The Talkroute Blog

“Of course it is easy to just keep on going the way you always have, but that is the easiest way to sabotage your own business.”   It isn’t easy for a business to stay open for the long haul. For a brand new startup, and even for those who have been around for a couple years—it all seems so simple. You have a great idea, an exciting vision, and you are even turning a profit. You managed to come up with a business idea that works, but that does not mean that you are immune to the perils of an ever-changing market. What works now may not always work. The bottom line is that if the market does not respond to what you are selling, then you have no choice but to discover what has to change, to retain the interest of consumers. Keep an Open Mind If you …

“It’s all about doing things right.”   What is a productive business? Well, entrepreneurs from all walks of life would probably give a variety of definitions, but I think everyone agrees, at least, that a productive business is one that works all day long. As long as you are rolling along like a well-oiled machine, then you can probably consider yourself to be productive. To achieve that level of efficiency, however, is easier said than done and takes some thoughtful attention and organization. Here are a few suggestions that will hopefully pull your wheels unstuck from the mud and get your business running like a Swiss watch. 1. Keep Immaculate Records Keep your books clean and up to date. There are many reasons why excellent record-keeping is important, but one of the foremost is simply that it will save you time and frustration. Think about how stressful it is to …

“Doing business locally can be more convenient, cost effective, and attractive to customers.”   We are living in an age of the buyer’s market. These days, customers are far more discriminating than they have ever been, and it is no wonder because they have more choices to make than ever before, in the market today. As a result of this trending phenomenon, working in the marketplace means adapting to an increasingly demanding public because what used to be mere details, like environmental responsibility and local sourcing, are being scrutinized and favored more and more by consumers. They are looking for the products and services they buy to be closer to home, as it were. Doing business locally can be more convenient, cost effective, and attractive to customers. Community Relationships to Establish Loyalty When quality businesses in the same community get together to achieve mutual benefit, or for any reason, the …

“When it comes down to a Pepsi Challenge with your competitor, the business who is involved with charity is likely to taste a little better than the alternative.” Put yourself in the shoes of an onlooker, and imagine seeing two companies that provide the same thing—except one of them gives to charity. It may not be the defining factor in a customer’s decision-making process, but to be sure, philanthropy reflects positively on your business. It demonstrates that you have a financial structure solid enough to give some away, as well as showing that you are about more than just turning a profit. And if you are giving to charity, then make sure you tell people about it. It looks good. Cross-Advertising Opportunities Getting involved with a charity is not a completely selfless endeavor because you can benefit from it as well; the collaboration can fill a need for both parties. …

“Finding an established business to hook up with may be exactly what you need to really get off the ground.”   The idea is basic; it is ubiquitous in every area of business and even the larger, global economy because business is about more than buying something for a dollar and selling it for two. The appeal of a mutually beneficial business arrangement is self-evident, but what you stand to gain from it may not necessarily be a huge increase in your profit margin, but instead your gain may simply be something like exposure. And this may hold more value than making a huge profit right off the bat because, especially for a burgeoning startup, maximizing the reach of your business could mean greater profit in the long run. About symbiosis… Yes, this concept is derived from a naturally occurring phenomenon, but I will not be hosting another nature special …

“Have you ever felt so overwhelmed at work that you thought you might completely flip out, if you took one more phone call?” You are not alone. The American Psychological Association found, in their annual Stress in America Survey, that 65 percent of Americans say work is “a top source of stress.” That was in 2012; we can surmise that this number has only gotten worse. The APA reminds us, however, that though we cannot avoid at least some work-related stress—it is manageable. Don’t stress yourself out about being stressed out because there are simple measures you can take every day to keep calm and carry on. 1. Create a Relaxed Work Environment One of the first things you can address is your work environment. Take a look around and check it out. Look at the atmosphere of your office, the people around you at work, and even the neighborhood …

“A negative review from a Yelp user can certainly impact your business, but if you prepare yourself and respond well to it, you can get past a bad review, unscathed.”   Even if you have the perfect business with outstanding customer service, you will encounter less-than-complimentary reviews from time to time. Sometimes you deserve the negative feedback; other times, you don’t. The fact is that some people just want to complain. There is no reason why you cannot maintain a good attitude, while saving face at the same time—even in the face of a bad review. The key is to handle it productively and constructively.   Since its inception in 2004, Yelp has grown from a simple platform—not unlike the Yellow Pages we used to see in old-school, ink-and-paper phone books—to one of the top websites of all time, said to have the ability to “make or break” a small …