Game Changing Tools, Tips, and Tricks From 8 Local Entrepreneurs

We’ve all had the lightbulb moment—that time when things just click. When this happens for your business, it can take you from good to great.

We spoke with a number of successful entrepreneurs from the Fargo-Moorhead metro to learn about the tools, tips, and tricks that have helped them along the way.

Meet The Commentators

Ryan Fritz, CEO, Office Sign Company

Ryan Fritz, an artist at his core, founded Office Sign Company in 2008, and has built it into a local commerce giant that sells signage all across the country.

What’s new? “We just shipped completed signs to NASA last month. Rockstar Games, Netflix, Activision-Call of Duty Endowment department, Harvard University, Space Force, and Marvel ordering from us in Fargo, ND, has us all very excited here at Office Sign Company. Not to leave out some of the very best local customers we have the opportunity to serve right here in our community. We’re feeling very grateful.”

Andrew J. Young, Creative Director, ABOVO

Andrew J. Young is the founder and creative director of Abovo, a marketing and design agency based in Fargo, ND. His journey to founding Abovo is quite interesting. Initially, he worked as the marketing director for Hatch Realty, a Fargo-based real estate company. During his time at Hatch Realty, the idea for Abovo was conceived when the founder of Hatch Realty suggested that their marketing team evolve into a standalone agency that could serve both Hatch and other clients. This idea came to fruition, and Abovo officially launched. Now, they are a full-service marketing agency.

What’s new? “I think one thing that’s really interesting and kind of new to the services that we provide and/or are going to provide is that we’re spending a lot of time concentrating on how we can help our clients exist in 3D and virtual spaces. The Apple Vision Pro and Meta Quest Three are increasingly becoming consumer products. Augmented and virtual reality spaces are places are clients are going to need to be in—as marketers, we need to be prepared for that. So, we’re spending a lot of time working with 3D modeling software and using 3D virtual headsets.”

Sarah West, Owner/Fractional CFO at Light Consulting & Co-Owner of Dale Carnegie of ND & NW MN

Sarah is a wife, mother, Jesus lover, and entrepreneur.

“My life’s purpose is to make life and business Light for those around me, and I am currently doing that by providing consulting services that help organizations with their finances, people, and overall leadership.”

What’s new? “We recently started a nonprofit organization that is developing a Christian business conference right here in Fargo this November. Our mission is to nurture and equip character-driven leaders to live and lead like Jesus. Given the vibrant community and supportive environment in Fargo, we are optimistic about the potential to expand this conference to other cities across the United States.”

Haylee Houkom, Owner, Power Plate Meals

Haylee Houkom is the co-founder and chief marketing officer of Power Plate Meals, a healthy, ready-to-eat meal prep company based in Fargo. Along with her husband, Seth Houkom, she started Power Plate Meals in 2015 with the aim of providing convenient, nutritious, and flavorful meals to busy individuals and families. The company has grown significantly, now operating nine retail locations and offering nationwide shipping, with meals available in over 100 grocery and micro-market sites across the upper Midwest.

What’s new? “We are continuously working on expanding our brand through grocery stores and other wholesale avenues, which has been so much fun! Locally, you can now find our meals in Hornbacher’s and Cash Wise when you do your weekly grocery shopping, in addition to hundreds of other grocery stores in the Midwest!”

Kent Kolstad, President, Livewire Entertainment

Kent Kolstad, the founder of Livewire, has been at the forefront of event production for 25 years, shaping the industry in Fargo and beyond. His passion for technology and live events fueled the growth of Livewire from a small startup into a leading event production company known for its innovative solutions and high-quality service. Kolstad’s expertise has enabled Livewire to handle a wide range of events, from corporate gatherings to large-scale concerts and festivals, consistently delivering memorable experiences. His leadership and vision have been instrumental in adapting to the evolving demands of the event production industry.

What’s new? “While we produce live events across the US nearly every week these days, we are excited to finally be expanding our brick-and-mortar footprint regionally in two cities, north and south of Fargo! More to come.”

Amanda Shilling, Bodacious Brander/CEO, MINT Brand Marketing

Amanda Shilling is the CEO of her own marketing company which provides marketing strategy, writing, graphic design, event planning, media buying, public relations, and more.

What’s new? “In addition to working with our awesome line-up of clients, we are working on some cool local collaborations that are currently under wraps. More to come on that. On top of that, I’m excited to be bringing a new approach to networking to the area for high-achieving business owners and leaders, focused on knowledge-sharing, and peer-to-peer mentoring, rooted in relationships and trust, for greater local impact, and opportunity for global connections.”

Patrick Kirby, Founder, Do Good Better Consulting

“Patrick Kirby is the Founder of Do Good Better Consulting and a believer that ‘we’ve always done it this way’ is the most dangerous phrase in the English language. Patrick has spent over a decade working in nearly every capacity in the nonprofit industry, for organizations of all shapes and sizes, and strives to ‘Do Good Better’ every day. From organizing $10,000 cure walks to $1 million galas, Patrick’s passion lies in creating creative solutions to make fundraising less boring.” -The Do Good Better Consulting Website

What’s new? “We have expanded our client list that represents organizations from 12 states. We also just celebrated our 320th podcast and re-launched an online learning platform for nonprofits all across the country.”

Jodi Duncan, President, Flint Group

Jodi Duncan’s role at Flint Group involves analyzing data and market research, crafting strategies and proposals, liaising with clients, solving problems with employees, managing internal operations, and planning various projects.

What’s new? “We are constantly looking at consumer behaviors and trends to stay ahead of how people consume marketing messages and interact with brands. That led us to a transformational offering helping our clients analyze and shape their customer experience through journey mapping. By digging into how customers connect emotionally to a brand, we can uncover areas of opportunity to shape and improve that experience from the consumer’s perspective. We are very excited about how this helps our clients develop stronger connections to their customers. It sounds easy but once you start digging in and truly understanding how customers experience your brand, you can really see where there are missed opportunities.”

Game Changing Business Apps & Software

Ryan Fritz

Zendesk

“My team tells me they really appreciate Zendesk. When I used to be more organized, I liked Asana to assign and add deadlines to my tasks and to others.”

Andrew J. Young Andrew J. Young

MeisterTask

“We help a lot of clients with implementing project management software and it’s been a very important part of what we do… We use MeisterTask, but there are so many out there that are great. You just have to find one that works for your business, but you do need one. If you leave all of your things in email, you’re not creating a sustainable business. If someone leaves the business, then all of the information for the projects they were working on is stuck in that email—it’s harder to retrieve. You can eliminate that with project management… It’s nice because there’s no limit on file uploads… It’s also nice to be able to know what hasn’t been completed and what has been completed.”

AI

“We talk about AI every week—we have a meeting dedicated to it. We have implemented AI—one thing we use is Photoshop’s generative AI feature, which allows us to expand photos. We also use ChatGPT and I use a scheduling AI tool called Reclaim AI.”

3D Printing

“We have a commercial 3D printer, which has been really fun for our businesses. It has been really amazing for us to be able to create prototypes. It’s enabled us to create really custom gifts for clients. It’s been able to help us test signage and create signage for clients… The use cases have been really cool.”

Kent Kolstad

Google Suite

“As a tech and audiovisual guy, I’ve got plenty of software recommendations to give, but I’m going to answer this in the opposite direction. I’ve seen many organizations that we work with quickly implement new, trendy software into their workflows, ultimately causing frustration and confusion among their teams. For example, I know of many organizations that have full subscriptions to Google Suite or Microsoft Office, but they still subscribe to and mandate usage of external apps like Slack, Dropbox, and Zoom, when they could be using Google Drive/Meet/Chat, or OneDrive/Teams. Not only could these organizations save money on software, but they could also make their teams’ lives easier, too! Using Google Suite to the fullest extent possible has unified our processes at Livewire and made information sharing and communication a simple process.”

Sarah West

Trello

“Trello has been a game changer in enhancing our project management and workflow. Its intuitive boards, lists, and cards system allows our team to organize projects, tasks, and meetings with efficiency. This visibility has improved our ability to track progress and deadlines and helps us ensure nothing falls through the cracks.”

QuickBooks Online

“The integration of QuickBooks Online has streamlined our financial processes significantly. It provides us with realtime visibility into our financial health, automates everyday accounting tasks, and simplifies payroll, which has been crucial for maintaining our cash flow and budgeting with precision. With QBO, we’ve optimized our financial tracking and reporting processes, enabling more detailed and real-time financial analysis.”

Ramp Credit Cards

“Implementing Ramp credit cards has transformed our expense management. The integration of these cards with our financial software automates the entry and reconciliation of expenses, reduces manual work, and provides real-time spending insights. This not only saves time but also enhances our financial decision making.”

Microsoft Teams

“Microsoft Teams has become essential for our team. It facilitates seamless collaboration through chat, video calls, and file sharing, all integrated into one platform. Teams has enabled us to maintain and strengthen team communication and collaboration regardless of physical location. Microsoft Teams has become more than just a communication tool for us; we’ve integrated it with many of our systems to make our workflows more cohesive.”

Clockify

“Clockify has revolutionized the way we track time and analyze productivity. This tool allows our team members to track their work hours on different tasks and clients, providing insights into time allocation and efficiency. This visibility helps in optimizing workflows and improving time management across the board. Clockify’s features have been expanded within our company to not just track time but also to analyze productivity and project profitability. These continuous improvements in how we use these tools have significantly boosted our efficiency and operational capabilities.”

Haylee Houkom

Microsoft Teams

“We use this for all of our team communications needs—from distribution to operations, marketing, customer service, retail, and wholesale, we have a lot of moving parts, so having a platform to streamline everything and communicate through is key for our team.”

CoSchedule

“CoSchedule is local to Fargo, which we love supporting, of course, but we also love what it has to offer. We utilize this platform to schedule all marketing needs for social media and email marketing purposes. It is super user-friendly and we love it!”

Canva

“Canva is amazing for many different reasons, but our marketing team loves it. We utilize the team feature too, so our team can create projects following brand guidelines and can approve projects right on the app. Plus, the templates and graphic design capabilities are endless!”

Shopify

“Shopify has been amazing for all website needs! From showcasing menus to online shopping, it’s the best website platform we’ve used.”

Amanda Shilling

ClickUp

“ClickUp started as our Project Management system, and recently we uncovered its CRM capabilities. I’m guessing most business owners fall into the tech stack trap, so we continue to assess where we can streamline, where to invest, and where we can save.”

Canva

“We recently shifted over to Canva for our proposals in light of their read receipt capability once a proposal is sent out. In doing so, we canceled a different app that we previously used which will save us $1,200 per year.”

Patrick Kirby

Otter.ai

“We have regularly scheduled, and random out-of-the-blue meetings with current and potential clients all week—and when hopping from one conversation to the next without pausing and jotting down notes on what we discussed or what action steps we assigned out to them or ourselves, it can be overwhelming searching through chicken scratch notes taken on random scraps of paper. But using the Otter. ai transcription service, we can have a conversation and actually look into their virtual or real eyes which is much more engaging than a head-down, note-taking chat. It summarizes the conversation, can be used to track to-do’s for each participant, and has a mobile app to use when you’re at a coffee shop too.”

ChatGPT

“Sure everyone has used this language model to create blogs and social posts, and figure out what to have for dinner, but we’ve taught it to become a research tool and advice-giving robot that speaks and thinks like our brand. It has not only helped shape the way we produce proposals, but helps arrange reports and develop plans that are specific to the clients we work with. The investment in time to engineer prompts that give incredible results and draws on the nearly 10 years of content and experience we have in the fundraising realm is incredibly powerful.”

Jodi Duncan

“As technology advances, we continue to leverage those evolutions to improve everything that we do from strategic planning to media buying to creative and everything in between. It touches every single aspect of our business. We are heavy into project management as we manage thousands of projects per year. Our ability to leverage our project management tool is strengthened by our need to be ‘software agnostic’ by using tools that our clients need us to use.”

Ninety

“We are big believers in Traction and follow that to enhance our leadership and business practices. Ninety is a program that helps you manage Traction meetings and record information and action resulting from those meetings. This has helped us stay organized and accountable as a leadership team.”

ChatGPT

“ChatGPT continues to rock our marketing world. We are constantly looking at this tool and how we can effectively use it to improve efficiency and enhance creativity without adversely impacting uniqueness. We keep a close eye on the legalities of using artificial intelligence so that it’s used in a responsible manner.”

Sprout Social

“Managing social content is incredibly challenging because it moves so quickly and there are many platforms. Using Sprout Social allows us to successfully plan, manage, and measure how multiple social spaces are performing for our clients.”

Media Ocean

“We implemented this platform in 2023. This ecosystem has improved our ability to manage media on behalf of our clients resulting in smarter and more powerful media plans.”

Game Changing Local Service Providers

Ryan Fritz

Dakota Business Lending

“They have always supported us, and this business is run by a great man named Steve Dusek. We could not have accomplished so much without DBL allowing us to grow, from a financial and lending-support standpoint.”

Bell Bank

“Bell Bank has always treated Office Sign Company with such professionalism, especially Doug Burchill. The service is often unmatched.”

AdShark Marketing

“I enjoy the work and the people from Adshark Marketing. Especially when they pay for my golf, which is rare. My greatest fear is sharks, but these guys make me feel safe, most of the time.”

Andrew J. Young

Forum Communications Printing and Short Printer

“We like to use either of these companies for printing whenever we can.”

Marco Technologies

“Marco has been a really valuable partner of ours.”

Daily’s Market

“Daily’s Market is a convenience and grocery store in Downtown Fargo. We do a lot of client gifts and they have been amazing to work with in terms of anything we want to buy in bulk.”

AdShark Marketing

“The only thing we don’t do in-house is digital ad placement. So, we use AdShark and they’ve been a very reliable partner. Our mission and values really closely align.”

Haylee Houkom

BNG Team

“We use BNG Team for our point of sale system for all retail locations.”

ColePapers

“From 2016 to now, ColePapers continues to work with us to help us find better supplies, containers, and products to improve our business.”

Sarah West

Bremer Bank

“Bremer Bank has been a cornerstone for our financial management and growth. Their tailored banking solutions and great customer service have ensured our financial operations are smooth and robust, supporting our business at every stage of growth.”

Short Printer

“Short Printer consistently delivers high-quality printing services for our marketing materials. Their attention to detail and reliability in handling our printing needs have helped increase our brand’s visual presentation and outreach.”

Sign Badgers

“Sign Badgers has been instrumental in boosting our local visibility through creative and durable signage. Their custom solutions have not only increased our physical presence but also aligned seamlessly with our branding efforts.”

North Dakota Women’s Business Center

“The ND Women’s Business Center has provided invaluable support through networking events, workshops, and one-onone advisory services. Their commitment to empowering local businesses like ours has been critical in navigating challenges and seizing growth opportunities.”

Connect Interiors

“Connect Interiors has transformed our workspace with its innovative and ergonomic office solutions. Their focus on creating productive and aesthetically pleasing environments has greatly enhanced our team’s morale and efficiency.”

Patrick Kirby

DonorDock

“When we have questions about CRM’s for nonprofits, or need a bit of information on trends in data or reporting, there is no better business to work with. They have carved out this amazing position in the world of donations, communications, and data mining for small and medium-sized nonprofits better than anyone else, and are an incredible resource.”

Mobile Pro

“Never have I ever worked with an AV Company that has had better perspective, creativity, and passion for what they do to create remarkable events. Brian Bestge and his team develop amazing chemistry with their clients and understand the art and science behind curating a memorable experience for guests. And they understand the nonprofit fundraising event landscape better than anyone else.”

Kient Kolstad

United Rentals

Sunbelt

Choice Bank

Visto’s Trailer Sales

Wallwork

Penske

Amanda Shilling

Nexus Consulting LLC

“We have worked with Craig Johnson for IT consulting and he has been great.”

DevelopHR

“Cristy Jacobson has been our go-to here for everything HR.”

Jodi Duncan

MindShift

“We love the work that MindShift does leveraging the strengths of people on the autism spectrum and have had great success working with them in our business.”

Allegro Group

“We’ve worked with Allegro Group on employee coaching and recruitment. They are fantastic at building high-performing teams and bringing calm to the storm that is typical in the agency business.”

Game Changing Book Recommendations

Ryan Fritz

• “Good to Great” by Jim Collins

• “Traction” by Gino Wickman

• “The Count of Monte Cristo” by Alexandre Dumas

• “Who” by Goff Smart and Randy Street

• “The Art of War” by Sun Tzu

• “Creativity, Inc.” by Ed Catmull

• “Meditations” by Marcus Aurelius
  “This is a great book that has me really looking into stoicism.”

Andrew J. Young

• “Influence, The Psychology of Persuasion” by Robert Cialdini
  “Without a doubt No. 1 for me. I was introduced to this book in college. I often say the contents in this book are ‘the only things I learned in college’ as I reference this book so often (to our team and to clients).”

• “Beyond Order, 12 More Rules for Life” by Jordan Peterson
  “This is just a great book to help give you context and insight for life.”

• “Radical Candor” by Kim Scott
  “This is definitely a great book that addresses the question you asked me, ‘Found any good ways to motivate team members?’ Be honest. Be real. Get candor. Fun book to read.”

• “Hug Your Haters” by Jay Baer
  “Again, not the BEST book I’ve read by any means, but a GREAT book to equip businesses with something ‘they can implement tomorrow’ around embracing customer complaints and keeping customers happy. I’d have to think the ROI for anyone who reads this is huge.”

Sarah West

• The Bible
  “The Bible, particularly the New Testament, has been foundational in guiding our leadership style toward servant-based leadership, which has proven very effective in today’s work environment. It instills values that promote humility, service, and valuesbased leadership, which resonate deeply with our team and clientele.”

• “Traction” by Gino Wickman
  “Adopting the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) from this book has transformed our organizational structure. It has provided us with a powerful framework to stay focused, clarifying our company’s vision, mission, and goals in a straightforward manner. This system has enhanced our internal communications and operational efficiency, ensuring everyone on the team is aligned and moving in the same direction.”

• “Stories that Stick” by Kindra Hall
  “As a yearly read, this book continuously reinforces the power of storytelling in our communication strategy. Kindra Hall, a Concordia College alum, illustrates how engaging stories can captivate audiences and make our messages more memorable.”

Amanda Shilling

• “The Gap and The Gain: The High Achievers’ Guide to Happiness, Confidence, and Success” by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy
  “‘The Gap and The Gain: The High Achievers’ Guide to Happiness, Confidence, and Success’ by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy was recommended to me by my husband Jon Shilling, who has his own company. It has shifted how I think of where I am and where I want to be when it comes to scaling my business.”

• “10x Is Easier Than 2x: How World-Class Entrepreneurs Achieve More by Doing Less” by Dan Sullivan and

• “Who Not How: The Formula to Achieve Bigger Goals Through Accelerating Teamwork” by Dan Sullivan
  “Both are a solid blend of thinking differently and tactical takeaways to implement right away.”

Jodi Duncan

• “The Courage to be Disliked” by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumatke Koga
  “The book ‘The Courage to be Disliked’ by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumatke Koga has helped me shift my thinking more about what’s going right than what’s going wrong. When you look at our world today, the level of criticism and hate is fast and furious. Learning to tune out some of that is imperative to succeed. As leaders, you have to expect a certain level of “dislike” as part of the job. Making decisions that impact people’s lives is not for the faint of heart. By making bold decisions, there is a high likelihood that you will frustrate someone and be judged harshly. It’s especially maddening when the criticism comes from others who are jumping to conclusions with little information. This book helps me rethink how I view my life and my own happiness. Happy people are just more fun to work with!”

Ryan Kirby

• “The Hobbit” by J.R.R Tolkien
  “Fundraising is all about storytelling, and visioning with potential donors and supporters, as well as crafting a world where your nonprofit is the hero of the community that helps solve social ills or woes. And J.R.R. Tolkien is the GOAT of world-building and storytelling. If you can vision cast with leaders in the community and help them imagine solutions to really hard problems… and that your organization is the vessel to make that positivity happen—what better way to learn how to tell a compelling story than with one of the best writers of all time.”

Game Changing Cost Saving Hacks

Ryan Fritz

• “We’ve learned to negotiate out of items in a contract that we have no use for, or, again, that we can tackle internally.”

• “One of the greatest hacks for cost saving measure is building relationships.”

• “We try to purchase with intelligence, so we can pass any savings on to the customer. There is always a conversation on bulk pricing or shipping economically. As a manufacturer we strive to be self sufficient, almost to a fault, making anything and everything in house, to make use of the talent and skillsets on the team.

• “Cost saving often comes down to attention to detail—I call it ‘on the ground accounting.’ When you become a multi million dollar sign company, you would be surprised at how bulk purchasing power can help your bottom line. Some days, you simply have to ask if a bulk order of supplies can be bought for less. I suppose I’m frugal like my Mom, but in a good way.”

Sarah West

• “We actively manage our insurance to ensure we’re getting the best rates for essential coverage.”

• “We also focus on building a positive work culture, which has proven to reduce turnover and control compensation costs, as employees often value a great work environment over higher pay.”

• “We’ve found that property ownership is more attainable than expected. With programs from the SBA, local economic initiatives, and the Bank of North Dakota, acquiring your own property can significantly cut long-term costs.”

Kent Kolstad

• “Everything requires a subscription these days. While those costs are typically minimal up-front, they add up fast. We comb through our subscriptions roughly once per quarter to make sure our spending is minimized and that we are actually using the services we’ve subscribed to.”

• “Almost every major service provider out there has a wholesale/commercial extension of what they provide to day-to-day consumers; for us, it’s working with wholesale fuel providers for our vehicle fleet, commercial travel services from airlines, and wholesale commercial lodging platforms to ensure we’re maximizing every dollar we spend as we hit the road to produce events. If you don’t know, ask! Often, many businesses don’t share details about their commercial/wholesale services publicly… you just have to ask!”

Game Changing Marketing Tips

Andrew J. Young

• “You can have marketing work for you even when you don’t have time to do it yourself. An example of this would be email marketing automization. That’s one thing we assist a lot of our clients with—we help them develop a couple of email drips so that anytime they have a new customer sign up on their website to receive an email, they’ll receive a set of 10 emails for the next year and not have to think about it.”

• “Data is king. We want people to willingly give us their information. One way to do that is having a prize or giveaway every month where you have to sign up on the website versus sharing social media posts… Some of the most useful pieces of data are email addresses and cell phone numbers. The other thing that we find, incredibly useful is mailing addresses. One thing we tell our clients is that because of Amazon, everybody is in their mailbox almost every, every day, if not every other day… There aren’t many marketing platforms where you can gurantee the intended recepient will touch your piece of marketing. You can guarantee that almost any piece of mail you send them that they’ll at least read the headline or cover.”

Sarah West

• “We keep our accounts fun. We consistently post about the fun and engaging work environment at our company. This not only boosts our team’s morale but also attracts prospective employees who align with our company culture. This tactic has been a tremendous success, resulting in a bench of 22 individuals who want to work for us when positions become available.”

Haylee Houkom

• “We’ve expanded our wholesale and grocery store offerings and as we’ve done this, we’ve been very intentional about showcasing the new locations offering our meals.”

• “Instagram reels and videos have been really important for us.”

• “Oddly enough, in-store events have remained a staple for us. I don’t think you can makeup for face-to-face interactions.”

Kent Kolstad

• “Word of mouth is so important. Encourage clients, team members, and friends and family to share about your business—get them excited!”
• “Support FM’s nonprofits! Giving back in this community gets noticed— rightly so—and feels great, too.”
• “If you’re going to use an ad agency or media company (magazines, radio, TV, newspaper), trust them. They know what they do better than you do. Teach them about your industry and let them help you take it to the next level.”
• “Don’t throw your money away on marketing. Is there a clear potential ROI on that ad spend? What is it? When will you see it materialize? If you can’t answer these questions, question the need to spend the money

Amanda Shilling

• “Community involvement and giving back is part of who I am, even when I was an employee of other businesses. And now, as a business owner, from a tactical perspective, this gets our brand out there in a positive way, while helping others. Win, win.”

• “Our social media truly represents who we are and we are super intentional about that. People, both potential clients and potential hires, have been drawn to us because they can feel who we are through the screen. It’s a team effort and I’m proud of my team.”

Game Changing Customer Engagement and Loyalty Tips

Patrick Kirby

• “Random notes of gratitude might be the most influential way we connect with our partners and clients. No ask. No pitch. No sales. Just genuine gratitude for the work they do, the impact they make and the acknowledgment they make a difference. You never know what kind of day anyone is having—but a simple note of authentic appreciation with zero expectations of an ROI is the key to enhancing engagement. Let me put it this way—if every time you pick up the phone, you ask for a donation or need for business, your potential or current client will always know exactly what you want. But random outreach of gratitude or updates on how they have made your community a better place to live—the next time you reach out, they won’t know what delightful conversation they will get. You keep them engaged by keeping them guessing with authentic appreciation.”

Jodi Duncan

• “Geofencing. When done correctly, it’s cost-effective and performs well.”

• “Micro-influencers are such a great way to build your brand without the craziness or cost of a celebrity influencer.”
• “Dashboards and analytics help ensure that your marketing campaigns are meeting your KPIs easier than ever if you are measuring performance, adjusting and optimizing marketing strategies based on that.”
• “Brand refresh. People have so many marketing messages coming at them, it’s critical for businesses to update their brands more frequently than in the past. A brand refresh can often do the trick to infuse new enthusiasm for the brand.”
• “Curated, customized content. Delivering content, sales programs, smart product or service-oriented information.”

Patrick Kirby

• “Niche down. We were getting to the point where we were trying to be everything to everyone, and in turn, watered down our services and didn’t concentrate on what we were really good at! We picked three things and pushed all the rest to the side, and things exploded because potential clients understood more clearly how we could be a partner to them in helping them raise money!”
• “Concentrate less on vanity metrics. We stopped basing success and potential growth on ‘likes’ and ‘opens’ and moved to work with those that loved what we do, rather than chasing those who didn’t have interest and trying to prove we were worthy of time and attention. That cortisol rush was a serious addiction to overcome, but once we moved away from it, we became more engaged with more clients who wanted and needed us.”
• “Speak everywhere. The best way to engage our potential audience is to stand on stage, or podcast in the ears of nonprofits who need to hear our message. We started small and now get the opportunity to present in front of audiences we never imagined being invited to speak in front of!”

Loyalty Tips

Andrew J. Young

“We try to do a client gift every month—a small gift to all of our clients. If we don’t do it every month, we try to do it every two or three months for sure. Last month, we printed battery trays for our clients using our 3D printers. Some of the gifts aren’t expensive and they don’t have to be… For us, they’re meant as a way for our clients to get to know us just as much as they are for us to keep our relationships active and warm.”

Ryan Fritz

“I’m not sure if software like TrustPilot is unique, but honest feedback from our customers does help us connect with the customer and understand when we do things right or when we do not meet our expectations.”

Sara West

• Cost-Saving Expertise
  “We ensure our services are a net positive for our clients by identifying tax savings and financing programs that keep more money within their businesses than what they spend on our fees.”

• Prioritizing Relationships
  “At our company, relationships take precedence over transactions. We aim to be the first call our clients make, whether they have good or bad news. This ensures we are partners in every sense, walking alongside them through all business seasons.”

• Comprehensive Solutions
  “Our ability to manage every aspect of accounting, from cleanup to process implementation and execution, makes it hard for clients to leave us.”

• Network of Experts
  “Over the last 20 years, I have built a network of top-tier bankers, CPAs, attorneys, and insurance agents. By matching our clients with professionals who align with their responsiveness and risk tolerance, we enhance our value and their business stability.

• Emotional Support
  “Recognizing that dealing with finances is often an emotional undertaking, we go beyond mere number-crunching to support our clients emotionally, helping them manage the stress and responsibility that come with financial decisions.”

Haylee Houkom

• “We started offering a rewards program in our retail locations.”
• “We have started working with influencers to expand our brand and increase customer loyalty.”
• “We offer weekly and bi-weekly online subscriptions.”
• “We curate social media content showcasing our meals, our team, and what we do behind the scenes.”
• “Being involved in our communities has been important for us. We do this through events and donating food to local charities and partnering with schools to help kids and families in need.”

Kent Kolstad

“Work to build trust and clear communication between customers and your whole team, not just you. Your company matters to the customer—not you. If it’s just you they trust, your team and your company will never be able to deliver on your behalf.”

Amanda Shilling

“We are B.S. free and legitimately care about our clients. These may not seem ‘unique’ but the feedback is that it’s refreshing and one of the many reasons people continue to work with us.”

Jodi Duncan

• Talk to your customers! ” It sounds so simple but, as a society, we’ve quit talking to people and building relationships.”

• Measure feedback “An NPS (net-promoter score) or some form of formalized feedback is helpful in enhancing customer loyalty.”

• Customer appreciation “Customer appreciation is always a smart strategy even if it’s a simple ‘thank you’ note.”

• Share point of view “Share point of view information intended to be helpful and educational.”

• Provide ideas “Proactively provide ideas that can help grow customers’ businesses.”

Employee Motivation

Andrew J. Young

“I’ve learned that when we come to work every day and we bring ideas to the table, we are fulfilled by seeing our ideas used and valued… If as an employee, you come with an idea and get to see it being used and valued by customers, that is very thrilling.”

“Many years ago, while working with Diane Sawyer in New York City, I learned a great, simple tip that you should try your best to be someone who people want to work with.”

Sarah West

“Our approach to employee motivation has been largely influenced by insights from Marcus Buckingham’s book, ‘Love + Work.’ In it, we find validation for our leadership style which focuses on leveraging individual strengths rather than fitting a person into a predefined role. Instead of trying to remedy their weaknesses, we identify what Buckingham refers to as their ‘wyrd’ (their unique talents) and assign tasks that enhance these strengths. At first, this method can confuse people, as they’re not used to environments that don’t seek to change them. It’s magical to watch them flourish when they engage in work that aligns with their innate abilities. This strategy not only boosts motivation but also leads to profound satisfaction as employees thrive using their God-given talents.”

Haylee Houkom

“We love fun competitions for rewards. Our retail team loves to make monthly challenges that motivate them at work and to have fun, friendly competition with co-workers. Our team can get pretty competitive!

Kent Kolstad

“Trust. I see so many organizations around Fargo-Moorhead that are well-managed but micromanaged. Unleash the potential of your team and trust their ideas, skills, and passions. You may have to step in every now and then, and you may have to course correct, but what if they soar?”

Amanda Shilling

“Getting to know your team is so important. I don’t do superficial, and lead from a space of authenticity and vulnerability. It’s pretty incredible how much simply caring about people helps motivate them to do right by your business, and ultimately your clients.”

Jodi Duncan

“We recently asked all of our employees to fill out a questionnaire on our HR platform indicating how they like to be recognized. There are extreme variances in how people feel about internal and external validation. What is meaningful to one person may not resonate at all with someone else. Getting feedback directly from our employees has helped us to personalize our motivational efforts.”

Patrick Kirby

Unlimited PTO and a results-only work environment. No restrictions for time off is a delightful fad in the HR world—but when you actually care more about the quality of work than the amount of time it takes to do it, you end up with extreme flexibility that actually cares more about the people who work with you over the bottom line. Spoiler alert: When you care more about the people you work with, your revenue grows. It takes constant communication and trust in your employees—which makes you a better employer, boss, and human. Which makes your place of employment a place that everyone wants to be a part of.”