Cbeyond SMB Expert Tips:

The growth of social media has provided easily-accessible, widespread avenues to discuss the good and bad of businesses. As a result, it has become more critical for companies to monitor social media sites to check the pulse of their customers.

In doing so, businesses can identify problems faster and show they are responsive and mindful to resolving issues their customers face. Ultimately, how a business responds publicly through social media can carry a great impact than any other marketing effort.

Author, radio host and small business expert Mark Deo reveals the social media tools every business should use to monitor and respond to social media activity, and shares tips to help businesses craft the perfect response to change customer perception online.

Cbeyond SMB Expert Tips:

Communication is a foundation of effective leadership in today’s business environment. While many business leaders view these tactics as second-nature, it can be difficult with the rigors of the day to ensure you are asking the right questions, listening in a fully-focused manner and synchronizing your gestures with your meaning in every conversation. Unfortunately, one misinterpreted word or action can create unintended headaches.

Author, radio host and small business expert Mark Deo reveals the four most common communication pitfalls that plague even the most successful leaders, and shares practical tactics to ensure communication at all levels is functional, intelligent and seamless.

Professionals face a daily challenge to separate “urgent” tasks from “important” ones. While “urgent” matters are more deadline driven and require immediate attention, “important” ones can be delayed if necessary. However, the longer someone puts off an “important” matter, the greater the risk it will become “urgent”, creating a potential nightmare backup of time-sensitive materials for any individual to manage.

Author, radio host and small business expert Mark Deo reveals four proactive planning tips business professionals should consider to remain productive, schedule more efficiently and avoid “urgent” pitfalls.

Cbeyond SMB Expert Tips:
Even if not currently selling products online, businesses can leverage online payment programs for simpler interaction with customers – and to ensure they receive their money faster!

Reducing the expenses necessary for administration, printing and mailing invoices on paper can significantly boost the overall cash flow while reducing the manpower demands for such processes. Using off-the-shelf programs, such as PayPal or Google Checkout, can help businesses establish a customized merchant account solution for accepting and processing online payments.

Author, radio host and small business expert Mark Deo lists the critical elements businesses must consider when evaluating online payment technologies.

Cbeyond SMB Tip: 90 percent of start-ups fail within their first year because they simply run out of money. In any economic climate, the most critical step a growing business can take to ensure success is to develop a cash management plan early.

Developing an in-depth, intelligent plan for monitoring expenses is of even greater value than profit early on, and most of those 90 percent that did not survive could have improved their chances by having a management plan.

Author, radio host and small business expert Mark Deo provides Cbeyond SMBspot readers with seven proven tactics businesses can leverage to develop and execute a plan to manage their money more effectively, and avoid surprises when reviewing their funds.

-Cbeyond Small Business Expert

In any economic climate, one of the few things business owners can control is their beliefs. Regardless of the scenario, today’s most successful professionals do not sacrifice their own values when making key decisions. Beliefs are based on thought, and for business owners to succeed, they must think and make judgments to answer several key questions about the current and future state of their companies.

Author, radio host and small business expert Mark Deo shares the most practical ways business owners can ensure their beliefs are accounted for in the decision-making process, and shares the three questions every business owner should ask in any situation.

Business legend has it that more millionaires emerge in times of economic downturn than in times of prosperity. While the unstable economy of recent years creates greater risks for the adventurous entrepreneur, knowing how to develop an intelligent business plan can inspire both yourself and your colleagues to bring an idea to fruition. In most cases, the first steps to success do not involve a single dollar, but rather a shift in mindset and behavior.

Author, radio host and small business expert Mark Deo shares three tips every entrepreneur can use to increase their chance at succeeding in a down economy.

According to a recent survey, nearly 62 percent of employees do not consider themselves “fully engaged” with their work. This “I’d rather be anywhere else” mentality can prove dangerous to the entire team’s productivity, as unmotivated employees can take longer to complete projects and do so at an inferior quality. So how can business leaders spark renewed morale in times of apathy? Surprisingly, the answer may be giving them greater responsibility.

Author, radio host and small business expert Mark Deo shares tips executives can use to improve employee engagement, and explains why holding employees to higher standards can generate greater interest.

As the economic outlook continues to fluctuate, small businesses may be looking to cut back their expenses rather than invest more in workers or advertising.  However, there are several things small businesses can do during the recession to improve their standing, including expanding their offline networks and attending outside events to create new business opportunities.

Small businesses also should reevaluate their entire budget and cut everything that isn’t essential to their operations. According to a recent Business News Daily report, using their attorneys and accountants, small businesses can expand their contact list even further and even give them a percentage of new clients come on board.

Social media is also key for small businesses during the recession. One website that is useful is LinkedIn but, according to the report, many people still don’t know how to use it. To address this issue, small businesses are encouraged to research and establish a presence through the site.

“Running your own business is hard,” said Business News Daily. “Take one full day off a week and turn everything off. Recharging your personal batteries is a must.”

With the ease of making purchases at the click of a button, online shopping is more popular than ever among today’s consumers. A recent study found that 78 percent of Americans research purchases online, and 66 percent use the internet as their most common source for buying and selling. The growth of e-commerce creates great opportunity for businesses to reach their target audiences and drive activity beyond what is possible in a physical store. To meet this demand, those same businesses must ensure their website is properly equipped to process and deliver online orders.

Author, radio host and small business expert Mark Deo reveals the three essential items every business needs to conduct successful e-commerce, and shares additional tools and tips to help simplify online shopping for your customers.