1. Post jobs on international job boards. If you're looking to build a global brand, you'll have to post your job opportunities on American recruiting sites and ones abroad as well. (From "Expanding Internationally Under Your Own Roof," by Yuriy Boykiv)
2. Update your website footer. That outdated copyright date at the bottom of your website may not seem like a big deal, but it conveys a few negative things about your company: that you're unresponsive, unprofessional and perhaps not even open for business, depending on how out of date your footer is. (From "4 Tiny Things About Your Website That Matter More Than You Think," by Rohit Bhargava)
3. Take photos of important packages. Even if you take out shipping insurance, there's no guarantee that a shipping company will honor it. That's why it's important to keep every scrap of documentation you can when you're shipping important packages, in case you need it when filing a claim, writes Kelly Spors. (From "Ohio Business Owner Angry Over Denied Shipping Insurance Claim," by Kelly Spors)
4. Work outside of the office. When you're trying to cross important tasks off your to-do list, it's important to limit distractions. And your office can be full of them. That's why it's important to escape the office every now and then in favor of a more productive space like a library, experts suggest. (From "8 Ways To Be More Efficient Every Single Day," by Dorie Clark)
5. Consider the risks of getting on the cloud. There are a ton of great cloud-based business solutions out there. But don't rush to jump in on this growing business practice without knowing the basics of transferring your business to the cloud, such as its hidden costs and potential for data breaches. (From "7 Things You Should Know Before Moving Your Business To The Cloud," by Mike Michalowicz)
6. Avoid envy-provoking situations. Feeling jealous or envious of others success is natural, but when done too often it can also be damaging. Facebook is often the cause of such counter-productive bouts of envy, so try limiting the amount of time you spend on the platform or "block notifications from the individuals who are inspiring envy in you," writes expert Bruna Martinuzzi. (From "8 Ways To Kill Your Most Destructive Emotion," by Bruna Martinuzzi)
7. Know who you're pitching to. This is good advice in general, but especially when you're trying to secure government contracts, says Paul Karch, owner of SelltoGovernment.com. "Small-business people are entrepreneurs by nature, but the government by nature exists to support the people and isn't tasked with innovation and isn't measured by the lack of providing it." (From "7 Steps To Securing Government Contracts," by Julie Bawden Davis)
8. Learn how to code. Companies like Skillcrush offer lessons that can help you build an enviable skill set that aligns with the growing demands of today's increasingly digital market. (From "You’ll Make More Money If You Can Code," by Sarah Ang)
9. Defend your brand from detractors. That old saying "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all" has its merits. But when haters go after your company, mum doesn't have to be the word. One response is to state your mission in a way that leaves your detractor at a loss for words, as Chicago's Publican Quality Meats did when PETA put a provoking billboard up right across the street from their business. Publican posted a statement on their Facebook page that went viral, boosting the brand's visibility. (From "How To Gracefully Deal With Haters," by Erika Napoletano)
10. Establish a BYOD policy. Employees who bring their own computers to the office or access their work email from their smartphone could be putting your company at risk of a data breach from hackers and competitors. That's why "guidelines must be created and administered," writes security expert Robert Sicilliano. "These guidelines will encourage employees to use caution. Plus, guidelines make it impossible for employees to claim they didn’t know about the potential problem, should a problem arise from careless use." (From "BYOI: The Number-One Risk To Your Company's Security," by Robert Siciliano)
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