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According to Guy Maser, senior VP of marketing for GlobalSpec, it takes more than a good product or service to ensure a successful customer retention program and foster healthy long-term customer relationships. You must also pay attention to your customers' needs and meet them. Remember, customers will jump ship given any slight, perceived or real Read More

According to Tom Northup, author of Five Hidden Mistakes CEOs Make, business owners must understand the key success factors that drive their marketplace, and develop those into core competencies as part of the business development process. “It's also important to set achievable goals meant to improve your processes and the things your people do to Read More

As growing businesses make do with smaller teams until the economy turns around, people are stretched for time. That means meetings tied to strategic communications must be especially productive. Here are five signs that a meeting could be a time waster, according to Robert Hosking, executive director of OfficeTeam. Read More

There are ways to get through to even the most resistant people, contends Mark Goulston, author of the new book Just Listen: Discover the Secret to Getting Through to Absolutely Anyone. He offers these techniques to improve your customer service standards. Read More

“Many small business owners who regularly make a profit and have consistently high demand for their products or services spend a good deal of time listening to and observing their customers and learning how to provide what they want,” says Emerson Smith, Ph.D., president of Columbia, S.C.—based Metromark Market Research. Here are five surefire way Read More

With marketing and advertising expenditures down significantly in the wake of the poor economy, many growing businesses are looking for budget-friendly ways to get their business noticed and reach their target audience as part of an effective brand-building strategy. Cher Murphy, president of Cher Murphy PR, suggests these eight proven tactics. Read More

There's never been a more important time to be flexible and nimble in your business development strategy. It may be the most important thing a company can do, contends L. Drew Gerber, CEO of Blue Kangaroo and creator of PitchRate.com. “Uncertain economic times compel us to look at everything we do with a fresh set of eyes,” he notes. Here are some Read More

Surveying customers after they've made a purchase — or signed a service engagement or support contact — is one of the best ways to identify which customers you might be in danger of losing. According to Jeffrey Henning, founder of Vovici, which offers comprehensive survey software, panel management, and online community solutions, there are four k Read More

FuelNet presents a case study on how the owner of an independent film company generated buzz for a new movie through social media. Read More

Does your business place a premium on excellent customer service standards? If not, it could be the kiss of death for your company. According to Chip Bell and John Patterson, coauthors of Take Their Breath Away: How Imaginative Service Creates Devoted Customers, satisfactory isn't good enough these days — customer service has to blow away the comp Read More