Your employees interact directly with customers, so it's critical to keep workers engaged by showing appreciation and being responsive to their needs. "Managers must actively foster an environment in which employees feel committed and recognized for their efforts to help their company meet its goals," writes Jim Perry.

Here is a step-by-step guide to starting a YouTube advertising campaign, including advice for setting your objectives, targeting specific demographics and selecting ad formats. "Start small, learn from your experience, and optimize your YouTube ads for the future," advises Maria Dykstra.

Small businesses sometimes lack sophisticated cybersecurity measures, making them vulnerable to attack. However, small companies can take steps to protect themselves such as backing up their data, watching for phishing scams and hiring outside experts when necessary.

The PUR Co. uses several tactics to establish accountability, including creating 30/60/90-day plans for workers and holding bi-weekly check-ins, writes founder Jay Klein. "Working with short-medium and long-term goals helps employees celebrate wins along the way and create attainable goals that drive results," Klein writes.

Businesses often try to avoid conflict on their teams, but addressing disagreement is key to preventing problems and establishing a positive culture, writes Liane Davey. Rethink the language you use to describe teamwork, and create the expectation that healthy conflict may arise, she writes.

Small-business loan approval rates clocked in at 27.2% at large banks and 48.6% at small banks last month, writes Rohit Arora, CEO of Biz2Credit. Large banks have decreased the size of their branch networks in recent years, but online alternatives have helped to address the issue, he writes.

A bipartisan group of senators has proposed a bill to correct a provision in the 2017 tax law that requires retailers and restaurants to write off renovation costs over 39 years instead of 15 years. Industry groups including NRF have been pushing for the change to make it easier for businesses to invest in improvements.

Looking for a change in their lives, Floyd and Julia Albee relocated to Mill Valley, Calif., to open the home goods store Prevalent Projects. Floyd, who runs his interior design business out of the store, is planning an e-commerce site with his wife and a furniture collection.

NRF's annual "State of Retailing Online" study conducted by Forrester shows retailers are diversifying their investments online and offline to meet consumers where they shop. Among other findings, the report says retailers are investing in omnichannel fulfillment services, personalization tactics and mobile marketing. Read more.

Fifty-five percent of retailers surveyed plan to spend more on social marketing in 2019 compared with 2018. Source: NRF's State of Retailing Online study.

Retailers have always responded to customer needs, evolving with the market -- and anything that might disrupt progress is a concern. Jimmy Edwards, president of Marshall Music in Lansing, Mich., worries tariffs will raise prices on music instruments, disrupt his connection with customers and ultimately affect access to hundreds of school music programs across Michigan. Watch the video to learn more.