You Need a Contingency Plan for Every Part of Your Business
When you’re dying of thirst it’s too late to think about digging a well. ~Japanese Proverb I was dealing with a business that relied on a single supplier for products that represented the majority of its sales. When I asked the owner what he would do if the supplier folded, he answered, “I just do…
Read MoreChanges in the Manufacturing Industry: What Product Companies Must Do to Survive
I’m talking about every product company in every industry—toys, medical devices, cars, electronics. . . . They’re all facing disruption, and it’s very real because what businesses used to do before will not help them survive in the near future. They have to keep evolving. Four Factors of Transformation. Before product companies can make the…
Read MoreThe Evolution of Mobile Advertising
Smartphones haven’t been around forever, even though most of us can’t remember a time we didn’t have one. The same is true for mobile advertising. While mobile advertising and smartphones have been around less than a decade, we can’t remember a time without mobile ads. In 2006 mobile advertising was a $1 billion a year…
Read More6 Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Next Client Meeting
Meeting a new client can be very intimidating. It’s easy to get caught up with everything you want to accomplish or even go off track. It’s kind of like a job interview—you want to show your clients that you are confident while at the same time convincing your clients that their money is in the…
Read MoreHow to Get Your Content Published on Influential Websites
Guest publication: it’s the proverbial “Holy Grail” of content marketing. By getting published on influential sites, you raise brand awareness and position yourself as a leading industry expert. Guest publications can, however, be a double-edged sword. Like traditional marketing, guest articles are all about getting the right content to the right person at the right…
Read MoreWhy VC Funding Might Not Be for You
It’s an exciting time for startups and aspiring business founders. With investors pumping so much money into the industry it’s easy to see why. We’re hearing more and more about “unicorns” valued at more than a billion dollars and companies spending enormous sums to acquire other businesses. The numbers look amazing. But not all funding…
Read MoreEssential IT Security Solutions for Your Business
In the modern world where so much of business is conducted online, thieves no longer have to come in through the front door in order to rob your business blind. In fact, in many cases if the hackers are any good, you may not realize that you’ve been compromised for months. Now is the time…
Read MoreGifts versus Cash: Which is More Effective as a Corporate Giveaway?
Certain corporate gifts have a greater effect than cash. A recent study demonstrated that that travel and merchandise incentives are more attractive to employees and investors than financial incentives. In the merchandise category we have gift cards, which proved to be the most popular kind of award item. Those who participated in the study declared…
Read MoreDoes Your Online Community Care?
Does your online community care? One of these three thoughts instantly crossed your mind. It was either: I don’t have an online community Of course, they love me No, they don’t and I forgot the passwords anyway None of these thoughts will lead to a engaged online community, so let’s begin with the first one.…
Read More7 Tips on Building Better Connections with Your Team
Entrepreneurs need to be effective team leaders, since no one can transform an idea into a product and a business without some help. Unfortunately many founders I work with as a mentor are experts on the technical side, but have no insight into leading a team. But fortunately, team building is a skill that can…
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