Consider the Legal and Financial Aspects of Owning a Franchise
As with any major investment, the best decision can be made only if you’re as informed as possible. You need to spend a good deal of time researching, interviewing and exploring your options—and a part of the process is determining what the legal and financial aspects are. As your focus gets more serious with the…
Read MoreWhy Your Employees Hate Your Open Office Layout, Part I
The open office trend has reached dangerous levels. Nearly 70 percent of offices have open layouts that are characterized by areas with no partitions and cubicles with low or high partitions, according to the International Facility Management Association. However, open office workers are less satisfied with their surroundings, stress levels and productivity. Even the primary…
Read More25 Amazing Customer Service Statistics
Here are some customer service statistics that demonstrate the power of a positive customer service experience. Note each statistic is provided with a reference for its source. These statistics were compiled by Gigi Peccolo, the Content Manager at OneReach, a consulting firm. By the year 2020 (coming up fast!), customer service will beat out price and product as the key brand…
Read MoreSmartphone Apps: Business Benefit or Liability?
It has been written that mobile apps are for the young, but everybody goes to supermarkets, and the number of people utilizing their mobile apps to see what’s on sale when they make their shopping lists indicate otherwise. Approximately 37% of shoppers have downloaded a food or beverage app according to the National Grocers Association…
Read MoreWhy You Should Compete in a Saturated Market
How can you win in a saturated market? This is something I hear a lot about through our social media platforms and through emails from Secret Consulting, a program I created to help mentor aspiring entrepreneurs. Throughout my experience creating multiple businesses and helping others do the same in saturated markets, the odds always seemed to be against me—or…
Read MoreDon’t Stop Believing: What to Do When Your Business Encounters a Setback
As much as we don’t like to admit it, setbacks are unavoidable in business. But what really makes the difference is not whether we encounter failures—because we all do—it’s how we respond to them. The experience of a setback in business reminds me of the Journey song “Don’t Stop Believing.” Even when the odds are…
Read MorePatent Litigation Can Kill the Small Guy
When you think of patents, you think of added value to the corporation in the form of protection of its intellectual property. In fact, many corporations spend millions developing surrounding patents to form what is known as a “patent thicket,” much like Brer Rabbit jumped into to protect himself against his detractors in the briar…
Read MoreWhat Your Backlinks Say About You
What is the purpose of backlinks, and why should you use them in your content? Generally, backlinks can serve the following purposes: Increase the number of visitors to a site. Improve search rankings. Credit references for figures, data and statements. Your website opens your business to a potential market that reaches billions of readers every…
Read MoreDoes Everyone Need Coaching?
Participating in a webinar the other day, for a moment I was stumped by a question, “Does everyone need coaching?” I guess, more than being stumped, I was stunned with the question. But on reflection, it’s an important question, or at least one that many are confused about. To answer this, we have to look…
Read MoreWhat Does Your Desk Say About You?
Is your desk preened to perfection or overflowing with paperwork? This simple quiz allows you to describe your desk and work ethic, and identifies your office personality using the answers you provide. Are you a neat freak or a chaotic workaholic? Find out by taking this interactive, fun quiz. Author: David Smith is the Director…
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