Ross McCammon's recent article in Entrepreneur "Pick Up The Damn Phone" highlights a complaint many clients experience - they can't call and talk with anyone. This experience stems not from failed returned calls but due to firms burying or going so far to not even list their phone number on their website. McCammon endorses "...the telephone as the most valuable form of com...

When I was younger and fantasized about becoming a business guru, I'd planned to own an empire with offices in popular cities like Chicago, New York, London, and the like.  I also was under the impression that business would be steady, predictable and linear.  

What repeatable processes do you have in your business that could be streamlined? 

My dad, as you might have figured out, is my best friend. He and I talk nearly everyday about nearly everything - business that is. Despite being my best friend there are still some things don't want to discuss with dad. 

In case you missed it, this week marks the 50th Anniversary of National Small Business Week   This week of national recognition of the "shop down the street" and the solopreneur was first declared by President John F. Kennedy in 1963 here in the U.S.  

National Small Business Week image: sba.gov/nsbw

One of my dad's favorite phrases is "Tell me something good".  It is the second thing he says right after "hello".  Clients feel the same way.  They want to know that the time/effort/money spent on their website/event/print materials was worth it.  They want to know there are no issues and everything is running smoothly.  They want to know that all they need to do is sit back and do nothing - all is taken care of. 

The other day I called on a prospective client to open discussions on creating their web presence.  As we sat down to talk about their goals, I noticed the odd look I received when I pulled out paper and a pen. You see, I start with paper - always.  It may be blank or simple lined paper but most of the time it is storyboard paper (think the handout view in PowerPoint or Keynote).  It may sound a bit strange but there is a reason.  Don't get me wrong with all of the computers and other electronic devices I own or have access to, I could never touch a piece of paper, ever. 

Today, there is no shortage of ways to create a website, it's almost like getting fries with your sandwich at your favorite restaurant it just comes on the plate. Everywhere you look there is a free website attached. The problem with that is, what you do with it once you get it. A client said to me once that they built their own site but was stuck on the content.  Looking around the web I've seen where a site is made up of several social media widgets with very little original content.  

It's like the site owner knew they needed a web presence but didn't know what to do with it or underestimated the time it takes to maintain it.  Having a web presence is great but having a good web presence is even better.  

entrepreneur.com | Entrepreneur Magazine | Stephanie Vozza | Jan 2, 2013 | Forget Your To-Do List: The 3 Lists Every Entrepreneur Needs

Why we like it:

We admit it, we are addicted to productivity tools - especially lists.  Paper or electronic, all-inclusive or segmented, we try them all.  So naturally when we saw the title we had to read it.  What we especially liked is the reminder of the things that bog us down and should not be on the list.

Flipping channels, I paused the remote long enough to see an initial interview with a sales guy and a new client on some reality show. The sales rep kept saying something to the effect that there are a lot of options - over and over and over. Followed by repeatedly asking the client if they liked any of the options set before them. I sat there thinking, "You need to give them something to react to".