Respect Employment Practices Liability |  |
- Respect Employment Practices Liability
- Digg Has a New Advertising Option for App Developers
- 6 Surefire Ways to Get Business Referrals
- Using SlideShare for Research and Blog Posts
- Key Methods to Boost Credibility With Your Website
- Experts Debate Whether J.C. Penney, Sears Will Survive
| Respect Employment Practices Liability Posted: 17 Jan 2013 03:00 PM PST
Small business owners can no longer look at their employees as one big happy community working together for common good. When the effective unemployment rate is at 15% (or higher depending where you look), employees get desperate. Your employees are not your friends. Your employees are not your family. And even if they are. . . Your Employees Are Your EmployeesGone are the days of losing your job and quickly jumping into a new one. So when a business decides to let an employee go, every “T” must be crossed and every “i” must be dotted. More and more former employees are looking for ways to cash in on being fired. According to an article in the NY Times by Paul Sullivan, a report released in March from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said claims were up 15 percent last year, to 95,402. The highest number in the agency’s 44-year history. Mr. Sullivan hypothesizes that with the unemployment rate continuing to increase, this trend of discrimination and wrongful termination claims will likely climb again this year. So how do you protect your business against such claims? There is an insurance product, (outlined below from this III.org article), called Employment Practices Liability or EPLI. Employment Practices Liability provides protection against many kinds of employee lawsuits, including claims of:
Employment Practices Liability is overlooked far too often by small business owners for various reasons (employees are considered family, don’t want the expense, assume coverage included in Business Owner Policy, etc.). Considering the amount of coverage an Employment Practices Liability policy provides a business the cost of such a policy is very inexpensive. If you are a small business owner or decision maker in your business, I highly recommend taking a longer look at an Employment Practices Liability policy. I’ve personally have had clients as small as five employees deal with claims related wrongful termination. And these types of cases can get ugly and expensive. Respect Employment Practices LiabilityThe headaches and legal expense associated with a wrongful termination or discrimination case are horrible. The legal expense alone picked up by the insurance carrier, even in frivolous lawsuits, make the policy a worthwhile investment. Employment Practices Liability provides a solution to those concerns. You shouldn’t have to sweat terminating an employee that is under-performing. Yours in Insurance, Ryan Hanley Insurance Protection Photo via Shutterstock The post Respect Employment Practices Liability appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| Digg Has a New Advertising Option for App Developers Posted: 17 Jan 2013 01:00 PM PST The content discovery engine Digg just announced its first new advertising offering since the site's major redesign over the summer. The advertising product is called "Apps We Like," and requires developers to submit their mobile or Web apps for consideration before including them on the site. The online application requires some basic company info, along with advertising budget, and why Digg users would want to know about the app.
If the Digg team feels your app is something the site's users should know about, you'll be given the opportunity to purchase ad space at a price to be determined after applying. Paid promotions will be labeled as "sponsored," and can appear on Digg's homepage as well as its iPhone and iPad apps. The photo above shows an example of a sponsored post within Digg's homepage content. It comes as a surprise to very few that the site is looking to begin its monetization efforts. And the new app advertising product presents an interesting opportunity for developers to get the word out to potential users about their mobile or web apps. Since the sheer number of mobile apps available is overwhelming to many consumers, the apps that aren't featured at the top of the app store or similar venues are often overlooked. This new product gives developers and companies that offer apps to reach more potential users. And since the ads have to be selected by the site in order to be featured, there's a higher likelihood of reaching consumers who might actually be interested and a smaller chance of users being bombarded with millions of "apps we like" so that the section becomes overlooked altogether. Betaworks acquired the core assets of Digg in July and promised to turn the company "back into a startup" with a small team based in New York City. The company also stated that the site's user base has doubled since the takeover in August. However, the Digg team stated in a blog post that the site is still only about 1% done with the project of revitalizing Digg, and that in fact they will never be fully finished. So users can expect the site's advertising options to continue evolving over time, likely with many more options to choose from. The post Digg Has a New Advertising Option for App Developers appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| 6 Surefire Ways to Get Business Referrals Posted: 17 Jan 2013 11:00 AM PST
There is another way to look at this statistic: Are you part of the 82% who are going after the 34% of sales that are not influenced by word of mouth or business referrals? Most sales representatives find it tough to get business referrals, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are 6 ways to get business referrals from clients and acquaintances: Let Everyone Know What You Do This is more for acquaintances but you should let people you meet also know what you do. It is said that everyone has a network of 250 people and these 250 people know 250 people. This means that you can have access to up to 62,500 people. Imagine how many of these people could potentially use what you sell. Ask for Referrals As crazy as this sounds, you should just ask people you do business with or who you know, who they may know that they could refer you to. Form Relationships with Synergistic Companies Why not look to other sales people in non-competing, synergistic companies to generate business referrals? For instance, if you are a home renovation company, consider working with an interior designer so that you can share business referrals back and forth. Networking Events Networking events are a great way to meet people that can help you with business referrals. A great resource to for networking events is Meetup.com. All you have to do is go to Meet Up and look for different networking events in your town or city. If you can’t find one in your town or for your industry, then join Meet Up and start one. I did this and I run two groups in Calgary. I have meet lots of great people and been given some great introductions to people that have translated into business. Use LinkedIn One of the best features of LinkedIn is the ability to see people in your network who are in other peoples network that you my not be connected to. For example, if you want to get in to see a Vice President of Sales for a company, you can go to LinkedIn and see if this person is on LinkedIn. You can then look and see who you know who may know them. Then all you do is approach your connection to see if they can introduce you to the Vice President of Sales that you want to meet. Give Referrals The best way to get business referrals is to give referrals. Always be listening to see if people need help. If you know someone that can help them, then it is your obligation to make a referral. One Last Note It’s one thing to get a business referral, but to take things to a whole new level, get introductions. Take your referral process to the next level and get your contacts to line up meetings to personally introduce you to referrals. Referrals Photo via Shutterstock The post 6 Surefire Ways to Get Business Referrals appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| Using SlideShare for Research and Blog Posts Posted: 17 Jan 2013 08:00 AM PST
Now, seven years later, I often struggle with ideas to write anything. Research, Content IdeasUpdating your blog and site is important. Keeping information and tips related to your audience on your blog is also very important. But sometimes the mind just goes blank. So what do writers do then? I know many writers scan blogs and news websites for content ideas and information that could help them complete an article. Lately, one of the first places I look, once I have a topic idea, is SlideShare. SlideShare is a place where speakers can upload the presentations from conferences, meetings, trainings etc. I won’t say that everything on SlideShare offers the best information, but I can tell you that about 80% of time – I can find valuable information and thoughts not typically found in blog posts, articles or news. Often the creators of the presentations are experts in their field and the information they provide is amazing. There are many speakers that just don’t have time to write and sometimes their best ideas are in their presentations. Obviously you cannot steal these ideas from speakers, but you can quote them and link to their SlideShare page. Another option is embedding their presentations, like this: As you can see above, once I embed a presentation I don’t need to link to the Slideshare page or the creator of the presentation because SlideShare has already done that. However, you can always link to the creator’s blog and the link is appreciated (trust me that they will see you are linking to them at some point). Supplement Your Blog ContentIf you quickly look through the above presentation, you can see it offers a lot of fantastic information about Facebook advertising. Brian Carter is a respected expert in his field. If a writer was discussing Facebook and then ads this information, it could really enhance the article. By embedding the SlideShare, you are helping educate your audience by providing quality and usable information that could help them save and/or make money. When your mind goes blank and you need content ideas, or if you are looking for credible information to support whatever concept you are discussing, I suggest you check out Slideshare. There is nothing wrong with using things that are available for free to supplement your blog content. In fact, some of the freebies available online can really help you keep your blog current. I typically search SlideShare 3 ways:
Check out Slideshare and let me know what you think. And if you have presentations you would like to share, consider creating an account. The exposure can be a very good thing. Presentations Photo via Shutterstock The post Using SlideShare for Research and Blog Posts appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| Key Methods to Boost Credibility With Your Website Posted: 17 Jan 2013 05:00 AM PST
The content and design of your website can make the difference between converting website visits to sales leads, and missing out on big opportunities from prospects who quietly scan through your site, but then leave without making their presence known. Here are a few ways to make sure your website is sending the right messages to build trust and turn more of your website visitors into promising sales leads: Make Sure Your Website Design is Up to Date and Easy to Navigate The fastest way to lose the trust of your website visitors is for your website design to be out-of-date, clunky or hard to navigate. Ideally, your website should offer a clean, simple design that is easy for the reader to quickly scan through. Avoid flashy designs and "bells and whistles." Make it easy for your website visitors to see the key messages and click through to the places you want them to go to invite further contact – whether it's requesting a free quote, or offering a free download in exchange for their e-mail addresses. Start a Blog and Update it Regularly If you don't already have a company blog, you should definitely start one and keep it updated with fresh content. The reason: Having a blog is one of the most important ways to drive regular, recurring traffic to your website. When people come to your site, they need to have something to read that lets them know you're still in business and still actively commenting on your industry's latest issues and trends. Another advantage of using a blog for inbound lead generation is that every single blog article helps to create a "long tail" of keywords and content that prospective customers can find, often months or years after you first published the article. It's great to publish blog content about the latest news and issues in your industry, but it also helps to publish some "evergreen" content about more general topics – advice, "top 10 lists," informative infographics or commentary about what your company learned from a recent project or a recent customer challenge. Include Real-Life Success Stories From Your Customers One of the first questions your prospective customers are asking themselves when they visit your site is:
You can put your prospects' minds at ease by offering real-life case studies from some of your recent customers. Show your website visitors the real stories of what your company does and how you help your customers achieve success, and you'll be more likely to get casual website visitors to ask to hear more from you. Add Client testimonials with Real Names Client testimonials are one of the most powerful ways to build credibility on your website – but you need to use real names of your clients and your clients' companies. If you only include anonymous or generic names of companies, like "XYZ Corporation," that does not build credibility. If anything, it undermines your credibility because your website visitors will be asking themselves:
Ideally, you want to make it easy for your prospective customers to be able to contact your clients who have given testimonials on your website. If a prospect is serious about doing business with you, they will take time to reach out to one of your former clients to ask about the experience. That is actually a good thing. Only prospects that are thinking of hiring you will contact testimonials. If your website can win the trust of your visitors, you'll be more likely to motivate them to ask for more information or for a follow-up call. You don't have to close a deal with your website. Most B2B sales organizations have a longer sales cycle than that. But your website can help you harvest a much higher yield of inbound sales leads if it does a thorough job of answering the most important question on your prospect's mind:
Web Credibility Photo via Shutterstock The post Key Methods to Boost Credibility With Your Website appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| Experts Debate Whether J.C. Penney, Sears Will Survive Posted: 17 Jan 2013 02:30 AM PST We are on the brink of a major change in many industries. In retail specifically, experts are debating whether some big brands will survive. For those small business owners and entrepreneurs who have set their sights on this market or serve customers within it, the outcome will be critical. Other entrepreneurs can learn the importance of adapting to change, so essential to businesses regardless of their size. ShopocalypseThe last retailer standing. J.C. Penney and Sears are among the big brands struggling in a tough and changing economy, and some say the moment of truth has come for both. Other giants that continue to struggle despite the overall success of many retailers during the all important Christmas season include Target, Kohl's, and domestic Gap. Forbes Sweet smell of success. Still, J.C. Penney and Sears remain at the center of a major revolution in their industry, led earlier by innovative brands like J. Crew, to focus on uniqueness and community over simple price cutting. Whether these companies win or loose their fight, the struggle is also of interest to entrepreneurs facing their own pressures to adapt in the marketplace. Bloomberg Problems with ProfitabilityMind over market. Clients often give Matthew Needham a list of excuses why they can’t grow their businesses, mentioning that there aren’t enough customers or that the economy is in bad shape. Turns out, though, that the real problem has to do with state of mind. Just as large brands are actively working to target new customers and transform their markets, smaller businesses must adjust their mindsets for success. The Big Red Tomato Company Shopping cart syndrome. Some businesses may face an even more infuriating problem when it comes to improving their revenue and expanding their customer base, especially online. A recent study suggests that problems online buyers experience with e-commerce sites may account for many lost sales. These include trouble using captcha functions, problems with promo codes and gift card redemption, and more. There are sales you, too, could be missing if your Website isn’t what it should be. Grow Smart Biz Revenue RenaissanceA brand with a plan. Other companies may have a much more basic problem. Markets change from year to year, and if you aren’t updating your business plan on at least an annual basis, your business could suffer the consequences. Fortunately, the process of keeping your business plan up to date is a simple one. Summer Alexander suggests these easy steps to get started. Summer Alexander Research Missing the target. Sometimes a failure to generate sales has nothing to do with your products, services, or business model—it’s your marketing that fails you, says B2B marketing blogger Susan Fantle. A few simple problems can scuttle your marketing efforts, costing you sales. Here, Fantle talks about how to avoid those problems and how to develop a strategy that will lead to success. B2B Marketing Smarts Building blocks. More than specifics like marketing strategy, target audience, or products and services, it may turn out that your company’s overall characteristics will determine whether your businesses grows, stagnates, or withers away and dies. Blogger Kelvin Cech believes there are four basic building blocks upon which growing businesses are built. See whether you have these essential components in your business. Function Writing Group The post Experts Debate Whether J.C. Penney, Sears Will Survive appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
These are tumultuous times for small business owners. The economy has not only made running a business difficult, but managing the business is difficult as well.
Word has it that 66% of all sales are through word of mouth, but only 18% of sales representatives and companies have a formalized process for business referrals.
One of the most difficult things to do is to continually be cranking out blog posts and generating content ideas. When I first started writing, I wrote for two years almost daily. I had no problems with ideation.
One of the most important goals of inbound lead generation is to use your website to build credibility with prospects. All your prospective customers are going to read your website and check out your overall online presence before they decide to pick up the phone.| You are subscribed to email updates from Small Business Trends To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
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