Think about the last time you saw a person let out a huge sigh, slump their shoulders, and say something like “things will never change around here.” Didn’t it just completely drain you of your energy? Unfortunately, it’s very easy to get caught up in the “Ain’t it awful club”. Negativity is very contagious and easily caught. And in the workplace – especially if you run your own business – it must be avoided at all costs.
4 Ways to Remove Negativity From Your Workplace
May 5th, 2010 by Richard5 Great Investments for Marketing Your Business
May 1st, 2010 by RichardHere are 5 great things your business can do to market itself with little investment and large return:
1. Join your local Chamber of Commerce
You’ll benefit from perks such as networking, member-to-member discounts, and sponsorship opportunities. The annual fees are affordable and more than worth it when you compare to the price of a newspaper ad or a billboard. Not so into networking? Just being in the directory can bring you some business. But if you get out there and network, all it takes is one great connection to pay for a lifetime Chamber membership!
2. Network at business and social functions
Step out and make connections. If you’ve followed the advice in step one, try out a mixer. Ask a friend who’s a Chamber member to bring you along if you’re feeling intimidated; they can introduce you to some people and make you feel more comfortable. We have personally found that the people who attend mixers are friendly and easy going, and we end up having a lot of fun. Other events to meet business people in your community include fundraising events, seminars, conferences, and volunteer work. You could even become a sponsor to add value and support your community. And if you still feel intimidated, imagine everybody is naked. Trust us, it works.
3. Use social networking
If you’re not familiar with Facebook or Twitter, make it a priority to learn about them soon. Social media is becoming the new way for people to find information, products and services. Many searches now start in YouTube and Twitter instead of Google! Will you be there when your customers are looking? The wonderful thing about social media is it doesn’t take long to set up, it’s totally free (other than a bit of your time), and it’s some of the best marketing you can do. Be sure to check out our post about how to use Twitter for your business to help you get started.
4. Make it easy for customers to talk about you
Deliver value that your customers feel compelled to tell others about. If you run your business with a passion for helping others to achieve their goals, your customers will start noticing – and more importantly, talking.
5. Get a website!
Create an online presence. Your website is no longer an option or a luxury – it’s your new “phone number with benefits”. Consider this: Social media is now the new super-highway of online marketing; people will notice you as they whiz by. Once you catch them, you can consider your website the end of the road where they will stop, rest, and get to know you.
5 Important Things to Look For When Selecting a Web Designer
April 20th, 2010 by RichardHere are 5 tips to help you select the right web designer for your next project.
1. Do you like their work?
Most designers have an online portfolio to display work they’ve done for their clients; spend some time on their website getting a feel for their style and ability. Look at the quality, character, and diversity of their work. Visit the websites that they’ve designed (don’t just look at the thumbnails). Do the sites look professional and well put together? Is anything “broken” (text spilling out of boxes, images not lining up, menus displaying incorrectly, etc.) Are the sites intuitive and easy to use? Do they represent the company, style or industry well? Does the designer do creative things that fit that particular client? Their portfolio should give you a pretty good idea of their quality and if you like their overall style. If you aren’t impressed by what you see, move on.
2. Do they have an office?
An office doesn’t necessarily make a great web designer, but having an office is a clear sign of commitment to the business and to serving you. Offices also have much less distractions than the typical home, allowing the designer(s) to stay more focused and productive. And last but not least, it’s much harder for a designer to ‘disappear’ when a customer can easily visit them!
3. Do they charge enough to stay in business?
Beware of hunting for a great deal – sometimes things really are too good to be true. Sure, the guy down the street may be able to build an E-Commerce site for a few hundred dollars, but are they making enough money to sustain a successful web design business? Are they going to be around in 2-3 years to help you when you need to grow? It’s much like buying a car – do you go for the cheap lemon that’s going to let you down in a few months, or make an investment now for a high-performance vehicle that comes with great service and warranty? Look for a professional agency that uses professional programmers and designers, and rest easy knowing that your agency is prepared to be there for you in the future. It really will save you time and resources in the end.
4. Do they offer the features, services and expertise you need?
If you require something specific for your project, make sure the company can provide it. For example, if you want to edit your website on your own, make sure the agency offers that ability with their websites. If you need E-Commerce or special programming/features, check out the agency’s expertise and experience to help you with a project of that nature. While it may appear that your customized site is something that they can do, you don’t want to waste time and money when the project falls through in the middle. Check the agency’s list of services and their portfolio. Have they done similar work for other clients? If you’re unsure, speak to their clients and get a feel for how those projects went.
5. And most importantly… do you like them?
Don’t hire a designer without talking to them first. This is the most important part of selecting the right designer. They may have the greatest portfolio in the world and the longest list of big-name clients, but if you don’t like them, do you really want to spend a few months working with them? The interview will help you determine their attitude, character and their overall desire to help you. Do they seem genuinely interested in your project and business? Do they ask intelligent questions and help you think of things you may not have considered? Are they friendly and easy to get along with? Are they passionate about what they do? Do you get a good vibe from the meeting? These are all important things to consider because they are precursors to the relationship you’ll have with them later on.
Hey, is that Narnia Back There?
March 18th, 2010 by CrisSometimes, you get to do something different – and destructive – at your business.
There has been empty office space beside us since we moved up to the tenth floor of the only highrise building in Grande Prairie; empty space that we have been possessively salivating over for a few months now. Admin staff was explicitly instructed to watch and immediately report any suspicious browsing behavior by anyone who was not recognized. When such news was reported, the entire office was immediately thrown into a tizzy. Who is looking? Why are they there? Don’t they know that eventually that space is ours? Who do we have to arm wrestle to ensure they don’t take our future space?
OK, we’re actually not very good at arm wrestling. Which is good, because it looks like we don’t have to employ those type of skills.
Last night, after a good, productive day of client meetings, design, number crunching, and friendly banter, we officially cut a hole in the wall between our existing space and the office next door. Although we had been tempted at times to take such measures before we had permission (or a signed lease), everything was legit for this particular project. A celebratory cheer went up around the stragglers who stayed to watch as drywall flew and steel studs were removed. I even took a crack at punching out a piece of drywall and managed to get a small scrape on my knuckle, of which I remained proud until it disappeared. No scars for this girl, I guess.
As the collective sighs of proprietary satisfaction died down, we realized that all those years of dedication, laughter, sweat, and tears had brought us to another amazing milestone in our businesses. It meant no more sitting on each other’s laps while we tried to get all of our work done. It meant finally having a sink. It meant, hopefully, something that would continue to aid us in our quest for client satisfaction.
Watch for our next installment… floors and wires!
We already have Facebook, so why bother with Twitter?
March 13th, 2010 by RichardFor those of us who have been using Facebook regularly, whether it’s for business or personal use, Twitter may seem pointless. You can not only update your status on Facebook, but do a whole bunch of other things like poke people and play games too. What do you need Twitter’s silly 140-character-limited updates for? It’s just an extra step… isn’t it? It wasn’t till recently that we discovered Twitter ourselves (putting it off for the same reasons just noted), and once we discovered its true power, it has become one of our most loved social media tools virtually overnight. Read on to see what Twitter is all about and why it is a powerful addition to Facebook.
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Want to be more productive? Try taking a break.
February 25th, 2010 by RichardWhen you own a business it’s not uncommon to work long hours and constantly be under the gun to meet a deadline. But the fact is, we all have our limitations and eventually exhaustion and stress will catch up to you. You can push for only so long before you hit the proverbial “wall” and suddenly feel yourself inescapably shutting down. After a period of disinterested dormancy, you find your mojo returning and before you know it, you’re well on your way to repeating the cycle all over again. Isn’t there a better way?
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10 Characteristics of a Servant Leader
February 18th, 2010 by RichardIn 1970, Robert K. Greenleaf redefined the way that we think about management. His idea was dubbed “Servant Leadership” and flips the traditional mode of management thinking and organizational structure completely upside down. The following is a list of 10 Qualities that Servant Leaders (and the organizations they serve) possess. Do you have these qualities?
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The power of focus in small business (Part 1 of 3)
February 16th, 2010 by RichardFocus is one of the most important aspects of running and growing a successful business. It applies to every aspect of your business – from how you conduct yourself personally to how the company operates as a whole. There is a saying, “What you focus on, grows!” and business is no exception to that rule. In the first of three articles, we will discuss how you can apply focus to your business in order to achieve more!
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Are you blogging yet?
February 13th, 2010 by Richard
If you attended the John Jantsch / Duct Tape Marketing Seminar on “Using the power of the Internet to promote your local business” in Grande Prairie on February 11, you’ll know the value of having a blog for your business. A blog is a powerful tool to share information and expertise with your customers, and used wisely it can be one of the best sources of traffic to your website. Read on to learn about how you can use a blog to help you market your business online.
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