READ TIME: 6 MINS. Achieving SMB growth can undoubtedly seem challenging at times, especially if you’re competing against larger or more established companies. Even if your SMB has endless amounts of resources, such as employees or a healthy budget, becoming the top dog in your market can bring unexpected challenges and setbacks. So, what is it that makes even the smallest of companies able to compete with the giants? What’s the differentiator that causes them to stand out over the rest? These are both pretty thought-provoking questions you might not have the answers to, and that’s ok! You’ve come to the right spot.

There’s nothing worse than horrible customer service, right? Whether you’re dealing with your cable company’s customer service department over the phone or a waitress who continues to forget what you ordered, customer service at any business can make or break the reputation of a company or franchise. Even though customer service is a pretty common element of every business, there are some specifics on best practices when it comes to the employees you’re hiring. Whether your business is more retail-based or service-based, it’s critical you learn customer service techniques to further the long term success of your business by keeping customers happy.

READ TIME: 5 MINS You can tell your office copier has seen better days, and now more than ever, business is picking up, and you need office equipment that can keep up with your needs. It might seem like you’re stuck with a big decision to make: how to choose the best office copier for your business, and when is the best time to do so?

READ TIME: 6 MINS. Maintaining your office copier is as easy as one, two, three. A little tweak here, a little cleaning there ensures your copier stays in good shape, right? Wait a second, when was the last time you did some routine maintenance on your copy machine? If you’re having trouble answering that question, you’ve come to the right place. Just like any other piece of technology you use, your office copier requires upkeep and maintenance as it gets older, especially if your business experiences frequently high print volumes. Just like taking care of yourself, your home, or your car, your office copier needs attention too. Every copier does three things— copies, misfeeds, and jams. Your copy machine is an essential part of your business and if there are a few things you can do to prevent it from breaking down, wouldn’t you want to learn how?

READ TIME: 5 MINS What is your business doing to prevent cyber attacks from occurring? Have you heard the recent cyber attacks concerning the Microsoft Office 365 “account-takeover?” If either of these questions is unfamiliar to you, it’s time to listen up. The Department of Homeland Security recently issued a statement on Microsoft Office 365 cybersecurity stating that many IT consulting companies and MSPs (Managed IT Services Providers) involved in the 365 account-takeover have not appropriately been securing their cloud-based services for their customers.