Without a doubt, 2011 was the year of the daily deal.   Businesses jumped on the opportunity to offer great deals on the web and reach a large audience of potential customers.   Sites like Groupon and Living Social made major breakthroughs in online promotions, and were able to sell huge amounts of cut-rate coupons and provide cash payouts to businesses immediately.  The concept was revolutionary. But as we moved into 2012, daily deal sites have seen a decline in numbers as businesses are more skeptical of the efficacy of this new platform.  If done right, a daily deal can be a fantastic … Read more »

Scheming endlessly to reel in new customers for your small business is time consuming, inefficient and exhausting. Successful business plans, more often than not, strive for one goal: Customer loyalty. A smart, intuitive business model is shaped to prompt return customers — the make-or-break source of revenue for small businesses. So how do you win over customers’ allegiance? Simple: Play to their personal sensibilities. Customers are likely to continue supporting establishments — whether local retailers, restaurants, banks, or other businesses — that lead them to feel their patronage is valued highly, by building relationships and displaying gestures of appreciation. Businesses … Read more »