Video: Top Web Design Mistakes Small Businesses Make

This is an excellent short 4 minute video on the top web design mistakes that small businesses make from Entrepreneur Magazine.  It covers the problems with:

1) Flash websites;

2) Poor design backgrounds;

3) Not having good About Us and Management Pages; and

4) Not having contact information, especially for your customer service operations.

What other mistakes do you see small businesses and startups make with their websites?

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Dear iPad: I love you

I broke down several months ago and purchased an iPad. I read a decent amount and my wife doesn’t like the light on when I read. So I needed to drop $800 on an iPad. At least that was the excuse. I didn’t think that I would use the iPad for any other reason than entertainment.

But I’m finding that I’m using the iPad for more business than fun and games. In fact, I’m writing is entire post on my iPad. I was about to get up to get my computer and I thought “wow, the computer is across the living room and the iPad is right next to me”. So laziness prevails. And im finding that it’s pretty easy to type on. The keyboard is bigger and on a glass screen – it makes me feel like I’m typing in the future.

I talked my wife into getting one and she is so addicted to it she is using the iPad to answer emails while she uses the treadmill. Crazy. I mean who uses a treadmill?

Not that this breaking news, but once storage of documents is easier (or is easily done on the cloud) I can’t see needing a laptop. Shoppinq, entertainment and work all in one device. Pretty great.

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5 Steps to Nail Next Year for Your Business By Learning from This Year

It is mid-December and the year is almost over.  And what a year it has been.  Tough economic times has made it hard for many businesses to grow and build momentum.  So as we round the end of the calendar year and are only days away from January we can do two things for our business planning for next year: You can blindly go into January and beyond trying to create a brand new strategic and marketing plan or you can take a look back at the wealth of information and data from your business this past year and try to plan your strategy for next year based on the lessons learned from this year.

Our recommendation, based on what we are doing ourselves, is look closely at your strategy, tactics, execution and plans for this year as you plan for next year.  That will help put you in a better position for success next year by avoiding the tactics that did not work and instead building on what did work.  Here is how we suggest you do it:

1. Take a complete inventory of what worked and what did not over the last 12 months

This one may take some time, but it will be time well spent.  As you make your plans for next year, take a morning (or even longer) to conduct a detailed analysis of what worked for your business or startup this year and what did not.  Your analysis should not stop there.  Take the additional steps to think about did the items that failed fail because of bad execution or they just were not really good tactics in the first place.  If it was bad execution, you should think about whether those tactics that failed could be better executed and then become successful.  Also for the items that did work, consider whether if you put more energy and focus on those items, could you build on them next year?

Bottom line: Make sure next year’s plans eliminate tactics and strategies that failed this year and instead focus next year on building on specifically what did work.

2. What are 3 Trends in your business that you saw this year?

Look back on the year.  What are 3 trends that you saw in your business?  They could be marketing trends, operating trends or even product trends.  I like the number 3 because it is simple and not too overwhelming of a number for people to focus on.  So when you are planning for next year, take the time to make sure that whatever those trends may be in your business that you have them woven into your strategic, marketing and operating plans.  That will help ensure that you do not get left behind.

Bottom line: All businesses should take the time to step back from their company and track and plan for the trends that are impacting their business and industry.

3. What 3 major areas of  feedback/comments did you receive from your customers over the year?

Businesses get a lot of feedback from customers over the course of a year.  The key to any business is making sure that they are keeping their customers happy and serving their needs.  Accordingly, any business needs to pay attention to the major customer issues and feedback that are repeatedly being seen.  But paying attention to these areas is only half the battle.  Your business should track these 3 major areas and ensure that your plans and strategies incorporate addressing and acting on customer feedback.  Here is an excellent article from our one of our favorite entrepreneur magazines, Inc., on using customer feedback for your strategic plans.

Bottom line: Any planning for next year should take into account your customer’s feedback and comments that you have received this year.  That way you will know that your customers’ concerns are being addressed.

4. What is one area of you business you devoted more time to that could have yielded larger growth?

Every business faces this concern, but the trick is to acknowledge the issue.  We all think about areas of our business that we wish we could spend more time on, but we just cannot.  Take the time to really identify these areas and make of list of them.  Then determine if you can outsource any of these areas to freelancers, interns or other professional service providers. Here is a great post from Startup Nation on small business outsourcing.

Bottom line: For these areas of the business where you wish you had more horsepower, next year outsource those areas and see if you can build off the work from experts that will help you focus more attention on your core business.

5. What is two items that you absolutely need to get accomplished by both July 31 and Dec 31 of next year

This is a business planning tip for next year.  Frankly, it may be something we should all do yearly in our business.  When we set out our annual goals we should take the time to go one step further.  That step is to identify two “must dos” for the coming year.  That is a must have accomplishment for the middle of the year (July 31) and then a must have accomplishment by the end of the year (Dec 31).  This will help you focus on two core items for your business that you tie to two time deadlines.  That way at the end of each year you should be able to look back and know that two main areas of your business have seen key goals being met.

Bottom line: Creating a list of goals and targets for your business each year is necessary to track progress.  But having two must have goals set out at the middle and end of the year will help you focus even more to move your business forward.

So in the remaining part of this month, use these steps as you build, develop and fine tune your strategic and marketing plans for next year.  Building these plans on your lessons learned from this year should help you set your business or startup for more success in the coming year.

Let us know how you are approaching strategy and business planning for next year.

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Does the Better Business Bureau Sell Its Grades?

I was watching ABC News the other night when I saw this report that suggests that the Better Business Bureau is essentially selling good business ratings.  In this report, Brian Ross makes some fairly shocking realizations while interviewing a small business owner that had received a ‘C’ grade for her business and the day after paying the $400 membership fee to the BBB her rating immediately shot up to an ‘A’.  The small business owner indicated that she did not do anything else that would have resulted in her increase in grading. 

The report goes on to detail how some “pranksters” made up a business called “Hamas” which is a well known terrorist organization and paid the same $400 membership fee to the Better Business Bureau and, sure enough, this made up business received a grade of A! 

The ABC report also includes an interview with Wolfgang Puck, who has an ‘F’ rating by the way, and says that he thinks paying for a grade is wrong.  Other business owners interviewed in the piece say that they think the BBB is running a scam by trying to strong arm these small businesses into paying for their BBB membership in order to get a good rating through their system.

The end of the report seemed to indicate that the Connecticut District Attorney was in the process of requesting that the BBB stop rating businesses using this rating system as it seemed to be fraudulent.  If these allegations are true, this no doubt will have huge impacts to the small business community as a large number of them have purchased trust and rating seals from the Better Business Bureau and they would now most likely be requesting refunds for these products if the rating system is, in fact, fraudulent. 

Have you ever purchased any of these products for your business from the BBB and had similar issues in getting a good rating?

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Facebook and Privacy

Exam week is coming up and instead of preparing, I’m procrastinating. 🙂 I only have two major ones anyway.  If I wasn’t procrastinating, I wouldn’t have come across a certain article from TechCrunch.

You all remember Facebook’s privacy issues right? The one’s that have been so numerous that there were tons of articles about them. Facebook has had so many issues that Wikipedia has a whole article about it. Don’t get me wrong, I think Facebook’s a good idea but it has problems.

The top articles for this search

Anyway, when I was browsing TechCrunch, I came across a headline that said “Facebook Sued For Having Privacy Controls In Place. Yes, Seriously.” Wait…..what?  Did I read that right?  Who would sue Facebook for having privacy controls? This is ridiculous. So, I click on the link.  Turns out it’s a patent lawsuit. What? Apparently Walker Digital, an invention company, patented the process of how users control and manage the release of information. Someone patented this? You can do that? Apparently, you can.  The company claims that Facebook violated it’s patent by allowing people to have some control over their privacy. You have got to be kidding me…..I think this is real because Facebook said that they would fight it…..I’m hoping that it’s a joke though. I would still be wary of putting anything that you consider personal/valuable on Facebook though.

As long as we’re on the subject of Facebook, does the interface look cluttered to you all? (On a side note, Twitter looks cluttered to me too.) Look at it, really look at it. Doesn’t it look kinda dull? The Washington Post agrees with me on this. This is the only reason I like Twitter marginally better than Facebook.(I don’t like either of them that much) Twitter lets its users control how their page looks. With Facebook if you don’t like it, you can’t change it. I am a (somewhat) visual person. I don’t like white all that much and I don’t like seeing too much stuff on a page either.  What I would like in a social networking site, is for it to be customizable. I want to be able to change the background, limit the number of things on a page and be able to organize it all.  The two major ones don’t really let you do that.

So what do you all think about the aesthetics of Facebook?

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Lessons from Arnold Schwarzenegger: The Mental Game is Key to Success

I have to admit when I was growing up back in Ohio I idolized Arnold Schwarzenegger. Yes, I used to get Muscle & Fitness magazine and I watched every Arnold movie from Conan the Barbarian, Commando, Predator, and of course through all of the Terminator classics.  At that time I looked up to Arnold mainly because I was (ok now dont laugh) big into weightlifting and well the movies were just the movies – pretty cool for any teenage kid.

It is funny that nearly 20 years later my wife sent me the video below which is a recent interview of Arnold where he discussed his approach to the success he has had a different phases in his life.  It wasn’t until I watched the short 10 minute video that I realized that Arnold reinvented himself three separate times and was wildly successful in each instance. First, as the bodybuilder and multiple Mr. Olympia, then as a huge action movie star and finally as Governor of California.

The punchline for the video and largely this post is that Arnold said the difference between himself and others in each of the three major  roles in his life was the mental game.  As an example, he said there were plenty of weightlifters when he was competing to win bodybuilding competitions that were just as big as him, trained just as hard as he did, but the difference between Arnold and these other folks was their approach to mentally winning. Arnold always envisioned success and winning as well as achieving his goals.  His goal was not just to be a good bodybuilder, but it was to win Mr. Olympia repeatedly.  And so as opposed to other bodybuilders who were just good at training, Arnold continually envisioned mentally winning Mr. Olympia.  And he won it not just once, but six consecutive times! In the video he says the difference between himself and others was not being physically bigger or having more defined muscles, it was instead the mental aspect of training, focusing and envisioning success at all times.

This was Arnold’s approach to the mental game:

a) constantly envisioned success and accomplishing the near and short term goals he laid out for himself;

b) was always mentally focused on that success and accomplishing those goals;

c) carried that focus into everything he did and his approach to training and executing his plans; and

d) was relentless in his pursuit for the success that he set out to achieve.

For startups and small businesses there are strong parallels and lessons learned from Arnold’s approach that he has taken in his life to succeeding not once, but in three completely separate areas as diverse as bodybuilding, acting and being elected as to the highest office in the largest state in the United States.

Watch, listen, take notes and start acting on the Arnold’s guidance! You will not regret it.

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Black Friday Update: Why Doesn't Everyone Just Shop Online?

It’s Black Friday and I’m at the mall.  It’s horrible.  Just getting a parking spot was a fight or flee situation — and you had to make snap judgments on how aggressive you should be based on the competing car.  Ford F-150…well I could probably beat him to the spot, but he’ll likely be very large and angry.  2010 Land-Rover SUV…very likely a soccer-mom who could scratch my eyes out without getting an increased pulse rate.  Subaru Outback…hmmm, probably a softball bat in the back.  Finally I was in competition with another Prius-driver.  That person will definitely be a pacifist vegetarian…time to get aggressive.

After winning my slap-fight with the surprisingly tough Prius-owner, I walk into Nordstroms.  First off, I don’t care how great the deals are here, it costs too much.  Why is everyone running around thinking that they need to buy the overpriced sweaters before they run out?  There will always be more and I’m sure your husband won’t really like it…but will wear it.

I’m walking past all the mid-mall vendors.  Since when was it acceptable to shout out shoppers to try some crappy “jewelry cleanser” or some odd remote controlled car, or my favorite, hair extensions for childern.  Not only are the products being offered very strange, but there is no discretion in who is being offered them.  My wife doesn’t wear jewelry and we have no kids. 

This mall experience is not great …except for the Cinnabun visit (dang).  As I spot the lines at the register, I’m thinking…why don’t I just shop online?  I guess it’s exciting to see the crowds, especially as this year seems to be the first in three years where consumers are really going to open up their wallets.  But I could have just watched the news instead of cramming myself into this social experiment.  So why am I here…I mean a busy mall on Black Friday shouldn’t be unexpected.  Well, I want to try out the Microsoft Kinect at the new Microsoft store.  Yes…I’m a big nerd.

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Thanksgiving and Technology

Hello everyone! I finally have Thanksgiving break! Yay!! So, this is a special post! 🙂 First, lemme ask you a question! What was your first piece of technology? Does anyone remember? I don’t remember what mine was, but I do remember that my parents had a cassette tape and a Walkman. Another question! What technology are you thankful for? I am thankful for the cell phone, because you can communicate on the go, the laptop because it’s mobile and lets me work on my papers as long as the battery’s there and the web because it makes research so much easier! Stuff that you might consider buying for someone. If you know a geek or are one(be proud of it!) Wired has some pretty cool gifts. Here are the ones that sounded interesting!

• The nPowerPEG: it uses your movement to charge things! $150
• Travelteq Trash Messenger: yes the bag is actually called that. It looks nice and is large enough to stash a lot of stuff. $365(expensive though)
• Think Geek Molecular Gastronomy Starter Kit: Yes! Now I can play mad scientist!(evil laugh) $70
• Temple Laptop Briefcase: like the other bag except cheaper $ 478(slightly)
• Matias Folding Keyboard: Find touch screens difficult to use? Don’t want to carry a large keyboard with you everywhere you go? Then this is for you! $ 70
• Sure SE425 Earbuds: The wire is reinforced with Kelvar and they have a two year warranty. Maybe these ones will last me…..$300
• Cannon S95 Camera: blur free stills and good low light abilities $400
• Country Comm Embassy Pen: looks cool and is supposed to last a lifetime; the tip looks like it’s fine point $39 (cheaper than most good quality fountain pens)
• Davey Flask with Telescoping Cup: I wanna store my water in this….I like the design. $118
• iPad: I want a stylus with this one….$629
• Dixit: Yay! Plot ideas! Now I can get some more twists for my novel! $35
• Sharpie Liquid Pencil :Yes! No more sharpening and it has a fine tip. $2
• Hi Tech Art LED Map of the US: Maybe this will make US history seem more interesting. #the Wired pic shows Europe instead of America $200
• Rockler Bench Cookie: Keeps stuff in place! $12 for a set of 4
• Cleveland CG 15 Wedges: Makes golf balls spin! # If anyone gets one of these, let me see you golf. Please? $120
• Koziel Trompe-L’Oeil Wallpaper: Perspective wallpaper. Makes it look like you could walk into the scene. I want one of these…$49-199
• RockPaperRobot Float Table: It floats! It’s expensive though. $2,000
• Innate Doppio Cappuccino Tumbler: Keeps your cup of coffee hot and keeps it at an actual cup. $9
• Lomography Spinner 360°: It spins! Now you can capture motion around you more easily.  $145

Wow, that was a lot of stuff. The Wired list has a 100 of them. So that’s what you can look for if you go shopping on Black Friday. Speaking of Black Friday, here’s some tips for getting what you want.

• Get there early. I know the economy’s been bad, but it seems like it’s rebounding, so be sure to get to the store early.
• Get coupons! Some stores will let you use coupons for stuff that’s already on sale.
• Make a list. You should probably do this every time you go shopping because then you won’t get distracted by what’s above your budget.
• Budget; don’t go crazy, you’ll get the bill sooner or later
• If you’re buying gifts for someone, go shopping with that person and keep an eye on what they like. Then if you can loose them for a few minutes get the thing that they want.

So, anyone have anymore shopping tips?

The orange/green thing is supposed to be a pumpkin

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Are You Ready For Black Friday?

This Black Friday I will not be standing in line at 3:00 AM waiting for the doors of some store to open and then frantically pushing my way around the store hoping to find some amazing deals. Nope, not this year. This year I will be comfortably lounging at home in my pajamas making my purchases online.

What are you doing this Black Friday? Will you be out and about taking advantage of the early bird specials, or will you be doing your shopping from home?

Whatever approach you’re taking, you should start by doing your homework and making sure you know what stores are offering what deals, and when they’re offering those deals.

Here are a few tools and websites that you may find helpful when planning your Black Friday shopping strategy:

www.blackfriday.com

Use this website to find Black Friday tips, ad scans, and doorbuster information. This site gives you the option to sign up for Black Friday Email Alerts.

www.blackfriday2010.com

This site is designed to help you research, plan and execute the best Black Friday shopping. It also allows you to view leaked Black Friday ads for major retailers. This site also gives you the option to sign up for Black Friday Email Alerts.

www.Bfads.net

This website features a very helpful time-line that includes Black Friday online sales information for each retailer that includes sale start times, door-buster availability and free shipping qualifications.  This feature is constantly updated to reflect the most up-to-date information.  This site also has information about Black Friday deals that have already begun.

www.blackfriday@gottadeal.com

This site features the option to create a personalized shopping list and a comprehensive FAQ section.

Do you have any favorite Black Friday websites?  Happy shopping!

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KikScore Presentation: Security for Small and Medium Businesses: Top Trends That Matter Now

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