America's Best Companies

Small Biz Tip: Human Resources: Hiring for Sales

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:26:40 GMT

Tips from November 20, 2009

The Small Business tips today discuss how to hire employees for sales.

Know the environments your candidates have worked in previously. Try to choose the candidates that have been in an environment that is similar to yours to adapt quickly to the culture.
Previous work in sales is extremely important, especially if you are hiring for a higher level position. Check their references for sales positions to ensure they are not exaggerating on their resume.
Inside sales and outsides sales are completely different. Know what you need to hire, and hire specifically for the position. Generally, the two sales positions don't cross. If you come across a candidate who has both, be sure to look into it.
Have a trial session with candidates during the interview. Ask them to role play and deliver a pitch to you. Analyze their tone of voice, body language, and their wording of the pitch. This will help you determine if they are a good candidate to continue your sales.

Daily Overview: Finding a great addition to your sales team is no easy work. Take the time to analyze your candidates to find the one who will be the best for your business.

Small Biz Tip: Human Resources: Performance Reviews

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:49:57 GMT

Tips from November 19, 2009

The Small Business tips today discuss how to conduct performance reviews.

Apply performance reviews to everyone in the office. Be fair and consistent with all reviews. The easiest way to do this is to create a template criteria sheet for every performance review.
Conduct your review first, and before revealing it to the employee, ask them to evaluate themselves. The two should match fairly closely. If not, it's a red flag that something is not right. Talk the evaluation out and clarify expectations of their role.
Although it is hard, you need to indicate poor performance. Be honest and straightforward about it, but don't be brutal or harsh. If you have any examples of the poor performance, document the behavior as it is happening.
A performance review is not just to point out what the employee has been doing wrong. Use it to show what they're doing right as well. It's just as important since positive reinforcement is more motivating than a negative.

Daily Overview: Performance reviews are critiques to change the behavior of every employee to do the best they can. Be honest, fair, and objective.

Small Biz Tip: Human Resources: Hiring Quality People

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:49:24 GMT

Tips from November 18, 2009

The Small Business tips today discuss how to ensure you hire quality people.

Take a good look at your employees, and at yourself. Look at the skills, quality of work, and value that each person brings to your business. Look for someone to compliment your skills.
During the interview, note the habits of your candidates. Were they on time? Prepared? Well groomed? Respectable? Actions speak louder than words.
Keep your interviews structured. Ask the same questions in each, and follow the same procedures. Go off on some tangents, but keep the interview objective.
Ask for references. Even if you don't actually contact these people, it is a way to get a sense of the applicant's relationships with others.

Daily Overview: Look at your candidate's resume, as well as their character. A quality candidate is excellent in both categories.

Small Biz Tip: Human Resources: Publicizing Job Openings

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:48:18 GMT

Tips from November 17, 2009

The Small Business tips today discuss publicizing job openings.

Knowing where to place your ads is crucial. Only a handful look in newspapers nowadays, the majority of people look online. Place ads on various job sites, such as SimplyHired or Craigslist. A simple "Help Wanted" ad in your window or on your website will help too.
Make your ad informative first, creative second. You are looking to hire those who are serious about a job, not necessarily those who are attracted simply by the uniqueness and how catchy the job post is.
Talk to local colleges. Many graduates, or students who are looking for a part time job, have their ears and eyes open for job opportunities. Have your job requirements ready.
Job advertising through the media is a good way to go big. Try the radio first, then the TV. Be sure to include your phone number and/or website multiple times.

Daily Overview: Post your job listing where job seekers are looking. Be creative, but keep the bigger picture in mind.

Tis the Season....Already

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:33:02 GMT

It's the second week of November, and the local mall has Christmas trees up, lights strung through landscaping, wreaths hung on doors and parking garages, and holiday music on the radio. The holiday commercials are out in full force, with family in sweaters sharing smiles and love, extraordinary deals on popular gifts, and children that can't wait to gather around the tree to open presents on Christmas morning. Whether you like it or not, the holiday season is here.

Retailers, in essence, control the start of the holiday season. Typically, the "official start" to the holiday shopping season is the day after Thanksgiving, commonly known as Black Friday. Some stores have even had their holiday displays up since November first! Black Friday is a holiday all by itself, as stores have outrageousdoorbusters , ginormous savings on popular items, and deals you can only get once a year. In recent years, the holiday shopping season has been pushed back, leaving retailers and consumers adjusting their typical protocol. There are two ways to approach this phenomenon: as a retailer and as a consumer.

As a Retailer
Holiday marketing strategies which start before the actual holiday season will bring in customers and revenue, so consumers feel as if they are getting a head start on the holiday season. Give your customers great deals before the holiday rush, and in the meantime, prepare for the holiday rush. Do you have enough employees? Are your shipments arriving on time? Starting the holiday season early will give your business a "trial run" of how smoothly things will go for Black Friday and the rest of the holiday season. Having a "trial run" and starting the holiday season sooner will help your holiday predictions out by observing trends of the customers for this season. Track the trends, and change your store layout to promote the popular and discounted items. Work out all the kinks in advance and get your business prepared for the real rush.

As a Consumer
Starting the holiday shopping season sooner than usual can be both pleasant and stressful for consumers. Stores are packed, parking spots are hard to come by, and the reminders of having to spend money are everywhere. Fortunately, starting your holiday shopping sooner gives you time to get the shopping out of the way, leaving time for family and friends during the holiday. Spreading out your holiday shopping gives your bank account a break as well. Take advantage of the deals that retailers are providing early. Also, some merchandise that you see today in stores may not always be available closer to the holidays. Avoid the rush and anxiety of Black Friday by getting your shopping done earlier.

Whether you are like me, wishing it was socially acceptable to listen to Christmas music year round, or prefer to not be bombarded by "Jingle Bells" until December 23rd, retailers are telling you the holiday season is here. Do you have any other ways you and your small business prepare for the holidays?

Small Biz Tip: Human Resources: Hiring Practices

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:37:30 GMT

Tips from November 16, 2009

The Small Business tips today discuss proper hiring practices.

Take time to hire, if you need to hire immediately. Plan for at least 2-4 weeks for the hiring process. Taking your time ensures you have hired the right candidate for the position and didn't hire without much thought.
Know what YOUR business needs. Someone with an impeccable resume and work history who does not fit the criteria you have for yourself for the position won't work for what you need for your business. Think and choose carefully.
Take into account your company's culture. Make sure they will be a fit for your workplace skill-wise, as well as with the employees. Camaraderie is important, especially if they are going to be part of your business team.
Take at least a two step process to eliminate candidates. Do phone interviews with 5 candidates, and narrow it down to 2 or 3 for the final face-to-face interview.

Daily Overview: Hiring is important for any business. Do what is best for your business, not just what looks good on paper.

Small Biz Tip: Holiday Marketing: Customer Service

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:21:53 GMT

Tips from November 13, 2009

The Small Business tips today discuss the importance of customer service in your holiday marketing.

Hire additional help if you know you are going to be busy. Many students are looking for seasonal work; attempt to reach out to them.
Make sure you've updated your voicemail to include any special holiday hours. Consider adding weekly promotions to the recording!
Reiterate the importance of great customer service, especially the holidays. SMILE! It's the simplest way to bring cheer and joy to customers.
Have a holiday meeting with your staff. Go over the holiday promotions and what they'll need to know to help customers more efficiently.

Daily Overview: Boost your customer service during the holidays: hire extra help if you need it, smile a lot and make sure all of your staff is on the same page and are aware of your holiday promotions.

Small Biz Tip: Holiday Marketing: Sales Strategies

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:52:42 GMT

Tips from November 12, 2009

The Small Business tips today discuss different sales strategies for marketing for the holidays.

Have a "12 Days of Your Company/Product/Savings." Each day change the promotion, gift, or sale. Keep your customers coming back each day.
Have overstock? A complimentary gift of extra products for customers spending a certain amount of money will help balance out your stock room.
Advertise new techniques, products, or services via social media. Upload coupons on your Facebook Fan page or Tweet out links to these deals.
Do good for others during the holidays: offer a dollar off a product if customers bring in an item to donate to a local food pantry to help the hungry.

Daily Overview: Let your customers feel like they're important and allow them to get more for their money while helping others at the same time.

Small Biz Tip: Holiday Marketing: Promotion Ideas

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:41:53 GMT

Tips from November 11, 2009

The Small Business tips today discuss ideas and options for holiday marketing promotions.

Offer discounts or special offers on certain days to drive in holiday business. It's a standard ploy, but consistently works.
Give your customers a thoughtful gift. Set out homemade cookies, give one of your favorite holiday recipes; perhaps on a direct mailer or a pick-up in the store. Something special relating to your product or service would be the best idea. Free sells.
Reward loyal customers with additional discounts to your standard holiday promotions. Maybe an extra 15% off for them during a specific weekend.
Give your gift cards a holiday makeover and add a bit of holiday flair. You'll capture the eye of the holiday gift shopper more easily this way.

Daily Overview: What gets you through the door of a store around the holidays? Be inventive, creative, thoughtful and generous.

Small Biz Tip: Holiday Marketing: Email Marketing

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:55:15 GMT

Tips from November 10, 2009

The Small Business tips today will be about email marketing around the holidays.

Include holiday greetings and designed themes in your email marketing. This can help set a certain tone if that's what you're looking to do.
Don't blow-up subscriber inboxes with additional holiday email promotions. Instead substitute a standard email with the holiday one.
Your subject line should include holiday phrases and special deals to entice people to open the email.
Keep emails informative without spamming. Put direct links to holiday-branded landing pages instead of a link to your homepage.

Daily Overview: Don't be a Scrooge. Make email marketing over the holidays fun, informative and unique

Small Biz Tip: Holiday Marketing: Website

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:55:13 GMT

Tips from November 9, 2009

The Small Business tips today discuss holiday marketing tips for your website.

Make like Google with your logo. During the holidays go for a spirit-themed logo. Capture what might appeal most to your audience.
Use your holiday logo and themes for your social media sites! Get your Facebook and Twitter audiences into the holiday spirit.
Create holiday-themed landing pages (not necessarily the home page) for your website to use in both online and offline advertising.
Even if you don't have a shopping cart on your website, be sure to list your in-store holiday promotions. 69% of consumers research online before coming into your store.

Daily Overview: Your business can appeal to your audience's holiday spirit by dressing up online: your logo, website and social networks.

140 Characters and 15 Minutes: Tips, Tricks and Advice

kim@gowithabc.com (Kim Fenolio) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:00:48 GMT

You know, a 140 character limit really isn't a lot to share something significant in. Neither is 15 minutes though, especially not between three people trying to convey the effects of social media on an industry. Fortunately, a collection of some of the best minds in small business were able to do just that at the 140 Characters Conference in LA this past October. I was lucky enough to have been one of the 140 people asked to speak and represent the state of now.

I wasn't alone in this. This conference was Jeff Pulver's baby. Jeff is a globally renowned thought leader, author and entrepreneur. He contacted Becky McCray of Small Biz Survival and asked her to put together a panel of people who could effectively speak on behalf of small business. She did just that. I was joined on a panel by small business owners Scott Townsed of United Linen and Neal Rohrbach of iDea Anglers.

Having never met prior to the conference, the three of us worked together to form a panel that would bring attention to a number of things in small business. Each of the guys shared what worked for them in their small business while I spoke to bring out how to go about it and, of course, giving tips, tricks and advice.

Give the panel a watch (or listen) and see what the big deal is. Video run-time is 15 minutes with some killer content. Leave you thoughts about the panel in the comments!

Small Biz Tip: Start Up Concerns: Business Name

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:23:05 GMT

Tips from November 6, 2009

The Small Business tips today discuss naming a start up business.

Think of a creative and recognizable name for your business. Be memorable, quirky, and unique, yet professional for business purposes.
Before settling on a business name check your phone books, online domains & with the county clerk's office for availability.
Consider a business name that's obvious to your business purpose and works in your favor for SEO as well. It often helps the customer if a name is self-explanatory. A name like Kim's Social Media Services tells me right away that this is a social media servicing company by Kim.
Register the business name as a trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. You get legal protection for the business's name. Find out more at http://www.uspto.gov.

Daily Overview: When naming your business be creative, be obvious, make sure it's available and register it so it's legally yours.

Small Biz Tip: Start Up Concerns: Legal Issues

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:44:09 GMT

Tips from November 4, 2009

The Small Business tips today discuss legal concerns for start up businesses.

Sole proprietors should incorporate their home-based businesses with tax benefits and protect personal assets from business liabilities.
You can use your own name as your business name in most states without having to register it. Everything else needs some type of registration.
Minimize disputes with clients by having thorough contracts, detailed wording with no room for excuses, multiple signatures, and clarity from both parties.
General rule of thumb: a business that sells goods, needs a business license; a business that offers professional services (regulated by the state) needs a business certificate.

Daily Overview: All business legal concerns should be taken to a lawyer who knows the laws in your state, specific to your situation.

Small Biz Tip: Start Up Concerns: Personal Life

kim@gowithabc.com (Kim Fenolio) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:47:47 GMT

Tips from November 4, 2009

The Small Business tips today discuss how to keep your business from taking over your life.

Understand that it's okay to say no. Each time you say yes to something, you're saying no to something else.
Set specific rules for yourself and the time you dedicate to working. Build in a grace period for the "I have to get this done" stuff. Then stick to it!
Build in you time. Make time to recharge the batteries, watch a movie, go out with friends. A personal release will help you focus again when it's time to get back to business.
Let your clients know that you have specific business hours for calls AND for when you perform your work. Make sure you're the one setting the expectations.

Daily Overview: Tell your clients when you're working. Tell yourself when you're not. Keeping to your schedule helps you keep your sanity.

Small Biz Tip: Start Up Concerns: Marketing Budget

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:58:08 GMT

Tips from November 3, 2009

The Small Business tips today discuss a marketing budget for start up businesses.

Plan for travel expenses, phone bills, commission to reps, and other hidden costs that comes with marketing.
Determine how much you need to sell in order to make sales projections. Give yourself a cushion, allocate extra money towards marketing.
Inventive and unique product lines generate free word of mouth marketing, saving marketing money. Allocate that money towards the actual product.
Determine your target audience and market to them. Direct promotion helps you stand out and use your money more efficiently.

Daily Overview: Allocate a portion of your budget to marketing. Keep sale projections, product lines and techniques in mind. Don't throw your money into the wind without a good idea of where it's going to land.

Small Biz Tip: Start Up Concerns: Money

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:32:36 GMT

Tips from November 2, 2009

The Small Business tips today discuss money concerns for start up businesses.

Create a plan. Map out what you have in order to fund your business to start a savings plan. Predict your cash flow.
You could consider using personal savings, remortgaging property, credit cards or personal property as an initial financial resource.
An established credit history and collateral make it easier to receive a small business loan. Plan, know your finances and apply.
Keep track of each penny. Balance your checkbook and be conscious of spending. Saving a few cents will add up yearly.

Daily Overview: Funding a start up business is no easy process. You're best off to plan, have a history of being responsible and don't forget.. PLAN.

Do You Have What It Takes To Network?

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:30:54 GMT

Networking is important to small businesses in that it helps them to stay in business, grow their business, and connect to other business owners. The general way to network is usually by having your information on a neat business card and give your information to others. To create a big name for yourself when networking, you need to step out of your comfort zone and create a buzz. Here are few ideas.

Professional Business Cards
Yes, business cards are important for networking so they can have your contact information. No, they should not be the only thing that you do. For starters, make sure your business cards are professional. Have an edgy design on quality paper with all your contact information. Business cards should be kept in a safe place to avoid tearing and ripping. You might also want to consider adding your Twitter ID and Facebook profile to your card as a way for people to keep up with you in more of the real-time business world.

Q & A's
Be prepared to answer questions about yourself and your business. This is a given for any professional at any time, but even more important for networking. You can explain your business, your goals, and your purpose for going into business. If you've hit any rough spots, share them with others willing to network with you. We've all had our ups and downs. Talk about how you overcame your problems, ask them about theirs and share advice. There's strength in collaboration.

Additionally, be ready with questions to ask others who want to network with you. Regardless of what questions they ask you, make sure you ask meaningful questions to foster a relationship. Ask them about what they want most out of networking with other businesses. Find out their goals, ambitions, and business history.

Know Your Story
Your the story of how your business came to exist. Many people who are looking to network with you are interested in how your business started, your goals, and motivation. This is not your thirty second elevator pitch, but rather a heartfelt, honest story about your business. Briefly discuss the journey your business took from start to where you are today.

Don't Be Afraid of the Big Shots
Reaching for the stars to network is something that many small business owners are hesitant to try. You never know where you'll end up without first trying. If you're on Twitter first reach out to some small business professionals, subscribe to their blog, or follow their work. Send a personal message to these business professionals describing how they inspire and motivate you and your business. See if you receive a response, keep the contact to receive advice or guidance in the future. Build the relationship, don't market it.

Remember, the goal of networking is not to be a salesperson for yourself and your business. That's just plain annoying, and many will toss your information in the garbage. People who want to create real relationships via networking will know if you are being genuine and not just wanting to use them as a stepping stone. Be the balance on the stones and you'll be the one that people turn to in the future. That's the real point to business networking: be the one who's out there helping and you'll be the one they come back to again and again.

Small Biz Tip: Networking: Social Media

kim@gowithabc.com (Kim Fenolio) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:32:51 GMT

Tips originally posted on October 30, 2009

The Small Business tips take a little of the shared wisdom from the 140 Characters Conference and will show you how to network with social media.

Social media requires you to be social. Be human and relatable. Talk to me like I'm your sister. It's like an instant state of relaxation.
Try not to over complicate things. Just use common sense in your networking approach. One step back can take you two steps forward in the medium.
You should do dinner and a movie before you ask for a kiss. Basically that means to establish the relationship before you ask them to do something.
Everything isn't always about you. Your network probably has more to offer you than you do to them. Letting them feel that way will help you in the end.

Daily Overview: Social media networking should be common sense: often not about you, social, simple and sweet equaling success!

Small Biz Tip: Networking: Setting Up An Event

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:46:10 GMT

Tips from October 29, 2009

The Small Business tips today discuss how to set up a small business event to network in your community.

Market your event via flyers, Chambers of Commerce, radio advertisements, mailers, on your website, as well as word of mouth.
Create a Facebook invite and notify your friends, family, group members, as well as fans. Send them a reminder message a day before the event.
Offer small, free gifts for people at your event, such as pens, magnets, or pads of paper. Have all of your contact information easily readable on it.
At the event, collect business cards & give yours out. At the conclusion of the event, send a thank you letter & save their contact information.

Daily Overview: Events allow your business to connect with other people and businesses to create relationships and build support.

Small Biz Tip: Networking: Chamber of Commerce

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:50:48 GMT

Tips from October 28, 2009

The Small Business tips today discuss how your local Chamber of Commerce is a great way to network.

Join local businesses in promoting your town's economy by shopping locally to keep money in your community.
Network with your neighbors to coordinate discounts and promotions to encourage consumers to buy locally.
Meet a few times every month. Discuss your community's economy, goals for the future, & new programs or events coming up.
Plan an event with your Chamber. Invite all small businesses to host the event & open it to the community. More tomorrow!

Daily Overview: Use your Chamber of Commerce membership to its full potential by networking with other local businesses.

Small Biz Tip: Networking: Different Styles

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:51:03 GMT

Tips from October 27, 2009

The Small Business tips today discuss different styles of networking.

Family will give you more personal and honest recommendations than others. Ask them to recommend and talk you up whenever they can.
Your friends may be the first to say "hey I know someone who does that.." Share with them what you do, offer discounts through them.
B2B: Networking is reciprocal. Each biz needs the connection and each will work to build a professional relationship.
Have a social media presence that's honest, transparent and active. Communicate and share yourself openly.

Daily Overview: You need to network with different people in different ways. Be sure to tailor your approach to your audience at the time.

Small Biz Tip: Networking: Why?

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:48:34 GMT

Tips from October 26, 2009

The Small Business tips today discuss why it is important for small businesses to network.

Create and develop relationships with others who share your same passions for business. Gain contacts and resources.
Battles are best fought with a companion. Networking gives businesses a support system for when times are rough.
Expand your clientele. Networking with others allows for new customers to hear about your business and check it out.
Build your community and local economy by networking in your area. Support other small businesses; they will support you!

Daily Overview: Networking gives your business contacts, builds the buzz, and opportunities to grow.

140 Characters and We Have One

kim@gowithabc.com (Kim Fenolio) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:08:43 GMT

This week I am leading the small business panel at the 140 Characters Conference in Los Angeles, California. This is pretty significant for our company, and for each of you, in that I will be sharing how small business is being effected by the real-time internet. Basically, I’m going to talk about how Facebook and Twitter (social media) are helping your business in the current state of the world, even in this economy.

This panel and conference isn’t all about me. I’ll be sharing the stage with some fantastic co-panelists: Scott Townsend of United Linen and Neal Rohrbach of Idea Anglers. Together we hope to give you a rounded view of how small business works with these medias from beginning to end. We’re calling our panel Small as a Tweet. We’re taking a few questions up front. If there’s anything specific that you’d like any of us to answer, you can ask at our website or on our Twitter account.

The entire conference will be broadcast live on the internet via the conference website. If you’d like to tune in live for my panel, you can visit http://lax.140conf.com/ on Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at 1:55pm PST. Once the video is gathered afterwards, I’ll share it here on the ABC site as well. There are many other layers to the conference and a lot of big names going to appear and speak. I encourage you to check out the other panels and see if there are specific speakers that would pertain to your niche.

Catch me, Kim Fenolio, on Twitter, send me a DM or @message me! I’d love to talk with you.

Small Biz Tip: Training: Hands On

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:21:21 GMT

Tips from October 23, 2009

The Small Business tips today discuss hands-on training and its benefits.

Role Play: employees mimic real decision making in business situations. Very effective: try upper management & employee roles.
Internship: get a feel for employment before becoming an employee. Get on-the-job and classroom training to learn about the business.
Apprenticeships: over a long period of time, employees develop many skills while supervised by a senior employee. Usually for a trade.
Job Rotation: employees learn a little about every department to learn different tasks and skills associated with each job.

Daily Overview: Hands-on training allows for a different learning process to take place and can even be most memorable.

Small Biz Tip: Various Approaches to Training Employees

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:39:44 GMT

Tips from October 22, 2009

The Small Business tips today discuss different approaches to training employees.

Orientation: for new employees to understand their new place of employment. Include the goals, purpose and role of employee.
Lecture: use for a large amount of material to communicate with a group of people. Cost-effective, but possibly unproductive.
Audiovisual: TV, films, and video clips show real world situations in action with a constant, perfect presentation to all employees.
Programmed Learning: computer-aided instruction. Employees learn at their own pace and a supervisor is not necessarily needed.

Daily Overview: Various methods cater to different businesses. The right approach depends on your business and your employees.

Small Biz Tip: Training: Skill-Based Training

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:48:39 GMT

Tips from October 21, 2009

The Small Business tips today discuss the benefits of skill-based training.

Increase productivity: teach advanced techniques to help employees conquer tasks more efficiently & take on more responsibility.
Aid in hiring process: teach the perfect candidate lacking the skill new tricks, or enhance the ones who mastered the skill.
Improve job satisfaction: time & money invested in employees skills gets them more involved with their field & up to date with the industry.
Reduce need for supervision: skill-based training encourages independence & shows how to do their job better & faster.

Daily Overview: Keep employees on their career path by providing skill-based training to improve in their field.

Small Biz Tip: Training: Employee Manual

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:26:46 GMT

Tips from October 20, 2009

The Small Business tips today discuss creating an informative employee manual.

Welcome Statement: include the mission and goals of your business, letter from the CEO so employees know what to perform towards.
Compensation: describe in detail the payroll schedule, hours expected to work, and vacation/holiday/sick days off.
Policies: outline the dress code, attendance, confidentiality agreement, competition agreement, and general culture rules.
Discipline: describe actions taken if problems arise, including warnings, formal complaints, and grounds for termination.

Daily Overview: Creating an informative manual gives employee a glimpse into the business and establishes their role.

Small Biz Tip: Training: Planning

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:25:23 GMT

Tips from October 19, 2009

The Small Business tips today discuss what to plan for when training new employees.

Instructors: Have someone who's qualified and engaging do your training; they'll give good information and if they're engaging they'll hopefully be a memorable speaker.
Materials: Have books, tools, pens and paper ready in advance. Make it so that trainees only have to worry about subject matter!
Space: Choose a space that is quiet, comfortable, and promotes learning. Try a conference room or extra office.
Timing: Outline who is talking when about what materials. Include breaks and time for a Q&A session.

Daily Overview: The success of training new employees really revolves around how prepared you are. Plan ahead!

Small Biz Tip: Customer Service: Employee Training

kim@gowithabc.com (Kim Fenolio) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:11:06 GMT

Tips from October 16, 2009

The Small Business tips today discuss training your employees to provide exceptional customer service.

Every employee is a representative of your business. Give them reasons to respect your brand, business, & customers.
Go over situations that could arise; get feedback from experienced employees. Show your customers you're ready for anything.
Employees that know all situations can help customers immediately instead of asking management. Be knowledgeable.
After an unusual situation occurs, talk to employees about how to handle the situation in case it happens again.

Daily Overview: Proper employee training will give your business an edge on providing exceptional customer service.

Small Biz Tip: Customer Service: Going the Extra Mile

kim@gowithabc.com (Kim Fenolio) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:14:05 GMT

Tips from October 15, 2009

The Small Business tips today discuss how to go the extra mile.

Be helpful even if you get nothing out of it. Assist, give advice & (gasp) talk about other businesses.
Follow through with a customer. Guide them, ask if they have questions, & do all that you can to help.
Offer something extra. Future coupons, freebies, small samples, or discounts help provide that extra service.
Make exceptions for the customer if they have problems; offer a discount or rebate offer for future services.

Daily Overview: Doing more than expected gives your business benefits and provides extra customer service.

Small Biz Tip: Customer Service: Turning to Social Media

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:44:07 GMT

Tips from October 14, 2009

The Small Business tips today will talk about how turning to social media will improve customer service.

Twitter allows for up to the minute updates for openings, new products, sales, and limited time offers.
Customers talk about experiences on Twitter: provide exceptional service and personalize to get great buzz.
Use Twitter to build up your small businesses by retweeting testimonials & customer satisfaction stories.
Build a community of customers with a Facebook Fan page. Ask for feedback & give new Fans coupons.

Daily Overview: Social media is an excellent way to keep up in real time and positivity about your biz.

Customer Service and the Internet

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:09:07 GMT

Great customer service has become much more important to businesses with the popularity and increased influence that the internet now has. The internet provides an instant outlet for customers to rant or rave about a specific product, service, or business. Though not just for consumers, the internet has made providing customer service a lot easier for a business. So, what do you need to be aware of when coupling the internet with your customer service? What kind of options should you be looking for? How exactly can you provide customer service? Let's take a look.

Accessibility 24/7/365 - At the very least you should have a website that has your business name and information on it. What you must keep in mind is that this then puts your business out there for consumers to access any time and any day of the year. Make sure you have a phone number, address, and hours of operation on your homepage in a place that all visitors can see. This way they'll know when and how they can reach you.
Contact Form - A contact form on your website is a simple way to collect information from curious visitors. This allows for your business to gain information about your potential customer and cater to the needs that they're specifying. Make sure the person who will provide the best customer service to their inquiry responds in a timely fashion.
Online FAQ - Have a Frequently Asked Questions page on your website. Look at your business objectively (consider having someone else help you with this) and see what questions they could have. Then, answer them in the easiest terms that you can. Doing this will save you and your customers time. There's nothing like finding a quick answer to a question!
Social Media - Services like Twitter and Facebook make publishing thoughts about a business utterly instantaneous. Make sure that you monitor these outlets for mentions of your brand, products and services. Social media is all about transparency, so be sure to address issues quickly and in the medium that they were initially voiced.
Google Alerts - Set up a Google Alert for your business. Each time your business is mentioned on the Internet, you will be notified via email. Keep track of what the online world is saying, and address any issues that may arise.

Your business can't hide on the internet. Once your name is out there, it is nearly impossible to take down. Positive remarks about your business could lead to new customers, increased sales, and more online buzz about your business. On the other hand, negative remarks on the Internet could prove deadly. Address negative remarks about your business immediately, offer to fix the issue and provide an incentive for continued business.

What's the best way to avoid negative remarks on the internet about your business? Provide excellent customer service from the start.

Small Biz Tip: Customer Service: Building Customer Loyalty

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:44:53 GMT

Tips from October 12, 2009

The Small Business tips today are about building customer loyalty.

Communicate with your customers to see what they need/want. Exceed their expectations to make them come back.
Offer coupons and incentives for customers on their next purchase to ensure they return to your business.
Create a customer loyalty program. After so many purchases, offer a freebie. Offer rewards for referrals to your business.
Personalize! Get to know your customers. It will bring them back to your biz because you know them.

Daily Overview: Creating a loyal customer brings people back to your store, constantly increasing your business.

Small Biz Tip: Customer Service: Know Your Customers

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:35:39 GMT

Tips from October 13, 2009

The Small Business tips today cover knowing your customers.

Get the name, email address, and phone number of purchasing customers. Send them personalized coupons
Ask customers for their birthday (month and day) Send them a discount, coupon, or freebie on their day.
Learn your customers' names. As they return, address them personally. Cater to their buying trends.
Communicate with customers. Find out feedback by calling or mailing them a survey.

Daily Overview: Getting to know your customers can create a huge return for your business. Show you care and they'll come back.

Small Biz Tip: Management: Providing Leadership

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:47:35 GMT

Tips from October 9, 2009

The Small Business tips today discuss providing leadership.

Be in touch with reality and optimism. Know which situations you can/cannot control & how to lead in hard times.
Inspire your employees. Go over your company's motivation and mission. Encompass your vision for all employees.
Stay informed on current situations to plan ahead. Thinking ahead shows you are concerned about the future.
Be honest. Tell the truth, even in tough situations when it is hard to accept. Take control and face the problem head on.

Daily Overview: Be a great leader with honesty, integrity, respect, and knowledge.

"Vacation, All I Ever Wanted..." Or Is It?

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:21:12 GMT

Harris Interactive conducted a study with employees at various businesses and found some interesting results regarding vacations. 44% of employees dread the craziness of preparing for vacation at work the day before they leave. Additionally, 77% of employees believe the day they return from vacation is worse. How can you avoid the work related stress when it comes to a vacation? Here are a few tips to have a worry free vacation.

Before You Leave

To-Do List: Before leaving for vacation, create a list of what you need to do when you get back home. Take a look at your schedule and see what projects, deadlines, meetings, and other events you'll have. Know what you have to do when you get back so you have no surprises.
Vacation Alert: Create an automatic vacation response for your email address. This allows customers, employees, and clients who email you to know you are out of town, and when you will be returning. This way, no one will be expecting your usual prompt response or action.
Prepare Employees: Discuss expectations with employees. Make sure they have understanding on how to run the business without you there. Review any tasks before you leave, and if necessary, write out a how-to on certain tasks. Also, have an employee brief you on what you missed while you were gone in an email, and have them send it to you the day before you return. That way, you can find out upon your arrival to the office what you missed while you were gone.

On Vacation

Don't Stay Connected: Try to not check your email or phone frequently if you are worried about your business. If you must, limit checking your email or phone to once a day, preferably in the afternoon.
You're Not On the Clock: Limit business work to less than an hour each day, if you even have to do business-related work at all. Spend the time on vacation enjoying your time to yourself, your hard work, and life.
Relax! It's a vacation. Don't worry too much about your business. Enjoy your time away. This is the time to enjoy, relax, and recharge.

When You Return

Before The Office: When you get home from vacation, try to check your work email before going into work. Read the status update from employees regarding the business while you were on vacation (Prep Employees under Before You Leave). Read the urgent emails first, such as important clients, employees, or others and handle those quickly. Organize the rest by how urgent the email is, what it entails, and how soon you must respond.
Welcome Back: Try to arrive at the office early to avoid distractions from customers, employees, or just other work in general. Spend a short amount of time talking about your trip with employees, but then get back to work. Take care of the mail, shipments, finances, or anything else you may have missed while gone to catch up and get back to the regular work schedule.
Keep the Memories Alive: Miss the vacation feeling? Reminisce in a subtle way. Put a picture on your desk to remind you of your vacation. If you have a computer, make it your background.

When taking a vacation from regular life and work, these tips are some pretty healthy guidelines, and not just for the business owner. They'll work just as well for anyone who takes afew days off for a vacation. Next time you have a vacation and are worried about work, reference these tips, put them to use, and have fun!

Small Biz Tip: Management: Boosting Morale

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 16:53:24 GMT

Tips from October 8, 2009

The Small Business tips today discuss how to boost morale.

Do something good for your business and for a good cause! Run a charity race as a company; donate time and money. Help out!
Provide incentives for good work. They could be something simple as dressing casual to extravagant as trips, days off, or a raise.
Boost morale through team building strategies. Try a role reversal: switch employee and management roles for the day.
Company outings will get employee minds off work & encourage fun outside the office. http://bit.ly/Cxmal.

Daily Overview: Be helpful, encouraging, and creative to give morale the boost it needs.

Keeping Emotions in Control

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:16:47 GMT

Being a small business owner comes with a ton of responsibility. One of the most important things small business owners need to remember is the effect that emotions have on the business, and most importantly, your employees. As a small business owner, you are the role model, spokesperson, and face behind your business. You assume a leadership role as your employees and customers look up to you. As a leader, it is important to be emotionally stable and in control to manage your business and employees. Let's take a closer look.

Positivity
As the leader and one in control, it is essential for small business owners to be positive. It communicates that you are ready to take on any challenge optimistically. Positivity also comes in the form of being inspirational. Tell your story and how you got to where you are today to motivate others to think positively as well. It is important to remember that employees' moods are just as important as the owners'. Employee positivity keeps employees happy, confident in their job situation, and improve their job performance. This employee positivity is supported by upper management. Employees seek the approval of their manager and do so by doing great work.

Without the positivity of upper management, employees are more likely to not take their work seriously, be timid rather than aggressive at pursuing various opportunities, and fear losing their job. To avoid this, and encourage positivity throughout the office, managers need to show that they appreciate the work that their employees are doing. Remind them on a constant basis. Try an "Employee of the Week" spotlight or provide incentives. To boost morale and encourage positivity, provide surprise bonus rewards to jump-start productivity.

Negativity
A negative emotion coming from the owner of a small business is contagious. A negative owner for a small business means there is no optimism for the future, nor for the present moment. This negativity transfers right to the energy of all the upper management and the rest of the employees. It affects job performance by the employees, and one little problem could cause for trouble. A majority of the time, negativity stems from a problem with how the business is doing. Any time there is a financial mishap, a slowdown in sales, or problem in the office, negativity arises.

It is important to stay in control with these emotions, especially during troubling times, to not give your employees a reason to become negative. During a difficult time in your business, be honest with your employees, but keep your emotions in check. State the obvious, but leave the anger, frustration, sadness, and fear out of it. Honesty is important so the employees know which direction the business is going in. Keep the emotions in check by being honest, yet optimistic and hopeful for the future. It establishes leadership, keeps the business on track, and keeps employees happy. Take control and never forget the effects of your positive and negative attitude.

How To Keep Yourself in Check

Know your business-related fears. Once you know what you are most afraid of at work, such as financial troubles or a slow in sales, you can take on your fear and handle it professionally. Have a plan of action ready.
Know yourself. Think back to how you have reacted in the past to certain situations, how you handled them, and what others thought. Think about how these reactions would affect your business setting and employees.
Take a break. Before letting your emotions get the best of you, stop and think. Break from the usual habits of reacting right away and think your reactions through.
Emotions can't be helped. They are bound to happen, especially in a business setting. As a small business owner, learn to control these emotions by thinking ahead, preparing for every situation, and keeping a level head.

Being a small business owner means being professional and controlling your emotions. Know yourself, when you need to take a break, and think about the consequences of your actions to ensure respect and a productive workplace.

Small Biz Tip: Management: Effective Coaching

cheryl@gowithabc.com (Cheryl Sowa) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:35:17 GMT

Tips from October 7, 2009

The Small Business tips today will discuss how to effectively coach your employees.

Present yourself as a leader. Mentor your employees and guide them on the right career path.
Communicate your expectations. Explicitly say what you want employees to do, outline the steps, and provide guidance.
Give employees time to prepare questions or concerns they have about your expectations. Get them involved in the process.
Ask for feedback. Find out what you're doing right, wrong, and how you can change to be a better coach.

Daily Overview: Coach as a leader, and encourage employees to form a team bond.