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Business Skills You Can Learn From Playing Hay Day

Posted by
Jackie Nagel, Synnovatia

My sisters play Hay Day. It’s a popular mobile game where you build and manage your own farm. They frequently chat about what they’re growing, whose horses are running freely on the roads, and who generously shares their supplies. It’s creating a fun, common bond among siblings separated by time and distance. Frankly, I felt left out.

At the same time, I avoided getting involved. I told myself it was a waste of time.

Then my cooler-than-Justin-Bieber teenage nephew spontaneously told his Grandma, my big sister, that I need to play Hay Day on my Big A$$ iPad (i.e., iPad Pro).

Well, when your award-winning snowboarding, skateboarding great-nephew thinks his Aunt is cool enough to play Hay Day, it’s game on!

Business Skills Doppelgänger

It’s surprising to experience the similarities between amusing oneself on Hay Day and business building. Could it be a valuable tool to honing one’s business skills…without the financial risk?

Downloading the app is similar to launching your business. Time is allocated to learn the basic workings—like when you start your business. Decisions are made that fit the way you work best.

Naming your farm is no different than naming a business. It’s a piece of your identity that represents your attributes and values to the market. It’s important enough to give careful consideration to choosing the right name.

“Location, location, location” is important for business success. It is being at the right spot where business flourishes. For Hay Day, the location of your fields, chicken coop, bakery, barn, and silos influences performance.

Speaking of fields…successful farmers plant strategically. This ensures the correct quantity of crops is available to make the feed needed for the chickens to lay eggs. After all, without feed, the chickens go belly up—literally. No one wants to see that. Doesn’t this sound just amazingly similar to strategic planning and resource allocation? Trust me, just like in Hay Day, it doesn’t happen on its own.

Then there is the grumpy old man, the happily annoying little girl shopping for her “grandma,” and the Mary Poppins look-alike who randomly stop by the farm requesting to make a purchase. Like your business, you serve a variety of clientele. Can you tell which one best matches the buyer persona you’ve selected to serve through your products and services?

Of course, good strategic planning creates growth. And, as your business grows so does the need for capacity. Purchases needed for expansion require pre-planning and a budget. So it is with Hay Day. Hopefully, you’ve saved for equipment to remove stumps, cut down trees, and pulverize boulders. If not, things stagnate…like business.

There’s no resting on your laurels—on your Hay Day “farm” or in business. The land is continually surveyed for new opportunities.

On the “farm”—as in business—it’s all out growing, selling, delivering, and resource allocation. That is, until a problem develops. (For me, I’m still missing a bolt to expand my silo capacity.) Where do you turn for help?

As far as I know, there aren’t any instructions. You’re on your own to figure out how to run and grow a farm that is successful and thriving until your farm becomes large enough to access assistance.

Sadly, access to help for the small farmer is eerily familiar for the small business entrepreneur. (This is why we’ve geared our services for the small business entrepreneur.)

Overall, Hay Day is truly a game of honing strategic business skills. From strategic thinking to planning to budgeting to resource allocation—each move you make on the “farm,” as in business, determines the degree of success or struggle you’ll experience.

So, if you decide to jump in to hone your skills, be sure to look me up. You’ll find me at “YaYa’s” on Hay Day or reach out to me here.

Want To Make Your Small Business More Valuable? Consider This!

Posted by
Jackie Nagel, Synnovatia

Growing a small business in today’s highly competitive, fast-paced business environment is no small task. It takes courage, tenacity, commitment, and disciple. Although your business is small, the value it holds for you is not!

A survey conducted by Staples a few years back discovered that more than 80 percent of the 300 small business owners they surveyed said that they don’t keep track of their business goals. Yikes! At least they had goals.

How many other small business owners don’t even set goals? Although I couldn’t find any stats, my guess is more than anyone would care to admit.

I’m going to venture a guess as to the primary reason small business owners don’t set or keep track of their goals—they’ve yet to identify anything significant that makes a goal worth fighting for.

Beyond the Paycheck

There was a time when my business goals gave me direction, focus, and a sense of purpose—a reason to get up in the pre-dawn hours and work long past the setting sun. My business goals were a primary contributor of value—personally and professionally.

With time, however, business goals weren’t enough. The improvement they made to the value of the business was no longer palpable. (Read more: Confessions From a Strategic Business Coach on Hidden Goals).

Bam! That’s when it hit me! The day that business goals lose their luster is the day that the value of the business begins to dwindle. Business goals, minus personal goals and objectives, are ineffective.

Don’t we all have personal goals we want to achieve? Sometimes, they become part of the “nice to have” or “wish I had” list. Most entrepreneurs refer to these as the “goals and achievements one invests in—once business goals are achieved.” That’s laughable, isn’t it. There’s always another business goal lurking around the corner.

Yet, isn’t business the tool by which to accomplish that which you want, need, and desire?

Give Personal Planning the Green light

What business owner isn’t familiar with the importance of planning—especially for the business. Add a personal plan and your business becomes invaluable!

Consider this simple exercise to turn your “wish I had” list into an actionable plan that gives your business new meaning, purpose, and inspiration.

  • What “nice to have” or “wish I had” desires lurk in the wrinkles of your brain? What personal goals and objectives are near and dear to your heart? Are you looking to build retirement? Have more time to spend with, and enjoy, your family? Is less stress and more energy important to you? How about the ability to send your kids to private schools? Hike the Camino de Santiago? Buy your first home? Purchase a second home? Recognize the things that mean the most to you—”if only.”
  • Turn the “nice to haves” into concrete goals, complete with plans and budget. (Hey, just like in business!)
  • Configure your business goals to make room for your personal goals.

Got it? Good! Now you know the business goals to set—and track—to make your business more valuable—for you!

Go ahead…make a wish!

Trigger Business Growth By Coming Out Of The Closet

Posted by
Jackie Nagel, Synnovatia

Do you remember the old MasterCard commercials? They compared the cost of different aspects of an activity to something that is priceless. It went something like this…

Someone’s careening off the edge of a cliff. The caption reads—Mountain biking in California? $90. The next picture shows a family on a sailboat that collides with the caption and begins to tip over—Sailing in Florida? $120. The final picture shows a guy getting bucked from a horse with the accompanying caption—Weekend at a dude ranch? $250.

And, finally—Adding a little adventure to your life? Priceless.

Coming up through the business world when I did, business behavior was much more formal. There was an expectation—albeit unspoken—of how one was to dress, behave, and act. Granted, the culture of business set the stage for professionalism but, it also caused many people to hide their true self.

Many business owners experienced the need to be someone they truly weren’t. It was as if they were a cardboard cutout of themselves—devoid of authenticity—to meet the unexpressed assumptions of others.

It happened to me, too.

Take a licking and keep on ticking

Early on in my coaching career, I was coaching a small business owner through a challenge. Wanting to be the most effective coach possible, I reached out to other coaches for insight.

In doing so, I got my hands slapped. What I was asking apparently had nothing to do with coaching. I was told I was advising or consulting…not coaching.

Yikes! I got “schooled.”

You see, the pure coaching model is about asking thoughtful, thought-provoking questions to help a client discover the answers within themselves. It’s a very effective model—when the client has a context from which to draw.

The small business owners, with whom I work, are masters of their craft. They are highly proficient—even gifted—in their particular field. Their domain knowledge or context of business concepts, however, sometimes fall short. It’s not that they aren’t capable. They have not yet had the entrepreneurial experience or training. Therefore, without context, the traditional coaching model leaves small business owners frustrated and disappointed with strategic business coaching.

Back to the experience that left its mark…

As a result of that “licking”, I found myself holding back—suppressing some of my talents, gifts, and passion. Certainly, my genuineness took a beating. As a result, business growth was, shall we say, lackluster for a few years. Additionally, my own business was much more stressful than it needed to be…until I decided I was willing to risk failure and be myself.

I had a similar conversation with a client recently.

Sensing the need to be someone else, he drug his feet when it came to asking for referrals. He agonized over the script. What would he say? How would he say it? The stress of it was so enormous that he completely shut down his business growth activities. The way in which the “business world” taught to acquire referrals was not in alignment with who he is. He wasn’t a sales guy; he is a relationship guy.

Curiously, I inquired how he would ask if he did it in his way. His response was brilliant. So authentic. So real. So him! Willing to risk failure by not following conventional wisdom, he launched enthusiastically into his relationship strategy. As his stress declined, his referrals grew.

He, too, was hiding his gifts, talents, and genuine love of people—to conform with the conventional wisdom and expectation of the business world.

Come out, come out, wherever you are!

The truth—for both my client and myself—is this: if it feels risky to be yourself because no one else is doing it your way, do it anyway.

You are “one-of-a-kind”. And, your business growth is dependent upon your ability to be who you truly are. Authenticity creates greater value for your client than merely providing a service or executing a task.

As you begin to express your legitimate self, you are able to tap into values, talents, and skills to use as tools to help you achieve more naturally—with less stress—and with considerable value to those around you.

In the words of MasterCard, finding the perfect business domain? $30. Printing your first set of business cards? $50. Treating your first client to lunch? $45.

Realizing business growth with authenticity and integrity? Priceless!

5 Consequences to Business Growth When Performance Dives

Posted by
Jackie Nagel, Synnovatia

Have you heard the good news? California is getting rain!

In preparation for El Nino, I recently engaged a local painting firm. Sounds almost as exciting as watching paint dry, doesn’t it? What makes this story valuable is what is to be learned to make sure business growth doesn’t inadvertently suffer when performance wanes.

The Paint Whisperer

We all play the role of customer in sales meetings from time to time.

Some companies are disorganized in their presentation. Uncertain of their process. Materials lack any brand identity. They leave you scratching your head—wondering how these companies stay in business.

Other companies sparkle. Their presentation is polished and professional, yet casual enough to ebb and flow easily with questions and concerns. Their materials are well-branded. Their process is standardized (which generally produces a better end product, by the way.) Most importantly, they understand their reputation is at stake with every stroke of the pen. These are trust and credibility builders.

This was that sort of meeting. This company was different. This company set the standard. This company does what it claims—provide a superior end-product. This company is concerned enough about their Yelp reviews to make sure performance is high. This company’s price is higher.

price + performance + value = Sale

Have you heard the saying, “When value outweighs the price, seldom is price an objection?”

This company did an exceptional job of building value—and backing it up with evidence. I was willing to pay the price for the outcome promised—a superior product.

No chocolate Easter bunnies here! The value built. The expectation set. The price paid. I made the decision to trust.

The performance? Well, it didn’t match the value + price expectation.

No time to do things right the first time?

That’s what my Dad, a small business owner, imparted to his children. He believed that if you don’t take the time to do things right the first time, it requires more time—and money—to do them over.

Unfortunately, when a business—yours or mine—doesn’t get the job right the first time, the domino effect is set in motion. It looks like this…

  1. Trust is broken. Clients make assumptions when expectations and assurances are preset by an organization. Trust evaporates when promises are broken.
  2. Work dries up. Change orders, or opportunities for additional work, vanish. The pipeline for future business from a particular source is capped off.
  3. Referrals disappear. Consumers are more likely to share a bad experience (54%) with five or more friends than they are a good experience (33%). (The Impact of Customer Service)
  4. Reputation is tainted. News, good or bad, travels fast. In fact, 58% of consumers are likely to share their experience with others. (The Impact of Customer Service)
  5. Profit margins are reduced. Profit margins are squeezed, or evaporate completely, when corrections need to be made in order for a business to keep its promise.

So, yes. When performance is not up to the promise, it definitely hits where it hurts most—business growth.

The Fix For Broken performance

Make sure your business growth stays on its upward trajectory by diligently applying the following principles:

  1. Make promises you can routinely, and easily, keep. Today’s consumers count on a consistent experience.
  2. Manage expectations—yours and the clients. Use the tools at your disposal (i.e., blog, email, text, phone) to communicate and inform clients.
  3. Get it right the first time. Fine tune your process to prevent costly re-work. And, when things do go a bit off the rails…
  4. Take responsibility. The customer is always right—even when they’re not.

Even so, you may not be able to undo the damage done to your business (78% of high income households are liked to be permanently soured by one bad experience).

And, if that’s the case, go back and adopt what my Dad taught me: Do it right the first time so you don’t have to do it over.

Gratitude’s 10 Proven Results on Business Growth

Posted by
Jackie Nagel, Synnovatia

I love science.

It’s one thing to say that “something” creates results, but when scientific studies verify its existence, I get downright giddy! The latest neuroscientific research on the influence of gratitude on business growth has me “grateful” for geeks.

Gratitude: A Tradition

From a young age, my parents taught me to be grateful. After all, there were “starving children in Biafra,” mom narrated, “who would be more than happy to eat” whatever was being served.

As a young whipper snapper, I had “plenty”. I had enough to eat, a good education, and clothes to wear, even though most were hand-me-downs. There was an empty lot for softball, the perfect hill for winter sledding, and lots of neighborhood friends like Delbert, Bobby, and Dougie.

What I didn’t realize—until much later—was the stress my parents endured to feed, clothe, and educate five kids on a meager salary. I didn’t know we were poor. Why? Gratitude was a way of life.

Many people didn’t grow up in an atmosphere of gratitude. They missed the opportunity to learn the importance of gratitude. And, although I grew up without the benefit of scientific research, I knew gratitude created a lasting impact.

The Merry-Go-Round Called Gratitude

Scientific studies on gratitude, and its intriguing influence, are growing rapidly. In fact, did you know that five-minutes a day writing in a gratitude journal can increase your well-being by more than 10 percent. This is equivalent to doubling your income. Yowsa!

According to the article, The Grateful Brain, “gratitude can have such a powerful impact on your life because it engages your brain in a virtuous cycle. Your brain only has so much power to focus its attention. It cannot easily focus on both positive and negative stimuli. It is like a small child: easily distracted.”

It’s a virtual merry-go-round!

Gratitude actually reshapes neural pathways, creating greater optimism, better sleep and—wait for it—improvement in exercise by as much as 1.5 hours per week.

Business Growth: The Insiders Game

One of the most underutilized strategies for most small businesses is tapping into the unconventional method of business growth: growing from the inside out. It’s tough knowing where to start with an insider’s strategy that’s soft and squishy. So we turn to the tried (or is that “tired”?) strategies commonly utilized by most businesses.

Undoubtedly, traditional business growth strategies play an important role in business planning. However, can we make room for something more esoteric—like gratitude as a business growth strategy?

Drs. Blaire and Rita Justice reported for the University of Texas Health Science Center, “a growing body of research shows that gratitude is truly amazing in its physical and psychosocial benefits.”

What can gratitude do for you and your business growth? Here’s what science has to say…

  1. Gratitude increases self-esteem.
  2. Gratitude improves sleep. Zzzzzzzzzzz
  3. Gratitude spices up our energy.
  4. Gratitude adds elasticity to our bounce back ability.
  5. Gratitude fosters relaxation. Ahhhhhhhh!
  6. Gratitude improves social behaviors which makes it easier to network. Studies show that those who are 10% more grateful than average had 17.5% more social capital.
  7. Gratitude stimulates goal achievement. In one study, participants instructed to keep a gratitude journal for two months reported more progress toward their goals.
  8. Gratitude enhances decision making.
  9. Gratitude magnifies productivity.
  10. Gratitude makes us nicer, more trusting, and more appreciative.

In the words of speaker and author, Ocean Robbins, “If you’ve forgotten the language of gratitude, you’ll never be on speaking terms with happiness.“

Care to join me? Let’s start our gratitude journal today and see what it does for our business growth in the new year. You in?

5 Ways Technology Drives Small Business Growth

Posted by
Jackie Nagel, Synnovatia

In March of 2000, my husband reluctantly drug me to a Lexus dealership to purchase one of the most advanced cars (at that time) on the market. Needless to say, I was less than impressed by the nonnegotiable (overly) priced vehicle. None the less, it possessed one of the first navigation systems.

Finally! I could ditch the small encyclopedia called the “Thomas Guide” that required a PhD in map reading in order to get to your destination a mere 20 miles away. How cool was that!

Fast forward sixteen years…

An automobiles navigation system is practically obsolete. Although a standard feature in most cars, smart phones and apps are now doing the lion’s share of the navigation. Why? Because it’s better, faster, and more reliable, in most situations.

Technology: A game changer for small business

Without a doubt, technology continues to change the landscape of our business.

  1. Technology improves productivity. When the right technology is used for such functions as sales, marketing, and operations, your business enjoys greater performance. Technology reduces paperwork, eliminates redundancy, and frees you up to attend to the core services on which your business growth depends. Don’t spend your time pushing paper; spend your time pushing profits.
  2. Technology enhances relevance. Have you seen a business without a website or online payment ability? We all have—which is hard to believe in this day and age. Although you may not think it negatively impacts your brand, guess again. Savvy consumers question the pertinence of a business who has not unleashed the power of technology in their business.
  3. Technology simplifies the consumers buying process. Buyers rule! And, what they want more than anything, is to reach their desired outcome in as few steps as possible. Technology affords them the opportunity to achieve their outcome.
  4. Technology gives back your time. Ask any small business owner to identify their most critical resource and you’ll likely hear one word—time. It’s the one precious commodity we wish we had more of. And, now we can. For instance, rather than being consumed by traffic, technology is used for “face-to-face” meetings across town or time zones.
  5. Technology expands brand awareness and reach. Gone are the days for small business growth to be limited by geography. Through the use of technology, today’s business growth is only limited by one’s imagination.

Even so, it can all be a little overwhelming—especially for a small business owner.

Start small—Finish big

You don’t have to be Google, Apple, or Amazon to take advantage of technological advancements for business growth.

Start small by replacing redundancy with automation. Connect people and processes where possible. Eliminate (or dramatically reduce) costly paper transactions. Use software as it was intended—as a solution. And, most importantly…just start.

The business world has changed. Have you?

Are your small business tools and technology contributing to your productivity, performance, and profitability? If not, let’s chat about how to use the right technology to support your business goals for growth.

Contact Us

4 Unorthodox Tools to Energize Your Business Growth

Posted by
Jackie Nagel, Synnovatia

https://www.synnovatia.com/strategic-business-consultations/Ask any entrepreneur for the tools to business growth and you’ll likely get the usual suspects—the right strategy, the right marketing, the right client, the right service. The list is endless.

What few small business entrepreneurs stop to consider is the impact that unusual, offbeat, unsuspecting tools have on growing one’s business….like these.

Take a Nap

My parents were big nappers. A 20-minute nod found them refreshed and ready to take on the rest of the day. Apparently, they were on to something scientific.

Since that time, the benefits of sleep—in particular, napping—such as improved focus, greater clarity, and accuracy have been cited in numerous studies. In fact, Nap Your Way to Better Performance (You Snooze, You Win!) spells out the results of research by several well-known entities.

Dr. Peter Walters, associate professor in the applied health science department at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Ill., says that there is conclusive evidence of a correlation between sufficient sleep and mental acuity, especially logical and critical thinking.

Can you imagine what you could achieve with greater sharpness in critical thinking and mental clarity? (You may want to think about this during your nap!)

There’s an app for that: Get the Power Nap App here.

Exercise

Did I lose you? I know! It can be hard to “justify” time for exercise when we can put that time into marketing, bookkeeping, and/or networking. Physical fitness does, however, have an impact on your business.

In Improve Your Bottom Line and Waistline, we cite a study conducted with over 350+ entrepreneurs that prove that entrepreneurs who incorporate running and biking into their exercise regime demonstrate a significant improvement in growth for your business.

The news gets better!

Scientific advancements in exercise physiology how that high intensity interval training creates a significant increase in heart rate—and endorphins—during a time frame appealing to entrepreneurs (i.e., 20–30 minutes).

What entrepreneur doesn’t love to maximize results in as little time as needed.

There’s an app for that: Get the Tabata Pro app here.

De-stress

Sounds impossible, doesn’t it? That’s because it’s easy to believe that stress is a normal part of growing your business…but it doesn’t have to be.

Forbes recently noted that “workplace stress may contribute up to $190 billion in health-care expenses and over 120,000 deaths each year.” Yikes! No high-performing business owner wants to be part of this statistic!

You don’t have to be a buddhist monk to cash in on the many benefits of meditation. In fact, there are well-over 76 scientific benefits of meditation including stress reduction, greater bounce-back-ability, better mood, and more optimism.

There’s an app and a program for that: Download the Buddify app here or the Relax Melodies app here. Sign up for the 10 Day Mind Cleanse program here.

Proper Nutrition

We already know that no Olympic athlete achieves greatness—or their goals—on a diet of gummy bears and fast food. Yet, we sometimes think we’re immune to the ravages of poor nutrition.

“Food has a direct impact on our cognitive performance,” says Harvard Business Review in an article entitled, What You Eat Affects Your Productivity. “A poor decision at lunch can derail an entire afternoon.”Bye, bye, business growth!”

Unless, of course, you’re as strategic about your nutrition as you are about business growth. Consuming 7–9 servings of fruits and vegetables throughout the day improves memory and mood. It also plays a singificant role in motivation and engagement.

There’s an app for that: Download Fooducate here.

Business Growth Strategy: Bizarre or Brilliant?

Self-care is not only an effective business growth strategy—one often forgotten by countless entrepreneurs—it is a powerful growth strategy. With greater clarity, improved memory, mental sharpness, lazer-like focus, inspired optimism, and sustainable energy, can you imagine what you will achieve?

Learn what you can achieve with a business coach here or click below to have a coach contact you today.

Lifelong Learning: An Essential Ingredient for Entrepreneurs Eyeing Business Growth

Posted by
Jackie Nagel, Synnovatia

In my first career as a registered nurse (RN), taking additional courses following graduation was expected. Plus, it was important. Let’s face it—who wants an RN unfamiliar with the latest heart monitoring technology caring for a loved one during a health crisis. Not me! Ongoing learning was so important that it was rewarded with continuing education units (CEUs) often required for re-licensing.

Nurses, of course, aren’t the only professionals bound by the imperative of continuing their education. Attorneys, tax professionals, physicians, and engineers are only a few professions that require ongoing education to maintain their licensure.

And then there are entrepreneurs…

Ah yes! Long gone are the days of securing our degree in business, never to crack a book again—or so we hoped. With the rapid growth of communication technology, the need for ongoing learning—continuing education, if you will—is reaching epic proportions.

At the current rate of change, your skills—and your business—can quickly become obsolete and irrelevant.

School is Never Out For the Pro

Former President of Harvard, Derek Bok, said, “If you think the cost of education is expensive, try the cost of ignorance.” How true this is for small business entrepreneurs. In today’s age of information, clients can access experience, expertise, and knowledge with the click of a mouse.

If you don’t keep up, the competition will eat your lunch. (Don’t ask me where this came from. Its been rumbling around my head for decades, waiting for just this moment to escape.)

Additionally, the pursuit of education and knowledge brings along other perks. It…

  • Encourages contemplation, creativity, and thought process
  • Inspires fresh solutions to stubborn problems
  • Establishes a desire to stay abreast of changes in the business community
  • Prepares you to be a more valuable service provider for your clients
  • Permits your business to sustain success in an ever-changing environment

If that wasn’t enough, furthering your entrepreneurial education prevents mental and physical diseases…and, it’s just plain fun!

Class is in Session

The pace of business comes at a cost. That cost being a lack of time for learning for which entrepreneurs pay dearly. With time limited, it’s important to focus your ongoing learning efforts on these important topics:

  1. International Economic Trends
    Regardless of your country of residence, you’re no longer an island. We recently “got schooled” on the far-reaching impact of conditions around the world during the recent shakeup of the Chinese economy. What happens to the future of your business is closely tied to what happens in China, Greece, Spain, etc.Pay attention or pay the price—the choice is yours.
  2. Technology
    According to a J.D. Power and Associates survey, only 1 in 5 Americans are even interested in technology. Really? You wouldn’t know with the number of people with their noses in their smartphone while waiting in line at Starbucks. Technology is on fire.As entrepreneurs, we need to gain an understanding of the cloud, social media, user experience (UX), and apps like Evernote and Trello that are revolutionizing productivity, just to mention a few.

    Although experts avail themselves and their expertise, entrepreneurs need to have an understanding of the far-reaching impact that such technological developments have/will have on the future of their business.

  3. Consumer Behavior
    There seems to be some disagreement about which came first—changes in consumer behavior or technology. One thing we can all agree upon is that this is not 1995.Consumers buying behaviors are changing—and fast.

    For instance, did you know that 89% of shoppers do online research before purchasing an item in-store. Or, that a dissatisfied customer will tell between 9-15 people about their experience. Or, an overwhelming majority (96%) of consumers have searched for product information from their mobile device.

    (Want more little tidbits like this? Check out 50 Essential Facts About Consumer Behavior.)
    Egads! Lots to learn to stay fresh and relevant for your audience.

  4. Industry Trends
    Each industry has its own unique set of goings-on that exert influence for opportunity and risk for your business.It’s important to learn what is on the horizon for your industry. But, that’s not all. It’s equally important to continue your education to stay abreast of what lurks around the bend for your clients industry, as well.

    What happens in your client’s industry materializes in your business.

    Check out Deloitte’s Industry Outlook 2015 to learn more.

  5. Marketing Trends
    Closely tied to technology and consumer behavior, the marketing landscape is continually on the move. Smart consumers know this. Subsequently, they make decisions (right or wrong) whether to do business with you or the other guy—much based on the relevancy of your marketing.Want to know what marketing will look like in 2020? Check out Jeff Beer’s aptly named article in Fast Company, 25 Predictions for What Marketing Will Look Like in 2020.

Whew! My brain cells are saturated…and we’ve only just begun.

It seems as though we wouldn’t need to mention the importance of continuing our entrepreneurial education. Sadly, we see each and everyday that many businesses are failing—failing to stay informed, failing to stay up-to-date, failing to remain powerful and inspired.

The words of Shiza Shahid, CEO of the Malala Fund, sum up the importance for entrepreneurs to continue their education, “Knowing allows us to act, allows us to repair, allows us to move forward and evolve.”

Low-cost Ideas of Appreciation for Referrals Leads to Business Growth

Posted by
Jackie Nagel, Synnovatia

No matter how advanced our technology or the number of new marketing avenues invented, there’s one time-tested path that enhances business growth: the referral. Most business owners think of current clients when they hear the word “referral,” but there’s another group that can launch your brand to success through referrals—your Centers of Influence (COI).

Your COI is anyone—whether an individual or an organization—who has a significant influence in your niche and can spread the word about your brand.

According to a study done by the Financial Planning Association’s Research & Practice Institute, participants who experienced the fastest growth were 68 percent more likely to gain referrals from COI than other participants. The study also indicates that client referrals and COI referrals are the top two most crucial aspects of business growth.

With this importance being placed on referrals, what’s the best way to keep them coming to your business? It’s simple—show your appreciation.

Appreciation and Business Growth

Besides the obvious common courtesy, sending small, low-cost expressions of appreciation for referrals benefits your growth. Why? If people know you’re grateful for their support, they’re more likely to continue referring clients to you.

There’s a concept that says “business goes where it’s invited and stays where it’s appreciated.” Saying “thank you” with a small gift shows you appreciate those involved in helping you reach your goals. It builds loyalty to your brand, shows your “human” side, and sets you apart from the competition.

How do you put the principle into action? We’re so glad you asked.

Things to Remember

Giving gifts of appreciation for referrals does require a bit of brainpower on your behalf. You want the expressions to be seen as thoughtful and personal—not generic.

Here are some tips to keep in mind when deciding on referral gifts:

  • Consider if it’s appropriate. Some professionals may not accept gifts due to ethics (such as doctors and journalists, for example). Additionally, there are specific countries where gift giving is frowned upon and/or has certain restrictions regarding the gift amount. Do your homework to make sure you adhere to business gift-giving etiquette.
  • Be personal, but not too personal. A Starbucks gift card is a nice enough, but to really make an impact, be a bit more creative. If you know the client or business associate to whom you want to send a gift, give something that’s of use to them. For example, if the person loves to read, send an Amazon gift card. Just avoid intimate or overly expensive items that might embarrass the recipient.
  • Embrace the forgotten art of the hand-written thank-you note. There’s nothing better in today’s world of emails and social media than receiving a genuine, personal, hand-written note.
  • Send a gift before the referral becomes a client. This shows your genuine appreciation and implies that you’re grateful for the effort and support, not just the money.

Some Examples

There’s no shortage of items to express your gratitude for referrals that spur growth. But in case your mind is too overwhelmed for this sort of strategic thinking, here are some examples to get you started:

  • Amazon gift cards for avid readers
  • iRoller – a reusable touchscreen cleaner
  • Eua Water Bottle for the environmentally-friendly
  • A plant – signifies business growth

Whatever gift you choose, be sure it’s appropriate, personal, and thoughtful. Showing your appreciation for referrals isn’t just good manners; it’s a simple, cost-effective way to build brand loyalty and facilitate business growth.

What has been your most treasured display of appreciation for a referral you provided? Is there something special that you like to give?

Three Secrets to Small Business Growth (Infographic)

Posted by
Jackie Nagel, Synnovatia

Small business growth is on the rise as evidenced by the most recent infographic published by IndustriusCFO. With advancements in technology, better data for small businesses, and smarter tactics, growth no longer has to be a struggle or overwhelming.

Enjoy these latest statistics and then pat yourself on the back for doing a bang-up job showing big business how small business is achieving BIG things! (Thanks to IndustriusCFO for the shoutout to Synnovatia!)

Courtesy of: IndustriusCFO
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Brooke Billingsley

Vice President
Perception Strategies

Synnovatia is a strategic coaching firm that is detailed and knowledgeable about business. i have a small business that grew from $150K to $750K because of the goal setting and resources that Synnovatia provided. It saves me years of learning on my own.

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