Posts Tagged ‘small business counseling’
Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010
Just a few years ago I would have considered myself a perfectionist. No work of mine could leave my desk until it was as near perfect as I could get it. I would painstakingly go over it and over it until I had exhausted myself. Needless to say, it was not a fun process.
So what changed? And why am I writing on perfection today? Well, what changed is that I was so stressed and so anxious that I was driving myself and everyone around me nuts. I mean absolute nuts! Through a series of serendipitous events, I went to a workshop that changed my life and has taught me how to release that intense need and pressure that I apply to myself. And the reason I am writing on this topic today is because I see so many small business owners doing exactly what I was doing to myself a short time ago.
There is a fine line between perfection and paralysis when it comes to getting yourself out there. Believe me I have dealt with my fair share as an artist and writer. I have fought many a demon as I prepared to release my soul to the world.
As a business owner, you want the world to have a certain perception about your company and product, however, if you can’t let it go out into the world because it has to be at the highest standard, they won’t have any perception of you anyway. Not to mention the valuable time, energy, and resources you are wasting.
As a business that helps other businesses, we have seen many a client who couldn’t put their site “live” because it had to be absolutely PERFECT. Now don’t get me wrong, we strive for the highest quality in all our work, but in life, there is NO PERFECT. Especially when you are dealing with numerous browsers and varying opinions. What you see as perfect may be very different from your customer’s perfect.
So who is most important in the grand scheme of things? Your need for perfection and this pie in the sky perception you are looking for, or your customers? If you said anything else besides your customers, maybe you should rethink your whole vision. At any rate, yes it’s your customers and I can guarantee you that as a consumer myself, I do not rip apart most websites or won’t do business with a website because they had a typo or because the picture they have up is not the perfect size or shape.
Think about what is most important to your customers . . . the right information and a site that is appealing and easy to navigate. Have you got that? Then good, get out there and start selling. The best thing about websites, they are always a work in progress and you can make changes as you go. It’s not like print materials that must be set in stone because once it’s run, that’s it, no going back.
Tags: small business counseling, website design
Posted in General Business, Web Site Information | No Comments »
Friday, January 15th, 2010
I don’t know about you . . . but I have to admit something . . . I have not even thought about utilizing my local SCORE chapter. . . until now.
I recently won a social media contest through SCORE which gave me a ticket to their big social media learning event. I’ve learned a lot about social media in the “recent” past, but it is always good to refresh and to stay current with the latest trends, after all, in this business they change overnight!
Before I go any further, I want to thank Maryanne Weiss, Chairman of the Greater Phoenix SCORE (otherwise known as GPS), John Adam Kowalski who Mc’ed the event, all the fantastic speakers and experts, and of course the volunteers who all worked very hard to make this event possible! Thank you all for your effort! Yes, I won a ticket, but that doesn’t mean that I have an obligation to SCORE or anyone else at the event in terms of what I have already and am about to share.
As a business owner, it is not always easy to find the time to attend workshops and seminars no matter how important they are to you or your business’s growth. But as I am passionate about internet marketing and of course, the FREE ticket, I felt compelled to attend. What I found was a very well thought-out program with LOTS of meat. The speakers were quite knowledgeable and it was obvious that they truly want to help businesses THRIVE! The layout of the program felt intuitive, kept my attention, and provided the participants with a wealth of information on social media. I actually couldn’t believe that the first day went by so quickly. The event was held at EVIT, East Valley Institute of Technology, a truly remarkable facility. Not only was a group of high school students who attend EVIT present for the seminar, but another group of these awesome kiddos made and served our delicious lunch! (If these students are any indication of our future leaders, we can all rest easy!)
If you did not have to luxury of attending this important event, they did record the event and I believe it will be distributed at a later date, check with GPS for more on that.
The SCORE volunteers had a plethora of information including brochures, newsletters, and various other handouts, which of course, I grabbed one of each. And as I have begun perusing their materials I can’t help but wonder why I haven’t contacted them sooner? They offer some great services and everything except their workshops and seminars are FREE!!!!! Here is an excerpt from their website,”SCORE counselors provide you with in-depth, industry-specific business assistance to help evaluate a business idea or plan, resolve business problems, stimulate business growth and ensure long-term stability.”
So if you have a business, are starting a business or even considering starting one, please USE this resource! My guess is that you won’t be disappointed!
Tags: Greater Phoenix SCORE, SCORE, Small business, small business counseling, Social Media
Posted in Social Media | 2 Comments »
