Columns

Dan Bensema

Real business value: What do you want from your business?

“Start with why” is good, impactful business advice. In fact, there is an entire book dedicated to this principle. Unfortunately, most entrepreneurs only focus...

Test your marketing for a bigger payoff

Organizations are always interested in how well their marketing is performing. Staff often monitor KPIs such as website visits, ad clicks, contact forms, social...

The rise of influencer marketing

Today, influencer marketing is exclusively associated with social media users who market products to their engaged followers.  How it’s evolved Some say the original online influencers...

Breaking down the drivers of real estate values

As a key part of our business, we collect and analyze trends in real estate values. Our data covers nearly two-thirds of Iowa and...

Registered Apprenticeship a rewarding option for business, employee

In today’s ever-changing workforce, employers have to find unique tactics to attract skilled employees.  A Registered Apprenticeship (RA) program is a rewarding option for both...

Iowa a gold standard example of fiscal responsibility

President Joe Biden and members of Congress should pay more attention to the pro-growth fiscal policies occurring in the states. The federal budget process...

Economic headwinds and outsourcing

Here we are on the cusp of Q4, and my email is popping with requests to meet with new companies and organizations who are...

Ways to measure your brand power 

One of the most common types of projects our clients ask us to design is brand research. An organization’s brand is usually critical to...

The importance of discipline in investing (and football)

I’ve been blessed to have a long career, both in the financial world and as a football coach here in my hometown of Cedar...

Let’s stop talking about work-life balance

I’ve lost count of how many companies talk about employee work-life “balance.” Magazine articles, webinars, tweets and emails either bemoan our lack of balance...

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