiences, it’s the customer who controls the brand now. This six and a half minute video by Tim Leberecht reminds us of this and shows us how to gracefully accept it.

Looking Past Limitations

This video isn’t about business, per se , but Caroline Casey’s ability to get past her own limitations are sure to inspire you. It’s worth a watch just to hear about her interesting childhood.

This is Broken

Marketing genius Seth Godin talks about what works in business and what’s broken, in his unusual, funny way. His commentary will make you look at your business, and customer experience, from a different lens.

What Does It Mean to Be a Chamber Member

Mon, 23 Jan 2023 20:44:00 GMT

Traditionally, a chamber of commerce was a membership organization that supports the interests of its business members. It is not affiliated with the government, nor is it a charity. The chamber is separate from the Better Business Bureau. Now that we’ve explained the traditional notion of chamber membership, let’s dive into what it means to be a member of a chamber of commerce today. If you think chambers are outdated, it’s time you take another look.

As a chamber member, you are represented by a powerful organization. Because they are not government-affiliated, chambers weather the political storms, cannot get voted out of office, and always represent the business community. And since healthy communities are good places to work with strong employment opportunities, a chamber helps all members of a community.

Chamber members are a critical part of the following work in your community.

What Does it Mean to be a Chamber Member?

There is a long list of benefits to chamber membership. But those benefits are only the surface of what you and your employees receive from joining. If you want to be part of something larger than yourself and your business, striving to improve opportunities in your community, chamber membership is an ideal way to do that.

Volunteerism and Cause-based Marketing

There are many ways to volunteer in the chamber. From assisting with events to running educational webinars, serving on the board to working with the scholarship program or chamber’s foundation. Your skills or sponsorships will be leveraged in a way that helps you increase your network, your knowledge, and your business exposure.

When you volunteer—and the chamber shares that information with others—your business is aligned with the cause in the eyes of community members. Chambers embrace many causes to improve the quality of life for the communities they serve. Check with your chamber to find out what its goals are or view its strategic plan. You may be surprised by what community efforts it’s championing such as:

● Affordable housing solutions

● Workforce development

● Safe streets

● Tax-reduction legislation

● Mental health initiatives

Many people who question membership have a narrow-minded view of the chamber as a “business only” entity without realizing that every issue in the community affects business. If the community is not seen as a prosperous one, people won’t want to live, work, or open a business there. Being pro-community is pro-business.

You can likely help with the causes that are important to you through chamber work, while also strengthening your business and growing your network with cause-based marketing.

Community Leadership and Responsibility

Chamber members are viewed as reputable and dedicated to creating (or continuing) a flourishing community. When you become a chamber member, you are announcing to the community that your business is here to stay and you’re investing in the success of the area. Through membership, you are choosing to be part of an organization that has championed the cause of business for many years.

Pro-Diversity

At first glance, you may assume the chamber is comprised of a very homogenous mix of business owners. That is no longer the case. In many communities, the chamber is leading diversity initiatives. Chambers understand the importance of representing every aspect of business and ensuring each voice is heard. Representing minority- and women-owned businesses is a responsibility that chambers take seriously because a chamber can affect change. By amplifying the business owners’ voices and convening community leaders, business owners, and employees, chambers are leading diversity initiatives across the country. They’re advocating for legislation, hosting town halls, and providing educational DEI programs.

Chambers often recognize what the business community needs before individual businesses can address it themselves. As a member of the chamber, you are part of helping traditionally underserved populations discover the joy, opportunity, and challenges of business ownership.

Being a chamber member in the 21 ^st century goes beyond the list of benefits you’ll see in the membership brochure. Sure, those items are good investments for your business, and they can save you money and help you grow but the chamber offers much more than that. The chamber is leading the efforts to make your community a better place to live, work, and play for everyone. And membership offers you a highly visible opportunity to be part of that excitement.

3 Pieces of Critical Content You Need for Your Business

Mon, 16 Jan 2023 19:35:01 GMT

Content marketing provides the kind of quality content your audience is looking for. Marketers in today’s business climate must yield to the interests of their customers to be successful in the same way that party planners who want people on the dance floor must select music the vast majority of people in attendance will find appealing.

Content marketing has to start somewhere and the best place to do that is with a couple of evergreen pieces. These are strong heavy-hitting, attention-getting pieces of content you know your audience will respond to. Before you begin creating the content suggested here, make sure you have a good understanding of who your ideal customer is (from demographic and preferences standpoints), what they are looking for, and how you can help them. Knowing this vital information is essential to creating content they care about.

Once you know who you’re speaking to, it’s easier to create content personalized for them. If you serve multiple types of customers, either narrow it down to your ideal customer and market only to them, or create several buyer personas and produce content that will appeal to each segmented group.

Your Business Story

This is not your About page. This is the story you tell through interactions with your customers. Your business story should follow a traditional story arc/plot line of:

1. hero wants something

2. hero faces obstacle in trying to get what he/she wants

3. hero is helped by mentor-type and ultimately succeeds in getting the desired object, status, or outcome

Before you run off and start penning the obstacles you faced in opening your own business, remember this is not about you. To craft an appealing business story to your audience, you are not the hero. Your business is the kindly mentor – the Obi-Wan character – who helps the hero, your customer. This is a much more evocative approach from an engagement aspect than telling everyone you are the hero and got exactly what you wanted at the end of the day.

Cast your customer in the role of the hero and you’ll have potential customers looking at that role and thinking they, too, could be a hero. All it takes is determination (and your help).

An Answer to Your Most Asked Question

Another component of effective content marketing is producing content in the medium you audience responds to. You can figure this out by dedicating some R&D time on social media. Share video, audio, and written pieces on the same topic. Which format consistently gets the most shares? Create more content in that format.

After you know what content your audience prefers, take to that medium to answer the most common question asked of your business. Here are examples of popular question types (insert the critical information that applies to your business):

What’s the difference between __________ and ___________?

How do I know I need a new _____________?

How much do ____________s cost?

How do I know if I’m dealing with a reputable ______________?

How do I select the perfect ____________ for me?

When creating the content, use the question as the title. People often search by entering questions not keywords. For instance, if I want to know if I need a new air conditioner, I am more apt to search something like:

How do I know if I need a new AC?

than

air conditioners

Creating content based on customer questions is more likely to place you higher in search results than merely optimizing for keywords.

A Gallery

If you sell products or services that are visually appealing, create a portfolio to showcase what you sell. If you are an accountant, placing 1099s on your site probably won’t yield any conversions and could lead to breach of privacy lawsuits; create a gallery of testimonials instead.

This can be done formally by asking clients for them and creating case studies, or compiling them from other places and housing them on your website. Some people even use Favorites on Twitter to capture positive things people have said about them. Then when someone asks for testimonials, the business refers them to their Twitter profile’s Favorites section. The one problem with this is that you don’t own Twitter and they could remove this feature overnight without warning.

In addition to these three types of content you need to be committed to consistent content creation and posting. Select a schedule you know you can adhere to and provide helpful information from others to fill in the gaps. Your customers may even be a source for that content.

Whatever your schedule or your content source, the most important thing to remember is that content marketing is like hosting a party. If all the food, drink, and entertainment are your favorites and not that of your guests (or customers in this case), you can be assured they won’t stay very long.

4 Marketing Tips for Businesses with No Marketing Budget

Mon, 09 Jan 2023 18:02:52 GMT

You likely have heard the phrase, “you need to spend money to make money.” I'm not here to argue that from either side but digital marketing has allowed businesses with very small budgets to make a big impression. While it hasn't exactly leveled the playing field, it certainly has helped businesses gain a larger audience with very little investment.

Most of these tools and strategies are free. But it's important to note that when it comes to social media or online advertising, you will have to spend some money. In these situations, it's best to create a very targeted audience for the strongest return on investment. After all, Facebook and other online platforms are very happy to take your money. But if you tell them exactly who it is you want to place your message in front of, you will spend less of it and achieve greater click-throughs.

4 Tools and Tips to Gain a Larger Audience Through Minimal Investment

Before we get into the tools and tips for better marketing on a small budget, it's important to layout the assumptions. We are assuming you have a website and social media profiles on the platforms your target market visits most frequently. If you don't, those are the first things you need to secure.

Also included in this list at the end of each tip or tool is advice on things to do later. These items require a little more investment but should be on your To Do List when you have additional money or are drawing up your next budget.

Now let's get back to that list.

Keywords

What do people use to search for you? What phrases and questions might they ask to find a business like yours? Incorporate these into your web copy. The top keywords and phrases you want to place for should be used in prominent spots on your website such as headers and titles.

But don't stop there.

Make sure that these words as well as the cities and areas you serve are used throughout your web copy. Write articles around these phrases as well.

If you have a website, you can go make this change now in a few minutes and then brainstorm ways you’ll create content around those words, phrases, and questions.

Thing to do later: redesign your website with a professional writer or SEO expert who can make the most of your web copy to bring in more interested potential customers and increase your organic rankings.

Call to Action

This is probably one of the most commonly overlooked ways to improve your sales. When people are reading your posts or content and they've gotten to the end, they have spent time with you. Unless they are related to you or they owe you a lot of money, to make it that far shows interest. Capitalize on that by asking something of them.

Your call to action should fit the stage of the sales cycle they are in. For instance, if someone is checking out your about page they generally are just finding out about you and want to know more. Ending your about page with a “buy now” button Is probably a little premature. On the other hand, ending a demo video with a buy now call to action is not.

Thing to do later: Track and test your calls to action. Words, fonts, colors, sizes, buttons, and locations all feed into a person's likelihood to follow the call to action. Test these things by creating multiple ways to format the same call to action. Analyze your data to see which are your most effective.

Blog

A blog is a great way to allow your audience to get to know you on a more personal level. It's also the perfect way to tell your business story and allow it to evolve over time. It provides a way to let your personality shine through encouraging people to do business with you.

Keep in mind blog posts should have calls to action as well.

Thing to do later: create a written solution to your customer’s biggest problem. Use it as a lead magnet to increase sales.

Explanation and Framing

While you are reworking website copy, make sure you use some copyrighting skills. One of the many “tricks of the trade” is explaining why your company is the best. Then, use that reason to shape the best buying practices. For instance, if you provide Solution A in your business, create content around how Solution A is the only way to get the best solution.

Marketing your business doesn’t have to be expensive. Now is the ideal time to use some of these inexpensive practices to grow your audience and establish know, like, and trust to improve sales.

Ten 2023 Trends Hand-picked for Small Business

Mon, 02 Jan 2023 23:21:42 GMT

Ten 2023 Trends for Small Business

Whether you sell food, things, or services, we’ve brought together a round-up of trends that you can incorporate into your business in 2023 for increased revenue and better market traction.

Ten 2023 Trends for Small Business

1. According to Architectural Digest , kitsch is in. From vacation rentals to home décor, over-the-top is just the beginning.

2. The New York Times proclaimed that climatarianism is the new Cabbage Patch Doll (what everyone wants and is willing to fight for – for those of you who didn’t grow up in the 80s). “It’s no longer about eating sustainably, which implies a state of preserving what is. A new generation wants food from companies that are actively healing the planet.”

3. Creative employee incentives. The buzz around professional placement agencies is everyone wants to work from home. If you can offer that to your employees, great. But not everyone can. That's why we'll probably see a rise in creative employee incentives that will help offset the work-from-home benefit for companies that simply can't offer that.

4. Going remote. This is not a new trend but it's likely because of the rising costs, we will see more businesses deciding to give up their physical space and support their employees going remote.

5. Doing more with less. There are a lot of great technology options out there but not everyone can afford new technology. Many businesses will instead look for ways to maximize the technology they're currently using; working with the help desk or consultants to get the most out of their existing software and tech.

6. Reducing paper. According to Inc., “It's time to actively reduce your company's carbon footprint. This can both save you money and engage clients and customers who prioritize environmental concerns.” A focus on the environment is becoming increasingly popular. Businesses that continue to use non-essential things like paper may find themselves on the wrong end of a public relations kerfuffle.

7. Performance media. With the increasing usage of video platforms like TikTok, organizations will find that they are now in the business of performance media. People want to see personalities and humor in brand videos along with products and services. Go ahead. Roll your eyes. Then get to streaming.

8. Creating a Cheers environment. For those of us who are old enough to remember this popular 80s sitcom, you can't hear the name Cheers without thinking of its theme song and the popular line, “…where everybody knows your name.” This type of familiarity is becoming an expectation for brands. Customers want to be remembered. This gives small business an advantage over the larger companies that can only do that virtually.

9. Concentrate on supply chain security. While there are a lot of not-so-positive economic predictions for 2023, there is good news for local small business. Thought leaders like Forbes are warning, “Companies need to improve their resilience in any way that they can. This means reducing exposure to volatile market pricing of commodities, as well as building protective measures into supply chains to deal with shortages and rising logistical costs.” Local small business often relies on local suppliers so they may have an advantage with the supply chain. However, if you don't, you should consider how you will navigate continued shortages and Forbes’ prediction of rising logistical costs.

10. Become more human. This has been a trend on New Year's lists for the past 10 years. But as many experts are predicting 2023 will be the year of digital transformation for many large companies, small companies can embrace their own secret weapon--humanity. While many companies combat hiring problems with an investment in mechanization, small businesses score big with what Forbes refers to as “… uniquely human skills that currently can’t be automated…skills such as creativity, critical thinking, interpersonal communication, leadership, and applying “humane” qualities like caring and compassion.”

Business Recovery Post-Pandemic: What Changed and Should You Change it Back

Tue, 20 Dec 2022 01:20:06 GMT

COVID and labor shortages have caused a lot of businesses to reevaluate offerings and pivot how they did business. But if you’re like many business owners, while adapting to customer needs was a critical component to staying in business, you may now realize that you are off track.

It’s important to provide value to customers but veering too far away from your true business can cause you to take on too much too soon. For a pre-COVID example, when restaurant Planet Hollywood experienced great success initially, they spread themselves too thin ultimately forcing a lot of location closures. If you made a change to your business during the pandemic to meet customer needs, it might be time to reevaluate what was done and see if it is still in keeping with your business mission and vision.

Ways Businesses Change and What They Mean Today

There are many reasons to change your business. Some changes may provide long-term solutions others are short term panaceas. But if you did any of the following over the past three years, it may be time to reevaluate whether these changes are still serving you and your customers.

New Offerings

During the pandemic and subsequent inflationary times, many of us implemented things that are outside our usual offerings because it was a way to stay in our customers’ lives and entice them to continue opening their wallets for us.

It’s probably time to reevaluate those new offerings. Were they a good addition to what your business did before? Are they making you money? Are they providing a needed solution for your customers? Have they caused your employees or customers to become more loyal? Do you still enjoy the work you are doing?

All these things are good indicators of whether those changes were just a needed bandage to get you through tough times or something you should keep going and grow.

Limits

Did you limit your business in any way to survive the pandemic? For instance, many restaurants created shorter menus or rearranged their seating areas. Do the limits you’ve placed on your business still serve you? Maybe you’ve found that by limiting choices, you’ve perfected the upsell. Maybe your roomier interior design has encouraged people to spend more time browsing and thus increased sales or maybe the opposite has happened. Maybe you’ve decided you need more tables again and it’s time to bring them back. Revisit the limits you implemented for survival and see how they suit you now. Are they contributing to growth or limiting it?

Services and Products

Many product selling businesses looked for ways to sell services and many service based companies started selling a line of products during the pandemic. How are those new areas serving you? Did they open a new market or are they languishing? Are you marketing those things with growth in mind or were they just to get you through the tough times?

Working from Home

Many businesses allowed employees to work from home and now they’re finding difficulties in convincing people to return to the office or hiring new people who want to work outside of the home. It might be time to reevaluate your office space needs. You may find it’s cheaper to operate out of your home and use your local chamber or business incubator for meetings (if they have space).

Nearly three years since the pandemic began and with an inflationary period on our doorsteps, it’s likely a good time to reexamine the changes you implemented for your business. Are those changes still serving you or is it time to sunset them?

How to Help Small Business Without a Lot of Money

Tue, 20 Dec 2022 01:12:59 GMT

Besides being job generators, small businesses flavor our towns. They attract tourists and bring money from other communities into our own. A quaint Main Street and shopping district attracts a lot of people. If we don’t support small business this year, we could lose those businesses and lose the attraction factor for additional spending.

Yet not everyone has money to spend this holiday season. According to GOBankingRates over 1/3 people surveyed plan to forgo tipping their service providers or providing them with a Christmas bonus. People are looking for ways to save and many are coming up short. Still, there are many ideas for saving small business that won’t cost you anything.

1. Write reviews of your favorites on a variety of sites . From Facebook to Google, industry specific sites to local spots, reviews influence buying decisions. Writing a review is free.

2. Tag friends when you see something they would like on social media . When a small business shares something you like on social media, tag a friend. Not only will you friend see the post, but all their friends will as well (permission settings allowing, of course).

3. Check-in at businesses . Even if you’re not buying, when you check in at a business that is providing social proof that you are visiting this business. It creates a crowd mentality that the place is worth checking out. Ever decide not to eat at a restaurant because there are no cars in the parking lot? Checking in helps create a (virtual) crowded lot, which drives people to check the business out.

4. Share images from the business . Take pictures. Share details about your experience. Photograph their calendar of events. Share anything that would draw people in. When you’re not directly affiliated with a business and you share, people see that as an endorsement and they’re more likely to act.

5. Join their newsletter or mailing list . Now may not be a good time to buy but joining their mailing list and forwarding helpful information to your audience can help match a buyer with a needed product or service.

6. Answer questions . If you see a question about a product or service on a group, give some suggestions. These types of referrals are hot leads for your favorite small business because they know the person asking is already in the market for what they sell or do.

7. Post a round-up on social media . Create a list of your favorite businesses, restaurants, or service providers or post a daily “thankful for small business post” and feature a new local business each day. Write a “best new businesses” post for businesses that opened this year. Get creative and tag the business whenever possible.

There’s a lot you can do to support small businesses without spending anything. Giving them your time and promoting them to your audience can drive buyers to patronize them. For the biggest impact, make sure that everything you post is visible to the public and encourage people to share your posts. Your efforts might just be saving a small business.

4 Types of Questions That Will Get Them Talking on Social Media

Tue, 20 Dec 2022 01:03:13 GMT

Social media is social . So, before you start wondering how to get more engagement, think about how you would get the attention of someone you wanted to meet and become better friends with offline. First, you would need to create the chance for a meeting. That generally means being in the same locale as they are. The same is true of social media. If your ideal audience is on Facebook, you better be too. If they love Snapchat, guess what your new favorite site is?

After you’ve arranged a meeting, whether scheduled or accidental, you would want to ensure you have an enjoyable conversation. You would do that by doing your research and discovering what things you might have in common, and you’d ask them questions about their preferences, likes, hopes, and dreams. The same is true on social media. Asking people questions is the easiest way to get them to engage with you. After all, most people like to share their opinion and long for the validation that social media comments provide.

Have You Ever?

Yes, this type of question comes from a sometimes-rowdy party game but it’s also a crowd pleaser. We’ve all seen the memes that list ten or so activities and ask participants to give themselves a point for every activity they’ve never done. They’re fun and often serve as conversation starters. You can do the same with a question. Ask things that won’t start fights like: have you ever watched the sunset and the sun rise during the same 24-hour period? Have you ever binge-watched a whole season of a TV show?

What’s the <Insert Superlative>

This or That?

Self-Disclosure

Making the Most of Your Minutes

Tue, 20 Dec 2022 00:56:57 GMT

Small business owners usually have more on their to-do lists than there is time in the day. If becoming more productive is one of your New Year's resolutions, we have a suggestion for you that could be a game changer.

One of the biggest productivity challenges is interruptions. But as a small business owner they’re practically in your job description! You never know when someone will walk in or call. And while you want potential customers to do this in abundance, interruptions impact what you accomplish during the day.

One of the best ways to remain productive through interruptions is by planning. While you can't plan interruptions, you can create a list of things you need to do sorted by the amount of time it takes to do them. Whether you realize it or not, your day is filled with small pockets of time. Even when you feel at your busiest, you likely have a handful of minutes that you aren't maximizing currently. Creating this list will help you use every minute of your workday in the most efficient way.

Most to-do lists are organized around large demanding activities—the things with a noticeable deadline. Those kinds of to-do lists are still very valuable, but the “Mystery Minutes” To-do List will help you with all the time in between your large to-dos.

How Does a “Mystery Minutes” To-do List Work?

First, make a list the things you must do for your business that don't have pressing deadlines or have deadlines months away that you need to work on bit by bit.

Next, organize it by the amount of time each item takes. For instance, if your to-do List contains “clean out the back storage room” the time assigned to that task might be something huge like two days (depending on the size of the area). If you’re like most small business owners, you don’t have two days to work on organizing your storage closet. You either need to hire or assign someone to do that or you must do it when you’re off/closed.

However, if you break the task down into manageable smaller jobs, you can assign each a shorter timeframe. For instance, imagine you have three boxes on the floor in your storage room that you need to unpack and organize. If you write that as a standalone task, instead of lumping it in with the entire room organization project, that job can be completed in a few minutes.

If you have large tasks break them up into smaller components. List each component on your to-do list. While this will make your to-do List longer, it will also make it more “do-able.” Plus, this to-do list isn't something you're going to finish today or even later this week. A Mystery Minutes To-do List is one that uses downtime effectively whenever you have it to ensure projects get completed a little bit at a time.

Next, organize the list by shortest activity to longest based on time increments. Your list may have several 5-minute activities, 10-minute activities, 15-minute activities, and so forth.

Then take each task within the category and sort it by importance or upcoming completion date. For instance, if you have three 5-minute jobs with one of them coming due next month (and the rest of them not being deadline specific), place the task due next month at the top of your 5-minute category.

Throughout the day you'll have time to work on your prioritized to-do list. You may not always realize whether you're going to have five or ten minutes at your disposal. So, for those times when you're not sure how much time you have, you can either choose the shortest activity on the list or you can select a longer activity knowing you will need to break it into multiple sessions. There are some occasions where you will know that you have ten minutes such as before a meeting, phone call, or event. Make the most of that time.

It's easy to allow ourselves to get bogged down in business. When business is nonstop and we have a few moments, we tend to use that time to catch our breath and don't use it efficiently. However, if you have a list of quick wins that you can conquer in a matter of minutes you not only will get more done, but you’ll also feel better about your day and what you've accomplished.

How to DIY Your Mercer Island, WA Small Business Marketing on a Budget

Wed, 19 Oct 2022 12:24:20 GMT

Most small business owners fulfill a variety of roles. It's part and parcel of running a business. Oftentimes, small business owners must take the lead in areas where they don't always have the most experience, such as marketing. However, jumping into the fray can not only save you money, but also teach you some of the intricacies of this important small business element.

The good news is there are plenty of ways to market your small business without breaking the bank. In this post from the Mercer Island Chamber of Commerce , we'll give you some tips on how to manage your marketing and create a strategy that works for you and your business.

Revamp Your Current Strategy

The first step in managing your small business marketing is to take a good hard look at your current marketing strategy (if you have one). Does it align with your business goals? Is it working? If not, it's time to make some changes.

One way to do this is by identifying your target audience . Who are your ideal customers? What do they like? What do they need? Once you have a good understanding of who you're trying to reach, you can begin creating content that appeals to them and tweaking your marketing strategy accordingly. Wrike recommends re-examining your strategy monthly , so keep these questions on your mind now and throughout your marketing efforts to ensure your efforts are well directed.

Find the Ideal Marketing Channels

Now that you know who your target audience is and what kind of content they respond to, it's time to start thinking about where you want to reach them. There are countless marketing channels out there, so it's important to choose the ones that will work best for your business and your budget . Some popular options include social media, email marketing, content marketing (such as blogs or articles), and paid advertising.

Clarify Your Marketing Message

Once you've selected your channels, it's time to start creating content. But before you do, take a step back and think about what message you want to send . What sets your business apart from the competition? Why should potential customers care about what you have to say? Answering these questions will help you create a clear and concise message that resonates with your target audience.

Tap into Marketing Expertise

Even if you are managing your marketing well, it can be good to talk through your processes with an expert. Freelance marketing specialists are a great option when you aren’t in a position to hire your own department. These experts come with plenty of experience and knowledge, and you only have to hire them for certain projects.

Freelancers often rely on PDFs because they work in specialized programs, so having a conversion tool on hand can make communicating easier. Do you need to know how to convert PDF to Word? Simply use a free online tool. You will add your file to the drop zone, select the file format you want, and click Convert. Then you can make small edits to the .doc file and send that feedback to your freelancer for official edits.

Monitor Your Marketing Results

The final step in managing your small business marketing is monitoring your results. This means keeping track of things like website traffic, social media engagement , and sales numbers. This will help you understand what's working and what needs improvement. Additionally, don't be afraid to experiment! Trying new things is essential to finding what works best for your business.

Developing Your Marketing Strategy

As a small business owner, marketing may not be something you're familiar with—but it's essential to the success of any business. Fortunately, there are ways to market your small business on a tight budget. By reworking your marketing strategy, finding the ideal marketing channels, clarifying your message, and monitoring your results, you can create a successful marketing campaign without breaking the bank. And if DIY marketing sounds like too much work, remember that there are plenty of freelance marketing specialists out there who can help save you time and money in the long run!

Join the Mercer Island Chamber of Commerce to network with other local entrepreneurs and access valuable resources for helping your business grow.

Returning to Work for Employers: Preparing the Workplace and Workforce

Sun, 13 Jun 2021 19:16:36 GMT

Webinar | Thursday, June 17 | 10 - 11AM

Presented by OneEastside SPARK, Center for Business Resilience and Innovation

With Governor Inslee’s announcement that the state is moving toward a statewide reopening on June 30, 2021, many organizations are reviewing plans to return to their physical offices. Join us to learn more about how to properly navigate the COVID-19 employment issues and identify best practices and practical solutions for your organization. Discussion topics include:

Safety protocols in the workplace
Strategies for communicating the transition with your workforce and your legal obligations for accommodations
Preparing vaccination policies for an in-person workplace
Reasonable accommodation obligations

WASHINGTON STATE REOPENING: What You Need to Know

Sun, 13 Jun 2021 19:13:06 GMT

WEBINAR | Thursday, June 24 | 1 -3 PM

Presented by OneRedmond SPARK, Center for Business Resilience and Innovation

Recent information and guidance regarding Washington State’s reopening have created a confusing and at times contradictory compliance landscape for employers. Join speakers from Washington State’s Department of Labor & Industries, Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) and King County Public Health as they review current reopening guidance including:

Employer obligations under the new Washington State safe workers proclamation
Washington’s new screening guidance
Whether to implement an employee/customer mask policy
How to handle the intersection of vaccinated and unvaccinated employees

Speakers include: Kristina Hudson, OneRedmond CEO, John Stebbins, WA State L&I Division of Occupational Safety & Health, Diane Agasid Bondoc, King County Public Health

Legislator Listening Session

Wed, 19 May 2021 19:21:46 GMT

Mercer Island Chamber Presents

Our Annual Legislator Listening Sessions - virtual this year - will be an opportunity for our businesses to hear from our legislators and understand the lengths they went this past session to help protect our small businesses still struggling through the pandemic as well as our working families with children.

2021 East King Chambers Legislative Wrap-Up

Wed, 19 May 2021 19:20:00 GMT

Sponsored by the East King Chambers Coalition, which includes Bellevue, Bothell/Kenmore, Greater Issaquah, Kirkland, Maple Valley/Black Diamond, Mercer Island, OneRedmond, Renton, Sammamish, SnoValley and Woodinville chambers

Join the delegates of the East King Chambers Coalition, your fellow local business leaders and our Eastside legislators in a robust discussion about this year’s historic legislative session.

Our moderator, Kirkland Mayor Penny Sweet, will facilitate panel discussions with the legislators that focus on four broad policy topics: transportation, budget and taxes, housing and human services and economic recovery and will take questions from the audience.

Tune into this event, hosted by the Kirkland Chamber, to learn how our adopted legislative agenda fared this session and what we can expect moving forward.

MI Farmers Market – Opening Soon!

Tue, 04 May 2021 19:23:52 GMT

We are ready to welcome back our beloved Mercer Island Farmers Market. The first market of 2021 will be on Sunday, June 6th from 10am - 3pm. You can expect COVID-19 safety protocols, but you can also expect some of the fabulous food, flower, and gift vendors that you've come to enjoy purchasing from. Please plan on supporting this special Mercer Island resource through the season. By supporting the MI Farmers Market, you also support our regional farmers and growers.

To learn more about the Farmers Market, click below.

Regional Business Summit Recap

Sun, 02 May 2021 18:34:48 GMT

425 Business magazine highlights the successful Regional Business Summit, which was held virtually on April 29th. This summit was the Chamber of Commerce of Issaquah, Newcatle, Sammamich, Snoqualmie, and Mercer Island. Issaquah's CEO, Kathy McCory hosted the event. Topics included COVID-19, economic resilience, technology, and diversity to name a few. For a thorough recap of the event, please read the article here.

OneEastside: Small Business Response, Resiliency, Reopen, Recover Together

Wed, 28 Apr 2021 18:38:11 GMT

OneEastide - Eastside Recovery Hub

OneEastside was formed to respond to the COVID-19 crisis by providing small businesses and non-profits with tools, resources, and other forms of assistance that they need to pivot, recover, and build resiliency. Key activities have included building the Eastside Recovery Hub and developing the Small Business Recovery and Resiliency Center. OneEastside also hosts the Eastside Small Business Recovery Fund .

McKinsey & Company: How leaders can communicate during COVID-19 recovery

Tue, 02 Feb 2021 18:39:33 GMT

When the COVID-19 crisis first erupted, organizations across the world were plunged into such uncertainty it was hard for many to know whether they would emerge intact. Now, though the road ahead remains difficult, leaders are shifting from whether they can return to how to do so .

Leaders are also having to manage waves of unforeseen crises, including the recent protests in the United States and elsewhere. These events can take as much of a toll on workers’ productivity and mental health as radical, rapid changes in the workplace. Employees will have to confront cycles of disruption and adaptation, driven both by pandemic-related health reasons and new business imperatives, ranging from reorganizations to further reductions in workforces or furloughs.

To read more of this article by McKinsey & Company, click here.

Economic Impacts Survey

Tue, 05 Jan 2021 18:44:17 GMT

King County, the City of Seattle, the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, and Greater Seattle Partners are coordinating a regional effort to assess the economic impacts related to COVID-19.

This is the third round of a regional survey, which will help us understand trends in impacts faced by businesses and non-profits. Information collected in this survey will help develop economic recovery strategies and quantify emergency relief programs for small businesses, non-profits, and independent workers throughout the region.

This survey is estimated to take only 20 minutes to complete. We encourage businesses and non-profit organizations of all sizes, and independent workers throughout King, Snohomish, or Pierce counties to complete the survey in full. Individual responses will not be published*, but will be aggregated and analyzed to understand the extent of the economic damages caused by COVID-19 locally and regionally, and establish trends.

Aggregate findings will be published, and survey participants will receive updates regarding the collected data. This survey is based closely on previous surveys and will close Friday, January 15, 2021, which is an extended date from the original closure date of December 23.

2020 Reflections and Visions Forward

Tue, 29 Dec 2020 18:49:26 GMT

Happy Holidays Mercer Island Community Partners,

As we close out the tremendously difficult year, we look forward to a new year with hope and confidence for our local businesses. We are proud to represent them and we will continue to work hard to provide them information and access to resources they need.

This is the time of the year the Chamber typically awards the Business of the Year on Mercer Island. In 2020 we are celebrating all local businesses, their owners/operators and their employees who have persevered during these challenging times. The Chamber will also be honoring those beloved businesses forced to close due to the pandemic, including Caruccio’s, BarreRev, Definitive Dance, 5-Elements Pilates and Menchies. Hopefully some, if not all, of these businesses will be back.

Economic development on Mercer Island has been elevated to a top priority by the City Council in 2021/2022 and for the first time the Council has budgeted a staff position to help us achieve that aim. The first step in that process will be public engagement to clarify the goals for business development in our community. In the best of all worlds, business development is not a competition but a collaboration that flourishes with a “rising tide floats all boats” mentality. Vibrant commercial areas on the north and south ends of Mercer Island depend on residents using services and buying goods at local shops whenever possible and on the mutual support of owners, employees, landlords, and community organizations, as well as city policies that support business.

The City Council recently earmarked $14,400 to restore Chamber funding for business development services. These funds were lost in the budget cuts of 2019 but historically, as far back as 2001, the City contracted with the Chamber for services in this amount. To receive the earmarked funds, a contract with clear deliverables will be negotiated between the City and the Chamber.

Why should the city contract with the Chamber for business development services? The Chamber is a non-profit organization of businesses, nonprofits and professionals that join to help make connections to each other and the greater community on and off Island, whose mission is “to support and foster the growth, development and advancement of the businesses of Mercer Island while promoting Mercer Island as a special place to do business, live, work and play.” Members pay dues, a volunteer board directs an executive director (.5 FTE) and a physical office is maintained in the town center to greet visitors and distribute information to businesses on the Island and those that want to come here. The Chamber invests all its revenue back into the community through programs, events and support services. For example, connecting businesses to the MIYFS breakfast fundraiser, hosting Art UnCorked, getting little feet on the streets for Halloween Trick or Treat, and promoting shopping locally with the Shop.Eat.Enjoy. campaign. The Chamber produces a local map and business directory. The Chamber hosts public luncheons, to inform residents and businesses of local and regional issues that impact our community. This year the Chamber was a valued partner on the recent Covid-19 WeLoveMI and MInext campaigns. In partnership with the MI Community Fund, over $250K was raised for Mercer Island Businesses and nonprofits. The Chamber served as a conduit for pandemic related information and supported businesses with PPP and grants and distributed PPE, as well as helped several businesses with one-on-one personalized assistance in the grant application process.

All of these programs contribute to making Mercer Island a more vibrant community, a community where we support one another, our children and our businesses, because we care and because businesses that thrive help make Mercer Island a special place to live, work and play.

Wishing you a holiday season filled with joy and a healthy and prosperous start to 2021,

Mercer Island Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and Executive Director, Laurie Givan

MInext: Come Discover Something New

Tue, 03 Nov 2020 19:08:36 GMT

MInext is a marketing and outreach campaign designed to bring Mercer Island business through the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthen connections between small businesses and Mercer Island residents. What will be your next meal? Your next workout? Your next financial planning session? MInext invites Islanders to discover their next Mercer Island experience while supporting the local businesses that make the Island a great place to live, play, and shop.

The campaign centers on the stories behind the businesses – who the people are, what brought them to the Island, and how their business contributes to the Island’s outstanding quality of life. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to test the strength and resiliency of the community, MInext encourages Islanders to look inward, learn more about the businesses in their own backyard, and give them a boost during this difficult time.

MInext is coordinated by the City of Mercer Island and the Mercer Island Chamber of Commerce in partnership with local consultants L+B Design and Suzanne Zahr . The campaign is funded by the Port of Seattle Economic Development Partnership grant program and the King County Coronavirus Relief Fund Economic Development for Cities program. Through this funding, businesses can participate at no cost to them.

Pivot Plan is Critical for Small Business Survival

Sun, 30 Aug 2020 18:53:03 GMT

Sponsored by Small Business Association (SBA)

When people describe entrepreneurs and small business owners as resilient, there has never been a time when that has been truer than the past six months.

As businesses deal with a new reality and “business as usual” takes on an entirely new meaning, most businesses need to rethink and retool how they do business in order to survive. A pivot plan is critical.

How to network during a pandemic

Wed, 10 Jun 2020 18:58:50 GMT

Brought to you by Welcome to the Jungle

Walking into a room of unfamiliar faces can be daunting, especially when you’re trying to make a good impression at a networking event. As large gatherings are off the agenda due to Covid-19 you might be breathing a sigh of relief, but networking hasn’t gone away. Instead, it’s moved online. Here we take a look at the new rules of networking during a pandemic.