New York SBDC Research Network

From MarketingProfs Webinars are truly a great marketing strategy for generating leads for your business. However, that's certainly not the only measure of their effectiveness. Webinars are an excellent platform to communicate and interact with your customers, and they can be your secret weapon for building great customer relationships. People attend a webinar because they believe the experience will be valuable to them. The value you provide through your webinars via actionable insights and takeaways that viewers won't find anywhere else will help you build great customer relationships. Here we'll look at how to build those relationships by using webinars to engage and train your audiences.

From eMarketer : Even without an established try-before-you-buy model, retailers’ generous free return policies have led to consumers purchasing multiple items with the intent to send some back. Retailers like Warby Parker and Amazon have popularized try-before-you-buy by letting consumers try on products at no upfront cost. The consumer is only charged for what they keep, and the remainder is returned. As a result, a February 2018 study from Brightpearl, conducted by OnePoll, found that over 40% of US and UK retailers have seen a spike in intentional returns compared with a year ago. What's more, some 70% of retailers believe the try-before-you-buy model leads to more returns. "[Try-before-you-buy] creates a tsunami of returns that could easily overwhelm retailers who do not have the processes or workflows in place to cope with that level of change," the study said. And this may be why many are hesitant to try it out.

From Thomasnet Industry is no stranger to change, and today, several monumental shifts — in business, technology, and even politics — are changing it once again. As a supplier, it's imperative for you to understand these shifts in order ensure your success today, and tomorrow. Our eBook, The State Of Industry In 2018, can help you keep ahead of the latest trends. It explores: Critical changes in the manufacturing workforce The most in-demand products and services in 2018 The role that politics is playing within industry And more! Download your free copy now.

From jeffbullas.com : In 2014 I wrote an article titled “Why You Should Forget Facebook” The main premise of the post was that Facebook was reducing its organic reach. In fact, the numbers showed it was trending to zero. So…. we dived into why using Facebook for organic and free traffic was becoming a waste time and you maybe need to forget it for earned attention. It was rapidly becoming a pay to play platform. The big promise that drew me to social media was that you could reach the world without paying the gatekeepers or begging for attention. They were the media moguls and book publishers to name just two. So I was disturbed and annoyed by this trend. So where are we today? We now have new gatekeepers.

From eMarketer : Consumers like loyalty programs, but they have complaints. A major one is the hassle of accessing rewards. In a February 2018 survey from mobile coupon solution provider CodeBroker, some 54% of US loyalty program members said it’s frustrating when programs can’t be easily accessed on smartphones or when an app download is required. More than five in 10 respondents agreed that without easily accessible programs, rewards often go unused or expire because members aren’t aware they’ve accrued. Of those polled, 37% prefer accessing loyalty program information, such as balance or redemption details, via a periodic text message. Some 28% rely on a mobile app.

From Bplans : 75 percent of buying decisions are based on emotion. The right brand captures the right emotions—and is one of the powerful tools for building a rock-solid business. A professional brand does so many things for your business. It sets you apart from competitors. It builds trust with existing customers—and future ones. It extends your reach—online, on the street, in referral conversations. It brings the whole team together and gets your employees excited about coming to work. In short, branding is one of the best business investments you can make! TOOL: Discover Your Brand in 12 Easy Steps! PROJECT: Brand Yourself in 5 Days BRANDING CHECKLIST: 10 Essentials Before Launch RESOURCE: Tools to Help You Name Your Business

From Bankrate : When nature goes wild, it can be disastrous for your finances. According to the National Climatic Data Center, major weather disasters have caused more than $1.2 trillion worth of damage in the U.S. since 1980 — and that doesn’t include Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria or Nate. If you’re hit with an emergency and need to find cash fast, tap into the emergency reserves in your savings account. Then look to these resources.