| Business news you can use from your Better Business Bureau® |  |
| Trends & Trust |  |  |
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- 3 ways brands can re-establish trust
Several high-profile brands recently suffered when embarrassing incidents took a toll on consumer trust, writes author David Horsager. Companies can help restore trust by admitting that they have made mistakes, apologizing and doing a better job in the future. "It may seem unfair, but companies that have stumbled will be held to a higher standard," he writes. Forbes/Forbes Leadership Forum blog
(2/15)     
- How to guard against cyberattacks
There is much to be learned from the cyberattack recently perpetrated against The New York Times, writes Dave Johnson. Businesses should be wary of phishing attempts, and they should consider using an approach known as "whitelisting" to restrict the software that is allowed to run on their systems, he writes. CBS MoneyWatch
(2/13)
| Customer Satisfaction & Marketing | | |
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- Video-marketing tips from a YouTube success
Wasp Barcode's YouTube page now has more than 1 million views -- not bad for a "super nonsexy product," says Jeremy Vest, the scanner-maker's online manager. That's a sign it's possible for any business to make a splash on video-sharing sites, Vest says. "There are a lot of safe bets for small business and video," he says. For example, creating a how-to video isn't difficult and can establish authority for your business. MarketingSherpa
(2/14)
- Understand your management style to become a better leader
Some leaders prefer to take charge of the decision-making process by using an autocratic or paternalistic management style, writes Lee Polevoi. Others would rather give their employees more responsibility by acting as democratic or laissez-faire managers. "By better understanding which kind of manager you are, you can adapt or modify your style as necessary and cultivate the most effective work environment for you and your employees," Polevoi writes. Intuit Small Business Blog
(2/13)
- Why you should try to keep talented workers from leaving
Some employers see their workers as replaceable, but Amy Rees Anderson argues that this is not always true. The most talented workers are more important to a company's success than its technology or products, she writes. Replacing a great worker is costly and creates a gap in institutional knowledge, and the worker's departure could cause other employees and clients to wonder what went wrong. Forbes
(2/13)
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| Funding & Finance | | |
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- What to do before signing a personal guarantee
You may need to sign a personal guarantee, which uses your personal assets as collateral, to get a commercial loan, writes James R. Coughlin of Asterisk Financial. But before signing such a guarantee, you should determine how much risk you are comfortable with and negotiate for more favorable terms. For example, you might ask to be relieved of the guarantee after you repay a certain amount of the loan. Small Business Trends
(2/14)
- Crowdfunding becomes option for small-business loans
While many traditional lending sources remain tightfisted, small businesses are finding an alternative in crowdfunding. This article looks at SoMoLend and how it is navigating the legislative and market environment to help small businesses get capital. Some banks have climbed onboard. KeyBank says it will lend $1 million to $50 million using SoMoLend. Forbes
(2/13)
| BBB in the News | | |
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- Why you should regularly review your credit report
Credit reports aren't always accurate, so BBB recommends that consumers review their reports every four months. "The good news for consumers is that credit reports are free ... and if you find an error, you can work with the credit reporting company to fix it," said Charles Harwood, acting director of the Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of Consumer Protection. MLive.com (Michigan) (free registration)
(2/13)
| SmartQuote | | |
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 | If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal. Not to people or things."
--Albert Einstein,
German-born theoretical physicist
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| About BBB® |
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For 100 years, Better Business Bureau has been helping consumers find businesses,
brands and charities they can trust. In 2011, consumers turned to BBB more than 100 million times for
Business Reviews on more than 4 million companies and Charity Reports on 11,000 charities,
all available for free at
www.bbb.org.
The Council of Better Business Bureaus is the umbrella
organization for 115 local, independent BBBs across the United States and Canada, as well as
home to its national programs on dispute resolution and industry self-regulation.
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| | Recent BBB TrustBrief Issues:
- Wednesday, February 13, 2013
- Monday, February 11, 2013
- Friday, February 08, 2013
- Wednesday, February 06, 2013
- Monday, February 04, 2013
| | | Lead Editor: Julia Russell
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