Does Sex Sell, or Just Make Customers Impatient?
Researchers delve into the finer points of advertising: Do sexy ads have the right effect on consumers? Maybe not. Read more
Customers
Recent Customers Articles
Are You a Painkiller or a Vitamin?
Before you talk to even one customer, know the answer to this crucial question. And prepare accordingly. Read more
My Wildly Outlandish Holiday Strategy
Wild Creations's founder shares his company's plan to maximize the holiday season. Read more
How to Cultivate Truly Loyal Customers
Every business wants loyal customers--but loyalty comes in many different flavors. Read more
The Secret to Great Customer Research
Are founders incapable of doing great UX? A pair of Silicon Valley veterans debate whether start-ups should outsource user-experience research. Read more
5 Steps to Handling a Customer Complaint
Your employees may be turning customers away. Teach them these simple steps to navigate through a customer service issue. Read more
6 Sales Lessons From the Election
The recent election teaches important lessons about what really works in sales and marketing. Read more
JJ Ramberg: Promote Your Company Creatively 
JJ Ramberg, host of MSNBC's Your Business describes how one small business owner differentiated--and landed a new buyer. Watch video
Dear Customers, Sandy Hit Us. Now What?
When your business is struck by disaster, how can you avoid further damage to your reputation? Follow these businesses' smart examples of great customer serv... Read more
Tech Trends: Tools for Managing Contacts
We tried out two basic CRM tools that help organize contacts--and stay in touch with them. Read more
Big Data for Small Businesses
Low-cost tools that help businesses capitalize on customer data. Read more
Kayak.com Co-Founder: 'I Wanted to Transfer Empathy Directly to the Engineers'
How Paul English motivates the programmers at his Kayak.com travel site to respond to customer complaints. Watch video
3 Questions to Ask Before You Go Global
You've built a strong U.S. business and are considering overseas expansion. How should you approach that decision? Here's how one company did it. Read more
3 Ways Your Friends Can Help Your Business
It takes a leap of faith, but you can do more for your business by spending time with your friends than meeting strangers. Read more
Avoid Social Networking Pitfalls: 4 Tips
Social networking can be hazardous to your corporate health. Here are four potential hurdles and how to overcome them. Read more
Build a Path to Your Customers
Your start-up needs customers to succeed. Which channels will you use to reach them? Read more
10 Ways to Make Visits to Your Office Memorable
You can feel the culture--a certain family "vibe"--the moment you walk in the door to our offices. Here's how you can create an ambiance too. Read more
Reality Check: Engagement Is Now a Way of Business
Social media changes everything. Marketing, sales, customer service, they're no longer departments; engagement is now a way of business. Read more
The Secrets of Exceptional Marketers
Here are the five best strategic marketing ideas of the past decade. Read more
Be Worthy of Your Customers' Attention
Make sure that your product or service is worthy of receiving your customers' attention. Here's how to do it. Read more
On Social Media, Authenticity Always Wins
This CEO takes pride in being brutally honest online--even if he offends people. Here's why he thinks you should do the same. Read more
Grab Your Customer's Attention (& Keep It)
Before you can help customers solve their problems, you have to prove that you deserve their attention. Here's how to craft a compelling unique value proposi... Read more
Luxury Brands Losing Next Generation of Customers
A marketing study warns that traditional luxury branding strategies fail to woo Millennial shoppers. Read more
4 Tips for Simpler Customer Service
It all boils down to a few simple fixes on your website, says the iDoneThis team. Here are their tips to help you spend less time on customer support. Read more
4 Ways to Get & Keep Customers
Sure, you can start a business, but can you get customers to keep it growing? Here's how to start. Read more
Your Customers' Top Priority? Time
If you want to garner consumer loyalty and confidence, this is all you need to know. Here's why. Read more
Ostrich Pillow Creeps Onto Kickstarter
A Madrid design firm debuts its odd-looking head pillow on Kickstarter--days before new guidelines seek to limit finished products. Read more
Tim Cook's Apology: the Good, Bad & Ugly
Apple screwed up, and admitted it. Here are some of the highlights--and lowlights--of Tim Cook's 'We fell short' letter. Read more
We All Scream for Customer Insights
Nothing drives home the importance of customer feedback like standing on a street corner handing out ice cream samples. Here are the lessons we learned. Read more
Win Important Customers & Keep Them
Sales advice from John Berkowitz, co-founder of Yodle, and Scott Gerber, founder of the Young Entrepreneur Council. Watch video
6 Signs That It's Time to Resign a Client
Not sure if your client relationship is on the skids. Here are six signs that it may be time to part ways. Read more
When a Client Relationship May Be at Risk: 3 Red Flags
Here's how to be vigilant and make sure your customers stay your customers--for good. Read more
3 Rules of a Compelling Value Proposition
To create a compelling value proposition, you have to know your three C's: competencies, customers, and competitors. Read more
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 more
One Killer Sales Skill You've Forgotten to Use
The more sales training you've received, the more likely that you've forgotten the most important sales technique of all. Read more
