If You Sell Online, You Need to Know About this Supreme Court Decision
For nearly 20 years, online retailers haven’t had to collect sales tax from all of their customers. That may be changing as a result of South Dakota vs. Wayfair, Inc. The Supreme Court ruled that Wayfair was responsible for collecting sales tax from South Dakota residents, even though Wayfair doesn’t have a physical presence in […]
Goodbye Adwords?
Do you know how many different types of Google ads you can buy? It’s a long list. There’s the familiar Google Adwords, and YouTube ads, and ads that display on Google Maps. There are Google Search Ads, and Gmail Ads, and banner ads that appear on Google’s Display Network. And that’s just the tip of […]
The Answers to Your Toughest Business Questions Are in Your Data
One of the most challenging aspects of being a business owner is making good decisions. The world is changing every day, and so are our customers. Figuring out the right thing to do in a dynamic environment is tricky. There are lots of people who will offer advice, but how do you know what’s right […]
Understanding Data: The 4 Types of Data
If you’re interested in learning how data can help you grow your business, it’s helpful to understand what the different types of data are and what each one is used for. While the word data simply means facts and statistics collected for reference, that’s not enough of a definition to help you make sense of […]
Dad Said: “When You Pay Peanuts, You Get Monkeys”
Father’s Day is this weekend. I was thinking about my Dad and the great advice he’s given me over the years. Like me, Dad’s a business owner. We work in different fields – he’s in carpentry, I’m in marketing and tech – but we have had one big challenge in common: Quality Work Demands Quality […]
Gamification is More than Fun and Games
There are five generations of consumers in the marketplace right now: the Silent Generation – parents of the Baby Boomers, Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and the youngest shoppers, Gen Z. We’ve discussed how Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z have all played video games throughout their lives. Now it’s a good time to talk […]
Be Willing to Question Everything – Even Your Essentials
One of the things I really enjoyed about presenting “Decoding Your Data” at JCK Las Vegas was the opportunity to tell my favorite story about Victoria’s Secret. It’s a powerful tale for business owners that illustrates that you have to be willing to examine every aspect of your operation – even those things that could […]
Timing is Everything: Using Data to Get Better Results from Your Marketing
Let’s say you use email marketing to connect with your customers – a monthly newsletter that includes updates about what’s new with your business, savings opportunities for your customers, an informative article to read and share, and more. It takes a lot of time and effort, but you know it’s worth it – you’ve had […]
What Makes Gen Z Different from Millennials?
Gen Z is the newest generation of shoppers. Born after 1995, Gen Z will account for 40% of all shoppers by 2020. The oldest members of Gen Z are recent college graduates and new entrants to the workforce. While most aren’t entirely independent yet, they do have money to spend. Forbes reported at the beginning […]
Whose Brand are You Building? Social Media Content That Actually Helps You Grow
Marketing your business on social media requires a lot of content. Social Media Examiner puts the ideal number of Facebook posts per day between 2 and 5; if you’re using Instagram, the ideal number of daily posts is 15. When you’re busy running a business, creating that much original content is a big challenge. The […]