Calif. winery comes back stronger after fire

(Tanes Jitsawart/EyeEm)

A fire disaster in which Delia Viader's winery lost more than 80,000 bottles prompted Viader to revamp her business model. She embraced a direct-to-consumer strategy, a move that has helped the business recover while securing wider profit margins. The New York Times (tiered subscription model)/You're the Boss blog (12/4)

Marketing

Common marketing phrases can turn away consumers
Seemingly innocuous phrases in your marketing materials may be repelling customers, writes Geoffrey James. He shares several such phrases and offers more effective alternatives. Inc. online (free registration) (12/3)

Management

Ask key questions if you're thinking about firing an employee
Firing an employee is no small consideration at a small business, where every worker's input counts, writes Nicole Fallon. Take some time to objectively consider several questions before making a decision, and make sure you have sufficiently documented the employee's performance issues and given them a chance to improve if you decide to act. BusinessNewsDaily.com (12/3)

6 ways to make employees happier -- and more productive
Employee happiness boosts productivity. Making happiness a reality, however, can be tricky. Psychologist Ron Friedman points to several factors that can help, including providing frequent rewards, emphasizing variety and focusing on experiences rather than objects. Forbes (12/2)

Money

Small-business borrowing index hits record high
The Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index hit a record high in October, with a reading of 131.8, up from 127.1 the previous month. October's gains surpassed the previous high set in January 2007. Reuters (12/2)

Speed up collection cycle to improve cash flow
Getting paid quickly is one of the most important ways to alleviate problems with cash flow, writes David Finkel. He offers six tips for quickening your collection cycle, beginning with encouraging customers to pay in advance. Inc. online (free registration) (12/3)

Tips & Tools

How to design attention-grabbing social ads
Human minds are naturally drawn to motion in GIFs and videos, so building social media ads with these features will improve attention and retention, writes Luke Summerfield. Ads that feature a small puzzle for the brain to solve, neutral facial expressions and relatable themes are also effective, he adds. SocialMediaExaminer.com (12/2)

Just for Fun

"Duck face" and other buzzwords of 2014
The Oxford Dictionaries online service has announced the addition of 1,000 words, including terms such as "hawt," "Secret Santa" and "duck face," which is a facial expression of an over-the-top pout. "Average monthly usage of the term 'duck face' is 35% higher in 2014 than it was last year," says editorial director Judy Pearsall. National Public Radio/The Two-Way blog (12/3)

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