For the Customers, by the Customers

The Wall Street Journal reports, "All sorts of start-ups and small companies are using the Internet to involve customers in decisions on everything from what to sell, how products look and work, how much they cost, and even how the company operates, like what hours a store should be open or how its floor space should be laid out. For business owners who are short on cash and have little margin for error, there are two big advantages to using consumers as advisers: They’re cheaper than the professional consultants that bigger companies routinely employ."

If you are a small company, considering how to remodel your website, or your store's display, start by interacting with your customers. Host a live chat session on your website, create a contest for a free giveaway to the customer that has the most direct impact on your end result, or start a forum discussion. At the end of the day, your customers will enjoy your service more because they helped create it!