Why does my business need a database?
Every company is unique in what they do. Even a company that performs a similar service as another (example McDonalds and Burger King) has some unique aspects about it. Aspects, that in fact, is so unique that sets it apart completely from another company. All of these aspects are not just aspects but is an array of things. They can be known as facts, information, data, etc. With each company containing a set of data they have a need to a way to track, edit, search, and utilize this data. This is way a database is needed for every business. It could be as simple as keeping track of employees, or as complicated as online orders but no matter what each company will use it. Any business owner that has every used a spreadsheet for anything is harnessing the power of a database in their business.
How will a well managed database help my business?
There is one sound that no employee or employer likes to hear, and that is “I don’t know where I can find that information.” A company, in order to run efficiently, needs to manage its members so precisely that at any moment when their service is needed that member (or information) will be as readily available as your own hand. This is why it is so important to have a specific design for your database. This design should be set forth by the users themselves so that it is in an order and fashion that they will be able to understand. It then should be reviewed by your database manager to assure that it is logical and then implemented into your system. This way when you are approach by an employee, boss, or customer to find a piece of information you will know where it is and how to retrieve it.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Having an effective website
We are often called the “now generation” by those who see to look down upon us for the ease at which we live (an ease that I might add they enjoy as well). So what do you as a private business owner do in order to exploit all you can from this generation? The answer is, conform or die (and the choice between the two is much easier with a lack of moral standards). We are call the “now generation” because we expect instant results, and although this can cause problems, today I want to focus on how it can benefit you.
The internet has undoubtedly revolutionized the world. It has literally put the world at our finger tips and allows us to get results for what we want...now (maybe that’s where the name ‘now generation’ comes from). The internet is can provide your business with the leading edge above other companies who don’t use the internet. The best way to do this is to create a website for your company. A website will provide your customers and potential customers with a fast effective means of obtaining information about your company. This is not new however and virtually every company has a website (frankly you are almost not even considered a company unless you do have a website), but does the effectiveness of your website really matter?
Website effectiveness does in fact matter. The more professional the website the more professional the consumer will think you are. But looks aren’t everything; a good effective website for a business should be able to 90 percent of all company functions. Now I say 90 percent as a relative number. Obviously there are some things that a website will not be able to do, for example cook food, paint a house, and mow the lawn. Frankly to believe that is possible is just plain silly. So when I say 90 percent, we are assuming that means 90 percent of all functions that a website is physically capable of doing. What does this plainly mean? If you sale real estate your website should be able to do almost everything you can do. If you do stock market consulting then let your website do that. I could go on, but I’ll spare you repetitiveness of my words just to prove a point. (Please do not misunderstand me at this point in time. Just because your website can do everything doesn’t always mean you should do it for free. If you do it all for free then you wouldn’t have much of a business at all.)
Bottom line is your website needs to be effective. It needs to inform, offer the same service you do, and most importantly help you sell your product. That is the point of a website! It is a supplementary tool to increase your profit. It is an asset, something you invest in, and you expect that investment to pay off. So there are some simple things you can do to make sure that your website is effective. First make a list of all the things your website could do, then make a list of all the things that it actually does. The ration should be about 9 to 10 on this one. If it is not you might consider changing it a bit to make it easier for your website to help customers. Second you must tour your own website (and even have an outsider 3rd party do the same). You need to make sure your website is understandable. Sure it can do a lot, but if no one can figure out how to do it then what is the point. Keep it simple. Third, check the frequency at which your site is updated. There is nothing more annoying to a user than an out of date site. On a related not there is nothing more idiotic and tacky as a domain name that when accessed brings up a page that says, “This page is currently under construction. We will return by ‘x-date’.” Well of course it’s under construction. Every good website is always under construction. If it’s not then don’t waste your time with it. However by posting this you are only proving to the world that you have no idea what you are doing (and ignorance isn’t very professional is it?)
So to sum it up, effective websites contain three things: 1 – 90 percent of what the actual company does, 2- An easy to understand and navigatable website, and 3 – Is always under construction and update. Personally see to this and I promise that you will have a better, more effective website.
The internet has undoubtedly revolutionized the world. It has literally put the world at our finger tips and allows us to get results for what we want...now (maybe that’s where the name ‘now generation’ comes from). The internet is can provide your business with the leading edge above other companies who don’t use the internet. The best way to do this is to create a website for your company. A website will provide your customers and potential customers with a fast effective means of obtaining information about your company. This is not new however and virtually every company has a website (frankly you are almost not even considered a company unless you do have a website), but does the effectiveness of your website really matter?
Website effectiveness does in fact matter. The more professional the website the more professional the consumer will think you are. But looks aren’t everything; a good effective website for a business should be able to 90 percent of all company functions. Now I say 90 percent as a relative number. Obviously there are some things that a website will not be able to do, for example cook food, paint a house, and mow the lawn. Frankly to believe that is possible is just plain silly. So when I say 90 percent, we are assuming that means 90 percent of all functions that a website is physically capable of doing. What does this plainly mean? If you sale real estate your website should be able to do almost everything you can do. If you do stock market consulting then let your website do that. I could go on, but I’ll spare you repetitiveness of my words just to prove a point. (Please do not misunderstand me at this point in time. Just because your website can do everything doesn’t always mean you should do it for free. If you do it all for free then you wouldn’t have much of a business at all.)
Bottom line is your website needs to be effective. It needs to inform, offer the same service you do, and most importantly help you sell your product. That is the point of a website! It is a supplementary tool to increase your profit. It is an asset, something you invest in, and you expect that investment to pay off. So there are some simple things you can do to make sure that your website is effective. First make a list of all the things your website could do, then make a list of all the things that it actually does. The ration should be about 9 to 10 on this one. If it is not you might consider changing it a bit to make it easier for your website to help customers. Second you must tour your own website (and even have an outsider 3rd party do the same). You need to make sure your website is understandable. Sure it can do a lot, but if no one can figure out how to do it then what is the point. Keep it simple. Third, check the frequency at which your site is updated. There is nothing more annoying to a user than an out of date site. On a related not there is nothing more idiotic and tacky as a domain name that when accessed brings up a page that says, “This page is currently under construction. We will return by ‘x-date’.” Well of course it’s under construction. Every good website is always under construction. If it’s not then don’t waste your time with it. However by posting this you are only proving to the world that you have no idea what you are doing (and ignorance isn’t very professional is it?)
So to sum it up, effective websites contain three things: 1 – 90 percent of what the actual company does, 2- An easy to understand and navigatable website, and 3 – Is always under construction and update. Personally see to this and I promise that you will have a better, more effective website.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
The Fallacy that shouldn't effect your business
There is a common fallacy that exist in the business world that if not fixed could lead to a very dangerous end of the business world. This is the misconception that international trade and labor outsourcing is a competition between us and other nations, and that if we do not stop it now we will lose this so called competition.
The truth of the matter is first and for most that there is no competition for trade or labor between us and any other nation. Any such interaction is only help us as a nation, and more importantly your business. It is a fact that a business that outsources its labor can make a first-world profit while paying third-world wage. Some believe that this is extortion and is not fair to the country, however this is not true. A nation that receives labor from another country is still better off in there industry than if they would have produced their own labor. So the presence of another country only stimulates their economy. But simply one business cannot change a whole nation. To make such a change will take the effort of many businesses. As their presences increases in a poorer nation the overall economy of that nation will improve, thus raising that nation from the dust of poverty.
However this is hardly the bulk of the problem of which I speak. The common world believes what fame and fortune tell them. If you were to look for legal counsel you will make sure it comes from someone with a legal education, the same being said for council on public defense. However that same stipulation does not seem to exist within economics, opening the door to all types of people that can give their opinion on economical issues and pass it as educated. The danger is this: these people who are generally educated pass themselves for being economically educated and play off of the popular opinion of the common person. Both the educated and the common person have little to no experience in economics. Combined they over exaggerate the opinion that the world is a competition and that the common opinion is the right opinion. These people have been given too much power and sooner or later will inflict the misconception on others causing a slow degeneration of the economic stability of the world.
The simple truth is this. Trade is good. International outsourcing is good. Helping others is good, and anyone who tells you differently does not know what they are talking about.
Pop Internationalism, Paul Krugman
The truth of the matter is first and for most that there is no competition for trade or labor between us and any other nation. Any such interaction is only help us as a nation, and more importantly your business. It is a fact that a business that outsources its labor can make a first-world profit while paying third-world wage. Some believe that this is extortion and is not fair to the country, however this is not true. A nation that receives labor from another country is still better off in there industry than if they would have produced their own labor. So the presence of another country only stimulates their economy. But simply one business cannot change a whole nation. To make such a change will take the effort of many businesses. As their presences increases in a poorer nation the overall economy of that nation will improve, thus raising that nation from the dust of poverty.
However this is hardly the bulk of the problem of which I speak. The common world believes what fame and fortune tell them. If you were to look for legal counsel you will make sure it comes from someone with a legal education, the same being said for council on public defense. However that same stipulation does not seem to exist within economics, opening the door to all types of people that can give their opinion on economical issues and pass it as educated. The danger is this: these people who are generally educated pass themselves for being economically educated and play off of the popular opinion of the common person. Both the educated and the common person have little to no experience in economics. Combined they over exaggerate the opinion that the world is a competition and that the common opinion is the right opinion. These people have been given too much power and sooner or later will inflict the misconception on others causing a slow degeneration of the economic stability of the world.
The simple truth is this. Trade is good. International outsourcing is good. Helping others is good, and anyone who tells you differently does not know what they are talking about.
Pop Internationalism, Paul Krugman
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Professionalism
The Declaration of Independence says that all men are created equal, so don’t they deserve to be treated that way too? There is a common code of conduct that exists, or at least should exist, between all human beings. This code dictates how we should treat those around us. Fundamentally this is based on what is known as ‘The Golden Rule,’ which is ‘do unto others as you would have others do to you.’ However this code in the business world is known as professionalism. Professionalism is exactly what it implies; it is how professional we act towards other. This can include our common courtesies such as speaking out of turn, being a distraction, or entering or leaving at inappropriate times. This same code of conduct translates into our classrooms. Our teachers deserve respect for the hard work that they put into their lessons. As such we should treat them the way we would want to be treated if it was us teaching the class. However sometimes this does not always work. I personally wouldn’t mind being treated a certain way by students. There are some things that just wouldn’t bother me. However to others it might, that is why we sometimes we have to consider the feelings of the person, which might be different from our own. As we do this our teachers will in turn treat us with more respect. When we do what is right, and be professional, everyone wins.
Some of this article was inspired by http://www.systemsguild.com/GuildSite/TDM/Professionalism.html
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