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Is paid parental leave worth it for your business?

Mashaal Ryan Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Most Americans would agree that both women and men should have paid parental leave after the birth of a child. About 8 in 10 (82 percent) say mothers should have paid maternity leave, and 69 percent agree about paid paternity leave. But businesses, especially small ones, struggle with the costs of it. Of course, it's all dependent on you and your resources. How would it work? What's the best way that your company can offer this for employees without it cutting into your profit margin?

The sooner you start, the better off you’ll be

Patrick Gleeson Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Someday, you'll retire. When you do, how will you finance your retirement? And when should you start? You may think, "In a few years I'll start paying into a 401(k), IRA or Keogh. Right now, I'm paying off student loans, saving to buy a car for a commute and trying to get a little money set aside for emergencies. Beginning to invest for retirement can wait a few years, until I’ll have more money." If you haven't already started investing for your retirement, the best time to begin is now. The earlier you start, the better off you'll be. It makes a bigger difference than you may think.

Looking to land classier clients? Follow the formula

Fred Berns Business Management, Services & Risk Management

In their quest to work with higher caliber clients, many small businesses play "follow the leader." They'd be much better off playing "follow the formula." You're unlikely to succeed if you copy the leaders in your field in your efforts to connect with more affluent clients. Marketing and networking exactly like other companies won’t help you get the results you want. That's because you make a great you, but a lousy somebody else. You'll have a far better chance of establishing long-term relationships with blue chip buyers if you implement this five-step formula.

Why board size matters

Robert C. Harris Association Management

The board table was set for 30. At each director's place there was a board packet and name tent card. When the meeting convened, there were 12 empty seats. Nearly half of the directors did not show up. They addressed the problem by reducing the size of a quorum from 50 to 40 percent, or only 12 people. In a different scenario, an association rented a convention center for the board meeting. The directors numbered more than 200. The things that matter the most about board size are governance efficiency and producing desired results.

7 common mistakes business owners make and how to avoid them

Roberta Matuson Business Management, Services & Risk Management

I've been in business for over 20 years and have seen my share of mistakes made by business owners — many that certainly could have been avoided. Here’s my list of common mistakes business owners make, along with advice on how to avoid following suit. For example, think about a job that you worked in that didn't work out. Was it because you didn't have the skills to do the job, or was it because your values did not align with the organization's?

How HR can help with board diversity

Catherine Iste Business Management, Services & Risk Management

When employees sitting around the table come from different backgrounds, generations and gender, opinions and approaches tend to vary. Those differences can spur creative conversations, unique solutions and lead to a competitive advantage. However, it is often difficult for any company to create more diversity when they have not actively pursued it in the past. HR can help address this need from the front line up to the boardroom — here's how.

How to improve Google Ads for your e-commerce business

Emma Fitzpatrick Marketing

Just like we were talking about recently, knowing the latest features of each digital marketing channel makes all the difference. That’s especially true on a platform where you’re paying for users' attention. When was the last time you did a deep dive into Google AdWords? The average small business spends between $100,000 and $120,000 a year on Google paid search campaigns, while giant retailers can spend up to $50 million dollars a year, according to WordStream data. Regardless of how much you spend, each retailer pays between $1 and $2 for a click in a Google Ad.

Why your subscription-based customers may be jumping ship

Terri Williams Marketing

Subscription-based services can provide a reliable source of revenue for your company. Netflix, Dollar Shave Club, Blue Apron, Shoe Dazzle, Graze and Birchbox are just some of the popular companies with a subscription business model. However, customers are likely to bolt at any moment, and according to subscription business expert, Robbie Kellman Baxter, author of “The Membership Economy: Find Your Superusers, Master the Forever Transaction, and Build Recurring Revenue,” they rarely leave because of pricing.

What it means when you get their questions but not their business

Fred Berns Interior Design, Furnishings & Fixtures

If it hasn't happened yet, it probably will: a prospect seeks your advice on furnishings, then goes online to buy them. If there's one thing interior design professionals hate, it's sharing their insights and ideas with people who end up taking their business elsewhere. But, as you think about that, think about this: What if those people are doing you a favor by "shopping" you? What if they're teaching you a very valuable lesson and giving you some frank feedback? What "shoppers" are telling you is that you're not selling them.

4 inexpensive ways to motivate your team through a long project

Deborah Ike Business Management, Services & Risk Management

When you're on a long project, it's easy to get lost in the drudgery of a seemingly never-ending to-do list. Celebrating the completion of the project might be a year away. If you're not diligent to avoid it, your team may soon become weary of the project. This impacts team morale and can derail productivity. One way to keep the team motivated is to celebrate milestones completed along the way. Whether it's finishing a tough Agile sprint or writing the last of the test scripts, a little celebration is in order.

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