Steve Schlagel's Small Business Blog

Managing Human Capital in the Cloud

December 14, 2011

If you are looking for an alternative to your current HR data management software, workday.com just might be the answer. You already know that the Cloud is a virtual place for storage and data, reducing user risk and server expenses. For some time, you have been able to save correspondence, records, memos, emails, etc. in [...]

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Laying the Foundation for Value, Part I

December 9, 2011

Ever tried to define the value that you offer your customers?  A price is the dollar sign on a product, the tag on the item for sale, but that is not the same as value.  I’ve been mulling this over lately, and wanted to share some of my thoughts.  While this post is somewhat of [...]

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Small Business Optimism on the Rise?

December 7, 2011

Optimism about the economy is on the upswing, according to recent surveys.  Big indexes are reading well – with high holiday sales, record cyber sales, and reduced unemployment. But, really – just how do small business owners feel? A recent survey of small business owners’ problems and priorities conducted by the National Federation of Independent [...]

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Tips for Interviewing for Dependability

December 1, 2011

Are dependable employees myth or legend?  Small business owners tell me that they are desperate for dependable employees. And while I’m sure they are hurting for reliable and accountable workers, I sometimes find that part of the problem is confusion in the employer’s expectations, and the other part arises from their failure to structure their [...]

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Khan Academy: An Education in Finance

November 29, 2011

The Khan Academy is a non-profit organization with a mission to bring free world-class education to anyone anywhere in the world.  So, what does it mean to the small business owner?  Think “Finance.” We can all use the occasional “brushing up” on our financial knowledge and skills.  In fact, most entrepreneurs didn’t get into their position by [...]

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Five Tips to Build Customer Loyalty

November 23, 2011

Creating loyalty doesn’t have to be difficult. It just takes good common sense. But. it also requires you to build a culture of service – at your virtual and real world sales counter. We all know great customer service when we see it. When quality customer service is what brings them back for more (isn’t that [...]

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Make “Small Business Saturday” Work for You

November 21, 2011

Small Business Saturday is dedicated to supporting small businesses on one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year.  Are you ready?  Start now to include the project language in your signage, marketing materials, and website.  Small Business Saturday 2011 (November 26, 2011) is the second year for this nation-wide venture. With heavy participation by [...]

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Small Business Giving Builds Community

November 18, 2011

When the economy is tight, it’s not easy for small businesses to give back to their communities. For the record, 90% of our small businesses give to charities and non-profits in their area. And, 60%+ of them admit that charitable giving brings them success.  Even when they are have little time or money to spare, [...]

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Creative Leverage vs. Debt

November 16, 2011

Creative leverage can mean profits while debt – what some might call “leverage” –  increases small business risk significantly. You don’t profit by becoming a “debt slave.” So, don’t buy into the concept of leverage as making debt work for you.  Instead try out these ideas for creative leverage and tailor them to work for [...]

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Getting Past PowerPoint

November 14, 2011

Microsoft’s PowerPoint has long been the way to make slide presentations for training and marketing. Few small business owners can claim mastery of the program – although most of us hunt and peck our way towards more or less acceptable presentations. PowerPoint bundles with Microsoft Office, but there are options for those who don’t have the [...]

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