We are one full month into the much-anticipated 2021 year and we have already featured a full schedule of Mind Your Business articles. Check out some of our favorites.

The Recruiting Industry Can Be a Racket: Why "Culture Fit" is Critical 
Check out this surprising perspective from the CEO of Zephyr Recruiting about the disconnect that can exist between the recruiting industry and the employers and job seekers it serves.

Learn why it's important to find the right fit for a job opening, not the quickest.

Electronic Communications: Employee vs. Employer Privacy Rights
As a small business owner it can be confusing to determine what you can and cannot do in terms of employee privacy rights regarding the electronic universe. This article provides general information and guidance on these rights and rules. But when in doubt, business owners should always check with their attorneys.

3 Things to Know: Supporting Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace
Diversity and inclusion is an important part of any successful business—big or small. Here are three things to know about supporting D&I in your workplace—as well as information on a new webinar series from GCP's Equity & Inclusion Division.

RELATED: Check out more in our 3 Things to Know series.

How to Choose the Most Effective Local Digital Marketing Tactics for Your Business in 2021
The start of a new year is the perfect time to implement a new local digital marketing plan for your business. But prioritizing marketing tactics can be overwhelming for any business owner. This article takes a deep dive into which tactics are available and how they might help you meet your goals.

What was your favorite Mind Your Business article from January? Let us know on Twitter!

You may have been in vacation-mode this summer, but we are business as usual on the blog. Check out some of our favorite Mind Your Business articles from July.

Building the Matrix: Who’s Responsible for Your Company’s Decisions?

You can follow the law, carefully think through your options and consult with others. But even proceeding with extreme caution won't guarantee the outcome you're hoping for with every decision that's made for your company. Learn how the matrix of authority can help. 

The Importance of GCP’s PAC

From the state budget to infrastructure to the environment, there are many crucial public policy issues in Ohio today. As the political landscape continually evolves it is more important than ever for our business members to have a seat at the table. Learn more about GCP's political action committee.

• RELATED: Governor DeWine Signs Biennial State Operating Budget.

Can Businesses Avoid Minimum Wage Requirements by Bartering Services?

In an effort to boost their bottom line, small businesses often barter services with independent contractors. If you're considering bartering as an option, follow these legal guidelines and tips to ensuring your business is protected.

How to Handle HR Situations Without Having an HR Department

You wear many hats as a small business owner. And, if you don't have a formal human resources department, HR director might be one of them. Follow these three steps to help address HR issues on your own.

• RELATED: Get Caught Up on Previous Months in Review.

3 Things to Know: Vacationing as a Small Business Owner

Whether you hit the beach, climb mountains or simply enjoy a stay-cation, it's important to give yourself a break--even if you run your own business. But before you put up your 'gone fishing' sign, read these three things to know about vacationing as a small business owner.

What was your favorite Mind Your Business article from July? Let us know on Twitter!

In July, we shared articles and hosted webinars on everything from how to deal with stress in our “new normal” to the best practices on how businesses should go about reopening due to COVID-19. In case you missed anything, here is a rundown of what was covered over the past month:

Experts Weigh in on Reopening Safely
Explore reopening strategies that will ensure the health and safety of your employees, customers, and their families. Some of Northeast Ohio’s top medical professionals give their expert opinions on how businesses should safely reopen in this webinar.

How to Handle a Positive COVID-19 Test
As a small business owner, it’s important that you know how to manage your sick leave, create, and manage support policies and institute practices to keep everyone safe. With COVID-19 continuing to spread, it’s best to have a plan in place in case an employee does contract the virus.

Connecting in a Digital World
From sharing new safety protocol beyond traditional high-risk areas with employees, to communicating your commitment to safety with external audiences, it’s time to connect on a different level—visually. This article shares how to virtually stay connected with both your employees and customers.

De-stress and Recharge
Our daily routine is changing rapidly. Do you feel like you have more stress than ever? Are you frustrated with having low energy? Are you tired of being tired all of the time? This webinar discusses how to naturally deal with some of that extra COVID-19 related stress.

HR in Unprecedented Times
Watch a webinar presented by the experts at MinuteMen about what companies should do in the COVID-19 era. This webinar talks about how businesses should behave in these unprecedented times and the best ways to operate. 

What was your favorite Mind Your Business article from July? Let us know on Twitter!

It’s finally summer in Cleveland and we’re heating things up on Mind Your Business. Check out some of our favorite articles from June.

Making Relationships Work

Before you enter into a new business relationship, it's imperative you really know your new partner. Here is the basic information you need to know, and the proof you need to see, in order to ensure your partnerships work for you.

Online Marketing: Lessons From a Google Leader

From recipes that call for apples to a place to go ziplining, you can find it all on Google. But, how easy is it to find your business? Follow these tips to help improve where you appear in search results.

Do Your Emails Suck?

Yeah, we said it—your emails just might suck. If you’re sending long attachments, using all caps, sounding too formal, or committing any of these 15 worst email practices, you’re probably missing the mark with your emails.

• RELATED: Get caught up on all Months in Review.

Will Changes to Canadian Trademark Laws Impact Your Business?

If you conduct business or are a trademark owner in Canada, it's imperative that you are familiar with changes on the horizon for Canadian trademark laws, specifically with registration and fees.

What was your favorite Mind Your Business article from June? Let us know on Twitter!

March 2020 was quite an unprecedented month—in COSE world and all around the whole world. But it’s even more important—in the time of a global pandemic—that we bring valuable information to you through the COSE blog. Here is a rundown of some of the informative pieces we featured in March.

#MeToo Movement Moves to the Workplace
Sexual harassment and retaliation are serious topics and should be treated as serious concerns for all employers. Make sure you have a full understanding of how these behaviors can have a significant impact on your business.

Understanding and Complying with Basic Employee Privacy Issues in the Workplace
Whether it's in regard to personal items, phone calls or private information, employees have certain rights to privacy in the workplace. It’s the job of business owners to understand these rights and be compliant. Check out this first part in a series on privacy issues.

5 Tips to Make Working from Home Work for You
You’re taking on a lot of roles these days in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and one of them probably involves working from home. Here are some guidelines to navigating your new work arrangements.

Navigating the New HR Rules
We asked Cheryl Perez, founder and president of BIG-HR, about the latest HR rules that are impacting small businesses during the Coronavirus outbreak. Here's what she had to say.

Also, COSE collaborated with Cheryl to bring our members a free one-hour webinar on even more about this topic. Watch the webinar here.

What was your favorite Mind Your Business article from March? Let us know on Twitter!

Grateful, thankful and appreciative are just a few of the words that come to mind when we think about our Mind Your Business contributors and readers during this time of year. We have been fortunate to work with so many inspiring small business owners to provide such impactful content to our readers. Here is a recap of a few of the standout articles from this month.

Connecting With Holiday Shoppers: 10 Takeaways
'Tis the season for holiday shopping. Is your small business positioned to receive its share of the nearly $1 trillion predicted for holiday spending in 2019? Check out these 10 takeaways from COSE's Small Business Resource Fair workshop on connecting with holiday shoppers (hint: the first takeaway is that there's still time, but you have to hurry so read now!).

13 Tips for Successfully Onboarding New Employees
You wouldn't just throw your new employees into the job without proper training and guidance during their first days in the office. But how effective is your onboarding process? Follow these 13 tips to help your new hires succeed long-term with your small business.

5 Reasons to Invest in SEO
If your business is not ranking high in online search results, then your website really isn’t working for you. You may not realize the importance of search engine optimization, but here are five reasons why SEO matters and how to go about making that investment.

Setting the Foundation for Marketing Success by Getting Back to the Basics
Whether you are a business owner wading through the sea of marketing tools or the lone marketer in an organization trying to keep up, there are some tried and true tactics to set the foundation for marketing success. Make sure you have these three basic approaches covered.

What was your favorite Mind Your Business article from November? Let us know on Twitter!https://twitter.com/cosesmallbiz