Copyright
© 2005 Scott Jason
Search Engine Optimization Project
http://www.seopm.com/
As
a business consultant I get the opportunity meet hundreds of professionals in
every imaginable business each year. And time and experience have taught me one
thing – there are a few 'Must Haves" for any modern business. My clients
hire me to ensure their business does well so the first thing I do is provide
them with a list of 'must haves". Here it is for 2005...
#
1 Computer and Information Security
Whether for small business,
huge corporations or home-based start-ups, this is the place where the most damage
can happen in the shortest amount of time. I can't stress this enough but still
most people don't listen until it's too late. This year I've made it easier than
ever. Consider this... Imagine a computer security solution that addresses the
root of the problem, costs under $10 and can be implemented in about an hour.
Computer Security in the Workplace is a book that does just that. It was written
by two IT pros from Harvard but with none of the techno-babble you might expect.
It only takes about an hour to read and is becoming THE guide of choice by a lot
of savvy companies. You can get it at http://www.ComputerSecurityBook.com.
It goes quickly so don't miss this one. I bought a copy for each of my clients
as a holiday gift and the 'thank you" messages continue to roll in each time
a disaster is averted, which is more than you might imagine.
#
2 Proof of PR
If your name shows up in the media –
intentionally or otherwise – you NEED to know about it. Knowing about this
can give you the competitive edge to use fast-breaking positive media coverage
for publicity (much better than paid advertising) or help you track who is printing
your press releases. More than this however, I began recommending 'media clipping"
services to clients years ago as a way to make sure competitors are not taking
liberties with company or trademarked names or, worse yet, running a slander campaign.
There are a lot of services out there today. Many of my clients use http://www.CyberAlert.com
or http://www.CustomScoop.com,
which both offer free trials. If this is not right for you, try entering the term
in question in quotes in http://Google.com
and running an Internet search. The 'quotes around term" will isolate that
phrase and return only exact matches, greatly reducing your investigative efforts.
#
3 A Clear Plan
Times have changed. The 'napkin plans"
just don't cut it anymore and neither do the overly complex ones created by executives
who belong in a 'Dilbert" comic strip. And by 'plan" I mean ANY plan,
be it a Business Plan, Marketing Plan, Financial Plan or even a Project Plan.
If this final tip does not apply to you, count yourself among the lucky. If you
feel like you could benefit from a better plan, whether it is to obtain a bank
loan, investors or just for your own sanity, there are plenty of reasonably priced
software products out there that can do a great job for you. Stop by your local
office supply superstore or start online with http://www.PaloAlto.com
or http://www.PlanMagic.com.
Good
luck. I hope this list helps.
