Mailing Lists, Email Marketing, Errors, Oh My!

Using old email lists for the first time is like eating really stale doughnuts. The taste is pretty bad, and the side effects could be disastrous. Email companies like Constant Contact, MailChimp and many others all have strict rules they follow to avoid being caught in spam hell, with their servers blacklisted and worse. Each…

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5 Reasons Your Employees Quit, and How to Stop Them

If you own a business, then you know that keeping your staff as excited about their jobs as you are can feel like an uphill battle. The fact is that most employees disengage from their work at some point. A recent Gallup poll revealed that just 32 percent of American workers feel connected with their jobs.…

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How to Keep Customers from Falling Through the Cracks

If you’ve put in the work to get a customer to commit to your business, the last thing you want to do is lose them because of poor communication. A customer falling through the cracks doesn’t just lose you that sale, it may end up costing you that customer’s friends, family and coworkers. Bad customer…

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Why Communication is the Most Important Skill You’ll Ever Have

We all know the importance of hard work and skill. Honestly, communication is more vital than either. It’s THE key to success, both in business and in life. When I was younger, my parents would drill me on the importance of hard work. Through determination and perseverance, they told me, I could accomplish just about…

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Leadership Development: 5 Special Qualities Shared by Courageous Leaders

There are many different aspects that make up the complex psyche of a true leader who passionately strives for success for both themselves and others. A leader has so many special qualities that it’s inspirational when you work with them. They possess an invisible aura that radiates confidence and challenges everyone around them to achieve…

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I’m Not Your Sweetie, Honey, or Darling!

I recently had a call with a representative in the billing department of a vendor who provides technology services to my business. Before I go any further, think of the expected tone of a customer service interaction in regards to technology. I expect a professional communication. While the representative was very polite and helpful, she…

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Why Your Signs Matter

To simplify complications is the first essential of success. ~George Earle Buckle Signage plays an important role in every business. Not only do signs convey information to your customers, but they also bring new customers in. Clearly, spending money on great signage is a wise investment, but it is important to remember that not all…

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7 Things NOT to Do When Managing External Customers

“Without customers, your [small] business would not exist. It’s that simple. Your business success and longevity depend on acquiring and retaining its target customers. You can’t do so without developing and maintaining a customer-centric mindset.” (Beyond Your Logo: 7 Brand Ideas That Matter Most For Small Business Success ©2015) In keeping with a customer-centric theme, here…

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Being Interesting

Millions of people hours are spent every day confronting the issue, “How do we get our customers to be interested in us?” Marketing spends millions in content strategies, overlaid with all sorts of promotion programs. Sales looks for insights or provocation. Together, marketing and sales looks for provocative prospecting messages and approaches. In the escalating volume…

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3 Tips for Creating Content That Speaks to the Reader

When it comes to content marketing, it’s important to get out of the sales mindset in order to reach a wide audience and create a genuine interest in the niche that you are promoting. Of course, your content should draw your readers in and make them want to invest their time or money into the…

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