There’s a lot of buzz around mobile apps right now; all the cool kids seem to be rolling one out.  The iTunes app store has more than 500,000 selections, and Google’s Android Marketplace is growing rapidly.  You see loads of smartphone users surfing the web (or maybe they’re playing Angry Birds) and wonder if you’re missing out on a hot trend.  Should you consider developing a mobile app?  Those are fair questions, w

The popularity of direct mail marketing is back in vogue after years of decline, but many people don’t know how to execute the strategy.  Personalizing your letter is key, and Mail Merge in Microsoft Word helps. You can get the generic instructions by visiting Microsoft’s website, but you can’t get our “insider tips” that come from a Mail Merge Queen from way back.

Yes, your information systems are needy, but don’t fall into a dysfunctional IT support relationship.  True tech love is mutually supportive and both parties share the risks of failure. Is your IT support person taking you for granted? Dump him before he dumps you.  Life in the cloud is sweet.

Remember the drama of high school break-ups? You mope around remembering the good times and forgetting  the times you were ticked off. You eat too much ice cream. You drive your friends crazy for days (or weeks) talking about what “might have been.”

Building a culture of customer service excellence is not an easy task for any company. More consumers demand exceptional customer service and are even willing to pay extra for that great experience.

What is it that sets some companies apart from others when it comes to providing outstanding customer service?

You may not be ready to run your business in your pajamas and bedroom slippers, but you probably have heard about how telecommuting (working from home) can increase productivity, save money, and even lead to happier, more loyal employees. It’s a great option when weather “events” (as the local weathermen dub them) make going to the office challenging. Even the federal government has jumped on the telecommuting bandwagon when the Telework Enhancement Act of 2010 was signed into law late last year.

Tsunamis, earthquakes, hurricanes, floods—Mother Nature is making headlines every week. Did you know that according to the Institute for Business and Home Safety, based in Tampa, FL, at least 25 percent of businesses close after a natural disaster and never reopen?

If you’re running a small enterprise, then you probably get at least one text or email every day with promises of some technology that’s allegedly newer, faster, or better. From smartphones and tablets to turbo-charged servers, savvy marketers claim that buying this “one” is the magic answer for expanding your business. It’s no wonder you’re overwhelmed by all the choices.

These days “outsourcing” means more than manufacturing widgets internationally and small businesses can take a page from the “big boys” who outsource to cut costs. If you’re a small- to medium-sized business owner, you may already be using outside payroll, billing, and/or collections services because Business Process Outsourcing(BPO) allows you to get rid of a high-dollar in-house accounting department.