Social Media: Listen First, Sell Later
Seattle PI Biz Bite Blog
Too many people are focused on the "push" aspects of social media. Services like Twitter are powerful communication tools that can be integrated with traditional marketing activities to promote business. If used correctly, they can even help you maximize your resources and save time. But instead of focusing on creating and distributing your content and messages, try shifting your focus on finding and receiving content.More

Building a Culture of Employee Appreciation
Inc.
It seems like a simple concept: Make employees feel appreciated, and they will work harder and be more loyal. But there is often a disconnect between the type of appreciation employees want and what their managers think they want, according to a recent study. Managers responding to the survey ranked promotions and cash bonuses as the two most effective ways of recognizing employee accomplishments, but workers said they preferred an in-person thank-you or having a job well done reported to senior management.More

Print Council Champions Sustainability of Print
Graphic Arts Online
Printing's strengths as a sustainable and environmentally responsible communications medium will be explored and promoted in a new position paper that is being developed by The Print Council. Created for use by the printing industry, the report is scheduled for release at Print '09, the industrys premier trade show, which takes place in Chicago Sept. 11-16.More

Quick Tips: Six Ways to Speed Up SBA Loan Approval
Smart Money's Small Biz
Time is running out on an opportunity to access fee-free business loans that are guaranteed up to 90%. Earlier this year, the Small Business Administration set aside $375 million to temporarily eliminate loan fees and increase the agencys loan guarantee to 90% for certain loans. November is more than two months away, but given that the SBA loan approval process can take as long as 120 days, applicants had better get cracking. Here are six ways to speed up the application process for SBA loans.More

How to Give a Lousy Presentation
Business Week
Giving truly great presentations requires skill, work, and practice. Giving catastrophic presentations is far easier. So if you want to take the easy way out and look like a rank amateur, here are 15 surefire tips to guarantee that you leave a really, really bad impression.More

Put People Before Profits
Entrepreneur
Fun is a signature element of people-centric management; an approach that puts people ahead of the bottom line. A recent American Management Association study found that this type of workplace culture is less vulnerable to market cycles. Making things fun is important because financials prove we can't provide a premium service - and charge accordingly - without a happy, motivated workforce.More

Report: Retail Stores Missing Opportunities Without Digital Signage
Retail Customer Experience
Stores aren't using enough digital signage, or signage in general, to promote thenbsp;back to school season according to an article from thenbsp;Cincinnati Business Courier. The article says that even though digital signage is taking off in hospitals, universities and major retailers like Wal-Mart and Target, the department stores and smaller retailers have been slower to adoption. And by doing so, are missing out on opportunities.More

Using Work Tools for Personal Stuff?
Inc.
Increasingly, most people have an expectation of seamless connectivity these days. The boundaries between work and personal life blur as employees sign onto Facebook at work and access company systems from home. But those blurred lines can have security implications for your small or mid-sized business.More