Business news you can use from your Better Business Bureau® | |
Trends & Trust | | |
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- Study: People trust companies more when friends endorse them online
Companies are starting to pay attention to what customer say about their products online, because 25% of all online purchases are influenced by sharing on social networks. A recent study by Sociable Labs measured the results of consumer sharing on social networks. It found that when friends make positive comments about a website, people are 25% more likely to trust the site. 1To1Media.com
(4/12)
- Move over, boomers: 3 demographic groups to keep an eye on
Baby boomers may be a hot demographic to appeal to, but there are others that are gaining traction. With about 4 million births each year, the market for children's products is expanding, as is the market for domestic-related products because of 20-somethings. Senior citizens, particularly baby boomers' parents, also represent a big part of the market. Small Business Trends
(4/11)
- Prevent data-tracking and protect your privacy online
Small businesses need to be increasingly focused on protecting data to maintain online privacy. This week, the Federal Trade Commission urged Internet companies to adopt stricter privacy policies and implement a "Do Not Track" system. Other ways consumers can prevent data-tracking include using a Virtual Private Network (VPN), enabling private browsing and deleting or preventing cookies. SmallBizTechnology.com
(4/11)
Customer Satisfaction & Marketing | | |
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- Go on-location with your customers to boost ties
Location-based marketing can forge strong connections with customers, as is evident from Subway's "You Are Here" campaign and REI's use of ShopAlerts LBA. When customers opted in, they could note their location and receive discounts from nearby restaurants and stores. Entrepreneur online
(4/11)
- Trump your competition on the Web
Today's businesses need to stand out from the rest, especially as Internet startups keep sprouting. A well-functioning and appealing website is a good start, but you also want to leverage search engine optimization to drive traffic to your business. Make sure you offer multiple contact methods so potential customers can reach you -- and that you respond promptly. Forbes/Young Entrepreneur Council
(4/11)
| 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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BBB in the News | | |
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- Documents: Keep, toss or shred
Get your shredder ready because Shred Day is just around the corner. As part of National Financial Literacy Month, businesses and individuals should shred sensitive information on April 21, BBB advises. Don't go shred-happy though; hang on to insurance documents, utility bills and make sure to retain tax documents for seven years. The Daily Times (Salisbury, Md.)
(4/9)
SmartQuote | | |
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| Believe and act as if it were impossible to fail."
--Charles F. Kettering, American inventor
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About BBB® |
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:
- Wednesday, April 11, 2012
- Monday, April 09, 2012
- Friday, April 06, 2012
- Wednesday, April 04, 2012
- Monday, April 02, 2012
| | | Lead Editor: Brooke Howell
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