Too busy to catch up on your favorite OPEN Forum authors every day? The OPEN Forum Editorial team is pleased to present the “Weekender” roundup to fill you in on the can’t miss OPEN Forum stories of the week. This week it’s all about shopping locally, tech tips, international expansion, work/life balance and branding, along with a Q&A from Henry Blodget.
Nov. 27th is Small Business Saturday. Shop locally this season! As the gift-giving season approaches, consider doing your holiday shopping at the locally owned businesses in your community. American Express OPEN, along with 20 public and private organizations, has declared November 27th Small Business Saturday. Don’t wait to sign up, American Express is offering a $100 Facebook advertising to credit to the first 10,000 small business owners to join. Susan Sobbott, American Express OPEN.
Use technology to your advantage. Having trouble breaking away from the pack? Ramon Ray offers four ways that technology can be used to differentiate your business from the competition. From jazzing up your multimedia website to using an automated CRM system, there are numerous ways that technology can enhance your business. Ramon Ray, Smallbiztechnology.com.
A healthy team is a productive team. To maximize efficiency, sometimes you have to go back to the basics. According to Mahalo CEO Justin Calacanis, a healthy lifestyle is crucial for employee productivity. Providing nutritious snacks and a “Fit Club” to keep employees healthy is an investment that will ultimately pay off with more fruitful work. Jill Fehrenbacher, Inhabitat.
Take over the world, one country at a time. International expansion is an important step for a business to take, but it’s difficult and intimidating. From picking the right market to creating an appropriate contract, Anne Field offers seven tips to help business-owners take the international plunge. Anne Field, Business Insider.
The power of packaging. Everyone knows that a product’s packaging is as influential to buyers as the product itself, but how can a company use this to its advantage? Elaine Pofeldt takes a look at Snapple and Balance Bar to see why their clever packaging and savvy branding continues to be so effective. Elaine Pofeldt.
You can also learn more about branding – and rebranding – your business in the new Project RE:Brand video series by American Express OPEN.
The right technology for your business. It’s almost 2011, which means that another year’s worth of upgrades have whizzed by in the technological world. To help navigate the overwhelming changes in computer programs and web designs, Christina Warren offers a few suggestions about which upgrades are the most relevant for business-owners in 2011. Christina Warren, Mashable.
Ask Henry Anything. Have a burning business question? Ask Henry! Henry Blodget is the founder and CEO of Business Insider. Since the company’s inception three years ago, the number of employees at the company has grown sevenfold. For the next month, Blodget will offer his advice to anyone who is interested, on any business topic. Henry Blodget, Business Insider.