I write so much content, that sometimes I forget what I’ve written about! I like to look back at the end of the year and highlight the blog posts that I feel were the most useful and poignant for small business owners. Here are my seven favorite posts from 2014.

1. 15 Things I’ve Learned in 15 Years in Business

As part of the celebration of my 15 years of running my own business, I shared some of the lessons I’ve learned along the way. One of my favorite highlights from this post is being consistent. It never ceases to amaze me when small businesses promise something and then can’t deliver on it. I strive to always deliver upon my promises. Another great tip from this post is: when there’s a problem, don’t use email. I know we always rely on technology to communicate, but there are instances (like when your client is upset) when the phone is a better channel.

2. 10 Ways to Grow Your Small Business With Instagram

I always love finding ways for small businesses to leverage marketing tools. Instagram is a fantastic visual marketing tool, and in this post I look at ways to go beyond just setting up an account. I encourage you to post what people want to get them to engage with you, as well as crowdsource your images to get others to feel vested in helping your Instagram account grow.

3. 5 Biggest Marketing Mistakes in Small Business and How to Avoid Them

I’ve seen a lot of business owners make mistakes, and in this post, I outline some of the biggest ones, like not marketing. I don’t care if you don’t have a penny to spend on marketing; it’s still a necessary component of your business’ success (and doesn’t have to cost a dime). Another mistake I see is people trying to be on every social media site without a plan. It’s better to focus on the ones that will deliver the best results.

4. 15 Things About Using Mobile Web Marketing in Your Small Business

I think we’re going to see a lot more brands using mobile web marketing in 2015, so this post will come in handy. This post looks at whether you need a mobile website or an app, as well as provides tips on building an app and mobile text marketing.

5. 9 Steps to Building Your Social Media Following

It’s not enough to be on social media; you also need to attract new followers. In this post, I share 9 steps to boosting your number of followers, including developing a content strategy, creating a blog, and building a tribe.

6. How to Build a Business Relationship

Inspired by an interaction I had with one of my vendors, I dive into the do’s and don’ts of a healthy business relationship in this post. I share with you how to nurture the relationship, as well as the appropriate way to upsell. Hopefully it’ll improve your customer service and sales techniques!

7. 15 Things About Providing Outstanding Customer Service

And speaking of customer service, I give you 15 ways to ensure your customers are thrilled with your service, including listening to them, training your team, and talking to customers. It doesn’t take a lot to make customers happy, but you do have to pay attention to your efforts.

That’s my list of favorite posts for this year! Which really resonated with you?

“Woman With Tablet Computer In Park” courtesy of adamr / www.freedigitalphotos.net