businesses
Signs of growth: Businesses are borrowing
Now that demand is up and business is finally improving for many companies, they're doing what they always do at the beginning of an expansion — calling the bank and asking for a loan. And—in stark contrast to the depths of the financial crisis, banks are saying yes. Loans are one of the best gauges of economic growth, and borrowing by smaller companies is being watched especially closely because it may indicate those companies are preparing to hire. Full Article.
Generating Word-of-Mouth Buzz about your business
Most businesses move along the path of success because of word of mouth. The more buzz there is about your business, the more people will become interested and want to get involved. To There are several things businesses can do to increase word of mouth communication about their business, including using social media programs, offering exclusive services and products, and communicating in effective and interesting ways. Full article.
Wanted: Social Media sifters
Companies are expected to more than double the amount they're spending for online data, according to marketing consultant Winterberry Group. The prospect of such fast-growing revenue is one reason social media monitoring outfits are being snapped up by larger software and market-research firms. Research indicates that advertisers in the U.S. are also getting the message and will increase their spending on social media sites by 24 percent next year. Full article.
Reduce meetings and make those you do have more effective
Businesses sometimes use meetings as substitutions for having good information-sharing processes and technologies, best practices for communicating, or clear decision-making processes. Using a few simple strategies can help minimize the number of meetings you have and make them more effective. Full article.
How to Cut Credit-Card Fees
Business owners have long grumbled about the cost of taking credit cards, and for the first time, Congress is considering regulating how the fees are set. Small shops, however, can reduce how much they pay to accept credit cards. Companies that train a sharp eye on these costs and negotiate with processers can find savings. Merchants should also get detailed price quotes in writing from different providers before opening a new store or renewing an existing contract. Full article.
Mayors say partnership key to attracting business
Much of the discussion at the Louisiana Leadership Forum between Mayors focused on revenue shortages and the importance of partnering to attract more busines. The forum was part of Business Report's 28th annual BizTech Expo, which concluded this afternoon at the River Center. Officials agree that the need for increased businesses, with corresponding increases in revenue and jobs, is urgent. Full article.
Four Innovation Questions
Ironically, the zeal to create unsurpassed services often handicaps businesses, but savvy leaders can avoid that trap by asking four things before making a decision. Rather than asking, "How are we doing?" or "How is our service performing?" service innovation success relies on a company asking, "How is the customer doing?" and "What else would the customer like to be doing?" Full article.
What's wrong with 'Free'
For businesses struggling through tough economic times, using "free" to lure leery customers can be tempting. However, when companies make a gratis offer, what they're really doing is muddying the cost-benefit equation and making it more difficult for their prospects to make a clear value determination. Full article.
BP claims czar: Proximity has no role in payment
Kenneth Feinberg, the administrator of the fund doling out money to Gulf of Mexico oil spill victims says geographic proximity to oil-impacted areas will no longer play a role in whether people and businesses are compensated. He recently announced a more lenient program that would not rule out claims simply because claimants are not located on the coast. Full article.
Nine rules for rebooting your business
Businesses everywhere are rebooting on the heels of the recession, and odds are, your organization is, or will soon be, one of them. As a leader, you must step up and strive, artfully and authentically, for success. There are nine rules you can follow that will help you make it real, and they include being willing to let go of the way things are now and gauging your attention span. Full article.
