Micro Business Roundup

Happy Friday everyone! We hope you had a nice week. The weather continues to vary here in Massachusetts as we creep closer to Independence Day (be on the lookout for a special holiday post next week). In between meetings and projects we were able to identify five articles from the past week that we felt would be of use to your micro business. We hope you find something fun and exciting to do this weekend and please enjoy this week’s edition of the Micro Business

How Do You Engage Your Customers? – As many micro business owners know, engaging with your customer base is one of the most important aspects of making your business a success. It’s one aspect of your business that, with hard work and dedication, can put you ahead of your competitors who may have more resources. So how do you get better?  This New York Times article takes a look at one company that uniquely engages its customers and how you can incorporate some of their ideas into your micro business.

77 Percent of Small Business Owners Love What They Do: Do You? – Do you love your micro business and what you are doing? According to recent survey results we put out, and featured on SmallBizTrends.com, more than three of every four of you do. But the author takes that stat and offers some important reminders about loving your entrepreneurial spirit. We were drawn to the point that “Just because you love it doesn’t mean it’s not hard work.” Those who are parents can relate with this way of thinking.

10 FREE Sites to Help You Improve Your Writing – No matter what type of micro business you are involved with, you probably notice you do a lot more writing then you may have expected. Business plans, marketing collateral and legal items are just a few items you need strong writing skills for. For those who struggle with writing, or are simply to looking to improve, check out this round-up of sites from Bukiki.com to help you improve. As a helpful reminder, it’s always a good idea to have someone else read over your writing whenever possible.

Giving good interview, or how to get a reporter to eat from your hand – Has your micro business been interviewed by the local newspaper or television station? It certainly can be a nerve racking experience as you want try to balance getting your company message out while not sounding over promotional, or say something stupid. To help get you prepared for your next time (or first time), check out this post from CrowdSpring.com on how to control and give a good interview. While we like all the tips offered, we highly recommend staying in control and focused while being interviewed.

Customer Service has to be a Culture – No matter how small or large your business may be, customer service is the lifeline that helps keep your business running. Without it companies are destined to fail no matter how strong the products are services may be. This fifteen minute podcast from TECAclub.com chats about the three R’s of customer service: Repeat referrals and requests. How do you show strong customer service?

Image — Chron.com