Rewarding Customer Loyalty Pays Dividends
There is a big difference between a satisfied customer and a loyal customer. ~ Shep Hyken When first starting a business, your focus is trying to attract customers by offering products and services they want. Once you have an established customer base, however, your focus should switch to finding ways to keep them coming back…
Read MoreHow to Successfully Rename Your Business
Any time you give something a new name, especially the name of your business, it’s a big deal. In our case, we’ve had several years of sweat and equity in our previous name, AQB, with year-after-year growth and lots of recognition. Why then would we, or even any business owner, want to change the name…
Read More5 Key Ingredients of Courageous Leaders
A great leader knows how to get the best out of their people. Through strong, clear guidance, they enable others to walk tall and achieve success in many ways. Courageous leaders are inspirational. That isn’t their ambition. It’s simply a positive by-product of their character and powerful work ethic. By following the example a good…
Read MoreTop 3 Legal Mistakes of Beginning Entrepreneurs
You’re an entrepreneur about to launch your new idea and form your own company. You’ve done your homework and you’re ready to go into business and make money. What could possibly go wrong? Let’s double-check that homework, because there are 3 very common legal mistakes that entrepreneurs make when they start out. Unless you avoid…
Read More8 Expert Hiring Tips to Unlock Your Team’s Potential
Because employees of small businesses often wear multiple hats, finding the right hire can be essential. Before you set up your first interview, here are some tips on finding the right candidate for your new position. Know What You Want. Take the time to compile a list of daily duties and skills that really get…
Read MoreWhy You Need Snapchat in Your 2016 Marketing Plan
Since its launch four years ago, Snapchat has been adored by millennials and has perpetually bemused marketers. With an app that is so incredibly popular, and perhaps even synonymous with today’s teens, marketers have been hoping for an opportunity to connect with the app’s audience. This February, Snapchat announced paid on demand geofilters, which is a low-stakes point of…
Read MoreForget the Consumer Internet of Things: IIOT is Where It’s Really At
Billionaire publisher Malcolm Forbes coined the saying, “He who dies with the most toys wins.” And upon his death, Forbes certainly had a lot of toys. But in 2016, not all consumers agree with that sentiment when it comes to Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Product manufacturers may be banking on consumers trampling over each…
Read MorePolish Your Online Reputation Before You Launch Your Business
Whether there are too many Facebook photos of you with red solo cups, you’ve got an ex who blogged about your relationship in detail, or you’ve publicly made some bad career moves, your poor online reputation can hurt your business and limit your growth opportunities. Luckily, all is not lost. While you can’t recreate a…
Read MoreHow HR Pros Use Performance Management to Improve Staff Retention
Performance management is an invaluable tool when it comes to the important relationship between the employee and the employer. It can be used to influence and guide almost every single aspect of this relationship, improve productivity, and heighten engagement. As such, it should come as no surprise to any HR professional that the development of…
Read MoreHow Well Versed Are You in Startup Investor Jargon?
Whether you are talking to peers, competitors or investors, you as an active entrepreneur will be judged on your familiarity with today’s startup and funding jargon. I’m not recommending that you saturate your discussions with lingo, but responding with a blank stare once-too-often won’t convince anyone that you can build the next world-changing business or…
Read More