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An Entrepreneurial Journey - 6 Business Tips to Achieve Success

Wed, 04 Feb 2015 20:04:00 GMT

Coming from a high-level position in a large corporate environment like Morgan Stanley and then switching gears and going the entrepreneurial route, I've definitely learned a thing or two along the way. I have learned to surround myself with people from all walks of life and business, from all corners of the world; those who are blatantly forthright; business types that are forward-thinking, with a motivating, industrial spirit. Those who have been through the process of seeking and landing investors, who have fumbled and recovered, and will continue to stumble, fall and pick themselves up again and again in order to persevere to the ultimate goal of building a successful business. T he best advice you will ever get is from entrepreneurial trailblazers.

As an entrepreneur you are continually learning. Mistakes are part of the process, and they teach us our greatest lessons. Today, when I meet with new entrepreneurs I try to guide them so they avoid the pitfalls that I've experienced.

Over the years I have seen a frequent pattern of mistakes that continually surface with my clients. The reason is usually budget, time and manpower. In the end, avoiding these key tips when starting a business can lead to costly missteps that will require all of these resources and then some, tenfold. Here are a few tips to get you on the road to success.

Due Diligence is King. Do Your Research!

Whether it's naming your business, branding, product development, a company you are thinking of hiring to do your PR, development of your new website, etc., understanding your business, the product, your target audience, competition and market placement are key. You may think the widget you built is unique and the only one on the planet, but if you dig into the enormous Googlesphere you may discover similar products on the market. Do your research, otherwise you will spend all of your budget on fixing costly mistakes.

I can’t even begin to tell you how many businesses come to Techwuli to bail them out of bad technology situations. At Techwuli we don’t just look at “the project”, we look at the business as a whole. Our success is based on our clients' success. We have so many clients that come to us to improve or rebuild their website thinking it’s the magic wand to the success of their business. A shiny website does not guarantee success. We are honest with our clients. We discuss the business plan and look at the existing environment as a whole, and then we make recommendations based on research.

Educate, Educate, Educate!

Here’s a perfect example…. The SEO magic wand! This is one of the top mistakes I see clients making quite frequently. Everyone wants to get to the top of the Google food chain the minute they launch their business online. SEO is the ubiquitous mystery; a major blur for many businesses. It goes like this “I hired an SEO firm to implement all of the proper requirements on my website to get me ranked #1 on Google, but I have no idea what they are doing or if it’s working.”

So in typical Techwuli business form, we do a Google search and then we go behind the scenes to investigate what has been done, and surprise, surprise, nine times out of ten, nothing or little has been implemented. And then we watch the panic set in as the trough of disillusionment overcomes our client’s face. I always stress education to my clients. Even if you are not the one implementing these practices, you should educate yourself so you know how what to look for and to hold people accountable.

Be Inquisitive, Network, Socialize, Find a Mentor, a Guru

Join a MeetUp Group, Consult with Non-Profit Small Business Advisory Services like SCORE, Join Peer Advisory Groups, Mastermind Groups, Watch Shark Tank, the Profit… Google EVERYTHING!

When you start building your business networking is key. Enlist the proper resources and surround yourself with a well-rounded group of business professionals; these are the most valuable tools you will have in your arsenal. We learn so much from one another; our experiences, mistakes, successes, the ins & outs, the journey, etc.

I am obsessed with Shark Tank! If you want to gain insight into the core competencies that are required to build a successful business, add this show to your list. Can you successfully answer all of their questions? Do you have the confidence and presentation skills to garner success? Do you have what it takes to get in front of the Sharks?

Go Team!

This is one of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned. Look at the principal players of any business. They are there for a reason and they all play a very fundamental role in the success of a business. When we start out in a new venture, we try to accomplish everything ourselves because we don’t have the budget to bring in a team of people, right? Well, this is another costly blunder. This goes back to why networking groups are so vital at this stage of the game.

You can develop the most mind-blowing, earth shattering widget, but if you don’t have the right people in place who know how to protect, market & sell your product; it’s essentially dead in the water. A big mistake is expecting a marketing person to sell, or a sales person to market. These entities are unique and separate. Again, go back to the core hierarchy of any corporation; these are the areas of expertise that need to be in place in your own company.

Picking the right team goes beyond the glossy resume. People will always convey the rosiest picture of themselves on paper, but picking the right team goes way beyond parchment. Expertise is essential, but there’s also chemistry involved. We’re all human with innate personalities and sometimes the chemistry just doesn’t gel. A candidate that has the most amazing credentials and education, but lacks appeal, is a red flag. If this person can’t share, negotiate, compromise or get along with others, it can be costly for your business from many perspectives; moral, project stall, etc.

Jack Be Nimble, Jack be Quick… or Someone Else Will Steal Your Shtick

When a project stalls, it costs your business time, money & resources, and it gives time for potential new competition to enter the playing field.

Once you get a project going, keep it going. Don’t start and stop because a team member is creating friction or a roadblock. When a lapse of time is initiated on a project you’ve already expended a considerable amount of time and money on it. It is redundant and costly to now have your team go back, refresh and retrace all of the previous milestones to get going again. Now you’re paying out, once again, for the time previously spent on the project.

Design & Development A Website That Captivates & Generates

When you hire a company to create your website, be sure there is both a design team and a development team on staff. These two entities speak different languages, so it is critical to efficiently and effectively translate your vision. Your website should be captivating and nimble. It should be inviting, aesthetically pleasing, user-friendly and engaging. Before you start constructing your website here are Techwuli's Six Tips to Designing + Developing a Successful Website.

Let Techwuli Get You On the Path to Entrepreneurial Success, Right from the Start!

Six Critical Tips for Successful Web Design & Development

Mon, 02 Feb 2015 14:39:00 GMT

Techwuli has designed & developed websites for a number of clients. Some clients come to us to fix problems, others hire us to start from scratch. Throughout the years we continue to see a consistent pattern of mishaps businesses make when it comes to creating a website. To help you avoid these common pitfals, we've put together our

Six Tips for Designing & Developing a Successful Website

To start, here are key components of a website:

Aesthetically Pleasing Design
User-Friendly, Well Organized, Navigation & Workflow
Well Articulate Branding
Accurately Scripted Products & Services
Precise & Succinct Messaging
Well Written & Displayed Content
High Quality Imagery
Social Connections
Domain Name
Hosting Environment

1 — Web Designer + Web Developer = A Winning Team

Web Designers don’t always think about the backend workflow & functionality, and the Web Developers don’t always think about the front-end aesthetics. I know firsthand from years of experience.

When you employ a design “team” that is under one roof, the lines of communication are always open. The beauty of this union is that it educates each entity through a cohesive working relationship, and in turn, both sides now think from a dual perspective; the designer now understands what goes into the backend development and will design accordingly, and the developer is now keenly aware of the critical design elements to be implemented. And when there is a discrepancy, the team can come together intelligently to work out the kinks. Hiring a design team is the most beneficial, expedient & cost effective way to produce a website.

2 — First & Foremost You Must Think About the User Experience

How will your customers be driven to your site and how will they use it?

In this day and age websites need to be highly responsive and function efficiently & effectively on every devise. Cumbersome navigation, lack of functionality, poor quality graphics & content; this is a surefire way to lose engagement on your website. Always put yourself in the users’ hands.

Technology engagement has become very touchy-feely; everything is swipeable & scrollable so your design should adapt accordingly to your users habits.

Think about the functionality of the site. How does one get from point A to point B with ease? Users don’t want to get lost in an abyss of chaotic information and layers. They want to get to the information they are seeking in the least amount of finger-friendly swipes & clicks.

3 — Don’t Lose Site of Your Goals

What is the purpose of your website? Always remember what you want your website to say and do, and how you want it to feel. This will help determine the proper platform to use. Are you building an e-commerce site? Are you a content developer in need of a dynamic editorial/visual driven platform? What is the complexity of the products or services? Is there a potential for your content-driven site to expand to an e-commerce site in the future? The first step is to define the core actions of your business site. Is it increasing sales, collecting leads, etc? What are the goals for future product/service expansion? These are critical questions to address. I have seen too many businesses design a site “for the moment” and when their business expands they want their technology to follow. Poor planning has its limitations on future growth, and it usually comes with a hefty price tag. When another developer has to try and retro-fit newer, shinier technologies into a very limited, unaccommodating space, the time and efforts required can be grand. Now a new developer has to understand the language & techniques of the previous developer before he can even begin to work on expansion. And many times customization comes with some risk to the health of the website.

4 — Who Are You? And What Do You Do?

If it looks like a duck & quacks like a duck, it’s usually a duck. But if it looks like a duck and you’re describing something else… well, you’re in trouble.

If you can’t clearly articulate your business and your brand, do not go any further. You’re building a website to introduce, promote & build your brand, right? How can you do this if you don’t know who you are and what you do?

There is so much psychology in the asset of a brand. Your brand is the personality that distinguishes the name, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies your product, service or company.

How do you want to be perceived in the eyes of the consumer? How do you want them to feel? What personality do you want to convey?

Your website is a virtual “show & tell” opportunity. This is not the time or place to have an identity crisis. You need to get it right. Make sure your brand identity comes through very loud & clear. I’ve met plenty of clients and I have been on a multitude of websites where the messaging was not clear at all; I had no idea what the business was selling. If a potential customer can’t interpret your identity, they won’t be doing business with you.

5 — Consider Domains Carefully & Strategically

You might already know to choose a domain that’s easy to spell, has no dashes and is simple to remember. Consider the new domains becoming available, such as .mobi, .nyc and .restaurant. While adoption for these new domains hasn’t quite been established yet, I would suggest securing both a .com and one of these newer domains so your site will be well positioned should one of the newer domains gain traction.

6 — Hosting Environment

Whether you have a blogging website or a global, large scale business site, security is of utmost importance and should be at the top of your list when selecting a hosting company.

Lack of security can be devastating to a business if problems result in loss of income or identity theft. It is important to understand what aspects of security you should look for and how to determine if your host provides security adequately.

You need to be sure your web host is taking care of their servers to provide a secure environment. Next, they should provide the necessary tools to ensure you can secure your site and its functionality:

SFTP is a more secure file upload & transfer feature
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer)
Backup frequency to protect your site in case of problem or disaster, and
Frequent Server Maintenance to ensure attacks are limited

In order to ensure you have the best possible service there are several items you should consider:

Reliability — Reliability or uptime is of vital importance and something that should be carefully considered before choosing a host. For business websites this is even more important than personal, and for E-commerce sites it is critical.

Space and Bandwidth are primary considerations for your hosting package. The amount of space you need depends on the number and size of the files you will have on your site.

Customer Service — will you get the help you need, when you need it? When your site is down, you want immediate attention. Customer service is paramount! Be sure to check references on your web hosting company before you sign up.

Pricing — of course price is a consideration, but don’t skimp out; it could cost you in the long run. Keep in mind that there are variances in cost based upon the available features.

Company Stability — Companies come and go and the web hosting industry can be particularly prone to fly-by-night companies. Go with a reputable company! Longevity is often an indication of stability. If your host is established in the industry you have a better chance of them being in it for the long haul.

Contact Techwuli Today to Get Started Developing Your Business Platforms!

From content strategy & development, to design, to the development, Techwuli covers every aspect of successful website creation, implementation & launch. Here's just a small sample of Techwuli client websites. In addition Techwuli has developed mobile apps, backend merchant portals, and enterprise platforms for these clients.

Satisfy Your Mobile "App"etite

Sat, 31 Jan 2015 17:51:00 GMT

Have you ever had one of those days or moments when you wish you had an “undo” button?

I certainly have had many. With the way technology is headed, one day there may actually be an UNDOApp and Techwuli may just be the inventor of this app. Until then, if you could invent your dream mobile application what would it do?

What Would Satisfy Your Mobile“App”etite?

As technologists we are always conscious of making life and business more efficient and effective. We want to simplify so there is more time to satisfy; allow ourselves more time to get the most out of life, whether its business, family, hobbies, etc. Making our lives and businesses run more efficiently and effectively helps us achieve those goals and leave us with more time to do what we enjoy.

Mobile Apps aren’t just for business; mobile apps can certainly supercharge your personal life too. Can’t find a date? There’s an app for that! There are apps to help you search for sitters, book jobs and pay sitters. There are apps to keep you motivated, apps to improve your commute, apps to organize grocery lists, apps to keep an eye on your budget & pay bills. There are apps to shop, shop, shop, till you drop, drop, drop and there’s even a meditation app “Ommmm”, there’s an app for this and an app for that; basically, if you can dream it, you can “appify it”.

If you could design your dream app what would it do? What problem would it solve? How would this mobile app transform your personal life or your business? Does your business or life currently have an app?

Don’t get trapped at home or behind a desk; mobilize yourself so you can keep your life moving in the right direction. Develop an end-to-end mobile application solution to move your life and your business in the right direction.

Techwuli Software Solutions has been developing mobile apps before they were mainstream.

Let Techwuli's highly creative, out-of-the-box thinking team

Satisfy Your Mobile "App"etite!

How Do You Recruit the Best Developers?

Thu, 01 Jan 2015 17:56:00 GMT

Developers Are in High Demand. How Do You Recruit the Best?

When I ran across this article on Entrepreneur.com, it hit home. It is true, developers are in very high demand. Rarely will a business succeed today without a digital presence; this gives cause for highly skilled developers. But how do you recruit the best?

As an innovative software development business I understand the critical importance of finding well-versed, stellar software developers. These are the key people who will make or break your business. Techwuli's business deals with a broad spectrum of inventive clients; from bleeding edge inventors to business moguls looking for complex software applications & everything in between. These types of clients require a very agile, well-rounded, out-of-the-box team of people.

The beauty of our clients diversity is that it keeps my developers on the leading edge of technology and it maintains jobs that are interesting, thought-provoking and motivating. One minute my team will be developing a software application for an unmanned flying machine, the next they are building a complex energy trading platform, working on a dynamic e-commerce website, cultivating cutting-edge mobile apps, etc. Our projects are everchanging in scope and complexity and this requires a very diverse skillset and a multitude of intellectual capital.

Many entrepreneurs and small businesses don't have the capital to retain a team of developers. Other companies don't have all of the talent in house so they outsource specialty projects. These are the types of clients that recruit Techwuli for their software development projects. We have the talent to get the job done.

Top Criteria to Recruit the Best Developers

When I recruit developers I'm looking for a very deep core industry and technology background mixed with multiplicity. I look for developers who have in-depth experience in large enterprises across multiple industries; investment banking, healthcare, energy, etc. I also want to see entrepreneurial, small business comprehension peppered into their resume as well. Dexterity and the ability to flex strong development muscles in a broad scope of projects is critical in the technology world, especially when you are dealing with an incredibly diverse group of clients.

Since the majority of businesses are global, Techwuli maintains a global group of developers. When you recruit developers from around the world it brings a wealth of worldly knowledge and a very expansive range of diversity. Each country deals with technology in unique ways and some are more advanced in various areas of technology than others. That collective, global knowledge keeps us well rounded and informed on the issues and needs around the world, thus providing business opportunity and room for expansion.

There are no 9-5'ers at Techwuli. Passion & curiosity play a major role in exceptional developers. These characteristics fuel an insatiable appetite for newer, better, faster, bigger & better. I encourage an entrepreneurial environment at Techwuli. I give my team complete autonomy to explore and bring new ideas to the table which keeps them motivated and growing. It is critical to keep brilliant minds engaged and stimulated. My team is always experimenting; building prototypes, widgets, new software applications, etc. This type of atmosphere retains great talent. We are always flooded with new ideas which keeps our business environment inspirational and cutting-edge, bringing greater value to our clients.

You can't put innovative, creative people in a box. We like our innovators teetering on the edge; far outside of the box.

"Tech is about working with brilliant people to build a better vision of the future" ~ Inc. Magazine ~

If your developers are prospering, so is your business.

If you're looking for a highly skilled and talented team of developers to execute your next project

Contact Techwuli Today!

WomenWOW — Female Entrepreneurs Are Shaping the Face of a New Business Landscape

Fri, 21 Nov 2014 12:43:00 GMT

As the male dominated single income household is quickly diminishing, women are impacting the business world in record numbers. Women are building their own business empires and rising up the executive ranks with vengeance. In 2010 women became the majority of the workforce for the first time in history. Women have emerged as key drivers in new business creation.

Female Facts

According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, over the last 17 years, women-owned businesses have increased dramatically. According to the State-Owned Business Report, commissioned by American Express, the rate of increase is a staggering 68% since 1997, with more than 9.1 million women-owned businesses operating in 2014, up from 8.6 million in 2013. This surging-growth pace, which has doubled in three years, has helped to generate nearly $1.5 trillion in revenues for women-owned businesses.

The American Express State of Women-Owned Businesses Report, shows that women are starting 1,200 businesses a day.

Did you know that businesses with women entrepreneurs perform as well as or better than those led by men. According to Babson, businesses with a woman on the executive team are more likely to have higher valuations at both first and last funding (64 percent higher and 49 percent higher, respectively).

And did you also know that women are partners in 45.7% of businesses, and women-owned firms account for nearly 30% of all new businesses.

Guardian Life projects that female owned businesses could create 5 million to 5.5 million new jobs across the United States by 2018 and that women account for half of all new businesses, generating 1/3 of the new jobs created according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Dig into Women Owned Businesses — Carving a New American Business Landscape — chock full of female entrepreneur facts & figures, resources, etc.

The Anatomy of a Successful Female Entrepreneur

According to the Kauffman Foundation "Women are increasingly integral to entrepreneurship and innovation — the lynchpins of individual economic independence and dynamic economic growth. The future of American growth is in the hands of women."

So what are the primary financial & psychological factors motivating women to become entrepreneurs? Drivers have been things like childhood experiences that encouraged entrepreneurship, as well as the desire to pursue an idea, the potential for greater financial gain & independence, a strong desire to live on one’s own terms, and to navigate business success.

A successful female entrepreneur:

Dreams BIG
Is passionate about what she does
Knows her strengths & weaknesses
Steps outside of her comfort zone
Sets high goals
Is financially savvy; sets budgets & a long term capital strategy for the business
Is Persistent
Treats time and energy as scarce resources
Is Humble and willing to learn
Is able to handle criticism
Creates a culture of success; build an infrastructure that reflects your values
Networks; joins more networks and a greater variety of networks
Has a great personal support network
Is an active listener
Is an extraordinary communicator
Has a strong sense of purpose
Differentiates herself from the pack
Won’t compromise integrity for money
Defines success on her own terms
Effectively balances family and business responsibilities
Invests both money and time in her intellectual, physical, and spiritual well-being

“F”entrepreneur Connections

Channel the Energy, Socialize, Read, Follow…CONNECT

Knowledge is wisdom. Finding the right resources is key. Networking is paramount. Supporting, Promoting, Contributing to Women is crucial. We can never have too many channels to promote our business, right? Well, we've collected a few of our favorites that encompass all of these key qualities.

The Next Women — The Next Women is a community of Investors, Entrepreneurs & Advisers who build formats to support the growth of female entrepreneurs; from startups to companies making millions

Forbes Women — Highlights Women in the News, Successes, Tips

Women 2.0 — is the world’s largest community-driven media brand designed for the next generation of technology leaders. Women 2.0 creates content, community & events for aspiring &current innovators in technology

She Knows has a robust social following. Become an expert contributor and expose your business to these thousands of followers

With 94.5 million Twitter followers She Owns It provides an incredible channel to promote your business through editorial contribution

Women's Leadership Exchange — is a social entrepreneurship organization founded by and for successful businesswomen

Great Advice — 14 Ways to be a Great Start-Up CEO

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Center for Women In Business & Resource Center

Proof that #WomenWOW

If there’s a need in everyday tasks, the world or life, a woman will seek to discover a unique answer to that need, and fill the hole the market never knew existed.

"Great companies start because the founders want to change the world... not make a fast buck" ~ Guy Kawasaki ~

Women know NO boundaries, even when it comes to saving a major environment.

#WomenWOW at any age! Read the entire article at Fortune Magazine

December 3rd is the Official Launch of #WomenWOW

Join the Kenneth Cole, Mariska Hargitay& Michael Stars in celebrating & supporting #WomenWOW — Support Women Wednesday — A Movement to Celebrate, Empower & Support Women-Owned Businesses and Causes.

To Celebrate the Kick-Off of #WomenWOW, Techwuli is offering an exclusive "Get Started" Promotion for F'entrepreneurs.

The bottom line: If you have the anatomy of a successful female entrepreneur; the facts are pointing you to a whole wide world that is ready, willing and able to embrace your business venture.

Techwuli is here to help you get started with your business, marketing & technology needs!

Contact Techwuli Today for a Free Consultation!