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How the Consumer Confidence Index can help your business

As the CEO of your business, you worry about daily operations, but you also need to be forward-looking and keep an eye on future economic conditions. Since most of us are not economists and do not have a crystal ball we have to make a best guess about where the economy is heading. A good way to gain a better understanding about future economic conditions is to figure out how consumers, (your customers) are thinking about the economic conditions.  You can get a good indication of consumer attitudes by checking out the Consumer Confidence Index. The Consumer Confidence Index (CCI)

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Super Bowl Marketing Strategies for Small Businesses

This year’s Super Bowl was a mega-event watched by over 120 million people.  That’s a lot of eyeballs!!  There was some great football with a come from behind win by the Chiefs, a much-anticipated half-time show with Usher and Taylor Swift got  more than a few moments of TV time.  But how about the commercials? It took some big bucks to have a Super Bowl ad.  Many of them were very funny and memorable with some high visibility folks making the pitch, I guess Tom Brady and Beyonce needed something to do. If you step back and look at all

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From the CEO Bookshelf: Profit First

 Profit First  By: Mike Michalowicz Michalowicz’s book presents an innovative look at the financial management of your business. As the title suggests, he puts profits first. One might assume that prioritizing profit is an obvious business strategy, but most businesses follow the traditional accounting formula of Sales – Expenses = Profit. The author proposes a compelling new method: Sales – Profit = Expenses, which as the name of the book implies, puts profit first. He also debunks the myth that a business must be big to be profitable. The book takes complex financial concepts and puts them in easily understandable

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What’s on the Small Business Radar for 2024?

As the CEO of your business, it’s vital to stay ahead of the competition and maintain a forward-looking mindset. However, with emerging technology and unpredictable economic conditions, what key areas should you be looking at? It is a good idea to check the radar screen for new opportunities and challenges for your business. But are you ready for them? Perhaps a better question is: What new challenges and opportunities will be coming down the pike in 2024? While the specifics may differ from one business to another, the Small Biz CEO has identified 5 trends that deserve your attention. Each one of

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How are Small Businesses Doing?

We are swimming upstream as we look at all the data that tries to explain the performance and health of small businesses.  Numerous trustworthy surveys exist, each featuring their own methods and objectives aiming to accurately portray the small business environment. Which survey provides the most accurate view? The Small Biz CEO has examined quite a few surveys and found the WSJ/Vistage Small Business CEO Confidence Index and the MetLife & US Chamber Small Business Index to offer the clearest view. Both surveys identified several persistent patterns worth noting. How does your business compare to the survey results? First and

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