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Trends and Changes Can Help or Hurt Your Small Business

  'Designing Strategies' eNewsletter May - June 2018            Volume 15 - Issue 83   Being aware of what is happening around you – and your small business – on a regular basis is critical to your success.  Far too many small businesses get blindsided by changes coming their way.  They may not be paying attention or fail to ‘read the tea leaves’ correctly.  Or, they may have a smug feeling of invincibility, believing nothing can take them down.  Those who fall into one or more of these categories, soon find themselves out of business.  Remember:  [...]

By |2019-01-27T01:01:02-05:00May 25th, 2018|Strategic Management, Trends|
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Top Social Media Trends for 2018

Designing Strategies  eNewsletter Volume 15                          Issue 81 Social Media Trends Changed Many Times Over 20 Years Social media trends are constantly changing.  It is hard to believe, but back in 1997, social media was born.   Twenty years ago.  Two decades of digital socialization.   Can you even remember not having a social media presence?  In its earliest versions, it was meant to provide platforms for people to connect and 'be social'.  Today, a lot has changed through innovation and changes in technology.   Vast numbers of changes have occurred.  There are [...]

By |2018-01-28T02:52:39-05:00January 28th, 2018|Marketing, Newsletter, Social Media, Trends|
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Safety and Security of Customer Data:  You ARE Responsible

You may not be aware that as a small business owner, you are responsible for the safety and security of  customer data.  In case you missed it, Google is making a big push to improve protection of privacy and security of consumer data.  This effort serves to encourage businesses of all sizes to provide a SSL security certificate, letting consumers know that your site provides protection for any information they give you. This applies especially to sales that use credit cards for payment.   Safety and Security Using SSL Security Certificates Changing the beginning of your company website's URL address [...]

By |2017-11-27T03:29:39-05:00November 27th, 2017|Strategic Planning, Systems and Processes, Technology|
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Being a Solo-preneur Can Be Dangerous! Beware of the Pitfalls.

Do you ever think about how being a solo-preneur can be dangerous?  Maybe you should.  I know that it is hard to consider when you don't have a business in a dangerous industry like manufacturing or construction. If your small business mostly involves working in your office alone, it doesn't seem dangerous at all.   But, there are pitfalls in all types of businesses.  Why else would our states demand workman's compensation donations to cover injuries received on the job? I've been doing some cleaning in my office recently.  No, not just dusting, vacuuming and emptying trash.  That stuff I do [...]

By |2017-11-02T18:10:12-04:00November 2nd, 2017|Growth, Strategy, Systems and Processes|
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Succession and Retirement Planning: Neither Should Be Ignored

How are you doing planning for your own retirement? Do you plan to keep your business alive even after you go away?  Stop putting things off.  Now is the time to address succession and retirement planning for your small business.  Give yourself the time necessary to accumulate a significant cache to fund your golden years.  You should probably started much sooner, but there is no time like the present to catch up. We read all the time about the need to create generous compensation and benefit packages to attract top talent for our small businesses.  Health care, paid holidays, paid [...]

By |2017-10-04T00:27:55-04:00October 4th, 2017|Strategic Management, Strategic Planning, Succession Planning|
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Strategies for Change: Be Alert, Be Aware, Be Strategic

The world as we know it is coming to an end!  Sounds an awful lot like the childhood story, Chicken Little, doesn’t it?  Remember that story about Henny-Penny running around the barn yard telling everyone the sky is falling after some innocent thing fell on her head?  Definitely not a good strategy for dealing with change.  Unlike every other day, something new and different happened - something changed.  Strategies for change should be top of mind for every small business owner who is passionate about the success of their firm. Notice the key words in that first sentence are "...as [...]

By |2017-08-16T15:39:58-04:00June 20th, 2017|Strategic Management, Strategy, Trends|
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Your Unique Definition of Success – The Foundation of Your Small Business

'Designing Strategies' e-Newsletter Volume 14               Issue 77   Success – what does it mean?  From a quick Google search, Success is defined as either:  the accomplishment of an aim or purpose, or the attainment of popularity or profit.  Ask any small business owner or entrepreneur what they want to get from their start-up enterprise and odds are, they will respond with:  "Success.” or "I want to be successful."  Sounds about right, doesn't it? In reality, those answers are simply not enough.  What does success mean to you, as an individual, small business owner? [...]

By |2017-11-20T16:21:24-05:00June 2nd, 2017|Newsletter, Strategy, Strategy|
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Your Company Needs a Blog. Blogging is a Great Marketing Tool

Of course, your company needs a blog.  In our opinion, the answer would be a definite Yes!  Any company needs a blog for a number of reasons.  There are so many benefits to having a company blog.  "What benefits?" you might ask. Glad you asked - here are just a few. Blogs let companies of all types and sizes  connect with potential clients and build relationships. That is what is known as lead generation.  Blogs provide a platform that allows small businesses to 'show their stuff'.  Customers look online for a company to solve their problems.  They can find valuable [...]

By |2017-04-17T21:19:41-04:00April 17th, 2017|Marketing, Strategy|
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Grow Your Small Business By Adding and Empowering Employees

'Designing Strategies' eNewsletter Volume 14                     Issue 75   If a typical day at your small business involves staff waiting for you to come into the office so they can get your approval of progress on a project, it's not a good thing. If employees are standing in line to get access to you to answer questions, that's not good either. Odds are your firm is in Stagnant Stalemate mode. Your firm is not growing. It is not expanding. Staff can't accomplish anything because you have a death grip on control [...]

By |2017-01-28T02:49:34-05:00January 28th, 2017|Employees, Growth, Newsletter, Strategy|
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Trend Hunter’s Megatrends for 2017

'Designing Strategies' Newsletter November – December 2016                      Volume 13 – Issue 74   2016 is coming to its end and 2017 is emerging on the horizon just behind. Out with the old, in with whatever will be new. Baby New Year is trying on his sash for final alterations as Father Time shuffles to his finish line. I started off the day with an exclamation of “Egads, it’s almost December!” Thanksgiving is already behind us and a plethora of year end events and holidays are ahead. On the business side, we rush to get year-end [...]

By |2017-01-11T01:19:09-05:00November 28th, 2016|Newsletter, Strategy, Trends|
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