Why You Should Ditch the Keyboard and Meet in Person Instead | Entrepreneur

February 3, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Face-to-face communication is a dying art, or so it seems in the digital age. The majority of our communication with clients now takes place over email and instant messaging. While digital communication certainly has its advantages, experts warn their overuse may lead to some fundamental flaws that could derail your success.

Michael Diettrich-Chastain, a business consultant in Asheville, N.C., who helps business leaders understand the human side of their business, says while digital communication now prevails, we should beware the consequences of avoiding face-to-face meetings altogether. Diettrich-Chastain says some important elements of communication are lost in digital exchanges. Although phone conversations now sound an intimate way of connecting, even these don’t allow for body language and eye contact that are only available to you in an in-person meeting.

7 Common Misconceptions Business Organizations Believe About Customer Service This 2016 | Getentrepreneurial

February 1, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

We all do know and are aware of the fact that how difficult it is for the business organizations to stay ahead of their competitors when it comes to customer service trends. Consumers continue to demand a change and evolve unless and until your organization continues to stay current and the customers move ahead without even noticing you. Given below are the 6 major common misconceptions the business organizations generally believe about customer service this 2016.

Taking Care of Business by Taking Care of Yourself | All Business

February 1, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Are you the type of person who thinks of everyone else before yourself? If you are, you probably don’t even realize it. Business owners are particularly prone to this trait. We have a responsibility to our team and our customers, and that can become a singular focus.

But when your weekly date night starts to become monthly, and your evening workouts are replaced with late night office hours, you might be putting yourself on the back burner–and that doesn’t help anyone.

This Super Bowl Ad Thinks Buying Mortgages on Your Phone Will Save America | Bloomberg Business

January 29, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Sometimes, it feels as if we just can’t stop thinking about the financial crisis. Every macro event is the next “Lehman moment;” every retreat in stocks marks the early innings of the next crash.

Other times, it’s as if we’ve all forgotten that the financial meltdown ever happened. Quicken Loans’ 2016 Super Bowl ad falls into the latter category.

Detavio Samuels Left Global Hue to Start an Agency That Speaks to Black Consumers | Adweek

January 29, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Adweek: You’ve launched a branded content studio that targets black consumers. What is different about marketing to this demographic?

Samuels: In an ideal world, the story will come out of culture that will be relevant for more than just people who are of African-American ethnicity.

Stories that are coming out of black content and lifestyle are hot right now. If you look at things like Unsung, Empire and Blackish, you can see that those stories are very popular. Black culture has always been hot, but now it has a platform that maybe we haven’t seen in the past. Content is not just relevant for black people—it’s relevant for mainstream culture.

9 Smart Reasons You Need to Be Using Facebook Ads Now | Inc.com

January 25, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Social media is a tremendous way to increase exposure and traffic for your business, create loyal customers, and generate leads and sales.

Spoiler alert: Facebook remains King Social Network. It is the social media platform of choice for the majority of marketers–and for good reason.

It’s never been cheaper to build your brand and create new demand for your products and services.

If you aren’t already advertising on Facebook, you’d be crazy not to. Especially if you want to grow like crazy in 2016.

Here are nine reasons Facebook ads will help make your business super successful in 2016, starting right now.

First Data Introduces Clover Go Card Reader to Compete with Square | Small Biz Trends

January 22, 2016January 22, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Do you happen to be in the market for a mobile card reader? There is a new player hitting the scene that’s been recently announced by First Data. Called Clover Go, this EMV-enabled card reader is being touted as an affordable option.

Clover Go appears to be a card reader similar to those offered by Square and PayPal. It works with the Clover Go app for iOS and Android, which a user will first have to download on either their smartphone or tablet.

4 Productivity Tips That Changed My Life This Year | Entrepreneur

January 21, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

This year was a big one for me. My income quadrupled, my workload decreased and business expanded faster than I could have imagined. How? Simple: Intentional productivity.

I want to share here four of the biggest productivity tips I utilized this year that helped me make the past 12 months the most amazing year of my life. I’ll also share how you can apply these to your life to make 2016 your best year yet!

What’s for Dinner? 3 One-Minute Tips to Eat More Mindfully | Page19

January 21, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Eating is one of our basic human needs, but it’s more than a mere utilitarian must-do. Eating can be a great pleasure, a social occasion, or a route to greater physical and mental health. But what does that really mean?

While awareness about the benefits of a healthy diet is on the rise, so are confusion and misinformation. What does it actually mean to be a mindful eater? From that question springs a cornucopia of others, like what should the bulk of my grocery haul be? Should I eat meat or not? Are there techniques to better enjoy a meal?

3 Key Things to Learn About Your Target Customer | Business News Daily

January 20, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

If you’re starting a business, you’ve probably defined your “target customer.” You know their age, gender, location and perhaps even their income and education levels. But demographics alone won’t give you a complete picture of who’s buying your products.

“Understand intimately who your customer is,” said TJ Parker, CEO and founder of PillPack, an online pharmacy and medication management service. “If you don’t know your customers, it’s hard to … communicate [your product’s] benefits so they react positively.”

So what else should you be learning about your customers, aside from basic demographics? Here are the top three things you should find out, and how to incorporate that information into your strategy.