4 ways to find and keep customers in 2016
January 14th, 2016
Fully understanding how prospects and customers like to shop and which online channels they are likely to visit can help supercharge your efforts this year. If your 2016 plans call for an increased focus on finding customers and keeping them loyal, consider these tips based on marketers’ and analysts’ predictions for 2016. Fine-tune your targeting
7 ways to hit the ground running in 2016
January 5th, 2016
Are you already thinking 2016 is going to be a great year for your small business? Hold on a minute. Before you actually bid adieu to 2015, there are some things you can—and should—do right now to assure you hit the ground running in 2016. Thoroughly review 2015 There’s no better way to learn than
Congratulations to the 2015 Real Stories video contest winners
December 4th, 2015
Thank you to all the filmmakers and businesses that participated in the 2015 Real Stories video contest. We were truly inspired by the business stories you captured and wanted to thank everyone who entered. We received submissions from more than 55 creative video professionals from all around the country who shared stories of small-business owners
Real Story
Consciousness raising with food, wine, travel
Intentional Table offers event dining in scenic Northwest locations and small food and wine tours from Sicily to Southeast Asia.
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Is your phone a data hog? 5 ways to stop it
January 29th, 2016
Smartphones are an essential tool for running a small company. In fact, many of the most successful business owners are migrating more and more of their work to their smartphone. With this trend comes the need to get the most from your phone—using it for what pays back and preventing drains on your data plan that are avoidable or don’t benefit you. If your plan provides a limited allotment of data, this is especially critical. Review these tips to find smart ways to make the most of your phone’s data plan. Optimize for Wi-Fi Data downloaded over Wi-Fi won’t count against your data
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Have a story of small business challenges and successes? Tell us and you could be chosen.
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5 signs that you’re being killed by complexity
January 26th, 2016
Do your business processes support innovation and productivity, or are they getting in the way? Here are five warning signs that a process might be doing more harm than good. The process inhibits customer service If you find yourself (or your employees) telling customers, “I can’t help you because …” and the reason is a process that isn’t critical, it’s time to rethink that process. Maybe you need a technology update or overhaul that allows customers to buy online or track their purchases. But if it’s simply a bad case of that’s-not-how-we-do-it, it’s time to rewrite the ru
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Want the edge? Start offering mobile payments
January 25th, 2016
Consumers have embraced digital wallets and mobile payments such as PayPal®, Apple Pay®, Google Wallet™ payment service, and Groupon®. Small businesses that want to satisfy customers would be wise to ride the wave. Consumers already use their smartphones for just about everything, including searching for deals while shopping. Most consumers (69 percent) said they expect to use mobile devices to find deals while in and outside of stores. If you accept mobile payments, you're giving your business a competitive edge. Millennials in particular love mobile payments; about half surveyed s
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Get consumers’ attention with these mobile marketing ideas
January 22nd, 2016
Thanks to technology, connecting with customers and prospective clients has never been easier. One of the most valuable tools available to help your small business reach out is mobile marketing. After all, with consumers relying on mobile phones for everything from directions to coupons to communicating with friends and family, the easiest way to get someone’s attention is on the phone. Here are nine ideas to attract customers with mobile marketing. Is business slow in your store or restaurant? Set up a limited time special offer (“Buy one lunch special, get one half off from 11:30-1:3
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Can you name 10 ways tablets can boost sales?
January 20th, 2016
Are you tapping into the power of tablet computers in your business yet? Whatever your industry, tablets can help you get things done faster, better, and more efficiently. Here are 10 ideas for using tablets to pump up your business. 1. Do a pop-up Take along a tablet equipped with a mobile payment app such as Square, and it's easy to set up shop just about anywhere on a temporary basis. Pop-up shops are a great way to expand your market reach during busy times (such as the holiday shopping season) to take advantage of short-term opportunities (such as a big community event) or to test new p
