I’ve never met an infographic that I didn’t like. Even clunky renditions with bad fonts and unbalanced graphics have the potential to concentrate complex issues into potent, bite-size snacks of information. Which, is exactly why I have become such a fan, and why you should become one too. The “content is king” manifesto is still holding court in the world of digital marketing; … [Read more...]
14 Ways to Show Your Clients and Your Business Some Love
Valentine’s Day may be fleeting, but there are still 14 days left in February to shower your clients, and your own business, with some heartfelt acknowledgement and appreciation. This short 'n' sweet post will get you going in the right direction, internally and externally. Once you start down the list, you'll likely notice a few tactics you can expand upon. For Your … [Read more...]
Set the Stage for Business Success in 2014
The second full workweek of 2014 is here, and if you haven’t put last year’s challenges behind you or taken the lead on 2013 to-do list holdovers (including past-due invoices), you’re f—d. Starting the new year in the red, mentally and financially, doesn’t necessarily spell failure, but it does conjure up feelings of being frustrated and frazzled—a frame of mind that … [Read more...]
Step up your Digital Marketing Game for 2014
Hate to break it to you people, but “next year” is about to show up on your doorstep. All those goals that you have on hold, well guess what, your freezer just went on defrost. So between now and that ugly Monday that shows up after New Year's reveling, I'm going to help you—and me—get into fighting shape for the year ahead. If you want to rise above the noise, it’s time to … [Read more...]
Women in Biz Round-up: 12 posts you’ll be glad you read
Every once in awhile, it's OK to do nothing but sip on a cup of coffee and read. But if you're like me, you have a habit of skipping the fiction, loading up on news, and skimming posts on Facebook and Twitter a little too thoroughly. Lately, I've been soaking up anything I can find on women in business (including posts here). I'll admit that this gets in the way of my … [Read more...]
Customer Satisfaction: Results vs. Effort
One of the hard truths of business is that you are paid and evaluated on your results, not your effort—a fact that occasionally makes “knocking it out of the park” with pricing feel unattainable. (And job satisfaction, less than desirable.) Particularly for businesses that specialize in custom services (raising my hand; are you as well?), establishing concrete pricing is … [Read more...]
“Girl Power” Bridges the Generation Gap
If chants and cheers of "Girl Power!," "Girls Rule!" and "Women Rock!" are sentiments you've left in the past, this post is your excuse to loosen up and let the girl pride fly. It's also your ticket to heightened global awareness, volunteer opportunities, and potential partnerships with organizations and businesses around the world using social media for social … [Read more...]
PR 101: Customer Service Counts
Interesting business conversations can crop up just about anywhere—if you're paying attention and know exactly how, and when, to jump in. Such was the case the other day, during an informal meeting with a potential client. Informal, because our entire meeting took place at the checkout counter of her specialty food market. I knew from the start, that there would be … [Read more...]
Take your Small Business Back to School
I've always loved the Staples commercial in which a father runs through the aisles, filling his cart with school supplies; a scene set to the tune of "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year." This brilliant marketing is a great take on parenting, but also highlights the hate-to-love it excitement and promise of another academic year. As a kid, back to school season always … [Read more...]
Taking Pride in Your (small) Business
One of the things I cherish about womenonbusiness.com is the diverse group of women sharing information, insights and personal reflections. Many of you are running large companies, leading impactful initiatives, raising enormous amounts of money and creating innovative products and systems for doing business more effectively. Anyone visiting this site will quickly glean that … [Read more...]