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Lessons from Michael Scott: The World’s [Self-Proclaimed] Best Boss

The Office

This post is written by Kristen Johnson, a member of Vistaprint’s social media team who focuses on content marketing.

After nine years of watching the gang at Dunder Mifflin grow and evolve, NBC’s The Office finally put an end to the series last Thursday with a finale that brought laughter, tears and even a cameo from the series’ original star, Michael Scott.

Over the years, the majority of things that came out of Michael’s mouth were often highly inappropriate for an office setting, from his “that’s what she said” jokes to his colorful portrayals of his alter-egos Prison Mike and Michael Klump. As a small business owner, you may even argue that Michael Scott is the perfect example of what not to do in a management role. However if you can see past his immature antics and plentiful wisecracks, there are still some everyday lessons and leadership advice that you can take away from Michael Scott and the Dunder Mifflin team:

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Opening The Black Box Of SEO Keywords

This blog post was written by Bobby Gaglini, who works on the external marketing team at Vistaprint, and specializes in search marketing.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) keywords. They can drive any website owner crazy. But, with some research and solid writing skills, conquering your keywords will be easy instead of exhausting.

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5 Quick, Healthy Breakfast Foods for the Busy Small Business Owner

This post is written by Robbie Vogel, a writer/editor with Vistaprint. Robbie has worked for microbusinesses in both PR and advertising.

Let’s be honest, not many of us have time to sit down for breakfast before work. Many of us skip the meal entirely, a bad habit that leads to a slow metabolism and overeating later in the day.

A travel mug of tea might be the closest some people come to a healthy breakfast, so read on for five quick breakfast foods that can improve your mood and energy for the rest of your day. Read more…

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Pinterest for Small Businesses

This post is written by Kristen Johnson, a member of Vistaprint’s social media team who focuses on content marketing.

Pinterest has taken the social media world by storm by quickly moving up the charts as one of the most active and engaging platforms around. We first mentioned Pinterest on our blog about a year ago when the network was just starting to generate buzz. Since then, the network has exploded in popularity. In fact, a recent infographic published by Wishpond revealed that the total number of unique visitors to Pinterest increased by 2,702.2% since May 2011.

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The Socially Savvy Customer

This post is written by Kristen Johnson, a member of Vistaprint’s social media team who focuses on content marketing.

Social media networks have completely revolutionized the way in which we communicate with one another. They enable us to engage with friends, extended relatives, A-List celebrities, big name brands, and even high-powered industry or political figures. Which means that businesses must be cognizant of the power that social media now plays in driving consumer opinion and buying decisions. Read more…

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Take Your Small Business With You On Summer Vacation

This post is written by Megan Totka, Chief Editor for ChamberofCommerce.com. She writes on small business news and small business tips and resources. ChamberofCommerce.com helps small businesses grow their business on the web and helps them find their local Chamber of Commerce.

As the weather heats up, the time for summer vacations draws near. It is estimated that nearly half the American population, or 140,000,000 people, will travel this summer.

If you own a small business, you need a vacation just as much as traditional employees but may not feel comfortable totally unplugging and disappearing for the length of your time off. After all, there is really no one who can completely fill in for you during the time you are away from your office, store or computer. There are some ways to find a happy medium, however, and still enjoy your summer plans to the fullest.

Here are some easy ways to make the most of your vacation, and keep your business going strong, this summer. Read more…

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5 Quick Tips to Avoid Burnout

This post is written by Robbie Vogel, a writer/editor with Vistaprint. Robbie has worked for microbusinesses in both PR and advertising.

The life of a small business owner is not a walk in the park. It’s normal to feel overwhelmed, highly stressed, and mentally and physically exhausted at times. However, when these feelings combine with a general helplessness and a desire to simply give up, you might be perilously close to a burnout.

The differences between being stressed out and being burned out are subtle. According to Help Guide, stress is characterized by over engagement and produces urgency and hyperactivity. Everyone knows these feelings, when it seems that the day is too short and the to-do list is too long. Burnout, on the other hand, is characterized by disengagement and a loss of motivation. So if that passion that used to get you out of bed in the morning is nowhere to be found, use these five quick tips to prevent burnouts. Read more…

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How To Take Care Of Your Existing Customers

This post is written by Tim Snyder. Based in Newtown, Connecticut, Snyder is a freelance journalist who writes frequently for Pitney Bowes on a variety of business topics.

When it comes to being a small business owner, gaining new customers is obviously important–and so is taking care of your existing ones. But what if your customers haven’t purchased in a while? How can you keep them interested in your products and your business? The five steps outlined below are based on “best practice” advice from marketing consultants and other experts who have helped businesses of all sizes solve this problem.   Read more…

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[INFOGRAPHIC] Canadian Women in Business

Canadian Female Entrepreneurs

From startups seeking investments to flourishing small businesses, the landscape of business is changing while industries and population segments expand. Female business owners are at the forefront of the expansion in Canada. In fact, one out of three Canadian entrepreneurs is a woman.

Women entrepreneurs are outpacing their male counterparts in Canada as their numbers have grown 23 percent since 2001 compared to just a 14 percent growth rate for males. Women entrepreneurs have prominently staked their claim in food service and accommodations industries, accounting for a quarter of the fields’ combined growth.

What are some of the traits women have that translate into successful entrepreneurship? How would you respond differently to a women entrepreneur compared to a man? Check out the numbers below, and see specific segments of growth for women entrepreneurs in Canada. Read more…

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4 Unexpected Ways To Market Your Business

This is a post from Sara Nash; Sara earned her degree in Public Relations from Penn State University. From there, she worked a PR agency in Boston before joining the PR and Social Media team at Vistaprint.

There are a number of ways beyond email and direct mail to market your business. Some of the most effective methods can happen without people even realizing it! Try some of these less-obvious ways to spread the word about your business. Read more…

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