Smarter Office Blog

Impact of Ad Blockers on Marketing Strategy

Ads have become the scourge of the Internet, especially in mobile, where limited screen size makes unwanted messages even more obtrusive. In turn, more and more users are adopting ad blocking technology that wipes away marketing clutter.

Is Great Customer Service the Best Policy

Most business owners spend countless hours searching for ways to acquire new customers. Unfortunately, few dedicate as much energy to keeping the ones they already have.

Guide to Growth Hacking

One of the most widely discussed terms in the startup world, growth hacking is all about employing unconventional strategies to gain market traction and grow faster. To learn how you can use this concept to spur your business forward, learn some of the more effective growth hacking strategies.

The Third Wave and How to Ride It

Steve Case, former CEO of America Online and former chairman of AOL-Time Warner, recently published his first book, The Third Wave: an Entrepreneur’s Vision of the Future. In it, he describes the first, second and third waves of Internet development and how he believes entrepreneurs should interact with the latest wave. 1985-1999 saw the laying of the foundation for the online world; from 2000-2015 we saw how search, social and ecommerce startups grew on top of the Internet; and 2016 onward is witnessing the beginning of the Internet of Everything --forget about the “Internet of Things”-- when ubiquitous connectivity allows entrepreneurs to transform major real-world sectors such as banking, food, education, and health care.

6 Tech Tasks Your Small Business Should Outsource

When it comes to running a small business, success is often dependent on an entrepreneur's willingness to surrender control.

You Should Still Go to Office Hours, Even After College

For those who take advantage, college office hours bring substantial benefits that point toward greater success. That said, office hours aren’t just limited to students.

5 Tech Safety Tips for a Secure Home Office

Countless employees work in home offices, remote offices or public locations outside a business’s headquarters. While convenient, these areas typically lack robust on-site security.

How to Create Culture in a Remote Team

Developing a company culture can be difficult for any business; however, it's especially challenging when some employees don't even work in the building. Strong principles and values don't just make a business unique, they inspire its employees to work as a single, cohesive unit.

6 Mobile App Monetization Models

Confronted with a saturated market and wary users, developers must carefully consider every app monetization option. Before you eagerly release your new creation, learn some of the most effective ways to acquire users and increase your ROI.

iOS 10 - Productivity Boosting Features for Business

Described as the company's biggest release yet, Apple's newest software has some improved features for busy professionals.

How to Turn a Side Project into a Startup

Working Intelligently

We've all heard the saying, "work smarter not harder." While good advice, this concept isn't always easy for entrepreneurs who like to control everything about their companies.

Is Ageism a Problem in the Startup World?

In countless business arenas, age can quickly turn from a major asset to a significant liability.

The Most Unique Ways to Use a Virtual Assistant

If you'd like to streamline your daily operations and shave valuable hours off your workweek, learn some creative ways to offload tedious but critical responsibilities.

The New Work Landscape

Modern times are changing the definition of what it means to run a business and who does the work. Technology is making it easier for small business to extend their client base without adding office space or employees*. Not only do they opt out of the traditional office, but they also outsource most aspects of their business. Companies are tapping content marketing, search engine marketing and virtual assistants in the U.S. and elsewhere to take care of many day-to-day tasks. Many business owners use only contract workers, outfit their staffs with wearable devices to track where they are and use recruiters (who in turn use artificial intelligence) to match candidates with what they require. Then there is the work-anywhere phenomenon. Use of apps such as Google Hangouts and Slack keep employees and teams connected and abreast of project development while allowing them to work from a variety of environments. Cementing the trend towards a new way of working, workers between the ages of 18 and 35 have become the largest demographic in the office.

5 Leadership and Management Mistakes Holding Back Entrepreneurs

Many entrepreneurs are driven by the appeal of being their own bosses. They get to make all the decisions, from company strategies to marketing techniques to human resources. It all looks good on paper; however, in practice, managing people is much more difficult than most realize. To better streamline your operation and generate goodwill, learn the most common leadership and management mistakes made by the average entrepreneur.

How Your Small Business Can Leverage Emotional Advertising

According to industry data, the average consumer sees or hears over 5000 advertisements every day. Of these, only around a dozen make any sort of impression.