The start of a new financial year is an appropriate time to take stock of the position your business is in at present. This month you could ask yourself "How well do I know my business? To start this process, why not ask your employees what business you're in. Then compare their answers to yours. As part of the review of "How well do you know your business?" we have prepared a check list which we are happy to send you. Some of the questions are: Read more…

If you need to increase your company's competitiveness and profit, where should you start? Should you focus on your employees first, or should you start by focusing on your customers first? In reality, you need to do both.

It is almost always best to start by focusing on your employees first. Highly satisfied and engaged employees are essential for achieving high levels of customer satisfaction, retention and long-term loyalty. Start by listening to your employees and taking action based on their ongoing feedback.

Conduct an employee survey / employee engagement survey to gather information, suggestions and insight from your employees. Ask them about what it is like to work for your company and what can be done to help them do their jobs more effectively and to do a better job of taking care of customers. Read more…

Facebook's advertising feature allows you to place small display ads in the right sidebar of the social network's pages and profiles.

The advertising platform works somewhat like Google AdWords. You simply bid for keywords based on Facebook users' profiles and compete to get your ads placed.

You can target your ad using a range of variables, including keywords, location, age, gender, education, relationship status and interests. You can also choose between a cost-per-click (CPC) pricing model, where you pay only for clicks, and a cost-per-thousand (CPM) model, where you pay per 1,000 ad views. Read more…

Okay, so you have a business plan - but do you have a life balance plan? After all, making your business a success is a marathon, not a sprint. So it's important to pace yourself by recharging your internal batteries on a regular basis. This can really help your business thrive!

Stay focused
It's easy to lose sight of personal needs when you're caught up in the excitement of building your business. That's why you have to approach your personal life just as you do your business life. Decide what your priorities and values are. After all, spending time with your children or enjoying a vacation aren't just indulgences; they're activities that provide you with a fresh perspective on life. Read more…