Social Listening and Why it Matters for Your Business
Twenty years ago, the dot-com bubble was still expanding and social listening did not yet exist. That’s how quickly digital marketing strategies have evolved and will continue to evolve. With so many frequent changes, how do small business owners keep up with social media and various trends? You can start by knowing the difference between […]
Customer Service Basics: What Your Team Needs to Know
Customers are your company’s most critical asset. When it comes to customer service, a positive customer experience can be the key to gaining and retaining a loyal customer. 87% of people say that good customer service changes their buying behavior. In fact, of people who reported having a bad experience, 97% claimed to change their […]
Mid-Year Business Planning
Annual business planning normally occurs in the third and fourth quarters of the previous year. During that time, business owners and team members reflect on performance and delivery, assess goals and create supporting strategies. Often, that is where it ends. With summer upon us, kids out of school and a sense of relaxation in the […]
How to Manage a Multi-Generational Workforce
Currently, there are five generations in the workplace, each with its own set of values, career outlooks and aspirations. The generations in today’s workplace according to Purdue University are: Traditionalists (1925-1945) – 2% of the workforce Baby Boomers (1946-1964) – 25% of the workforce Generation X (1965-1980) – 33% of the workforce Generation Y/Millennials (1981-2000) […]
How to Manage Client Expectations
Excellent customer service starts with managing client expectations. Helping clients understand what they can expect from your services and what they shouldn’t is a fine art. Clear communication from the start is the key to setting and meeting expectations so that your customers are happy for years to come. 8 Steps For Managing Client Expectations Honesty is the best policy. A […]
Taking Advantage of the Off-Season
If you work in an industry that experiences slower periods throughout the year, the temptation as a business owner might be to check out and relax. While taking time to recover from the busy season is crucial, the off-season in business allows you to focus on things that you otherwise would not be able to […]
How to Become a Better Mentor for Your Staff
As a manager, you have the unique opportunity to become a mentor to those who report to you. Bosses who rise to the occasion and take on the role of mentor transform from the title of boss into that of a leader. The truth is that whether you rise to the challenge of becoming a […]
Growing Your Pet Industry Business: Know your Options and How to Evaluate Them
We’ve all heard about the growth in the pet industry and the projections that it will continue to rise with no end in sight. In 2020, pet industry sales surpassed $100 billion for the first time. With that type of increase, there’s no denying the abundance of opportunity for business owners, both seasoned and new. […]
When Recruiting is a Challenge, Retention is Critical
It’s not just you. Employers everywhere are having difficulty recruiting hourly, entry-level and mid-level positions despite the high percentage of unemployment. Before the pandemic, the hourly workforce was vast, making turnover easier to manage. Employers are now unable to fill gaps in their staff because the talent pool has shrunk dramatically. So, while recruiting is […]
Business Planning for 2022
It’s no secret that the last few years have been unprecedented and challenging for everyone and every business. When the world changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, companies were forced to rethink how they operate. And they’ve had to continue to roll with the punches through quarantines, mask mandates, supply shortages, costly operational expenses and […]
