Posts by bb4b_Pam

Having motivated employees should be at the top of your priority list if you want your business to succeed. If your employees don’t feel that they are part of the team, if they feel that you don’t value them or their opinion, if they feel that they can be replaced at the drop of a hat, you have a big problem. Your employees needs to work together as a team in order to be productive. They need to know what the other employees are doing in order to do their job in a timely manner. Everyone needs to feel valued so they will want to work and do a good job for the business. So how do you go about motivating your employees? Here are a few suggestions to get you thinking. • A simple pat on the back can go a long way. If someone in your organization does a great job, thank them for their efforts. They are working hard for you. Make sure they know you appreciate it. • Don’t draw lines between the employees. It is not you and us. It is we. One is not any better than the other. Management and “worker bees” need to know that they are on the same team, working for the same goal. • Training is very important for everyone. Make sure you hold meetings or seminars when new products and services are introduced. Send your employees to workshops to better their skills. Not only will it help you because your employees are equipped to do their job properly, but it will help strengthen the self-esteem of your employees. • Host a summer picnic or holiday party to bring everyone on the team together. All business and no play is not fun. Letting your employees get to know one another in a social setting just brings everyone closer as a team. • Listen to what your employees have to say. Showing your value their opinion will only want them to do better at their job. You never know who will come up with the next best product or service. • Be flexible when it comes to personal situations. The work-life balance is getting harder and harder. Try to give your employees the time they need to take care of personal situations. They will appreciate knowing you care. It takes time and money to acquire and train new employees. Do what you can to motivate your staff so they want to stay with you as long as possible. You and your business will grow in the...

Kelly Collier, the most recent Coffee With… guest, was a young, healthy, athletic student at Carnegie Mellon University. But she suffered from severe lower back pain. As a senior engineering design project she and her classmates were tasked with designing something – anything. As others in her group had also suffered from back pain, the idea of designing a posture training shirt to help rehabilitate back pain was discussed. Getting an A on the project helped her secure a spot in the 2012 AlphaLab accelerator program. After graduating from the program and collaborating with biomedical engineers and a practicing physician, ActivAided Orthotics was born. ActivAided Orthotics is dedicated to supporting active lifestyles and keeping people of all ages strong, healthy and pain free. Their products are based on a unique treatment philosophy that remedies pain by encouraging self-correcting habits. Their posture training shirt teaches people how to use their body and posture in a proper way so they can pursue their passions without limits. Kelly talks with Christopher Evans on Coffee With… about her business journey. Local Pittsburgh resources were a big part of her beginning. Even though ActivAided Orthotics is now a national company with other user friendly innovated products in development, she still counts on her Pittsburgh resources for her business growth. Coffee With… is an informal interview with prominent business, community and government leaders covering a wide array of issues from business planning to entrepreneurship, and business challenges that affect the economic landscape of the region. Watch the latest installment to see more about Kelly Collier and ActivAided...

How to Leverage Pinterest for B2B Pinterest is a visual social media platform. You can find the latest and greatest wedding ideas and recipes. You can search decorating tips, up-to-date fashion and vacation spots. Not to mention hair-dos. But if you are a B2B company, how do you leverage Pinterest to your advantage? Start by creating a business account. This will give you tips on how to succeed with Pinterest. It will also give you a board widget, follow button and Pin It button for you to use on your blog or website. Design an infographic. They are very popular on Pinterest. Design one with any relevant company information you might have. The more information you can add, the better chance someone will repin it. Make sure you have a link back to your company website on your infographic. Have a “People” board showing those who work at your company. Start with a headshot and description of the person. You can add photos of those people at company functions or community events. Any type of community involvement will show how your company impacts the community. If you have a blog, make sure you post to Pinterest as well as Facebook. Add graphics that connect to your blog information so those viewing Pinterest will be interested in clicking on the picture to see what else in included. Are you a service provider? Why not have a “Testimonials” board. If you have satisfied clients, they will gladly provide you with a picture of themselves to include with a testimonial about your services. Keep in mind that Pinterest is social media. The main goal of social media is to build relationships. As a B2B you don’t want to sell on Pinterest, you want to get your company in front of as many people, or other businesses, as possible. You need to find a way to put your company out there so others will have interest in finding out more about it. Hopefully these suggestions will get you started. Happy Pinning! Pinterest is a visual social media platform. You can find the latest and greatest wedding ideas and recipes. You can search decorating tips, up-to-date fashion and vacation spots. Not to mention hair-dos. But if you are a B2B company, how do you leverage Pinterest to your advantage? Start by creating a business account. This will give you tips on how to succeed with Pinterest. It will also give you a board widget, follow button and Pin It button for you to use on your blog or website. Design an infographic. They are very popular on Pinterest. Design one with any relevant company information you might have. The more information you can add, the better chance someone will repin it. Make sure you have a link back to your company website on your infographic. Have a “People” board showing those who work at your company. Start with a headshot and description of the person. You can add photos of those people at company functions or community events. Any type of community involvement will show how your company impacts the community. If you have a blog, make sure you post to Pinterest as well as Facebook. Add graphics that connect to your blog information so those viewing Pinterest will be interested in clicking on the picture to see what else in included. Are you a service provider? Why not have a “Testimonials” board. If you have satisfied clients, they will gladly provide you with a picture of themselves to include with a testimonial about your services. Keep in mind that Pinterest is social media. The main goal of social media is to build relationships. As a B2B you don’t want to sell on Pinterest, you want to get your company in front of as many people, or other businesses, as possible. You need to find a way to put your company out there so others will have interest in finding out more about it. Hopefully these suggestions will get you started. Happy...

  What is an entrepreneur? What choices do I have for my future career? How do I go about starting my own business? Is there anyone out there that can talk to me and guide me in the right direction? These are all great questions that have been asked by many middle and high school students. Now they have a way to figure out the answers. “U Can B” is a customizable 8, 15, or 24 week career/leadership program designed and operated by Building Bridges for Business, a Pittsburgh based non-profit. The program has been educating 7th through 12th graders for the past two years and is now available statewide in partnership with the Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School. Using the “Coffee With” film series on CBS/KDKA, in-person lectures and “Power Trips” with individuals in leadership positions, students are able to connect with vital business resources. They are learning that thinking outside the box is a good thing. According to a February 3, 2015, article at Forbes.com, “young people are gravitating to entrepreneurship. The most active early-stage entrepreneurs around the world are 25 to 35 years old”. This innovative program is a starting point for many of these young people by educating and empowering them to follow their passion. “U Can B” challenging the students to think about what choices are available to them and what it will take for them to succeed. For additional information on the “U Can B” program or to find out how you can add the “U Can B” program to your school, please contact...

6. Connect with People Connecting with people is a critical marketing strategy done with minimal expense. Connect with coaches, mentors, and experienced entrepreneurs in your industry. 7. Find Your Natural Talent Examine yourself and look for a natural talent that you may possess— then develop it. It may be speaking, networking, or a hobby right under your nose. 8. Become an Expert Learn all you can about your chosen craft. Know the ins and outs and be able to answer questions or inquiries about what you do and how you do it. 9. Provide Distinctive Service Provide excellent service to your clients; service they can’t receive anywhere else. Set yourself apart from the competition. 10. Define Your Vision Know your vision and define it. Be able to visualize who you are and what you want. Keep these 5 additional Business keys to staying on track in mind...