  | May 18, 2012 | | CONNECT WITH SMARTBRIEF |  |  | |  | | - Is your company's online strategy up-to-date?
It's time for companies to update their strategy for connecting with customers, employees and other stakeholders online, Alan Radding writes. Internet-based technology is revamping the way companies operate in every department, from marketing to finance. "You need to revisit the basics: your objectives, your various audiences, what they do with you online now and what more they could do," Radding writes. Business Finance/Big Fat Finance Blog (5/17)       - 3 leadership tips from the inventor of "soft power"
Two decades ago, Harvard University professor Joseph Nye coined the phrase "soft power" to explain the ways in which groups can exert influence through the stories they tell rather than the military might they possess. That insight holds important lessons for modern business leaders, writes Scott Eblin. "If you step back and assess your own power, you'll likely find that your hard power is limited by your circumstances," Eblin explains. "Your soft power, however, is entirely dependent on how compelling your story is." EblinGroup.com/Next Level Blog (5/15)  |  | Fly a lot? Earn 3X rewards points on airline purchases with The Business Gold Rewards Card from American Express OPEN. Designed to earn Membership Rewards® points faster:
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  | | | Sales Strategies |  | | |  | - Why sales leaders should accentuate the positive
When it comes to making decisions about the structure of your sales organization, there are typically benefits and drawbacks to each option, write Andris A. Zoltners, P.K. Sinha and Sally E. Lorimer. For example, using a customer-focused organizational structure can help salespeople to act as business partners, but it may also mean that they may have less specialized knowledge. It's important for sales leaders to emphasize the positive aspects of sales decisions while mitigating the negative consequences, they write. Harvard Business Review online/HBR Blog Network (5/16) |  | 5 Ways to Increase CRM Adoption Within Your Sales Staff
Sales managers usually have no problem grasping the value of CRM--it presents sales data in an easily digested format that allows managers to adjust programs, processes and people to optimize selling. For sales people, however, CRM is often viewed as a new burden, a hindrance and an example of the sales manager shifting his work on to them. In reality, it's as helpful to sales staffers as it is to managers, if used right. | | | | Daily Data Points | | | |  | |  | You've heard about the switch businesses are making to VoIP phone systems but are they right for your business? With more features and lower costs, the answer is probably yes. But don't take our word for it. Read Ziff Davis' Phone Systems Buyer's Guide and Comparison Guides, FREE with your registration. |
 | | | On the Road | | | |  | - Drive down the cost of a rental car this summer
Yes, rental-car prices tend to zoom upward during the summer travel months. But with timely tips from the experts, you can keep your costs down. A few ways: shift away from the big-name brands, cruise the Web for online discounts, and steer clear of the airport rental counters. "In early June through the end of August, these rates will spike," warned Neil Abrams, president of a consulting group that tracks the car-rental industry. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (5/16) |  | There are a number of reasons why shrewd staffing agencies run background checks on potential employees before inviting them in to their business. Failure to properly screen employees can have serious business and financial consequences. This free whitepaper outlines the risks that can arise from bad hires and how careful background screening can help mitigate those risks. |
 | | | App Update | | | |  | - Mobile payments by smartphone may soon be the only way to fly
Business travelers will soon be able to pay for everything from airfare to appetizers with their smartphone. However, many executives aren't ready for a cashless and card-free way of travel. "The bottom line is that mobile payment is so easy and attractive that travelers will adopt it -– whether it is part of the corporate travel process or not," Fred Gebhart writes. TravelMarketReport.com (5/17) |  | The recruiting ecosystem is changing, led by professional social networks like LinkedIn and social media apps like Jobvite. Examine how the new ecosystem creates a streamlined, scientific and democratic approach to the recruiting process in this free white paper. |
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- Latin lessons from 1673
A blogger has stumbled upon a bilingual Latin primer from 1673 that contains moral lessons for children. One tale deals with a boy who accidentally buys a knife that had been stolen from his friend, and describes their efforts to resolve the dispute peacefully. "Of such beginnings oft-times great heart-burnings arise even amongst grown men," the text notes. Ptak Science Books blog (5/13)  | It used to be that information was power. Today, sharing information is power."
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