by Chris Hunter | Nov 3, 2015 | Customer Relationship Management
Customer relationship management, or CRM was once touted as the way of the future for all businesses. If the customer was truly king, CRM would be the way we courted royalty and retained their support. But when the anticipated gains didn’t materialize many...
by Chris Hunter | Mar 20, 2016 | Microsoft Excel Tips - Part Two
by Chris Hunter | Nov 6, 2015 | Customer Satisfaction
What’s happened to customer loyalty? There’s an increasing trend for customers to drift away no matter how much we spend to keep them faithful. More and more they’re making their ‘buy’ decisions on the basis of price and other factors like convenience rather than...
by Chris Hunter | Nov 6, 2015 | Customer Satisfaction
by Chris Hunter | Nov 6, 2015 | Customer Satisfaction
Loyalty programs are not just for airlines or credit card companies. Small and medium-sized businesses, both consumer and services based, also have a lot to gain from incorporating a loyalty program into their customer relationship management (CRM) strategy. However,...
by Chris Hunter | Nov 7, 2015 | Customer Satisfaction
by Chris Hunter | Nov 3, 2015 | Customer Relationship Management
Most managers of small to medium-sized organizations have probably heard about the millions of dollars larger companies have spent on systems for customer relationship management. Many have no doubt asked, ‘What’s the point?’, or even, ‘what is it?’.For consumers,...
by Chris Hunter | Nov 7, 2015 | Customer Satisfaction
“Customer delight!” The phrase conjures up pictures of customers dancing in the aisles, clapping their hands with joy in celebration of the purchases they’ve just made. But there really is such a commodity as customer delight and it’s...
by Chris Hunter | Nov 7, 2015 | Customer Satisfaction
by Chris Hunter | Oct 29, 2015 | Customer Complaints
by Chris Hunter | Nov 7, 2015 | Customer Service Strategies
by Chris Hunter | Nov 7, 2015 | Customer Service Strategies
A written set of customer service standards will not only provide an organization with a set of goals, it will set benchmarks that can be used to monitor and improve service standards. Written standards can be a valuable training resource, and can help ensure that...
by Chris Hunter | Mar 20, 2016 | Microsoft Excel Tips - Part Two
Takeaway: If all of your Excel spreadsheets need to contain a certain header and must print in a specific view, then you’ll relish this time-saving trick. The text below explains how you can create a custom Excel template that will allow you to automatically set...
by Chris Hunter | Jan 13, 2016 | General - Marketing, Marketing Strategies
You can easily spend a lot of money on your public relations. You can also waste a lot of money trying to get noticed by an increasingly busy world. But with a bit of planning and effort on your behalf you’ll not only spend less but you’ll get a lot more...
by Chris Hunter | Mar 26, 2016 | Cash Flow Management & Modeling, Inventory
Inventories have a way of growing. The justification is usually that “if we don’t have it we can’t sell it”, so a connection is made that translates as”the bigger the inventory we have, the more sales we’ll make”. If only it...
by Chris Hunter | Nov 7, 2015 | Customer Satisfaction
Every business relationship has its ups and downs, and in most cases both parties work to overcome conflicts and get things back to normal. We like what we’re used to and especially in professional services relationships there’s a lot of value placed on...
by Chris Hunter | Mar 20, 2016 | Microsoft Excel Tips - Part Two
by Chris Hunter | Dec 25, 2015 | Cash Flow Management & Modeling, Financial Ratios & Formulas
by Chris Hunter | Dec 25, 2015 | Absenteeism, Benefits, Human Resources
Hardly any manager can get through the year without several team members taking a few days of paid sick leave to recover from a hangover or go to a sporting event. Studies have found it is a significant problem for small businesses. In the UK, for example, one third...
by Chris Hunter | Dec 26, 2015 | Coaching & Soft Skills, Leadership
by Chris Hunter | Nov 19, 2015 | Change Management, Franchising, General - Entrepreneurship, Start-Ups
In today’s crowded marketplace, businesses need a competitive edge to be successful. Yet thousands of small businesses fail each year. According to Michael Gerber, Founder and Chairman of E-Myth Worldwide, much of that failure is the result of letting...
by Chris Hunter | Nov 11, 2015 | Family Businesses
We often use the term “family business” without having a clear definition of just what a family business really is. Coming up with such a definition is more difficult than it might at first seem, but it would be helpful for any number of reasons. A...
by Chris Hunter | Mar 20, 2016 | Microsoft Excel Tips - Part Two
A common scenario in a data analysis project is the need to first identify and eliminate duplicate records. A typical example might be where you need to eliminate duplicate rows with information that matches in columns like last name, street address, phone number,...
by Chris Hunter | Nov 29, 2015 | Bookkeeping & Accounting, Cash Flow Management & Modeling
by Chris Hunter | Mar 29, 2016 | General - Personal Growth & Leadership
by Chris Hunter | Jan 1, 2016 | Retention
The Herman Group of Greensboro, North Carolina are business advisers specializing in issues concerning the workforce and workplace trends. They tell us that “an estimated 75 percent of American employers do not have a dedicated employee retention...
by Chris Hunter | Feb 24, 2016 | Disaster Planning & Recovery, Viruses
Disaster planning is based around two activities: 1. Critical Information Assessment, Recording and Preserving Secure data back up Each business has its own critical data sources though some, such as customer inventory and supplier lists, will be common to most...
by Chris Hunter | Dec 29, 2015 | General - Human Resources
by Chris Hunter | Nov 11, 2015 | Company Structures
by Chris Hunter | Dec 29, 2015 | General - Human Resources
Dishonesty in the workplace takes two main forms – lying and stealing, and both are more common than many of us would like to think. Everyday examples of lying in the workplace include embellishing the truth on personal resumes and company track records; suggesting to...
by Chris Hunter | Nov 3, 2015 | Customer Relationship Management
Among the many new buzz words to spring into the business lexicon over the past few years is CRM, which stands for Customer Relationship Management. CRM can be described as a business philosophy, a software product, or as both. As a business philosophy, CRM is the...
by Chris Hunter | Nov 9, 2015 | Buying a Business
by Chris Hunter | Mar 25, 2016 | General - Operations
by Chris Hunter | Mar 20, 2016 | Microsoft Excel Tips - Part Two
by Chris Hunter | Mar 28, 2016 | Boards of Directors, Leadership
by Chris Hunter | Jan 24, 2016 | Closing Sales, Marketing Strategies, Selling Skills
B-2-B marketing is often conducted like the B-2-C variety, right up to the time there should be a “call to action”. We’ve all seen it happen; a really interesting product or service catches our eye and we enjoy reading about all the great features...
by Chris Hunter | Nov 30, 2015 | Cash Flow Management & Modeling, Profit Improvement
The best way to avoid overdue accounts is to avoid dealing with another firm’s slow paying customers. Almost every customer that’s going to be a problem for you is already a problem for somebody else. Does that mean never taking risks? Of course not. Every...
by Chris Hunter | Jan 31, 2016 | Web Sites & E-Marketing - Part 1
For a while it seemed that email marketing would completely replace “snail mail” – the more conventional kind of mail that’s been around for centuries. Email offers so much – speed, low cost, ease of response and the ability to send...
by Chris Hunter | Nov 9, 2015 | Buying a Business, Selling a Business
You may have heard about “due diligence” when a business is being sold or taken over and wondered what it meant. If you want to sell or buy a business of your own you’ll certainly need to know just what due diligence means and how it’s applied....
by Chris Hunter | Nov 9, 2015 | Buying a Business
by Chris Hunter | Mar 25, 2016 | General - Operations
The increasing incidence of electronic discovery requests during lawsuits as well as the requirements of legislation such as the Sarbanes Oxley Act means that any company with an e-mail server should consider the acquisition of an email archiving system. There is a...
by Chris Hunter | Mar 21, 2016 | Microsoft Outlook Tips
by Chris Hunter | Nov 30, 2015 | Cash Flow Management & Modeling, Profit Improvement
Any business that gives credit knows it has to provide for non-payment of a portion of the total amount it’s owed unless it has an absolutely flawless credit policy, but there are early warning signs that can help you know when a debtor business is heading into...
by Chris Hunter | Dec 29, 2015 | General - Human Resources, Leadership, Personal Growth & Leadership
Every person in every organization is well aware that by adopting even the most basic time management techniques they can become more effective, and hence more productive. Even if they don’t actually do it. For professional service firms it is especially...
by Chris Hunter | Jan 13, 2016 | General - Marketing, Marketing Strategies
by Chris Hunter | Mar 28, 2016 | Delegation, Leadership
Almost every business owner has too much to do and not enough time to do it in. But there is a solution – let your team members take some of the weight off your back by learning how to delegate effectively. Are you taking work home every night? Do jobs pile up...
by Chris Hunter | Jan 21, 2016 | Market Research
A large part of effective marketing is analysis. Effective marketing involves understanding the product or service you sell, its unique features, its strengths and weaknesses. It involves understanding your customers, their values, habits, needs, likes, dislikes and...
by Chris Hunter | Mar 25, 2016 | Customer Complaints, Customer Satisfaction, Customer Service, Customer Service Strategies, General - Operations
by Chris Hunter | Dec 28, 2015 | Interviews & Onboarding
The first day at a new job is always a time of confusion. So many people to meet, and so much to learn, in a short span of time. A well-planned staff induction program can make it so much easier for new team members and so much more beneficial for the firm. Some...
by Chris Hunter | Dec 28, 2015 | Interviews & Onboarding
A new employee’s first day is a key experience for both the employee and the company they work for. It’s like meeting a person for the first time. A first impression sets a tone for a relationship and can have a big impact on the way it develops....
by Chris Hunter | Dec 28, 2015 | Interviews & Onboarding
by Chris Hunter | Dec 28, 2015 | Interviews & Onboarding
by Chris Hunter | Dec 28, 2015 | Interviews & Onboarding
by Chris Hunter | Dec 28, 2015 | Interviews & Onboarding
by Chris Hunter | Dec 26, 2015 | Coaching & Soft Skills, Communications & Performance Reviews
Description: In an ideal world, a subordinate would accept critical feedback from a manager with an open mind. He or she would ask a few clarifying questions, promise to work on certain performance areas, and show signs of improvement over time. But things don’t...
by Chris Hunter | Dec 28, 2015 | Interviews & Onboarding
You have a vacancy to fill. You’ve worked out just what experience and abilities are needed to handle the role – now you need to find the right person for the job. The interview is where most of the action takes place. Interviews are never easy. In the space of an...
by Chris Hunter | Dec 28, 2015 | Interviews & Onboarding
One of the most critical elements in the team selection process is the interview. If it’s handled correctly you get the team members your company needs. The interview gives an employer the opportunity to find someone who will “fit in” with the organization. The...
by Chris Hunter | Mar 25, 2016 | General - Operations
by Chris Hunter | Mar 28, 2016 | Delegation, Leadership
“Empower” is one of those words we see a lot of these days, but what does it really mean to a business owner? It doesn’t mean giving up your authority. It doesn’t mean shuffling off all the responsibilities of ownership onto the shoulders of...
by Chris Hunter | Jan 2, 2016 | Training Programs
Businesses that use training to increase the skills of team members can enjoy improved team performance and a better ROI on their salary expenses. This will only happen if a number of factors are given consideration before the training begins. A high standard of...
by Chris Hunter | Dec 27, 2015 | Compensation, Employee Recognition & Rewards, Leadership
by Chris Hunter | Mar 20, 2016 | Microsoft Excel Tips - Part Two
by Chris Hunter | Nov 21, 2015 | Buying a Business, Entrepreneurship Assessments, General - Personal Growth & Leadership, Start-Ups
The mindset of the entrepreneur is essential as a predictive indicator of success. Studies have shown that only a small minority of individuals possess a strongly entrepreneurial mindset. It’s important to note that skills can be taught, but aptitude and...
by Chris Hunter | Dec 27, 2015 | Compensation
Business owners have a focus on the enterprise itself, and can sometimes overlook the simple fact that their team members are there for the purpose of earning an income, not growing a business. However, the income a business owner receives has a lot to do with the...
by Chris Hunter | Jan 23, 2016 | Market Research
It’s not just your own product or service which determines the success of your small business – what your competitors offer is just as important if you are trying to establish a profitable company. So, it is important that you know as much as possible about your...
by Chris Hunter | Mar 29, 2016 | Ethics
A series of scandals in the corporate world — Enron and Andersen being just two of the leading examples, now seem to have been put behind us. Sarbanes-Oxley and similar legislation in almost every country around the world has been enacted and for a while at...
by Chris Hunter | Oct 29, 2015 | Customer Complaints
We often wonder what others really think about something we’ve said or done. The only way to find out is to get feedback from them, and it’s not always going to be positive. However, this doesn’t mean it isn’t all valuable. In fact, when...
by Chris Hunter | Mar 27, 2016 | Operations Manuals
Does your business have a written policy and procedures manual that covers employee guidelines, personnel procedures and company rules? A comprehensive policy and procedures manual clarifies employee expectations about your business policies and communicates corporate...
by Chris Hunter | Jan 23, 2016 | Customer Relationship Management, Customer Satisfaction, General - Marketing, Market Research
Customers are the lifeblood of any business, but too many businesses don’t involve their customers in planning for the future. Unless management knows what its customers think – about the business, about the service levels, about the products and about the way their...
by Chris Hunter | Jan 26, 2016 | Branding, Packaging
Packaging applies to professional services firms as well as consumer products. Your firm has a package that includes its letterhead, its name, its logo, its business cards, its website, its marketing and even the way your telephones are answered. This package is what...
by Chris Hunter | Dec 26, 2015 | Coaching & Soft Skills, Leadership
Executive coaching develops the abilities and effectiveness of business leaders. It is a three way process that links the organization, the executive and the coach with defined goals for the organization and the executive to be achieved as outcomes of the process....
by Chris Hunter | Dec 29, 2015 | General - Human Resources
by Chris Hunter | Dec 29, 2015 | General - Human Resources
The exit interview is an interview given to a departing employee – usually one that has voluntarily resigned instead of those that are fired or are restructured out of a job. The exit interview can be conducted any time after an employee has given notice of...
by Chris Hunter | Nov 21, 2015 | Change Management, General - Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Start-Ups
It’s part of an entrepreneur’s make up to take risks. Launching a new product, entering a new market, or starting a business entails an element of risk that can lead to failure just as it can lead to success. As Benjamin Franklin once said: “The man...
by Chris Hunter | Dec 26, 2015 | Coaching & Soft Skills, Communications & Performance Reviews
Description: Nobody likes performance reviews. Subordinates are terrified they’ll hear nothing but criticism. Bosses, for their part, think their direct reports will respond to even the mildest criticism with stonewalling, anger, or tears. The result? Everyone...
by Chris Hunter | Nov 6, 2019 | Coaching & Soft Skills, Communications & Performance Reviews, General - Personal Growth & Leadership, Human Resources, Leadership
This tip is adapted from “Are You Sugarcoating Your Feedback Without Realizing It?,” by Michael Schaerer and Roderick Swaab Many managers sugarcoat tough feedback, either to avoid retaliation or to protect employees’ feelings. But research shows that managers tend to...
by Chris Hunter | Jan 26, 2016 | Pricing
Business people are pretty efficient when it comes to negotiating prices for goods and services when they purchase them from others. However, when setting their own level of fees for professional services many firm owners do not know how to begin the process. Fees for...
by Chris Hunter | Mar 20, 2016 | Microsoft Excel Tips - Part Two
by Chris Hunter | Nov 21, 2015 | Branding, General - Entrepreneurship, General - Marketing, Start-Ups
by Chris Hunter | Nov 8, 2015 | Image
To everyone out there, you and your business are inseparable. Every time you meet someone and every contact you have is an opportunity to make a good impression for your business. Make a good first impression and both you and your business will be seen in a positive...
by Chris Hunter | Dec 26, 2015 | Coaching & Soft Skills, Leadership
BOOK REVIEW: Stephen C. Lundin, Harry Paul and John Christensen. Hyperion Press, 2000 “When we choose to love the work we do, we can catch our limit of happiness, meaning, and fulfilment every day.” This is the core message of Fish! – the tale of...
by Chris Hunter | Apr 3, 2016 | Marketing Plans, Marketing Strategies, Selling Skills
by Chris Hunter | Dec 29, 2015 | General - Human Resources
It was a hot issue a few years ago but now flextime seems to have been dropped from press coverage. Does that mean it was tried and didn’t work? Momentum to introduce flextime grew through the 1990s and peaked along with the economy. However, since the dotcom...
by Chris Hunter | Jan 14, 2016 | General - Marketing, Marketing Strategies
Buyers of almost anything you can think of — from televisions to desk lamps, face a plethora of products to choose from. It gets even more difficult for purchasers trying to make the right choice when there are several items on the shopping list. Imagine...
by Chris Hunter | Feb 1, 2016 | Web Sites & E-Marketing - Part 2
Websites are a bit like Topsy; they start small then grow, and then grow some more. The usual outcome is that most websites have lost their original single focus and become something like a library, with content intended to cover every possible topic. They lose a...
by Chris Hunter | Nov 7, 2015 | Customer Service Strategies
by Chris Hunter | Mar 20, 2016 | Microsoft Excel Tips - Part Two
by Chris Hunter | Mar 20, 2016 | Microsoft Excel Tips - Part Two
by Chris Hunter | Mar 20, 2016 | Microsoft Excel Tips - Part Two
Ever get frustrated with the limitations of the Formula Auditing process in MS Excel? The blue arrows work great to trace precedents or dependents on one worksheet, but wouldn’t you love to know what cells from other worksheets impact or are impacted by a...
by Chris Hunter | Nov 16, 2015 | Franchising
“It’s kind of like bad times are good times for franchising,” said Don DeBolt, president of the International Franchising Association and speaking to Entrepreneur.com. Franchising benefits when executives are laid off in an economic downturn....
by Chris Hunter | Mar 20, 2016 | Microsoft Excel Tips - Part Two
by Chris Hunter | Nov 11, 2015 | Company Structures
by Chris Hunter | Jan 1, 2016 | Retention
by Chris Hunter | Jan 23, 2016 | General - Customer Service, Market Research, Marketing Strategies
Terms like “Gen-X” and “Gen-Y” are often used without knowing exactly what group is being talked about. It’s generally accepted that Gen-Xers were born between the mid-1960s and the mid-1970s, meaning that they’re now in their...
by Chris Hunter | Jan 23, 2016 | General - Marketing, Market Research, Marketing Strategies
by Chris Hunter | Nov 22, 2015 | General - Entrepreneurship, Start-Ups
by Chris Hunter | Jan 24, 2016 | Marketing Strategies
Marketing is anything but a clearly defined science. What worked ten or fifteen years ago will now be seen by consumers as irrelevant and outdated. New generations are out there with unprecedented demands and new channels of communication; to ignore them is to invite...
by Chris Hunter | Dec 26, 2015 | Coaching & Soft Skills, Leadership
Managers always have high expectations for the people they hire. But new team members don’t always fit right into the organization, perform their jobs without fault and obey directions without questioning them. We’re only human and that means that our...
by Chris Hunter | Jan 2, 2016 | Coaching & Soft Skills, Training Programs
Managers always have high expectations for the people they hire. But new team members don’t always fit right into the organization, perform their jobs without fault and obey directions without questioning them. We’re only human and that means that our...
by Chris Hunter | Apr 2, 2016 | Management & Motivation
by Chris Hunter | Dec 26, 2015 | Coaching & Soft Skills, Communications & Performance Reviews
by Chris Hunter | Jan 24, 2016 | Marketing Strategies
Businesses are waking up to an important fact, namely that women make up the majority of their customer base. Many businesses however don’t know what to do about it and are missing tremendous marketing opportunities. We’ll use statistics from the U.S. in...
by Chris Hunter | Nov 30, 2015 | Borrowing Basics, Cash Flow Management & Modeling
by Chris Hunter | Jan 31, 2016 | Sponsorships
How can you evaluate the proposal and give your client the right advice? After all, the money could just as easily go into advertising, a charitable donation or simply remain on the bottom line. Consumers generally value sponsorships highly. They see most of them as...
by Chris Hunter | Jan 30, 2016 | Selling Skills, Selling Skills
It’s amazing just how indecisive some people can be. You’ve discovered their requirements and you’ve told them just how your product offers them the solution they need, and yet they still don’t buy right then and there. What stops them from...
by Chris Hunter | Mar 20, 2016 | Microsoft Excel Tips - Part Two
by Chris Hunter | Dec 29, 2015 | General - Human Resources, General - Operations, General - Personal Growth & Leadership
In most enterprises today goal setting for team members is a part of the business structure. Goals provide a direction toward which your team can direct their energies. Goals focus your efforts and the efforts of your team on the activities that propel you in the...
by Chris Hunter | Jun 2, 2017 | Financing
by Chris Hunter | Dec 24, 2015 | Financing, Start-Ups
by Chris Hunter | Dec 27, 2015 | Compensation
by Chris Hunter | Nov 16, 2015 | Family Businesses
The majority of businesses in most countries are classified as family businesses. A family business is any business is which a majority of the ownership or control rests within a family. It might be that just one member works in the business while others serve as...
by Chris Hunter | Nov 22, 2015 | Business Development, Change Management, General - Entrepreneurship, Strategy
Success, they say, is its own reward. In the competitive world of small business, this must be doubly true – financial benefits aside, ‘making it’ is even more satisfying if you have established and grown you business from the outset. But with success comes growth...
by Chris Hunter | Nov 7, 2015 | Guarantees
by Chris Hunter | Jan 24, 2016 | Marketing Strategies
They’re a kind of metropolitan phenomenon. A large duck holding a sign saying “Pizzas today – $5 each”, or Superman leaps out into the street carrying a placard promoting a sale in a nearby store. In the depression era of much earlier times it was someone...
by Chris Hunter | Mar 25, 2016 | General - Operations
Whether it’s buying or selling, dealing with customers or employees, business owners have to negotiate virtually every day. Yet many may not view it as a separate skill, such as bookkeeping or time-management. Successful negotiating is both a science and an art,...
by Chris Hunter | Apr 1, 2016 | Closing Sales
Just because a prospective client objects to your proposal is not a signal to fold up your tent and quit. Your response may be what closes the sale. The feel-felt-found technique is easy to apply in overcoming an objection. A prospect may tell you that they cannot...
by Chris Hunter | Mar 23, 2016 | Microsoft Word Tips
by Chris Hunter | Jan 1, 2016 | Coaching & Soft Skills, Interviews & Onboarding, Retention
by Chris Hunter | Jan 24, 2016 | Marketing Strategies
Most of us have a charity or other worthy cause that we support. This lets us help others and in turn gives us a genuine feeling of sharing with those less fortunate than ourselves. By serving as volunteers we’re able to make a contribution that is perhaps even...
by Chris Hunter | Jan 1, 2016 | Recruiting
by Chris Hunter | Mar 25, 2016 | Cash Flow Management & Modeling, General - Operations, Profit Improvement
With the local economy in the dumps, business development advisors are working with clients to tighten up their defenses. In addition to dispensing advice on how to better monitor cash flow and accelerate receivables, business development advisors are helping clients...
by Chris Hunter | Mar 20, 2016 | Microsoft Excel Tips - Part Two
by Chris Hunter | Nov 16, 2015 | Entrepreneurship, Family Businesses, Recruiting
Many family businesses employ only members of the same family. Going outside the family means hiring a stranger; staying inside the family means hiring “the devil you know”. Family members help most small businesses get established, and as the business...
by Chris Hunter | Jan 26, 2016 | Pricing
When it comes to setting prices the majority of businesses are followers, not leaders. It they raise prices it’s always with the fear that customers will be offended, but they’ll lower prices to keep a customer or get a new one. They’re usually more...
by Chris Hunter | Nov 22, 2015 | General - Entrepreneurship, General - Personal Growth & Leadership, Leadership
by Chris Hunter | Jan 31, 2016 | Sponsorships
It’s called ‘cause related marketing’ in popular parlance today but it actually began in 1982, with an American Express campaign that helped restore the Statue of Liberty. The campaign raised $1.7 million in funds and fuelled a 27 percent increase in card usage. With...
by Chris Hunter | Nov 29, 2015 | Bookkeeping & Accounting
by Chris Hunter | Dec 26, 2015 | Coaching & Soft Skills, Communications & Performance Reviews
by Chris Hunter | Mar 24, 2016 | Change Management
If there was ever an American icon of the highways it’s the Harley-Davidson motorcycle. 2003 is the year the company celebrates its 100th anniversary with a series of motorcycling events around the world. The company also announced record revenue and earnings for its...
by Chris Hunter | Mar 27, 2016 | Business Plans, Cash Flow Management & Modeling, Performance Management, Start-Ups
A professional services day is theoretically the same as any other – 24 hours long. But when it comes to how many of those hours can be dedicated by managers to earning fees you’d probably be surprised just how small the number actually is. If the working week were...
by Chris Hunter | Sep 22, 2019 | Change Management, General - Personal Growth & Leadership, Leadership, Performance Management, Strategy
From McKinsey & Company When developing initiatives to improve performance and health, follow this process to prioritize for maximum impact. Click here to read article.
by Chris Hunter | Nov 11, 2015 | Company Structures
by Chris Hunter | Mar 20, 2016 | Microsoft Excel Tips - Part Two
by Chris Hunter | Jan 4, 2016 | Advertising & Advertisements
Radio advertising can be a very effective way of shifting your goods or services. But like a lot of advertising, that gives the appearance of being simple, there are many factors that need to be considered.Since potential customers listen to the radio at home, at work...
by Chris Hunter | Mar 28, 2016 | Boards of Directors, Leadership
by Chris Hunter | Dec 29, 2015 | General - Human Resources
by Chris Hunter | Mar 31, 2016 | General - Sales Management
by Chris Hunter | Jan 6, 2016 | Branding
by Chris Hunter | Nov 30, 2015 | Cash Flow Management & Modeling, Profit Improvement
by Chris Hunter | Apr 3, 2016 | Packaging, Selling Skills, Selling Skills
by Chris Hunter | Apr 3, 2016 | Customer Relationship Management, Selling Skills, Selling Skills
by Chris Hunter | May 24, 2021 | Microsoft Word Tips
Using this simple technique for filling text with an image, you can create unique textual designs in Microsoft Word. Here’s how.
by Chris Hunter | Jan 1, 2016 | Recruiting
by Chris Hunter | Mar 20, 2016 | Microsoft Excel Tips - Part Two
by Chris Hunter | Sep 6, 2017 | General - Sales Management, Management & Motivation, Sales Management
by Chris Hunter | Feb 1, 2016 | Web Sites & E-Marketing - Part 2
A website can be a big asset for any business. For a professional services firm it can tell people about your range of services, introduce key personnel, and carry case histories that demonstrate a history of success in your field. For a client it can be a means of...
by Chris Hunter | Nov 7, 2015 | Customer Satisfaction
As customers, we can all recognize outstanding customer service when we experience it. But there are still many businesses that do not reach minimum standards. Not surprisingly, there are some individual consumers who hanker for a return to the types of service that...
by Chris Hunter | Jan 19, 2016 | Marketing Plans
by Chris Hunter | Dec 30, 2015 | Job Search Strategies
by Chris Hunter | Jan 2, 2016 | General - Personal Growth & Leadership, Leadership, Training Programs
Leadership is a combination of inherited and acquired characteristics. Even if your genes didn’t make you a ‘natural’ leader you can certainly learn a lot about leadership if you’re called upon to lead. Natural leaders stand out – they’re easy to identify. Identifying...
by Chris Hunter | Mar 21, 2016 | Microsoft Outlook Tips
by Chris Hunter | Mar 23, 2016 | Microsoft Word Tips
by Chris Hunter | Jan 1, 2016 | Interviews & Onboarding, Retention
by Chris Hunter | Jan 11, 2016 | Branding
by Chris Hunter | Jan 17, 2016 | Advertising & Advertisements, Marketing, Marketing Plans, Web Sites & E-Marketing - Part 1
by Chris Hunter | Jan 24, 2016 | Marketing Strategies
by Chris Hunter | Dec 26, 2015 | Coaching & Soft Skills, Communications & Performance Reviews
by Chris Hunter | Mar 24, 2016 | Business Development
If you’re running or consulting for a small business, you’ve no doubt heard the oft quoted statistic that something like 50 percent of all small businesses fail within two years of opening. While it’s true that it’s not easy to run or consult for a small business, it...
by Chris Hunter | Apr 2, 2016 | Management & Motivation
by Chris Hunter | Mar 20, 2016 | Microsoft Excel Tips - Part Two
by Chris Hunter | Dec 24, 2015 | Bookkeeping & Accounting, Cash Flow Management & Modeling, Financial Ratios & Formulas
by Chris Hunter | Dec 30, 2015 | Job Search Strategies
by Chris Hunter | Feb 2, 2016 | Web Sites & E-Marketing - Part 2
You may recall reading articles about how the website of a prominent politician has been “hacked” from outside and the site’s content altered to ridicule the person. Or about how a government body’s website has been sprinkled with pornographic...
by Chris Hunter | Mar 21, 2016 | Microsoft Outlook Tips
by Chris Hunter | Nov 24, 2015 | Start-Ups
by Chris Hunter | Jan 4, 2016 | Advertising & Advertisements
by Chris Hunter | Mar 29, 2016 | General - Personal Growth & Leadership
by Chris Hunter | Jan 24, 2016 | Marketing Strategies
It’s generally accepted that word-of-mouth is the best form of advertising. If someone whose opinion you value recommends a product to you chances are pretty good that you’ll be inclined to give it a try. Other forms of promotion don’t have nearly the same level of...
by Chris Hunter | Jan 24, 2016 | Marketing Strategies
The arrival of a big conglomerate often serves as a kiss of death to small businesses. Forhow can you compete with these giants in the face of the vast technological resources, deep pockets, seasoned management, and the powerful brands of, say, a Wal-Mart, Kmart,...
by Chris Hunter | Feb 15, 2016 | Computer Software, Performance Management
If you’re worried your employees are spending too much time sending personal emails at work, or worse, that they are using your company’s email and Internet facilities to distribute obscene or defamatory material, there’s something you can do about it. Implement an...
by Chris Hunter | Mar 24, 2016 | Change Management
“Change management” was a hot phrase some years ago. Although the term’s use has faded it’s still the case that the business environment is constantly changing and firms have to be able to implement change at all levels to keep up. Unsettling...
by Chris Hunter | Mar 30, 2016 | Leadership
by Chris Hunter | Mar 24, 2016 | Business Development, Change Management
Ever calculated just how much you spend on software? Or does the thought of the money spent on IT to supposedly improve your business make you want to cringe? Here’s something even more cringe-worthy. Many businesses are obliged to invest heavily in new software to...
by Chris Hunter | Apr 5, 2023 | Coaching & Soft Skills, Communications & Performance Reviews, Human Resources, Retention
Click here to view the article. Great read from the Ken Blanchard Companies.
by Chris Hunter | Jan 26, 2016 | Pricing
Most Small & Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) undervalue themselves and consequently have prices that aren’t genuinely high enough. The prices may cover the costs of the product and maybe even the marketing costs plus a small profit, but they could still be...
by Chris Hunter | Jan 1, 2016 | Recruiting
by Chris Hunter | Mar 20, 2016 | Microsoft Excel Tips - Part Three
by Chris Hunter | Mar 23, 2016 | Microsoft Word Tips
by Chris Hunter | Mar 26, 2016 | Intellectual Property
The Internet has irrevocably altered many of the most fundamental ways of doing business, and the murky waters of intellectual property are no exception. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have always found this to be a tricky area and one where expert...
by Chris Hunter | Mar 26, 2016 | Intellectual Property
by Chris Hunter | Dec 30, 2015 | Job Search Strategies
by Chris Hunter | Nov 29, 2015 | Bookkeeping & Accounting
by Chris Hunter | Dec 25, 2015 | Financial Ratios & Formulas
by Chris Hunter | Dec 30, 2015 | Legal Issues, Recruiting
by Chris Hunter | Nov 16, 2015 | Franchising
There are a lot of franchise opportunities available that cover almost every conceivable area of the commercial world. They offer the chance to get into a business of your own with products, systems and promotions that have been tested and proven before you start. A...
by Chris Hunter | Nov 16, 2015 | Franchising
by Chris Hunter | Nov 22, 2015 | Selling a Business
Ask any boat owner and they will tell you the two best days in a boat owner’s life are the day the boat is bought and the day it is sold! Notwithstanding all the enjoyment that comes from owning a boat on a sunny day there is an abundance of hard work and many...
by Chris Hunter | Jan 26, 2016 | Pricing
Costs go up in a seemingly never-ceasing process. Suppliers raise their prices so the businesses that purchase from them raise their prices. Those businesses that purchase from the businesses that have just raised their prices have to raise their own prices. And so it...
by Chris Hunter | Jan 31, 2016 | Sponsorships
The growing cost of advertising has forced many smaller enterprises to look towards sponsorships as a means of getting their brand across, especially for local businesses who view sponsorship as a contribution to their community as well as an avenue of promotion. The...
by Chris Hunter | Dec 27, 2015 | Compensation
by Chris Hunter | Jan 19, 2016 | Marketing Plans
by Chris Hunter | Jan 23, 2016 | General - Marketing, Market Research
Very few businesses have a monopoly, as almost any product that is worth buying or selling will generate competition. But you need to have a detailed understanding of the products and services offered by your competitors, given that strong competitors could poach some...
by Chris Hunter | Nov 7, 2015 | Customer Satisfaction
Increasingly, businesses are realizing that their greatest asset is their customer base. The old idea, put forward by many managing directors and human resource specialists over the years, that “our people are our greatest asset” is being questioned. After...
by Chris Hunter | Mar 20, 2016 | Microsoft Excel Tips - Part Three
by Chris Hunter | Dec 30, 2015 | Job Search Strategies
Questions you should be prepared to answer no matter what at your interview! 1. Tell me a little bit about yourself. Comment: Keep your answer brief and don’t hesitate to ask the interviewer to narrow the scope of the question. 2. What did you do in your last job?...
by Chris Hunter | Nov 7, 2015 | Customer Satisfaction
by Chris Hunter | Dec 30, 2015 | General - Human Resources
Nobody likes laying off employees. But there are ways of minimizing the unpleasantness on both sides. It’s obviously important to ensure that layoffs are conducted legally and that there are no ensuing court cases. It’s worth checking with a lawyer...
by Chris Hunter | Mar 30, 2016 | Leadership
When the leadership is right and the time is right, the people can always be counted upon to follow to the end and at all costs. – Harold J. Seymour We often use expressions like “A born leader” without worrying too much about just what a leader is....
by Chris Hunter | Jan 30, 2016 | Management & Motivation, Selling Skills, Selling Skills
Leads aren’t terribly hard to get. They can be purchased or bartered for. They can come from inquiries or from prospecting. Regardless of how they’re obtained, bulk quantities of leads are out there, waiting to be acquired. But that doesn’t mean...
by Chris Hunter | Dec 27, 2015 | Compensation
Chris’ combination of academic credentials, career experience and temperament ideally suit his calling as a business development advisor. Clients say he has a mind for business and a heart for service.