Should your business take a stand on controversial issues?

In the world of small business, it can be difficult to avoid controversial or offensive topics. You definitely don’t want to isolate consumers, but you may also have a specific customer in mind for your business.

After watching companies like Apple, Starbucks and Chick-fil-A, the question remains: should your business take a stand on controversial issues? Today we’re going to talk about pros and cons.

Pros

When it comes to taking a stand on a controversial topic, there are definitely some pros that could help promote a small business. This is probably the greatest positive of a brand taking a stand: it shows your company’s conviction.

Current customers and potential consumers can know that your small business has values and that you stand by them. Whether they agree or not, many consumers may appreciate your decision to take a stand regardless.

Secondly, controversial topics are popular. If we look in the media, we can see controversial issues being discussed in depth all over the place. When your business puts its name into the mix, it increases your chance of being seen and—more importantly—heard.

Capitalizing on recent events gives more visibility to your brand and can boost engagement simply because consumers are more aware of what your company stands for.

Finally, many customers who do agree with your company’s stance will probably deepen their relationship with your business when they find your position. For example, according to Forbes, 20 percent of adults between 26-35 years say they’re more likely to shop at companies whose social-political stances mirror their own.

While your opinion may isolate some consumers, it may engage even more, and build up positive relationships with customers you’re more interested in working with.

Cons

Of course, with the positives comes potential negatives of your small business taking a stand on a controversial issue. Because for every customer who agrees with your position, you run the risk of customers not agreeing with you, and therefore writing off the business all together.

According to Entrepreneur, people don’t separate individuals from businesses. As a small-business owner, your thoughts and opinions are in the public sphere, and for every opinion you express, the business is automatically linked to it.

And vice versa.

If your small company takes a stand on an issue, your employees could be adversely affected, because they are seen as part of the business, rather than simply connected to it.

In addition, the public never forgets. If your small business has an opinion now, chances are it will be brought up again… and again… and again.

Once your stance is open to the public, it’s out there for good. This can have especially negative effects if at some point in the future your business tries to work with a new partner, find a different employee or get involved in something that may seem “hypocritical.” When it comes to the sphere of public opinion, consumers can be unforgiving and they don't forget.

Finally, your message may even be misinterpreted. Perhaps you want to take a small stand on an issue, but it somehow ends up out of proportion, and consumers see it as a big stand.

This can have far-reaching negative consequences you could have never predicted. In a world of technology which lacks tone and nonverbal cues, it’s easy for your position to end up appearing more radical than even you considered.

When it comes to getting involved in current events, there are lots of pros and cons to consider for your small business. While taking a stand on an issue can have negative consequences, there are also some worthwhile positives.

No matter what your business decides, be sure to think carefully before sending anything out, because chances are you’ll never get it back.

Business 101: How to network like an expert

When it comes to growing a small business, we tend to think of a few main areas to share our mission: print advertisements, maybe a radio announcement, a strong website, etc. One thing we often forget and even underestimate, though, is the power of one-on-one interaction.

Networking is the process of making personal connections for your business in order to increase exposure and grow your contacts for the future. Forbes defines networking in its purest form as “…people enjoying other people, communicating passions and connecting with others who share those passions.”

What can networking do for you, and how can you get started? Welcome to Business 101, and today we’re going to talk about how to network like an expert.

1. Start with existing connections.

If you’re nervous about networking right off the bat, it’s easy to start small and make connections with the people already in your surrounding circles. Focus on getting in touch with old friends, relatives, people you went to school with, and the like to rekindle connections without having to approach complete strangers. Reach out to this close group before stepping up to more difficult connections of new contacts.

2. Get going early.

When it comes to networking, procrastination is your worst enemy. Don’t wait to get going until you absolutely need a new employee, contact or partner. A good networker starts when they don’t need to, and recognizes the importance of networking in any situation. When you’re networking with no “ulterior motive” your business will build a reputation for establishing genuine relationships, rather than simply self-serving.

3. Develop a plan

While networking is establishing relationships and having conversations, it’s important to remember that it’s not all about just having a great time. It’s a purposeful way of making connections for your business. Before attending any networking event, develop a plan for what you want to say, main contacts you want to talk to and what you can bring to the table. This will make your business seem personal and professional when the networking starts.

4. Find a way to help someone

As a small business, it’s easy to assume you can’t do anything to help the “big dogs”—get this idea out of your head. Inc.com states, “It’s always worth the trouble to find out a contact’s desires and concerns.” This puts you on the big dogs’ radar, and gives you the opportunity to help in any way you can. Whether it’s sending a useful article their way, inviting them to an event or even chatting about family life, give generously and find a way to help out.

5. Never dismiss anyone

On the other side of the coin is to never dismiss anyone. When it comes to networking, everyone has value. You never know who knows who, and burning one bridge may leave you with an entire opportunity gone. Recognize the importance of everyone you meet, and treat them equally, so you have an established list of connections at every level for when you need it.

6. Follow up

Finally, once you make a connection, remember to follow up with them and follow through on promises. For example, if you say you’re going to email someone an article, be sure to do so. This establishes your credibility and makes you much more appealing for future connections.

Whether it’s through email, phone call or (one of our personal favorites) a handwritten note, following up with connections makes them feel valued and engaged. They will definitely remember your business in the future and continue to share your mission with other contacts in their network.

Most importantly, remember to be yourself when networking. Your business is unique, so don’t try to make it anything that it isn’t. Establish positive, mutually beneficial connections with the contacts around you, and see how your business can grow through the power of networking.

Five ways to build a great company culture

In today’s world, employees are looking for more when it comes to work. Not necessarily more money or more benefits (although those are important too), but more fulfillment. Employees want to know their work matters; they want to feel valued and like they’re making a difference.

And how can your business do just that? By building a strong company culture. Your culture sets you apart from other employers, either in a good way or… not so good way. How can you ensure a great company culture that has employees (and clients) running your way? Here’s five ways to get started.

1. Find your values and stick to them.

The first step in building a great company culture is to decide what you want the culture to be. Center your culture around a few core values, and then follow through. The only thing worse than a company with no values is a company with meaningless values.

Share the things that mean the most to your business with employees, clients and potential consumers. But be cautious; for example, if you want your business to have family values, then you should probably give your employees time to spend with their families. Once you have your core values figured out, you can start to build your culture around them.

2. Listen to your current employees.

If you want to hire and retain great employees, it’s important to listen to the great employees you already have. Try sending out staff questionnaires and surveys about the current culture to see the responses you get, then listen to what they actually say.

When your staff feel like their opinions matter, they’ll be more likely to stay at the company, enjoy their work and recommend your business. Not only this, but the positivity from an employee who feels valued will contribute to a positive company culture overall.

3. Build a team mentality.

The efforts of all contribute to the goal of the unit. Entrepreneur.com recommends to stop thinking of people in terms of “employees” or even “departments,” but to build up the idea of “we’re all in this together.” You are all part of the same team, with each member doing his or her part to work towards the ultimate goal.

Building up a team mentality for your company creates a culture of unity and community, ensuring every member feels important to the organization. From here, you’ll be able to see who’s a team player and who’s not, by those supporting the company and fellow coworkers.

4. Hire to your values.

To have a continually strong company culture, you need to hire to the core values you worked so hard to develop. Not only does this hiring system give you an easy-to-follow and unanimous guideline when hiring, but it also pushes your business to be more culturally sound.

Include values and culture questions in your application, ask values-based questions in interviews or even ask for character recommendations. When you hire to fit your company’s culture, employees will thrive, and so will your business.

5. Have some fun.

Finally, have some fun. This looks different for every business, but don’t be afraid to shake things up a bit in the workplace every now and then. No matter what your company does, there is always some way to encourage employees to engage in activities that feel less like work and more like a day off. Whether it’s enjoying a beer and some snacks in the break room or taking a half day off, a little relaxation can go a long way in building a consistent company culture.

When it comes to furthering your business, few things are more important than the employees who work for it. Retain old employees, hire new ones and create an employee-friendly environment by building up your company culture. Because when your culture thrives, so will your business.