Have you ever purchased a product based on the recommendation of a friend, family member, or colleague? It's an accepted principle of marketing that consumers tend to trust and follow personal recommendations—usually from family and friends—more than they trust traditional advertising messages. And, in the digital age, a growing number of consumers are also following advice and recommendations from people they don't know but still trust: influencers.

Organizations have always faced the need to change, but—with the current rate of technological change, intense competitive pressures, shift to a knowledge-based economy, and globalization—change has become more common and even more crucial to success. As such, leading change is an important skill for managers.

While many management experts have estimated that some 70 percent of change initiatives fail, more recent research suggests that finding valid and reliable empirical evidence of such a failure rate is problematic.

Writing grants is often a critical part of gaining funding for any nonprofit organization's mission. Strategic grant writing aligns the needs of a nonprofit with funding sources, whether foundations, government agencies, corporations, or individuals. The Skye introductory-level course offers a guide to the basics of grant writing.

What behaviors and traits do successful entrepreneurs share? Research at Harvard Business School by Lynda Applegate, Janet Kraus, and Timothy Butler suggests that of eleven dimensions of entrepreneurship, founders (successful entrepreneurs) commonly excel in five key areas. The following infographic outlines those dimensions.

When speaking in front of an audience, you want to feel prepared, relaxed, and confident. But in the days and moments before delivering a speech, even the most prepared individuals can struggle with stage fright and nerves. How can you manage those anxious feelings? Research shows that speech anxiety can be greatly reduced through the practice of simple relaxation techniques,such as deep breathing and visualization. Check out our latest infographic for tips on delivering a great speech.

The terms search engine marketing (SEM) and search engine optimization (SEO) are widely used in the marketing industry. Digital marketers define both terms as the marketing of a business online, using both paid advertisements that appear on search engine results pages (SERPs) as well as unpaid methods (SEO). Search engine marketing is a strategy for promoting increased website traffic and visibility. The bulk of SEM is conducted primarily through paid advertising.

When applying for a job, it is best practice to write a cover letter, even if the job posting only asks for your resume. Resumes generally follow a specific format and only allow for an abbreviated version of your qualifications. To a hiring manager, they can all start to look the same. The cover letter offers you the opportunity to stand out from the rest of the pack and make a more human appeal for the job. 

Writing a cover letter should take time and consideration. A hastily written and untailored cover letter could make your well-crafted resume worthless. Check out our latest infographic for five simple tips for writing a successful cover letter.

For entrepreneurs, a marketing plan is an essential resource, as it outlines the new venture's approach to attracting potential customers and convincing them to buy the products or services. It can also be used to obtain funding from investors.

Entrepreneurs rely on marketing plans to quantify expected marketing goals and results and provide a reference point for the organization; they also offer structure and direction for the marketing effort. In addition, a marketing plan can be employed to communicate marketing strategy and objectives to others in the organization.

When starting a new venture or business, there is a sequential process that you can follow to help you stay on course. This process can be broken down into eight stages, starting with discovery and ending with implementation.   

Much of the entrepreneurial process is focused on developing a product or service and planning how to successfully introduce it into the marketplace. To do this successfully, you need strong leadership in place. Leadership is particularly central to Stage Four: Strategic Planning, in which the vision for the venture is established.

Leadership and ethical conduct go hand in hand. Principled leaders demand principled behavior. In turn, ethical behavior is a foundation of effective leadership.

When it comes to organizational ethics, it starts at the top. No organization can achieve a sustainable ethical culture without senior management setting the example and leading the way.