Building and running a business means handling a variety of tasks and duties. Some of those duties you may enjoy and some you may not. Some of those duties you may be good at and some may frustrate you. One task that many small-business owners continually tell me they neither enjoy nor feel competent at or…
Practically all of the guest blogs I write for Small Business Survival focus on tips to enhance the management or operational aspects of your business. This post, however, goes down a new road. I would love your thoughts on what you consider acceptable ratings, both as a consumer and as a business owner, when viewing customer…
As you probably know, if you are going into business, the odds your business will be around in five years are not good. But they aren’t as bad as you may think, either. Approximately one-third of businesses close within two years. At the five-year mark, about one-half of all businesses have closed. We don’t approach…
Well, here we are at the end of one year and the beginning of another. Welcome, 2016! For many people, this is the day we make resolutions for the upcoming year. Often these hopes are for something in our personal life. Do you also take time to make resolutions for managing your business? And for…
Pricing is a task that puzzles and frustrates many small-business owners. Some think good pricing is magic, while others dig deep into their financial records to come up with a very specific price point for each product and service. Business owners are frustrated by wanting to be perceived as offering a competitive price to maximize…
What a great day. Your business is open. The wait is over. Instead of costs, costs, costs, you can now make some sales. Some time passes and someone walks into your business. It’s the business owner from next door and she just wants to wish you good luck. Some more time passes and some friends…
People form impressions in the first couple of minutes after entering a new place. Have you ever considered what your business says to them? Businesses offer many types of nonverbal communication, just like people do. It makes no difference if it is a physical place or an online location. Customers look for these same key…
Stories!! They amaze. They bring out our emotions. They stop and make us think. They help us connect. All of these, plus others you might add, are why stories are so important when you are marketing your business. Having your customers connected to your business is what branding and marketing is all about. Stories turn customers…
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