Most Clicked SmartBrief on Main Street Stories
1. Your top worker leaves. Now what?
SmartBrief on Main Street | Jun 13, 2013
When a key employee announces he or she is leaving, business owners need to make the departure positive by trying to understand the worker's perspective and make the last days celebratory, writes Adam Toren, co-founder of YoungEntrepreneur.com. Other tips: Don't delay searching for a replacement and stay in touch with the departing worker. YoungEntrepreneur.com (06/12)
2. Unusual incentives help small shops build customer loyalty
SmartBrief on Main Street | Jun 12, 2013
Small businesses are using digital tools to offer innovative loyalty programs to keep customers coming back. For example, FoBoGro, a convenience store in the Washington, D.C., area, offers incentives such as a date with the store's co-founder and the chance to grab as many items as possible in 30 seconds. "If we're going to stand out, we've got to be better at this than CVS. We've got to make it more fun," said FoBoGro's Devlin Keating. USA Today (06/11)
3. Father-daughter team builds a business on a doodle
SmartBrief on Main Street | Jun 14, 2013
Madison Robinson doodled a squid on a flip-flop after a day at the beach when she was 8 years old. That was the inspiration for what would become a million-dollar business for her and her father, Dan. The company's Fish Flops are now carried in 400 stores nationwide, and Madison balances her time between school and working on the business. Fox Business Small Business Center (06/14)
4. How to avoid legal trouble with unpaid interns
SmartBrief on Main Street | Jun 14, 2013
Using unpaid interns can lead to legal problems if you fail to follow certain guidelines, Brett Snider writes. You cannot use interns in place of regular workers unless you are paying them at least minimum wage. In addition, unpaid internships must contain an educational component, according to courts and the Labor Department. FindLaw (06/13)
5. Tips for getting the best possible commercial lease
SmartBrief on Main Street | Jun 18, 2013
When negotiating a commercial lease, plan to come to an agreement on details such as the duration, the cost of extra services, whether you can leave early and acceptable uses for the space. "Even if you plan to use the space for a single purpose, it's advantageous to have a lease that allows for a wide range of uses, in case your business changes or a new opportunity arises," writes Robert Moskowitz. Intuit Small Business Blog (06/14)
6. How to get your customers to keep coming back
SmartBrief on Main Street | Jun 17, 2013
Treating your suppliers well can boost your odds of getting the best products or services and the best prices, says Sue McCarthy, the subject of a new reality TV show on the Style Network. That, in turn, enhances your status with your customers. Other ways to keep your customers happy are giving salespeople some leeway to adjust prices and maintaining high standards about products and policies. Entrepreneur online (06/14)
7. Giving workers feedback in sensitive situations
SmartBrief on Main Street | Jun 12, 2013
Giving your employees feedback is an important part of running a small business, but it isn't always fun or easy to do. This article provides advice for offering feedback in tricky situations, such as when an employee asks for a promotion or is no longer improving his or her skills. Entrepreneur online (06/10)
8. Don't let infighting destroy your family business
SmartBrief on Main Street | Jun 18, 2013
A common mistake for family businesses is for founders to split the business equally among children or pay them the same, regardless of job duties, say Kent Rhodes and David Lansky, authors of "Managing Conflict in the Family Business." Instead, adult children "should be compensated according to the level of jobs they have, and how qualified they are," Rhodes said. In addition, it's important for family businesses to have independent directors who are willing to deal with difficult topics, they say. Bloomberg Businessweek (06/17)
9. Businesses can help employees sort through the intricacies of the new health care law
SmartBrief on Main Street | Jun 13, 2013
Business owners are required to send notices to their employees informing them about the Affordable Care Act by Oct. 1, even if their companies are small enough that they are not required to provide health insurance, Arlene Weintraub writes. The model notices distributed by the Department of Labor, however, are difficult to decipher. This article explains how to provide supplementary information that can help employees cut through the fog. Entrepreneur online (06/12)
10. Visuals are key for effective content marketing
SmartBrief on Main Street | Jun 12, 2013
Interesting visuals can help your marketing content stand out from the sea of text-heavy blog posts and articles on the Internet, writes Boney Pandya of WebNet Hosting. These visuals can take a variety of forms; for example, you could create infographics, videos, maps, or charts and graphs to grab viewers' attention, he writes. Small Business Trends (06/10)
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