The one thing that every Smart Hustler knows is that learning is the key to growing a business. Our Smart Business articles are designed to provide the best information in every aspect of business – marketing, finance, social media and more.

How to Calm Down Infuriated Customers to Your Advantage

How to Calm Down Infuriated Customers to Your Advantage

Regardless of the quality of customer service you provide, you will find yourself in unpredictable situations with complaining customers. They might shout at you, call you names, berate you, and try to embarrass or humiliate you as they express their outrage and frustration. During these times, you must maintain self-control, stay calm and respond...

Strategically Staying Small: 25 Companies Focusing on Greatness Over Growth

Strategically Staying Small: 25 Companies Focusing on Greatness Over Growth

[content field="callout1" format="true" class="calloutwide"]Small businesses have many competitive advantages over the big guys. Are you embracing these strengths or trying to quickly scale up and grow your business out of the ‘small’ label? While there isn’t one correct path, many small business owners do focus on growth in a quest to find more customers...

5 Ways Entrepreneurs Can Beat Bigger Businesses

[content field="callout1" format="true" class="calloutwide"]Owning a small business is a test of self-determination and passion every day. When you’re one person or a small team, it can be difficult to see the glowing light of success at the end of the tunnel, especially when you’re up against big-name competition. Even large powerhouses go at it in...

Skyrocket Your Marketing with Communication Tips from the 2016 Presidential Race

[content field="callout1" format="true" class="calloutwide"] Every four years the United States goes into a transformation. The cable news networks and the front pages of our newspapers feed us with the DAILY pleas of candidates running for office - in particular, for the Presidency. You have Trump, being very controversial and unconventional - causing attention and discussion. You...

Ready, Set Go! 5 Absolutely Easy Ways to Sell Better

Ready, Set, Go! 5 Absolutely Easy Ways to Sell Better

[content field="callout1" format="true" class="calloutwide"]  Having turned the page on our 2015 calendars, we are now moving headlong into the New Year. Many business owners and entrepreneurs will cast their eyes on growing their business and associated revenues in 2016. Some will start the year with baby steps towards accomplishing their goals while others will take...

How Leveraging Expertise and New Technology Will Make You More Successful in 2016

[content field="callout1" format="true" class="calloutwide"]As we enter the New Year, many business owners are taking a look back to evaluate their sales and efforts over the last 12 months and creating a plan for the next twelve. This includes looking for new paths and avenues to find additional business as well as strategies to strengthen...

How to Increase Sales by Creating a Powerful Sales Deck

[content field="callout1" format="true" class="calloutwide"] Building a solid sales deck is the key to winning over new customers. It helps you define the problem, demonstrate how other solutions are not solving that problem, and put a spotlight on how your product or service will solve the problem like no other. If you can put together a...

3 Ways to Keep Your Clients Coming Back for More

[content field="callout1" format="true" class="calloutwide"] Remember your determined pursuit of that client? How about the love you showed them when they became a bona fide prospect? All those promises; all that attention! What changed? What happened to the love? Acquiring new clients takes time and is an expensive endeavor as well. Retaining and growing clients is the name of...

Are You Showing Enough Differentiation In Your Services? Instant Delivery Services Battle In Urban Areas

[content field="callout1" format="true" class="calloutwide"] Competition is good, it really is. Competition validates what you are selling and helps to mature the market place for what you're selling. On the other hand, it's competition which drives down your prices, steals your customers and takes away your best employees. In a recent article, the Wall Street Journal covers the growth...

How to Make Small Business Saturday Successful – City of Portland Little Boxes

[content field="callout1" format="true" class="calloutwide"] Small Business Saturday was created in 2010 by American Express as a way to give small and local retailers more exposure during the holiday season. Black Friday had been around for years and was always a hit for large retailers, but the idea was to create a special day where customers...