2016 will be a year to remember. It was a year of business changes, social dilemmas, financial scandals, and political upheavals such as Brexit and the U.S. Presidential election. For many people, 2016 is one they are happy to say goodbye to and are eagerly ready to user in a new year. Perhaps those most looking forward to what's in store for 2017 are small business owners. No matter which side of the political fence you sat on in 2016, as we begin 2017 and the political leadership torch is passed there is a sense of optimism in the state of the small business.
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Although digital channels have risen in popularity for both consumers and businesses over the past several years, marketers are seeing a resurgence in tactile efforts like direct mail due to their ability to engage the recipient in different ways than emails and online ads. We recently talked with Mike Henle, owner of Henle Printing Company, about the trends and advancements in printing for businesses. (Read More...)
As Benjamin Franklin once said, "nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes" and people have always worked very hard to delay one and reduce the other. Thankfully for small business owners there is a tax incentive that could have a significant impact and reduce their tax burden – Section 179. Section 179 enables small business owners to accelerate deductions on eligible equipment and assets they purchase for their business. (Read More...)
Rebranding is not only a time to refresh your company's look but also its position as a brand. It is after all called reBranding. This is a time to reflect on how you stand apart from your competition and how you want to be known by your industry. It is also a time to realign your message internally. The following approach made BevSource's rebranding efforts run smoothly and successfully. (Read More...)
In Surveys to Improve Your Customer Experience (Part 1) we covered the importance of incorporating surveys into your sales and service processes in order to gain valuable feedback and improve customer satisfaction.
Now, let's talk about the mechanics. How do you pull off a killer survey that not only generates response, but the right response? (Read More...)
For small to medium sized businesses, keeping your fingers on the pulse of the business is vitally important. This is especially true in this age of social networking where recommendations or negative comments can spread virally. The secret is in understanding customer sentiment and working toward continual customer satisfaction improvement. A customer survey is an effective way to get feedback that you can analyze and use to improve the customer experience. (Read More...)
What would you think of a 14-hour light bulb? Probably not much, but that was the length of time Thomas Edison's bulb lasted – which in 1879 equaled the duration of burning 30 candles.
Today, lights are something you might not think much about – you flip on the lights when opening your business, and the last one out shuts them off. Some office buildings even leave "night lights" on; a certain level of lighting that is less than during work hours but doesn't plunge your business into total darkness. But did you know that energy used by lights alone can be 20-50% of your electric bill? Upgrading your business to light emitting diode (LED) lights can be a powerful savings tool that you shouldn't over look. (Read More...)
Is direct mail part of your annual marketing mix? If you answered no, you may want to reconsider.
With so much in the media about social marketing campaigns, mobile coupons, and opt-in for multichannel marketing efforts, you may think direct mail marketing campaigns are disappearing like the dinosaurs. You would, however, be mistaken. Direct mail has adapted to the changes in technology and can give small to medium-sized business (SMB) marketers a cost-effective way to stay in front of prospects and clients while delivering measurable ROI.
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