Small Business Strategies

CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIPS

The Survey Says ...

Want to know what consumers think? Put down the comment cards and poll them online instead.
(May 2006)

5 Ways to Avoid the Junk Mail Folder

Your tightly focused cybermarketing effort is somebody else's #@%! junk e-mail. Here's how to make sure your brilliant stuff gets to the people you're trying to reach and isn't just dumped into the trash.
(March 2006)

Knowing What Customers Want

The "sense and respond" business model helps companies keep up with rapidly changing markets.
(February 2006)

Capturing Eardrums

In a world that's increasingly awash in marketing clutter, Paul Anthony, founder of Rumblefish, believes music can help a brand stand out. So what does your company sound like?
(January 2006)

112 Million Handsets Can't Be Wrong

Welcome to the new frontier of direct marketing--the cell phone.
(December 2005)

The Gift That Keeps Giving

Gift cards were last season's retail hit. Now, smart marketers are mining them for precious customer data.
(November 2005)

Reeling In the Big One

Landing a big, brand-name client can make all the difference. Here's how a startup can do it.
(October 2005)

Marketing Effectively With Fewer Resources

E-mail is a powerful way to help small and medium businesses build customer relationships and increase repeat business.
(August 2005)

Warming Up to Cold Calls

Why it's time to rethink one of the most derided marketing tactics.
(August 2005)

A Second Act for CRM

Customer relationship management software is back--and worth another look. Really.
(July 2005)

MANAGING THE BOTTOM LINE

Choosing an SCM Solution

There are a lot of supply chain management (SCM) solutions on the market. Here's how to find the best solution for your business and its needs.
(May 2006)

For Cash-Strapped Cloudveil, it Was a Very Hard Offer to Refuse

Could its founders sell the sportswear business without selling out?
(May 2006)

Supply Chain Management Is Information Management

Supply chain management (SCM) applications are designed to let you use information you already have much more effectively. Here's how you can choose one that works for your business.
(March 2006)

Can't Find an Accountant?

You're not alone. Sarbanes-Oxley has so overwhelmed accountants that companies are having trouble getting their books audited.
(March 2006)

Turning Vendors Into Partners

Almost everyone is gunning for your business. But will your vendors treat you the way you treat your customers--like a true partner? Here are some questions to ask before making a commitment.
(February 2006)

Main Street VCs

A new breed of venture capital, coming soon to a town near you.
(January 2006)

Cranking Up the Earnings

Forget revenue growth. For VCs these days, it's the EBITDA, stupid.
(December 2005)

Beyond the 401(k)

Few startups make it. New retirement plan options can help hedge your risk--without breaking the bank.
(November 2005)

Accounting: Beyond the Basics

From monthly profit-and-loss statements to annual reports, accounting is just basic business hygiene, right? Wrong. Read on to see how your business can use financial information as a strategic tool to improve day-to-day business results.
(October 2005)

Taking the Pain Out of Payday

Still cutting old-fashioned paychecks? Payroll debit cards offer a cheaper, more convenient alternative.
(October 2005)

Small Business, Big Picture

Using technology to integrate processes and information offers small and medium companies a way to cost-effectively streamline operations and gain a comprehensive overview of their businesses.
(August 2005)

Taking Stock

A new rule is forcing business owners to think twice about stock options.
(August 2005)

Patching or Replacing Your Technology

The business case for upgrading older equipment.
(July 2005)

Percolating Profits

A new generation of "virtual" business incubators is jump-starting startups nationwide.
(July 2005)

BUSINESS SYSTEMS

The Rules You Make About E-mail

The most important part of an e-mail system isn't the software. It's the rules you make about using it.
(May 2006)

Lost in Translation

Thanks to e-mail, BlackBerrys, and text messaging, the face-to-face encounter is becoming a dying art. Here's why you should revive it.
(March 2006)

Building a Global Alliance

Tacit Networks wanted to expand overseas but had few resources and no leads. So it found another way to go global.
(February 2006)

Managing Bandwidth

Before you order that extra bandwidth from your ISP, be sure you've done all you can on your end to run your applications more efficiently.
(January 2006)

Hosted Applications Aren't a Free Lunch

Renting business software can sound like a great deal, but it's not always the cheapest, or most effective, answer to your software needs.
(December 2005)

Why Go Wireless?

It's all about the bottom line.
(December 2005)

VoIP: Taking Advantage of Your Infrastructure's Architectural Value

Integrating a Voice-over Internet Protocol system into your existing infrastructure can help you cut the cost of staying connected with business partners, branch offices, and employees in the field.
(November 2005)

Cell Phone Madness

Why cell phones are replacing the laptop.
(November 2005)

The Next Best Thing to Being There

A new breed of collaboration software lets far-flung employees work as though they're face to face.
(October 2005)

Reinventing the PowerPoint

New tech tools to liven up your tired old PowerPoint presentations--and give your online marketing efforts a boost.
(August 2005)

Small Business at the Speed of Gigahertz

Using technology to solve four common problems facing small-business owners.
(July 2005)

The Secrets of Open-Source Managing

Start treating your customers like employees.
(July 2005)