| Business news you can use from your Better Business Bureau® |  |
| Trends & Trust |  |  |
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- How Facebook is affecting the public's trust in marketers
The bad press surrounding Facebook's treatment of personal data could be eroding the public's trust in marketers in general, writes Andrew Edwards. "[T]he question for marketers is whether Facebook has hit the privacy iceberg, and is therefore sinking the entire data collection community in a sea of mistrust." ClickZ
(4/23)     
- When more pins bring more problems
Jewelry-maker Michelle DiFilippo-Espinoza had a bad experience with Pinterest when unscrupulous individuals stole images of her products and used them to spread malware. "People thought I was not a legitimate business. I lost sales because of it and had to rebuild and regain trust in the Internet community," she said. To help prevent future problems, DiFilippo-Espinoza now places watermarks on her images and remains on watch for suspicious users. The Daily Dot
(4/23)
| Customer Satisfaction & Marketing | | |
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- 5 steps to cashing in on your expertise
Charging for your expertise can be a good way to build your business, Tom Searcy writes. "Charge for your seminars and the information will be valued more by your potential clients," he advises. Like Dale Carnegie, author of "How to Win Friends and Influence People," you should do your research and become an expert on a topic, Searcy writes. CBS MoneyWatch/Sales Machine blog
(4/24)
- Understand your customers' personalities, improve your relationships with them
There are at least four types of customers you're likely to encounter in the course of doing business, and each requires a different approach, writes Susan Payton of Egg Marketing & Communications. For example, if your customers are micro-managers, it might be a good idea to give them what they want while setting some boundaries. On the other hand, you should work to strengthen your relationships with your best customers so they will send more business your way, she writes. Small Business Trends
(4/24)
- What to do when you suspect an employee of stealing
If you think that you've caught an employee stealing, it's important to handle the situation carefully to avoid landing in legal trouble, writes lawyer Stephanie Rabiner. "If you accuse an employee of stealing and without adequate proof, you may end up with a wrongful termination suit on your hands. Make sure you have a solid case." Get the police involved, and be careful about what you choose to tell other employees about the situation, she advises. FindLaw/Free Enterprise blog
(4/23)
- Are you average or extraordinary?
The difference between run-of-the-mill managers and truly exceptional leaders lies in their core beliefs, writes Geoffrey James. Great bosses see their company as a community, their own job as a service and their employees as peers rather than peons. "Average bosses see employees as inferior, immature beings. ... Extraordinary bosses treat every employee as if he or she were the most important person in the firm," James writes. Inc. online/Sales Source
(4/23)
 | Most small business owners know the importance of managing credit effectively and that a "one size fits all" model won't work. Use Managing Credit - Made Simpler to find the right credit management model for your business and to help identify strategies to ensure you are on top of your business's financial condition. |
| Funding & Finance | | |
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- How to choose a pricing strategy for your new product
Before making a purchase, customers must first decide they need a specific type of product, Mark Stiving writes. Afterward, they usually choose between the available products on the market that satisfy their needs. "Every time you approach a pricing problem you need to know which one of these is the final decision," he explains. Entrepreneur online
(4/23)
| Weekly Poll | | |
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How often do you trust online reviews?
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Sometimes |
66.19%
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Almost never |
18.71%
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Almost always |
15.11%
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Have you ever suspected that an employee was stealing from your business?
 | Yes, and we went to the police |
| Yes, but we didn't get the police involved |
| No |
| BBB in the News | | |
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- How to protect yourself from overseas e-mail scams
Scammers are trying to extract money from their victims by sending e-mails promising financial rewards in exchange for helping them to move money out of their home countries. Recipients can protect themselves from such schemes by protecting their personal information, deleting suspicious communications and turning to BBB for assistance, according to BBB's John North.  ClipSyndicate/WDTN-TV (Dayton, Ohio)
(4/24)
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| SmartQuote | | |
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 | Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work."
--Thomas Edison,
American inventor
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| About BBB® |
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BBB is the leader in advancing marketplace trust - it is an unbiased, non-profit organization that sets and upholds
high standards for fair and honest business behavior. Across the U.S. and Canada, 116 BBBs serve communities by
evaluating and monitoring more than four million local and national businesses and charities. Learn more at
www.bbb.org.
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| | Recent BBB TrustBrief Issues:
- Monday, April 23, 2012
- Friday, April 20, 2012
- Wednesday, April 18, 2012
- Monday, April 16, 2012
- Friday, April 13, 2012
| | | Lead Editor: Brooke Howell
Mailing Address:
SmartBrief, Inc.®, 555 11th ST NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20004 | |
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