It seems that every business leader has a blog these days. If you don’t, should you? It might surprise you to know that the answer is not always yes.
Read MoreCategory: Marketing and Sales
Stop Delaying, Start Selling
“I wish I didn’t go to the gym today.” No one has ever uttered those words. To the contrary. We end our day upset because we put it off. Again. “I’ll go first thing” becomes “I’ll go at lunchtime” becomes “I’ll go when I finish up” becomes “I’ll go after dinner” becomes “I’ll go first…
Read MorePlay Nice in the Sandbox – Capitalize on Market Opportunities
In the fast-paced world of the printing industry, the relationship between sales and production is crucial to a company’s overall success. Despite having different goals and day-to-day operations, these two departments must work together to deliver quality products efficiently and on time. When sales and production are misaligned or in conflict, it can lead to…
Read MoreCulture vs. Strategy?
“Culture eats strategy for breakfast” is an often-used phrase to describe an essential element of organizational success. Here’s my take: You need both. Without a comprehensive, well thought out strategy, businesses tend to operate in a state of constant randomness. And while short term success may be found in reacting to opportunities and circumstances as…
Read MoreAsk the Accountant: What Is Equity, And How Is It Different from Assets?
Ask the Accountant… Question: What is equity in my business and how is that different from assets? Answer: In accounting, equity is assets minus liabilities. Equity is the portion of your business that is yours after debts or liabilities are considered. As an example, if you purchased a house for $300,000 and took a mortgage…
Read MoreA New Look at ‘Customer Focus’
It’s not uncommon for business leaders to stress the importance of “customer focus” through all areas of their enterprise. On the surface, not a bad idea. However, upon closer look, this approach may be keeping your business from realizing its full potential. Here’s why. We’ve all heard of the Pareto Principle, sometimes referred to as…
Read MoreMake Good Decisions with Good Data
When comparing “same-store sales” and “new customers,” you’re essentially looking at two different metrics used to assess the performance and growth of a business. Most Graphic Communication companies are not looking at their business in this manner. I think they should begin breaking out these numbers and let me go into detail as to why…
Read MoreDefense Wins Sales Championships
When it’s football season, one saying you often hear is, “Offense wins games. Defense wins championships.” That is also true in sales. Offense — or outbound selling — gets new accounts, but defense keeps them producing revenue year after year. What does playing a strong “defense” mean for a sales pro? It comes down to…
Read MoreAsk the Accountant: Navigating the ‘Chart of Accounts’
Ask the Accountant… Question: Can I use the QuickBooks Online Plus Chart of Accounts that is included in the program? Answer: Yes, but it is a poor format for our industry. QuickBooks is a wonderful product and is the No. 1 accounting software for a small-to-medium-sized businesses. It is used by a wide range of…
Read MoreIs a Mid-Year Review on Your Calendar?
It’s hard to believe, but we’re in the second half of 2024. Many of us do end-of-year reviews of our business goals and accomplishments, but how many of us stop to do those things mid-year? As basic as this sounds, most people don’t. But those who achieve their goals often do. Highly goal-oriented people tend…
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