What happened in Mind Your Business this month? Here are a few of our favorite things from February!

Don’t just set it and forget it

You spend a lot of time planning and creating your marketing efforts. Don’t have one-and-done content; instead, repurpose it. Rejuvenate your blogs, videos, testimonials, social posts, webinars and more! Check out these six ways to give new life to great content.

What you need to know about firearms in the workplace

It’s not a topic we like to think about, but with workplace violence and shootings on the rise, it’s crucial for business owners to outline firearm policies for their employees. In order to do so, employers must know the laws regarding employee possession of firearms. Take a look as we unpack these laws and detail potential scenarios that could trigger this type of violence.

• RELATED: Know the nine things to include in your emergency action plan.

Get ready to roll out the red carpet

Buyers have a lot of choices these days and they’re doing their research. Stand out in a crowd of mediocre customer service by giving your potential and current customers the red carpet treatment. Thanks to our WebEd Series on how to provide top-notch customer service, we’re bringing you two dozen ways to optimize your customer impact.

• RELATED: Register for our next COSE WebEd Series: Teaming Up with Your Insurance Company: How Your Insurance Agent and Insurance Companies Work Together to Help You.

How to hire

Hiring is an exciting time for your business, but making sure all of your employment forms are in order can be decidedly less fun. Here are five must-have items to include in your staffing toolkit so that you’re prepared the next time your business is in hiring mode.

• RELATED: Things to keep in mind when searching for the perfect candidate.

Compete in an Amazon world

Approaches to buying are evolving as technology advances. Selling tactics must adapt if companies are to remain relevant. As the rules of business continue to change, learn how to keep up. Take a look at two industry examples, as well as steps to take to ensure your selling process best fits the customer’s buying process.

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

We kicked off the New Year with stories covering everything from ways to safeguard your intellectual property to reasons why you need to incorporate video into your marketing plans. Here we’ve highlighted our top five favorite articles from January.

Knock it out of the park with your small business

Just like the Indians have had success against teams from bigger markets, 2018 COSE Annual Meeting attendees discovered how small businesses can compete against bigger competition. And so can you! Check out a link to the full audio and a summary of the session, featuring Indians Manager Terry Francona, Chairman and CEO Paul Dolan and legendary play-by-play announcer Tom Hamilton. 

• RELATED: Hear from new COSE Chairman John Young about his goals for 2018-2019.

Don’t phone it in

Do you come across as too casual over the phone? Are you lazy when it comes to communicating with current or prospective customers? Give your image a facelift by implementing these five super easy tips on improved phone communication.

• RELATED: Don’t go thru a complete rebrand to stay interesting! Refresh your brand with these quick tips instead.

Lessen anxiety by increasing preparation 

Emergency action plans may not be anyone’s favorite topic, but they are extremely necessary and helpful to preparing your workforce should an emergency arise. From establishing a preferred method of communication to posting evacuation routes throughout the premises, check out these nine expert safety tips that you can implement in your business.

Big recognition, little money

We all surely know by now that millennials are the key to the future for our businesses. And we also know this younger group of workers appreciates recognition for a job well done. But how can companies provide this positive feedback without breaking the bank?

• RELATED: 13 tricks to retaining millennial workers long enough to have a big impact on your business.

Steer clear of employee immigration issues

Valuable employees with in-demand skills can be found in the U.S. and abroad. But when it comes to hiring outside of the country, there is a lot you need to know. Tracking Visa expiration dates and diligently completing the I-9 form are just two of the ways to reduce headaches with immigration laws concerning current or prospective employees. Before finding yourself in a hiring predicament or spending time on an ineligible candidate, be sure to review our other eight tips.

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

It’s always hard to choose but we are bringing you five of our favorite Mind Your Business articles from July. Which ones stand out to you?

What You Need to Know About Employee Screenings

The hiring process can be a daunting task and finding the perfect fit for your team requires more than relying on a resume or a quick search on social media. Here are five tips to help you effectively conduct background screenings.

• RELATED: Here are five things to know about finding and hiring the right employees.

Develop the Leader Inside You

Are you an effective leader? Here are five hard questions to ask of yourself to determine what level of influence you have on those around you. 

Don’t be the Next Unicorn Frappuccino

Establishing strong brand awareness is important, and it’s crucial you aren’t infringing upon another brand’s identity. Take a look at these tips to make sure you aren’t the next Unicorn Frappuccino—read on to see what we mean.

The Top 5 Reasons to Attend BizConCLE 2018

From the new easy-to-get-to location at the I-X Center or the series of 10 educational workshops taking place throughout the day, here are the top five reasons why you should attend BizConCLE on Nov. 1.

• RELATED: Take a look back at four impactful keynotes from BizConCLE 2017.

Under-the-Radar Business Challenges

In our series spotlighting COSE’s Investor Level members, we sat down with Michael Canty from Alloy Bellows & Precision Welding. Hear what he had to say about the business challenges nobody is talking about and how he works to overcome them.

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

Summer is in full swing and Mind Your Business was hot in June. Check out some of our favorite articles from this month.

How to hire Gen Z

The tricks and tactics you’ve implemented to attract and keep other generations on your team might not be as effective when it comes to Generation Z. Find out what you need to know in order to hire this new generation of workers.

• RELATED: Learn more about Generation Z.

COSE’s Energy Team can save you money

The administration at Christian Community School in Grafton recently engaged COSE/GCP’s Energy Team to perform an audit of the organization’s facility (a $5,400 value, paid for by FirstEnergy and an exclusive benefit to COSE/GCP members). You won’t believe the results (and the savings!).

Strategies for handling suspected workplace misconduct

In one of our hottest articles this month, we laid out specific guidelines for handling workplace misconduct. Be prepared and know how to keep the peace if this type of situation presents itself in your business.

Video production tips from the pros

COSE’s recent WebEd Series Webinar featured tips on creating professional-looking videos. In case you missed it, we’re recapping the webinar and you can even catch the full presentation. It’s more than just sound bites—check out these great tips from a local pro!

• RELATED: Register for COSE’s next WebEd Series Webinar: How to Use Intellectual Property to Grow and Protect Your Business.

Keeping your social professional

Facebook, Twitter and other social platforms may be immediate and informal ways to communicate with constituents, but you should still be professional when representing your business. Learn how respect, patience and curiosity are all elements of ensuring your ‘social’ is still professional.

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

In June, we shared a number of articles and webinars from our experts on operating your business in the COVID-19 "new normal." In case you missed something of interest, here's a roundup of the best "how-to" highlights:  

1. How to. . . keep your newly reopened business safe and secure

As you reopen your business, how do you keep yourself, your employees, and your customers safe and secure—especially with everyone wearing face masks? Tim Dimoff provides a list of tips and suggestions, many of which are especially relevant if you have a retail operation or deal with the public. 

2. How to. . . market your local business to local customers post-lockdown 

The recent lockdown isn’t the end of local patronage, it just means less foot traffic. By connecting and communicating with your audience online and providing many safe, remote resources for no-contact service, you can rebuild your customer base and your local business can thrive in the new-normal. 

3. How to. . . keep your supply chain moving in uncertain times

As many businesses begin to recover from the impacts of COVID-19, it’s important to understand best practices for effective supply chain management. With transportation in the U.S. operating at roughly 85 percent of its usual activity, navigating and proactively planning for your business’ logistics is crucial. 

4. How to. . . redesign and retrofit your workplace to promote health and safety

As Ohio returns to work, businesses are grappling with social distancing and sanitization and keeping workers safe and healthy. What does that mean for workplaces, both in the immediate aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis and in the future? How do you rethink workplace strategy?

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

Mind Your Business was stacked with stories in March. Here are some of the articles that stood out to us this month.

A minute to win it

Here's how to make a 60-second sales pitch that will catch the interest of everyone walking by your next trade show booth. And after you read up on these tips, mark your calendar for Nov. 1 when you can put them in action at our very own BizConCLE.

Don't get hooked by a phishing scam

As part of a special series with the Federal Trade Commission highlighting small business scams, here are 13 ways to keep hackers at bay and your network safe. Did you miss Part 1 of the series? Get caught up here on what you need to know about office supply scams.

Employment contract provisions in detail

From descriptive provisions such as scope of employment and probationary period, to protective provisions such as non-competition and work for hire, we are laying out the 13 essential employment contract provisions that you need to familiarize yourself with before making your next hiring move.

• RELATED: Five smart hiring practices every employer should know.

‘Alexa, make people click on this article.’

Are you leveraging voice search for your small business yet? Consumer research isn’t just about typing into Google anymore. Find out more about voice search devices and how you can take advantage of this new area of the marketing world.

Is your site HTTPS secure?

Customers want to make sure they are visiting, buying from and entering information into a site that is as secure as possible. Enter HTTPS security. Learn the importance of HTTPS and how you can implement it on your small business website today.

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