On January 2,  I gave you an assignment. I challenged you to write a letter to yourself about the year ahead. You were supposed to give it to a friend, and have them hold it till now. Did you do it? What did you write about, and how did the year turn out?

In my letter, I wrote about big plans for 2011. I expected us to grow our sales by 50%, add two members to our team and launch an updated website by mid year. I planned to take another vacation out of the country and finally retire the Volvo, exchanging it for a newer car (but still a convertible!).

So how did  I do?

The Team: Hello, Goodbye, Hello, Goodbye

We have a number of new staff members, but not all of them came to us the way I expected.

We lost our “boy band” when Jay and Taylor both left to chase new dreams this summer. And with their departure,  a piece of my heart. They were hard to replace, and we still haven’t found the right person for our business development role. Fortunately we found Jenna, who has definitely added her own spice to the mix at Roundpeg. Her experience at Angie’s List has brought a sense of order to our team and a fresh feel to our designs.

We gave two of our interns slots at Roundpeg — Sharayah joined the team as a production artist in June. She helped us make the transition from Taylor to Jenna. Still a full time student, the pressure of trying to work and finish her degree finally caught up with her. She left as the fall semester was wrapping up. And then we were lucky that Peter dropped into our life with a mix of writing and design skills. He is truly our secret weapon with the ability to switch from writing to design and back again.

So when you are done tallying the score card, we are the same size  we were a year ago, but we are interviewing candidates for a web coordinator role and expect to have it  filled by the end of January.

Our Website:  All Grown Up

We launched the new design as planned this summer, and I love it. The new look is exactly what I wanted: sophisticated, but still fun. The grown-up design has allowed us to present a favorable impression to companies who might not have given us a second look in the past, but it still features photos of the animals and the occasional odd event. I have held back from making any major design changes since launch, but I am sure to start tweaking again after the first of the year.

Vacation and Travel

Lots of travel this fall as I gave presentations on social media to groups around the country. I was tired of airplanes as the year wound down, but not too tired to spend Thanksgiving in Hawaii. Officially still the US, but definitely another world. My son came from Tokyo and my daughter joined us as well. I came back tan and relaxed. Exactly what I hoped for in my vacation.

Sales up 25%, but Revenue up 75%

What I learned this year, was that I didn’t have to sell more, I just needed to sell more profitable projects!  With that foundation in place, in 2012, I plan to sell more too.

And the Car

My eleven year old Volvo has been sent to its resting place. And though it took me several months to figure out what I wanted, I finally made up my mind. On nice days, even in January, you will see me cruising around town, with the top down  in my Volkswagen Eos.

And now, 2012

Did writing the goals down make a difference in the year’s outcome? I believe it did. On a regular basis I reflected back on what I had written and adjusted my activities to move me closer to that goal. Later today I will be writing another letter with plans for 2012. What will it contain? You will have to wait till next year to find out!

Starting a business is filled with challenges. Even once you have your business up and running, the challenges don’t stop. For example, finding a way to get out of your business when you are ready to retire. There are several choices: selling the business, transferring it to employee or children, or simply shutting it down.

This week we spoke with business transition expert Chris McEvoy about things you can do now to smooth they way for your exit down the road.

Surprisingly, many of Chris’ comments were about things companies should do in the very earliest stages of their development.  This program is relevant to all business owners.

About our guest:

Chris C. McEvoy is the president of Wingspan Thinking, LLC, focused on helping business owners and CEOs who are ready to grow their business. Their proprietary tool is Wingspan Innovation Architect™, a combination of automation, processes and intellectual property.

At the most recent Indy Social Media breakfast, I had a chance to hear both  Rocky Walls and Julie Perry speak about video marketing. In their presentations, Rocky and Julie approached the topic of video from two very different perspectives.  Rocky (CEO of 12 Stars Media) focused on how to effectively shoot a great internet video.Julie (VP of Social Media at BlastMedia) picked up where he left off, focusing on how to market those videos.

Some of the major takeaways from Rocky’s presentation:

• Stop using a script-many folks think they need to script all their lines in advance. This, in turn, makes you sound stodgy and uptight. Use guidelines, not a word-for word transcript.
• Have a goal…before you push the red button-Rocky’s mantra is all about being able to answer this question: “My viewer will _______ after viewing my video because ______”. Having goals in advance is critical when shooting video, just like with anything else.
• Smile-Rocky feels when someone is smiling at the beginning of a video, that mood typically carries through the rest of the shoot, which the viewers will be able to sense.

And from Julie’s:

• Users want to view your content on their terms-Now more than ever, the consumer has the power. You need to make sure your videos are delivering what the consumer wants when they need it. Otherwise, they won’t bother.
• If you’re marketing on Youtube, you need to be using the new video transcription option-Google can not accurately gauge what a video on Youtube is actually showing…until now. Users can upload transcripts of their video so that Google can do a full text analysis of the video’s content. This can get tedious, so Julie recommends searching for video transcript services, available all over the web.
• Be complete-Many Youtube marketers neglect taking full advantage of the tagging and description features…at their own peril. By packing the tag and description areas, you’re giving you’re video it’s best shot at showing up in relevant searches. Remember, though…relevance is key. Sadly, tagging our Roundpeg videos with “Lady Gaga” does us no good.

As an Indianapolis web design firm, we often get questions from clients on how to use video and Youtube to achieve marketing goals. After listening to Rocky and Julie, I now feel much more confident in my ability to answer those questions.

What’s your best “Youtube tip”?  Or Favorite YouTube business video? Share the link here

Look, I get it. You want to look cool.

But looking cool means nothing if no one finds you in the first place.

As an Indianapolis web design firm, as we work with clients, we usually get the same wishlist. Our clients want websites which:

• Look cool
• Look fresh
• Look up-to-date

While we agree it’s important to build sites with the fresh, clean, cool look our client desires, in the long run it is the words and content the site’s pages hold which will be far more valuable in the long run.

As the web has grown, search engines (which can make or break a site’s visibility) have placed a high priority on site content. Google wants to display the most relevant results possible to every user. Because of that, we encourage small business owners to focus on solid copy on each page and consistent blogging to generate new content.

While the old adage is true that 90% of communication is nonverbal, when it comes to your digital presence, what you say matters. Consumers have trained themselves to find fresh, relevant, reliable information. If you’re not providing it, I don’t care what your site looks like, you’re not cool, fresh, or up-to-date.

You’re living in the past.

Need to start developing your own content? Roundpeg, an Indianapolis web design firm, can help! Contact us here.

Join us this Wednesday, August 10, when we talk to Will Hardison, founder of Mediaplug, an Indianapolis web design firm.

On this episode of More Than a Few Words, Will will share some of the lessons he’s learned in the three years he’s owned his own business. He will also give business owners insights into how he utilizes Facebook ads for both Mediaplug and the company’s clients.

New and potential business owners won’t want to miss this episode. Tune in to learn how to take advantage of the opportunities-and avoid the mistakes-new business owners encounter as they start up.

You can listen to the program here:

Today’s blog post is by our intern Stephanie Boyden.  It is fun to see how each of our interns is bringing lessons for small business owners from their individual passions.

I started playing tennis when I was thirteen, and haven’t stopped since. Although I am not as serious about it as I once was, I still enjoy playing recreationally when I get the chance.  When I started playing tennis I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. Now that I do, I have found some valuable connections between business and tennis that can’t be taught in a classroom.

1. You must be able to function as an individual and as a member of a team.

There are two ways to play tennis: singles and doubles. When you play singles it’s all about you. If you win you get all the praise, if you lose you get all the blame. Doubles is different. You have to find the right balance- when to go for it and when to let your partner have his or her shot. Business is like this too. It’s absolutely crucial to be able to interact and work with others successfully, but at the same time, you have to be comfortable with the pressure that comes with working on your own as well.

2. Practice makes perfect.

This one applies to basically any sport, but I think it’s an important lesson that’s not taught at school. Even with the best education, when you start a new job, you have a lot to learn. You can’t become an expert at something from reading a book or listening to a lecture- you have to have real world experience. Tennis is the same way. Any tennis player will tell you the secret to a perfect forehand, backhand, volley or serve: repetition. Business skills are no different. The great thing about tennis, which I think applies to the professional world as well, is that once you get your swing down, your muscles will remember it.  Business and tennis are the same in the sense that if you put in the hard work to hone your skills, it will pay off for the rest of your career.

3. The sky is the limit.

It sounds cliché, but it’s true, and it’s something you don’t learn at school. When you play tennis, if you aim too low it will go into the net, but there’s no limit to how high the ball can go (unless you’re playing indoors of course). It is always better to aim too high than to aim too low, and this is also true when it comes to your professional career goals as well.

Passion supports learning. There is so much to learn about the business world that you can’t learn in a classroom. Nothing compares to real world experience, but if you think critically there are many lessons you can learn about business through doing what you love. What have your passions taught you about business?

Today’s post comes to us from Scott, Roundpeg’s summer interactive development intern. Scott started his own business a while back, and shares some tips about what he learned from turning his passion into cash flow.

I am a very curious person.  I like to ask lots of questions and it is important to me to see how something is done before I actually do it myself.  There have been times, however, when I have blindly rushed into something. For example:

Last summer, shortly after graduating from high school I was working Marsh Supermarket.  It was near the end of my shift, I was bringing in the last few carts from the parking lot and getting ready to go home.  I can’t remember my inspiration or thought process but I do remember the end result.  Standing in the parking I decided I should make a Frisbee!

When I got home I rushed to my computer to do some research.  I found a company that let me send them a design.   Before I knew it I had sold 20 of my frisbees to members of the community.  I learned a few things from this business venture.

Selling to a Specific Niche

Choosing a niche to sell to is key for any product.  The trick is to select a niche that is not too narrow or you will not sell much product.  Also, the item that is being sold, in this case a frisbee, has to appeal to the customer.  People won’t necessarily buy a frisbee for the heck of it.  There has to be a better reason.  In my case the audience I chose was attracted to buy my frisbee because it said “Panther Ultimate” on it.  The panther is the mascot of my high school.  It is also the mascot of another area high school.  Using this phrasing I was able to attract students from both schools.

Become an expert

I started playing Ultimate Frisbee a few years ago and came to love this unique sport.   My passion for Ultimate Frisbee drove me to learn more.  I attended a College Ultimate Championship and was overwhelmed by the amount of merchandise available.  After going home I quickly looked up the different brands and found out which companies were generally regarded as the best makers of frisbees.  Once I had a company in mind I got information on the most widely used frisbee weights and found the standard weight.  When I was satisfied I knew everything  I could possibly be asked about a frisbee I felt confident my researching was done.

Referral marketing is essential

Forming a network of people is important when trying to sell via referrals. I have played recreational Ultimate frisbee with different groups and people of all ages.  As a result, I have friends at multiple colleges who are on their school teams.  My friends know I am passionate about the sport and not just some random person.  If someone needed a new frisbee my friends would point them my way. Using my passion to start this business venture led me to the sale of frisbees.  This was a great experience and I would definitely repeat it.

Are you passionate about something?  How have you used this passion to enhance your business?

I walked the mini marathon again this year.  I think it was the 10th time in the last 15 years.  It wasn’t my best time, wasn’t my worst,  I walked with my brother and daughter (who left me in the dust) and my friend, Hazel Walker.  Our final time will not set any world records, but I enjoyed the walk, and I am  content with the time.

As we walked through Indy, along with 50,000 of our closest friends, (trust me, they become close around mile 5) there was time to learn a few things worth sharing here. Most of this wisdom was found on the backs of other runners and walkers. (some of these were actually from my post from last year, and some are new)

1. Finishing in last place is better than not finishing, which is significantly better than not starting – This applies to so many parts of our life. All too often, I run across business owners who are holding back, waiting for some imaginary starting gun instead of jumping into the race.
2. The miracle is not that I have finished, but that I had the courage to start! – This was on the back of a runner with one leg bandaged. Clearly he was overcoming challenges to be there, but he was there. Can you put your challenges aside?
3. 13.1 Miles? I thought it was 1.3! – The lesson here is that sometimes it is best not to know how really long something will take. Had I known how long it would take to get my business off the ground, I am not sure I would have started.
4. Mile 1 – Let’s go, Mile 4 – Feeling Good, Mile 8  - Are we there yet? Mile 12 – FU, Mile 13 – Beer Me – The trip to a successful business never goes quite as planned.  There is a high when you launch, impatience along the way, and a moment when you wonder why you are doing it.   But suddenly you come round the finish line, and there is a sign of relief, because you know you have arrived.  When you do, be sure to celebrate, because there are another 14 miles ahead of you.
5. Other people can do it with bigger burdens then you – This was not on a T-shirt, but the thought popped into my head as I looked over and saw representatives of the Wayne Township Fire Department walking in FULL GEAR. ( And as a side note, I can rest easier knowing they can do that, just in case I ever need them!) I was especially impressed when Fireman Kyle stopped to pose for a photo at mile 12, and then jogged off toward the finish line. Watching him, I wasn’t as tired anymore.

From the outside, real estate investing looks easy.   Buy a property, put a for rent sign on the front lawn, and take the money to the bank!  But there is much more to successfully running a real estate investment business.   http://www.myreiadvisor.com/ , developed by a team of real estate experts is a terrific resource for the would-be investor.

One of the features of this site, is a pod cast produced every few weeks covering a wide range of topics.  On Friday, April 15th at 12:00 Pm EST, I will be chatting with Matt Griffith and Selinar Stoller about business planning. Some of the topics I will be covering include:

• What are the biggest mistakes biz owners make when they are planning.
• I have a very unique product, do I really have competitors
• What are the most important parts of the plan?
• If I talk about risks, won’t that raise issues with investors?

Even if you are not a real estate investor, you might find the information useful.  To receive an invitation to the live podcast, simply post a comment below.  A recorded version of the program will be available on the site after the program.

To register for the conference call click here.

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Ready to get your business plan started?  Download our free business plan outline by filling out the form below, and we will enroll you in our “How to Write a Business Plan in Ten Weeks” eCourse

 

 

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Recently, I attended the Business Marketing Association’s February event. The speaker  was John Luginbill of The Heavyweights, who discussed increasing your company’s value. One of the lessons I took away from his presentation was that all of us-CEOs, managers, and even entry-level employees-own our own company.

The real lesson is that we all have a personal brand, and it’s up to us to decide how much that brand is worth. Every time we learn a new skill, acquire knowledge, or exceed expectations, we add value to our brand. At the same time, just like with multinational companies, a personal brand can be destroyed in a matter of moments.

What is your personal brand? How is that brand viewed by others? Most importantly, how much is your own personal brand worth? As an informal study, I asked my Twitter followers for their feedback on what the “Jay Mattingly” brand represents. My responses ranged from charismatic and energetic, to friendly, to my personal favorite “Master of B.S.” Asking people I know how they view me gave me some great insight into which traits I need to hone and work on in order to continue to increase the value of my personal brand.

It is never too early to start cultivating your personal brand identity. Unfortunately, for many of us in the early stages of our career, we may not be sure how we want to define our brand. The good news – brands, both company and, evolve over time.

What’s your perspective on maintaining a personal brand? And what have you done recently to add value to your “company?”