1. Google yourself, now. It's not an act of vanity to check your search rankings; being aware of what people find when they search you is important for managing your brand reputation online. Counteract negative online reviews about your company with positive posts of your own on social media. "The idea is to fill the search space with so many rave reviews that they push the negative comments further down into the search results," writes OPEN Forum contributor Carmen Turchetti. (From "Power of Page Three: How Deep Dive Searches Can Save Your Online Reputation," by Carmen Turchetti)

2. Present an agenda for your teleconferences. For companies that deal with remote employees and clients, teleconferences are a necessity that can be time consuming, awkward or uncomfortable if done incorrectly. Get everyone on the same page by stating the goal for the phone call and a short list of guidelines, such as "no interrupting" or "save questions for the end of the conversation." (From "The Ultimate Small-Business Guide to Effective Teleconferences," by Phaedra Hise)

3. Pay yourself more. Entrepreneurs who think underpaying themselves is good for their business are sorely mistaken, writes small-business consultant Mike Michalowicz. "If you’re subsidizing your business by underpaying yourself, then your company is doing little more than limping along," he writes. (From "Time for a Raise: Why Paying Yourself More Will Grow Your Business Faster," by Mike Michalowicz)

4. Be mindful of your personal habits. Today's business owners can manage their businesses from the comfort of their homes, which in some cases can lead to a decline in interpersonal skills. Personal habits like being sloppily dressed or chewing gum can affect the way potential business partners and clients you meet in person view you. (From "7 Personal Habits That Can Instantly Turn Off Business Colleagues," by Geoff Williams)

5. Know your fundraising options. If you ever find yourself in need of cash fast, there are a number of options that can keep your business afloat. Weigh the pros and cons of business cash advances, where companies offer advances against future credit card sales receipts, or a ROBS program on your 401(k), which lets you take your "tax-deferred retirement funds and uses them to start or buy a business or franchise, without incurring early withdrawal penalties." (From "10 Alternative Ways to Raise Cash Fast for Your Business," by Anita Campbell)

6. Handle the truth. Customers who fudge the truth aren't just an annoyance—they can be a major drain on your bottom line. It's your responsibility to figure out which customers are lying to you to keep your company profitable. For example, sometimes when a customer says they have the money to purchase your services or products, they're actually not in the position to make purchasing decisions. Ask them who you should be speaking with to find the true decision maker at that company. (From "Top 10 Money Lies Your Customers Tell You," by Barry Moltz)

7. Don't let up on your marketing efforts this summer. Just because your customers are on vacation doesn't mean you should be! Reach your customers with mobile marketing efforts that catch their attention while their on-the-go or away from their computers while traveling. One way to do this is by offering mobile-only sales and making your site mobile-friendly."If a customer goes to buy something from you, they may get irritated if you don't have a solid mobile presence, and they'll leave to buy from someone else instead," says Billy Bauer, marketing director forRoyce Leather. (From "How Mobile Marketing Can Boost Your Summer Sales," by James O'Brien)

8. Know your enemy. "Keeping tabs on your competition not only gives you information on what your rivals are up to, but also gives you invaluable insight into your own company," writes OPEN Forum's Michalowicz. Find out what keywords people are using to reach your competitor's website. "Alexa.com will give you keyword information that consumers use to get to your competitor’s domain," he advises. "Co-opting your competition’s keywords can help you attract their clients to your site, giving you the opportunity to get their business." (From "7 Things You Need to Know About Your Competitors," by Mike Michalowicz)

9. Work with bloggers for online reviews. Bloggers can be a great resource for securing online reviews of your product. Reach out to influential bloggers in your industry who will be knowledgeable about what you're offering, and be clear about your goals in soliciting them for a review. “While it's ideal for the review to reach the greatest amount of people possible, it's more important for the review to reach the right people who'll be genuinely engaged in the conversation about the product with people who've used it firsthand,” advises Joanna Davis, publicity coordinator at ZinePak. (From "The Power of Online Reviews: How Bloggers Can Help You Get Your Brand Noticed," by Julie Bawden Davis)

10. Stop bragging about how busy you are. While research shows that bragging about being busy makes people feel good, the impact of working more than 40 hours a week is anything but positive—people actually become less productive when they work overtime. The next time you get ready to discuss just how swamped you are, stop yourself, because "every time you do it, you reinforce the habit," writes OPEN Forum's Bruna Martinuzzi. "If you stop the fix it gives you, it might prompt you to make some healthy changes to your lifestyle." (From "The True Danger of Being Too Busy," by Bruna Martinuzzi)

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