Sorry you lost the primary source of your income during an unfortunate down cycle of the economy, but here is a three dollar card to remind you that I still have a job and can afford to blow money on cheap paper.”

In my opinion, it’s not exactly the best way to show you care.

The entire concept behind their new line of greeting cards raises the question, “How empathetic are you towards letting employees go and people who lose their jobs?” I’ve heard horror stories of people being called into an office, told they were fired, and having nothing but the stone cold stare of an HR rep to greet their bewilderment and surprise.

As an entrepreneur, you may soon find yourself staring at one of your employees from across your desk with the unenviable task of terminating their employment. Or possibly you already have.

Many small business owners have no idea how to ‘fire’ someone. While this is a very sensitive topic, learning how to correctly terminate an employee is an essential management skill. To ease the process, here are three tips to help you stay personable and honest when and if you have to terminate an employee.

Don’t hide behind your desk, your lamp or your HR office

Making your HR office do your dirty work is just as bad as handing someone an impersonal greeting card you picked up with your morning coffee. It’s painfully obvious that you aren’t emotionally vested in the individual and has the potential to create animosity.

Getting fired isn’t a fun process, but it is even worse when the owner of the business doesn’t have the decency to look you in the eyes and fire you themselves. Of course, firing people isn’t a walk in the park either, but it has to be done; so you might as well do it respectfully and honorably.

Do you really want people to perceive the hallway to your HR office as some sort of Green Mile. Being a CEO isn’t all about handshakes and smiles; there are a lot of hard decisions that have to be made. But when you stand strong and confidently in your decisions, terminating employees will be easier due to the thought and manner in which you handle the decision.

Treat others the way you would want to be treated

Most of us learned this lesson in kindergarten, but very few of us seem to remember it when it matters most. Put yourself in the shoes of your employees.  How would you want to be informed about sluggish performance, or that you may need to soon find another job?

Once you have collected physical evidence to base the termination on, start with a verbal warning. Call John or Jane into your office and be honest about what is at stake. If an employee continues to perform poorly then they have no one to blame but themselves.

Occasionally, you’ll run across ‘the negotiator’ employee — a person who will adamantly try to bargain their way out of their problems. Whatever you do, don’t lead them on. Would you want to be given false hope? Or would you prefer to know exactly what’s happening? Developing a firm position will ensure your meeting doesn’t turn into a negotiation session.

To that end, don’t spend twenty minutes yelling at an employee for bad performance. Remind the employee of the prior warning, say precisely why they are being fired, and wish them luck. The process is never easy, but it does become less jarring as time goes on.

Check on the team morale and give it a boost

Terminations will affect remaining employees, so it is important that you at least check on them. You probably aren’t any happier with firing people than your staff is, therefore make an appearance and ‘humanize’ yourself. The last thing you want is an “us against them” mentality to creep into your office, especially if the person you fired was popular. So make your rounds and check in to see how people are doing.

If you hear rumors circulating, squash them quickly. You are an authority in the office, so it is up to you to keep things moving in a positive direction and to ensure the business operations improve.

Terminating a team member is never going to be easy. Honestly, it probably shouldn’t be. It is a difficult process for everyone involved. Remember, that taking shortcuts, hiding behind others, giving false hope and feigning ignorance will not make it easier. Above all else, be compassionate while staying true to your convictions.

And, please, don’t send them a “Sorry You Got Fired” card.

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By developing a Facebook fan page, a Twitter handler and a company blog you get rid of the idea that all you are is a rigid corporation – there are indeed people behind the figure-head. With every status update, tweet, and post your business becomes more and more human, and will even start to develop a personality.

Once you develop a consistent level of engagement, fans will also share their own two cents which is invaluable to you as a business. Those who choose to keep up with your business online are obviously interested in what you do, are probably customers or they are about to be. Free feedback from your fans in the form of rants or raves, content sharing and reviews on your social media networks is a marketers dream.

Most successful entrepreneurs understand the importance of social media outlets. We also recognize the unspoken race to be the business in your area, competitive set or industry with the most likes and followers.

Social Media Wars: You Can't Buy My Love

Each like or follower is important because he or she is one more business advocate; one more person to give feedback and one more potential customer that will positively promote your brand.

But did you know that not all is fair in love and social media? There are businesses out there that pay for likes and followers. Why you may ask? It's simple – they equate social media marketing success to a large number of likes and followers.

What happened to authenticity in social media? Today, you can buy Facebook fans or purchase Twitter followers, but some of the best things in life are actually still free. Two hundred genuine supporters of your business will always be better than 2,000 robots or people that aren’t actually interested in what you have to offer.

Another issue with these "pay to play" sites is that many of them offer huge results right off the bat, which is all well and good, but a lot of the time the client finds a lot of his new ‘supporters’ have fled the scene after about a week’s time.

All You Need is "Genuine Social Media" Love

Instead of quick fixes to absolve the idea that you only have a few likes and followers, take care in building your reputation and the support will follow. Share interesting articles and videos pertaining to your industry alongside your own business news. Throw in a few deals for your loyal fans and frequently ask questions and initiate conversations between your followers to keep everyone happy and interested.

This old fashion equation for gaining support  is the only way to go to gain genuinely loyal fans that will stick with your business through the test of time.

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Admittedly, we are all guilty of letting technology rule our lives to some point or another. Some sleep with their blackberry on their pillow, others have a bluetooth connected to their ear every second of the day. Even at work, when we should be focused, cell phones provide an uninhibited and unmonitored escape to our social media networks, personal e-mails and texts. While we’ve come to rely on technology to enhance our communication and productivity — is it hurting our bottom line?

Have you ever thought about banning personal cell phones in your office? If you’re signing checks and concerned with workplace productivity – this may be cause for celebration. For others, working for a company that bans cell phone use may be a deal breaker.

So what is to be done? How can you create an adequate cell phone policy without inciting a rebellion amongst your staff? There is unfortunately no all-encompassing answer to this issue, but there are steps to take that can help you figure out exactly what your cell phone policy should be.

“No Cell Phone” Policy — You’re Kidding Right?

Have you given thought as to what kind of business culture you want to cultivate and the type of employees you want to attract?  Banning cellphones may seem absurd. For some, especially Gen-Y peers, being separated from your cell phone is like being separated from the world. When you’re mapping out your company vision and ideals — keep this in mind: a liberal cellphone policy may be the way to go.

That is not to say you should let all of your employees take personal calls and text on company hours, but an outright ban of cellphones will likely scare off potential hires. A great policy I have seen is the distraction rule: If it distracts other people, it should not be happening. That means loud ringtones, hour-long personal conversations and texting chimes should all be nixed. This type of policy also places a bit of trust in your team, and most will respond well to being given a little bit of freedom.

Banning Personal Cell Phones? Be Upfront About it.

Could cell phone use could be detrimental to your company? Potential clients may see your employees texting too often and take their business elsewhere, or cell phones may distract your staff from work that should be given full attention. If you enact a cell phone policy, remember to communicate it early upon hire. Even if you think it should be an unspoken understanding that personal cell phone use should be limited during office hours, your new hire may think otherwise.

A quick reminder once a new employee is chosen is a great way to make sure everyone is clear on the policy. Mention it when you review your company’s standard operating procedures. If you want to hire and keep good employees, you must clearly communicate expectations from the start.

Finding Common Ground

While a full ban on personal cell phone use may be extreme — liberal usage of  mobile devices during office hours may not be ideal either. You will likely fall somewhere in the middle — and this is a good thing.

Cell phones can distract and annoy other team members, and decrease productivity. At the same time, a quick escape now and again can do a lot to keep your employees happy. If you are going to allow personal cell phones, just be prepared to deal with the occasional complaint. On the flip side, if you do have stricter regulations on cell phone use, be prepared to deal with the occasional complaint and whistle blower.

Ultimately, being the boss, can be difficult. You are responsible for determining your inner-office culture and for keeping your place of business a “place of business.” Cell phone usage may seem insignificant, but they are an important piece of technology for a lot of people. So, when deciding on your office’s cell phone policy, don’t take the decision lightly, and remember to make whatever your final decision is as clear as possible to your new hires.

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Photo Credit: © olly

If you blog you know the rules change constantly. No one is ever truly a blogging expert. Practically every week there’s a blog new to the scene. Companies that succeed at creating popular blogs, give readers a behind the scenes look at what they do, offer tips and encourage collaboration through guest blog posts.

Choosing the Best Blog Platform

What is the foundation for these content creations? In the blogosphere you have the top content management platforms: WordPress, Blogger, and Tumblr. These platforms have subtle differences for the type of company blog you are interested in developing.

Do you own a content-driven company, like a publication or international beauty corporation? WordPress or Blogger may be the best option. If you’re a freelance photographer, and rely more on images than words, Tumblr is likely the best fit for you. No matter what platform you choose, remember that all three content management systems have their pros and cons.

Blogger for Beginners

Pros: If you are new to blogging, Blogger is the perfect option for getting started. Blogger.com is easy to navigate with user friendly graphics to instruct you where to preview drafts, upload photos and videos, and check out the daily updates on your dashboard of those you follow. As with other platforms, numerous templates and theme designs are available. If your computer crashes unexpectedly your draft has already been saved, given Blogger auto saves drafts each minute.

Cons: Blogger has a limited number of templates to choose from in comparison to WordPress. Also, customizing widgets in blogger is much more complex. It lacks the bells and whistles that have made other platforms a more viable option for tech savvy bloggers.

WordPress Bells & Whistles

Pros: WordPress is the crème de la crème of blogging platforms. You can sign up for a free blog via wordpress.com or use a self hosted option via wordpress.org. It offers numerous features to help manage multiple authors and support a more robust content offering. There are also numerous themes to choose from that offer a clean and professional design.

Cons: In my experience, uploading pictures may cause some mild distress. Also, finding out who follows your blog is an issue; WordPress doesn’t offer the option of seeing who your followers are or showing who you follow on your dashboard. Your best bet is to use third party options such as RSS feed services to track the growth of your audience.

Tumblr Simplicity

Pros: Tumblr is a micro blogging platform and social network that enables you to post short-form blogs with ease. A great selection of theme layouts are available in the theme garden and it seems to attract “niche bloggers.” Tumblr blogs are available in virtually every subject imaginable.

Cons: Tumblr isn’t fully featured, so you don’t have as much control over formatting – as you do with other options. Also you can’t self-host, which means when tumblr experiences technical issues (which happens quite frequently) your site goes down too.

Overall, blogging isn’t a quick fix solution for awareness, brand development or sales. It’s more. It is a community. The blogosphere is a place where anyone who has an idea or opinion can find others to rally behind their voice. From there, fans of your company blog are then more educated and empowered to spread the news… and that’s when conversation truly begins.

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Photo Credit: © badahos

However, blogs in general present unique challenges to consistently generate unique and engaging content. It should look good and have visual appeal. Sadly, most blogs are constrained by the design of the site or the software used to produce content.

But you can boost your blog from blasé to brilliant with the right stock photography. Admittedly, most stock photography is the exact opposite of brilliant. Most business blogs are riddled with handshakes, happy suited people crossing finish lines and giant thumbs up hand motions.

While looking for some stock photos for one of my own blogs, I came across one of a stuffed monkey holding an egg with a happy face drawn on it in crayon. I ask you, who needs a picture of a monkey holding a happy egg? I sure as heck didn’t, but apparently someone out there thought they should break out the old Canon and take a couple of snaps of a child’s toy holding their breakfast. I admit, though, that it was a little cute.

So, to help you build a visually appealing company blog, here are a few tips to help you get started.

Know Your Audience

A few months ago, a vegan magazine found itself in hot water for using images of non-vegan food for their articles. To make matters worse, they actively photo-shopped bones out of some of the images, effectively ruining any chance they had at denying they knew these pictures of delicious steaks and hamburgers were not vegan.

So, the moral of the story is, when searching for the perfect photo, remember what type of audience you are trying to reach.

Spend Some Money

There are quite a few free stock photo sites, and some even have decent images. But you don’t want to write an article around the image, you want an image that simply fits the article. Otherwise, it is like cutting up a puzzle piece just so you can finally see who is playing in that “Concert in Golden Gate Park”. (For those who do not watch The Simpsons regularly, it was James Taylor).

If you feel comfortable working among free stock images, then don’t spend the money on a subscription. However, subscription based sites have a much better selection — allowing you to find a photo that fits with your article and does not clash with the design of your site.

But if you find a subscription a little too rich for your blood, use sites that offer a credit system which allows you to pay for pictures as you need them. Beware! Often times the photographer sets the number of credits per photo and you may find yourself digging into your savings just to grab that ‘perfect image.’

Avoid Clichés Like the Plague

You see what I did there? Don’t let my genius distract you; be sure to avoid those stupid pictures that so many blogs love to use. The “thumbs up” and “suited men running across the finish line” are just two examples. Trophies, frustrated computer users, women laughing at salad.

Clichés prevail in the world of stock images because they are widely applicable and photographers like to make money. You will have to spend a little more time — and money — but it is worth it in the end if customers don’t have to open your blog and stare at pictures of bad suits, handshakes and deadened eyes.

At any rate, a little effort goes a long with stock photography. I know it may seem like an insignificant part of a larger effort, but stock photos are typically one of the only pieces of visual media on company blogs. They matter more than most people think.

Your customers and readers will thank you for choosing a good-looking, appropriate, professional photo instead of relying on something cheap and easy you found after thirty seconds of scrolling through a free site. As much as I love stuffed animals and breakfast food, some things just don’t belong in company blogs.

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Photo Credit: © krimar

Then you think, “This PowerPoint will be different, it will certainly blow minds and knock socks off!” But, once you finish the presentation in retrospect it looks pretty familiar to your last five, doesn’t it?  The same presentation with the same old fumbling through your speech, button clicking, and bad stock photos.

Most likely, you’ve sat in a sales, motivational, briefing or training presentation or lecture that left you unimpressed and wishing you had sat next to the closest exit.

Besides the monotony of it all, people often make common PowerPoint mistakes.  A few being: cramming too many words on one slide, writing out exactly what the speaker will say, and getting all too excited over the frequent  utilization of bullet points.

Everyone in your next meeting has likely seen all your tricks by now—the ‘Star Wars’ themed text movement, the clapping sound effect that goes  hand-in-hand with your ‘The End’ slide, what else ya’ got?

Skip the ho-hum PowerPoint presentation for one of these five alternatives that will be sure to really WOW em’ at your next meeting.

Tell a Story with Prezi

Their motto is: “With Prezi you can tell your story in a non-linear, dynamic way.”  I feel there’s no other way to describe this presentation outlet than a better, and more creative, Powerpoint.

The web-based presentation application and storytelling tool is extremely user-friendly given there are no definite ‘slides’ and text can be added virtually anywhere on the screen in any format.

You can also collaborate with colleagues in real time on the same canvas as well as view and work on the presentation with online and mobile devices. Learn more about Prezi.

Flex your Tech Expertise with Dreamweaver

Skip on the whole slide presentation and just make a simple website. Dreamweaver, industry-leading web design software, provides both visual and code-level capabilities for creating standards-based websites and designs for the desktop, smartphones, tablets, and other devices.

The biggest benefit of this presentation tool is the menu available on the side of your presentation screen.  No matter which current screen you are viewing, you have easy access to the rest of your presentation making it easy to flip around if questions arise or your presentation goes astray. Checkout Dreamweaver.

Sell with Sellfolio

Can you really create a presentation in a few minutes? Sellfolio enables the most novice user to make sites, slideshows, presentations and intros.

The software offers a turnkey approach and provides an intro, main page, autoplay slideshows, contact page, unlimited pages, free music loops and content. Test drive Sellfolio.

Engage with Informative Videos

A skit about good office behavior could be a fun way to learn about a topic some may otherwise fall asleep upon learning the meeting’s topic. You could even get creative and make your own home-movie office video with a Flip camera!

Wow, Look Ma, no hands!

The good ol’ spoken word will always be in style for presentations—just look at Barack Obama.  There’s something so powerful about a single person strongly standing at the front of the room making valid points about a topic he knows much about.

Plus, with no additional reading to pay attention to, the room actually needs to pay attention to what is being said when the information is spoken without visual aids.

That being said, if a speaker would like to hand out a chart to go with his talk, he can still hold the focus of the room because he is a single person.   No flash cards is best, but if you need one in your back pocket in case of emergencies, feel free.

Be inspired by these Powerpoint free presentations.  Surprise your audience with something they’ve never seen before in your next meeting—knock those socks off!

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Loud, colorful television commercials are no longer the route to go for advertising—we skip those with TIVO anyway.  To have a relevant business you need to take advantage of four essential tools to build a business that engages, inspires and connects. Here are a few checkpoints to get started.

The Website

Having the option to offer your product or service online is so much more efficient than just a brick and mortar store.  You have the options of an online mailing list, easily accessible sales and e-coupons to keep your customers engaged.

With a website, you will draw a completely different audience of people.  Don’t underestimate the power of online shoppers—they’re a thrifty, passionate bunch.

The Facebook Page

Growing a ‘fan’ community benefits your company in a number of ways.  Once you have a community of dedicated fans established you have a group that thoroughly supports you, takes interest in what you have to say and connections to all of their friends.

Keep in mind that to grow a community of such strength you need to give as well as receive.  Offer periodic deals or spotlight those who ‘like’ you on your page.

The Twitter Account

Twitter is at the tip of the crest on the wave of social media popularity. We’re a society that likes our information in small chunks.

It makes it easier to grasp information and pass on to others. And since our brains get a ton of information each day, it’s important to be able to filter out the clutter.

With Twitter, you are guaranteed an audience that is interested in your field by those who choose to ‘follow’ you.  All you have to do then is provide them with articles, videos, and quotes relevant to what they’re already interested in.

Throw in some posts about deals your company is offering and information about your business in general and you’ve got yourself a wonderful means of publicity.

The Blog

The importance of a blog is often misunderstood and underestimated due to the fact that blogs can give off the perception of being ‘a personal outlet’ and therefore a waste of time. On the contrary, they can single-handedly boost your business numbers.

Blogs let your audience know that there is indeed a human behind the business.  Typically written in a conversational tone, a blog can act as the human contact between your small business and its audience.  Additionally, with the implementation of reader comments, it is a great medium to answer customer questions and concerns.

Perhaps you know another small business owner that hasn’t felt the need to join the social media wave just yet.  Do them and their business a favor and encourage, encourage, encourage! I’ve seen too many businesses not reach their full potential over a silly thing like lack of social media. Spread the love and share the knowledge!

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