For the past decade, there has been article after article claiming that Millennials are ruining everything from breakfast foods to the napkin industry, and there’s no denying that Millennial culture has made an impact on the business world. “Ruined” definitely isn’t the word that we’d use, however. Millennials have a tendency to research more, to […]

It’s no secret that 2020 changed the world as we know it. Many of us have found that our entire lives now look a little different. It can be unnerving to watch movies where characters are walking around unencumbered by masks, social distancing, or any apparent concerns about a contagious virus.  As our day-to-day lives […]

Customers like businesses who are transparent and proactive in their communication, as opposed to those who make it difficult for customers to get information that they want or need. While this is a great standard, it can undeniably present a challenge to small businesses with limited resources. The solution? Automate customer communication, wherever possible. Human […]

Communication trends have been evolving rapidly in the business world ever since technology started developing at a quick pace.  Few things, however, have shifted trends in communication as swiftly and significantly as the COVID-19 pandemic, which essentially forced approximately 51% of Americans to work from home (some for the first time ever).  Nothing changes communication […]

The far-reaching potential of the internet has made it more difficult than ever for your business to stand out from the competition. Companies from the opposite side of the globe can now accurately advertise to your audience with laser-focused targeting, giving you thousands of businesses to compete with. As if it wasn’t difficult enough when […]

We’re officially just a handful of weeks away from leaving 2020 behind. In the past several months, an unbelievable number of things have changed including the trends for entrepreneurs to watch for.  With a global pandemic, entrepreneurs and businesses all over the world have been forced to get creative with contactless ways of doing business […]

Working with your business should be a pleasant, positive experience for your customers. Even if your product is superior in the industry, if customers are always walking away from purchasing or your customer service department feeling like you gave them a migraine, it won’t bode well for you in the long-run. There are a number […]

We hear the terms “customer experience” and “CX” everywhere, but what do they really mean? John Foley from Oracle defines customer experience as “the idea that businesses can use everything they know about a customer to personalize and maximize the transaction at every touchpoint and across business channels – in the store, on the phone, […]

We’re moving into a new decade (according to *some* — see: Farmers’ Almanac’s take), and as we do, it’s important to remember that we need to move our businesses into the new age, too.  Year-over-year, there are changes in the market, in technology, and even in consumer behavior that need to be taken into account […]

The holidays are such a stressful time – we’re all feeling the strain. Between the pull of work and obligations with friends and family, the last few months of the year get filled up fast. The to-do lists become a mile long and everyone starts mentioning how they could really use a clone. Businesses feel […]

Customer service is of increasing importance to all businesses, and there are more tools than ever before that reflect this. We’ve got advanced CRMs hitting the market, insanely capable chatbots, and intuitive help desk software that’s all designed to help businesses offer improved customer service to their clients and save some time and/or money along […]

Customers can be fickle. This is a hard truth that businesses have to face, especially with not-so-true cliches floating around like “the customer is always right.” While the cliche may not be right, there’s no denying that with so many choices available to customers today that it puts them firmly in the driver’s seat. That’s […]

With so much to do, businesses and marketers are increasingly relying on technology and tools that are designed to automate some of the work that we’re doing. We all want more time in our day, and finding ways to cut costs and reduce the need for extra manpower on “non-critical” tasks seems like a good […]

Customers have higher expectations than ever before. They expect customer service excellence at every turn; that’s the standard now, not a perk, and if a customer has anything less than what they consider a stellar experience, they’re likely to jump ship and hire one of your competitors instead. A whopping 33% of customers recently surveyed […]

Running a business from home can feel like a disadvantage. Yet, it’s no secret the way small businesses operate is changing – remote work is more prevalent than ever. It’s feasible to sustain a business from home successfully just as you could from any office. The key to competing with larger businesses is recognizing your advantage: superior service. A […]

It seems like the most profitable businesses get flooded with new customers non-stop, while the reality is slightly different: their current customers are sticking around, generating consistent value.  Loyal customers are worth more to your business and are worth 10 times their first purchase. Existing customers are also 50 percent more likely to try your […]