Let's face it-time management is every business owner's greatest challenge. Picture it now: you are all set to make some calls to potential partners, then a frustrated customer calls, or an employee calls in sick, or someone's computer breaks, or someone's dog pees in your office (I swear this happened to a client). All of this will grab your attention and require you to take action (especially the last, can you say "Oxi Clean?"). But, are they more important than what is at hand? After all, if your objective is to grow your business from $500,000 in sales to $5,000,000, ...

Let me get the catchphrase out of the way…your employees, also known as “people”, are really important to your business.  They’ll handle your money, your customers (who give you money), your product (which you sell for money) and you’ll spend more time with them than your family.  So why do so many people get stuck with bad employees? Typically, it’s because we fail to search, prepare and interview candidates thoroughly, and are hasty to hire someone hoping they’ll work out. These bad hiring habits result in a weak workforce which will make your life miserable and destroy your business. My first ...

Criticism and critiquing are fine art forms, when properly executed. They can be some of the most beneficial elements used when your graphic designer is creating your logo. Criticism and critique used in the wrong way can also be your project's greatest detriment. The most important thing to remember is that criticism in itself is a relative term; something you find unappealing may be another person's masterpiece. A key point one should always keep in mind when relaying your thoughts, whether good or bad, must always stay positive. Think to yourself, "If I had spent 2 days working on a design ...

I’m not sure  I should say this, since  I’m a partner at a logo design company, but your logo just doesn’t matter that much, and neither does your company name.  So, for all you small business owners who are spending hours every day pondering over your company name, wondering if you should call it “Smith Jewelers” or “Jewelry World”, or calling Uncle Ned to see if he likes your logo in dark blue or light blue, I have terrible news for you, it doesn’t really matter. How can this be, you say? Well, let’s take a couple real life examples and ...

In this increasingly paperless world, the majority of marketing collateral and business presentations consist of digital documents. From your latest PowerPoint masterpiece to a flashy interactive website, electronic media can be quick, easy, and visually stunning. There is no denying the advantages of electronic media. However, due to these strengths it is likely your message will be forgotten. Your clients will want and need a permanent reminder of your message. Offer them the presence and physical cache of a slickly designed brochure. 1) A Brochure is Tangible Made only of simple paper or basic card stock, a brochure is a tangible object that ...

Over the last few years there have been several companies that have sprung up around the web offering to generate leads for your business. These companies promise to drive these leads to your business either for a fixed monthly fee, on a performance basis (pay per click, metered phone numbers, increase in traffic, etc), or through a mix of the two. Typically these companies have, or claim to have, relationships with various sites and channels across the web that deal with listings for specific vertical markets. If you're a locksmith in Louisville they should have a network that they can ...

If you’re just starting your business, or already running a small business, hiring a professional web design company may seem unnecessary, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. I’ve highlighted a few of the more common arguments below. I have a web site, and I made it myself in about 10 minutes. Most web sites that are generated by do-it-yourself software use templates, which are stored in a database for any and everyone to use. If you want an online identity of your own, do-it-yourself software can’t provide it. A professional web design company knows how to translate your overall business ...