5 Ways Alternative Finance Can Help Your Online Business
Running an online business without a physical shop can be challenging. Whether it’s keeping up to date with changing terms and conditions or dealing with that difficult customer, there’s always something to keep you occupied. So worrying about business finance is the last thing you need. Sadly, banks are often part of the problem rather…
Read MoreLights-Out Manufacturing: Future Fantasy or Good Business?
“Naturally, Man should want to stand on his own two feet … but how can he when his own machines cut the ground out from under him?” So states the teaser for Philip K. Dick’s short story “Autofac,” first published in the November 1955 issue of Galaxy magazine. The story revolves around a post-apocalyptic world where the…
Read MoreHow to Capitalize on Evolving Cultures in Creative Businesses
The inherent complexity that underpins today’s digital products seems to have put an end to the age of the arrogant leader with the killer instinct. In past decades, it was this person who ruled so many creative businesses. During this time, there were only a few crafts that came together to make a magazine, an ad,…
Read MoreBeing 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…
Read More15 Powerful Ways to Growth-Hack Your Social Media: Part 1
Let me start by asking you a question: How much time do you spend each week on social media? Does it amount to what you would describe as either “too much,” or “more than you’d like to”? Unless you outsource your social media, I’m guessing you answered yes. Breathe a sigh of relief, there’s a…
Read MoreHow to Grow Your Business While Making a Difference
This year, the media has unearthed a lot of unscrupulous and unethical business tactics by large corporate entities and household names many of us know. This is alarming, and it also raises the question: is the truly ethical business a fairytale? And if not, then how does an ethical business compete in a world full…
Read More3 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…
Read MoreA Small Business Pricing Perspective: Higher is Better
To get a perspective on small business pricing, let’s first take imaginary strolls through the aisles of two retailers: Walmart and Saks Fifth Avenue. Both are leaders in their markets, so this isn’t a criticism of either one. We’re taking this stroll to observe human behavior and psychology. If we walk through Walmart at almost…
Read MoreChoose the Right Franchise Relationship for You
Franchises are growing so much that you can probably find a franchise option for almost any kind of business you’re interested in these days. In fact, you can probably find multiple options. If you’ve made a spreadsheet and you’re still having trouble narrowing down the choices, maybe you need to get back to fundamentals. Your involvement with…
Read More5 Reasons to Offer Your Newly Hired Employees a Pre-cation
You may be staring blankly at your screen, wondering what a “pre-cation” is. The simple answer is that it’s a paid vacation you provide to your new employees before they actually join your team. That’s right. You pay them to take time off before they even start. Why on earth would any reasonable person give…
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