Customers are the backbone of every business, and getting new customers is only half the battle. If you ask any successful businessperson, they will tell you the keys to sustaining a successful business are to foster a healthy relationship with your repeat customers and to turn new customers into brand advocates.

Picture this: You have been trying to reach a customer/colleague with some very time-sensitive information. You have called them numerous times and left multiple messages but haven’t received a response. You check your email and there isn’t anything new there. You start to panic and send a message through a less-than-reliable messaging system…no response. You finally try their social media, hoping to initiate any form of communication with them before the deadline expires. Crickets. Now what?

The flexibility and freedom we have while working from home is undeniably appealing. Who doesn’t like rolling out of bed, walking to the kitchen in your shorts to grab a cup of coffee, and beginning your workday with the morning news on in the background?

You have finally achieved your dream of running a small business. Congratulations! Your family and friends are excited about what you have built, and they know your product is needed and will fill a void. The dilemma is: How do you let the rest of the world know about your business and what you have to offer?

Businesses are always looking for that competitive edge, something that will help to differentiate them from their competitors. Technology, pricing, and how they market their product are what most companies focus on. One HUGE factor that doesn’t get paid the attention it deserves and can make or break a business: employee engagement.