Small Business Know-How

We bet you had the best of intentions to clean up the office back in March when winter gave way to spring (on the calendar anyway). How’s that going? If you’re glancing around your office and feeling down about how things look, don’t worry: here are five office organization ideas that will get your office back in tip-top shape in no time!
Continue reading “Spring Cleaning Checklist: 5 Office Organization Ideas” →

Your employees are your business’s best advocates — whether they realize it or not! The good news is, when they feel valued, engaged, and empowered, they’re often more than happy to spread the word about your company. Let’s explore how you can tap into that potential, encouraging your team to promote your brand in a fun and rewarding way.

First Things First: Build a Solid Foundation

Before we dive into specific ways to promote business, let’s make sure your foundation is rock solid. Your employees will only genuinely support your business if they feel appreciated and heard. Here’s how to create that environment:

• Listen Actively: Address concerns quickly and fairly, and show that you truly care about your employees’ well-being.
• Encourage Feedback: Create an environment where employees can pitch ideas and feel valued for their input. If their idea leads to increased sales, reward them!
• Foster a Welcoming Culture: Whether it’s a casual conversation with the boss or an open-floor layout, ensure your employees feel like they belong and have a voice.
• Share the Wealth: Bonuses, recognition, or even a thoughtful thank-you gift can go a long way in making employees feel valued.
• Keep Them Informed: From product launches to new initiatives, make sure everyone is up-to-date and feels confident talking about your business.
• Provide the Tools: Offer employees the resources they need — whether it’s sales brochures, product info, or helpful training — to make it easy for them to share knowledge with others.
• Respect Their Time: While encouraging off-hours promotion is great, never require it. Your team already gives you their best during work hours; respect their personal time.

Now, let’s explore five simple, effective ways to promote a company — without your employees feeling like they’re working overtime.

1. Let Them Link Up on Social Media

Every employee is connected to a network of people — people who could be potential customers. Encourage them to link their personal social media profiles to your company’s accounts. Here’s how:

• Have your team add your company to their LinkedIn profiles (and follow your LinkedIn page). Encourage them to engage with your company’s posts by liking, commenting, and sharing updates.
• You can also suggest they update their social media bios or “About” sections on platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to include a link to your website.

Pro Tip: Make it easy! Provide a step-by-step guide (or tutorial video) to walk your employees through linking their profiles and engaging on social media. And if there’s a specific product launch or news you want them to share, provide pre-written posts, tweets, and hashtags to make the process quick and simple.

2. Provide Branded Swag and Apparel

Want your employees to promote your business in public? Help them do it in style with promotional products. Consider providing:

• Personalized Drinkware: Custom mugs, tumblers, and water bottles featuring your logo are practical, durable, and highly visible.
• Custom Pens: A classic, functional way to promote your brand.
• Promotional Apparel: Branded t-shirts, hoodies, or hats can be great conversation starters.
• Custom Bags & Totes: Perfect for commuting or grocery shopping, offering a daily reminder of your brand.
• Branded Notebooks: Handy and stylish for meetings or remote work.
• Custom Calendars: A practical, year-round way to keep your brand visible.

When employees wear branded apparel or use company-branded products, they’re essentially walking billboards for your business — without even trying.

3. Tap into Sponsorships and Local Events

Encourage employees to share the love by sponsoring local events or causes that align with your company’s values. Whether it’s a charity walk, a kids’ sports team, or a community fundraiser, the visibility you’ll get in return is invaluable.

Pro Tip: Offer your employees branded sponsorship gear (think logoed hats, shirts, or banners) to wear or display at these events. It’s a win-win for both them and your business!

4. Introduce Employee-Exclusive Referral Programs

Who doesn’t love a good deal? Incentivize employees to help promote your products or services to their network by offering them exclusive discounts. For example:

• Create unique promo codes that employees can share with family and friends (and even post on social media).
• Run a “friends & family” sale with discounts on popular items like custom notebooks or promotional drinkware.

Incentive Idea: Track sales brought in through each employee’s code, and offer rewards for the top performers — whether it’s a cash bonus, extra time off, or a special gift like a branded backpack.

5. Provide Networking “Conversation Starters”

Help your employees turn every casual conversation into an opportunity to promote your business. Whether they’re attending a wedding, a BBQ, or a networking event, make sure they know how to casually share what your company is about. Here’s how to make it easy:

• Train Your Team: Provide a quick training session or guide on how to answer the classic “So, what do you do?” question in a way that’s engaging and non-salesy.
• Equip Them with Talking Points: Have employees share exciting company news, like a recent product release or a successful project. Encourage them to mention it in everyday conversations.

Bonus Tip: Train your team on how to use conversational networking to expand their own professional circles too. It’s a two-way street, and when they feel confident about talking about your company, they’ll naturally do so more often.

Remote Employees? We’ve Got You Covered

In today’s remote and hybrid work environment, don’t forget about employees who may not be in the office. Encourage them to share your business’s social media posts, wear branded apparel during video calls, or even gift personalized drinkware or pens to clients and prospects they meet virtually. Don’t forget to offer remote-friendly rewards, like digital gift cards, for employees who go above and beyond in spreading the word.

Building a Community of Brand Advocates

Your employees are your most valuable asset in promoting your business. By fostering a positive work environment and empowering them with the right tools, you can turn your team into a powerful force for brand growth.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

What strategies have you found successful in engaging your employees as brand advocates? Share your experiences in the comments below!

Laptops vs. tablets. Tablets vs. laptops. Ever since Apple unveiled its iPad in 2010, it’s become a hotly contested debate. Way back in 2011, Mashable reported the Forrester prediction that tablet sales would eclipse PC sales by 2015. Today, some are even saying that tablets will outsell laptops this year. And advertising growth suggests that for many, tablets are the new PC.

Regardless of when it happens, the fact is that more and more people are turning to tablets, for pleasure and for business (or both).

We thought we’d ask some business owners why they made the switch, how they’re using the tablets to conduct business, and what advice they’d offer fellow business owners who are trying to decide between laptops and tablets. Continue reading “Case Study: Why Business Owners are Ditching Laptops for Tablets” →