Blizzards, floods, tornadoes, and hurricanes are just some examples of severe weather that can threaten your business. Here's what to do in each situation.
Congratulations on coming up with the concept for a new business. Here are several tasks you need to tackle before you start serving customers.
Check out our latest blog post to see five effective tips on creating meaningful dialogue with customers.
Protect your company and support your employees with a relevant and updated handbook. Read on to learn how, why and when to perform this task.
If you're noticing a drop in morale as the year's end approaches, implement one or more of these tips to keep staff engaged and inspired.
Opening a second location for your business is both exciting and challenging. Check out our blog post for tips on how to do it successfully.
Prepare a list of questions that showcase your talents and reveal additional information about potential employers.
Remote workers face unique challenges. Learn how to work from home successfully with these helpful tips on improving your workflow and productivity.
How to start a blog for your business.
What to do if you think your office building has a water leak: Common signs of water leakage, prevention methods, and managing business disruption.
Set your business up for success with a comprehensive midyear business review including accounting, sales & marketing, and employee performance.
Knowing the risks involved is the first step in creating a solid business plan. Find out about common threats facing small businesses.
Top considerations when choosing a mobile card payment option for small businesses.
Improve your traffic by landing higher in the search results. Try these five SEO tips to optimize your website for the search engines.
Asking for a raise can be intimidating. Here are our best tips on how to broach the subject and increase your chances for success.
Are chatbots good for small businesses? You might be able to save time, or it could be a waste of money- Find out more.
From posture to movement, office chairs impact your workday. A guide covering important features you may appreciate for your next chair.
Improve your business acumen, productivity and sales with insights, resources and advice from top business experts.
Working from home includes benefits and challenges. Improve your focus and productivity with tips that help you manage distractions, set boundaries and achieve success.
A virtual event can be effective, impactful and valuable. Top tips for creating a successful and engaging event for your company.
Ready to take your brand from basic to evolved and powerful? Learn how to improve your company's branding in 7 steps. Here's how to up your customer service game.
Attending a virtual event? Learn how to get the most out of your event with these tips and tricks.
Ask yourself six questions before you invest in a backup generator for your business.
When a storm is on the way, you can take steps to help your customers prepare. Here's how to help customers weather the storm.
In today's remote workplaces, managers must find new ways to lead from a distance. These tips will help keep employees engaged while working remotely.
Standing out in a sea of choices isn't easy. These tips will help you distinguish your business by impressing customers and building brand loyalty.
Cross-training offers benefits to employees and employers alike. From enhanced job skills to better morale, here's why cross-training employees helps your agency.
Sitting all day at work can cause you to feel stiff... and it's not great for your health. Here are 5 ways to move more.
Networking is key to professional growth, but it's not always easy. Here's how to avoid common mistakes that can tarnish your professional image.
From the right bookkeeping system to digital accounting tools, here are 6 tips to help you track your small business expenses.
In uncertain times, customers expect (and demand) great customer service. But how can businesses provide it? Here's how to up your customer service game.
Breaking up with clients can be stressful and awkward, even when it's necessary. Here's how to say "so long" with tact and respect.
Stressed employees lead to decreased productivity, high turnover, and low morale. Here's how managers can help employees deal with stress.
Half the world (literally) is on social media and your business should be, too. Here's how to optimize your social media presence.
Protecting your home network means keeping your important information safe. These tips will help you secure your home network.
As businesses continue a shift to virtual, many look to technology for help. These tech tools can help your business go virtual.
Five social media trends are emerging for 2021. Learn more as you help your small business grow online.
What can you do if your business website is crashing? How to manage your website error and prevent future issues.
Top pros and cons to remote work and telecommuting, including talent recruitment and retention benefits, productivity challenges, and communication hurdles.
If you've ever hired the wrong employee, you know the risks of making a rushed decision. Keep these suggestions in mind for a little boost of confidence.
No matter where they are, all workspaces have one thing in common: They function better when they're clean and organized. These tips will help.
Tips to boost your cold calling success rate. Optimize this proven technique that allows you to connect with prospects and generate sales.
How to energize your team in the New Year with SMART goal setting, team building events, and performance recognition.
Ready to increase your effectiveness this year? These are some habits of top performers that may benefit you, too.
With a new year comes new opportunities, and the chance to set effective goals to help your employees - and your business - achieve success.
As interviews go virtual, these tips will help employers and employees adjust to the new digital reality.
5 strategies to help managers improve team morale, boost employee engagement, and increase productivity when employees work from home.
Employee reviews don't have to be a chore. Here's how to transform this annual task into a helpful tool.
How can business and agency owners meet constantly evolving customer expectations in a rapidly changing environment? Here's what you need to know.
Employee time off enhances performance, yet few Americans feel comfortable taking vacation days. How to create a company culture that supports time off.
Phishing emails and online scams are everywhere. Here's how to avoid getting caught.
Keep employee training up to date with virtual solutions that teach new skills and improve leadership.
We live (and work) in a digital world; here's how to enhance your customers' experience and update your virtual communication strategy.
Effective work-life balance strategies when working from home, tips for reducing burnout, and how to balance personal and professsional demands.
5 tips for virtual onboarding success: What small businesses need to know about remote onboarding
This article discusses the basics of insurance for home based and small business and provides tips for choosing insurance for your home-based business.
Talent development is an effective tool for developing your business. Here's what you need to know about individual and team learning opportunities.
How to stay safe and protect your data when using public Wi-Fi networks.
With a summer job, teens learn numerous skills that prepare them for their future. Check out these summer job recommendations and suggestions for teens.
Onboarding new hires correctly is key for employee retention, engagement and productivity. Learn some of the core components of a successful onboarding process.
Hiring interns can yield beneficial results for your company, employees and future. Learn the five benefits of hiring interns throughout the year.
When downsizing requires employee layoffs, small-business owners need to act with sensitivity and integrity. Learn six ways to help soften the blow.
The way a manager treats employees can make or break a small business. Learn 10 ways you can be the boss people want to work for.
Does your small business have a small advertising budget? Discover six affordable ways to advertise and promote it effectively.
Staying healthy at work can be more of a challenge for those who work in an office. Check out 7 easy strategies for a healthier workplace experience.
Online reviews from happy and unhappy customers have changed the way consumers make buying decisions in big ways. Learn how your business can benefit from them.
A business continuity plan (BCP) can help your organization recover faster after a disaster, helping to minimize losses, damage and downtime.
Word-of-mouth referrals can play an important role in your marketing strategy. Check out these tips on how to ask your contacts for referrals.
Benefits of Becoming an Independent Insurance Agent.
How well you present yourself in a job interview can be the difference between career fulfillment and losing out to the competition. Get 9 tips to help you succeed.
Employees who feel valued are happier, more productive, and less likely to be absent or quit. Learn 8 ways to show your employees how much you appreciate their efforts.
Developing a strong personal brand is crucial to your professional success. Check out four ways to craft a personal brand that's a true reflection of your values.
Common challenges when running a family business and constructive solutions to help family businesses thrive.
Encompass explains how setting goals for your business and employees provides motivation, direction and a clear way to measure progress.
Encompass offers advice on how to optimize your LinkedIn profile so you can expand your network and showcase your expertise.
Tips for employees and employers returning to work after an extended absence. How to manage the transition and set everyone up for success.
Reduce your risk for armed robbery and burglaries with five essential small business crime prevention tips.
Read this step-by-step outline and learn what to do to minimize the impact of vandalism or a burglary on your small business.
This article offers a few actionable tips to help businesses protect themselves financially in case of a disaster.
Your small business can make preparations for natural disasters with a disaster prep kit. Use these tips to create a kit that fits your needs.
When disaster strikes, it's critical to know how to respond. Here are some practical tips on how to create a disaster preparedness plan for your business.
Having a robust emergency response plan and training your employees accordingly can mean the difference between failure and business continuity.
Hiring entry-level talent has many advantages for small businesses aside from the lower salary cost. Learn five of the biggest benefits.
Effective communication in the workplace is key to the success of every business. Here are X ways promote effective communication in the workplace.
Research shows taking a lunch break makes employees more productive, creative and engaged. Here are 3 steps for breaking up with your desk and taking a break.
How do you energize and motivate your employees when the summer's over and they return to their regular routines? These eight tips from Encompass can help!
Travel is part of almost every small business owner's job. These nine tips - including using airfare alerts and rideshares - can help you save on work travel.
Integrating your small business into the community is crucial. Becoming a member of your local chamber of commerce can offer several benefits.
Regular staff meetings can be invaluable when the time is used effectively. Here are some strategies for getting more out of your weekly or bi-weekly meetings.
Fear of public speaking is very common, but there are ways to overcome this discomfort. These tips can help you prepare better before your next presentation.
Supercharge small-business growth this year with five tips on streamlining new customer acquisition and maximizing the value of your existing customer base.
Can emotional intelligence (EQ) make you a better leader and improve employee relationships? Here are some tips to help you strengthen the five qualities of EQ.
Freelancers can provide expertise needed in certain areas of running your business, while helping to save you time and possibly money.
You've heard of "love languages," but what about "work languages"? Knowing each employee's work language can help motivate them and feel truly valued.
Kickstart 2019 with this quick list to help support small business growth, boost workplace productivity, improve client relationships, and hire top talent.
Millennials are changing the rules for marketing. What to know about targeting the millennial audience on social media, email and more digital channels.
How will you engage your customers this holiday season? Make it the most wonderful time of the year for your business with these customer engagement tips.
For business owners, it's important to make sure that both your physical and your virtual office are secure when you're traveling. These pointers can help.
Small business succession planning: key considerations including how to select your company's next leader, whether to sell your business or keep it in the family, and how to determine a timeline for retirement.
How to maintain a good work-life balance around the holidays so you can enjoy quality time with your loved ones without it adversely impacting your business.
Think you can't keep illness out of the workplace? Think again. Here are some simple tips that can keep that flu or cold out of the office.
Learn effective strategies to identify and resolve common workplace conflicts through constructive communication and team problem solving.
4 ways that hiring veterans benefits your company with skills including leadership excellence, a global mindset, composure under pressure and team loyalty.
Data breaches are on the rise - and if you're targeted, the fallout can be devastating. Learn how to protect your business with these practical tips.
Are you thinking about establishing a telecommute program for your small business? First, learn what the pros and cons are for both you and your employees.
When your small business needs a social media manager: key considerations for hiring an employee, freelancer or an agency.
Although there are many benefits to having pets in the workplace, there are also several important considerations to keep in mind before allowing your employees to bring their pets to work. Here's what you need to know.
Growing your business does not have to mean losing personal customer service or sacrificing strong customer relationships. Here are some strategies that can help you continue to make customer service a priority as your business expands.
Cyber security training can help equip employees with the knowledge and resources to confidently follow your company's cyber security policies and mitigate threats.
A password manager stores all your login credentials in a secure digital vault. Here's what to consider when choosing a password manager for your business.
Falling prey to a phishing campaign can have devastating consequences for your business. Learn how to spot phishing communications and keep your business safe.
While having an online presence is crucial, there are local resources like SBDCs, SCORE mentors and business partnerships that can help you grow your company.
Just like eating healthy or exercising, staying focused at work is all about building good, consistent habits.
Whether you're fresh out of college and looking for your first "real" job or are wanting to make a career change, the process of applying and interviewing for job openings can be a little daunting.
Some of the most prevalent types of crime included phishing, identity theft, business email compromise (BEC), extortion, corporate data breaches and ransomware.
What if you could increase the lifetime value of your existing customers? This is where proactive customer communication can make a difference by building trust, strengthening loyalty and improving service quality.
Thanks to online reviews, maintaining a good business reputation is more challenging and more critical than ever before. Keep these guiding principles in mind.
Summer Fridays can offer a number of benefits to employees and employers, from improved work-life balance to lower energy costs and increased productivity.
How to decide whether to hire a close friend or family member, and how to set expectations for a professional working relationship.
Employers are placing increasing value on social media profiles when hiring. Learn how to help ensure your digital footprint is professional and attractive to help land that dream job.
Well-trained employees are key to your business' success. These tips will help your organization adopt and implement proper employee training techniques.
Five small business tips for going green, recycling, reducing paper usage, conserving energy and volunteering on green community projects.
Wellness programs create happier and more productive workers and have seen a major spike in adoption. Read on to learn how to implement wellness strategies in your business.
Discover how companies can gain the most of National Small Business Week
"Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day" draws millions of kids to the office annually. This post details how parents and companies can make this day a success.
How to Handle Stress in the Workplace
Why You Should Break Up with Your To-Do List
How Insurance Agencies Can Build Deeper Customer Relationships
Five Smart Networking Tips to Grow Your Business
Negative complaints and online reviews have a powerful effect on businesses' reputations. This post details essential steps for smart feedback management.
How to develop your leadership style, effectively manage your small business your way, and drive employee performance success.
Lower small business winter utility bills with cost-saving tips for improving office heating efficiency and cutting down on unnecessary equipment power usage.
Staying on top of social media trends can be tricky. Watch out for 4 common social media mistakes small businesses frequently make.
Keeping your employees motivated is about more than just pay; it's also about providing the training and support they need to feel valued in the workplace.
Getting started with social media for small business: 4 tips for turning "best practice articles" into a small business social media strategy.
How to navigate a mid-career transition: leadership promotions, changing companies, and switching professions.
Is your small business prepared for the New Year? As this year draws to a close, these tips will help you lay the groundwork for success in the coming year.
Small business charitable giving: Four ideas for maximizing donation impact and working with community groups.
7 workplace holiday gift-giving tips. From gift price to gift recipient, avoid making an embarrassing etiquette mistake this holiday season.
5 steps to winterize small businesses against snow and ice storm threats.
What keeps your business safe during the holidays? From a safe workplace to loss prevention, here are our top holiday safety tips for your business.
Small Business Saturday is the perfect time to promote your business! Here are 5 ways to make this special day in November benefit your own small business.
Improve your relationship with your boss by learning how to better communicate, align goals and support professional success.
5 essential time saving productivity hacks for small business owners: the best apps to save time with email, accounting and projects management.
Small businesses are top targets for cybersecurity hacks and data breaches. Here are 3 steps your company can take today to protect against a cybersecurity attack.
There's no reason why business meetings should be dull or unproductive. Read this post to discover how to make any business meeting a compelling one.
Today's business world changes rapidly. By making a commitment to continuous learning, companies can adapt to changes and promote innovation and competition.
In a world saturated by social media and online reviews, excellent customer service is more important than ever. But how do you make your business stand out in a crowd? These tips may help you take your customer service from great to amazing.
Research has shown that mentorship has a positive effect on business success. Read this post to learn why mentors are important and how to find the right one.
Hiring talented seasonal workers often presents difficulties for small businesses. This article offers tips for finding and hiring summer workers.
Millennials will be the largest generational group in the workforce by 2020. Here are some top tips for small business owners to hire and retain top Millennial talent.
Cost, mileage and insurance are some of the most important factors small business owners should consider when deciding whether to lease or buy a car.
From Facebook to Pinterest, Twitter to Instagram, social media is both an art and a science - but either way, it's an important part of your marketing toolbox.
Discover how spring cleaning your office may help uncover hidden cost savings and help you re-connect with business leads.
Online networking can be an effective option for small business owners who don't have the time to attend in-person events. Make the most of your online network!
Five essential tips for small business owners to save money on overhead expenses.
Learn how to create a small business emergency communication plan as part of "National Preparedness Month" 2016.
Helpful steps for creating a small business disaster plan including how to conduct a Business Impact Analysis and how to create a Business Continuity Plan.
Read on for three helpful tips for small business owners to know before building a small business website.
Hiring is a very difficult undertaking for most small business owners. Here are seven tips to help make the hiring process a little easier.
Good leadership skills are integral to owning and operating a small business. Here are helpful leadership tips for small business owners to consider.
Businesses are vulnerable to cyber attacks and security breaches. Learn how to help protect your business today.
Improve your networking with these four helpful tips for talking to people any time, any place.
As the business landscape continues to change and evolve, social responsibility and community involvement could improve small business.
Kick-start your insurance agency's digital marketing with tips on SEO, social media and content marketing.
Is your agency settling for run-of-the-mill customer service? Just because customers aren't complaining doesn't mean they're happy or even satisfied. From integrating new digital tools to revamping old practices, here's some helpful tips to improve customer service.
Never have enough hours in the day to get it all done? These four productivity boosting tips could help you and your team work smarter, not harder.
How to improve insurance agencies in 2016: top marketing tips for independent agents.
There's a lot of work that goes into getting social marketing right. Here is a list of behaviors you may want to avoid in order to maintain an effective social media marketing presence.
It can be challenging to coordinate your social media presence. There are several apps to help. Read on for some helpful suggestions.
Get tips on surveys, which can help you gain insights into your customers' experiences and thoughts about the quality of your services.
Follow our blog, Agency Insights, which will cover some hot topics for insurance agents like lead generation, social media and customer retention.
Other resources linked from these pages are maintained by independent providers. The Encompass Blog does not monitor all linked resources and cannot guarantee their accuracy. Statements, views and opinions included in an independent provider's material are strictly those of the author(s). These views may not necessarily represent the opinions or policies of The Encompass Blog, the Encompass family of companies or its agents, officers or employees.
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