What Motivates a Customer to Buy?

What motivates a customer to buy from one company and not another? Do you know why your customers buy from you? If not, here are some motivating factors they consider when choosing a company to do business with. 

Convenience: This can be provided in a number of ways, such as the hours you're open, your method of delivery, a user-friendly website, and/or your physical location. If you make the buying experience convenient for your customers, then they're more likely to pay a premium for your service or product. 

Best Value for the Price: Everyone is watching their pennies these days, so price does matter. Prospective customers will most often seek out the best product or service if the price is right. In addition, if they perceive the benefits being offered by two competitors to be the same, a customer will choose price as the tie breaker.

Personal Attention: Potential customers are more likely to buy if your employees are courteous, helpful and attentive. Make them feel as though they are the most important person in the world.

Ease of Buying: Do you make it easy for customers to buy from you? For instance, is your ordering process user-friendly? If you have a storefront or office, is parking convenient and accessible? When someone calls your business, do they have to go through a maze of prompts before they reach a live person? All of the above will either entice or deter a potential customer from buying your product or service. 

Honesty and Integrity: This is very important to customers who may have had a bad experience with one of your competitors. To ensure "peace of mind", make it be known to your customers that you're BBB Accredited by using our logo in your advertising and marketing materials.

Beware of Business Identity Theft

The most sophisticated identity thieves are now pursuing even bigger payoffs by targeting businesses. Because businesses have higher credit limits and make larger purchases than consumers, charges by scammers are less likely to be noticed by owners, accountants and creditors.


ID theft aimed at stealing directly from a business isn’t the only type of commercial identity theft. Another form of business identity theft happens when a scammer poses as the company in order to rip off unsuspecting consumers. Following are examples of common business identity theft schemes identified by BBB.

Defrauding the Business
A crafty ID thief can do a lot of damage with a company’s Employer Identification Number, including gaining access to bank and credit card accounts or opening up new lines of credit under the business’s name. Business identity theft can also be perpetrated by scammers—and sometimes even employees—who purchase items in the company’s name either for personal use or to resell.

Phishing E-mails
Phishing e-mails are a common example of business ID theft, and all are designed to defraud consumers. Phishing e-mails are spam disguised as messages from a business or government agency, and are used to coerce sensitive financial information from the recipient or to install malware and viruses on recipients’ computers.

Defrauding Consumers
In many cases, criminals will hijack a company’s name and reputation to commit consumer fraud, such as advance fee loan or lottery scams. Scammers use and leverage the company’s identity and good reputation to create a trustworthy façade behind which they operate their scam. In BBB’s experience, business owners are usually alerted to the identity theft by angry consumers who were ripped off by the scammers.

Following are steps BBB recommends small business owners take to mitigate harm if their business identity has been stolen.

Alert the Authorities
Business owners need to immediately contact their local police department if they believe the company’s identity has been compromised. In some cases where bank or credit accounts have been compromised, law enforcement investigators may want the accounts to remain open in order to track down the thieves. If scammers are using the company’s name on phishing e-mails or with phony Web sites, business owners can also contact the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.

Alert Bank and Credit Card Companies
If scammers are accessing the business’s credit or bank accounts, forging company checks or opening up new lines of credit, it’s important for a small business owner to notify financial institutions involved in order to limit any further unauthorized transactions. Before closing any accounts, the business owners will want to receive the go-ahead from law enforcement so as not to jeopardize ongoing investigations.

Alert the Public
If the company’s identity has been stolen and is being used to rip off customers, warning the public is a top priority to prevent additional people from becoming victims. An easy first step is to prominently post a warning on the company’s home page briefly explaining the threat. Depending on the scope of the scam, business owners might also want to consider alerting media or making direct contact with customers via phone or e-mail. Businesses can also contact their BBB  for help in getting information out to consumers quickly.

Review Credit Report
If the business is a sole proprietorship, then the same consumer protections apply as if an individual’s ID were stolen—such as access to free credit reports and the ability to place a fraud alert on the report. Unfortunately for most businesses, monitoring their credit history is not that easy. Business credit reports exist; however, they don’t typically include the information necessary for detecting fraud. Small and medium-size enterprises can, however, increase internal controls and monitoring of accounts in order to better track abuses. 

Business Blogging – Why Every Business Owner Should Do It

Between Facebook posts and Twitter tweets, it seems like there are a thousand and one ways to communicate virtually these days. However, what many in the business world overlook is blogging. BBB is recommending that business owners consider some simple blog implementation strategies to heighten their business’ visibility on the web. 

A blog dedicated to the thoughts of a business’ president or CEO or a business’ mission can serve as a meaningful way to attract potential customers – and allow business owners to establish themselves as a thought leader in their respective market(s). Business blogs can be linked from the business’ website, Facebook page and Twitter account and are a great way of sharing the longer, more thought provoking messages. 


BBB recommends that business owners consider the following when implementing a blog for their business:

Heightened visibility is always a plus. When you blog, you get more eyes on your business and increase your search engine optimization (SEO). 

Voicing your passion gets your customers noticing. Letting your customers see how and why your business came about and sharing what it is you love about doing what you do is a great way to make a connection with your audience. With (almost) no length limits, a blog is a great platform to share exactly what it is that makes your business different from the rest. 

A blog can serve as a great networking tool. A blog is a great place to inspire your constituents and build a subscriber base. By giving your voice a platform and reaching out to other fellow business bloggers, you have the ability to establish a solid business-to-business network.

Choosing a Domain Name Service

Domain names are used in URL's to identify Web pages. For example, in this URL  http://www.bbb.org/boston/Accredited-Business-Guide/, the domain name is bbb.org.  

It's important to choose a domain name that will be easy to find and navigate. These factors depend upon the registrar where the domain name is purchased. The domain name is reflected in its registrar; when the registrar provides direct and fast service, so will the purchased domain name.

Tips for Finding a Domain Name Service: 

Look at Different Registrars.  Searching domain name registrations online will provide many links to buy a domain name. Make a list of a few of the registrars and investigate them at bbb.org.

Check for ICANN Accreditation.  ICANN, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, gives accreditation to registrars after their applications are accepted and they sign an agreement. These registrars pay an annual fee. ICANN accreditation assures consumers that when they purchase a domain name from the accredited registrar, the domain name will officially be part of the Internet. Only purchase domain names through registrars that are ICANN accredited.

Carefully Review the Contract.  Each registrar policy is different. When registering, make sure you will be the owner of the domain name. The domain should list you as the administrative and technical contact. This allows customers to have full control over the domain name.

Check Out the Prices.  Compare costs of buying a domain name at different registrars and look at the time period the domain name is owned. Look for a registrar that is known for good customer service and is easy navigate; not just one that has the cheapest price. On occasion, a .org or .net name could be less expensive than buying the .com version. Be careful when purchasing the domain name for longer than one year. If the registrar does not provide good service or goes out of business, you do not want to be restricted or left with an unhosted domain name.  

Pay Online.  Paying with a credit card or through PayPal is the best method. Customers cannot use the domain name until payment has been received and cleared. Paying online allows customers faster access to the domain name that has been purchased.

Guest Blog: Selecting a Grant Writer

How do you choose the right grant writer, one that will help you achieve your fundraising goals? Easy, pick one who ‘gets it’. 

Most non-profits who are hiring a grant writer are doing so because they cannot afford a full time Director of Development or their development office needs augmentation from time to time. In all cases, organizations need value. And the way to achieve value is to hire someone who not only possesses excellent writing and analytical skills, but someone who can quickly get up to speed – understand what your organization is about and what you are working to achieve. In most cases, clients need someone with programmatic and management experience so they can put the organization’s narrative in the proper context. 

This is the process I suggest organizations go through when choosing any grant writer, and a criteria for selecting the right grant writer: 

PROCESS

1. Get your ducks lined up. You need to have a clear understanding of what your organization is about and what you want to achieve before hiring a consultant, otherwise you will be wasting a lot of money. Consider this checklist:
• Is your mission clear and well articulated? Is it going to change in the near future?
• What program do want to attract funding for? Is it well defined? Does it need changes?
• Is your program staff on-board with the idea of expanding/ implementing the program?
• Do you have written materials about the program that the grant writer can reference?
• Is your program achievable with quantifiable objectives?
• Have you identified appropriate funders whose funding criteria you match.
• Do you have a needs statement/data about the population and demographic that you serve?
2. Think about what you need the consultant to do. Do you have a clear set of tasks you want the grant writer to accomplish? If your program needs development, consider hiring someone with program and possibly strategic planning experience.
3. What is your long range plan? Do you anticipate needing a grant writer for a one time application or possibly someone that is available on an on-going basis? Be sure to discuss this with potential candidates to see if they match your needs. 

SELECTION CRITERIA

1. If possible, select someone with experience in your sector, who is familiar with the type of programs that you operate.
2. If you need someone to brainstorm and help you develop your programs on the fly, choose someone with program or strategic planning experience. Often times during the grant writing process a savvy grant writer will find holes in the program’s approach or other inconsistency that should be addressed.
3. It is helpful if the grant writer has philanthropy or board experience. This type of person will have the perspective of the funder in mind while crafting your proposal.
4. Hire someone you get along with! You will be spending a lot of time with this person and it is important you have a comfortable and productive working relationship. Most important – hire someone you feel you can trust.
5. Look for someone with a wide range of experiences. Don’t hire someone who has only achieved successes (or tells you such). We learn as much from failure as from success, and in the world of development you need to take your knocks and be persistent.

Aaron Rome is the owner of Rome Specialties, Inc., a BBB Accredited Business since 2006.

Baby Boom Your Branding Strategy

When looking to create or update the branding strategy foryour business, it’s always important to take every demographic intoconsideration. According to the International Council of Active Aging (ICAA), the majority of adults over the age of 55 feel that advertising does notreflect their current lifestyle, and they are turned off by marketing messages targeted to them. Better Business Bureau is reminding business owners toinclude aging baby boomers in their branding and marketing.

Creating ads that work is one of the top goals for allbusinesses. And while many boomers are much more apt to rely on referrals thanthe younger generation, 90 percent of adults 50 and older also rely on andcomfortably use email, according to ICAA. Forrester Research found that 49 percent of consumers who are 66 or older rely on personal emails to direct themto sites, compared to 28 percent of non-seniors.

One of the problems in today’s marketing world is the fact that many businesses don’t even have a viable strategy for targeting thenation’s 77 million baby boomers, ICAA notes. When creating or sprucing up yourbranding strategy, the best way to make sure that it doesn’t neglect the agingpopulation is to get input from them directly.

BBB and ICAA recommend the following four steps tobusinesses that are looking to make their branding strategy more baby boomerfriendly:

• Create ads that work. Don’t assume that you’ll reach the aging population by default. Actively design ads to portray babyboomers in a positive, uplifting light. Don’t use negative stereotypes of older adults to humor younger audiences.
• Deliver the message effectively. Tell a storyinstead of lecturing. Let your ad arouse emotions and tug at the heart stringsof your audience. Help your audience understand the message by breaking uplengthy facts into short snippets.
• Use terms that work. The key to tugging at thehearts and minds of older adults is to speak their language. Make every wordcount. Business owners should focus their advertising using language thatimplies health, well-being and productivity.
• Focus your ad photos using realistic images. Accordingto a recent study by AARP, researchers discovered that images showing exercisethat looks like too much work turns off older adults. Grimacing, sweaty, straining models won’t entice many 50-plus adults to become engaged. Make sureyour business branding strategy uses images that are both realistic and fun.Baby boomers are more likely to engage with your brand if they feel accuratelyrepresented.

For more information on engaging the aging population visit theInternational Council of Active Aging, www.icaa.cc.

Choosing a Credit Card for Your Business

For small business owners, now is actually a good time to research how a business credit card can benefit operations, or to re-evaluate existing business credit card plans to take advantage of best rates and current offers in the marketplace. 


Basically, there are two options for business credit cards - small business and corporate credit cards. The decision on which option to choose is based in large part on the size of the business and who is responsible for the debt. 

As the names imply, a corporate credit card is for large businesses and corporations and the burden of debt typically falls on the corporation. A business credit card is intended for smaller businesses with sole-proprietors and the burden of debt is on the owner. Unless the business is producing more than $2 million annually in gross income, a corporate credit card isn’t an option.

A business credit card is very similar to a personal credit card and carries a credit limit and minimum monthly payments. Business owners and any employee who will use the card will typically undergo a credit check.

BBB offers tips for choosing and implementing a new business credit card approach:

Do your research. Many banks and credit card companies are making various offers, with some attractive perks that may fit nicely with your business needs. But offers run the gamut, so be choosy. You’ll want to find out about offers from both your local banks and national credit card companies.

Don’t get burned by special offers. As noted, there are many offers and plans available for small business owners, but pay specific attention to business credit card plans with introductory offers for 0% APR. While this may be a good option for an immediate, high-end purchase to support your business, you need to find out what the conditions for the APR are – under what conditions will it rise, and what are your options if it does rise. Beware of getting stuck with a high APR after the introductory period.

Consider the rewards. Many cards will offer perks for both you and your employees including discounts with preferred vendors and airlines, as well as rewards points. 

Lay the ground rules. Make sure your employees know exactly what can and cannot be charged on the credit card. Some cards will let you adjust the credit limit on individual employee cards, as well as limit where the cards can be used. 

For additional tips on managing your business’s finances, go to bbb.org.

Guest Blog: The 12 ‘I’s’ of Workplace Safety

While there are a variety of ingredients to creating a sustainable safety system, basic, fundamental ingredients are common to every successful safety system. The following 12 ingredients can contribute to the success and sustainability of a safety system for any organization.

1. Invent or create the safety system specific to your organization. This is where the rubber meets the road. The “actions” of company leadership represent the only true measure of an organization’s commitment to safety and health. Develop a safety and health policy that states occupational health and safety is one of the company’s core values.
2. Invest in the system to demonstrate genuine commitment. Safety is good business, and a company can actually save money by spending on safety. If an organization cannot afford safety, it cannot afford to be in business! Studies show that for every dollar invested in safety, $3 to $4 is saved.
3. Integrate safety with other organizational core values such as production, quality, human resources, customer service, and finance and do not treat it is as an added activity. One is not more important than the other.
4. Introduce employees to the safety management system during new-hire orientation. Start at the earliest stage possible by cultivating attitude and instilling health and safety values in employees. Set the tone right out of the gate on how safety is viewed in your organization.
5. Involve employees in the safety system to establish trust because the only true way an organization can enhance health and safety is through partnerships. Simply put, safety cannot be managed effectively unless employees are directly involved in the day-to-day efforts to keep the facility or construction site safe. Real culture change in an organization comes when employees and management work together to create a safe working environment.
6. Inform employees about the safety system by providing clear communication. Communication is not just words; the organization’s safety message is also expressed in the amount of resources it provides for health and safety, on how “visible” senior management is and how “engaged” management allows employees to be involved in the safety process.
7. Instruct employees about the expectations of the safety system because knowledge is the foundation of a sound and sustainable safety system. Through proper safety training, employees must be able to demonstrate correctly the safe practices associated with their job before they have to work alone.
8. Inspect the workplace regularly to seek out potential hazards and implement effective controls. All hazard findings must be corrected as soon as practically possible and should not be repeated on subsequent inspections. You must inspect what you expect!
9. Investigate all accidents and near misses to determine the root cause, holding employees accountable. Accident investigation and analysis is an essential component of a safety management system. Most accidents are preventable and each one has a cause; once identified, they can be eliminated to prevent recurrences.
10. Intervene whenever necessary with progressive discipline because people must follow established workplace safety procedures. Everyone in the organization must be accountable and have a clear understanding of the consequences for failing to perform their health and safety responsibilities. Discipline demonstrates your safety system has teeth! Accountability is one of the most critical components of a safety management system.
11. Influence morale by providing a meaningful safety incentive program. This is the fun part of the safety system. When implemented correctly a safety incentive program will easily justify its cost through a reduction in many costs associated with injuries and accidents. Organizations should celebrate safety achievement and successes. 
12. Indicators to measure the safety system’s success. Management needs to be able to measure success and keep score with tangible, measurable metrics. Effective management of the safety management system cannot occur without measurement. At a minimum, management should annually evaluate their health and safety system.

These twelve critical ingredients -- all starting with the letter “I,” provide an organized way of achieving safety excellence and help create an injury-free culture or climate. Strong management commitment to health and safety and meaningful employee participation are two essential ingredients of any successful safety management system.

Michael Miozza is the President of Health & Safety Solutions, Inc, a BBB Accredited Business since 2007.

Keep Your Business Savvy with QR Codes

Quick Response codes, or QR codes for short, are popping up everywhere these days. From magazine ads to store windows, QR codes are the fastest way to get your tech-savvy customer to your business’ website.

So what is a QR code, exactly? These 2 dimensional barcodes, which originate back to circa 1994, aren’t exactly new, but are now being used in fun, innovative, business savvy ways that are luring in customers. By simply downloading a QR reader app for free, a QR code can be read quickly by your smartphone.

A business can use a QR code to show information such as directions to their business, their company’s BBB Business Review or even a URL that the viewer can click to receive a coupon. You can even put a QR on your business card with a link in the QR that takes the recipient directly to your website. Or add a QR that contains your contact information making it easy to add that info to a cell phone.

If you are considering a QR code, BBB offers the following tips:

Where to display? Many businesses are turning to the windows of their store, paper advertisements, business cards, email signatures, shirts, mugs, ties and other products to display their businesses’ QR code.

How do you generate your own QR code for free? BBB Accredited Businesses can generate QR codes for their BBB Business Review, for FREE! In addition, many sites offer a free QR generator that spits out an easily copied code that can be used as a template for all of your QR code needs.

Are there risks? Just like with any other website, you should never use a QR code that will link to a website that you don’t trust. Make sure that the website is reputable and that the QR code is found in a trustworthy place. Like any other malicious website, QR codes can potentially direct you to a harmful website that can ultimately lead to a virus infiltration on your smartphone.

What are 4 Things a Small Business Should be Doing for Data Security?

1. If you don't need it, don't collect it...and don't store it. If you have it and don't need it any more, destroy it — responsibly.
2. Restrict and limit access — by everyone — to sensitive data.  Use locks on doors and file cabinets.  Limit employee access to data to those that need it to do their jobs.  Take precautions when mailing records.  Encrypt sensitive electronic information inevery site it is stored — on computers, on laptops, on PDAs, iPhones and iPods, on USB drives (sometimes called "thumb" drives").  Transmit data over the Internet using secure connections (SSL technology).
3. Use effective passwords...and issue a unique password to every employee.  Never use the default password that comes from another product or service provider.  Never use obvious passwords, such as your name, business name, family member's name, "12345," "ABCDE," "password," or your user name. Change passwords every 45-60 days.
4. Block potential intruders.  Protect your IT systems from viruses and spyware by using antivirus protection and firewalls.  Make sure these protections are up-to-date.

Install the Customer Review Button

Customer reviews are an essential part of business. They have become part of everyday life for consumers. Through online reviews, it seems that consumers aren’t afraid to tell you how they really feel. In our experience, it seems that people really do want to say nice things when their interaction with a business has been positive.  

Your BBB offers online Customer Reviews. These reviews appear on your BBB Business Review and offer consumers a chance to publicly acknowledge you for a job well done. So far, more than 450,000 customer reviews have been published for accredited and non-accredited businesses.

As an Accredited Business, you can add the Customer Review button to your website. When customers click the button, it will take them directly to the customer review form, where they can leave feedback about their experience with your business. 

BBB takes the time to verify all reviews before they are posted. We want to ensure that the individual posting a review is indeed a customer and that a transaction did take place.

And remember, you can also order free Customer Review cards to encourage feedback from your customers!

Protecting Data – Does Your Business Know What to Do?

In times of escalating privacy and data breaches, customers expect every business — large or small — that collects their sensitive personal information will protect it. BBB advises business owners to proactively address customer anxiety and take steps to both prevent and prepare for a security breach.

Last year, more than 125 million people were affected by data loss incidents.  Consumers need assurances that they can trust the companies they do business with to secure their data.

In the wake of a security breach, it’s important to take action quickly. Small and large businesses alike need to be able to readily determine the nature and scope of the data incident, and take all appropriate steps to contain and stop the attack.

BBB recommends the 2012 Data Protection and Breach Readiness Guide, which reflects input from a wide range of stakeholders, including interviews with companies that have experienced breach and data loss incidents, and industry and breach analysis experts. 

For more data security advice you can trust, visit www.bbb.org/data-security, and for a complete OTA guide, visit https://otalliance.org/breach.html.

Is a Smartphone Credit Card Processor Right for Your Business?

These days, no matter how large or small the business, employees don’t even need to be near their store’s credit card processor to make a credit transaction with their customer. Using smartphone credit card readers, businesses have the capability of taking their sales to the next level, but Better Business Bureau is advising business owners to make sure that such a system is right for their business.


For businesses looking to add the credit card reader capability to their sales, BBB recommends the following tips:

Do your research. Just like a landline-based credit card system, you’ll need a merchant account to process payments, a scanner device to read the card, and software (app) to make it run. Don’t skimp on research. Start with your bank or your credit card service for suggestions on recommended services and devices. Check out all vendors at www.bbb.org. Ask for references.

Choose the right combination. Your smartphone merchant account might interface with your existing landline-based account, and that will make life easier. Build from there; find the app you feel comfortable using that has the features you want. There are over a hundred apps available for different smartphones; each is usually compatible with a number of different swiping devices. The reader itself is the last step (and the easiest to replace or exchange).

Read the fine print. Using a smartphone credit card reader might be a great 
way to increase your sales while on the road. However, make sure to read the fine print for the smartphone app to make sure that you won’t be charged while you’re not using it.

Offer the customer service your shoppers expect.Some shoppers may not be familiar with this kind of payment method. Be sure to offer them the option of having a receipt emailed to them, or even offer to print the receipt there with a separate smartphone printer. This will reduce the hassle should your customer want to return the product.

Beware of scams! As with any emerging technology, scammers are figuring out how to exploit vulnerabilities. Don’t buy the devices or apps from vendors you don’t know.

Tips for Ensuring Your Business’ Insurance

Smart business owners have the proper insurance to protect their company and its assets. But what happens if your insurance company goes under? What does that mean for your business?

Here are some frequently asked questions:

What happens when an insurance company becomes financially troubled, fails and is no longer able to uphold its end of the bargain? That's when the state property and casualty guaranty fund system - a system few know much about - steps in, according to The National Conference of Insurance Guaranty Funds (NCIGF). Put simply, guaranty funds provide an essential safety net for policyholders, one that meets the needs of those least able to deal with losses should their insurance company fail. 


Will I still have insurance coverage? Insurance guaranty associations have been established in every state and are designed to protect policy-holders if their insurance company becomes insolvent. An insurance company must be a member of the guaranty association for every state in which it does business. If a company becomes insolvent, the insurance guaranty association ensures continuation of coverage, either by taking on policies directly or by transferring the policies to a financially stable insurer. 


What about any claims? The laws vary from state to state. However, most life and health guaranty associations provide coverage at limits of at least $300,000 for life insurance death benefits, $100,000 for life insurance cash surrender values, $100,000 for annuity withdrawal or payment values, and $100,000 for health insurance benefits, according to NCIGF. 
Most property/casualty guaranty associations provide coverage on a per-claim basis for personal injury and property damages up to $300,000 and provide full benefit coverage for workers’ compensation benefits. 


Where does that money come from to cover claims? If an insurance company goes bankrupt, any amount of coverage that cannot be attained from the company’s liquidation is borne by other insurers in the state according to the amount in premiums those insurers earn from that state. 


How can I be sure my insurance company is safe? There’s no way to be absolutely sure that an insurance company is healthy. To help business owners evaluate their insurer, there are several businesses that rate insurance companies on their financial strength and creditworthiness, including Moody's, Standard and Poor's and A.M. Best. Business owners can also confirm with their state insurance department that the company is licensed to do business in the state. 

Using Hashtags to Promote Your Business

Small businesses should be taking advantage of social media, especially Twitter and hashtags. A hashtag is the number sign (#) combined with a word or phrase. At BBB, we often use #BBB or #StartWithTrust at the end of our tweets.  This way, if people are looking to find general business or consumer tips, they will have a list on Twitter to reference.

A blog post by OPEN Forum has five tips to improve your hashtag strategy:

1. Look for business topics.  Hashtags like #smallbiz and #SMB are very popular on Twitter and they can be a good source of industry news. If you are looking for more specific information, try searching for hashtags like #sales, #marketing and #socialmedia.

2. Hashtags must be simple. You only have 140 characters to get the word out on Twitter. Don’t spend 50 of those characters with a long and complex hashtag.  Keep it short and simple.  Also, limit your tweets to 1-2 hashtags. Anymore than that is overkill.

3. Be creative. Make a hashtag for your business. If you’re hosting an event be sure to create a hashtag, so people can tweet about it.  For example, the Massachusetts Conference for Women encouraged attendees to use #masswomen for those who were tweeting about the event.  The hashtag was a great success on Twitter.

4. Monitor your hashtags. If you use a social media suite like HootSuite or TweetDeck, add a hashtag column to closely observe what people are tweeting. Or simply plug your hashtag in the search bar on Twitter.

5. #FollowFriday or #FF. Use Follow Friday to showcase your most loyal followers or other businesses you support. Try to put as many Twitter handles into one tweet as you can. For a more personal approach, only put one or two usernames.  

For more information, visit http://www.openforum.com/articles/how-to-use-twitter-hashtags-for-your-business/.

BBB Encourages Consumers and Businesses to be Safe in 2013

BBB has 10 New Year's resolutions that can help you fight scammers, prevent identity theft and save money in 2013.

1. Do your research. Whether it's a business you're looking to hire or a product you're looking to buy, take the time to do your research. Check out a business at bbb.org to see its BBB Business Review. For product information, go to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

2. Keep your computer safe. Install anti-virus software on your computer and regularly check for software and operating system updates. Don't open attachments or click on links in emails unless the email has been scanned for viruses or is from someone you know or trust.

3. Get it in writing. Don't just take a business's word for it. Get every verbal agreement in writing to limit miscommunication and misunderstandings.

4. Never wire money to someone you don't know. Many scams require money to be wired back to the scammer. Tracking money sent via a money wiring service is almost impossible.

5. Protect your identity. Always shred paper documents that include sensitive financial data and dispose of computers, cell phones and digital data safely. Safely store all personal documents, such as your Social Security card, and look up your credit score at least once a year. Check your credit and debit card statements frequently.

6. Shop on trustworthy websites. Online shopping has increasingly become more popular, so before you provide any personal or banking information over the web, make sure you're using a trusted site. Look for the "s" in https:// in the URL for a secure site.

7. Give wisely. Most philanthropists give year-round. To ensure your time, treasure and talent are going to the cause you're looking to support, research all charities at give.org to check their legitimacy and to see how their monetary donations are distributed.

8. Don't be pressured. If a company, organization or salesperson uses overly aggressive sales tactics to pressure you into making a purchase or on-the-spot decision, that's a red flag.

9. Limit the amount of information shared. Scammers use social media sites to gather information on potential victims. Avoid sharing too much personal information and check your privacy settings. Additionally, never announce through a social media site that you are going out of town, or won't be home for a specific amount of time.

10. Let your BBB help. BBB is here to promote marketplace trust. If you have an issue with a business or feel you have been scammed, file a complaint with your BBB.

Protecting Your Business Against Office Supply Scams

Businesses are being bilked out of millions of dollars through office supply scams.  The typical office scam may include a phony invoice or a phone call from someone pretending to be your regular office supplier.

BBB and the FTC offer 5 rules for protecting your business against a scam like this:

1. Know and insist on your rights. If you receive merchandise you didn't order, you may keep it as a gift according to the FTC.  According to a federal law commonly referred to as the "Unordered Merchandise Law," and principles established in FTC enforcement cases, it is illegal for the seller to send you bills or dunning notices for unordered merchandise and ask you to return it, even if the seller offers to pay the shipping expenses.

2. Don't pay any bills that don’t match your documentation. When the supplies arrive, the receiving employee should check to see that it matches the shipper's bill of lading.

3. Document orders. For each order, an employee should issue to the supplier a written purchase order on a standard multiple-copy form with an authorized signature and a purchase order number.

4. Train your employees. If your employees are not familiar with certain callers, advise them to say something like, "I am not authorized to order anything. You will have to speak to the person in charge of ordering supplies and get a purchase order."

5. Do not pay for or return unordered merchandise.  If you are certain that you didn't order the merchandise the seller has shipped, do not pay for or return the merchandise.

For more information visit http://www.bbb.org/boston/Business-Reviews/view/industry-tips/protecting-your-organization-against-office-supply-scams-122.

Encourage Charitable Giving At Your Office

December is a critical fundraising month for charities. Many businesses and organizations make year-end gifts for tax reasons, or to extend the holiday spirit.  Employees and employers who pool their efforts to support a cause, either with their time, money or in kind donations, can make a positive impact for struggling families over the holidays.

BBB Wise Giving Alliance recommends the following ways that small business owners can spread the holiday spirit around the office:

Institute a volunteer day. Giving to a charity doesn't have to mean pulling out the checkbook. Many charities also rely heavily on the gift of time from volunteers. An office wide volunteer day is a great way to get employees out of the office and working together on something they can be proud of.

Rally around one cause with an office fundraiser. Office bake sales, silent auctions and tag sales are just a few ways to raise money for a charity. If everyone gets involved, then the nickel and dimes can add up to a healthy donation to a needy organization.

Collect food or toys. Around the holidays, many charities are looking for non-perishable food donations or toys. If everyone in the office donates a can of food or a toy, those items can collectively make a huge difference for a less fortunate family's holiday season.

Offer a matching program. Small business owners can encourage employees to make donations to charities by matching their contributions. Matching programs allows individual employees to choose a cause that might be near and dear to their own heart. By matching their donations, small business owners can show they support their employees with the added benefit of a tax deduction.

Educate employees to be wise givers. Encourage employees to research their charities first with the BBB Wise Giving Alliance before they give. BBB Wise Giving Alliance evaluates more than 1,200 national-soliciting charities against 20 rigorous accountability standards.

For more advice on holiday charitable giving from the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, visit bbb.org/charity.

Preventing Cold and Flu Season in the Work Place

With cold and flu season upon us, the transfer of germs and illness in the workplace increases. Better Business Bureau advises business owners to take initiative in preventing the spread of illness.

Beginning in late November each year, the flu affects millions of us. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says this germy bug costs businesses nearly $10 billion in employee medical visits every year. Keep your employees healthy by maintaining a clean and productive work environment. The CDC has made it easier with a free employer tool kit, “Make It Your Business to Fight the Flu.”

Here are some tips to help protect employees and customers as much as possible:

Acquire products that ward off germs. Hand sanitizers, tissues and disinfectants are all products that can aid employees in keeping the workspace clean. Make them readily available throughout your workspaces.

Advise employees to stay home. While sick employees may deem it necessary to attend work, their presence will only expose healthy employees to contagions. If employees are sick, they should stay home for at least 24 hours after they no longer show symptoms. Consider creating a leave policy that allows employees to work from home should they (or their children) fall ill.

Enforce good hygiene in the work place. Institute the cleaning of shared equipment such as phones and computers, and wipe down common areas with
disinfectant regularly. Remind employees of the importance of washing their hands, as well as covering their mouth when sneezing and/or coughing. Encourage them to “sneeze in your sleeve,” rather than into their hand, to reduce the spread of germs.

Promote flu shots. Search for on-site flu shots through your local hospital, retail pharmacy or other health care provider, or consider reimbursing some or all of the cost for employees to receive the shot on their own.

Hold a health fair. Contact your local hospital to see if they provide health fairs for employers. If your business isn’t large enough, you can possibly team up with others in your building, office park or neighborhood. If you are in a retail location, you can invite the community, as well. You can also contract the coordination of an on-site health fair with a company specializing in the service.

Be the example. It is important for the employer to follow the same advice being given to the employees. As the boss, it may seem impossible to take a sick day, but it is just as important for you to stay home and keep your germs out of the office.

Vist BBB's webiste for more Business Tips or join our LinkedIn business group. 

Baby Boom Your Business’ Branding Strategy

 When looking to create or update the branding strategy for your business, it’s always important to take every demographic into consideration. According to theInternational Council of Active Aging (ICAA), the majority of adults over the age of 55 feel that advertising does not reflect their current lifestyle, and they are turned off by marketing messages targeted to them. BBB is remindingbusiness owners to include our nation’s aging population in their branding and marketing.

For more information visit bbb.org.