Most managers have too much on their minds to devote attention to controlling the cost of their products. After all, managers have to worry about meeting schedules and deadlines, getting the work out, keeping customers happy, and dealing with problem employees and employee problems. Virtually every move a manager makes has a resulting effect on the cost of operations. Cost implications may not be obvious at all times, but they're always there. Therefore, it's in the realm of cost control that th... [read more]

This column is the first in a two-part series on the hiring process. This month we'll discuss background checks, and next month's column will cover reference checks. Both background checks and reference checks can be critical components in the hiring process. When it comes to background checks, employers should be aware of the reasons for performing a background check, what basic information to request and what legal boundaries exist to protect an employee's privacy.

First, let’s establish this truth. We are all sales people. I don’t care if you are an engineer, a 3rd grade teacher, a social worker or a copier saleswoman. You are in sales. Every single one of us needs to sell someone on something. It might be getting your boss to agree to closing [...]

Not all cards offer the same incentives or rewards. The ideal return is one point for each dollar spent (or mile flown if you are saving airline miles). The thing to keep in mind is that what is ideal and what is real in the world of credit card rewards programs are often two very different things. Rewards programs vary from one carrier to the next, so what can you do to ensure you're getting a good deal?

There are aspects of our business life that are challenges. When I blog or when I design or consult, I often come across challenges that only research can address. I am currently investigating podcasts. I want the production to be more than me in front of a microphone discussing branding tips. What about production values? [...]

Nofollow was a stupid idea from the beginning, and I’m sure most webmasters would agree with that. It was intended to put a bandage on a gaping wound. Nofollow was invented in order to tell search engines “this link was probably spammed so don’t trust it.” It was meant to wipe out [...]

Recently my daughter was admitted to the hospital for a serious eye infection. If you’re not familiar with our story last November she was diagnosed with hodgkins lymphoma, and thank the Lord she was shown to be completely free of all disease half way into her treatment. But in the meantime she developed pnemonia, along with most [...]

Recently my daughter was admitted to the hospital for a serious eye infection. If you’re not familiar with our story last November she was diagnosed with hodgkins lymphoma, and thank the Lord she was shown to be completely free of all disease half way into her treatment. But in the meantime she developed pnemonia, along with most [...]

Not long ago I viewed a very unpleasant incident in a local retail store. As I was working with a sales associate to set up details of the service I was ordering, a manager interrupted us. The conversation between the manager and the associate escalated into an argument. Apparently, the associate helping me was supposed to have gone on lunch break about the time I walked in. This seemingly minor infraction—which was, after all, only the result of good customer service—resulted in a visibly shake... [read more]

On-page optimization is an extremely productive past time. Although it’s rarely talked about in the kind of awed tones reserves for it’s cousing, off-page optimization, people in the know are doing it constantly, and to great effect. Common SEO wisdom tends to ignore on-page optimization, or deal with in a perfunctory manner, but [...]

The above headline is a hook based on sexual innuendo coupled with no intention to deliver. It is also something that I find despicable on the web and that is the classic practice of “Bait and Switch”. In its classic scenario, you picked up your weekend edition of the newspaper, went through the advertising flyers [...]

For many small business owners, filling an empty position takes a lot of effort -- after all, you don't want to hire the first semi-qualified applicant who walks through the door. So how do you attract the perfect employee when you need to fill a vacancy? You may be tempted to simply place a "help wanted" sign in your window, but that's not always enough to attract someone who will mesh with your team and perform well at their job. Would that simple sign reach the candidate pool you hope to hire... [read more]

You don’t have to spend $2 million dollars on a Super Bowl commercial to have a creative ad that grabs people’s attention. What are some keys to having something that breaks through the clutter? Try these 5 rules: Surprise your audience. Do something they don’t expect. Make sure it is relevant. Funny for funny sake [...]

Google is innovating again. The company is adding some new features to its’ Adsense program, that might provide a boost for publisher earnings. # Frequency capping, which prevents users from repeatedly seeing the same ads on your pages. # Improved attribution, to help advertisers identify the best performing sites in the network based on post-impression activity. # [...]

In the quest to gain new business, it's easy for business owners to forget about the clients who have been with them year in and year out. But long-term clients are largely responsible for a small business' growth, which is why savvy business owners should let them know they're appreciated. Here are some ways to reward customer loyalty, making it more likely to continue.

Praise and criticism are two important elements of effective leadership. Praise is especially important in what should be a manager's ongoing effort to elevate average or even better-than-average performance to outstanding performance. Although praise is always more powerful than criticism in improving performance, it's an unfortunate reality that criticism is the more frequently used of the two. This condition undoubtedly exists because criticism is necessary to right a wrong or reverse an erro... [read more]

Lately if you have been following our Media page, here at SBB we have received some pretty cool exposure. 1) Logoworks by HP featured Ed Roach where he gives us 5 Tips To Branding A Powerful Presence. 2) Dell featured Drew McLellan`s Article You Can Say Thank You Too. View the post by Dell here In light of [...]

After seeing how much attention Cuil.com got for the launch of their basically shitty search engine, you realize just how much interest there would be in an alternative. I’m not sure what the numbers would translate into, but the target audience would be huge. People have been dealing with Google for years, and [...]

Twitter? I have a group of friends that are NOT technologically savvy. They don’t know a hard drive from a long drive. They do know sales and how to run a business, so how and why would they want to take the time to learn about social networking and Twitter specifically? Well let’s first take [...]

Unlike nearly half of all the adults in America, many business owners get their fair share of exercise. By some estimates, entrepreneurs may walk the equivalent of roughly 15 miles on any given day simply taking care of matters related to the continued success of their business. One sure fire way to measure just how many steps you take a day is to invest in a pedometer. The palm-sized device, ranging from $10 to $50, will calculate your steps into miles on a daily, weekly, monthly or even yearly... [read more]

Finding the right employees is crucial to all small business owners who want to ensure that day-to-day operations run smoothly and avoid the costs associated with high employee turnover. Since information is key to maximizing your chances at determining whether an employee is the right fit, take advantage of Internet resources that can be used to prescreen potential employees.

It has been repetitively said that communication is key. Whether a business is looking to initiate new business or grow relationships within its existing book of business, effective communication is the driving force in helping companies moving their business in the right direction. Communication should be seen as ongoing starting from the first phone or [...]

There are many people who have no idea how to make money online. You have a website up, and we use all the traditional methods of advertising, word of mouth, etc. The online world is SO different from offline. If you’re a business with a brand and a message you want to grow, then there [...]

You might have heard some of your colleagues and friends talking about Twitter, the latest social networking site that keeps your contacts updated frequently on your whereabouts and activities. But did you know that Twitter could potentially provide you with a fresh new marketing strategy? Read on to find out how Twitter could benefit your business.

Avis and their 3 Minute Promise Guest post by Bill Hogg www.billhogg.ca In the same vein as my earlier post Are You Measuring What Counts, the blog Customer Relations referred me to an article where EasierTravel reported that Avis has launched its “3 Minute Promise” service, for Avis Preferred members in France and the UK. “The 3 [...]