| Business news you can use from your Better Business Bureau® |  |
| Trends & Trust |  |  |
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- Why effective leaders need to foster trust
As the nature of business has changed, trust has become an essential part of leadership, writes Charles Green. "Leaders can no longer trust in power; instead, they rely on the power of trust." Leaders must be trustworthy and willing to trust others, he writes. Forbes
(4/3)     
- Twitter beats Facebook, e-mail for stimulating sales, poll finds
Customers are more likely to buy something if they hear about it via Twitter than if they read about it on Facebook or from a company e-mail, a new survey has found. Digital marketing firm ExactTarget surveyed British customers and found that 32% were more likely to buy something after they followed a company on Twitter, compared with 24% who would buy after "liking" the firm on Facebook or 21% who bought after subscribing to a company's e-mail list. The Huffington Post
(4/3)
- 5 ways the cloud is helping small businesses
The opportunities presented by cloud computing are helping small businesses to compete with their larger counterparts, Jim Blasingame writes. Cloud computing can allow small companies to gain access to the processing power they need and to communicate with offsite employees. Forbes
(4/2)
- The best way to protect your computer from viruses
Rather than using anti-virus software such as McAfee or Norton, you should use Microsoft Security Essentials and some other free product, according to Brandon Gregg. However, it's important to make sure that your two anti-virus programs aren't running at the same time. Lifehacker
(4/3)
| Customer Satisfaction & Marketing | | |
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- Use location marketing without scaring customers
Smartphones with built-in location applications are an easy marketing vehicle for businesses, but there are rules to follow so that you don't creep out customers who worry about being tracked, experts say. Businesses need to make sure the apps they use are from legitimate providers, that customer data are secure, and that their customers have specifically agreed to receive offers. Entrepreneur magazine
(4/2012)
- How Pinterest can work for B2B marketers
Despite the copyright issues raised by Pinterest, business-to-business marketers should be using the platform, Girish Balachandran writes. Pinterest isn't just a fad and provides another way to interact with customers. But to be successful on the site, you'll have to pay attention to comments and provide content, he writes. B2B Marketing
(4/2)
- How to keep a dress code policy from landing you in legal trouble
A dress code can help keep your workers looking their best as they interact with customers, but there are legal considerations to keep in mind, writes Jennifer K. Halford. Show your policy to an attorney, and make sure that it doesn't disproportionately burden a protected class of people. "In some instances a policy may treat men and women differently," she writes. "However, the policy cannot place a greater burden on women." FindLaw/Free Enterprise blog
(4/2)
- How to spot change before you get left behind
Business owners have to pay attention to emerging threats in the market to remain successful, Paul J.H. Schoemaker writes. "[B]y zeroing in on what's in front of you, you naturally lose peripheral vision -- and that can threaten your company's long-term survival." Bosses who are adept at spotting threats tend to encourage their employees to speak up, to focus on networking and to stay vigilant, he explains. Inc. online/The Strategic Decision
(3/30)
 | Most small business owners know the importance of managing credit effectively and that a "one size fits all" model won't work. Use Managing Credit - Made Simpler to find the right credit management model for your business and to help identify strategies to ensure you are on top of your business's financial condition. |
| Funding & Finance | | |
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- Why you need a bookkeeping system
Having some sort of system to help you with bookkeeping is essential, says accountant Mark Kohler. QuickBooks is one good option for small businesses, but other systems can work, too. Also, make sure that someone in your business is responsible for accounting, he recommends.  Entrepreneur online
(3/31)
| Weekly Poll | | |
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Do you have a budget for your business?
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No. |
53.85%
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Yes, and we refer to it often. |
30.07%
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Yes, and we look at it quarterly. |
13.29%
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Yes, and we look at it annually. |
2.80%
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How do you handle negative online comments about your business?
 | Answer them as soon as possible |
| Answer them when we can |
| Ignore them |
| We don't even look out for comments online |
| BBB in the News | | |
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- 5 tips for finding the right company to care for your lawn
A lawn-care company can help get your yard in shape for the spring, but it's important to do your due diligence. Figure out what kind of services you are looking for, and make sure companies are licensed, BBB recommends. Also, check companies out with BBB, and make sure you understand the contracts involved. BBB.org
(4/4)
| SmartQuote | | |
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 | If you would persuade, you must appeal to interest rather than intellect."
--Benjamin Franklin,
American statesman and inventor
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| About BBB® |
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BBB is the leader in advancing marketplace trust - it is an unbiased, non-profit organization that sets and upholds
high standards for fair and honest business behavior. Across the U.S. and Canada, 116 BBBs serve communities by
evaluating and monitoring more than four million local and national businesses and charities. Learn more at
www.bbb.org.
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| | Recent BBB TrustBrief Issues:
- Monday, April 02, 2012
- Friday, March 30, 2012
- Wednesday, March 28, 2012
- Monday, March 26, 2012
- Friday, March 23, 2012
| | | Lead Editor: Brooke Howell
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SmartBrief, Inc.®, 555 11th ST NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20004 | |
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