small business success Archives

20Jan 2015 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

Goal Setting – Set your road map for a successful 2015

Expert Advice, Planning, Small Business, Small Business Info, Small Business Lounge, Workplace

Today’s 123Print blog shares information on an important small business concept — goal setting. One of the most critical tasks for the new year is to set goals for the coming year. Why? Just a thought — do you set out for a trip (whether it’s for a vacation or just a short jaunt to run errands) with no particular destination in mind? If you’re like most people, the answer is no. It’s the same for planning your business goals. (more…)

04Sep 2014 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

Create a Better Work-Life Balance: Advice from a (former?) Workaholic

From 123Print's President, Life Insight, Small Business, Small Business Info, Small Business Sense Interviews

[caption id="attachment_8170" align="alignleft" width="300"] Tip 1: Family comes first and foremost (mom and me at the hog roast)[/caption] What’s the right work-life balance? Guess what — there is no right answer. Everyone who is driven struggles with it — don’t worry, you’re not alone. Who has had their boss, significant other, close friend(s) sit you down to share their concerns that you may be burning the candle at both ends? They highly recommended that you should spend more time on X, Y and Z. (I’m raising my hand as I type this.) Guilty as charged. So what do you do about it? (more…)

22Aug 2014 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

5 Customer Service Tips for Dealing with an Irate Customer

Customer Retention, Small Business, Small Business Info

It’s bound to happen. No matter how great your products and services, you’re not going to make everyone happy all of the time. Today’s pointers should help you deal with an irate customer and get resolution. Whether you have just stepped into the Customer Service field or have been in it for years, everyone has experienced a call or two where the customer is beyond furious. Sometimes it is because of a company policy, sometimes because they have not received answers from your company and sometimes they are just having a bad day and the particular situation is the last straw for them. There are definitely ways to diffuse the situation, (more…)

31Jul 2014 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

The Key to Effective Communication and Better Company Meetings

Marketing, Planning, Small Business Info, Workplace

Communication is one of the keys to small business success. Communication impacts execution, profitability, and most importantly, growth. As a leader, it’s imperative that you share updates about the current state of the business, and lay out the direction/vision of where you see your business going. Over the years, I have found transparency to be the best approach for me. It allows me to converse openly on all fronts — the good, the bad, the ugly. This way you can cut to the chase and address any misperceptions, clarify recently asked questions, and/or ground the team back to the basics. One way that I’ve tried to share our company’s performance in a group setting is to host a monthly meeting. I know what you may be thinking, “Another meeting. Great,…

30Jan 2014 by Cindy Berrier 1 Comment

5 Tips for Creating an Effective Brochure or Flyer

Customer Acquisition, Customer Retention, Marketing, Monday Marketing Minutes, Product Uses, Products and Services, Promotional Marketing, Small Business Info

In the new online shopping world, two tried-and-true marketing techniques still have their place: brochures and flyers. Both are cost-effective marketing tools that can used for a variety of purposes: • Educational piece • Cross-sell opportunity inside a complementary product’s packaging • Handout at a tradeshow or local event • Outdoor advertising tucked under windshields and other more creative ideas • Follow-up piece to take prospects further into the sales cycle. (more…)

20Jan 2014 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

Presidents’ Day Marketing and Thinking Outside the Box

Marketing, Monday Marketing Minutes, Planning, Small Business Info

As we look through our blog statistics, Facebook shares, 1+s and retweets, we can see that you like new ideas. Thinking outside the box and marketing a small business in different ways can interest new customers and bring old customers back for more. With Presidents’ Day looming on the horizon, we thought we’d help think up some creative promotions. Going patriotic is the obvious choice. In fact, we’re already well into our 2014 Presidents’ Day campaign preparations and I can tell you, it’s going to be pretty red, white and blue. So what can you do as a small business to stand out? (more…)

13Jan 2014 by Cindy Berrier 1 Comment

Super Marketing Ideas for the Big Game

Marketing, Monday Marketing Minutes, Planning, Small Business Info

One of the more highly promoted sales days is coming up, and we’re here to help you prepare for small business success. The first weekend in February will see two American football teams meeting on the gridiron in New Jersey to determine the world football championship. Millions watch the game and host a football party, and the commercials have become almost as discussed and dissected as the big game itself. But the sales revenue is not limited to those multi-million dollar commercials. Small businesses can one in the win column by preparing for game day! (more…)

07Jan 2014 by Cindy Berrier 1 Comment

Lose Weight and Other Small Business Resolutions

Monday Marketing Minutes, Planning, Small Business Info, Workplace

According to a New Year’s Resolutions infographic we did, the number-one resolution last year was to spend more time with family. As an owner or employee of a small business, we highly recommend that you, too, get your priorities straight and resolve to spend more time with the people you love in 2014. This doesn’t mean that you have to let business slide. It just means you need to strive for a better work/life balance. Other typical categories that are used for setting personal resolutions include: self-improvement, education, weight, finances and relationships. Using these same categories, you can also set company goals that can create small business success in 2014. (more…)

23Apr 2013 by Cindy Berrier No Comments

Company Wellness Plans Proving Valuable for Employers

Small Business Info

Every company wants more productive employees and a key component to achieving this goal is great health. When employees are in good shape, they tend to be happier and perform better. Healthy employees can also bring fewer costs to the employer by lower absenteeism and less health care expenses. One way companies are supporting the health of their employees is through incentives in wellness programs. These range from supplying health and fitness information, to funded nutritional lunches, and even reimbursements for gym memberships. Workers everywhere are losing weight, lowering their blood pressure and cholesterol, sleeping better, managing stress more effectively, and saving money. (more…)

15Apr 2013 by Cindy Berrier 1 Comment

Grant Writing for Small Businesses

Monday Marketing Minutes, Small Business Info

Finding the funds to start or improve your small business is not always easy. Have you ever considered looking into the possibility of getting a grant? There are all kinds available, but keep in mind that a grant probably won’t be your major funding source. “Grants are typically a donation of a set amount of money made by foundations, other businesses, government agencies or nonprofit organizations to companies or individuals that meet specific requirements and quality for the grant. Grants do not have to be paid back. Grants for businesses follow strict requirements and are typically offered for minority- or veteran-owned businesses or to individuals that have a disability,” outline the experts at BusinessInsuranceQuotes. (more…)

Tag: small business success