How to Hire a Web Designer

All right, admit it. You are not 17 years old. You may have a working knowledge of the web and have a gut feel of what your web site should look like. However, you have no clue about how to get it to the way you envision it. Does this sound like you?

If you are of a certain age, it may be down right daunting. Who do you choose to design your site: your 17 year old nephew that can do it for a couple hundred bucks; a friend that does it as a way making extra money on the side, when he can get around to it; or a team of true professionals? The correct answer is, It depends! Like any of your marketing endeavors, it boils down to who you target market is and how much you have to spend.

Like using a CPA or an attorney, this activity may be one of those things you may have to leave to the professionals. There are software packages available that allow you to do it yourself. However, the end results are generally pretty amateurish.

Your website is going to be your salesman to the world. What image do you want to send to your current and potential customers? If you want to present a professional images showing competence and implying that you are worth every dime you are going to charge, it needs to be done professionally.

Hopefully, the following links will give you some insight as to what to ask when choosing a web designer.

http://css.dzone.com/news/9-signs-you-shouldnt-hire-web-

http://www.greenbirdmedia.com/how-hire-web-designer

http://www.hooverwebdesign.com/articles/how-to-hire-a-web-designer.html

http://www.cpmmug.com/general/should-you-hire-a-web-designer-or-a-web-developer-for-your-website/

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Want to Know What Your Customers Think? Use Your Ears!

If you are like me, you are constantly bombarded by surveys of various sorts, particularly the electronic kind. At first, when this type of technology became available, they were quite handy.


However, a lot of these surveys have been overdone. They are losing their power because people are ignoring them out of 'survey fatigue.'


Some of the best marketing information you will ever get is procured by simply asking your customers "what do you like about this?' or "what don't you like about that?" Pay attention to what your customers say. These people and their preferences are keeping you in business.


For more information on how surveys should be taken and how to go through the clutter of this survey epidemic, please see the following link from Forbes: http://www.forbes.com/2010/02/08/customers-data-software-technology-business-intelligence-survey.html?feed=rss_home

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Cash Is King

When you are out of cash, you are out of business. It doesn't matter if your profits are great if you cannot convert those profits into cash. We regularly see businesses making a very good profit on paper go bankrupt because they do not have the cash to pay their bills.

If you can't pay your power bill or payroll today, it doesn't matter how profitable your business is or will be in the future. Unless you have the cash, you are out of business!

You must be proactive. It is your money, after all. Know how much is owed to you and don't be afraid to go after it.

The following are a couple of articles on cash flow management that you may find interesting:

http://www.inc.com/resources/finance/articles/20050601/cashcrisis.html

http://www.inc.com/resources/finance/articles/20040901/10rules.html
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What Can the Small Business Development Center Do for You and Your Business? Part 2

We have had another client put something up on YouTube and thought you would like to see it. If we can be of any assistance to you or your business, please feel free to call.


The following YouTube video is from Terry Harris, owner and founder of Rubber Wholesalers. We have been working with him and his business for years. We hope we have contributed, in a small way, to his continuing success. Thanks Terry for the nice things you said!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7rNpDwah-U

Federal Debt and Deficit

The national debt and annual budget deficit are both exploding. Its effect on the economy on Main Street is starting to be felt by everyone of us.

I was sent this link a few weeks ago that calculates the debt and deficit figures (in real time) and thought you would like to see it.

Along with the debt and deficit, it calculates, based on Federal Reserve Data, the value of all assets owned by the citizens of the United States (Small Business, Corporate and Personal Assets). About $234,000 per citizen. It compares it to the total US governmental unfunded liabilities (Social Security, Prescription Drug and Medicare Liabilities) which comes out to about $305,000 per citizen.

If this was a client and not our Federal Government, I would advise the client to find a very good bankruptcy attorney, quickly!

It is more than a little scary!

http://usdebtclock.org/

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What Can the Small Business Development Center Do for You and Your Business?

We at the University of Georgia's Small Business Development Center spend our time assisting businesses in Northwest Georgia and not blowing our own horn. As it turns out, we don't have to.

I ran across this from one of our clients, Scott Lavelle with Niche Graphic Flooring in Rocky Face, GA, who was kind enough to post this video on YouTube. It gives you a very good idea about what we can do for your business. Thanks Scott !!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OGguF2x9DU
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More Information about the New Healthcare Law

As a business owner, you are undoubtedly confused about how the new Healthcare Law is going to effect your business. I have found an article on how the new law will impact you.

Additionally, I have found an article on the single payer system in Canada that should open your eyes.

They are as follows:

http://asbdc-us.org/Resources/SmallBusDigArticle-HealthCareBill.html

http://www.examiner.com/x-6265-Burlington-Conservative-Examiner~y2009m4d3-Healthcare-is-not-a-human-right
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