Business Integrity: quality characterized by honesty, reliability, and fairness, developed in a relationship over time. When doing business, I think most of us would consider strong ethics and integrity to be top of the list of qualities we seek out in business partners. Reputation is extremely valuable in 21st century business. In an age of corporate scandals, suspicious customers, and budgets with very little breathing room, there is simply... 

Last March we profiled 26 ventures hatched by the newly unemployed. Amid signs of economic recovery, we check in with each of them  Read More →

What is it that your customers value? Is it a live person answering their call? Being able to get information from your web site or in email? Find out why focusing on your customer’s preferences is the surest path to a thriving business.  Read More →

Why Word of Mouth Doesn’t Happen This content from: Duct Tape Marketing This post is a special Make a Referral Week guest post featuring education on the subject of referrals and word of mouth marketing and making 1000 referrals to 1000 small businesses – check it out at Make a Referral Week 2010 Sometimes, what you do is done as well as it can be done. It’s a service that people truly love, or a product they can’t live... 

A Simple Way to Increase Referrals 300% This content from: Duct Tape Marketing This post is a special Make a Referral Week guest post featuring education on the subject of referrals and word of mouth marketing and making 1000 referrals to 1000 small businesses – check it out at Make a Referral Week 2010 I’m always amazed at how much is written about sales and marketing and how little is written on the nuts and bolts of driving business... 

I love Tom Peters. He’s gotten me in trouble for years. Well, his books have. I finally got to have lunch with him, and then see him keynote. The affair just grows and grows. And now, Tom’s done the whole “compile some good blog posts into a better book” thing. It’s awesome. His new book, The Little Big Things: 163 Ways to Pursue EXCELLENCE (amazon affiliate link), is just outright …  Read More →

According to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau data, Hispanics are opening businesses at a rate three times faster than the national average. And, what was once regarded as a minority group now represents the fastest-growing segment of the nation’s economy. This is a fact that is not lost on the government. Speaking to Hispanic News, Ying Lowrey, senior economist at the Small Business Administration’s advocacy office, has this to say:... 

I got the word this week: The Blue Ocean Cafe has  Read More →

My friend, Chris Hall, has told me about Batten Disease , an illness that strikes down children, most often in the 4-10 year-old age range. Chris’s son, Matthew, passed away from the disease a short while ago. They’ve set up a Facebook group about their son, and about Batten Disease, to raise awareness. Chris told me, “Our first aim is to significantly increase numbers (for awareness). Once we have done this we’re going... 

I just read a study produced by the Crittenton Women’s Union that shows that a single parent in Massachusetts needs approximately $68,000 a year to raise a toddler and a school-age kid. (Hat tip WBUR Morning Edition ). Most single parents (primarily women) aren’t earning even half that in Massachusetts. It’s a tough challenge, and also hard to understand how to help. By simply sending money, the problem is softened a bit. But... 

Today  is the first day of the 2010 Make-A-Referral Week . Make a Referral Week is an entrepreneurial approach to stimulating the small business economy one referred business at a time. The goal for the week is to generate 1000 referred leads to 1000 deserving small businesses in an effort to highlight the impact of a simple action that could blossom into millions of dollars in new business.  One of the educational programs related to Make-A-Referral... 

Author of Word of Mouth Marketing Visits Referral Week This content from: Duct Tape Marketing This post is a special Make a Referral Week guest post featuring education on the subject of referrals and word of mouth marketing and making 1000 referrals to 1000 small businesses – check it out at Make a Referral Week 2010 Marketing podcast with Andy Sernovitz (Click to listen, right click and Save As to download – subscribe now via iTunes... 

The Referral Multiplier Effect This content from: Duct Tape Marketing This post is a special Make a Referral Week guest post featuring education on the subject of referrals and word of mouth marketing and making 1000 referrals to 1000 small businesses – check it out at Make a Referral Week 2010 After I read an early copy of John’s terrific new book The Referral Engine , it got me thinking about how really great online information makes... 

Simon is marketing director for Bar B-Ria , an upscale barber shop experience for gentlemen in Bogota, Colombia. They offer everything from massages to haircuts to manicures and pedicures, and a bar full of top shelf liquor, including a new favorite rum, Zacapa from Guatemala. I’ll tell you what advice I had for the place upon appreciating their services and their commitment to guest experience. This is mostly tactical. There’s still... 

The top 5 tips weekly post is always full of hints and tips for small, home & micro business owners. Write a draft version first and get it checked by your lawyer. Include policies on issues such as discrimination & discipline so that your position is clear and in writing. Make sure you include a disclaimer stating that the handbook is not a legal document. Every employee must receive a copy and should sign to state they have...