The Blog - Where Business Collides with Human Nature

There is a big buzz going on related to "mobile-friendly". Since Google announced "mobile friendly" will become one of the criteria for ranking, many website designers and software sales people are overly excited with a new reason to sell small businesses and entrepreneurs the next website.

Google have announced their campaign to get website owners and webmasters ready to update their websites for changes in mobile friendly ranking factors, with a deadline set by the firm of the 21st April 2015.

As of this date Google has advised they will be expanding their use of “mobile-friendliness” as a ranking signal, and that it will affect all mobile searches worldwide. There is expected to be a significant impact in Google’s search results so we are advising below what website owners can do to ensure they are ready in plenty of time.  

To survey people anonymously is not typically a path to business success.  Asking for opinions without knowing the source and background of those giving the answer could have decision makers who are not in touch going down a dead end.

This is definitely true when asking for opinions about how to improve a product or service or asking opinions about which is better and what are the preferences.

The answer risks accuracy unless more is known about the context in which the answer is shared.  Who has the expertise to answer and who is simply blowing smoke?  

This is a story about a man with hope and faith during a time of emergency.  It is applicable to both personal life and business success of entrepreneurs.

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There once was a man who lived in a two story house.  The house was near a river and unfortunately the river began to flood. 

As the river rose, warnings were given via radio, TV and shortwave. Large jeeps drove through the area to evacuate people.  As a jeep drove by the man's house, he was told:

"You are in danger.  Your life is at stake.  You must evacuate.  Get in the Jeep.  Let us help you evacuate."

Learning how to blog and get found in search engines is not too difficult.  If there is not a limitation of creativity, titles can be confusing or misleading. (Apple might, in reality, be an apple.)

Titles for blog articles, newspaper headlines and magazines are created to capture attention and entice someone to read more. 

Do you think having more of our electricity come from green renewable sources is important? Did you know there is an easy and cost-effective way to help ensure that happens?

People may quibble over some of the details, but most everyone agrees that renewable is a superior concept. The corollary is that most of us have no idea what to do to help that concept become reality. And even if we personally feel it is important to support the growth of renewable energy, as business owners and entrepreneurs we may not know what the business case is for utilizing green power.

"My website is not a content farm!" "What do you mean I am farming content?"  "My website is a review site, not a content farm!"  The exclamations and indignations are rampant.  Sensitivity and embarrassment are mixed with anger and regret.  Have you heard someone say:  "Sure, I borrowed a bit, took short cuts, and why not?  It is America!  We are free to pursue happiness and capitalism."

When the search engine companies have reputations to keep and the results are nothing more than fluff or misdirection which leaves those searching feeling frustrated, their "customers" are not happy.

To persuade, you emphasize and wave your arms. To influence you might spin the story a bit farther than the truth.  To entice, use more adjectivity by including adjectives in titles, headlines and your helpful content.

You just might be making a mistake or two that’s costing you customers! Just a 5% increase in customer retention can increase profits up to 95%, so it makes sense to find your problem and implement a solution before your business takes a hit.

Do you have a churn policy? Is it "Good riddance"? Or as Mr. Wonderful on Shark Tank would say "You are dead to me"?  

It's easy to give up on people who have given up on you. Without an understanding of why they rejected you, it is difficult to improve. "Complaints" are the most valuable type of feedback but when they "walk away" or "unsubscribe", guessing is all you have.

They look the other way, ignore your Facebook page, delete your email without reading and discount your interview. While your business is appears to visible, it might be intentionally ignored in the new world of media.

You take it personally because you took hours picking the exact photos for your website, the faucet for your AirBnB rental, the perfect font for your landing page. Perfection is ignored and it is all personal.

In reality, there is little seperation betweein personal and business.  This blur between personal and business warps our judgment and what appears to be so important may not be so.

To be more productive, follow these simple steps:

CEOs took part in this year's annual survey of companies on the Inc. 500. 

• 45% said their biggest pitfall in the first 12 months was having too little startup funding.
• 46% percent dipped into their own bank accounts to get business off the ground.
• 47% launched their businesses with a partner.
• 12% had issues with said partner.
• 57% called home their office because they couldn't afford a real one. 
• 52% worked more than 80 hours a week.