4 tips for how to grow into a medium-sized business | Enhance content efforts with varied voices | Use wonder and rigor to foster a culture of creativity
March 22, 2024
CONNECT WITH SMARTBRIEF LinkedInFacebookX
SmartBrief on Small Business
SIGN UP ⋅   SHARE
 
Problem. Solved.
As a growing business with increasing numbers of employees, leaders should bring in a human resources expert to create an employee handbook and streamline communications for a better work environment, suggests Hanna Lee, chief operating officer of CJ Chemicals. Leaders should also begin to standardize the array of technology used at the company to protect against cyberattacks and promote collaboration.
Full Story: Forbes (tiered subscription model) (3/21) 
LinkedIn X Facebook Email
 
Marketing
Content marketing typically relies heavily on quotes from males such as Steve Jobs and Bill Gates and fails to include women and other underrepresented voices that match audience demographics, writes marketing expert Penny Gralewski. She suggests tapping sources such as customer references, industry analysts and influencers and accomplished individuals and notes the effort can shift content from "expected and boring to being interesting and memorable."
Full Story: Content Marketing Institute (3/21) 
LinkedIn X Facebook Email
Management
Creativity is at every level of an organization -- from finance to marketing, says Natalie Nixon, the president of Figure 8 Thinking, who urges leaders to get curious and bring both rigor and wonder to foster an innovative culture that brings out the best in their teams. "And that curiosity leads to new strategic partnerships, those new strategic partnerships can lead to identifying new revenue streams. That's a business result, that's a business impact," Nixon says.
Full Story: Thinkers50 (3/18) 
LinkedIn X Facebook Email
Use this strategy to right-size your workforce
(AndreyPopov/Getty Images)
Being strategic about headcount management can help companies control costs, streamline operations and avoid overstaffing and layoffs, writes Tushar Makhija, the founder and CEO of TeamOhana. "It provides headlights that allow the company to look forward rather than make difficult decisions in the face of economic challenges," Makhija notes.
Full Story: SmartBrief/Leadership (3/21) 
LinkedIn X Facebook Email
Free eBooks and Resources
Free eBooks and resources brought to you by our sponsors
Money
Choose a payment processing platform that has advanced encryption security measures and give your team the tools to spot fraudulent transactions, says Nick Chandi, CEO and co-founder of Forwardly. Money managers should also look into two-factor authentication for their systems to keep payment logs secure.
Full Story: Entrepreneur (3/21) 
LinkedIn X Facebook Email
Tips & Tools
Erica Santiago offers 230 ChatGPT prompts that help brands maximize the tool for a variety of business functions, including marketing, content creation and social media, analytics and e-commerce. Understanding the desired output, assigning specific tasks and providing details and feedback will enhance results, but output always requires double- or triple-checking for accuracy, writes Santiago.
Full Story: HubSpot (3/20) 
LinkedIn X Facebook Email
Just for Fun
When you check in for the night at the Deep Sleep hotel in Snowdonia, Wales, you're given boots, a hard hat, a headlamp and a guide to take you 1,400 feet below the surface -- a trip that will take about four hours and includes dark caverns, a zip line and some tight spaces. When you arrive, you'll find a climate-controlled cabin equipped with Wi-Fi, a bathroom and meals served from a pouch. Oh, and each night will set you back about $500.
Full Story: CBS News (3/17) 
LinkedIn X Facebook Email
SmartBreak: Question of the Day
When Twitter founder Jack Dorsey created a profile and posted the first tweet, what did he type?
Votehi, i'm @jack
Votejust setting up my twttr
Voteput a bird on it
Votetweet me back @jack
About the Editor
Janet Jones Kendall
Janet Jones Kendall
Kendall

Since earning a master's degree in journalism from the University of Georgia, I have spent the better part of two decades covering breaking business news and business features across the Southeast.


As content editor for SmartBrief, I have the opportunity to edit a number of business briefs, as well as several food and beverage briefs. If there is small-business news you would like to see covered in this brief, please let me know. I would love to hear from you and welcome your suggestions and comments.

LinkedIn X Facebook Email
Sharing SmartBrief on Small Business with your network keeps the quality of content high and these newsletters free.
Help Spread the Word
SHARE
Or copy and share your personalized link:
smartbrief.com/smallbusiness/?referrerId=eSriBJbAIQ
Who Said It?

If there's one thing I have always hated, it's being told what to do.
Fran Lebowitz or Madeleine Albright

Check your answer here.
LinkedIn X Facebook Email
 
SmartBrief publishes more than 200 free industry newsletters - Browse our portfolio
Sign Up  |    Update Profile  |    Advertise with SmartBrief
Unsubscribe  |    Privacy policy
CONTACT US: FEEDBACK  |    ADVERTISE
SmartBrief Future
Copyright © 2024 SmartBrief. All Rights Reserved.
A division of Future US LLC
Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY, 10036.