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HOW TO: 7 Easy Ways To Improve The Way Your Company Works

October 1, 2013

At my last 9-to-5 job, every time I thought differently from my supervisors and managers about a problem we faced, I wrote down what bothered me and how I would do it differently given the opportunity. Before long, I had a huge spiral notebook filled with ideas. I realized that all these “negatives” were actually opportunities for better leadership. And I brought many of those ideas to the company I now co-own.

You can do the same. Whether you are working in an executive position, just striking out on the entrepreneurship path, or you have already started a business, consider the following seven ideas for taking your business (and company culture) to the next level:

1) Location. Location. Location! (Did I mention location?) You are paying rent already, or your bosses are, so make it money well-spent and get on a prime street with high traffic. Bright signs near a freeway let everyone know you are there. If you only need a small office suite, make sure you can have your name on a sign outside the building so you are getting the exposure.  (more…)

How to Make Sure Your Next Event is a Financial Success

September 23, 2013

Anyone who has ever an organized an amazing event knows its success is never coincidental—especially when you are looking for an event to be a success from a financial perspective. A financially successful event takes not only sound planning and execution, but a strong event strategy that includes leveraging technologies like an online registration system and a payment processor.

With the fall event season in full swing, now it the time for you to think about what you can do to take your events to the next level, and ensure that they are financially successful.

Here are 4 ideas to help you ensure financial success at your next event:

Leverage an Online Registration Tool

Online registration is a great way to ensure success because it removes the labor-intensive and time-consuming process of managing registrant details. It also allows you to capture registrant information and payments 24/7 and at the leisure of your attendees. If there are fees for your event, it’s recommended to collect these fees with a payment processor. (more…)

Crowdfund Investing Education for the Financial Advisor and the Financial Service Industry

September 17, 2013

The Crowdfund Investing Industry has been gaining momentum every day, yet its impact is still only a fraction of its full potential for the economy. Our question to you is… will you be ready when it blows up into “the next big thing’?

Crowdfunding is changing the economic landscape. This latest wave of disruption to investment and finance may be the most profound and beneficial so far – or ever. So it’s imperative for financial advisors to learn about how the meteoric rise of crowdfunding opens access to new sources of funding via these new, more broadly accessible internet-based funding models.

If you serve as a financial advisor or financial service provider, understanding this paradigm shift for the economy will put you in a position to provide insights, advice and leadership to your clients and those around you. Sources for practical, hands-on crowdfunding information are emerging. (more…)

5 Easy Tips for Using Video in Email

September 17, 2013

Videos are a great way to get your newsletter readers to remember your message and put a face to your organization. Making a video for your small business or nonprofit is easy– most smartphones record video in High Definition, so you likely already have exactly what you need to get started already. This is great news for all small businesses and organizations, especially those who use email marketing to connect with their target audience online.

Here are 5 easy tips to help you a video in your next email:

Make it short and sweet

The shorter your video is the more effective it will be. Most people stop watching videos within the first minute. Unless you’re giving away a video podcast or a webinar, don’t make your video more than 90 seconds. If you have an idea that you know will take more than 1-2 minutes, consider turning it into a video series. Instead of using a 10-minute video in one email, create five 2-minute videos, and promote them over the course of a month. (more…)

Acquiring a Troubled Company

August 27, 2013

As the economy rebounds, businesses that have survived, and even thrived, may be tempted to acquire companies that have been less fortunate. The downturn revealed the cracks in many businesses, and their owners are coming to terms with a disheartening future.

Opportunistic business owners, sensing a bargain, may be wondering if the time is right to make an acquisition. Despite the perception that these “fire sale” opportunities represent value at a deep discount, there are risks involved. Once our clients have decided upon a potential takeover candidate, we walk them through a series of considerations to arrive at a decision that’s right for them.

The first and most obvious consideration is “why do you want to acquire this company?” The purchase should be a strategic fit, allowing for benefits such as increased marketshare, an extension of products or services, the addition of talented staff, intellectual property or equipment and real estate which can be beneficial. (more…)