Expert Advice
About 'The Talent Coach' Blog on Bizmore
By Barry Deutsch Thursday May 20, 2010Both my Partner, Brad Remillard, and I are pleased to be joining a distinguished group of experts here on Bizmore. Our focus here will be to discuss, debate, and dissect issues related to hiring and retaining top talent -- at every level in your organization.
Security Dangers Lurk When Using Web Hosting Services
By Kevin Beaver Thursday May 20, 2010Are you one of many businesses that relies on a third-party to host your website or application? Pay attention: Your vendor may not be doing everything it can to protect your site and your reputation.
Generation Y Gets Religion Online
By Ira Wolfe Thursday May 20, 2010Amazon, eBay, Priceline — we’ve come to accept these virtual shopping places for every day purchases of books, records, travel and even used cars. While the Internet didn’t strike a fatal blow to bricks-and-mortar retail, it certainly changed the way buyers buy and sellers sell.
Want to Make Better Hires? Try a Pre-Employment Test
By Ira Wolfe Wednesday May 19, 2010When it comes to excuses for poor employee behavior, small-business owners have heard it all — from bad hair days to faulty alarm clocks. Sometimes the excuses are part of a chronic problem and it’s best to identify these types of bad behavior right up front.
3 Reasons This Small Business Is Built to Last
By Jay Forte Wednesday May 19, 2010Let me tell you about a very wise company I work with. At a time when most companies’ conversation with their employees is about just surviving today, this company is actively talking about the future — their future and how their employees are part of it. They have, and share, a vision of success, and a plan to achieve it. This doesn’t mean they aren't going through tough times — they are. But their employees are more focused on the long view of work. Here is how this company brings this about:
Manager's Dilemma: Should You Encourage Employees to Use Facebook?
By Jay Forte Tuesday May 18, 2010Here's a question every manager needs to consider: to what extent should you get employees involved in your company's social media marketing efforts? By allowing — even encouraging them — to use Facebook at work, are you just inviting a host of problems? Consider this scenario: You have just come back from a seminar on social media; you feel it could be a new and critically important part of marketing your furniture design business.
5 Essential Steps to Finding the Right IT Vendor
By Kevin Beaver Monday May 17, 2010Growing a small business is difficult enough as it is. From hiring the right employees to dealing with a ridiculous amount of government paperwork, it seems there's hardly any time to do what you originally set out to do. Well, there's another piece to the business complexity equation which can create some serious IT and risk management issues: your vendors. Partner with the wrong companies and, at best, you risk losing time and money. The situation can also create serious business risks you may not have thought about.
Manager's Dilemma Solved : How to Focus Employees When Jobs are Cut
By Jay Forte Monday May 17, 2010In last week's Manager's Dilemma, I presented a problem many managers face today: workers who have survived company layoffs are consumed with fear that they too may be cut and can't focus on their jobs. Productivity suffers.
What You Need to Know Before Buying Encryption Software
By Kevin Beaver Saturday May 15, 2010You've probably heard some people claim that encryption can solve many of your IT security and compliance problems. Encryption, these people say, can jumble all of your sensitive data so the bad guys can't read it -- a seemingly formidable protective measure for any given small business.
Pros and Cons of Allowing iPads at Work
By Kevin Beaver Thursday May 13, 2010I was working on a recent project that involved iPads as a work tool — specifically what to do about Apple's popular new tablet computer. The debate was over whether or not to allow and officially support such devices on the company network.