Posted by Eric Hubbs on Fri, Jul 31, 2009 @ 04:32 PM
By Jim Ratichek, President of Applied Process Logic, an internet strategy consulting firm.
Grow Your Business Online
If you would like to grow sales through your web presence or are considering starting an internet-based business, this is a great opportunity to get an in-depth look at the essentials.
The download includes:
- available website tools
- marketing options for your current or plann ed website
- pre-built website templates
- SEO packages
- fully-customized web properties
- conversions and effective calls-to-action
- how to plan wisely and calculate the real costs and benefits for your business
Should you spread costs out or pay up-front? What about owning versus leasing your web infrastructure? We'll
be explaining these topics and others such as cloud computing's effects on future website design.
Website marketing effectiveness is covered with
a powerpoint of Search-Engine-Optimization (SEO) by our own SEO implementation staff. In the download we explain about free options for setting up and monitoring the effectiveness of your website.
Click here to download Tips on Growing Your Business Online.
Not quite sure what direction your business is headed or how to grow it to the level you'd like to? Let one of our Certified Collaboration Consultants help you by scheduling a Free Business Consultation.
These tips were developed by Jim Ratichek, president of Applied Process Logic, Inc, a San Luis Obispo-based internet strategy consultant which also builds and markets internet properties for its clients.
Posted by Jennifer Porcher on Tue, Jul 28, 2009 @ 01:02 PM
Jennifer Porcher, Vice President of Educational Services at Collaboration
Business Realities, Meet Personal Vision
Have you ever found yourself faced with the burden of having more business than you can handle? Maybe you have experienced the feeling that you cannot control the growth of your business and that you have a shortage of management expertise. You used to think that you controlled the direction of business, but lately your clarity has become muddled; you're working more hours in a week than you prefer, and you're lacking time for other life responsibilities. Maybe your business has simply outgrown its original business plan and the existing business structure no longer supports the current level of operations.
So where do we go from here?
Step 1: Refocus and redefine your personal vision and long-term goals. How are daily operations impacting the basic personal needs that are most important to living your vision?
Step 2: Review your individual reasons for starting a business. Determine whether power, status, or a desire for control and recognition drive you.
Step 3: Decide if your intent is to operate a business based on growth or lifestyle.
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A growth business may sound ideal, but often times the demands of operating a fast-growing company can make it challenging to balance personal and professional lives.
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On the other hand, a lifestyle business can be limited in size and limited in growth potential.
Step 4: At this point you must choose a business path that best suits you and stick to it. Your goal is to thoughtfully make decisions based on your ultimate purpose for being in business, as defined by your personal vision.
Download an expanded version of these steps to find out the solution to balancing your business life.
The Bottom Line:
The business can take on a life of its own if not properly directed by its leader. This is a fine line to walk and requires the utmost care when you have important business decisions to make.
Don't be afraid to ask for an outside perspective. Talk with someone who can help you to separate the facts from the feelings or recognize emotion among all the fine details. Involving an outside party is a great way to ensure your personal vision becomes your business reality.
Sign up for a Free Hour Business Consultation and let one of our Collaboration Certified Consultants help you determine the right path and structure for your business.
Posted by Michael Gunther on Mon, Jul 27, 2009 @ 07:21 PM
By Michael Gunther, President of Collaboration LLC, Business Growth Specialists
I must admit, as a business owner, I feel the need to create balance in my life quite often. In fact, I originally thought when I started my business that I would have more free time and flexibility by being my own boss. More time to exercise, to be with family and friends, to take kayaking lessons, or finally get that painting job done at home.
Yet, like many business owners, I am so busy working in my business that I'm afraid before I know it summer will be over and my dreams of taking a summer vacation will have slipped away. So I've decided to go on a family camping trip - one that has been a tradition in my family for over 40 years. I grew up in a family with 17 children and this trip is an annual reunion for those siblings who can still brave the camping regime. In fact, my 85 year old mother still camps with us; further motivation for me to find time to go.
Here I am, on the eve of my camping trip, stressing about going out of town for just a five day break. I'm stressing about getting out of town, stressing about my business surviving without me, stressing that I will not be able to relax enough before I turn around and come back home, stressing at my hectic schedule I will return to. Does this sound familiar to anyone?
The irony is not lost on me: I work with business owners on balancing their lives, and yet I struggle with that very same challenge. I am fully aware that every time I take a break or create more balance in my life, I come back more energized, more focused, and with about 50 more ideas on how to grow or improve my business.
I have been pondering this dilemma; knowing the value of getting away from the office (whether for just a few short hours or days) yet still not partaking in the activities or trips that I know would make me a better leader, business owner, and consultant . And I realized that we stay so busy working towards achieving a goal or dream that we do not take time to enjoy the journey. Before we know it weeks, months, or years go by - time we can never regain.
I encourage you today to take a few minutes and identify a list of activities, goals, or dreams that you want to do to create balance your life; to enjoy this glorious summer season. With this list, plan when you will start the top three items - block the time on your calendar if necessary. Keep a commitment to yourself that with all the hours you work, you will spend at least a couple of hours a week on activities you believe will create balance your life.
The Bottom Line
To be more effective in your role as leaders or business owners, you need to make sure that you create balance in your life by making time for the activities or relationships that bring you happiness.
Click here to see our business services that can help you and your business succeed.
Posted by Eric Hubbs on Sun, Jul 26, 2009 @ 11:18 AM
Secrets of Surviving a Down Economy- Derived from Extensive Small Business Research
By Michael Gunther and Eric Hubbs
The business environment has evolved quickly in the last few months. You might remember it was only a short while ago that your phones would be ringing off the hook with potential clients, customer traffic was high in your store, people were actually buying goods, and your website was receiving high visitor counts and requests for bids. Business was to be had, without having to try to gain or earn the business.
Then came "The Great Recession," and all the sudden, you're finding yourself scrambling for work. You spend more time than ever trying to find clients, and you have little time to actually lead your business because you are so busy working in the business.
What can you do to accelerate your business growth again?
We have compiled some strategies that we've used with hundreds of our clients to build successful businesses even in the most challenging economic times.
Take a look at your top clients - research everything about them
- Take 30 minutes and make a spreadsheet.
- On the left put you're the 10 clients or customers who you really enjoyed working with.
- Then, on the top, put the following headers: Age, sex, where they live, why they came to you, how fast they decided to work with you, where they heard of you, if they bought repeat services from you, and 5 other questions that are pertinent to your product or service.
- Fill in all these questions for each client in the spreadsheet
- The goal is to learn who your target clients/customers are, how they buy, and how you can get more people like them to hear of you.
- Then take a look at the averages and the repeats and compare that with your current lead generation activities.
- Are you spending time where your ideal clients are? Are you putting your energy into the right types of marketing campaigns?
- Don't waste time or money marketing to people who aren't similar to the people on this list.
Don't let optimism get the best of you
- Many businesses are suffering right now. Business is down. It's a reality. It's something that is not going to go away anytime soon, so instead of hoping that the next sunny day is coming soon- you've got to face reality and realize that to survive this economy, you have to look at the changes that need to be made to fit the current situation.
- You may need to cut certain services, re-structure your team, or change your marketing strategies. Whatever you do, make sure it is in keeping with the fact that we may be in this recession for awhile. It doesn't mean you have to change everything, but those who do make the tough decisions now will be around to rapidly grow when things turn around.
Utilize and appreciate your team like you never have before
- If you're stressed during these times, you can bet that your employees are more stressed.
- Keep open communication with your employees about where your company stands, and collaborate with them on how to capitalize on the strengths of the company - they most likely will see things you don't.
- Listen to them as they give you advice on how the company can improve processes, decrease expenses and take advantage of opportunities.
- Look for skills they may have not been using in their position, but could start utilizing to improve the company.
- Continue to invest your time and money to train your employees and keep their skills sharp. As the economy continues to decline, it will be even more imperative that your employees wear multiple hats.
If you feel yourself getting frustrated with this economy, just remember that there were more millionaires created during The Great Depression of the 1930's than any other time in U.S. History. The opportunities are out there. The strong will survive. You have to work harder, smarter, and be constantly monitoring how you can improve. It is an exciting time to own a business!
Posted by Michael Gunther on Thu, Jul 23, 2009 @ 12:53 PM
By Christine Sommer, Collaboration Certified Consultant
Structure, processes and accountability. Fun? Not always, but they are a necessary evil for the survival of a business. Unfortunately, we often see the artistic and creative entrepreneur struggle with this skill set.
Creative entrepreneurs have such a passion for the masterpieces they create, but the business structure is often lacking. All too often the creative-preneurs come to us with big visions of business concepts with hundreds of possibilities but just can't seem to implement the actions to make it happen. The key ingredients that are usually missing include: structure, processes and accountability. Entrepreneurs who do develop these skills can take their company to a whole new level. So how can you make these happen?
Structure:
Treat yourself like a client. Set up a time to meet with your staff or just yourself each week to plan out what needs to get accomplished. Set up yearly, monthly and weekly goals. Get the ideas out of your head and put them down on paper. You now have a place to go to start prioritizing the ideas you want to implement.
Sign up for a Free Hour Business Consultation that can be done in person or over the phone and let one of our Collaboration Certified Consultants help you determine the right path and structure for your business.
Processes:
Create processes for the work that you do on a repeated basis. Utilize technology to streamline your work. Managing your time is critical in building a business, and when the process gets created, time spent in certain areas can often be cut in half. Not only that, but when you hire and employee to do that job they will thank you for having the system in place.
Our Business Assesment Consulting here at Collaboration-LLCis geared for established organizations that need to fine-tune current business practices. This interactive assessment will evaluate your business in 4 key areas using our proven business model, benchmark your business within your industry and then, provide you with a Game Plan to grow your business and sustain profitability.
Accountability:
How do you hold someone accountable to make sure things get done? Set out an action plan with the task that needs completion. Assign a date it was created, write out the task at hand, who it was assigned to and, most important, the due date. If you are having a hard time holding yourself accountable, join a mentoring group. There are several groups in the business community designed to hold business owners accountable to the goals they create for themselves. Get support from outside of your company and let them help you stay on track.
Here is more information on our Management Training Program that will help you strengthen your management team and increase productivity in your business.
The Bottom Line:
Developing these skills when they are not your natural talent will enhance your leadership skills and help you become a profitable and sustainable business.
If you have any questions or would like to receive more information please feel free to Contact Us!
Posted by Michael Gunther on Thu, Jul 09, 2009 @ 11:30 AM
By Michael Gunther, President of Collaboration LLC, Business Growth Specialists
Layoffs. There, I wrote it. They’re never pleasant, no matter the reason, not for owners or for employees or for the person communicating the layoff. Layoffs, by their very nature, are emotional events. And as we know, humans are emotional beings. So as business owners or managers, how do you deal with the emotions that come along with layoffs? How do you preserve relationships, both with the employees you layoff and with your current employees? How do you maintain your positive image and reputation in the midst of layoffs?
THE LAYOFF : be responsible
Don’t play the blame game – be responsible. Inform the employee of the facts behind the layoff – whether it relates to the economy or the company’s overall performance. For example, you may discuss steps the company has taken to avoid layoffs, and how this is a business decision necessary for the company’s survival.
State the facts, keep it basic, and allow the employee to respond, which will lead to the grieving process.
THE GRIEVING PROCESS: be empathetic
The layoff of an employee is felt as a loss, and with any loss comes the grieving process, which consists of five steps: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. All persons affected by the layoff will go through some level of grieving in their own way, depending on the amount of loss they feel.
As a leader or business owner, it is important to understand the grieving process, allow employees to express themselves, and empathize and show sensitivity towards their feelings – whether they are the one being laid off or not.
When people leave, it changes the dynamics of an organization. People feel frightened for their own job security, concerned for the person who lost their job, and sometimes guilty because they are still employed – grieving does go both ways. By simply offering ongoing and open communication to your active employees, you can be proactive in acknowledging and addressing their concerns too.
THE OUTCOME: offer guidance and resources
It is important to let the employees who are getting laid off know that you care about their well being. There are many ways to communicate this to the employee and assist them through their transition.
When my sister Sue was laid off last October, her employer contacted her three different times over a three month period to check in with her and see how her job search was progressing. They offered to be a reference for her and sent her a written letter of reference. Their simple actions went a long way for Sue, and allowed her to maintain a positive view of the company that laid her off.
Since most people do not know what to do once they lose their jobs, you can provide them with resources, such as a list of local career centers and employment agencies or tools to help them claim unemployment insurance. Although you may not be able offer a severance package, you can consider providing a one hour session with a career coach or maybe you can pay for them to attend a resume writing workshop.
The Bottom Line:
When your company is forced to make tough decisions regarding layoffs, you can still maintain healthy employee relationships and your company’s positive image and reputation by tapping into the human element – take time to listen to your employees and show them that you truly care.
Posted by Michael Gunther on Wed, Jul 01, 2009 @ 01:25 PM
By Amy Kardel, COO of Clever Ducks, Professional IT Services Company
See how busy professionals can optimize productivity when using the tools most at hand every day: Microsoft Outlook and Blackberry. By gaining control of both tools, you will get better business results while reducing stress and staying in sync with the flood of emails that come your way.
Although these devices serve as your primary access to calendar events, emails and other tasks, they often become a distraction because of the amount of information that is often thrown at you. By effectively leveraging both tools, you will find it is possible to stay on task and sort through the clutter. See how you can make life simpler by setting up some systems, using some tricks and understanding some advanced functions of your technology.
Some tips that are included:
-The 2 Minute Delay Email AKA the "Send Uh-oh" Rule
-The Vacation Shield Rule
-XOBNI- An extremely useful Outlook plugin that helps you search and organize your inbox
-Cracking the Crackberry Code
To download the Microsoft Outlook tips and tools, please click here.
To download the Blackberry tips and tools, please click here.
Posted by Michael Gunther on Wed, Jul 01, 2009 @ 01:24 PM
By Michael Gunther, President of Collaboration LLC, Business Growth Specialists
A follow up from Sales is a Science, Part 1: Who is your Client?
In my last column, we learned the first step of “back to basics” in sales is understanding your client, let’s move on to the second: measurement.
Do you go through periods when your business is extremely busy, followed by times when it’s painfully slow? Creating a process to measure your sales will help eliminate these peaks and valleys, ensuring that discrepancies between sales goals and actual sales are addressed and new business remains consistent.
Measuring your sales– through goal setting, tracking, and client feedback – will provide you with invaluable insight into how your time is best spent, how your skills can be improved, and how your return on investment is shaping up. This will increase your control over both your schedule and the bottom line.
Set, Track, and Measure Sales Goals
Setting measurable sales goals is the first and most important step in the sales process, yet it is too often overlooked. Most companies make the mistake of setting sales goals that are only measured by a dollar amount (such as wanting to generate $30,000 in new business), while successful companies set more quantifiable sales goals.
To set quantifiable goals, you need to first understand your company’s unique sales process. Take five minutes to outline the steps in your sales process, from a potential client’s initial contact with you to their purchase of your product or service. Now, identify three to five of the key steps that you can track on a weekly and monthly basis, such as the lead source, the total number quotes generated, the number of initial client meetings, etc. Then, set monthly goals for each of these key areas and track the stats – this will help direct your sales strategy and activities each month.
Once you have all the statistics, examine the results to determine their meaning: Are your closing ratios low? How are your add-on or up sells? Are you generating enough leads to hit your goal? What activities and strategies do you need to adjust?
I know one local company that, through measuring their sales process, realized it took them an average of 12 days to deliver a client proposal. Armed with this insight, they redesigned their proposal process to a five day turn around and their sales have increased significantly. By simply measuring their sales process, they were able to boost sales.
Obtain Client Feedback
Once you understand the strengths and weaknesses of your sales process, it’s time to obtain your clients’ feedback. Asking for feedback, and acting on what you find, can help you grow your business by 25-30%. Within the first week of gaining a new client, ask them questions that will uncover what is behind your sales statistics: What is the top reason they chose your company? What were their first impressions of your company?
Check in with them again in 30 days to be sure you’re meeting their expectations. The most important question you can ask, according to a survey from Harvard Business School, is if they would be willing to refer your products or services to someone else. This one question will tell you whether you are meeting their expectations – plain and simple. If they answer yes, find out why. If they answer no, find out where you are falling short.
The Bottom Line
To achieve your sales potential, first start with a strong client profile and then measure your sales process - through goal setting, sales tracking, and client feedback. And remember the key question: “Would you be willing to refer our products or services to someone else?”