3 Marketing Rules to Live — or Die — by
By Eric Reyes Monday Jun 14, 20103 marketing rules to live — or die — by. You may think your product is so good it will sell itself, but Tim Berry at Online Finance Blog has a reality check for you: great marketing sells even the crummiest products. His second rule: consistency beats brilliance — meaning don't change your marketing strategy every few months. Familiarity breeds trust among customers. Third, writes Berry, people can trump money.
Where the Jobs Are for Top Execs
By Eric Reyes Friday Jun 11, 2010The best jobs for executives. Check out ExecuNet's latest research on fastest-growing industries in the coming year: they include health care, green technology, high tech, biotech, energy, manufacturing, government or non-profit educational ventures, and financial services.
Employee Theft Hits $2.9 Trillion — Are You a Victim?
By Eric Reyes Thursday Jun 10, 2010Can you really trust your workers? Employees are stealing $2.9 trillion a year from companies, according to a report from the Association of Certified Fraud Executives. Believe it or not, some employees are robbing their bosses of $1 million — and getting away with it. They typically do it over longer periods, about 18 months before they stop or are caught. The most vulnerable businesses are banks, financial services and manufacturing.
Why Obama Should Never Be Allowed to Fire People
By Eric Reyes Wednesday Jun 9, 2010Can BP's chief executive? Not so fast. A lot of bloggers are trying to draw management lessons from the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The latest comes from Kevin Eikenberry at Leadership Learning, who criticizes the way President Obama recently said he would fire the oil giant's CEO if he could.
The Road Warrior's Ultimate Tool Kit
By Eric Reyes Tuesday Jun 8, 2010Must-have mobile technology. We are awash in mobile devices and applications that can keep you connected on the go and James Martin at SmallBusinessComputing lists 10 you can't leave the office without. For example, you'll need a portable modem for 3G cellular connections, a fax-to-mobile application and video conferencing. There are also free call transfer and voicemail services that allow one phone number to ring on multiple devices.
Free Tools to Help Boost Your Blog Traffic
By Eric Reyes Monday Jun 7, 2010Is no one reading your company blog? There are free online services you can use to measure whether you are talking over your readers' heads, writes Haris Krijestorac at HubSpot Blog. WebsiteGrader and Gobbledygook grade your blog and tell you whether your prose is too ambiguous or has too much jargon, among other things. Donna Maria at Indie Business Blog lists
Lost Your Job? Your First Steps Are Critical
By Eric Reyes Friday Jun 4, 2010Dealing with job loss. Your actions immediately after losing your job affects how well, emotionally, you deal with it. First, says Laura Martinez at EmploymentDigest.net, try not to panic. Don't think about the bills; think about ways you can modify your budget. You should also tell friends and family as soon as possible and ask for their support, even if you're embarrassed. Ask them for belt-tightening ideas.
Secrets to Spying on Your Competition
By Eric Reyes Thursday Jun 3, 2010Snooping on your rivals. Getting the inside dope on your competitors isn't easy, but Christopher Steiner at Forbes.com suggests at least 6 ways you can do it on the cheap and without breaking the law. For example, retailers often hold morning staff meetings on the store floor at opening — making it easy for a rival to eavesdrop. Customer service representatives also make for great sources of information once their buttered up.
Today in Management: When Employees Don't Trust You
By Eric Reyes Wednesday Jun 2, 2010Do your employees trust you? Few workers trust their bosses' ability to lead, according to a report from Right Management. Fifty-seven percent of employees say they “occasionally” trust their managers, compared to 25% who say they “always” trust their managers' decisions. About 30% of executives “always” trust the managers who report to them but about 20% of employees say they “rarely” trust the boss.
Today in Tech: For Business, Better iPad Alternatives
By Eric Reyes Tuesday Jun 1, 2010Better than the iPad? Guess what? Apple isn't the only one making tablet computers — and some alternatives are even better than the iPad for business use, argues Brian Nadel at PCWorld.com. Toshiba, Fujitsu and HP, for example, sell tablet computer with attached keyboards, video-conferencing capabilities and that ability to draw using a stylus.
