Spectrum Business Insights

Gone are the days when proprietors could hang out a shingle and take an ad in the local paper to let folks know what goods and services they were offering. We communicate online today, and small businesses need an Internet service that offers high-speed and reliable connectivity to get their messaging before the public, operate efficiently, and drive profitability and growth.

Search for a web hosting company online and you’ll find an array of options. There are large national hosting companies and small, specialized ones. Some offer a full array of extra services –such as website design and SEO help – and some offer few frills. And to make it all the more confusing, they come at a wide range of price points.

Giving your customers a way to schedule appointments online will not only make their lives easier—it will make yours, too. You can reduce the number of phone calls, voicemails and emails that need to be fielded by making your availability easily viewed and booked online.

First there was the swipe. Then came the dip. Now it’s all about the tap. No, these aren’t the latest dance moves. We’re talking about the evolution of credit card payments.

With so many messaging apps, email threads and video meetings, sometimes it’s easy to forget that a simple phone call still carries serious weight. For small businesses, a reliable small business phone system is more than a line of communication – it’s a lifeline. Whether you’re answering client inquiries, connecting with your team or closing deals, phone systems designed specifically for small business needs offer the clarity, control and connectivity that keep things running smoothly.

With so many messaging apps, email threads and video meetings, sometimes it’s easy to forget that a simple phone call still carries serious weight. For small businesses, a reliable small business phone system is more than a line of communication – it’s a lifeline. Whether you’re answering client inquiries, connecting with your team or closing deals, phone systems designed specifically for small business needs offer the clarity, control and connectivity that keep things running smoothly.

With so many messaging apps, email threads and video meetings, sometimes it’s easy to forget that a simple phone call still carries serious weight. For small businesses, a reliable small business phone system is more than a line of communication – it’s a lifeline. Whether you’re answering client inquiries, connecting with your team or closing deals, phone systems designed specifically for small business needs offer the clarity, control and connectivity that keep things running smoothly.

With so many people now working from home, internet speed and reliability have become more critical than ever. As a business owner, you may wonder whether it’s worth getting business internet at your home—and encouraging your home-based employees to do the same.

Your internet connection comes with two different types of speed: download and upload. Download speed is the rate at which data transfers from the internet to your devices. Upload speed is how fast data moves in the opposite direction—from your devices to the internet.

Customers today expect businesses to offer them WiFi—and your business could benefit greatly by doing so. After all, surveys have shown that customers prefer, and will return to, businesses that offer them internet access. That said, it’s critical to separate your internal WiFi network that’s used by employees from the network you provide customers, as you don’t want to risk your business data being compromised by someone who simply stops by your business and accesses your WiFi. Even when you segregate your guest and business WiFi networks, it’s important to protect your customers and visitors from possible intrusions on your guest WiFi network. How do you secure your business WiFi for customers? Here are five key ways:

When I planted my first Christmas trees in 2004, I thought I had created the ideal seasonal business: a family-operated enterprise that would teach my kids a strong work ethic and, over time, make some money.

As a former preschool teacher and designer for a large arts and crafts company, my dream was always to build a creativity center for kids. That dream came true in 2013, when I opened Fabby-Do Creativity-Crafts Café after operating it as a mobile business for three years.

Loyal customers are essential to the success of a small business. In fact, nearly all small business owners agree that keeping current customers happy is a top priority. In a recent American Express survey, 98% of small business owners reported that serving customers well is essential to their success.

Four years ago, I decided to take my marketing and diversity and inclusion consulting firm, Encounter Your Potential, full time. While I loved what I had created, I faced a challenge that many small business owners encounter: How do you generate a steady stream of customers and revenue?

Managing the finances of your company is one of your most important and most time-consuming tasks. Using online and mobile cash management tools can help you do this part of your job more efficiently.

Four years ago, I decided to take my marketing and diversity and inclusion consulting firm, Encounter Your Potential, full time. While I loved what I had created, I faced a challenge that many small business owners encounter: How do you generate a steady stream of customers and revenue?

We started our test preparation and tutoring company more than a decade ago to provide teens with the academic help they needed. We were founded in the Los Angeles area, but today we also have tutors and offices in New York City and San Francisco, and provide online tutoring to people in about 10 foreign countries.

More and more small businesses are turning to SMS text messaging to interact with customers—and no wonder. It’s fast, efficient and cost-effective.