6 Ways to Improve Employee Morale

Employee morale is a struggle everywhere right now. Inflation is high. Wages can’t keep up and still allow businesses to stay in business. Everyone feels like they’re running as fast as they can on their hamster wheel, but no one seems to be making forward movement.  Obviously, as a small business owner you want to be a place employees enjoy working. You want to reward them for their efforts and keep them engaged. You want to avoid dreaded turnover. You want...

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Why Breaks at Work Are Vital

Taking breaks at work is vital to employee well-being (win for them!) as well as employee productivity (win for you!).  As business owners, you likely find yourself in burnout mode quite often. There’s so much to do, every day, every week, every month. Taking a break is time that’s not spent productively, so it’s easy to feel guilty about taking them. Breaks are for weekends or evenings, or for when you’re dead. Breaks at work will just set you further behind,...

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Why You Need Both NFC Cards and Traditional Business Cards

Near-field communication cards, or NFC cards, are a hot new wave for business marketing.  Using these cards, you can upload your contact information directly to a contact’s phone. The benefits of NFC business cards are almost infinite, which makes them a no-brainer for most business owners. But there are times that a traditional business card is still beneficial!  Direct vs. Relationship Marketing To understand the differences between NFC cards and traditional business cards, you must first understand the different types of marketing....

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Pros and Cons of Vehicle Wraps

Vehicle wraps can be an investment that pays off when small businesses use them as a marketing tool.  Vehicle wraps can be great for small businesses such as local restaurants, plumbers, electricians, and landscapers. They’re also used by delivery and transportation companies such as UPS, FedEx, and DHL. Easily identifiable vehicles make their services stand out against other cars on the road. You’ve likely also seen them on service companies such as pest control, HVAC, or plumbing!  However, many are surprised to...

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How to Build Brand Trust Every Day

These are tips you can do daily to build brand trust in your company, regardless of size. In today's market, it's not enough to just have a good product - today's consumer wants to support brands they believe in. You need to invest in your brand so people know, trust, and like you and therefore want to support you. Anyone can utilize these 5 simple tips to keep you top of mind as a trustworthy company that people love and want...

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When Is It Time to Hire an In-House Designer

When is it time to hire an in-house designer? We recently did a blog post on why it’s oftentimes cheaper to hire a third-party design company.  However, that isn’t the right option for every company for every occasion. There’s a reason why many large companies have their own designer within an entire marketing department. So when is it applicable for a company to hire an in-house designer? In-House Designer Requirements The biggest requirement to hiring an in-house designer is - unsurprisingly - having...

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5 Website Tips to Generate Brand Trust

These 5 website tips will help you generate trust in your brand, no matter your industry. The truth is, people shop from brands, and having great products or services isn’t enough anymore. In a world full of social media, long memories, and brand activists, the art is seldom separated from the artist any more - for better or for worse.  And you know what? That’s actually fine. Your brand has something to say, and it’s something that resonates with other people,...

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The Importance of Consistent Branding

The importance of consistent branding cannot be understated for any business - especially one that’s just starting out.  A brand is, in layman’s terms, what people say about your company when you’re not around. Believe it or not, your brand is so much more than fonts and colors. Many companies don’t realize this, which can lead to confusing consumer messaging and unflattering opinions.  What Branding Encompasses Sure, your branding palette will consist of your logo, submarks, primary and secondary typeface, as well as...

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Why It’s Cheaper to Hire A Third Party Design Company

Believe it or not, hiring a third party design company is usually cheaper than in-house designing. Every small business hits a point where they realize they can’t do it themselves anymore. Deciding which marketing materials you need then getting them designed and coordinating their production takes a lot of time and effort. Time = money. Effort = burnout. The obvious solution is to outsource this task.  But do you hire a designer and have it all done in-house, or do you...

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The Difference Between Illustration and Graphic Design

Knowing the difference between illustration and graphic design is key for any business owner looking to hire help with their marketing needs. Many graphic illustrators on gig sites such as Fiverr market themselves as graphic designers, but actually lack the skills or education needed to be a true graphic designer. That being said, many educated graphic designers are bound by the rules of design and lack the creativity and freedom to act as an illustrator. So what’s the difference? What is an...

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