Integrity

It’s a word that some business owners know nothing about. They would promote any product or service to get a quick buck. What happens after the customer pays their money is immaterial to them. Their websites pop up one week and disappear when the heat gets to be too much, only to resurface under another name.

There is a reason for that. They know what people are looking for, but instead of trying to provide it, they exploit it for the money.

Integrity in business means keeping your promise. It may not seem like it, but readers scrutinize website businesses. It could be because there is no physical body to put with the company that the eyes watch a little closer. The result is the same though: if you don’t come through you will lose readers and sales.

One area where readers learn to mistrust is use of their personal information. If they opt-in for an email newsletter, don’t sell their names to mailing lists and by all means, don’t spam them. This is not the way to get what you want from your readers.

Test, Test, Test

Are you selling products on your website? There are a lot of variables with that especially if it is a physical product. Before you offer a new product, always test market to see if it is going to garner a demand. No market means… no money.

With digital products testing comes in the form of knowing that the advice inside will work for the person buying it. If you sell an eBook about how to set up your own affiliate program in one day (example only) then every customer should be able to duplicate your process.

The same goes with affiliate marketing. Only upsell affiliate products or services that you know are legitimate and deliver what is promised. What is the money going to help if your online reputation is shot?

Truthful Content

Before readers become customers, they will visit your site over and over. They are reading your content. Be sure that everything you write is truthful and unique. There is enough bad information floating around and you can’t build a relationship of trust on false information.

You don’t have to make big boasts to get readers to keep reading, just make good on what you do offer them. This builds a relationship of trust that can benefit you and your readers for years to come.

Before you even get into any of the technical details, you need to know how much your time is worth so that you can determine whether your time spent designing your own website is actually saving you money or simply taking you away from making money.

Armed with that knowledge, your next step is to evaluate your level of technical skill on a computer, specifically, as it relates to web design. Do the terms HTML, CSS, domain, e-commerce, FTP or SSL mean anything to you? If your answer was yes, then designing your own website may be an option, though it’s a good idea to work from a web design checklist to make sure you don’t miss anything. However, if your answer was no, you should either be prepared to invest several weeks just learning the basics, or consider hiring a professional.

If you’re still marching bravely forward, congratulations! Now ask yourself if you can afford:

1. To take time away from your you day to day operations to learn the skills that you’ll you need to design your own website?
2. Not to have an online presence while you’re learning how to design your own website?

From the basics to more advanced techniques, w3schools is loaded with tutorials, but keep in mind that HTML, CSS and Javascript are just the beginning. If you need advanced functionality such as e-commerce, a content management system or a forum or blog, you will need to understand programming languages like PHP or ASP as well. If you don’t have a technical background, the learning curve will be steep.

Another thing to consider is the software that you’ll need to design your website. First you’ll need an image editing program like Adobe Photoshop, but since you want to save money, its $700 price tag may be a bit steep for you. There are alternatives though, such as GIMP or Photoscape which are free but not as powerful. Next, you’ll need a program to edit your HTML and CSS files. Adobe Dreamweaver will give you the most functionality and is usually the easiest to learn since it works a lot like some of the software you’re already familiar with, but it will set you back about $400. If you’re trying to keep your costs to a minimum, there are a few bargain-minded programs available, like CoffeeCup that don’t have all the bells and whistles. Lastly, you will need an FTP program to upload your files to your web server. CuteFTP and SmartFTP are both very effective and inexpensive, and FileZilla is available for free, but is missing a few key features that the other two have.

Now that you know what goes into designing your own website, you can make a more informed decision whether it’s right for you or not.

Because those techniques are learned, you can learn them too.

Fear of looking foolish is one of the most basic, and most common, reasons that public speaking creates shyness or fear. No one wants to look incompetent in front of a group of people. But recognizing that the fear exists and is perfectly natural is the first step to overcoming it.

Start by practicing in the mirror. Note any awkward gestures, look for any portions of the speech where you find the phrases hard to say. Smooth them out by re-working them. Make it as easy on yourself as possible.

Then practice in front of one or two trusted friends or loved ones. Knowing that you have a forgiving audience will give you a little breathing room at the same time as you build confidence. It also gives you a chance to practice your speech until you know it cold. That way, you don’t have to worry about not being prepared. That’s another confidence builder.

In addition to providing practice in front of a forgiving audience, giving your speech to one or two others in advance let’s you spot any sections that are dull. Keep an eye on your audience. If you can’t interest friends in what you have to say, you probably aren’t going to thrill a room of strangers.

But choose that practice audience well. If you’re giving a speech on the politics of Zimbabwe to a busy mom with a two year old, she may be distracted for reasons having nothing to do with your talk. Don’t underestimate your audience, either, though. All kinds of people are interested in all kinds of things, if they’re discussed in an interesting way.

Having a solid speech helps. But practice delivering it in an interesting way as well. People relax when you are relaxed. Sometimes, you just have to fake it, at least at the beginning. Usually, once you get started the fear will disappear.

How?

Because by continuing on through the fear, you are focusing on the speech, not your nervousness. You can only hold so much in your mind at once. Turning your attention outward – to the audience, to the topic, to the event – keeps it from being turned inward on your uncomfortable feelings. Dwelling on the fear tends to increase it. Speaking through it tends to dissipate shyness.

Experience will help. The first speech you give may not be your best. But over time, by using these techniques, you will develop skill at public speaking. Before long, you’ll be an old pro.

Business websites are for conducting business. You use the pages to tell potential customers about what you do. They can find out all they want to know about hiring a gardener, choosing flowers, buying seeds and landscaping their dream garden if that is where your business is at. What they don’t usually find out about is your life.

When you read online, you can connect with a website through the words of their content. Depending on the type of “voice”, you’ll want to read more. Readers may even want to know what is behind your passion for the sort of business that you have created. They won’t find that on a website.

And, words can sometimes be deceiving. People can promise a lot but not deliver. It can be hard to trust a voice coming through words on a screen without a face or any other information to go with it.

Blogs came into creation as online journals. They still are in a way. A blog is less business-like and more personal. Personal is what your readers will want from you. On a blog, they can meet you on another level that will help them to appreciate you even more on a business level.

This doesn’t mean that you have to spill all your dirty secrets for them to get to know you. It is about building relationships that will last. So, in the interest of that, you can be the first to extend the olive branch.

Blogs are great because readers and customers can interact with you each time you post. They can sign in and give great feedback every day if they want.

Your posts don’t have to be very formal. Start by introducing yourself and talking about your road to the online business world. It is an opener that could be just enough to draw your readers in.

When readers leave feedback they are responding to posts. Will you leave it at that? Communication is a two-way street. Answer their comments as often as you can – which needs to be more often than not. Carry on a conversation with the people who are willing to give you a chance.

Blogging for business is a useful tool for building relationships with readers and customers. It gives them a chance to see you as a real person just like them and not just a name who wants their sale.

The furniture, in fact all the items in the office, should be ergonomically designed. That means the manufacturer has taken into account a variety of human factors to make them perform optimally for you. Sure, ‘ergonomic design’ can be nothing more than marketing buzzwords. But when done well, the benefits are real.

Office productivity is also heavily affected by your choice of desktop computers, more so today than ever before. Good monitors are part of that. Those machines’ value is often enhanced by being networked with a central office server, too.

But other equipment they connect to also plays a part. For many offices a good scanner or fax machine will see more activity than the company car. Shredders are key to security for others. A quality copier is indispensable for many. Depending on the type of business you have a great projector can be a make or break piece of equipment.

The guidelines you use in choosing any of these items is often as important as their price. Whether you buy in a retail store or online can affect not only the initial cost, but the long term value. Whether they’re purchased used or new is equally important.

When you select your equipment and furniture, go beyond the dollar or other obviously practical issues, though. Consider such things as whether the items are attractive and reflect the ‘personality’ of the office and its occupants.

It may sound like nothing but a trivial esthetic issue, but it has important practical consequences. Furniture, equipment and accessories that have style – in particular a style that reflects the taste of its individual users – will have a definite impact on motivation. That factor may be harder to quantify, but it can easily outweigh many purely utilitarian considerations.

Consider the office chair you select, as an example. It has to have certain attributes – sturdiness, adjustability, comfort – in order to be a good value. But if, in addition, it adds a sense of style according to its user’s tastes, the chair’s value is increased manyfold. The typical office worker spends several hours per day in one. It helps enormously if he or she enjoys it.

There’s as much art as science to evaluating office equipment, furniture or accessories. But there’s nonetheless wide agreement on what is attractive and workable. Some office decor encourages you to get down to business, some other might make you dread it. Ever struggle for hours with an uncooperative copier, or look around the room and see shabby furniture? If so, then you understand.

Spend some time thinking about your ideal office environment. Then, step by step, choose well to make it real. You’ll profit in numerous ways.

One way to tackle that challenge is to buy used office furniture. But it’s possible to be penny wise and pound foolish, expending even more money in the long run. Sometimes that long run isn’t very long, either. Equipment or furniture that breaks down two months after you bought it is a wasted investment, even if it was practically free. You then have to replace it, consuming the one thing no business ever has in abundance: spare time.

Even equipment that doesn’t actually break, but just fails to perform adequately can lead to a close approximation of the same problem. The whole purpose in buying furniture and equipment in the first place is to increase productivity. Otherwise, you’d simply use what was already around. When items don’t live up to their challenges, they drag you down with them.

Those facts put the question of whether to buy used or new in a different light. At first blush, saving money up front sounds very attractive. But looking farther ahead, the situation can be radically different.

The way to overcome the dilemma has, to some extent, been solved by the Internet. Following Amazon’s lead (though they didn’t invent the idea), many sites now will have reviews on anything for sale. They’re often posted by business owners just like yourself. Some of those giving an opinion are clueless. Many are experts on the subject. It’s usually easy to spot the difference.

Suppose you’re interested in shredders or projectors. Unlike computers or monitors, those are items that are just unfamiliar enough to many that an expert review can make a big difference. When you see that several knowledgeable people who have actually purchased and used a certain projector, say, and gave it high marks, you can buy with confidence. When they suggest avoiding it, you know to beware.

That’s true of both new and used items, though. To apply it to a used piece of gear you’re considering, just look for reviews that talk about reliability, maintenance, early wear, expensive parts replacements or similar phrases. Don’t just look at the numbers or stars highlighted, either. One or two unreasonable dissatisfied customers can bring those way down. Dig into the details and a whole different picture can emerge.

Looking longer term can save you money and headaches. A used fax machine, for example, might be half the cost of the same model new. But if the rollers tend to wear rapidly, causing paper jams, your lost productivity will quickly eat up the difference. Take advantage of all the information available on the web today and you’ll be better positioned to shop with confidence.

Depending on the nature of your online business, customers may pay you in different ways and on different schedules.

Here are a few suggestions to get you thinking of ways to generate the cash in hand when you need it most.

1. Ask for advance payment. If you are providing a service, like ghostwriting, ask for half of the balance upfront before any work is done. That way you have insurance that the customer won’t disappear without paying, plus you can remain liquid between project assignment and project completion. This works best, obviously with new clients. I wouldn’t recommend implementing this policy with loyal clients that you’ve had for years. (Use an option below with those clients.)
2. Pre-sell your services in a bundle. This is how movie websites do it. When a hot new movie is due for release in a month, they offer a break on the price, if you pre-order. They get the money in advance, and you get the movie as soon as it hits the streets. The same technique can work for your services when you generate enough interest and anticipation. Example: A Virtual Assistant offers a deal for 10 hours of work for $150, a $100 discount off her normal $25/hour rate, when paid up front.
3. Offer a break on overdue balances. No one wants to have to make collection calls on invoices that are overdue. On outstanding balances of thirty days or more, give the client a five or ten percent discount to pay their entire balance right then. You still recoup 90 to 95 percent of what is owed. It might not be the entire amount, but at least you see some of the money instead of never seeing anything at all.
4. When is the balance due? Instead of giving customers thirty days to pay, shorten it to fifteen. Lay this out specifically in the terms of the contract so even if they don’t read it you are covered. Depending on the price, some will agree to pay the entire amount upfront if that means avoiding a service or finance charge.
5. Invoice at the beginning of the month. For service based businesses where payment dates fall once a month for recurring customers, why wait until the end of the month? Invoice early so that you have more cash to use for whatever may come up during the month.

I asked Nicole Dean of OutsourceWeekly.com for her advice, and she said “I always tell my helpers not to be afraid to remind me if I miss their invoice. I’m human and occasionally slip up. Plus, if I’m running a huge promo, their paypal request can sometimes get lost in an influx of orders. So, don’t be shy in reminding your good clients and certainly don’t assume they’re avoiding you. Also, be very upfront initially when discussing your payment preferences. Don’t expect your clients to guess that you need to be paid within 3 days because you’ve got a trip coming up. Let us know. Usually I’m more than happy to oblige to these requests and I assume most clients are.”

Are you looking for ways to raise cash for your business? You don’t always have to look to outside sources or create new products or services for the answers. Find ways to revamp your payment structure and outstanding invoices to get the money that you are due.

A professional website design should be effective for years to come. Depending on your niche, it’s usually recommended to redesign your website every couple of years to maintain an up to date image, but not more frequently than that. The only time you should make sweeping changes to the design of your website is when you feel that it doesn’t convey the image that you want for your company. But remember, you will tire of it long before your customers do.

You don’t have to pay every time you want to make a change

Even if all of the content on your website is accurate today, it will probably change at some time in the future. Almost every business owner has found themselves in this position at some point in time They’ve had to wait for an opening in their web designers schedule and then pay a fee before the changes could be made. This can be frustrating and sometimes costly, but it can be avoided with a content management system which enables you to easily make changes on your own. This gives you complete control over your content, it doesn’t cost you anything to make changes and you can make them whenever you want.

Web hosting is cheap

I’ve talked to lots of clients who were charged well over $100/month for web hosting – and we’re not talking about a dedicated server. These people were being charged 10 times what they should have been charged by a web designer who was simply looking to fatten their own wallets. These days, you can find reputable and reliable hosting companies for under $10/month. This usually includes unlimited traffic, bandwidth and email accounts and will more than adequate for most companies.

Website design does not equal SEO

SEO (search engine optimization) is probably one of the most misunderstood fields of marketing ever. In the most basic terms possible, SEO is a combination of quality content, clean code and inbound links. Without the proper application of all three, you won’t achieve significant ranking in even a moderately competitive industry. The optimized code can only take you so far without quality content and inbound links. Any designer who assures you that their web design is all you need is trying to sell you a nice shiny bottle of snake oil.

You are not always right

The job of a web designer, aside from the obvious task of designing your website, is to provide their guidance and expertise. If they blindly agree with everything you say to do, they really aren’t giving you the best service possible. Your designer should be able to offer recommendations and explain their logic, but at the end of the day, the final decision is in your hands. I’ve worked with a few clients who insisted on doing things their own way even after we’ve advised them why a different approach would be more effective, but since they write the check, they get what they want. More often than not, however, they usually follow our recommendations when their idea didn’t work the way they had hoped.

The furniture, in fact all the items in the office, should be ergonomically designed. That means the manufacturer has taken into account a variety of human factors to make them perform optimally for you. Sure, ‘ergonomic design’ can be nothing more than marketing buzzwords. But when done well, the benefits are real.

Office productivity is also heavily affected by your choice of desktop computers, more so today than ever before. Good monitors are part of that. Those machines’ value is often enhanced by being networked with a central office server, too.

But other equipment they connect to also plays a part. For many offices a good scanner or fax machine will see more activity than the company car. Shredders are key to security for others. A quality copier is indispensable for many. Depending on the type of business you have a great projector can be a make or break piece of equipment.

The guidelines you use in choosing any of these items is often as important as their price. Whether you buy in a retail store or online can affect not only the initial cost, but the long term value. Whether they’re purchased used or new is equally important.

When you select your equipment and furniture, go beyond the dollar or other obviously practical issues, though. Consider such things as whether the items are attractive and reflect the ‘personality’ of the office and its occupants.

It may sound like nothing but a trivial esthetic issue, but it has important practical consequences. Furniture, equipment and accessories that have style – in particular a style that reflects the taste of its individual users – will have a definite impact on motivation. That factor may be harder to quantify, but it can easily outweigh many purely utilitarian considerations.

Consider the office chair you select, as an example. It has to have certain attributes – sturdiness, adjustability, comfort – in order to be a good value. But if, in addition, it adds a sense of style according to its user’s tastes, the chair’s value is increased manyfold. The typical office worker spends several hours per day in one. It helps enormously if he or she enjoys it.

There’s as much art as science to evaluating office equipment, furniture or accessories. But there’s nonetheless wide agreement on what is attractive and workable. Some office decor encourages you to get down to business, some other might make you dread it. Ever struggle for hours with an uncooperative copier, or look around the room and see shabby furniture? If so, then you understand.

Spend some time thinking about your ideal office environment. Then, step by step, choose well to make it real. You’ll profit in numerous ways.

At the lower end of the scale are strip cutters. They tend to be cheaper and have fewer features. With these, you just feed in a sheet through an opening (called ‘the throat’) and the shredder spits out narrow strips of paper. But even here there are several options.

Look for models that have a throat wide enough to accommodate all the paper widths you might need to shred. Don’t limit your research to one that only slices 8 1/2 x 11 sheets. There will be times you need to shred large quantities of larger sizes. Having a small model will force you to spend more time tearing or folding sheets to fit than is worth it.

Next, think about your potential volume. Will you be shredding a few sheets per day or dozens? Most personal shredders are rated for 100-150 sheets per day. But like personal printers, the ratings are usually stated for a brand new or perfectly maintained machine. An office shredder, especially one used by multiple people, will see more action.

Shredders, like printers, are mechanical. Parts wear and blades get dull. Before long, the shredder will slice only half its rated capacity. Buy a little higher capacity than you think you’ll need.

Shredding capacity can also refer to the number of simultaneous sheets the machine will accept. Don’t waste your time feeding one or two sheets into the shredder on those larger jobs. Buy a machine that can shred several sheets at the same time without jamming or dulling the blades.

In this area, too, capacity is often overstated. A rating of 6-8 sheets is realistically only 4-5 after a few months of use, depending on paper type. Twenty-four bond paper is thicker than 20 bond. Take that into account.

To deal with possible identity theft, shredder models are available in a variety of cutting patterns.

Strip widths vary from 1/8-1/2 inch on most models. The narrower the strip the more secure the result. That’s assuming strips are cut perpendicular to the line of type. Strips cut parallel to sentences are very easy to re-assemble. Most people don’t want to have to pay too much attention to the way they feed paper and even vertical strips can still be put back together. Cross-cut shredders solve that problem.

Cross-cut shredders cut paper horizontally and vertically in the same pass. You feed the paper normally and two sets of blades slice the paper into small rectangles. They tend to cost a little more and require a little more maintenance, though. The blades require simple-to-do oiling from time to time. Also, since there are two sets of blades with more mechanical controls, the price is higher.

Whichever type you buy, look for models that have extra, convenient features.

Some have auto-paper sensors. When you feed the paper into the throat a sensor detects paper and automatically begins the shredding cycle. No need to press a button. Just feed and forget.

Low-maintenance shredders are handy, too. Some use a type of carbon dust commonly used to lubricate locks, rather than oil. Some have an oil reservoir that you fill once and can forget for months on end. Some will have a light indicating when more oil is needed.

Some models have a jam light and an automatic shut-off feature. A reverse feed option is helpful for clearing paper when jams do happen.

Some shredders provide only the shredding unit with no paper container. They’re designed to fit over a standard office wastebasket. Others have adapters that can fit over round or rectangular containers. You might want an in-built receptacle designed for the unit, though.

Which one is right for you depends on your volume and security needs and budget. Still, don’t be penny-wise and pound-foolish. In this age of identity and credit card theft, spending a little more up-front could save you big time in money and grief.