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The next greatest thing in technology isn’t a product, but a process where AI solves business problems. Artificial intelligence means many different things because its potential applications are so wide and varied. While we may think of it as mimicking the brain processing and creativity of humans, to the business owner its promise lies in … Continue reading "How AI Solves Business Problems" The post How AI Solves Business Problems appeared first on What Works for Biz.

  Business integrity is earned, not automatic. Have you ever come across these situations? A person says one thing and does another. Someone lies to obtain an advantage. A story is made up to protect yourself or put others in jeopardy. You may get away with it in the short run. But there is usually … Continue reading "How to Gain Business Integrity" The post How to Gain Business Integrity appeared first on What Works for Biz.

Voice search is going mainstream. How often do you use your golden vocal chords to search the internet? Its estimated half of all internet searches will be done by voice two years from now. (Social Lens) Why? eMarketer projects the number of smart speaker users, those who have an Amazon Alexa or a Google Home … Continue reading "Prepare Your Business for Voice Search" The post Prepare Your Business for Voice Search appeared first on What Works for Biz.

Small business may be overlooking a marketing opportunity through radio advertising. The Nielsen Company estimates that 93% of all U.S. adults listen to radio weekly. Your business customer or prospect is probably one of them. It’s true that more and more marketing dollars are going to online advertising, particularly for mobile video at the expense … Continue reading "When Radio Advertising Works for Business" The post When Radio Advertising Works for Business appeared first on What Works for Biz.

In the game of poker, deception is often more powerful than the cards you hold. Could we be seeing much the same thing play out in a trade war between the United States, China, Canada, Mexico, and other countries around the world? For the vast majority of business the situation may be more uncomfortable than … Continue reading "What’s the Trade War End Game?" The post What’s the Trade War End Game? appeared first on What Works for Biz.

Small business owners with less than 50 employees are calling their healthcare consultants for advice and feasibility studies on a potential opportunity to reduce their employee healthcare costs. They’re responding to a recent Trump administration final ruling on health plans offered by associations. Listen to what two Horan Associates experts have to say about the … Continue reading "A Small Business Healthcare Cost Victory?" The post A Small Business Healthcare Cost Victory? appeared first on What Works for Biz.

  If you’re a business owner, do you prepare to lose employees? It’s no secret that there hasn’t been a better time in the last 17 years for quitting a job than now. In some parts of the country there are more jobs available than workers. Less risk, greater reward is the prevailing attitude. Planning … Continue reading "Why Prepare to Lose Employees?" The post Why Prepare to Lose Employees? appeared first on What Works for Biz.

When you go back to the same restaurant, salon, store, or business regularly, chances are you do so because you receive servant customer service. Those serving you know you by name, recognize your interests, or meet your needs in an exceptional way. Have you ever tried to put a value on this type of customer … Continue reading "The Value of Servant Customer Service" The post The Value of Servant Customer Service appeared first on What Works for Biz.

Does a good economy have you thinking about making a business move or expanding? In May this year the unemployment rate in the U.S. was 3.8%. It was 49 years ago, 1969, that the annual unemployment rate average was below 4%. So this indicator suggests that conditions are ripe today for finding ways to grow … Continue reading "Risk a Business Move, Expansion or Stay Put?" The post Risk a Business Move, Expansion or Stay Put? appeared first on What Works for Biz.

There are more jobs in the Midwest today than there are workers. Business is filling jobs by recruiting from other states and dipping into the ranks of high school students. But that’s not enough. Recruiting and developing workers is a comprehensive effort that requires a partnership between business, vocational training centers, and higher education. According … Continue reading "Filling Jobs for Business Starts in 5th Grade" The post Filling Jobs for Business Starts in 5th Grade appeared first on What Works for Biz.

Have you ever considered whether your own biases and how you view other people’s biases may stunt your small business growth? “When you’re only focused on the product and not on the culture and not on your community, that’s when you can have a problem.” Those are the words of Marc Benioff, CEO of the … Continue reading "How Biases Stunt Small Business Growth" The post How Biases Stunt Small Business Growth appeared first on What Works for Biz.

Sexual harassment wasn’t much of an issue until 1986 when the Supreme Court declared it to be a form of discrimination under Title 7 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. But there has been a parade of prominent men in entertainment, sports, and politics who have lost their jobs, businesses, and reputation recently. Small … Continue reading "7 Things to Know About Sexual Harassment" The post 7 Things to Know About Sexual Harassment appeared first on What Works for Biz.

Benjamin Franklin is considered the father of volunteerism. He recruited volunteers to sweep the streets of Philadelphia, man a fire department, and a militia. Today it’s clear that community service is good for business. People of all ages value those companies who are good corporate citizens, large or small. Employees appreciate working for employers with … Continue reading "How Volunteers and Business Go Together" The post How Volunteers and Business Go Together appeared first on What Works for Biz.

During this year’s Super Bowl several commercials aired with messages focused on community, equality, equal opportunity and how business products serve the common good. These for-profit companies – Toyota, Verizon, Fiat-Chrysler for RAM Trucks, and Coke like saw value in taking a non-profit approach to connecting with consumers. What can a for-profit learn from non-profit … Continue reading "Lessons For-Profits Can Learn From Non-Profit Businesses" The post Lessons For-Profits Can Learn From Non-Profit Businesses appeared first on What Works for Biz.

After looking at a myriad of predictions and trends for 2018 from followers, prognosticators, and marketers, I’ve identified five small business marketing tactics worth attention. Some are easier to endorse and implement than others. Each requires a choice. You need to answer these questions. Would your business benefit from deploying one or more of these … Continue reading "Small Business Marketing Tactics You Want To Ignore" The post Small Business Marketing Tactics You Want To Ignore appeared first on What Works for Biz.

If you actively use social media for B2B lead generation, to find a job, or advance your career, think about how to improve your LinkedIn visibility. This professional network recently changed its algorithm, so status updates may not achieve the same volume of views it used to get. In this podcast Crystal Thies, the LinkedIn … Continue reading "How to Improve Your LinkedIn Visibility" The post How to Improve Your LinkedIn Visibility appeared first on What Works for Biz.

I’ve received some great insights and ideas on best business practices for small business in 2017. Tap into excerpts from several successful business owners and entrepreneurs here on strategy, business culture, managing employees, marketing, social media, maximizing sales, and building business value. These men and women reflect the optimism of small business today as we … Continue reading "Best Business Practices for Small Business" The post Best Business Practices for Small Business appeared first on What Works for Biz.

Business owners often have an inflated view of their enterprise when it comes to answering the question, is my business worth buying now or sometime in the future? Truforte Business Group, a Florida business broker and consultant, says there are 8 drivers of business value. My conversation with Gary Gardner of Truforte highlights the importance … Continue reading "Is Your Business Worth Buying?" The post Is Your Business Worth Buying? appeared first on What Works for Biz.

If you’re searching for business growth, you might run through a checklist of growth starters that lit the flame of growth for Everything But the House, an online estate sale auction marketplace. At one time, this was a quiet local business in Cincinnati. Now it’s in 22 U.S. markets with buyers for the items they … Continue reading "How to Create a Business Growth Bonfire" The post How to Create a Business Growth Bonfire appeared first on What Works for Biz.

There really isn’t much difference between what business owners and employees want to get out of work. Fundamentally they both want what they earn to help them provide for themselves and their families. So why shouldn’t owners or business leaders treat employees more like owners? Jeff Rowe, President and CEO of Q Laboratories believes that … Continue reading "Why Treat Employees Like Owners?" The post Why Treat Employees Like Owners? appeared first on What Works for Biz.