Columns

Marketing is essential to the growth and success of any business, yet it seems to be the first part of the operating budget that managers slash when revenues dwindle and the economy gets unpredictable. Understanding and appreciating the role of marketing can prevent business owners from making the mistake of viewing this type of outreach as a dispensable luxury.
Whether you conduct business in a small, rural area or the global market, some principles are universal:

When Ben Franklin famously wrote, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” I’m pretty sure he wasn’t warning his readers about the perils of cyber crime. But in today’s world of phishing, shoulder-surfing and computer spyware, his advice hits home.
It’s a sad reality that some people will rip you off if you give them an opportunity. Just as you take safety precautions when handling cash, so should you be vigilant when using credit or debit payment cards for purchases, whether the transaction is in person on online.

When discussing the difficulty of defining pornography, Potter  Stewart, Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, said, “I know it  when I see it.”  
Pornography comes in all forms these days and we  are graced with its ubiquitous presence on television, the internet  and in lyrics of hit songs.  But is it really all that easy to  recognize?

A new study argues that New Mexico and 42 other states are wasting their money on film incentives.  
“In the harsh light of reality, film subsidies offer little bang for the buck,” writes Robert Tannenwald, of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
I give the study a thumbs-down for its biases and mistaken assumptions, but it’s another reminder that the incentive program isn’t well understood.