NebulaBiz Cash Advance Melbourne Fl: July 2017

Monday, July 31, 2017

What You Can Learn From Anthony Scaramucci’s (Brief) Tenure in the White House

You may be wondering if you’re new to sales if the goings on at the White House is what you can expect in business. Anthony Scaramucci and what he said in his recent interview with The New Yorker comes to mind. You might find yourself working in a toxic environment and trying to meet your sales goals. It may not be easy, but you have to be aware of your challenges in order to survive the mess. Scaramucci didn’t, but you can.

A foul mouth means you’re a poor communicator

I think it’s ironic that Scaramucci’s title was White House communications director. Don’t you think a communications director should be able to communicate a message without resorting to vulgar locker room allusions? I do. Had he wanted to say that someone else was not honorable or loyal, he could have stated that and given examples—that’s not what he did.

The danger of working with or for someone who has a foul mouth is there could be a tendency to think that you have to blend in. You don’t. Why would you want to blend into a culture that accepts and rewards vulgarity instead of results? Don’t think that vulgar language is acceptable. It’s not; don’t imitate it.

What do you get when you vilify people publicly?

We know that Mr. Scaramucci had an issue with Reince Priebus. A suitable option of addressing his concerns would have been to talk privately one-on-one with Priebus. I’ll bet that didn’t happen. Instead Scaramucci thought it better to embarrass Priebus publicly. And what did he think would happen?

The only thing that happens when you publicly humiliate someone who is on your team is you create an enemy. I can assure you that in business, and especially in sales, some day you will need the help of the enemy you create today. I’ve seen it time and again. I’ve seen managers attack subordinates; I’ve seen teammates attack other members of their team. It’s never a good idea. Remember what your mother told you: If you don’t have anything nice to say, just say nothing. I add that if you must talk, at least do it privately, not publicly.

A good strategy in business is to make friends, not enemies. And since we’re talking politics here, note the friends who came to Jeff Sessions’ defense when he was publicly dressed down.

Talking isn’t the same as actually getting results

Scaramucci was known for his egotistical tweets. He dined with Sean Hannity and claimed he had special information about leakers. Yet what about the results he delivered? Not much, unless you count creating a shockingly unprofessional image after 11 days of work.

Here’s what I was writing today before John Kelly removed Mr. Scaramucci from his job:

“I’m going to make a prediction. Scaramucci isn’t going to last any longer than Priebus, but for a different reason. It seems that Mr. Trump didn’t respect Priebus when Priebus didn’t defend himself against Scaramucci’s nasty swill of a personal attack. Certainly that’s a problem if your manager doesn’t respect you, but what was worse was none of Priebus’s peers came to his defense. See the Jeff Sessions attacks and how Congressional Republicans came to his defense and said there would be problems for the President if he tried to fire Sessions.”

You might think that I’m clairvoyant—I’m not clairvoyant. How did I know he would be gone? I do know what works in business and what doesn’t. Cowardly braggarts don’t sell more and they don’t last in sales.

So work hard. Get results in sales and business by building relationships with others. Control your ego. Scaramucci’s nickname is “The Mooch.” A mooch is someone who takes from others without paying. Scaramucci literally means “little skirmisher,” and is a stock clown character of the Italian comic theatrical arts known as a cowardly braggart.

Sound familiar? Is that what you want to be known as in business? I don’t think so.

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My week on Twitter : 8 New Followers, 1 Mention, 14.6K Mention Reach, 1 Tweet. See yours with http://ift.tt/2uFHuVi

My week on Twitter : 8 New Followers, 1 Mention, 14.6K Mention Reach, 1 Tweet. See yours with http://ift.tt/2uFIZmv;

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Sending a Kid to College? 8 Credit Card Tips That Can Help

It’s no secret that college can be expensive and that parents often incur major costs to send their children there. It’s not just tuition. Purchasing additional supplies — books, laptops, electronics, furniture, groceries and more — can lead to some hefty charges for mom and dad. Here are eight credit card tips that can help...

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NerdWallet’s Best Credit Card Tips for August 2017

August is typically the steamiest month of the year in the U.S., and the Nerds have some cool credit card tips to help you weather the temperatures and make the most of your plastic. Take advantage of back-to-school offers As summer winds down, the reality of going back to school hits kids hard — and back-to-school shopping hits...

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The Market’s Doing Great and That Has Investors on Edge

Here’s something new: For the first time in several years, the stock market has yet to succumb to a summertime slump. The list of culprits for past market meltdowns in the June-through-August period resembles a well-traveled passport: Britain’s surprise Brexit vote in 2016, China in 2015, Europe in 2014 and the U.S. and its Federal...

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How After-Hours Trading Works

After the party, there’s the after-party. When it comes to the stock market, that after-party is referred to as after-hours trading. After-hours trading is exactly what it sounds like: trading that takes place once the stock market closes for the day, which in the U.S. happens at 4 p.m. Eastern time. Similarly, for early birds...

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Best Accounts for Short-Term Savings

Interest rates have slowly inched up in the past couple of years, but they’re still very low by historic standards. The low rates that have helped you save money on a mortgage or student loan refinance have a downside: Cash stashed away in safe places — savings accounts, CDs and money market accounts — probably...

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Save More When Back-to-School Shopping Online

Shopping for school supplies, electronics and clothing can be a chore — and an expensive one at that. Families with children in grades K-12 plan to spend an average of $687.72 on back-to-school shopping, about $14 more than last year’s average of $673.57, according to the National Retail Federation. College students and their families plan...

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5 Debt Questions You’re Afraid to Ask

Talking about debt can be awkward or embarrassing, leaving you to worry in silence about your own rising balances or a family member’s finances. Here are answers to some questions you might hesitate to ask. Will my debt ever get so old that I won’t have to pay it? Not really. Many debts that might...

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Mortgage Rates Monday, July 31: Little Change

Mortgage rates for 30-year fixed and 15-year fixed loans fell by one basis each today, while 5/1 ARMs held steady, according to a NerdWallet survey of daily mortgage rates published by national lenders Monday morning. All seems calm at the moment for the mortgage market, which isn’t all that uncommon for the summer months. With the futures market...

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Friday, July 28, 2017

The 10 Most-Stolen Cars and the Cost of Theft Insurance

Driving an older vehicle is often a smart financial decision, as they’re typically more affordable to buy and insure. But an older vehicle could also make you a target for car thieves. The National Insurance Crime Bureau recently released its annual “Hot Wheels” report, which identifies the 10 most-stolen vehicles in 2016 in the United States according...

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Obama-Era Retirement Plan Is Dead. Here’s an Alternative

The Treasury Department announced Friday that it is ending the Obama administration’s myRA program, a savings account designed to help low- and middle-income savers put money away for retirement. The myRA launched nationwide in 2015 as a spinoff of the Roth IRA. It was positioned as a starter retirement account, giving savers the ability to...

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Here’s How a Profit Sharing Program Could Benefit Your Business

Post sponsored by King University

By Tricia Hussung

Profit sharing is an incentivized compensation program that awards employees a percentage of the company’s profits. The amount awarded is based on the company’s earnings over a set period of time, usually once a year. Unlike employee bonuses, profit sharing is only applied when the company sees a profit. There are both benefits and drawbacks to offering a profit sharing program, but when trained human resources professionals are able to plan and execute it effectively, profit sharing can be an ideal way to both improve employee morale and boost the bottom line.

What is profit sharing?

Profit sharing can work in a variety of ways. The company contributes part of its pre-tax profits into a pool that is distributed among eligible employees. Amounts distributed can be dependent on salary, and profit sharing can be used as a supplement to existing benefit plans as well. Profit sharing generally occurs after the company determines final profitability for the year.

How does profit sharing work?

Once a pool is created, either company leadership or the human resources team will create a formula for distribution. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the following are the steps required to set up a profit sharing plan:

Adopt a written plan document.
Arrange a trust for the plan’s assets.
Develop a record keeping system.
Provide plan information to employees eligible to participate.

It is important to keep detailed records of how the plan is distributed among employees. Companies can update their plans as needed, but this should be done with proper oversight, cautions Susan Heathfield at The Balance.

Profits can either be shared in the form of stocks and bonds or a cash amount. “Profit sharing, when distributed as a percentage of annual pay—a common practice—results in less money shared with employees in lower paying jobs and higher amounts shared with highly compensated employees,” says Heathfield.

Cash profit sharing plan

There are two types of profit sharing plans: cash and deferred. In a cash profit sharing plan, “contributions are paid directly to employees in the form of cash, checks, or stock. The amount is taxed as ordinary income when distributed,” according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI).

Deferred profit sharing plan

When contributions are deferred to individual employee accounts, this is referred to as a deferred profit sharing plan. “Benefits—and any investment earnings accrued—are distributed at retirement, death, disability, and sometimes at separation from service and other events,” EBRI notes. When a company uses a cash plan, it is generally considered a type of employee bonus, while deferred plans are intended to supplement other benefits.

Benefits of profit sharing

For employers, the main benefits of profit sharing stem from employee motivation. It can help organizations secure and retain talented employees, and can be a motivating factor that can increase productivity and loyalty, writes the Houston Chronicle’s Owen Richason. And because a profit must exist before it is distributed among employees, profit sharing may be less risky than outright bonuses. Profit sharing can also increase the ownership employees feel in regard to their jobs because they are sharing in the profits they create for the company. The costs rise and fall with revenue as well, which is another benefit.

Disadvantages of profit sharing

There are potential disadvantages to profit sharing. For example, profit sharing could incentivize bad behavior, with employees prioritizing profitability over quality. In addition, there is usually no differentiation based on merit or performance, so employees who contribute less will receive a share in the profits regardless of their relative contribution to the company’s success.

The various advantages and disadvantages involved in profit sharing are why companies and HR teams should conduct a cost-benefit analysis before choosing to implement a plan.

Graduate business education at King University

King University offers an online MBA with a specialization in human resource management that prepares students for leadership positions in HR. You will learn advanced business skills related to management, decision-making, communication, and more, along with specialized coursework that enables you to graduate with the skills you need for your chosen career path. Take your HR career to the next level with an MBA from King University.

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Ask Brianna: Should I Borrow Money From Family and Friends?

“Ask Brianna” is a column from NerdWallet for 20-somethings or anyone else starting out. I’m here to help you manage your money, find a job and pay off student loans — all the real-world stuff no one taught us how to do in college. Send your questions about postgrad life to askbrianna@nerdwallet.com. Anyone — even...

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Mortgage Rates Friday, July 28: Mostly Steady

Mortgage rates for 30-year fixed loans fell a notch, while 15-year fixed and 5/1 ARMs held firm today, according to a NerdWallet survey of daily mortgage rates published by national lenders Friday morning. The U.S. economy is still improving but not overachieving. Today’s government report on second-quarter gross domestic product — a measure of the goods produced...

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These Are the Digital Marketing Tactics That Will Get You Those Valuable B2B Leads

Does your small business use online marketing tactics to generate B2B leads? With so many ways to attract leads online, sometimes it’s hard to know what to focus on. A recent study, 2017 State of B2B Digital Marketing, has some insights into what digital marketing tactics are worth your time and effort.

Social media, email and search are the most popular lead generation tactics…

Some digital lead generation tactics are almost universally employed. For example, 95% of B2B marketers surveyed use social media to generate leads, 93% use email marketing, and 91% use organic search.

…but that doesn’t mean they’re the most effective

Despite ranking number one in popularity as a lead generation tool, social media falls far lower on the scale in terms of effectiveness. Fifty-five percent of B2B marketers say social media generates leads for their companies—far below the 73% who say email generate leads and the 70% who say organic search does. Paid search generates leads for 54% of survey respondents, while display advertising works for 37%. The latter two tactics are often harder for small businesses to execute, which may account for their relatively poor showing.

LinkedIn leads the pack in lead generation

Digging down further into social networks, the survey reports 89% of companies use LinkedIn and 86% use Twitter. However, LinkedIn is by far the top social network for generating leads, cited by 62% of respondents, compared to just 37% who say Facebook is effective. Meanwhile, Twitter’s effectiveness does not even come close to its popularity: Just 34% say Twitter drives leads and 17% say YouTube generates leads.

White papers work

What type of content works best for B2B marketers at generating leads? Although 82% of marketers in the survey publish blog posts, making this the single most common type of content used, blogs aren’t the most effective way to drive leads. Good old-fashioned white papers perform best in lead generation effectiveness, cited by 53% of respondents. Half of respondents say webinars generate leads, 44% say case studies generate leads, 35% say videos generate leads and 31% say infographics do.

Lessons for B2B marketers

What lessons can you take away from these survey results?

1. Don’t just follow the crowd. As your mother used to say when you were a kid, just because everyone else is doing something doesn’t mean you should do it, too. Some of the most common digital marketing tactics mentioned in the survey get only fair-to-middling results. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use them; it just means you should assess their effectiveness for your particular product or service and target market instead of blindly following the crowd.

2. B2B buyers are looking for meaty content. How else to explain the success white papers, webinars, and case studies in generating leads? White papers and webinars are typically gated content, too, so prospects have to give up their contact information to get the content. Case studies offer buyers a chance to see how your product or service helps companies like theirs. While white papers, webinars, and case studies are all fairly complex pieces of content to generate, their effectiveness suggests it’s worth putting some extra time (and more of your marketing budget) into them.

3. Social media drives awareness, but not necessarily leads. Interacting with customers and prospects on social media or sharing your expert opinion in a blog post can attract attention to your business, raising awareness of your brand. While these activities may not directly generate leads, they are still valuable because they keep your business in front of prospective customers for consideration when it’s time to buy.

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The Astonishingly High Risk of a 401(k) Loan

If anyone tells you a 401(k) loan is a cheap way to borrow, they are both right and very, very wrong. 401(k) loan interest rates are low. But the way many Americans repay them spells disaster. If you stop your 401(k) contributions to repay the loan, borrowing $10,000 today could cost you $190,000, or $1,000...

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Here’s How a Profit Sharing Program Could Benefit Your Business

Post sponsored by King University

By Tricia Hussung

What is profit sharing?

How does profit sharing work?

Adopt a written plan document.
Arrange a trust for the plan’s assets.
Develop a record keeping system.
Provide plan information to employees eligible to participate.

Cash profit sharing plan

Deferred profit sharing plan

Benefits of profit sharing

Disadvantages of profit sharing

The various advantages and disadvantages involved in profit sharing are why companies and HR teams should conduct a cost-benefit analysis before choosing to implement a plan.

Graduate business education at King University

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Thursday, July 27, 2017

Used-Car Leases, Solar Raise Consumer Ire, Survey Finds

Used-car leasing and solar panel sales and installation — two emerging industries now reaching the consumer mainstream — were highlighted as problem areas to watch in an annual survey released Thursday by the Consumer Federation of America and the North American Consumer Protection Investigators. Fraud, home improvement and used cars were dubbed the three “worst”...

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How to Ramp Up Social Media Marketing in Summertime

Post sponsored by Vivial

By Laura Cole

It’s summer. Which means every weekend is a time to celebrate! You’ve uncovered your grill after a long, arduous winter and fired up some New York strips. A little corn on the cob, freshly-sliced watermelon, and homemade peach cobbler round out your family’s all-American picnic.

Your house is bustling with kids (your own, plus their friends). They’re eager to spend the summer riding bikes around the neighborhood and chasing lightning bugs in the backyard at night. Day after day, they’ve begged and pleaded to head to the pool—after all, it’s hot outside.

And that vacation you’ve been planning for what seems like months is right around the corner. You’re finally doing it: renting that beach house in Maine and passing your days on the shores of the Atlantic.

Summer is here, and you’re loving every moment of it.

And for small businesses, this season marks an exciting—and important—time with respect to marketing efforts.

The change in weather also means a drastic change in consumer behavior. With temperatures on the rise, so is consumer spending.

Research indicates that people are online and on their devices—including smartphones, tablets, and laptops—more during the warmer months of the year. And the data is compelling:

Mobile usage grows 86% faster.
With 77-degree temperatures, online shopping increases 49%.
Facebook users share photos in summer 24% more than spring, 23% more than winter, and 5% more than fall.
Content posted on Facebook mobile grows by 26% and video posts grow by 43%.
34% of people say they watch more on their smartphones (with cooking videos topping the list).

But that’s not all. Not surprisingly, people are more active during the summer months:

48% dine out more.
50% of homes are sold.
80% of Americans plan a summer vacation, with an average spend of $941 per person.
Emergency room visits increase 15–27%.

Whether you’re running a string of fast casual restaurants, a bed and breakfast, a boarding facility for four-legged friends, or an auto-repair shop that specializes in German cars, local businesses should take note.

With summer in full swing, now is the time to ramp up social media campaigns and get in front of the flurry of potential customers out and about for the season.

Here’s how to get started:

1. Facebook is where it’s at

With 1.8 million active users worldwide, it’s the largest social media network. Stateside, 79% of Internet users are active on Facebook, and it also has the highest engagement based on the amount of time users spend on the network.

If your company doesn’t have a Facebook page, it’s time to launch one (it’s free) and begin driving customers to your website through posts and ads.

2. Basic information is key

This likely goes without saying, but make sure your business’ social media profile is completely filled out. Customers need to know the essentials—including your website URL, location, hours, and contact information.

Your company bio should be short and sweet. Some networks restrict the length, such as Twitter limiting the bio to 160 characters or less. Include information like types of products and/or services you sell as well as the type of customers you serve.

3. Image is everything

The profile image for your business on social media shouldn’t be a default avatar. Upload a high-resolution photo to all of your social media accounts. This could be your company logo or, if you’re a sole proprietor, a professional headshot.

It’s best to use the same image for all your social profiles so customers can easily recognize your brand on whatever platform their busy thumbs are scrolling through.

Consider image sizing. It’s also a good idea to name the photo files as your business name (e.g., yourbusiness.jpg) so they will show up in image searches for your business.

4. Make actions clear

Want customers to visit your website, email you, or give you call? Let them know with a call-to-action (CTA) button, which is an image or line of text that prompts visitors to take action. You can include a CTA in your bio information or as a button on your Facebook business page.

5. Get social

Social media is all about engaging your audience and, ultimately, growing your following. Start inviting people to follow your business, and connect with friends, family, customers, vendors, business partners, and others within the industry by following them and commenting on their posts.

6. Drive reviews

Sites like Google+ and Facebook allow customers to post reviews and rate your business. Make sure you encourage loyal customers and followers to share their positive experiences with your business on your social media pages. And don’t forget to respond to the review and thank them.

7. Boost your following

One of the simplest ways to increase your following is to incorporate social media into all marketing efforts. Add social sharing icons to your website, blog posts, email signature, business cards, and flyers to spread the word.

8. Analyze to improve

Keep up with the traffic and engagement your social media page is producing through analytics. Every social platform provides some level of analytics. Examine this information to determine which posts resonate with followers and how to better engage them.

A free e-book is available to help small businesses enhance their digital presence based on seasonal trends—to rank the highest, trend the hottest, and make the biggest splash this season.

Noting the hefty jump in social media usage when it’s warm, the e-book includes a dedicated section that equips local business owners with the know-how to leverage profiles on key networks that reach target customers and make the most sense for that particular industry.

This includes specific guidelines for launching pages that generate activity on Facebook, Google+, Instagram, Pinterest, Yelp, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Twitter.

Because cool things should happen when the weather warms up.

About the Author

Post by: Laura Cole

Laura Cole serves as Vice President, Marketing, and is responsible for go-to-market product strategy, brand management, and corporate sponsorship. Ms. Cole joined the company in 2001 as a sales representative and has held numerous roles in Sales, Operations, and Marketing. She is a social media and content marketing guest blogger and frequent contributor for Forbes.com. Laura holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Company: Vivial
Website: vivial.net
Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

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Is Your Child Ready for a Paycheck? Hire Your Kids and Get a Tax Break

Children can be difficult, but they all become worth the trouble at tax season. From tax deductions to credits, there are many tax codes designed to lighten the burden for parents.

If you own a business, there is another way to save big using your children: by paying them and then writing off the expenses.

Kids and the family business

Family businesses are exempt from many of the laws that govern child labor. The government recognizes that parents will not subject their children to the abuses often seen in child labor; in addition, this is an essential part of teaching and passing on a trade. Not only is child labor allowed when the subject is your child, but it is actually encouraged by some tax laws.

There are several benefits to writing off your child’s pay. First, this keeps money in the family tax free. Second, you can teach your child a solid work ethic by having them earn the money for various things they want and need. Again, this money is a tax write-off, so you will come out ahead financially while teaching your child good values. While your child will have to pay taxes on any income they make over $6,200 a year, they probably will pay at a much lower rate than you pay. This is a solid win-win situation if you can play your cards right. There are, however, several criteria that you will need to meet.

Does your child qualify as an employee write-off?

There are a few criteria that your child must meet in order for you to write off their pay as a business expense:

They must be performing services appropriate to their age and skill level.
These services must exceed what a child is normally asked to do for their own parents and home.
The child employee must be paid the going rate for their services.
Good records must be kept, including W-2s.
All federal laws regarding employees must be followed as they would be with anyone else.

If you can abide by these simple rules, you may be well on your way to a lower tax bracket.

Can you control how child employees spend wages?

This tax loophole is only a benefit if the child uses the money to pay for things that the parents would otherwise cover, such as clothing, pocket money, and car expenses. Is there a way to ensure that your kid continues to spend their hard-earned money responsibly rather than on a Lego or a Snickers bar?

There are a few laws that pertain to this. First, using the child’s pay for their bare necessities may lead to tax trouble. The IRS expects you to provide the minimum needs of daily living for your minor children, above and beyond paying them. However, most parents also provide vacations, summer camp, name-brand sneakers, and other luxuries. These indeed can be paid for with your child’s tax-free earnings.

Another option is to put all or a portion of your child’s income into a Roth IRA. This tax-free pay can be used then to fund a car, college, and other expenses of early adulthood. Not only will you be reducing your tax burden, but teaching your child about responsible money management at the same time.

The downsides

There are a few downsides to using this plan to lower your taxes. First, it is a bigger money saver for freelancers and sole proprietors. S corps, however, still have to pay payroll taxes, even when the employee is their own child.

Second, this can be a huge red flag if you have not taken the time to cross every T and dot every I. The IRS is well aware that people with children may “fudge” the rules to get this write-off, so they will be watching closely.

Last, there is a small limit for the amount you can pay your child without them having a higher tax burden; in 2016 this was $6,300. When you add the $5,500 deductible IRA contribution you can also make on their behalf with a full tax write-off, this comes to under twelve grand. This may be a boon to some people, but not enough to make a real difference in the financial picture of others.

Learning the family trade

Even a responsible child can easily learn to perform simple tasks that contribute to a family business. For instance, a school-aged child can learn to answer the telephone, perform basic secretarial work, clean offices and facilities, enter data on a computer, and more.

People in decades past expected their children to contribute to the household expenses. Although this has gone out of style, there is no reason not to give your kids an early shot at personal responsibility while lowering your tax burden.

About the Author

Post by: Gary Kaplan

Gary Kaplan’s desire for excellence shows in his training, experience, and service he provides as a top rated Boca Raton CPA Firm. He completed his undergraduate degree at Nova Southeastern University, and went on to earn both his Masters in Accounting at Nova Southeastern University and his Masters in the Science of Taxation at Florida International University. Gary has been practicing as a Certified Public Accountant since 1997, attaining his expertise in all aspects of accounting, business, and personal tax and strategic planning. He listens to each client and helps them achieve their own unique goals. Gary also values educating others and giving back to his community. He has served as an Adjunct Professor of Accounting at Florida Atlantic University, and gives accounting presentations at St. Thomas University School of Law. In 2013, Gary received his certification for retirement planning and is now a Certified Specialist in Retirement Planning™ (CSRP).

Company: Gary M. Kaplan, MAcc, MST, C.P.A.
Website: www.gkaplancpa.com
Connect with me on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Google+.

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Sales Tax Holidays Save Shoppers Money on Back-to-School

No matter how you calculate it, back-to-school shopping is expensive. Families with children in grades K-12 planned to spend an average of $235.39 on clothing, $204.06 on electronics, $126.35 on shoes and $107.76 on school supplies for back-to-school in 2016, according to the National Retail Federation. The high cost of school-related items makes finding ways to save even more...

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Is Your Team Working Toward a Common Goal? Learn the 3 Essentials for Achieving Organizational Alignment

Organizational alignment has become both a buzz term and a “to-strive-for” business ideal. The definition of what it is varies across the web. Just a few versions that turned up after I did a quick Google search include:

Process of harnessing the creative and productive energies of all members of your organization in contribution toward the achievement of organizational goals.”—James Heaton, Tronvig Group.

Linking of organizational goals with the employees’ personal goals.”—BusinessDictionary.com

The practice of putting everyone in the company on the same page.”—Dana Sparks, eHow

To me, they all make sense and capture the essence of what it means to be aligned as a company. Organizational alignment involves unifying the ambitions and efforts of individuals with unique sets of strengths, skills, aspirations, and motivational triggers to achieve business success. It requires embracing individualism while focusing on common goals.

Although it’s not always easy, it can be done! As a business owner, I’ve discovered organizational alignment relies on paying constant attention to the following three things:

1. Communication with team members

Communicating with employees has always been a priority at CorpNet. And it requires a culture of give and take, and ebb and flow. As a leader at your company, sharing your company’s goals with employees isn’t enough. You also have to communicate the roles of individuals and departments clearly so that they align with your company’s objectives.

I’ve always found that transparency, clear expectations, and consistent follow up help my staff do their jobs more independently and move forward with confidence to achieve initiatives. I’ve also found that listening is as important—if not more so—than talking. By learning about your team members’ career goals, professional development needs, and ideas, you can unearth valuable insight about what motivates the individuals within your company.

2. The right resources

Without the resources they need to do their work successfully, team members will lose self-confidence and falter in their efforts. And that’s not all—they might also lose the motivation to work toward the goals of your organization.

I learned early on in my career as a business owner that there is no substitute for providing the right tools, training, and resources to employees. By setting up every individual in our organizations for success, we set up our businesses for success.

If you’re wondering how to determine what resources your team members need to do their jobs to the best of their abilities, refer to my first point: communication. Ask your employees about what support they need to hone their skills and deepen their knowledge.

3. Openness to innovation

Giving my team members a voice to share their creative suggestions and ideas has been a win-win for our business. Employees feel empowered and valued, and our company has gained efficiencies as a result of their thoughtful innovation.

When you give employees “skin in the game” by encouraging them to voice their thoughts about ways to improve how your business is run, they work harder and with a higher degree of commitment.

Is your business structured for organizational alignment?

Realize it may require a bit of a paradigm shift to structure your business for organizational alignment. If you’ve relied on a top-down approach for managing your company, you may need to loosen the reins a little bit. That can be scary, but not so much when you consider that it’s human nature to want to be a part of something that’s successful.

I truly believe employees want to contribute meaningfully toward meeting common goals—especially when you’ve made communication, tools and training, and innovation key elements in your alignment efforts. Achieving organizational alignment may demand that you give a little, but what you stand to gain from doing so is worth it on every level.

The post Is Your Team Working Toward a Common Goal? Learn the 3 Essentials for Achieving Organizational Alignment appeared first on AllBusiness.com

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Better Business Communication: Unlikely Lessons From a Dentist

By Rob Simons

One of the many characteristics that makes each person unique is the way we communicate. You probably know someone who is a “talker” and loves to engage in small talk. And you probably have other friends who can’t stand small talk, and who just want to know what’s on your mind and get to the point. These differences in communication styles can have a dramatic impact on the effectiveness of personal and business relationships.

At Petra Coach we have our members take what is called a DiSC exam to determine their preferred communication style. “DiSC” stands for the four core styles, which are as follows: D = Dominance, i = Influence, S = Steadiness, and C = Conscientiousness. Everyone has some mix of these four communication styles, but most people typically tend strongly toward one or two styles.

Once team members know their different styles, they can participate in exercises and create tools to improve how they communicate in the office. The assessments allow team members to understand how each person prefers to receive and deliver information, and it is a highly effective way to create a better culture of alignment and accountability.

Recently I discovered an interesting example of how DiSC can also be used to improve the customer experience. I came across this example in an unexpected location: the dentist’s chair.

For over 15 years I’ve been a loyal patient of J. William Robbins, DDS, MA, a San Antonio-based dentist who maintains a full-time private practice with an emphasis on aesthetic and reconstructive dentistry. During my last visit to his office I overheard one of the office staff talking about how another patient is “such an ‘i’ personality.” From the conversation, I immediately recognized that she was describing a patient’s “Influence” communication style from the DiSC methodology.

I wanted to know more, so I asked Dr. Robbins how his office was introduced to DiSC. He said, “Approximately 15 years ago we brought a consultant into our practice to help with systems, cash flow, etc. She introduced the DiSC system to us and we have been using it since.”

Dr. Robbins proceeded to give me an example of how he incorporates DiSC into his day: “I go over my day sheet every morning before the staff arrives. I write a D, i, S, or C by every patient’s name so the staff knows each patient’s personality style. For instance, if a patient is a D (Dominance), we want to be sure to start and finish on time and to minimize chit chat, unless the patient initiates it.”

Said Dr. Robbins, “When we honor the patient’s personality style, they commonly relax because it feels good to be treated the way you expect the world to treat you. Another interesting outcome is that understanding the DiSC system helps you understand yourself, your style of communication, how you interact with others, and that not everyone sees the world through your lenses. That has been very helpful in my personal relationships with my family.”

At Petra Coach, we also find DiSC an invaluable tool for teaching teams the nuances of communicating quickly and effectively. For example, a D (Dominant) personality can quickly become frustrated communicating with a C (Conscientious) team member because it’s common for a C personality to need time to process information and create a conclusion that he or she can stand behind. A D personality needs to understand the C’s need for a detailed, analytical analysis. And the C team member needs to recognize that a D wants a quick answer. Both team members can improve overall communication by understanding each other’s communication styles.

What advice would Dr. Robbins give a CEO who wants to incorporate DiSC into his or her organization? “It is important that everyone is on board and understands the system. Also, it is important that everyone on the team either attend a teaching session or read a book on DiSC.”

So, next time you go to the dentist’s office, notice if they tailor their communication to your style. If not, maybe they need to implement the DiSC tool in their practice. You should also consider using this important communication tool in your office.

Certified Petra Coach Rob Simons draws upon his 25 years of experience as an entrepreneur, brand expert, and business coach. Rob founded PixelWorks Corporation in 1993 to serve the interactive advertising industry and in 1996 he founded Toolbox Studios, Inc., one of the most respected branded content marketing firms in Texas. Rob sold Toolbox Studios in 2015 to focus exclusively on business coaching, which includes certification as a Gazelles International Four Decisions™ coach. An active member of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO), Rob is currently a “Master” EO Strategy Summit Facilitator and an EO Accelerator Instructor. In 2007, the San Antonio Business Journal named him one of San Antonio’s “40 Under 40.”

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5 Essential Money Tips for Generation X

It’s not your imagination, Generation X. The financial pressure cooker heats up with every candle added to your birthday cake. Between saving for retirement, paying for the kids’ education, juggling loan payments and budgeting for all the costs that come with aging cars, homes and parents, the demands on our paychecks can seem perilously close...

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Marketing to the Adblock Generation: Strategies for the Modern Marketer

Post sponsored by Concordia University, St. Paul

By Tricia Hussung

Even if you’re marketing your business online, are you sure anyone is seeing your ads?

According to The Drum’s Tony Connelly, as many as 63% of internet users ages 18 to 34 are using ad-blocking software when viewing digital content, and 41% of internet users overall block ads. PageFair recently published a report on ad-block rates that provides unprecedented insight into how users utilize ad-blocking software when they browse the web. For example, in the United States there were 52 million devices (desktop and mobile) employing some kind of adblocking software as of Dec. 2016. This widespread usage of ad-blocking methods has created a demographic that marketers can’t reach with traditional digital marketing strategies.

Especially because advertising is the way content on the web is financially supported, ad blocking can have a negative effect on marketing efforts. “Many of the most popular tools marketers use to measure and analyze visitors’ activities on their websites—and improve user experiences—may be affected,” writes Lindsay Kolowich on the HubSpot blog. But there are ways to create valuable web content that isn’t blocked. Savvy marketers can adapt by gaining a better understanding of ad-blocking software as well as the expectations of their target audience.

Welcome to the adblock age

Ad blocking—done via browser extensions, plugins, or other software—removes advertising from webpages. This can include text ads, banner ads, sponsored content, and video pre-roll ads. What might be blocked by these tools varies. Some remove all advertising from webpages, while others block things that are perceived as a privacy risk, like the “tracking codes that provide marketers with information about visitors’ activities on the page,” according to HubSpot’s Kolowich.

Ad-blocking methods offer benefits like faster load times and improved battery life to the user, but they can undermine the efforts of marketing teams by affecting analytics. Ad-blocking technology can also negatively impact user experience: “To a site visitor using one of those [ad-blocking] apps, your website might look like it’s straight up missing content or has broken links,” writes Kolowich. Ad-blocking technology exists on a wide variety of platforms: desktop, Android, and iOS users all have the option to block ads for browser applications.

By far the most popular extension on the market is Adblock Plus, which is the most downloaded browser extension of all time, according to video intelligence company Vidooly. As a content and ad-blocking extension, Adblock Plus has around 50 to 60 million users per month; 2.3 million people download the extension each week, reports content marketing platform ScribbleLive. Software like this is here to stay, resulting in a changing marketing landscape that leaves traditional methods behind.

But who is using this software? Connelly cites a study by marketing firms Moz and Fractl, which found that “the take-up of ad blocking software is most popular among millennials with a solid majority … using it when viewing digital content.” The study, which focused on how to market to millennials, found that mobile/in-app advertising was perceived as least effective, with 29.5% finding it “very irrelevant.” What’s interesting is that millennials also have the highest trust in online and mobile ads, reports Michelle Castillo at CNBC, which means that “if companies can send their messages in a natural way without seeming like an ad, it can be very effective.”

Marketing strategies to overcome adblock

The widespread use of ad-blocking technology means that marketers have to be smarter about how they allocate their budgets. They can achieve this by evaluating how effective their current strategy is and where it can be improved. Marketing teams can conduct research to find out if their target audience uses ad blockers, then interact with current and prospective customers to evaluate whether current ads are effective. Now that ad blockers are removing or hiding ads from websites, viewability is more important than ever.

Kolowich cites a study from the Association of National Advertisers, which found that 11% of online display ads and 23% of video ads aren’t displayed to real people; instead, robots create false impressions. Marketers, she writes, should focus on “making sure their ads are being seen—and restrategizing and reprioritizing if they’re not.”

A smart way to bypass ad-blocking software altogether is to incorporate inbound approaches. For example, advertise with networks like Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, all of which are heralded by Kolowich as “doing advertising the best right now.” Marketers can also increase organic traffic rather than funneling resources toward referral sources. When building out a website’s content, “every new indexed page is one more opportunity for you to show up in search engines,” she notes.

Whitelisting is another option for those looking for ways to continue using more traditional channels. As Megan Geuss at Ars Technica points out, Adblock Plus has added more than 300 “sites/entities” to its whitelist. This list includes ads that can be trusted because they are transparent, appropriate to their context, and don’t “distort or disrupt the page content.” Though Adblock Plus has paid deals with massive companies like Google and Amazon, smaller websites can be whitelisted for free if they meet certain criteria. The company’s communications manager told Geuss that less than 10% of the sites and entities whitelisted by Adblock Plus have paid spots on the whitelist.

A different approach

But for many companies, relying less on traditional channels is the way to go. The fast-paced media landscape requires a different approach. “Millennials are dissuaded by advertisers that are obviously trying to sell them a product or idea,” according to ScribbleLive. For this crucial demographic, authenticity and trust are important; the company notes that 43% of millennials rank authenticity over content when consuming news. Trust and quality are requirements before engagement can occur.

Millennials can manipulate technology so that they avoid content they don’t want to see but still have access to what interests them. In this environment, content marketing enables marketers to “reach an audience that has become immune to traditional advertising,” ScribbleLive notes. Marketers should also avoid excessive tracking as a way to build a relationship with their audience. According to PageFair, two-thirds of ad-block users are willing to view ads that are skippable as well. Free content is the most appealing to users, followed by free trial offers and ranking high in search results, Moz and Fractl found.

If marketers audit their current practices and identify areas for innovation, they will find that successful, engaging ads are possible in the age of adblock technology. Prioritizing content marketing and phasing out disruptive ads can help build relationships with consumers and increase the chances of reaching those target audiences.

If you are interested in topics like these that are relevant to the marketing industry, consider Concordia University, St. Paul’s online Bachelor of Arts in Marketing program. You can learn more about this degree here.

The post Marketing to the Adblock Generation: Strategies for the Modern Marketer appeared first on AllBusiness.com

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Mortgage Rates Thursday, July 27: Falling; Fed Stalling

Mortgage rates for 30-year and 15-year fixed loans, as well as 5/1 ARMs, all slipped lower today, according to a NerdWallet survey of daily mortgage rates published by national lenders Thursday morning. The Federal Reserve is in a “wait and see” mode for now — monitoring the economy and delaying interest rate hikes until later in the...

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Is Your Child Ready for a Paycheck? Hire Your Kids and Get a Tax Break

Children can be difficult, but they all become worth the trouble at tax season. From tax deductions to credits, there are many tax codes designed to lighten the burden for parents.

If you own a business, there is another way to save big using your children: by paying them and then writing off the expenses.

Kids and the family business

Does your child qualify as an employee write-off?

There are a few criteria that your child must meet in order for you to write off their pay as a business expense:

They must be performing services appropriate to their age and skill level.
These services must exceed what a child is normally asked to do for their own parents and home.
The child employee must be paid the going rate for their services.
Good records must be kept, including W-2s.
All federal laws regarding employees must be followed as they would be with anyone else.

If you can abide by these simple rules, you may be well on your way to a lower tax bracket.

Can you control how child employees spend wages?

The downsides

Learning the family trade

About the Author

Post by: Gary Kaplan

Company: Gary M. Kaplan, MAcc, MST, C.P.A.
Website: www.gkaplancpa.com
Connect with me on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Google+.

The post Is Your Child Ready for a Paycheck? Hire Your Kids and Get a Tax Break appeared first on AllBusiness.com

The post Is Your Child Ready for a Paycheck? Hire Your Kids and Get a Tax Break appeared first on AllBusiness.com. Click for more information about Guest Post.

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How to Ramp Up Social Media Marketing in Summertime

Post sponsored by Vivial

By Laura Cole

Summer is here, and you’re loving every moment of it.

And for small businesses, this season marks an exciting—and important—time with respect to marketing efforts.

The change in weather also means a drastic change in consumer behavior. With temperatures on the rise, so is consumer spending.

Research indicates that people are online and on their devices—including smartphones, tablets, and laptops—more during the warmer months of the year. And the data is compelling:

Mobile usage grows 86% faster.
With 77-degree temperatures, online shopping increases 49%.
Facebook users share photos in summer 24% more than spring, 23% more than winter, and 5% more than fall.
Content posted on Facebook mobile grows by 26% and video posts grow by 43%.
34% of people say they watch more on their smartphones (with cooking videos topping the list).

But that’s not all. Not surprisingly, people are more active during the summer months:

48% dine out more.
50% of homes are sold.
80% of Americans plan a summer vacation, with an average spend of $941 per person.
Emergency room visits increase 15–27%.

With summer in full swing, now is the time to ramp up social media campaigns and get in front of the flurry of potential customers out and about for the season.

Here’s how to get started:

1. Facebook is where it’s at

If your company doesn’t have a Facebook page, it’s time to launch one (it’s free) and begin driving customers to your website through posts and ads.

2. Basic information is key

3. Image is everything

It’s best to use the same image for all your social profiles so customers can easily recognize your brand on whatever platform their busy thumbs are scrolling through.

Consider image sizing. It’s also a good idea to name the photo files as your business name (e.g., yourbusiness.jpg) so they will show up in image searches for your business.

4. Make actions clear

5. Get social

6. Drive reviews

7. Boost your following

8. Analyze to improve

A free e-book is available to help small businesses enhance their digital presence based on seasonal trends—to rank the highest, trend the hottest, and make the biggest splash this season.

This includes specific guidelines for launching pages that generate activity on Facebook, Google+, Instagram, Pinterest, Yelp, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Twitter.

Because cool things should happen when the weather warms up.

About the Author

Post by: Laura Cole

Company: Vivial
Website: vivial.net
Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

The post How to Ramp Up Social Media Marketing in Summertime appeared first on AllBusiness.com

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Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Is Your Child Ready for a Paycheck? Hire Your Kids and Get a Tax Break

Children can be difficult, but they all become worth the trouble at tax season. From tax deductions to credits, there are many tax codes designed to lighten the burden for parents.

If you own a business, there is another way to save big using your children: by paying them and then writing off the expenses.

Kids and the family business

Does your child qualify as an employee write-off?

There are a few criteria that your child must meet in order for you to write off their pay as a business expense:

They must be performing services appropriate to their age and skill level.
These services must exceed what a child is normally asked to do for their own parents and home.
The child employee must be paid the going rate for their services.
Good records must be kept, including W-2s.
All federal laws regarding employees must be followed as they would be with anyone else.

If you can abide by these simple rules, you may be well on your way to a lower tax bracket.

Can you control how child employees spend wages?

The downsides

Learning the family trade

About the Author

Post by: Gary Kaplan

Company: Gary M. Kaplan, MAcc, MST, C.P.A.
Website: www.gkaplancpa.com
Connect with me on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Google+.

The post Is Your Child Ready for a Paycheck? Hire Your Kids and Get a Tax Break appeared first on AllBusiness.com

The post Is Your Child Ready for a Paycheck? Hire Your Kids and Get a Tax Break appeared first on AllBusiness.com. Click for more information about Guest Post.

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Is Your Team Working Toward a Common Goal? Learn the 3 Essentials for Achieving Organizational Alignment

Process of harnessing the creative and productive energies of all members of your organization in contribution toward the achievement of organizational goals.”—James Heaton, Tronvig Group.

Linking of organizational goals with the employees’ personal goals.”—BusinessDictionary.com

The practice of putting everyone in the company on the same page.”—Dana Sparks, eHow

Although it’s not always easy, it can be done! As a business owner, I’ve discovered organizational alignment relies on paying constant attention to the following three things:

1. Communication with team members

2. The right resources

3. Openness to innovation

When you give employees “skin in the game” by encouraging them to voice their thoughts about ways to improve how your business is run, they work harder and with a higher degree of commitment.

Is your business structured for organizational alignment?

The post Is Your Team Working Toward a Common Goal? Learn the 3 Essentials for Achieving Organizational Alignment appeared first on AllBusiness.com

The post Is Your Team Working Toward a Common Goal? Learn the 3 Essentials for Achieving Organizational Alignment appeared first on AllBusiness.com. Click for more information about Nellie Akalp.

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Better Business Communication: Unlikely Lessons From a Dentist

By Rob Simons

Recently I discovered an interesting example of how DiSC can also be used to improve the customer experience. I came across this example in an unexpected location: the dentist’s chair.

The post Better Business Communication: Unlikely Lessons From a Dentist appeared first on AllBusiness.com

The post Better Business Communication: Unlikely Lessons From a Dentist appeared first on AllBusiness.com. Click for more information about Petra Coach.

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Best Ways to Send Money to Your College Student

The early morning scramble to give your child lunch money might be over now that he or she has moved on to college, but you’re likely still helping out with expenses. Lou Anne Alexander, group president of payments at consumer reporting agency Early Warning Services, was at work recently when her daughter called. She was...

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