Posts Tagged ‘business advice’
5 Essential Things When Crafting Your Business Story
One of the most common hang-ups businesses have in crafting their story (besides never having enough time, right?) is the term story. It’s easy to think telling your story is all about you. But you’re telling a story for a business purpose to help people connect with and remember you. You’re not trying to reach the best-seller list.…
Read MoreTools for Being a Better Listener When Your Customers Aren’t in the Room
Most of the time being a better listener means closing your mouth and not thinking about what you will say next. But the real listening help most small business owners need in today’s business climate is digital. Why Being a Good Listener is Important In addition to people feeling more valued when they believe you’re…
Read MoreGood Customer Service Stinks
Good customer service isn’t good enough and you might not even have that. Back in the early 90s, Patty Smyth and Don Henley recorded a song called “Sometimes Love Just Ain’t Enough.” They sang that although love is a big thing, sometimes it’s not enough to hold things together. The same can be true of…
Read More20 Ideal Places to Steal Content Ideas
Kirsty Daniels wrote in an article that appeared on HubSpot, “the top three goals marketers achieve through successful content marketing are generating brand awareness, building credibility and trust, and educating audiences.” Great reasons to produce good content but coming up with valuable content ideas on a deadline is hard. Between writer’s block and a feeling of having already…
Read MoreWorst Marketing Content Advice That Most Businesses Follow
It’s easy to follow the crowd and when it comes to marketing and content creation, there are a lot of people out there giving advice. But creating content for business is different than a fifteen-year-old trying to get more followers or be labeled as an influencer on social media. Are you making these common mistakes…
Read More5 Advantages Small Businesses Have Over Their Large Counterparts
David and Goliath is a great story. But too often, when it comes to small business, the story doesn’t have the same triumphant ending. Over the years, we’ve seen indie bookstores go out of business thanks to online offerings. The small local grocers of our youth have closed up shop. It sometimes feels impossible to…
Read MorePresident’s Message
It’s the Year of the Rabbit! For many, that means a predicted time of self-reflection. Whether you follow the messages of the Lunar New Year or not, this is good advice for businesses. While last year’s Year of the Tiger was one of action, this year is focused on assessment and measure for the intention…
Read MoreIs Your Business Voice Evident in These 5 Places?
Ever notice how parents know the sound of their child’s cry even when surrounded by groups of children or how a dog owner knows their pet’s bark? Those familiar sounds make us stop what we’re doing and pay attention to that loved one. The tone of their “voice” cuts through the noise and grabs our…
Read MoreWhat’s in Chamber Membership for You? Hint: it’s more than just a ribbon cutting
Years ago, businesspeople joined the chamber because it was expected. It was just something you did. These days membership isn’t automatic for most people but it’s still a valuable investment in your business. In addition to networking events and ribbon cuttings, the Alameda Chamber offers a lot of benefits–things you can’t do for yourself. Plus,…
Read More4 of the Most Effective Ways to Sell Your Product or Service
If you own a business, you probably spend a lot of time thinking of different ways you can sell your product or service. Maybe you’ve investigated neuro-marketing or tried one of these sales approaches. A hard, persuasive sell is next to impossible these days, isn’t it? Relationships are incredibly important to brands, especially with social…
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