4 New Facebook Tools for Fan Pages

Social Media Tools

By now the Facebook pages for your business or organization have been converted to the new Timeline format. With this change has come some new tools designed to help page admins highlight content and engage with fans. Here are the four tools we believe you should pay attention to.
In-box Messaging — Now people can communicate with your business without having to post their comments on the public wall by sending a message, similar to the manner in which individuals have always been able to send private in-box messages to one another. With business pages, messages can only be initiated by page followers. This offers a better opportunity for grievances or personal account issues to be handled in a private manner while also benefiting from the immediacy social media offers. Page admins should get into the habit of checking the admin panel often for new messages because it won’t show up as a Facebook notification.
Pin It — Pinning seems to be trendy these days and now fan pages have the ability to “pin” a post to the top of the Timeline. The pinned post will remain at the top of the Timeline for seven days, after which time if it is still relevant you may re-pin the post to the top of the page. To “pin” the post, hover over the right-hand side of your post (after it has been posted) and select the edit tool. You’ll get a drop down menu of options and pin it is the first option. Things worth pinning include upcoming events, coupon codes or weekly specials.
Highlights — When you make a post you have two size options for displaying that post on your timeline. The default is for the post to sit on one side of the Timeline’s center line. If you click the star icon on the right-hand side of the post you can highlight it, meaning it will expand to fit the entire width of the wall. This is a fantastic way to display photo albums. Consider displaying a postcard montage of a featured real estate property as a highlighted post. Or perhaps you have a new product — why not show off the details with a highlighted post.
Milestones — Timeline literally offers your company or organization the ability to tell your story. Milestone posts allow you to back date posts to share your company’s history and organization’s key achievements. Click the milestone icon in the update status box to post when your business was founded, when you moved into a new location, or when an employee received a noteworthy honor.
Using these tools will help you have more control over how your followers experience the flow of information you have to share. If your business needs further direction in how to best utilize the new Timeline format, contact us about our training and coaching services.

Contact JWB Interest Today

Management Advisor   Marketing Advisor   Business Communications

JWB Interest, LLC  2012 All Rights Reserve
 By: Kevin McNulty / Netweave

Five Sports Team Coaching Tactics You Can Use in Running Your Business

Running a business requires a lot of discipline. In fact, unwavering discipline is one of the factors that can help a business succeed. Talk to any successful business owner and they will almost always say that discipline and perseverance played a big part in their success.
Discipline is also another factor for success when coaching a sports team. In fact, people who manage a business can learn a thing or two from people who coach sports teams. Coaches and business owners have the same end goal (to win/succeed) and apply management skills to fulfill their objectives. Here are some team coaching tactics that can be added to your business management repertoire.


1. Different people have different styles.
As a business owner you should realize that people are not cut from the same cloth. They have different styles when working and handling tasks and responsibilities. You should learn to adjust to the particular style of your employees so you can get the maximum benefit from them. There are slow learners and fast learners. There are those who will only need minimal supervision, while there are those who you’ll have to keep a close eye on. Some are diligent and hardworking while others will just put in the minimum effort and time to a task. Learning to read your employees’ work styles and taking advantage of that knowledge is a key to success.
2. Put your people in the right position.
Find out the strengths and weaknesses of your people so you can make an informed choice when delegating tasks and responsibilities. Knowing what each of your employees is capable of will help you in putting them in the right positions in the organization. By exploiting their strengths, you develop a more efficient organization.
3. Encourage your people
A good coach knows when his players have done well and recognizes it. If an employee does exceptional work, recognize it in front of his coworkers. He’ll thank you for it and will work extra harder next time.
4. Keep your people informed
A good coach knows how to communicate with his players, helping them see the big picture. As a business owner or manager, you should also develop the right communication skills so that you can relay your business objectives to your employees. Being on the same page at all times means everyone is moving towards the same end goal.
5. Equip your employees with the right tools.
Make sure that your employees are equipped with the right tools that will help them perform at their optimum best. Provide them with the necessary equipment that will help them become more efficient in their jobs. This is most important when marketing your business. Your marketing people will need not just support in terms of equipment but also support for their marketing plans. For example, they can embark on a marketing plan that involves a hugely popular trend right now – couponing. In this case, you’d give them the means to promote your couponing plans, like utilizing online couponing sites such as CouponCodes4u. Since everyone in your business know of the plans (see tip number 4), it is easier to ride the wave of current marketing trends and use the most effective tools to promote your business. A real world example of this is the company FansEdge (who are providing a FansEdge coupon on the Internet).


At the end of the day, watching sports doesn’t just have to be a pastime. You can actually learn quite a few important business skills from how sports teams are coached and operated.

Contact JWB Interest Today

Management Advisor   Marketing Advisor   Business Communications

JWB Interest, LLC  2012 All Rights Reserve

What Business Structure is Best for My New Company?

     One of the first decisions that a new business owner will have to make is how the company should be structured.  This decision will have long-term implications, so consult with an accountant and attorney to help you select the form of ownership that is right for you.  Take into account the following factors to begin making this decision:


   ü     Your vision regarding the size and nature of your business.
   ü     The level of control you wish to have.
   ü     The level of structure you are willing to deal with.
   ü     The business' vulnerability to lawsuits.
   ü     Tax implications of the different ownership structures.
   ü     Expected profit (or loss) of the business.
   ü     Whether or not you need to reinvest earnings into the business.
   ü     Your need for access to cash out of the business for yourself.


     There are many factors that must be considered when choosing the best form of business ownership or structure. The choice you make can have an impact on multiple aspects of your business, including taxes, liability, ownership succession, and others. Generally speaking there are just a few basic choices.
     The sole proprietorship is a simple, informal structure that is inexpensive to form; it is usually owned by a single person or a marital community. The owner operates the business, is personally liable for all business debts, can freely transfer all or part of the business, and can report profit or loss on personal income tax returns.
     The Limited Liability Company (LLC) is generally considered advantageous for small businesses because it combines the limited personal liability feature of a corporation with the tax advantages of a partnership and sole proprietorship. Profits and losses can be passed through the company to its members or the LLC can elect to be taxed like a corporation. LLCs do not have stock and are not required to observe corporate formalities. Owners are called members, and the LLC is managed by these members or by appointed managers.
     General Partnerships are inexpensive to form; they require an agreement between two or more individuals or entities to jointly own and operate a business. Profit, loss, and managerial duties are shared among the partners, and each partner is personally liable for partnership debts. Partnerships do not pay taxes, but must file an informational return; individual partners report their share of profits and losses on their personal return. Short-term partnerships are also known as joint ventures.
     The C Corporation (Inc. or Ltd.) is a complex business structure with more startup costs than many other forms. A corporation is a legal entity separate from its owners, who own shares of stock in the company. Corporations can be created for profit or nonprofit purposes and may be subject to increased licensing fees and government regulation than other structures. Profits are taxed both at the corporate level and again when distributed to shareholders.
     Shareholders are not personally liable for corporate obligations unless corporate formalities have not been observed; such formalities provide evidence that the corporation is a separate legal entity from its shareholders. Failure to do so may open the shareholders to liability of the corporation's debts. Corporate formalities include:
     The Sub Chapter S Corporation (Inc. or Ltd.) is identical to the C Corporation in many ways, but offers avoidance of double taxation. If a corporation qualifies for S status with the IRS, it is taxed like a partnership; the corporation is not taxed, but the income flows through to shareholders who report the income on their individual returns.

Contact JWB Interest Today

Management Advisor   Marketing Advisor   Business Communications

JWB Interest, LLC  2012 All Rights Reserve

By: Irv Plitzuweit

When It Comes to Customer Service, Small is Beautiful

Size isn't everything, especially for providing value to customers.

     This important fact can help distinguish small “mom and pop” businesses from big box chain stores. It gives them a powerful competitive advantage in an age when more consumers crave and expect a high level of service and responsiveness.
     “Your position at the “front lines” of your business gives you direct access to your customers’ needs, attitudes, and opinions.”  Dallmann’s experience in owning several small businesses  throughout Southeast Minnesota says that “You know the kinds of products or services they want, when they want them, and how best to deliver them.”
     To gain these valuable insights, you need to proactively assess what you do and should be doing to keep customers coming back, rather than tempting them to try the “big store” down the street.
     Start by putting yourself in your customers’ place.  How would you like to be treated if you were a first-time customer or a “regular?”  Also consider conveniences.  What can you do to make it easier to find items and check out, rather than having to navigate a big-box store’s aisles and cashier lines?
     Also visit other stores and service centers, including those unrelated to your business.  See what they do that you find appealing, and adapt those practices to enhance your business’s customer experience.  Similarly, watch for aspects you don’t like, but be sure to understand the reasons behind problems or poor service, such as under-staffing and limited inventory.  This will help prevent similar problems from arising in your business.
     How you connect with customers by phone or email will also help differentiate your small business from the sometimes bureaucratic nature of big-box chains.  Answer calls promptly and with a friendly greeting.  Avoid putting callers on hold for longer than a minute; take a message and respond as soon as possible.  If you use an automated answering system, your customer service line should be one of the first options.
     Although it may be impractical to handle email inquiries as they arrive, don’t let them sit for too long.  Some email systems automatically generate a response to acknowledge the message.  Make sure the text is upbeat and friendly—again, the kind of message you’d want to receive.   A promise to respond within 24 hours may not be enough.  Designate certain times during the day to handle email queries, or assign the responsibility to an employee.

Contact JWB Interest Today

Management Advisor   Marketing Advisor   Business Communications

JWB Interest, LLC  2012 All Rights Reserved

By: Jerry Dallmann

Ethics: Don’t Do Business without Them

     Operating an honest, ethical business may seem like a no-brainer.  But in today’s highly competitive business environment, the temptation to bend the rules looms large.  And don’t think that it’s OK to do something “just this once.” Not only is a wrong choice always wrong, but one-time ethics breaches often become habits.  And, once the reputation of you and your business are compromised, it may be impossible to repair the damage.
     Two-thirds of small business owners say they are more concerned about ethical business practices today than in the past, according to a survey by the management consulting firm George S. May International. “It may be difficult to measure the benefit of ethical actions to your bottom line,” says Israel Kushnir, president of May International. “But a lack of ethics will definitely have a negative impact on a small business.”
     Although formal ethics training is rare at small companies, business owners are always looking for new or better ways to define their values for employees and customers. Some are putting ethics policies on paper while others are simply raising the issue more often in the workplace.
     There are a few great resources available.  First, I would point you to The Josephson Institute of Ethics, www.josephsoninstitute.org,  It is a “public-benefit, nonpartisan, nonprofit” organization that helps advance ethical decision-making.  Co-founder Michael Josephson’s daily radio commentary on ethics and character-building runs on stations across the country and his “Character Counts” initiative has been adopted by schools and youth groups nationwide.
     The Institute’s Web site has a helpful step-by-step guide to making ethical decisions, available free. They have some good resources for schools to do character education training including resources for sports and youth activities.  The Institute also conducts Ethics in the Workplace training seminars and has a catalog of publications, videos, CDs, tapes, banners and other ethics awareness products you can buy.
     Another great resource is The Ethics Resource Center (ERC) which is a Washington, DC-based nonprofit organization that offers informational products and services, including help creating a code of conduct, an ethics effectiveness test, a business ethics Q&A and other items. Their Ethics Took Kit is an excellent resource for small businesses and many of their materials are free for internal use within your business.  ERC also conducts an annual National Business Ethics Survey. You can find more details at www.ethics.org.

Contact JWB Interest Today

Management Advisor   Marketing Advisor   Business Communications

JWB Interest, LLC  2012 All Rights Reserve

Dean L. Swanson, Chairperson
Rochester, MN 

Put Time on Your Side With Better Task Management

     Time is the one resource that most small business owners wish they had more of.  But until someone figures out how to make days last longer than 24 hours, entrepreneurs must be content with learning how to sharpen their time management skills.
     Fortunately, one of the most effective time management tools is also the simplest—the basic “To-Do” list. Each day, jot down all of the things that need to get done, all on one sheet of paper.
     You can also number or check the ones that are highest priority “must-do” items. As tasks are completed, cross them off. This can help you focus on getting them done one at a time, and also gives you a sense of accomplishment.  To add a technology flavor to tracking your tasks, there are software packages for your computer.  One example is TimeTiger.com that provides a web-based to-do list that helps you monitor your project and non-project activities.
     Delegating more work can also help ease your time crunch. Many business owners accustomed to “doing it all” find this exceedingly difficult. But even if you are a sole operator, you can pass off tasks to others, via outsourcing, for example, to free up time for yourself.
     Periodically analyze how time is spent at your business—and not just your time, but everyone’s. Divide the day into small time blocks and record what you, or others, were doing in each block. Now compare this real use of time to your goals, expectations and mission priorities. If they do not align, you’ll need to take action. And remember that growing, successful businesses don’t put things off. Even a simple “no” response to something on your to-do list can extinguish that item and let you move on.
     A variety of technology solutions are also helping small businesses track and manage time. For example, Workarea.com is an Internet-based time tracking system that can provide billing information to the second.  The system includes a time clock, time sheet, expense tracking, address book and the ability to access it all via cell phone or PDA.
     For businesses with employees, the TimeClock Plus Small Business Edition at www.timeclockplus.com lets you turn any PC into a time clock.  Employees can sign in or out with the keyboard or mouse, and easily allocate hours and costs to specific jobs.
     To learn more about the secrets of productive time management issues facing your small business contact >>>  

Contact JWB Interest Today

Management Advisor   Marketing Advisor   Business Communications

JWB Interest, LLC  2012 All Rights Reserve

Protecting Your Business Idea

     Many small business entrepreneurs have great ideas with realistic marketing potential.  They may fit a certain niche market or provide a unique service or product that solves a specific problem or provides a new way of doing something.  The big question is should  you protect your idea?  How do you assure that some big company doesn’t take your idea and run with it?  We urge existing and new businesses to seriously consider the need for protecting their new ideas.  But, it can be a little complicated.
     Abbreviations and symbols such as “TM,” “SM,” “PAT PEND,” “©,” “®” carry a lot of legal power. They help to safeguard a company’s names, products, services, and designs. As an entrepreneur, you should find out which ones you need and make sure they protect the intellectual properties of your small business.
     Trademarks are not the same as patents and copyrights, even though the differences are not widely understood. While there are similarities, they serve different purposes.
     According to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), a trademark is a word, name, symbol or device used in business to indicate a source of the goods, i.e. your business, and to distinguish those goods from those sold by another business. A service mark is the same as a trademark, except that it identifies and distinguishes the source of a service rather than a product.
     A patent for an invention grants a specific legal property right to the inventor—“the right to exclude others from making, using, offering for sale or selling” the same invention.
     A copyright is harder to define. It is mainly a protection for authors of original works, including literary, dramatic, musical, artistic and other intellectual works, both published and unpublished.
     The Internet has transformed the once mysterious process of applying for a trademark into something accessible to anyone willing to spend some time to understand the intricacies and get it right. But while no business skills or special legal knowledge are required to apply, the field is filled with potential pitfalls and wrong turns that could sabotage your trademark filing if you don’t know the intricacies of creating trademarks that can stand up to legal challenges later on.
     For example, the application requires that you identify goods or services under specific categories. But misunderstanding these categories and filing too broadly or too narrowly can ruin your trademark and cause problems later on. A qualified trademark attorney can help you avoid such problems.
     The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Web site at www.uspto.gov provides a wealth of information and resources about protecting your small business’ intellectual properties. You’ll find basic information about trademarks, patents, and copyrights; links to easy-to-follow “How To” guides; and search engines for researching existing trademarks and patents.

Contact JWB Interest Today

Management Advisor   Marketing Advisor   Business Communications

JWB Interest, LLC  2012 All Rights Reserve