E-Verify program adds strain to recruitment, some businesses say | 3 tips for providing better customer service | How to use LinkedIn to make more sales
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July 25, 2013
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Stories from the Street
E-Verify program adds strain to recruitment, some businesses say
A federal program that checks the immigration status of job applicants adds costs to the hiring process and reduces the pool of workers, some business owners say. Use of E-Verify is required for at least some businesses in at least 16 states and could soon become a mandate under legislative efforts to overhaul immigration. A February survey from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services showed that out of 1,351 employers that use the system, 85% would continue using E-Verify for hiring even if it is not required. The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model) (7/24)
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Caring for Customers
3 tips for providing better customer service
If you want to provide stellar customer service, you should let people know how long their problems will take to resolve and stay in contact with them throughout the process, writes Ross Kimbarovsky, co-founder of crowdSPRING. "[W]e've discovered that a big source of customer frustration is silence, not the actual time it takes to answer a customer's question or resolve their problem," he writes. Try to fix problems as quickly as possible, and avoid forcing customers to contact multiple people from your company. Entrepreneur online (7/24)
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How to use LinkedIn to make more sales
In addition to being a place to connect with others in your industry, LinkedIn can also be used to create sales opportunities, Timothy Carter writes. Get involved by joining discussion groups where you can meet potential customers and make sure to post insightful content, he writes. Also, limit the frequency of your updates and consider investing in a premium account, he recommends. Small Business Trends (7/24)
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Keeping Shop
Why some customers are bad for business
It's a good idea to avoid working with customers whose needs fall outside your company's area of expertise, writes Josh Patrick, a founder and principal at Stage 2 Planning Partners. Doing work for these types of customers will take more of your time and will be less profitable. It also will work against your efforts to specialize and attract the clients you want. "Saying no to the person who doesn't fit leaves you room to say yes to somebody who does," he writes. The New York Times (tiered subscription model)/You're the Boss blog (7/24)
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Finding the right balance between kindness and discipline
Setting reasonable company policies can help business owners walk the fine line between being too lenient and too harsh with employees, Robert Moskowitz writes. "When faced with a policy decision, give priority to your company's long-term needs but also consider those of your employees," he writes. You should be sure to monitor the effects of the policies you have put in place, he writes. Intuit Small Business Blog (7/22)
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Managing the Money
How small-business owners can avoid sabotaging their retirement
Small-business owners need a plan for retirement income that goes beyond the hope of cashing in on a business sale, experts say. When investing, owners should avoid concentrating their holdings in the industry in which their businesses operate, even if they know that industry well, experts say. Buying the building in which they operate can be another wise investment for business owners. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (7/24)
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How to make the most of sales-tax holidays
Seventeen states are planning sales-tax holidays next month as lawmakers attempt to spur consumer spending. As a small-business owner operating in one of these states, it's important to understand which items are covered by the holiday, adjust your staffing and inventory levels and inform customers of the savings opportunity. Intuit Small Business Blog (7/23)
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Featured Content
Tips & Tools
Fine-tuning your online communications
It can be difficult to communicate tone through e-mail, so it's a good idea to add a salutation to avoid seeming brusque, says communications consultant Dorri Olds. In addition, try to maintain a positive attitude in your online communications and avoid excessive self-promotion on social media. "Some people think that we're far more interested in what they're doing than we really are," she says. Entrepreneur online (7/25)
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SmartQuote
Unless the person who wants to do business with you fits a niche you have developed, you may want to say no."
-- Josh Patrick, a founder and principal at Stage 2 Planning Partners, writing at The New York Times.
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