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Sponsored Post Marie Kondo’s name is on everyone’s lips these days. Thanks to her book The Lifechanging Art of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing and popular show on Netflix, Goodwill centers all over the country are overflowing with donations as housecleaning becomes a national phenomenon. But although my pantry now looks…

When you think of gluten-free food, you probably don’t picture delicious baked goods. So Melissa Blue and Melissa Mehall founded Meli’s Monster Cookies to show that gluten-free baked goods could also be delicious. The company uses an old family recipe that is gluten free “by accident.” So it tastes delicious and is perfect for those…

A recent article about Facebook having biased algorithms is in the news. It has prompted small businesses to take another look at hiring bias in the workplace. Small Business Trends spoke with Charlotte Blank, chief behavioral officer of Maritz. She offered a new approach involving behavioral research and company data. How to Reduce Hiring Bias…

Walmart is adding hundreds of robots to its stores to help wash floors and perform low-level jobs that will free up workers to do other important work. Walmart will add robots to at least 300 of its stores this year, The Wall Street Journal reported. In another 900 of its stores, Walmart will put 16-foot-high towers permitting…

More businesses are adopting customer loyalty programs because it is much easier to deploy. But a new report has revealed Americans are more cautious when it comes to joining a loyalty program. A survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of Wilbur says 76% of Americans are more likely to join a program which…

Today nearly 750,000 franchise businesses operate in the U.S. From restaurants to retail businesses to service providers, this model can provide an established path. It attracts entrepreneurs from all walks of life. This means you don’t need to be an established business owner to jump into the franchise world. In fact, some franchisees find themselves…

If you’re a small business owner still shaky about investing in building a modern website, this one’s for you. There are at least a dozen reasons why any business, regardless of industry, needs a website. For starters, your customers are online. According to Internet Live Stats, there are (at least) 3.5 billion Google searches made…

When businesses become overleveraged, bad things happen. When businesses are able to maintain financial flexibility, they’re far more likely to enjoy long-term success. Where does your business land on this spectrum? And what does it look like to move from overleveraged to flexible? What Does it Mean to be Financially Flexible? Every CFO and finance guru…

Have you heard of the Freakshake trend? Freakshakes refer to huge milkshakes loaded with ice-cream, cream and flavored sauces. But they also include unlikely ingredients. Think donuts, cake, biscuits, brownies and other sweet delights. Freakshakes have become huge in the food service industry. Small restaurateurs should consider capitalizing on the freakshake trend. Put this deliciously…

Managing a project requires a combination of communication and leadership skills. But you need the right tools too. Even though some people look down on using spreadsheets, they are still popular. Here’s a list of where to find the best Excel project management templates for small business plus tips for using them. Tips for Getting…

Disruption in your industry has become a sure thing. And it poses a dangerous threat to your company. Because historically, the most successful disruptors come from outside the industry. Think Uber for car services and Netflix for at-home movies. So how can you become the next disruptor, instead? Make sure your competition doesn’t beat you…

The Facebook News Feed is dead. It’s official. Gone. Extinct. Poof. Nada. Oblivion. In this article, I’ll tell you why I’m making this assertion, the conspiratorial events leading up to the death of the News Feed, what it all means for the future of Facebook marketing, and four solid takeaways that will superpower your marketing…

The job hunt can seem like a never-ending stream of applications and interviews for candidates.  And it can feel that way for the companies posting jobs too. AmdIn order to stand out from competitors, keep the job posting fresh for as long as possible and, ultimately, find the ideal fit for the position, companies need…

Knowing how and which social media platform your audience uses is an important data point. Identifying this information will improve your engagement level and marketing efforts. And according to a new report by CenturyLinkQuote, the platforms vary from state to state. The data from this report is especially important as people spend more time on…

The ability to listen to your customers more effectively has introduced new challenges and opportunities. Because of digital technology, your customers can let you know how they feel on your website, social media channel, blog, and other outlets. Applied Marketing Science (AMS) is holding a training workshop titled, “Listening to the Voice of the Customer”…

Today’s businesses have so many opportunities to earn an income online. Whether you use your website, social media or platforms like YouTube, it’s important to have a strategy to help you optimize your revenue. Here are some tips from members of the online small business community to help you do just that. Increase Website Earnings…

Two of today’s critical employment trends make offering ongoing training crucial for business success: The job market is tight and finding outside qualified candidates is difficult, and Professional training is among the most highly valued employment benefits for Millennials. Before I detail some excellent sources for ongoing education and training, let me also say that…

One of the pleasures I have in traveling the country speaking to thousands of business owners is hearing many of their challenges. Of course the desire to get more customers and keep the ones they already having buy more is ONE big challenge. However, I also hear from business owners who are FRUSTRATED in growing…

I’m sure the Small Business Trends audience knows who Ramon Ray is.  In fact most folks in the small business community here in the states have probably seen him speaking at industry conferences, moderating panels, running sites like SmallBizTechnology.com (which he recently sold) and publishing Smart Hustle Magazine (and running its annual conference), and writing…

If you have virtual employees or even people who work remotely just some of the time, you’ll want to hear this. A new survey of those people this week revealed many of them feel left out of the workplace. The report comes from the company Igloo. It found 70% of remote workers feel left out…

Half the respondents to a new survey saw their tax bill drop. Some tout the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act as a reason. Another equal amount reported their tax bill remained the same. The Q1 2019 Vistage CEO Confidence Index also found a small percentage of respondents saw increases in their taxes. Small Business…

Sometimes a cartoon has been sitting there right in front of you for forever and you just never bothered to notice. Take for example the phrase “my way or the highway.” We’ve all heard it, read it, written it, said it. But it occurred to me after more than 47 years of hearing it that…