What do both small business owners as well as large business owners have at their disposal?

Well if these organizations have been in business any length of time they better have made a few clients happy. Many small businesses overlook the fact that they have “Raving Fans” to spread the good word about their company. Many small business owners put a tremendous amount of time, energy and money on all kinds of ads in local publications or networking groups. These are all necessary to a point but the easiest way to expand a business is to let your “Loyal Followers”, or as Ken Blanchard puts it, “Raving Fans”, act as your best sales reps...

I recently read an article on SmallBizTrends.com, 8 Steps to Take Your Brick and Mortar Business Online written by Tyler Garns, Director of Marketing for Infusionsoft.  I decided to rate one of my companies, Advantage Payroll Services, against the 8 steps they suggest to follow to ensure your company has a significant presence online. 

Here’s how Advantage stacks up:

1. Get Found- Check!   Tyler suggests list your business listed in Google places, industry directories, local directories and more.    If you Google Advantage Payroll Services Long Island, you’ll see us clearly listed on the map.  If you click the map, you’ll see our logo comes up in the information box.  We’re also listed on multiple local websites and we have a profile for our branch on LinkedIn...

In this slowly recovering economy, it is difficult for employers to gauge whether their employees are staying as a result of lack of other options, or if it’s because they truly enjoy their job and don’t *want* to leave. Some employers may decide it doesn’t matter why their employees stay, as long as they do – a body in a seat is good enough.

But is it enough? Although workers don’t necessarily have many options to look for jobs elsewhere in an economy like today’s, is it still important to keep your employees happy and comfortable in their work environment?...

Employees are receiving a surprise raise and may not even realize it. There have been changes made to employee payroll tax/social security tax rate which will put some extra cash in many pockets. Americans can use the extra money to stimulate the economy, lord knows we need it.  Take a look at the clip below for some further detail about this “surprise raise...”

I recently returned from my honeymoon in Belize.  After experiencing the truly happiest day of my life, I was excited to relax and unwind from the pre-wedding stress.  Leaving my sales team wasn’t easy, but I knew I had provided them with the tools to handle everything while I was away. 

While dining out one evening, my new wife spied a beautiful handmade table runner that was being offered by a local vendor on the beach.  She went off to see it up close and get an idea of the cost.  While she was examining the piece, another local street vendor approached me holding a backpack.  He recognized immediately that we were Americans and encouraged me to have my wife negotiate for the price of table runner.  He informed me that the woman selling them would know that we were tourists and to be careful before jumping at the first price.  I thanked him and asked what was in his backpack.  I was caught off guard that by the fact that he didn’t immediately sell me his product, but he was looking out for me.  He informed me that he was selling hand carved wooden collectibles and asked if I was interested.  I shrugged slightly and said ‘thanks but no thanks...’