Cover story, continued ... Whole Food Market’s blog, Whole Story, is the perfect model for a blog. Sure, they post about new products and seasonal favorites, but they leaven these product- first posts with lifestyle-based posts like “Growing Healthy Kids Together,”“Supplier Stories,” and tons of recipes. Whole Foods has a huge demographic, but they know that anyone going to the blog is probably interested in health, cooking, and sourcing ingredients. In turn, they create content that speaks to these interests. When you’re creating or updating your blog, ask yourself, “What do customers want to know?” Mix nitty-gritty posts with others that are more lighthearted. You should create a variety of content that hits your demographic and encourages people to come back.
CRUSH IT IN YOUR COMMUNITY LIKE QUICKEN LOANS For 14 consecutive years, Quicken Loans has appeared on Fortune Magazine’s 100 Best Places to Work list. What consistently draws top talent to this company? Well, one factor is their focus on improving lives in their community. “We are really on a mission to change the way people look at Detroit and really focus on creating opportunities throughout the city of Detroit for our team members,”VP of business consulting, La Shandra Sartor, says. This synergy of brand and community creates an environment that attracts great employees both locally and nationally. Community involvement shows that you live your values every day.
hand no matter where you’re located. Look for charitable projects that align with your company culture and make a consistent effort to contribute to your surroundings. Customers and employees will take note of the good you do. WORD TO THE WISE: EMULATE BUT ADAPT Looking to successful companies for inspiration is a great starting point, but you have to remember to adapt these best practices. No two businesses are the same, so you can’t expect an exact duplication to work wonders for you. Take the framework of great ideas and tailor them to your particular industry and demographic. These examples are just starting points. Look at some of your favorite companies, isolate one practice they do well, and see how you can apply it to what you do. Start 2018 off on the right foot by setting some ambitious goals for your business. Providing value to your customers, employees, and community will yield big returns throughout the year and beyond.
Now, you might not be big enough to play a huge role in revitalizing a major city, but there are plenty of ways to lend a
Want to See Better Report Cards in 2018?
Make Reading a Family Resolution
Every parent wants to see their child do well in school, and there’s one fun activity that benefits students of all ages: reading. In a world with so much stimulation, however, it can be difficult to motivate kids to put down a screen and pick up a book. NewYear’s resolutions are the perfect opportunity to make reading a priority. Here are a few tips to make 2018
really cement those reading habits. Better yet, set a combined goal that the entire family can work toward. Don’t be afraid to pull out all the stops. If your kids know that reading one book per week through June means an extra-special summer vacation, their enthusiasmwon’t wane come spring. USE READING APPS Goodreads is a social network for bibliophiles. You can find recommendations, share ratings, and create lists of both completed and to-be-read books. Users also create reading lists based on topic, genre, decade, and more. With over 2 billion books added, you’ll never run out of inspiration. Biblionasium offers the same services, but it’s designed specifically for children. Talk to other parents and create a network of friends and classmates. After all, nothing is cooler to a kid than what their friends are doing. Avid readers tend to do better academically from kindergarten through college. In fact, a study from the Journal of Education and Practice found that reading comprehension predicted success in other subjects more than any other factor. If you want to see improved report cards, make a reading resolution for your entire household.
the year your kids become bookworms. MAKE IT A FAMILY RESOLUTION
There’s no better motivator than solidarity! Plus, we’re guessing everyone in your household could stand to read a little more. You don’t have to read the same books or set identical goals, but it’s a lot more fun when everyone participates. Schedule weekly reading discussions so everyone can share the cool stories they’ve read. Stack your completed books in your house somewhere as a monument to all the knowledge your family has gained. SET REWARD MILESTONES Positive reinforcement will propel your kids to keep reading long after the calendars have turned. For a certain number of books completed or hours spent reading, offer them a prize. You can even create a big end goal to
2 • www.yolofskylaw.com
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