BASEMENT TO BOARDROOM  

Janine Popick


Why You Need to Tell Stories

Using stories to describe your product helps employees, customers, and press understand how it works in the real world, not in a presentation deck.  Read story

Using Social Media to Power Community

Social media isn't just a communications tool. According to Doug Ulman of Livestrong, social media done right can propel a community forward.  Read story

How to be Creative When You're Moving Fast

Caterina Fake of Findery shares her ideas on how to be creative when you're a fast-growing, fast-moving company.  Read story

5 Easy Ways to Give Your Office a Makeover

Think outside the box with these fun, creative ways to turn a cubicle office into a place your employees enjoy working in everyday.  Read story

How to Do Social Media Right: 5 Tips

Three Inc. 5000 companies reveal real-life stories about how they've successfully tackled social media.  Read story

'A GoPro Video Is Uploaded to YouTube Every Minute'

GoPro co-founder and CEO Nick Woodman explains how GoPro started and became a viral phenomenon. Plus, how you can do it too.  Read story

Have the Best Trade Show Schwag

Schwag, when done right, can reap big rewards. Here are the three things to keep in mind when preparing for your next conference.  Read story

Make Your Employees Feel Like Winners

Awards can increase employee morale, help you attract top talent and generate brand awareness.  Read story

Why Your Customer Service Policy Stinks

No business is immune to unhappy customers. But making sure you meet customer service expectations can keep them to a minimum.  Read story

5 Reasons to Ditch Your Dress Code

Talented people are as diverse as the clothes they wear. You may be stifling your employees with your dress policy.  Read story

Is Your Business Name Web Friendly?

A company name with a non-matching domain name may spell disaster for your business.  Read story

5 Ways to Get More Facebook Likes

You have to be everywhere your customers are, including Facebook. Here are some easy ways to rack up those "likes."  Read story

Make Sure Your Customers Stay Put

Don't allow new policies to have huge consequences for your existing customers, staff, and your bottom line.  Read story

Why My Company Pivot Scares Me

CEO of Inc. 5000 company VerticalResponse Janine Popick talks about her trepidation leading up to a major shift in the company's business model.  Read story

Secrets to a Successful Social Media Strategy

The secret to successful social media marketing is to use what you've already got. Don't think you have anything? Think again.  Read story

What Makes Customers Tick

Having a frank discussion about what works, what doesn't and what your customers want from you is key to a successful business.  Read story

3 Free Apps to Enhance Your Inner Creative Genius

Give your presentations, documents or Web pages a little creative oomph with these three free business tools.  Read story

Talk to Your Customers; You Might Learn Something

CEOs need to put themselves out there to see what their customers are saying. And the best way is to communicate with them directly.  Read story

Inspire Olympic-Size Team Spirit in Your Employees

Creating a real team-oriented approach, where everyone is rooting for the same thing, is crucial to any company.  Read story

5 Reasons to Build an In-House Creative Team

It's tempting to take creative responsibilities off your shoulders and hand it over to an agency, especially when you're growing. Here's why I decided to bui...  Read story

When Do You Need an HR Specialist?

If HR-related issues are getting in the way of running your business, then it's probably time to bring in an expert.  Read story

Acquisition or Partnership? How to Decide

If you're thinking about forming a partnership or acquiring another business, these questions will make it easier to decide which option is best.  Read story

These 3 Questions Will Help You Close

Understanding the needs of your prospects is paramount to closing a deal. Ask these three simple questions to get those critical insights.  Read story

5 Tips for Creating a Winning Presentation

From no projector to awful audio, it's not uncommon to be faced with unexpected "gotchas" when giving a presentation. Here's how to make your presentation go...  Read story

Don't Let Meetings Suck Your Time

Six reasons why I hate meetings, and what you can do to make them more efficient.  Read story

4 Business Tools That Make Life Easier

These apps are worthy of your attention because they will free up more time in your day.  Read story

Entice Mobile Users to Open Your Emails: 3 Tips

Here's a little-known secret to get more people to open your email marketing campaigns.  Read story

4 Ways to Combat Digital ADD

We've all been there. Here's how to curb online workplace distractions and reclaim your productivity.  Read story

Become a Rock Star on Social Media: 4 Ways

One way to get more social media friends, followers, fans and fervor is to leverage your email marketing campaigns.  Read story

5 Cs Every Start-up Needs to Succeed

Whether you're in software or skincare, you can't succeed in business without these five essentials.  Read story

Not Producing Content? You Should Be

To distinguish yourself from your competitors, you must have content, and you must have a unique voice.  Read story

Are Your Employees Waving Away Customers?

As a business owner, you go above and beyond to keep customers happy. But your employees might not feel the same.  Read story

Trade Shows: Get Bang for Your Buck

Trade shows and conferences cost money and time. Ask these four questions to determine if a show is right for your business.  Read story

Customer Service Pop Quiz: Be Your Own Customer

When it comes to customer service, it's easy to assume that if there aren't any complaints, there's no need to improve it. Big mistake.  Read story

Why You Should Be Geeked About Data

We ran three marketing tests-with surprising results. Here's what our data revealed about the clicking habits of customers.  Read story

5 Leadership Lessons From the Business Trenches

In the age of Pinterest and Instagram, 11 years in business seems like a long time. Here's what longevity has taught me.  Read story

Business Meeting Etiquette: 8 Pet Peeves

Do your days consist of meeting after meeting? Master these eight don'ts to stay focused and distraction-free.  Read story

Marketing Lessons From the ‘Little Guys’

Big businesses need to lighten up, get creative and take a few cues from small business owners.  Read story

Teen Entrepreneurs Win Big

A growing number of young entrepreneurs are launching serious businesses with great potential--and many of them aren’t even old enough to drive.  Read story

All-Hands Meetings: Friend or Foe?

The last thing we need are more meetings, but having a company-wide gathering will allow you to make sure that everyone is marching toward the same goals.  Read story