123Print's Tips for Your Small Business

15May 2015 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

Should You Hire an Intern?

Many small businesses are finding a great deal of value in hiring interns. In fact, according to a 2015 survey from the National Association of Colleges and Employers, 92 percent of businesses have internship programs. Why? Interns provide additional team members for a fraction of the cost of hiring someone full time. Plus, they can give companies a valuable fresh perspective, help the student gain professional experience and companies even choose to give interns a full-time position after the internship is over. If you're considering hiring an intern, take a look at these ways you can make the most of the process while growing business:Decide Exactly Where an Intern Could Be Useful The last thing you want to do is hire an intern just to send him or her out for…

14May 2015 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

Do direct mail campaigns work?

Marketing

Businesses are often focused on digital marketing - and for good reason. Marketing on digital platforms like social media and mobile is typically low cost and gives you a high return on investment. However, there's something to be said for going back to basics and implementing direct mail marketing campaigns. For one, as the Harvard Business Review points out, because other companies have ditched mail campaigns for digital ones, you'll have a lot less competition on that platform. It can also make your message stand out and seem a bit more personal, which is not usually the case when your email is among dozens of others in someone's inbox. Here are a few ways to make your direct mail campaigns work:Think About Your Message Successful marketing campaigns begin with a well-thought-out…

14May 2015 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

4 Ways to Keep Remote Workers Productive

Office and Homeworking, Starting a new business

Some people are most productive when they can come into a physical office, sit down at their own desk, boot up their computer and get to work. However, others can - and do - work just as effectively from home. In fact, a recent survey administered by ConnectSolutions found that 77 percent of employers who allow their employees to work remotely see an increase in productivity from the people who are working from home. For startups, though, having employees telecommute isn't necessarily a perk - it's sometimes a necessity for companies that don't want to invest in office space yet. Either way, it's important for employers to take steps to ensure their remote employees stay productive and accountable for themselves. Here are four ways to make sure your workers are doing their jobs…

12May 2015 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

Digital Marketing 101

Marketing

Digital marketing is a key ingredient of any new business. Why? Because it's effective when done correctly and can be executed with little to no money. But what exactly is digital marketing? In basic terms, it's using your online presence and content to get people to buy your product or service (or do whatever else you're trying to accomplish). Take a look at these basic digital marketing tips to get you on the right track:What Basic Digital Platforms Do You Need? Every company can start by "owning" certain types of digital media. These owned channels are ones that are created by you, and they're where you try to drive traffic to get your target audience interested in your business. Digital platforms your business should own include a website, landing pages, a…

11May 2015 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

3 tips for effectively using a planner

Office and Homeworking

When you are running a small business, it's up to you to keep track of all your meetings, phone calls, deliveries and other happenings. That's a lot to remember. If you aren't already using a physical planner or a calendar app, you are missing out on a great way to help manage your time and business. Here are some tips for using those tools effectively:1. Find the one that works for you If you dislike the way your planner is organized, you just might bury it in your office and not use it. Similarly, if you are uncertain about the way to use a calendar app, you might not take the time to learn it and will end up forgetting about appointments. Finding the app or physical planner that fits your needs will make…

08May 2015 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

Work-Life Balance: Leaving Your Stress Behind

Office and Homeworking

We've all been there: You're heading home from work and you can't stop replaying a conversation you had with your boss in your head. Or you're out at happy hour with a few co-workers and can't seem to get off of the subject of work. Or you're laying in bed at night worrying about everything you have to get done tomorrow. When you get into the habit of bringing work home, it can affect your productivity in the office, your personal life and, let's face it, your sanity. So, here are some steps you can take to leave work stresses behind when it's time to leave the office:Make Your Work Hours More Productive One of the key ways to separate your work life and your home life is to make…

07May 2015 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

Practical Money-Saving Hacks for Startups

Starting a new business

No matter how small a business is, it still requires a large sum of money to run properly. Between office overhead, paying employees, marketing your ideas and creating your products or services in the first place, even small startups are costly. However, there are tons of creative ways that startup founders can decrease their spending and make their capital last as long as possible. Here are a few viable hacks for saving money as a startup founder:Go BYOC One of the most expensive parts of setting up a new office is stocking it with the required equipment your staff will need to do their jobs. Some small businesses take care of this problem - at least in the short term - by implementing a BYOC policy that has employees bring their personal laptop…

06May 2015 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

How to Make Your Business Cards Stand Out From the Stack

Marketing, Starting a new business

In the professional world, business cards are all but ubiquitous. Almost anyone you meet with will have their own personal or company business cards to market themselves and the services or products they provide. But because business cards are a marketing tool, they're not useful unless they provide your information clearly while also being distinctive and memorable. Think of it this way: You want anyone you meet at a networking event, business meeting or interview to stop at your card when they're flipping through the stack of dozens more on their desk. So how do you make your business cards stand out? Here are a few ideas:Consider Visuals Carefully It's always a good idea to include your company's logo on your business cards, since you're using them to market your…

05May 2015 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

5 do’s and don’ts of meeting with angel investors

Starting a new business

Without money, startups are nothing more than a great idea and passionate founders. With enough money, though, that idea and passion can turn into a successful - often exceedingly successful - business venture. In fact, one of the most important parts of starting a new business is ensuring you have enough capital to cover startup costs until your company becomes profitable. And to get that capital, more often than not, startups need angel investors. That said, follow these five do's and don'ts when meeting with your potential investors:1. Do come prepared Getting someone to invest in your company takes a lot more than just a business meeting. It should include both a clear and effective presentation and time spent answering any questions an investor may have. So, before your meetings,…

04May 2015 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

Survey: Small-business owners low on personal time but love their jobs

Office and Homeworking, Starting a new business

As a small-business owner, you're familiar with the ups and downs of running your own company. Office hours often overlap with personal hours, and it can be difficult to differentiate between the two. A new survey from Constant Contact Inc. found that owners of small businesses feel their company impedes on their personal time, yet they would still choose the same path if they had to do it over again. The survey "Personal Sacrifices/Professional Rewards of Small-Business Owners," a survey produced in conjunction with Small Business Week 2015, asked small-business owners about how they balance their work life with their personal responsibilities and family time. About 56 percent of those surveyed said they feel they can never be away from their business. Just over half claimed they don't have enough time to focus…