Business/Marketing/Sales

Word-of-mouth referrals often serve as a plumber’s best, and least expensive, form of marketing. But at Zeitler Plumbing in Cecil, Wisconsin, third-generation...

“This is stupid! I’m so frustrated! I’m just about ready to shut down my business!”How many plumbers have thought this, in frustration,...

When a potential customer wants to learn more about your company, where are they most likely to head? Chances are, they’ll go...

Unless you are naturally pessimistic, you probably don’t spend too much time thinking about disaster hitting your business. But the reality is...

It’s easy to get into a routine at work, but taking a step back from time to time to evaluate how you...

It isn’t the truly terrible employees who cause the real problems. Whether clearly incompetent or unbelievably lazy, they’re easy to spot. With...

Many homeowners are concerned about the quality of water coming into their homes. They hear horror stories like what happened in Flint,...

Running a business means you’ll eventually face competition. In fact, you probably had competitors in your market as soon as you opened...

As the baby boomers — those born between 1946 and 1964 — retire in droves, and Generation X — born between 1965...

As an employer, you don’t always know what your team members are dealing with in their private lives. When there is a...

You don’t ever want to be rude to clients, but sometimes they get a little more involved than you’d like while you’re...

Who would you choose? A plumber coming to your door in ripped and dirty jeans, soiled T-shirt and muddy shoes? Or one...

My 17-year-old son recently opened a checking account. He rolled his eyes and shook his head “no” when the bank teller asked...

When Ted Curtis and his sister, Tammy Owens, started Emergency Mr. Plumber in 1990, the company’s primary focus was plumbing. After 10...

Interviews can provide great insight. But do you know what a potential new hire is really thinking? Sometimes you don’t. That’s why the undercover interview...

They say that you should never go into business with friends or family. But maybe that warning comes too late in your...

My background is in business — design, marketing, community relations, business development. They’re all important to running a business of any kind....