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Dec 14, ’11 6:00 PM Author Adrian Swinscoe Categories Business Marketing, Business Psychology, Marketing/PR, Marketing/PR, Marketing/PR, Online Marketing, Social Media, market and sell Tags Business, business owner, business process, channels, cool stuff, customer behaviour, customers, digital channels, influence, Marketing/PR, Sales, , , social information processing, Social Media, understand

Consumer and customer behaviour is changing in front of our eyes. As a result, there is a lot of talk about how our marketplaces are changing, the influence of digital channels, the importance of word of mouth, how social media channels are allowing customers to find and share us with their friends and networks and how we as businesses should be adapting.

However, one of the things that I find when I talk to business owners is that they are often confused about what sort of activity they should be getting involved in in online and social channels. A

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My new iPad 2 tablet and Bluetooth portfolio with Bluetooth keyboard have made me happier than I could have ever imagined. Yes, I do have a life outside of geeky toys, but since the geeky toys allow me to successfully create the life I love, I am always excited to test them out and share them with you. Behold!

I have wanted to experience iPad for many months, but the absence of a traditional keyboard, which I rely on to manage my member database and social networking site, and to update this blog quickly, has held me back. As you can see, problem solved!

Business Girls Best Friend?

As you can see, it is perfectly red. They keyboard is small but big enough for any common work use. The case has a built-in stand that stands the iPad on a perfect angle for working or reading. I cant wait to try it out on the treadmill! Its very light, perfect for on-the-go.

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Jessica Johnson knows she must continue to innovate if she wants her business, Johnson Security Bureau, to maintain its impressive growth rate in 2012. This year, the company’s annual sales have doubled just as they did in 2010.

During the last meeting of our business group, Ms. Johnson talked about the continuing importance of differentiating Johnson Security and emphasizing customer service, not price. She had just returned from Building a High-Performing Minority Business, a program offered through Tuck Executive Education at Dartmouth, and said the experience had reinforced these priorities.

To differentiate itself with clients, who may use several security services, Ms. Johnson said her company focused on building relationships, understanding its clients’ different business models, and selling solutions, not security. She emphasized that there was a big difference. Ofte

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1. Assume everyone celebrates Christmas. While you mean well, sending a Merry Christmas card might offend its recipient, as many people either celebrate other holidays, like Kwanzaa or Hanukkah, or dont celebrate the season at all. You cant be expected to know all your employees holiday preferences, so stick with a card that says happy holidays rather than pinpointing a particular one. And if you are aware that an employee is a Jehovahs Witness, know that they do not celebrate Christmas. If youre unsure, ask if its appropriate to send a card or gift.

2. Send a bottle of wine. You want your clients to know how much you appreciate them; what better way than to send a nice bottle of red? Alcohol gifts are tricky, and are best avoided unless you are sure that the recipient drinks. You risk offending someone who doesnt drink with your well-meaning gift.

3. Being cheap. You want your employees to know you appreciate them, but you cant afford to get them much.

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In a small business, theres always something to do. Here are six quick tips that can help you move in the right direction.

It is easy to reduce all expenses of a company with the economic uncertainty. In the long run though, these cuts could turn out to be more expensive. Your competitors may be spending less money on customer service. bit this generally is not a wise option at it will cost more to acquire new customers than trying to keep hold of your existing ones. So if you try to improve your customer service where you can, your company will stand out from the rest.

Some people don’t realize how big a marketing tool websites such as Twitter and Facebook have become. Most of your customers will already be on these networks, and furthermore they are free. That is why your company needs a presence within these networks to speak to customers inexpensively and directly. ( Read more…

I am fresh back from a fun Thanksgiving celebration! I hope you and your friends and family had half the fun I did. Dinner on Thursday was amazing. (If you missed my Tweet of the spread, you can catch it here.) Even better, we took off longer than usual so we got in lots of relaxation and going over the river and through the wood to visit more people than we usually do when we go home (Washington, DC for those who dont know).

As you know, Im the founder and CEO of the Indie Beauty Network, and my members have been working hard this season to create amazing handmade soaps, candles, artisan perfumes, aromatherapy products, and jewelery to make your online holiday shopping a breeze. I am so pleased with their success and I love supporting them, so in their honor, I am reserving most of my Tweets tomorrow to share the amazing Cyber Monday deals they have planned for you.

Be sure to and join me on FaceBook to catch some wonderful products at great prices, made by hand, right here in America.

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Like many of you, I am observing the #OccupyWallStreet (or #OWS) movement with great interest. I have heard several political and sociological commentators agree that, despite obvious philosophical differences between various political movements today, they all have one thing in common: dissatisfaction and anger with the status quo.

Last week, I read in a local paper that the #OccupyCLT leaders have opened a bank account and obtained a tax id number. As a small business owner, Im all for formalizing activities where money is involved, and Im glad they are legitimizing their efforts from a business and financial perspective. But as I watch #OWS unfold, Im not seeing enough emphasis placed on the individuals unique power to achieve financial well being.

Things Over Which We Have Little Control Are Kind Of Gloomy

National governments worldwide are in disarray.

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On Thursday, November 10th at 2pm Eastern Time, learn how to be in control of your critical information and protect your business against the growing threats of identity theft and fraud.

This Webinar series, sponsored by Deluxe®, is a multi-part interactive Webinar series designed to address these topics and provide simple, actionable tools to protect and enhance the efficiency with which you run your business.

In our first class, Identity Theft & Data Breach Protection, you will learn:

• The New Reality: Information Does Not Equal Power
• How to Think Like a Spy and apply critical thinking to the power equation
• Manipulation Triggers thieves use against your employees and defense techniques
• Interrogation Tools to uncover fraud before it erodes your profits and net worth
• Fraud Hotspot Best Practices: Shredding, Check Fraud and Computer Security
• Trends in Data Theft: Smartphones, Tablets and Social Media
• Holiday Identity Theft Prevention Tips: Personally & Professionally
• Interactive Q&A

This webinar is hosted by John Sileo

John Sileo’s identity was stolen from his business and used to embezzle almost a half-million dollars from his clients. Wh

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