The What and Why of Brand Positioning Statements
In theory, the brand positioning statement is something an entire company can get behind. However, in practice, there’s so much confusion around the term that leads marketers and executives to end up with ineffective statements. When done correctly, brand positioning statements can be powerful tools in businesses of all sizes. But that means going deeper…
Read MoreNo (Wo)Man is an Island
John Donne penned a famous poem, No Man Is An Island, as part of his Devotions on Emergent Occasions. Even in 1624, apparently there were problems with silos, self-centeredness, and the behaviors/mentalities that result. We tend to focus on ourselves, our jobs/goals/responsibilities. Whether we are a customer or whether we are in roles that serve customers,…
Read MoreThe UPS Store and Inc. Magazine Salute Small Businesses with a National Pitch Off Contest
SAN DIEGO, April 3, 2018 –The UPS Store, Inc. together with Inc. Magazine, invite entrepreneurs and small business owners from across the country to enter the Small Biz Salute Pitch Off, a contest that will reward one small business owner with $25,000 and an editorial feature in Inc. Magazine. To enter the contest, eligible owners…
Read More5 Online Marketing Strategies Your Business Needs to Know
We spend hours every day online, and every business today should know that they need to develop an online marketing strategy. Some smaller businesses which do not have an online storefront or much of a presence online besides a website may conclude that online marketing is a low priority. But it is precisely those businesses…
Read MoreWhy It Is Important to Keep an Eye on Your Cash Flow
If profits are up and the projections look good for the next month or two, should you kick back and relax? Maybe not. No matter how positive other signs may be, if you’re not keeping a close eye on your company’s cash flow, things could go haywire. Even a temporary crunch resulting in late debt…
Read MoreWhen Watching Pennies Will Cost You Dollars
Do you ever come across a Facebook post and resulting thread of comments that makes you want to pull your hair out? Of course you do and I want to share a recent one I saw with you. (Don’t worry, it’s not political at all!) A self-employed accountant was having fits with his Windows PC.…
Read MoreHire a Consultant; Ignore the Advice
At one time or another, most all businesses use consultants to fill the gaps in knowledge or to provide guidance for management. Consultants are good in that you can sample their work with short projects, change to other consultants quickly, and stop using them when a project is completed. I have a partner in a…
Read MoreYour Business Needs PR Buzz—Here’s How to Create It
Running a PR campaign can take a lot of time, money and resources. A lot of businesses choose to outsource this part of their business to dedicated third party service providers. While this is cost effective, it can still be a drain on the resources for small businesses since a lot of these service providers…
Read MoreWant to Build a Winning Team? Don’t Ignore These 4 Essential Elements
Why do some companies consistently grow profits and revenues every year and others, seemly in the same type of business, crash and burn? Certainly, there are many factors, including many that are not within our control (luck). However, there is one very important predicate to success, and it is completely within our control: A Functional…
Read MoreAre You Ready for Digital Bookkeeping?
If you’re still using paper to track your business payments and receipts, you may want to reconsider. Paper records and supporting documentation can be easily stolen or misplaced. They may even be accidentally ruined, as by a spilled cup of coffee or a water leak in the building. Enter the world of digital bookkeeping. What’s…
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