Do you ever have days when you get ready for bed and wonder where the time went? And then you think about that to-do list and think, “I don’t have time to get any of that done!” I have that same challenge, but a funny thing happened last week. Instead of waking up in the…
Self-help answers for small business websites
4 Questions to Ask Before Using Free Software
I love the idea of free software as much as anybody. Why pay for a license when you can get the same functionality for free? But although free software doesn’t come with a money cost, there is a time cost to be considered. I offer for your consideration these questions to ask before using or…
Why Software Documentation Matters
I recently had to evaluate three options for some software I needed to install for a client. All three companies offered a free trial, and all three had some support documentation available online. But in the end, I made my final choice based in large part on the quality of the support content. Now maybe…
Can you afford your low product pricing?
In the November issue of Inc magazine, Jason Fried talks about releasing an iPad application and charging a whopping $9.99 for it, while the going rate for iPad apps is between free and $4.99. Fried’s company, 37signals, got a lot of flak for setting the price so (relatively) high, but I like the reasoning he…
Are you sure you don’t have time?
I do some of my best work first thing in the morning, when the house is all quiet and the kids are still asleep. Unfortunately, I have a 5-year-old with some sort of weird radar that tells her when I’m awake and pulls her out of bed within an hour of my getting up. The…
Sneaky Tricks Web Hosting Companies Use
With so many web hosting companies practically giving their services away, it makes you wonder how they manage to stay in business. I was recently asked for my opinion about a web hosting company and decided to do some digging. In the process, I discovered some unpleasant surprises about how these companies sell their services….
5 Questions to Ask Before Advertising Online
The owner of a local service business recently asked my advice about an online advertising opportunity. The pitch was from a national website that had the target market the owner wanted. The numbers in the sales letter looked incredible at first glance. The owner asked me if I thought this might be a good opportunity….
Usability Begins with Installation
When you hear usability, most people think about how user-friendly the software is. How easy is it to get things done in the system without poring over the user manual? And while that definition is accurate, I think it focuses on a point too far into the software process. First you need to get it…
How to Get Inbound Links Through Testimonials
How often do we take time to praise someone for a job well-done? When you have a great experience with a company, how often do you take the time to write them a note of thanks? Sure, you may tell your friends about the great experience but does the company ever get to hear it?…
Three Prongs for a Robust Business Model
I have a confession to make. When I ran our custom picture framing business, there were times when I would cringe at a new client coming in. Why? Because it meant I would be spending extra time at the shop getting orders completed. I appreciated the money the clients brought in, but I hated all…
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