As I mentioned my 2007 SEO New Years Resolution in my SEO blog, I basically said I will not concentrate on sales and rather on building up my business process systems. As growth happens, and adding in more clients without a good foundation just makes things more complicated. I am no business management major and started a career first as a Chemist. And even it I have been running a business since 1997, I still consider myself a business newbie.
Since 1997 and the line of services have grown from plain web design to domain name registrations, web hosting, web design and development and internet marketing where my clients now include 400+ domain name registration clients, 280+ web hosting clients, 50+ web design and development clients and 5+ internet marketing clients through SEO. Something that I believe is not impressive at all considering I still have a job and have been doing this for quite some time.
Unfortunately, with the large amount of competition, prices cannot be brought up that high to a level where I would decide to live on my business alone. I still work and is still dependent on working for the man. But with the amount of clients, adding more is just confusing. Thus this is where I am dedicating my 2007 to my business processes.
Project Management and Collaboration – I had the opportunity to play around with some project management software from previous jobs and other contractual work as well as using my own installations of dotProject, Basecamp, QuickBase, and others. Although all seem to have some strengths, they all do not seem to be sufficient enough for my purposes. I thought of making my own, but the ratio of money I make to time to make my own may not be a wise decision if there might be the right tool fit for me. Right now, I am considering on checking the power of:
Customer Relations Management – I was looking into two CRM software: SugarCRM and VTiger. Based on research many forums, I have seen people say SugarCRM runs better and is more stable. But I have also read that SugarCRM’s main power comes in add-on modules that are not free. Right now, I am going to try VTiger and give it a shot and see how it goes. And their software seems to be very promising, and is excited about it.
Accounting, Asset Management Software and Inventories – These sound like tools for the rich who have a lot of money and assets. Well actually not, since in any business you have to deal with accounting and taxes you pay the government. Cheating taxes is the great thing you should never do and the best way to minimize taxes to know what you need to do. A consultant is always good to have that specializes in tax deductions. As for software, I am considering on looking more into Quickbooks. As for Asset Management Software, this pertains not only to equipment but with people as well and should work hand-in-hand with overall operations and project management. With the size on company I have, I do not see the need for it right now, but it should be something I am aware of that I may need for the future. Right now, I eyed on any good Asset Management Software and most are really intended for large companies and can be very expensive. I have seen a cheap one by AyaNova, although their website seems to be a bit suspicious. With their old website for AyaNova CE 1.9.4.4 looks better than the new next generation AyaNova V.3. The next generation version looks like a cheap website make by some kid learning how to make websites.
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