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Newsletter Archive

How to Know If You’re on the Right Track? Question Everything

October 26, 2022

How to Know If You’re on the Right Track? Question Everything You can’t discover what you really need to know about your product or service unless you interrogate your customers, suppliers, and manufacturers. Illustration by Gracia Lam Any founder interested in thriving over the long term needs to be addicted to innovation. I know I am. … Continued

Customers Are Expected to Pull Back on Holiday Spending. Here’s How to Adapt

October 26, 2022

Customers Are Expected to Pull Back on Holiday Spending. Here’s How to Adapt Shoppers are expected to spend less than they did last year, but some smart promotions can help you earn their dollars. Photo: Getty Images This holiday season, it’s all about quality over quantity–and flexibility over everything else. Shoppers are pulling back … Continued

Win More Customers by Avoiding These 7 Questions

October 26, 2022

Win More Customers by Avoiding These 7 Questions While there are a lot of right things to say during a sales conversation, there are also wrong things that could turn a potential customer away. Photo: Getty Images Sales calls can be high-pressure situations for a sales rep, as it can be difficult to hit … Continued

Solving the “Purpose Gap” between Executives and Workers

October 26, 2022

Solving the “Purpose Gap” between Executives and Workers There is a growing distance between how employees and top executives feel purpose is being activated inside America’s largest companies, according to a new study. Photo: Getty Images The Purpose Power Index is a first-of-its-kind research study to empirically rank companies based on public perception of … Continued

6 Super Effective Ways to Show Your Emotional Intelligence at Work

October 26, 2022

6 Super Effective Ways to Show Your Emotional Intelligence at Work When it comes to work effectiveness, emotional intelligence can matter as much, if not more, than IQ. Photo: Getty Images In the Future of Jobs Report, which the World Economic Forum published in 2015, chief human resources officers from global companies were asked what they … Continued

No Matter Your Company’s Size, Customers Will Hold You Accountable for Ethical Lapses

October 25, 2022

Survey: No Matter Your Company’s Size, Customers Will Hold You Accountable for Ethical Lapses A new report from ‘Harvard Business Review’ shows how a company’s perceived ethical violations can impact public opinion. Photo: Getty Images Companies of all sizes have a responsibility to do the right thing–according to their customers, at least. When … Continued

3 Tips for Improving Team Productivity in Hybrid and Remote Workplaces

October 25, 2022

3 Tips for Improving Team Productivity in Hybrid and Remote Workplaces Psychological safety is a critical factor in removing obstacles that hold back teamwork. Photo: Getty Images Improving team participation is a constant challenge for leaders, whether people are working together in the office or remotely. Many teams can suffer from “domination by the few,” where several … Continued

If Shoppers Pull Back, It’s Time to Target Premium Buyers

October 25, 2022

If Shoppers Pull Back, It’s Time to Target Premium Buyers Budget retailers tend to benefit when the economy hits a rough patch. But there’s also something to be said for re-targeting a higher-end audience. Photo: Getty Images As shoppers cut back on unnecessary expenses, some businesses are promoting their higher-priced goods and services. And no, that’s … Continued

How to Humanize a Brand

October 25, 2022

How to Humanize a Brand: 15 Best Tips for Humanizing Your Voice What’s the one thing business owners and their employees, partners and even customers all have in common? Well, at the most basic level, they’re all human. So why is it sometimes so challenging for businesses to showcase this in their marketing efforts? Perhaps … Continued

Sunday Scaries

August 17, 2022

Sunday Scaries: How they stole half the weekend and what you can do about it Have you ever found yourself reaching for the perfect, ripe tomato at your local Sunday farmers market, smiling and blissful, only to get hit with a sudden sense of impending doom out of nowhere? No, it’s not a bad piece … Continued

It’s Time To Rethink ‘Best Practices’

August 17, 2022

It’s Time To Rethink ‘Best Practices’ Best practices may be ingrained in your organization, but they may also be limiting your company’s potential. Adam Grant. Photo: Getty Images Almost everyone is thinking about the future of work and the new tools businesses will use. But less thought is given to the tools and strategies they’ll stop using. … Continued

5 Rare Strategies to Successfully Lead a Company During Tough Times

August 17, 2022

5 Rare Strategies to Successfully Lead a Company During Tough Times Here’s how to safeguard the workplace from becoming toxic. Photo: Getty Images A global pandemic, racial riots, the Great Resignation, the spread of gun violence, and now inflation and a recession. We have been caught in a cycle of uncertainty and upheaval for over two years … Continued

The Labor Shortage Is Only Set to Grow

August 17, 2022

The Labor Shortage Is Only Set to Grow. These Companies Think Apprenticeships Are the Answer Employers are struggling to find the skilled workers they need. Paid, on-the-job training could transform the workforce for good. The team at Multiverse. Photo: Courtesy Multiverse White collar industries are just starting to embrace the apprenticeship–and some businesses say it’s the future of … Continued

What Gen-Z Wants From Employers

August 17, 2022

What Gen-Z Wants From Employers: Skip the Flexibility, Bring on the Career Mobility Employers are struggling to find the skilled workers they need. Paid, on-the-job training could transform the workforce for good. Photo: Getty Images Money talks, but for some employees, it isn’t everything. In fact, some workers would be willing to take pay … Continued

5 Tips for How Your Business Can Help Save the Planet

August 17, 2022

Seth Godin’s 5 Tips for How Your Business Can Help Save the Planet The marketing mind behind the purple cow takes on climate change in the new book, ‘The Carbon Almanac: It’s Not Too Late.’ Illustration: Raymond Biesinger Seth Godin doesn’t care about your company’s coffee habits, at least not as they relate to saving … Continued

What role does social media play in the shopper journey?

August 17, 2022

What role does social media play in the shopper journey? Online shopping has become the norm. But how are consumers using social media throughout the shopping process? Social media and the shopper journey While shopping behaviors have been steadily transforming for decades, the past two years sped up the rate of change exponentially. Not only … Continued

The Value of Customer Delight

August 17, 2022

The Value of Customer Delight Incorporating customer delight may be easier than you think. But how should you measure the impact of delight? And how can you delight existing customers? Terry Vavra and Douglas Pruden discuss these questions and more as they comment on a recent article published in Quirk’s, “Measuring and managing customer delight.” … Continued

Covid Two Years Later: 6 Hard-Learned Lessons From Businesses That Survived the Pandemic

August 15, 2022

Covid Two Years Later: 6 Hard-Learned Lessons From Businesses That Survived the Pandemic These companies found new paths to profitability during the pandemic. Here’s how. Getty Images It’s been two years since the World Health Organization declared Covid a global pandemic and since then nearly every facet of business has been upended. While hundreds of thousands of … Continued

16 Types of Customer Needs (and How to Solve for Them)

August 15, 2022

16 Types of Customer Needs (and How to Solve for Them) Companies want to stay relevant and innovative and often look at other successful companies, hot industry trends, or new shiny products for inspiration. However, a vital component to growth is at every business’s fingertips — their customers. Yes, customers are the ones with the … Continued

6 leadership types you’ll find on ‘Ted Lasso’

August 15, 2022

6 leadership types you’ll find on ‘Ted Lasso’ The popular Apple TV show, now shooting its third season, is chock-full of leadership lessons. Here are some of the characters that deliver them. Brendan Hunt, Jason Sudeikis and Nick Mohammed in “Ted Lasso” season two. [Photo: Apple] BY GWEN MORAN AND CARL PHILLIPS Warning: The following piece has many major … Continued

Welcoming Back Formerly-Retired Workers Can Help Remedy Your Labor Pains. Just Don’t Forget the Buddy System

August 15, 2022

Welcoming Back Formerly-Retired Workers Can Help Remedy Your Labor Pains. Just Don’t Forget the Buddy System How to make their reentry to the workforce as seamless as possible. The NBA isn’t the only organization plucking employees out of retirement. To contend with ongoing labor shortages, businesses are similarly tapping this vast source of talent. The onset of the pandemic hastened the … Continued

How to Change Other People

August 15, 2022

How to Change Other People In their new book, Leadership coaches Peter Bregman and Howie Jacobson, PhD describe their four-part formula for changing people’s minds. Image: Courtesy publisher If you’re an entrepreneur–or a leader of any kind–the ability to align and bring out the best in the people around you is your most important … Continued

3 Simple Ways to Manage Burnout, According to a Top Psychotherapist

August 15, 2022

3 Simple Ways to Manage Burnout, According to a Top Psychotherapist Employees aren’t the only ones suffering these days. Getty Images Entrepreneurs are no stranger to stress, anxiety and burnout. That said, some have better ways to manage those challenges than others. For some insight into how to help entrepreneurs negotiating this tricky terrane, Inc. tapped Paul Sheesley, a Washington D.C.-based psychotherapist, … Continued

How to Improve Your Communication Skills in 5 Simple Steps

August 15, 2022

How to Improve Your Communication Skills in 5 Simple Steps In the workplace, each employee may have their own tasks and targets, but together, you are all working toward the same end goal. But with so many different people coming together, there’s bound to be some friction on how to implement ideas and strategies best. … Continued

Workers Keep Resigning. Here’s a Novel Idea to Get Them to Stay

August 15, 2022

Workers Keep Resigning. Here’s a Novel Idea to Get Them to Stay Instead of relying on exit interviews for potentially illuminating information, business owners are connecting with their employees before they’re already out the door. To keep employees from leaving amid the Great Resignation, leaders need to start asking the tough questions–at the right time. … Continued

Insourcing vs. Outsourcing: Everything You Need to Know

August 15, 2022

Insourcing vs. Outsourcing: Everything You Need to Know Your employees know your business processes well. They understand your brand messaging and vision and feel a general sense of connectedness to your organization. Given this, many businesses choose to insource and have existing employees undertake new tasks rather than hiring freelancers or other agencies that don’t have an existing … Continued

Having a Terrible Day?

April 20, 2022

Having a Terrible Day? Turn Things Around by Doing These 5 Simple Things You can make a bad day better without a lot of effort My favorite book growing up was Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst. It told the highly relatable and true story of the author’s young son … Continued

What Is Servant Leadership?

April 20, 2022

What Is Servant Leadership? Some choose to use a democratic style, where they make final decisions after getting input from team members. Some are individualists, focused on personal development and improvement, while others act as a coach that works to help employees develop their skills and build strong teams. Although different in practice, most leadership … Continued

5 Open Door Policy Examples

April 20, 2022

5 Open Door Policy Examples Whether they have an issue they want to be resolved or ideas they think would improve the company or better serve clients, employees just want to be heard. When you don’t create an open line of communication with your team, they may feel discouraged, leading to poor morale and ultimately … Continued

How to Use Porter’s Five Forces to Outmaneuver Your Competition

April 20, 2022

How to Use Porter’s Five Forces to Outmaneuver Your Competition Porter’s Five Forces is a model that identifies and describes the five economic forces that shape every industry. More specifically, it explains how these forces dictate every industry’s competitive intensity, potential for profitability, and attractiveness. Porter’s Five Forces has become a fundamental model that most … Continued

7 Google Q&A Best Practices For A better Customer Experience

April 20, 2022

7 Google Q&A Best Practices For A better Customer Experience No matter your size or industry, people are using Google to ask questions about your business. Do you know who’s answering? By leaving it up to the public, you’re risking your visibility and your credibility. When used correctly, Google Q&A can boost trustworthiness and create a … Continued

Here’s How to Talk About Fear at Work

April 20, 2022

The Ukraine Crisis Has People Rattled. Here’s How to Talk About Fear at Work Leaders don’t need to have all the answers in the midst of global uncertainty. But they do need to start the conversation. No bubble wrap required. Your workplace doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Amid global tragedy, anxiety and other emotions are … Continued

U.S.’s Cyber Agency Raises New ‘Shields-Up’ Warning

April 20, 2022

U.S.’s Cyber Agency Raises New ‘Shields-Up’ Warning, as the Russian Invasion of Ukraine Ratchets Up Reducing vulnerabilities and shoring up your crisis-response team is only your first line of defense. Former White House Information Officer Theresa Payton has additional thoughts. Getty Images As the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues to unfold, experts are urging … Continued

Customer Service Is Free

February 24, 2022

Customer Service Is Free Most large organizations would disagree. They hire cheap labor to answer the phone. They install recordings to mollify people who are on hold for hours. They measure the cost of the call center and put loopholes in the warranty. When you see customer service as a cost center, all of these … Continued

How to retain valuable staff

February 24, 2022

How to retain valuable staff Employees are quitting at record rates. Here are some tips to retain the valuable staff you already have. Hiring and retention are at the forefront of employers’ headaches right now. With The Great Resignation of 2021, workers quit at record rates. Here are some ways to retain the valuable staff … Continued

Why Some Business Owners Want to Raise the Minimum Wage to Spur Economic Recovery

February 24, 2022

Why Some Business Owners Want to Raise the Minimum Wage to Spur Economic Recovery More than 20 states rang in 2022 with minimum wage hikes. Advocates for a higher federal minimum say it will boost spending and the economy. Getty Images A coalition of business owners is sweet on the minimum wage increases that kicked off … Continued

Your Workers Are Telling You It’s Time to Rethink How You Hire

February 24, 2022

Your Workers Are Telling You It’s Time to Rethink How You Hire A new report shows a real disconnect, and need for change Getty Images Last month the team at Indeed released their 2021 Hiring Trends Report. The report provided an effective follow up to their earlier piece on the Great Resignation which was referenced … Continued

Consumers still hungry for deals, coupons

February 24, 2022

Consumers still hungry for deals, coupons iStock Photo More than half, 60%, of shoppers are looking for more coupons, discounts and deals to offset higher prices across shopping categories such as apparel, groceries and dining. Nearly half (45%) are switching brands to save money, while 53% are shopping at multiple stores to find the … Continued

Persuasive Advertising: What It Is & How to Do It

February 24, 2022

Persuasive Advertising: What It Is & How to Do It What are some advertisements that live rent-free in your mind? As a millennial, ads that will always have a place in my heart include Britney Spears’ iconic run as a Pepsi spokesperson, the enduring”got milk?” campaign (which is ironic considering myself and many others now … Continued

What Are Interpersonal Skills? + 5 Ways to Develop Them

February 24, 2022

What Are Interpersonal Skills? + 5 Ways to Develop Them To succeed at our jobs, we often ended a wide range of skills, from simply communicating to in-depth product knowledge. Soft skills, like communication, fall into the category of interpersonal skills, and they are typically expected of everyone, regardless of the position you apply for. … Continued

How to Stop “The Great Resignation” From Tanking Your Company

February 24, 2022

How to Stop “The Great Resignation” From Tanking Your Company 4.3 million Americans quit their jobs in August of 2021 According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 4.3 million Americans quit their jobs in August of 2021. That’s 2.9% of the country’s entire workforce. And while much of the conversation surrounding The Great Resignation has … Continued

Market research and voice of the customer programs

February 24, 2022

Market research and voice of the customer programs As both a consumer and customer experience (CX) consultant, I see far too many voice of the customer (VOC) programs that don’t understand the difference between market research and capturing customer feedback. The truth is, they are different. One isn’t better than the other – and both … Continued

8 Steps for Responding to Negative Reviews

February 24, 2022

8 Steps for Responding to Negative Reviews Negative reviews are a problem for companies in all industries. Such comments can damage your company’s brand, especially those that are inaccurate, biased, or from a competitor. Negative reviews can also be an opportunity to improve the business and customer experience, which is why companies devote time and … Continued

Climate change and sustainability weigh heavily on Americans

February 24, 2022

Climate change and sustainability weigh heavily on Americans Consumers who care about sustainability want to engage with brands that demonstrate that they share common values. Consumers care about sustainability. What does this mean for businesses? Editor’s note: Ron Ruffinott is VP, head of research solutions, Toluna. From remote work to travel and shopping habits, … Continued

Loyalty programs boosting visits, customer spend

February 24, 2022

Loyalty programs boosting visits, customer spend Photo by istock.com Loyalty programs can consistently boost site visits and spend by 18% to 30% per member, according to the Paytronix Loyalty Report released from Paytronix Systems Inc. Loyalty members spent an average of 6% more, per visit, than non-loyalty members in 2020, according to a press … Continued

Express Gratitude More: New Research Shows It’s Easier and More Impactful Than You Think

February 24, 2022

Express Gratitude More: New Research Shows It’s Easier and More Impactful Than You Think BY JESSICA STILLMAN, CONTRIBUTOR, INC.COM@ENTRYLEVELREBEL Getty Images If you’re looking for a slam dunk finding in the social sciences, you need look no further than the vast research on gratitude. Study after study shows counting your blessings makes you happier, more resilient, … Continued

Express Gratitude More: New Research Shows It’s Easier and More Impactful Than You Think

February 24, 2022

The Absurdly Simple Reason People Quit That No One Ever Talks About

February 24, 2022

The Absurdly Simple Reason People Quit That No One Ever Talks About Best-selling author and consultant Lindsay McGregor says we need to rethink how we motivate employees. Getty Images Why do people feel unmotivated at their jobs? Why might they decide to quit and look for work elsewhere? Because they don’t enjoy those jobs. That simple … Continued

Consumers plan to balance comfort and safety during 2021 holiday season

February 24, 2022

Consumers plan to balance comfort and safety during 2021 holiday season Study looks at consumer shopping behaviors during the 2021 holiday season. Author: Marshal Cohen Editor’s note: Marshal Cohen is chief industry advisor, apparel, at NPD Group. This is an edited version of a post that originally appeared under the title, “Holiday 2021 – a season of … Continued

6 Tips to Prepare for Another COVID Winter

February 24, 2022

6 Tips to Prepare for Another COVID Winter Continued caution over Covid-19, a supply-chain crunch, and a worker shortage point to a wholly different set of challenges for small businesses in colder climes. As temperatures start dropping, and the pandemic persists, businesses are girding for yet another Covid winter. But unlike last year, they’re better prepared … Continued

Hiring Is a Pain–These 5 Companies Say A.I. Can Make It Better

December 17, 2021

Hiring Is a Pain–These 5 Companies Say A.I. Can Make It Better Amid the Great Resignation and resulting labor shortage, technology may be your best bet at finding qualified candidates who will actually stay– as long as you use it the right way. Getty Images It might be time to let the computers take … Continued

25+ Ways to Drive Traffic to Your Website

December 17, 2021

Are Your Compelling Offers Actually …. Compelling? Written by Pete Caputa Last month, at the internet marketing workshop we co-produced, we explained how to generate leads on a small business’s website. There are three components to a successful small business lead generation strategy. Compelling free educational offers available on the site. Well-designed landing pages that require the visitor to complete … Continued

25+ Ways to Drive Traffic to Your Website

December 17, 2021

25+ Ways to Drive Traffic to Your Website You know you’re a marketer when you’re sitting in traffic on the highway, it’s completely bumper to bumper, and all you can think about is “Why can’t I drive traffic to my website like this?” If you’ve struggled with driving traffic to your website, you’re not alone. … Continued

Do consumers read customer reviews

December 17, 2021

Do consumers read customer reviews? Do you read customer reviews before making a purchase online? I do. In fact, just last night I read dozens (yes, dozens) of reviews before purchasing a pair of jeans from an online-only clothing brand. And don’t even get me started on the number of reviews I read before buying … Continued

Organizational empathy: Creating a more customer-centric company

December 17, 2021

Organizational empathy: Creating a more customer-centric company Author: Jim Longo Editor’s note: Jim Longo is chief strategy officer at Seattle-based market research firm Discuss.io. It’s easy to become myopic in the world of business. Reducing customers to statistics and always eyeing KPIs is only natural; success lies in the numbers. Yet the more insular an … Continued

Retailers challenged by ‘ghosting’ employees

December 17, 2021

Retailers challenged by ‘ghosting’ employees Photo by istock.com The advent and continuation of the coronavirus has made hiring and retaining employees a tough challenge for all businesses big and small, and now a new trend by recently hired workers is presenting an additional hurdle. Workers hired are “ghosting coasting” companies — leaving without … Continued

The Surprising Relationship Between Stress and Creativity

December 17, 2021

The Surprising Relationship Between Stress and Creativity Thomas Edison grossed 1,093 patents over the course of his career. He was also reportedly fired from his first two jobs for not being productive. Huh? Popular opinion might say that’s because creativity needs both stimulation and room to breathe. These workplaces were likely either uninteresting or too stressful, preventing … Continued

Predicting consumer behavior when it’s hard to predict anything

December 17, 2021

Predicting consumer behavior when it’s hard to predict anything Focusing on the three needs states – belong, rebel and discover – in your research and strategic development can equip your business to handle the unpredictable future. Editor’s note: Mary Mathes is director of data insights for Cincinnati-based marketing research firm Alpha-Diver. As marketers and … Continued

The Brutal Truths That Helped These Entrepreneurs Build 3 of America’s Fastest Growing Companies

December 17, 2021

The Brutal Truths That Helped These Entrepreneurs Build 3 of America’s Fastest Growing Companies The founders of Trove, Wisely, and Yensa found success when they admitted they’d failed. Jennifer Yen, Mike Vichich and Andy Ruben. (L-R) Photographs by Drew Kelly, Lyndon French and courtesy subject. Read through the How-I-Did-It stories of this year’s Inc. 5000 honorees, and … Continued

Reputation Management Isn’t a Marketing Problem or an Operations Problem — It’s a Problem/Opportunity for the Entire Company

December 17, 2021

Reputation Management Isn’t a Marketing Problem or an Operations Problem — It’s a Problem/Opportunity for the Entire Company At Business Evaluation Services, we’ve been helping brands manage their online reputation for over several years. If there’s anything we know after working with companies from dozens industries, it’s that reputation management cannot, and should not, be … Continued

Simple 2-Step Process For Calculating Your Market Size

December 17, 2021

The Simple 2-Step Process for Calculating Your Market Size When most businesses forecast their revenue goals, they first calculate their total addressable market, which is the total market demand for their industry’s products or services. Put simply, it’s the maximum amount of revenue a business could generate if they captured their entire market. However, unless … Continued

Recruiting Tips, How To Attract Top Talent

December 17, 2021

What’s Inside: The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the U.S. observed the highest number of open jobs at the end of March 2021 since 2000. 86% of employees/job seekers are likely to research company reviews and ratings when deciding where to apply for a job. 79% of job seekers say they are likely to use social media in … Continued

Hiring Is a Pain–These 5 Companies Say A.I. Can Make It Better

December 15, 2021

Hiring Is a Pain–These 5 Companies Say A.I. Can Make It Better Amid the Great Resignation and resulting labor shortage, technology may be your best bet at finding qualified candidates who will actually stay–as long as you use it the right way. Getty Images It might be time to let the computers take over. … Continued

Are Your Compelling Offers Still Compelling

December 15, 2021

25+ Ways to Drive Traffic To Your Website

December 15, 2021

Do consumers read customer reviews?

December 15, 2021

Organizational empathy: Creating a more customer-centric company

December 15, 2021

Retailers challenged by ‘ghosting’ employees

September 29, 2021

The Surprising Relationship Between Stress and Creativity

September 29, 2021

Predicting consumer behavior when it’s hard to predict anything

September 29, 2021

The Brutal Truths That Helped These Entrepreneurs

September 29, 2021

Reputation Management Isn’t A Marketing Problem

September 29, 2021

Simple 2 Step Process for Calculating Your Market Size

September 29, 2021

How To Attract Top Tallent

September 29, 2021

How social preferences have changed

August 3, 2021

How social preferences have changed Quires Survey looks at how consumer preferences have changed over the last year and what social attitudes are regarding summer 2021. PrintPublished: July 26th, 2021 Author: Chris Hubble As Americans begin to weigh the risks around COVID-19 this summer, there’s still a high level of caution. Yes, people are anxious to resume … Continued

10 Ways to Reach Customers Who Don’t Know They Need You

August 3, 2021

10 Ways to Reach Customers Who Don’t Know They Need You Table of Contents 1) Do your homework 2) Find a common ground and apply it to your approach 3) Customize your approach to appeal to them, not your current customers 4) Offer them something truly unique 5) Generate awareness of the want/need for what … Continued

How Consumer Spending Habits Could Change in 2021

August 3, 2021

How Consumer Spending Habits Could Change in 2021 As businesses and economies closed down due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, consumers also tightened up their budgets. According to data from McKinsey, most consumers were more conscientious about purchases than before the pandemic. Because of this, most households primarily budgeted around essential products and services. But, … Continued

9 Business Challenges Every Small Business Struggles With (And How to Fix Them)

August 3, 2021

9 Business Challenges Every Small Business Struggles With (And How to Fix Them) In the first few years of business, small companies come up against a lot of different challenges. Some are harder than others to overcome — and, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 20% of small businesses fail by the end of their first year. By … Continued

Where Will People Shop Once Businesses Fully Open

August 3, 2021

Where Will People Shop Once Businesses Fully Open For the last year and a half, many of us have gotten used to doing everything — including shopping — from home. Now, it seems full reopenings are closer than ever in the U.S. as the CDC now says that fully vaccinated Americans no longer need to wear masks … Continued

The Ultimate List of Interview Questions

August 3, 2021

The Ultimate List of Interview Questions As a job seeker, you can often expect to speak with an HR professional before moving onto interviews with employees within the department for which you’re applying. It’s critical you prepare well for your HR interview. Oftentimes, a company uses their HR department to screen candidates and decide which candidates are … Continued

What Is Word-of-Mouth Marketing and How Does It Drive Success

August 3, 2021

What Is Word-of-Mouth Marketing and How Does It Drive Success Have you recently made a purchase or visited a business because a friend or family convinced you to? If you have, this means you were influenced by word-of-mouth marketing. You’re also among the vast majority of consumers who identify word-of-mouth marketing as a key influencer in their … Continued

Improving Your Online Accessibilities To Reach New Audiences

August 2, 2021

When was the last time you thought about whether your website content is accessible to everyone? 57 million Americans have some type of disability, but only about 2% of web pages are accessible to the disability community. In today’s digital-first world, it’s more important than ever for businesses to think about how they’re addressing online accessibility. Web … Continued

What Are Customer Expectations, and How Have They Changed?

August 2, 2021

What Are Customer Expectations, and How Have They Changed? Customer expectations hit all-time highs. By definition, customer expectations are any set of behaviors or actions that individuals anticipate when interacting with a company. Historically, customers have expected basics like quality service and fair pricing — but modern customers have much higher expectations, such … Continued

Recruiting Tips: How to Attract Top Talent

August 2, 2021

Recruiting Tips: How to Attract Top Talent What’s Inside: The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the U.S. observed the highest number of open jobs at the end of March 2021 since 2000. 86% of employees/job seekers are likely to research company reviews and ratings when deciding where to apply for a job. 79% of job seekers say they … Continued

5 Changing Customer Expectations Every Business Should Meet Now

August 2, 2021

5 Changing Customer Expectations Every Business Should Meet Now Photo by NeuPaddy, CC0 1.0 Article by Himanshu Agarwal Everyday customers seem to be more and more demanding of what they’re expecting from companies. Customers are wanting more personalization from companies when they purchase products and they are looking to be cared for more than ever. This is … Continued

What A Brand Voice Is And How To Create One

August 2, 2021

What Brand Voice Is, and How to Create One Whenever I’m driving and see a Herb Chambers billboard, I smile. Image Source At this point, I can recognize the short, humorous, memorable ad copy as a Herb ad without even needing to see the brand name. And, after years of seeing those ads, I feel … Continued

What Do Consumers Want To See On A Company Websites

May 21, 2021

Written by Geoffrey Colon For many businesses, a website is undeniably critical for reaching new audiences — and is often the first impression someone will have of your brand. But having a website alone isn’t enough to reach and convert new customers. It’s equally vital that your website is well-designed, or you risk losing valuable leads. Website design … Continued

What Brand Voice Is And How To Create One

May 21, 2021

Your Guide To Google My Business Posts

April 28, 2021

What’s Inside: Nearly half of all Google searches have local intent. There are 5 different Google Post types businesses can create. Google Posts will disappear from the top of your GMB profile after seven days, so it’s a good idea to create a Google Post at least once a week. You can only have 10 maximum Google … Continued

What’s a Conversational Landing Page (& How Do You Create One)?

April 28, 2021

What’s a Conversational Landing Page (& How Do You Create One)? Marketers have found that conversational experiences on landing pages (such as chatbots and live chat) convert three-to-four times more than a traditional landing page. Additionally, a report from Juniper Research predicts that by 2023, the adoption of chatbots across the retail, banking, and healthcare sectors will save businesses $11 … Continued

Your Customer Service Sucks

April 28, 2021

Your Customer Service Sucks Three things you can do to improve it By Mike Wood | In: Customer Service Customer service sucks. In fact, I believe that the term “customer service” is an oxymoron. Out of all the experiences I have with companies, I dread when I have to contact their customer service department as I know it … Continued

Customer Service Expectations Are Rising – Is Your Business Keeping Up?

April 28, 2021

Customer Service Expectations Are Rising – Is Your Business Keeping Up? Customers’ expectations for service continue to rise, and the quality of your customer service can make or break your business, according to the Gladly Customer Service Expectations Survey. Here’s what this survey of nearly 1,000 U.S. adults found and what you can learn from it. Consumers … Continued

I Hope We Never Return To How We Were

April 28, 2021

Shake Shack’s Danny Meyer on the Restaurant Business: ‘I Hope We Never Return to How We Were’ Danny Meyer. Getty Images The visionary restaurateur has spent the past year reflecting on how the industry ought to come out of this crisis. The answer: not the same as before. After one of the hardest years on record for … Continued

What’s New With Google & Yelp

April 28, 2021

What’s Inside: Google’s passage ranking update will affect 7% of search queries. Yelp now displays user-generated feedback on if a business is enforcing social distancing and if their staff is wearing masks. Google Messaging is now available in desktop browsers. Are you keeping up with the latest Google and Yelp updates? From Yelp’s recent addition … Continued

Call To Action

April 28, 2021

Call To Action So for the past few months we have shared with you some important information about your website and social media. Some may ask “why is a mystery shopping company so focused on their client’s websites”? Our job as a mystery shopping company is to measure your customer’s experience at every touchpoint, … Continued

The Future Of Advertising (Predictions and Data)

April 28, 2021

The Future Of Advertising (Expert Predictions & Data) In a world of banner blindness, I’m sure you’re concerned about the future of advertising. If you’re in marketing, I’ll bet it’s one of your bigger concerns. But it’s a new dawn and it’s a new day. And as technology and advertising continue to evolve, so will your … Continued

The 6 Best Thank You Pages

April 28, 2021

The 6 Best Thank You Pages for 2021 via GIPHY … Not exactly the message you want your customers inferring from your website’s Thank You Pages, is it? Thank You pages are effective opportunities to demonstrate appreciation towards your leads, prospects, and customers for taking a desired action — and even potentially convert users or … Continued

The Hidden Value Of Mystery Shopping

April 28, 2021

The Hidden Value of Mystery Shoppers [RETHINK Retail] — She walks in the door with a carefully hidden script in her pocket. Or, maybe she’s typed notes in her smartphone, glancing at them occasionally as though she’s checking texts or emails. She checks her watch to see how long it takes store associates to greet … Continued

How To Adopt Your Social Media Strategy During COVID-19

April 28, 2021

The Importance of Social Media During a Crisis During this uncertainty, social media has quickly become the go-to for communication and updates. These statistics below provide context to how social media usage has drastically changed since the start of COVID-19: Facebook saw a 70% increase in usage of all its apps in March. 43% of social media … Continued

10 Predictions From The Past About The Future

April 28, 2021

10 Predictions From the Past About the Future From Kurt Vonnegut, Tom Clancy, and More Why waste hindsight on 2020? At the start of a new year, Inc. evaluated 40 years of business prognostications from past writers and sources. Steve Jobs, Tom Clancy, and Kurt Vonnegut. Photo: Getty Images. Illustration: Chloe Krammel When it comes to … Continued

November 2017
Respond to all social media comments with one app from Mystery Shopper Services

September 2017
Training and marketing for people under 25 – How secret shops increase business

July / August 2017
Check Off Your 10-Point Mystery Shopping Success List

June 2017
How Much of Your Sales Revenue Are You Giving to Your Competitors Each Month?

April 2017
Crowdsourcing is an inexpensive method for gaining key data on a large scale

March 2017
A unique look at producing great customer service through the eyes of a professional baseball team guest manager

February 2017
Training and marketing for people under 25 – How secret shops increase business

January 2017
What we learned in 2016, and how we plan to turn it into helpful actions in 2017

November 2016
Respond to Social Media Reviews With Social Media Tracker

October 2016
Growing your share of brick-and-mortar business in an online world

September 2016
Secret Shops Help Entertainment Destination Train and Reward Large Staff

July 2016
Manufacturers Can Evaluate Retail Branding Strategy and Increase Sales With Secret Shop Programs