How business owners can measure the results of marketing programs
It’s important to know the desired outcome before entering into a marketing program, says Ryan Barringer, senior vice president of marketing and brand strategy at Bridge Bank. “Too often a manager invests in a campaign without having first identified the appropriate criteria to evaluate its performance. The output might be obvious — a TV spot, […]
Neglecting client service could be a fatal mistake for your business
The customer is always king. It might sound like a cliché, but when you think about it, how long has it been since you actually heard somebody say it? There was a time that customer service was a given. Remember the scene in “Back to the Future” when the lead character arrives in the 1950s […]
How you can lower your business litigation costs this year
The cost of business litigation is inherently uncertain because of unforeseen maneuvers by your opponent and unexpected rulings by the court. However, there are things that you — as the client — can do to reduce your litigation costs, including your attorneys’ fees. “Experienced clients know how to efficiently use their litigators,” says Monte L. Mann, a partner at Novack and Macey LLP. Smart Business […]
Sharon Meers: Five myths to toss in 2014 to make workplaces happier
Myth: Women and men are equal in the workplace We wish it were already true — but it’s not. Women top out at around 15 percent of leadership in almost every profession and the pay gap persists. Studies show that progress has stalled for over a decade. People think employers and the government can fix […]
Sheri Atwood: Be your own boss
Transitioning from corporate America to entrepreneurship takes determination and drive. If you want to start a business but don’t know where to begin, you’re not alone. More Americans continue to leave the corporate world to start businesses. A few years ago, I was a vice president at a Fortune 500 company, a divorcee and a […]
Examining executive pay – corporate tendencies now and for the future
Executive compensation is something stockholders really don’t care about when a company is profitable and stock values are going up and paying dividends. And right now, the Dow Jones Industrial Average is seesawing around a record high 16,000 mark. But there are times when people do wonder what’s going on. Last year, Bloomberg Businessweek compared executive compensation to the average workers’ pay. The highest ratio was […]
Tom Walker: An asset for entrepreneurs — Building mutually beneficial business relationships
In 20 years of dealing with entrepreneurs and investors nearly every day, I have learned with certainty that in entrepreneurship, as in life, there are no absolutes. On the other hand, I am convinced that one thing comes close to being universally true: Entrepreneurs who learn how to build mutually beneficial business relationships have a […]
Examining executive pay — corporate tendencies now and for the future
Executive compensation is something stockholders really don’t care about when a company is profitable and stock values are going up and paying dividends. And right now, the Dow Jones Industrial Average is seesawing around a record high 16,000 mark. But there are times when people do wonder what’s going on. Last year, Bloomberg Businessweek compared executive compensation to the average workers’ pay. The highest ratio was […]
How companies can better protect themselves from employee theft
In a typical organization, 5 percent of revenue is lost to fraud, according to a 2012 global fraud study by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. According to the study, fraud cases result in a median loss of approximately $140,000, with most lasting about 18 months before they’re detected. What surprises many companies is that it’s not the new hires who are commit […]
How to manage risks associated with accounting in the cloud
The increased use of web-based cloud accounting applications has provided users many advantages related to efficiencies and cost savings but conversely it adds certain risk factors, says Roman Leshak, a director in Audit & Accounting at Kreischer Miller. Smart Business spoke with Leshak about ways to reduce risks associated with accounting in the cloud. How […]