Sharon Cain is the managing director for Quest PR.

Starting a successful public relations firm today requires a combination of business savvy, insight into how journalists think, and expertise in social media, said Sharon Cain, the managing director of Quest PR, a UK-based firm.

Most important is a deep of understanding of your clients and their goals.

“Get under their skin, understand their business challenges, their business goals and their customers. Where do they want to be in three years and how can PR help them to get there? A good PR plan needs to fuse with a company or organization’s business goals in order to be effective,” according to Cain.

Cain, who worked as a journalist for the BBC and SkyTV before founding Quest PR 11 years ago, recently offered her best advice for PR startups:
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At the Business.com blog, we strive to give you up to date information on everything small business – from the equipment you need to the marketing strategies that work best. So, we decided to bring back some of our best articles from 2012. As we approach the New Year, it’s a great time to reflect on what your business has done well, what it can maintain and where you can improve. Consider how your business has evolved in 2012 as you read through some of our favorite posts. Read the full entry

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For the average W-2 employee, tax time can feel like a windfall. On the other hand, if you’re a small business owner with no employees or self-employed with a stack of W-9s, tax time can feel like taking an ax to your bank account.

If that sounds familiar, it’s probably a result of being unprepared. Sure, 2012’s taxes still have to be completed, and maybe you’re dreading a long night or two sifting through folders of receipts and expense reports to maximize your deductions.

Even if that’s your situation for last year, create a system this January that will eliminate surprises and paperwork headaches from your routine next year. Make 2013 the year you get on top of your taxes. Read the full entry

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Everyone wants a great logo, one that’s easy for people to remember, distinguishes you from competitors, and reflects well on your business and brand. But how to get there? For starters, keep it simple.

Big brands like Microsoft, Google Chrome and eBay started with more complicated logos loaded with graphic features that weren’t needed to make the logo strong and memorable. In fact, these graphics proved to be visually distracting, so the resulting impact was diminished — not exactly what these companies wanted. Read the full entry

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At the start of each New Year you will put forth resolutions. While we all start out with the best intentions, a staggering amount of resolutions are forgotten by mid- January. Here are some helpful tips to attain your retail goals in the New Year.

Straight out the gate in the New Year, retailers will be coming off a large spike in income; however, sudden increases in income are generally mismanaged.

If you do not manage your purchasing, staffing, and schedules, all while making enough sales at the correct price, your profits will go out of the window and you will make few inroads to improve your business or stability despite all of your hard work. Read the full entry

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Rare is the person today who earns a degree, is hired by a big company, and works there for the entirety of his or her career. According to data collected by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, people change jobs around 11 times over their working lifetime. It is not unusual today for workers in their 30s or 40s to go back to school and change professions altogether.

Business.com spoke with Amy Hannington, editor of TotalProfessions.com, about reinventing a professional career, and where to start when making that change.
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Invoice factoring is a financial tool used by many companies to help increase cash flow. The process is relatively simple. You sell your open accounts receivable to a factor in exchange for immediate cash.

You benefit by having access to the current value of your open invoices in a matter of hours instead of having to wait 30, 60 or 90 days to be paid by your customer.

This article gives you the three easy steps necessary to find the right factoring company for you. Read the full entry

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Franchising is an appealing option for someone who wants to run a business without having to start it from the ground up. Restaurant franchises are probably the ones that people are most familiar with. Franchises represent great opportunities for success, but those who want to buy a franchise have to be prepared for hard work and watch out for scams.

With the U.S. economy starting to recover after a long slump, franchising is picking up among people who want to run their own show while using a proven business concept. Business.com recently spoke with Bill Bradley of America’s Best Franchises about what’s going on in the world of franchising today.
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Taking time off from your business during the holidays is important not only for your sanity, but for the continued success of your business. Take a vacation – even a short one – and you’ll come back to work rested, refreshed, and more productive. According to an article in BusinessWeek, taking a break will result in an 82% increase in job performance upon your return.

The key to enjoying your holiday is to treating it like one: shut down your computer, turn off your phone, and take a break from the stresses of managing your business. Read the full entry

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