Steve Schlagel's Small Business Blog

Web Administrators: Tips for Recruiting a Top-Notch Candidate

by Steve on January 27, 2012

A web administrator can take all the operational “web” problems off your hands – including updates, postings, and new products. But buyer beware:  not all web pros are created equal. Some are very capable, but some could cost you your business. Make sure you know what yours should (or shouldn’t) do for you, then hire accordingly.

A top-notch web administrator should have these skills and abilities:

  • Portfolio: Look at finished product, achievements in design, coding, and construction. If programming is over your head, let the candidate demonstrate speed and accessibility, search response, and use of other Search Engine Optimization tools.
  • Responsive: You need responsible and maximum use of time. You want as much product as possible, and you want it on time. Very often, the site building parallels your product development and issue. You need web administration that reflects latest prices and catalogue info.
  • SEO Background: SEO specialization is vital. This field is very complicated and ideas and tools prove very short-lived. Make sure this “search-ability” is a live issue with your candidate. Ignore the techie talk, and ask for demonstrations.
  • Web Analytics: Interview web administrators for knowledge, skill, and ability with Compete, Google Analytics, SiteMeter, W3Xounter, and other web analytics tools. You want an administrator able to drill down into a website to determine and improve customer traffic to the site.
  • Collaborative: Web administrators can show self-confidence close to arrogance. You need a partner. While this partner may have the upper hand with web skills, you are the customer with profits to lose. It’s in the administrator’s interest that you succeed; structure and develop the partnership.
  • Social Media: Social marketing channels are multiplying. Staying live and competitive among these channels requires a dependable juggler.
  • Server Savvy: Your web administrator will handle all upcoming programming issues. S/he needs to understand side scripts, such as CGI Scripts, PHP, and Perl modules.

Of course, you need to negotiate your best price, but skill does not come cheap. I would recommend that you limit your search to web administrators who made this independent work their career. Try to ignore those otherwise un-employed consultants.

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Family Business: Tips for Success

by Steve on January 20, 2012

Family businesses often happen by accident. The entrepreneur drives the start-up while the spouse and family chip in. Underpaid and overworked, these people are often willing to  sacrifice to make the dream come true.

Serendipity may bring success to a family business; however, the heads-up business owner builds practical solutions for potential family friction into the business plan.

  • Identify the members of the family with potential to perform successfully within a structure. “Family” can mean a married couple, parents and children, or siblings and their spouses. In short, there are family members, and, then, there are family business members. Share that picture with the family.
  • Separate family issues from business issues. Share an understanding at the very start about what you bring to the worksite and what stays at home. It may take some practice, but everyone needs to know where to discuss family baggage. Everyone needs to know what the process is to solve issues.
  • Budget vacation, holiday, and personal time with the family. Keep business out of those moments. However, remember that children are competitive; the best families suffer some dysfunction. So, clarify an understanding for the handling of dependency issues, hostile behavior, and divisiveness.
  • Pay fair competitive wages. If early revenues do not permit this, clarify the value of their sweat equity. Create a compensation plan that will reward their effort later – proportionate to their contribution and talent. Seek advice on framing the plan and communicate it clearly.
  • Hold regular “tailgate” meetings, family retreats, or key member meetings. Let members vent simmering complaints– within reason. Approach these as learning opportunities. Collaborate and incorporate fairly offered ideas.
  • Plan for succession when it makes sense and you are ready. Build cautions into the plan to discourage challenge to the plan. Communicate it well. A well-structured plan should reduce infighting.

Finally, enlist a third party coach – not a crony or other family member. Retain the advice of a specialist in family business matters to get things right from the start and to bounce things off as you succeed at your goals.

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Small Business Funding: Three Tips for Getting Your Hands On It

by Steve on January 13, 2012

Finding – then obtaining – small business funding to start or grow a business can be confusing. Interest rates continue to be amazingly low, and summer reports showed a surge in small business borrowing, (up 25% in May and 28% in June, according to Federal Reserve Board Governor Elizabeth A. Baker).

So, why can’t you get your hands on it?  Read on for three tips to help you get your fair share of small business funding.

Find a lender  The US Small Business Administration has an invaluable website. Just click on your regional SBA office and enter your zip code for a list of lenders authorized to make loans for small business funding. The page provides banks, addresses, phones, and maps. It also provides extensive information on resources in your state and locale including workshops on loans and application.

Think small  The SBA Micro-loan Program makes loans available for as much as $50,000, the average loan is more like $10 to 15,000. The loan can be used for most business purposes – except the payment of debt or the purchase of real estate. Interest rates are determined by the lender but must reflect current Fed rates. The lender has the right to demand collateral and continuing training for the borrowing owner.

Have the courage to borrow  The Fed’s rates are close to 0%. The White House continues to press SBA approved lenders to account for their small business lending. Moreover, the banks decline fewer than 12% of the applicants and fewer than 5% of small business borrowers default on their loans.

The overwhelming majority of small businesses start with personal investments – in addition to those of family and friends. What appears to discourage small business borrowing from approved lenders is the process itself. Applying for and obtaining small business funding is detailed and slow. Among reports  oft required are detailed balance sheets, expense statements, business plans, and proof of a loan declined.

There are consultants lined up to show you how to make application for SBA loans, but you can do it yourself. Study the SBA website, attend a workshop, and talk to your banker and CPA. Among other things, this is good discipline:  planning, detail, and patience are virtues you need to succeed, whether or not small business funding is something you need.

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Heuristics: 5 Tips for Better Decision Making

January 6, 2012

Heuristics influences marketing, management, software development, and decision-making. It contributes to algorithms and that pesky way that Amazon always “knows” what you want. This knack for cutting corners mentally to solve problems quickly and efficiently – heuristics – is one of many things that sets successful entrepreneurs apart. Sometimes, small business owners get stuck. Worried [...]

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Laying the Foundation for Value, Part 2

December 30, 2011

This is the second in a series devoted to building business on value and redesigning your business to maximize customer perceived value. Small business succeeds when it – consciously or unconsciously – provides customer perceived value. This begins with a new understanding of customer loyalty. Customer loyalty may be the most misunderstood value in commerce. [...]

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Choosing a Small Business Coach: Do’s & Don’ts

December 29, 2011

The right Small Business Coach can challenge you to set and achieve bigger goals in 2012, while helping you navigate the obstacles.  Know what you are looking for in order to choose the best candidate.  Read on for some practical advice for choosing the right candidate: Let’s start with what you don’t need in a [...]

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Consider Credit Unions for Small Business Financing

December 23, 2011

The increasing importance of credit union financing in small business operations and lending has recently been the topic of an SBA Advocacy report. As of this posting, a million customers have moved their checking and savings plans from banks to credit unions. Coincident to the Occupy Wall Street activity and ostensibly prompted by Bank of America’s [...]

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Four Tips for Breathing Life into Your Website

December 20, 2011

Is your website an empty grave? Is there any life to it? This is not just a question of content and design; you need to find out if top search engines can find your site. If search engines cannot locate you, your site is dead in the water. It needs a tombstone to locate it. [...]

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Tips for a Successful Family Business: Yours, Mine, or Ours

December 16, 2011

Running any business is tough enough, but involving family members can make it even more challenging.   Unfortunately, if family members are drawn in, you greatly increase your risk of failure when you don’t handle it correctly.  Here are a few tips to help you successfully navigate those challenges… I know of many successful family-run businesses. [...]

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Managing Human Capital in the Cloud

December 14, 2011

If you are looking for an alternative to your current HR data management software, workday.com just might be the answer. You already know that the Cloud is a virtual place for storage and data, reducing user risk and server expenses. For some time, you have been able to save correspondence, records, memos, emails, etc. in [...]

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