Go Where the Conversation Is
It’s taken me a while to finally realize that “the conversation” isn’t on my blog. In fact, unless you’re like Penelope Trunk (an awesome, sharp writer with big-time exposure) and blog about going to your first day of marriage counseling (or even something remotely controversial), there’s a chance the conversation isn’t on your blog either.…
How to Start Your Own WordPress Web Development Business Today
I remember the first weeks and months of trying to break into the web design field … It was hard. It was drastically different from my print design background (my first career was as a newspaper journalist). There were so many things to learn. After I learned some basic CSS skills, like what to look…
4 Business Lessons I’ve Learned This Year … So Far
I’m a sponge … love to learn and grow … here’s some business lessons I’ve learned this year: 1. Watch for red flags — I’ve gotten a little better at seeing important warning signs, and for not ignoring important ones that people on my team alert me too; needless to say, I’m more cognizant and…
Ideas Suck, Implementation of Ideas Rocks
Everybody has ideas. And many people have good or even great ideas. But the difference is action and implementation. The people who simply dream ideas but don’t implement them will get left in the dust and eternally wonder, “What could have been if …” I’ve had many ideas myself … most of them fill steno…
Likeability in the Workplace
It goes without saying that most people want to work with people they actually like. Ever had the misery of working with a poisonous coworker? Sure you did. And it stinks, doesn’t it? Multiply that impact if you’re a small business or a small team. It goes without saying that if teams enjoy each other…
3 Ways to Gauge Your Mental Health in Business
I’m trying to get more work-life balance and after recently reading The Janitor (at the suggestion of my buddy Ray Griffin), I’ve had some good time of reflection and readjustment. It’s helped me frame some things in my life that have been spiraling out of control and causing me and our business problems. I’m a…
5 Ways I Find Value in Twitter for My Business
When I created my Twitter account over a year ago, I really didn’t understand it. To me, it seemed like another time-suck Web 2.0 creation. Then one day, someone on our team told me that I had over 900 followers on Twitter. I was shocked. So I scrambled to see what Twittermania was about. And…
How to Evaluate New Ventures, Projects and Ideas
Every time we identify a new market, or consider a new venture or solution, I try to run through these questions before committing the time, energy and manpower: How large is the market? And the profit potential? How competitive is it? Do we have a unique niche or advantage to exploit? How costly will it…
Why Online Advertising Is Better Than Traditional Advertising
I’m talking specifically about print (newspapers, magazines) and broadcast (TV, radio). But I’m excluding direct mail advertising. Here’s why online ads beat traditional advertising: It’s measuarable! For the past several decades advertising representatives have done a great job selling the “value” of advertising as we know it today. They’ve invested a lot into their sales…
Establishing Your Own McProcess
Reading The E-Myth for the first time several years ago changed my view of business and entrepreneurship. It’s has been one of the most significant influences on my business life and views. Consequently at iThemes, we talk a lot about our McProcess — the system for doing what we do, which, in general, is WordPress…