I thought this article from Fox News had some great, quick tips for introducing your new hire to the workplace and getting them on the fast track to productivity.
So many times I've seen bright, motivated employees become disillusioned and bitter because their management did not take an active interest in their success. Not hand-holding, mind you, just a shove in the right direction. Read on:
Three Steps to Make a New Hire Productive
Reuters
"The traditional approach to "onboarding" - sitting your new hire down with a stack of reading or a series of trainings - doesn't do much to explain how the organization truly functions.
Take these three steps to help your new hire understand how work gets done and what he can do to add immediate value:
1. Start early. Onboarding starts with hiring. During interviews, expose all candidates to the organization's culture. Don't oversell your company; be honest about who you are and how you work.
2. Introduce him to the right people. Identify key stakeholders that your new hire needs to know. Broker early introductions so that he can begin building relationships right away.
3. Get him working. This shouldn't be a sink or swim approach. Put him on projects where he is supported by others and can start contributing right away." - Today's Management Tip was adapted from "Get Immediate Value from Your New Hire" by Amy Gallo.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
"What Exactly Does the Development Office Do?"
Since taking this job last October, it’s the most oft-asked question I field. “What exactly IS the development office? What is it that you DO, Tovi?”
I’ve found, by and large, no one is 100% sure of what the Development Office does. Ask five people and you’ll get five different answers. Admittedly, that’s partly our fault. We need to better advertise our services to the business and entrepreneurial community. What good is an Office of Development if we’re not helping people develop anything?
The office is also shrouded in mystery because economic development means different things to different folks. To some, it means community development projects like the new pool. To others, it means recruiting new businesses to town. Still others contend that the office should focus on helping the businesses we have expand and grow. And you know what? There’s not a wrong answer in the bunch.
The day-to-day activities of this office vary. I work with the Governor’s Office of Economic Development on business proposals to companies looking to relocate to South Dakota. We do cold calls and follow up on leads that come from citizens that have ideas for businesses here in Tripp County. We look for ways to promote our excellent business climate. Currently, I’m working on new, comprehensive website with the Chamber that will help us effectively market the area to visitors and provide a wealth of information for residents and small businesses.
In another vein, we’re always looking at new incentives we can offer businesses to relocate. Each operation is different and, obviously, different ideas appeal to different industries. Without rail or natural gas, some of our manufacturing options are limited but we still feel that our high quality, clean, family-friendly community is the major factor working for us. We also provide resources to young families and professionals that want to return to the area.
Since taking this position nine months ago, I’ve learned a lot about the issues surrounding rural economic development. We don’t have an easy road ahead of us. Population trends show that we’re losing more people every year, both to relocation and natural attrition. I can’t stress how important local business retention and expansion is to our community. When a large company looks at relocating to Winner, they first look at the local business economy. Is it thriving? Does the community support their own backyard businesses? Supporting your local business district is a whole ‘nother column but I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention it as a major part of economic development success.
Finally, succession planning. As a community, we need to be looking ahead to find our small business owners of the future. If you’re planning to retire or are looking to sell your business, contact the Development Office. We will work with you to find the right transition situation. All consultations are confidential.
Here are a couple other Frequently Asked Questions that I’d like to see Asked More Frequently.
What is this Revolving Loan Fund you speak of?
A Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) is a source of money from which loans are made for small business development projects. A loan is made to one person or business and, as repayments are made, funds become available for new loans to other businesses. The money revolves from one person or business to another. RLFs provide the initial loans for business start-up and expansion. Often, they are used to fill a "financing gap" in a business development project.
Almost $300,000 is currently available to assist entrepreneurs with start-up costs or current businesses with expansion. Contact the Development Office for more details or to apply.
Can you help me with business planning?
Absolutely! We frequently partner with the South Dakota Small Business Development Center to provide support to entrepreneurs that are putting together their first business plan. We feel that the process of sitting down, working the numbers, looking at the marketshare and resources is a very beneficial process that every entrepreneur needs to complete. Come on into the office and we’ll take a look at your plans and assist you with the research you need to do before crafting the most workable plan.
Our partnership with SBDC and Third District Planning can provide you with market research, financial analysis, cash flow planning and marketing strategy for your start-up or business expansion.
What’s the difference between South Central Development Corporation and the Tripp County Office of Development?
The Tripp County Office of Development is an office charged with assisting Tripp County entrepreneurs with business start-up and expansion assistance and recruiting new businesses to the area. Operational costs are funded by the City of Winner (85%) and Tripp County (15%.) The office hosts monthly Unified Development Committee meetings with representatives from the City, the County, the Department of Labor, South Central Development, the Chamber of Commerce and a member at large.
South Central Development Corporation (SCDC) is a non-profit corporation that has over 140 shareholders that are committed to promoting community and business development in the Tripp County area. SCDC is governed by a volunteer board of 20, comprised of business leaders from the area.
Currently, Tom Kauer of Statewide Ag serves as president of the organization. Randy Vandhoek of Two Brothers, Inc. is our vice president, Dan Patmore of True Value serves as secretary and Treasurer Don Bice of Western Aviation rounds out our executive team. The group meets quarterly and has an annual meeting in February, which is open to all stockholders. SCDC shares are sold individually, are not transferable and are $250 a share. The SCDC board also considers applications for use of the Tripp County Revolving Loan Fund.
Where IS the Development Office?
Currently, we are located in the Statewide Ag Building at 201 Monroe Street. I’m here Monday through Friday and love it when folks stop in for a cup of coffee to visit about ideas they have for development or community growth. I also offer complimentary water, on tap.
In addition to office hours, you can always ring me up at (605) 842-1551, email at develop@winnersd.org or find our info online at winnersd.org. These articles are also available online at developwinnersd.blogspot.com.
My hope is that this column will be used a resource for our business community and will encourage more dialogue in regards to economic development right here in Winner.
TCB
I’ve found, by and large, no one is 100% sure of what the Development Office does. Ask five people and you’ll get five different answers. Admittedly, that’s partly our fault. We need to better advertise our services to the business and entrepreneurial community. What good is an Office of Development if we’re not helping people develop anything?
The office is also shrouded in mystery because economic development means different things to different folks. To some, it means community development projects like the new pool. To others, it means recruiting new businesses to town. Still others contend that the office should focus on helping the businesses we have expand and grow. And you know what? There’s not a wrong answer in the bunch.
The day-to-day activities of this office vary. I work with the Governor’s Office of Economic Development on business proposals to companies looking to relocate to South Dakota. We do cold calls and follow up on leads that come from citizens that have ideas for businesses here in Tripp County. We look for ways to promote our excellent business climate. Currently, I’m working on new, comprehensive website with the Chamber that will help us effectively market the area to visitors and provide a wealth of information for residents and small businesses.
In another vein, we’re always looking at new incentives we can offer businesses to relocate. Each operation is different and, obviously, different ideas appeal to different industries. Without rail or natural gas, some of our manufacturing options are limited but we still feel that our high quality, clean, family-friendly community is the major factor working for us. We also provide resources to young families and professionals that want to return to the area.
Since taking this position nine months ago, I’ve learned a lot about the issues surrounding rural economic development. We don’t have an easy road ahead of us. Population trends show that we’re losing more people every year, both to relocation and natural attrition. I can’t stress how important local business retention and expansion is to our community. When a large company looks at relocating to Winner, they first look at the local business economy. Is it thriving? Does the community support their own backyard businesses? Supporting your local business district is a whole ‘nother column but I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention it as a major part of economic development success.
Finally, succession planning. As a community, we need to be looking ahead to find our small business owners of the future. If you’re planning to retire or are looking to sell your business, contact the Development Office. We will work with you to find the right transition situation. All consultations are confidential.
Here are a couple other Frequently Asked Questions that I’d like to see Asked More Frequently.
What is this Revolving Loan Fund you speak of?
A Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) is a source of money from which loans are made for small business development projects. A loan is made to one person or business and, as repayments are made, funds become available for new loans to other businesses. The money revolves from one person or business to another. RLFs provide the initial loans for business start-up and expansion. Often, they are used to fill a "financing gap" in a business development project.
Almost $300,000 is currently available to assist entrepreneurs with start-up costs or current businesses with expansion. Contact the Development Office for more details or to apply.
Can you help me with business planning?
Absolutely! We frequently partner with the South Dakota Small Business Development Center to provide support to entrepreneurs that are putting together their first business plan. We feel that the process of sitting down, working the numbers, looking at the marketshare and resources is a very beneficial process that every entrepreneur needs to complete. Come on into the office and we’ll take a look at your plans and assist you with the research you need to do before crafting the most workable plan.
Our partnership with SBDC and Third District Planning can provide you with market research, financial analysis, cash flow planning and marketing strategy for your start-up or business expansion.
What’s the difference between South Central Development Corporation and the Tripp County Office of Development?
The Tripp County Office of Development is an office charged with assisting Tripp County entrepreneurs with business start-up and expansion assistance and recruiting new businesses to the area. Operational costs are funded by the City of Winner (85%) and Tripp County (15%.) The office hosts monthly Unified Development Committee meetings with representatives from the City, the County, the Department of Labor, South Central Development, the Chamber of Commerce and a member at large.
South Central Development Corporation (SCDC) is a non-profit corporation that has over 140 shareholders that are committed to promoting community and business development in the Tripp County area. SCDC is governed by a volunteer board of 20, comprised of business leaders from the area.
Currently, Tom Kauer of Statewide Ag serves as president of the organization. Randy Vandhoek of Two Brothers, Inc. is our vice president, Dan Patmore of True Value serves as secretary and Treasurer Don Bice of Western Aviation rounds out our executive team. The group meets quarterly and has an annual meeting in February, which is open to all stockholders. SCDC shares are sold individually, are not transferable and are $250 a share. The SCDC board also considers applications for use of the Tripp County Revolving Loan Fund.
Where IS the Development Office?
Currently, we are located in the Statewide Ag Building at 201 Monroe Street. I’m here Monday through Friday and love it when folks stop in for a cup of coffee to visit about ideas they have for development or community growth. I also offer complimentary water, on tap.
In addition to office hours, you can always ring me up at (605) 842-1551, email at develop@winnersd.org or find our info online at winnersd.org. These articles are also available online at developwinnersd.blogspot.com.
My hope is that this column will be used a resource for our business community and will encourage more dialogue in regards to economic development right here in Winner.
TCB
Getting Your Small Business Online
Recently, my family and I were trying to find a location near the Niobrara where we could have a mini-vacation. We have a large group and most of us planned to tent out but we did have a few requirements: the campsite needed to be close to the river, we wanted a cabin onsite and we needed information about tubing rentals and availability/pricing.
Now, Valentine is less than an hour away from Winner but, like you, I'm busy during the week. I figured that using the Internet was the easiest way to plan this vacation...the same way I've planned every vacation from New York to Maui to DisneyWorld. Right?
Oh, I wish it had been that easy. To be fair, there were sites that did have information but most was vague, there were just a few photos of cabins, zero of the contacts returned my email within two days and only two out of the five returned my phone call.
It got me thinking about Winner, our hunting/tourism resources, the task of promoting the area and (channeling Carrie Bradshaw here) I couldn't help but wonder," How can we in Winner make our online experience worth the click?"
Now, the Development Office and the Chamber have been working on a new, comprehensive site for Winner for a couple months now. We're showing our idea to the City of Winner and the City of Colome this month and hoping to get them onboard as well. And...it will be great. The finished product will be a fantastic tool for all BUT IT IS NOT ENOUGH.
To be frank, our site won't be the best version of itself until our small businesses are online as well. We want to link potential customers, potential visitors to your site but, instead, we're giving out phone numbers and addresses. Maybe the customer will call. Maybe they won't. Maybe they'll keep searching for a hotel/printer/flowershop/resturaunt that IS online and can answer their questions now.
Today, having an online presence for your small businesses is more important than ever. Whether you have a portable welding service, retail store or hair salon, your customers WILL seek you out on the web. They'll get their first impression of your business from your site and , whether you sell goods online or not, they'll decide then and there whether your business is worth their dollar by deciding whether your site is worth their time.
There are four basic components you need to be aware of when building your site:
Design
Get a professional web developer to build your site. Knowing HTML or how to use MS Front Page does not a web designer make. You want to create a look and feel that tells a story about your business, product or service. You want a clean, uncluttered page with visually appealing photos and graphics. We developers can help you resize photos so they load more quickly and they can assist you with adding value-added features such as customer contact forms, polls, video and more.
Usability
When folks click on your site, you need to make information easy to find. Again, this is where a web designer can help. You want to maintain a consistent look and feel on each page and steer clear of odd fonts or multicolored backgrounds that make reading your text difficult. If your customers can't use your page to dig for the info they need, they'll leave almost immediately. Categorize your information in easy-to-understand formats and provide links for feedback and contact emails.
Content
This is where you need to really dig deep to determine what content your consumer needs to know. Do they need to see your organizational chart? Probably not. They do want to know a direct phone number and an email address for, let's say, billing. Make doing business with you as easy as possible.
Your content also includes photos and other visuals (see Design.) Hire a photographer to take some high-resolution, quality photography of your product or service and make it the focal point of your sales pitch.
Keep your content brief and informative. If you customer needs to scroll down more than once, there's a very good chance they will decide it's not worth their precious online time.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
What good is a website if no one can find you? Your web developer should be able to asist you with make sure your site contains the appropriate keywords to make you easy to find in Google, Yahoo, Bing, etc. Make sure they are abale to provide you with a statistics page, using their own software or Google Analytics. It's important you know what information your customers are looking at, what pages they are entering from, what pages they're leaving from, how many visits a day, etc. Again, if your developer can't help you with this, keep looking for one that can. It's important to realize your ROT (return on investment) with any kind of marketing/advertising campaign.
As it turns out, I DID find a campsite (after what seemed like a bazillion phone calls) but it wasn't the one I really wanted. The campsite I wanted had a pretty informative website that featured good photos, contact info, pricing. But when I called for reservations? "I'm sorry, Ms. Bartels. Our cabins are literally booked until after Labor Day. We have been for awhile." THE PROSECUTION RESTS.
We already have a number of locally-owned, stand-alone businesses that have built great sites. For inspiration, check out:
Frontier Motors: frontiermotors.com
Prairie Portraits By Shelley: prairieportraitsbyshelley.com
KWYR Magic 93/Country 1260: kwyr.com
If you'd like a base of reference on some of the better (in my opinion) web development operations in the area, stop by the office. I'd love to visit with you about developing an online presence for your small business or discuss ways the Tripp County Office of Development can help your business grow.
Contact me at develop@winnersd.org or call (605) 842-1551.
TCB
Now, Valentine is less than an hour away from Winner but, like you, I'm busy during the week. I figured that using the Internet was the easiest way to plan this vacation...the same way I've planned every vacation from New York to Maui to DisneyWorld. Right?
Oh, I wish it had been that easy. To be fair, there were sites that did have information but most was vague, there were just a few photos of cabins, zero of the contacts returned my email within two days and only two out of the five returned my phone call.
It got me thinking about Winner, our hunting/tourism resources, the task of promoting the area and (channeling Carrie Bradshaw here) I couldn't help but wonder," How can we in Winner make our online experience worth the click?"
Now, the Development Office and the Chamber have been working on a new, comprehensive site for Winner for a couple months now. We're showing our idea to the City of Winner and the City of Colome this month and hoping to get them onboard as well. And...it will be great. The finished product will be a fantastic tool for all BUT IT IS NOT ENOUGH.
To be frank, our site won't be the best version of itself until our small businesses are online as well. We want to link potential customers, potential visitors to your site but, instead, we're giving out phone numbers and addresses. Maybe the customer will call. Maybe they won't. Maybe they'll keep searching for a hotel/printer/flowershop/resturaunt that IS online and can answer their questions now.
Today, having an online presence for your small businesses is more important than ever. Whether you have a portable welding service, retail store or hair salon, your customers WILL seek you out on the web. They'll get their first impression of your business from your site and , whether you sell goods online or not, they'll decide then and there whether your business is worth their dollar by deciding whether your site is worth their time.
There are four basic components you need to be aware of when building your site:
Design
Get a professional web developer to build your site. Knowing HTML or how to use MS Front Page does not a web designer make. You want to create a look and feel that tells a story about your business, product or service. You want a clean, uncluttered page with visually appealing photos and graphics. We developers can help you resize photos so they load more quickly and they can assist you with adding value-added features such as customer contact forms, polls, video and more.
Usability
When folks click on your site, you need to make information easy to find. Again, this is where a web designer can help. You want to maintain a consistent look and feel on each page and steer clear of odd fonts or multicolored backgrounds that make reading your text difficult. If your customers can't use your page to dig for the info they need, they'll leave almost immediately. Categorize your information in easy-to-understand formats and provide links for feedback and contact emails.
Content
This is where you need to really dig deep to determine what content your consumer needs to know. Do they need to see your organizational chart? Probably not. They do want to know a direct phone number and an email address for, let's say, billing. Make doing business with you as easy as possible.
Your content also includes photos and other visuals (see Design.) Hire a photographer to take some high-resolution, quality photography of your product or service and make it the focal point of your sales pitch.
Keep your content brief and informative. If you customer needs to scroll down more than once, there's a very good chance they will decide it's not worth their precious online time.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
What good is a website if no one can find you? Your web developer should be able to asist you with make sure your site contains the appropriate keywords to make you easy to find in Google, Yahoo, Bing, etc. Make sure they are abale to provide you with a statistics page, using their own software or Google Analytics. It's important you know what information your customers are looking at, what pages they are entering from, what pages they're leaving from, how many visits a day, etc. Again, if your developer can't help you with this, keep looking for one that can. It's important to realize your ROT (return on investment) with any kind of marketing/advertising campaign.
As it turns out, I DID find a campsite (after what seemed like a bazillion phone calls) but it wasn't the one I really wanted. The campsite I wanted had a pretty informative website that featured good photos, contact info, pricing. But when I called for reservations? "I'm sorry, Ms. Bartels. Our cabins are literally booked until after Labor Day. We have been for awhile." THE PROSECUTION RESTS.
We already have a number of locally-owned, stand-alone businesses that have built great sites. For inspiration, check out:
Frontier Motors: frontiermotors.com
Prairie Portraits By Shelley: prairieportraitsbyshelley.com
KWYR Magic 93/Country 1260: kwyr.com
If you'd like a base of reference on some of the better (in my opinion) web development operations in the area, stop by the office. I'd love to visit with you about developing an online presence for your small business or discuss ways the Tripp County Office of Development can help your business grow.
Contact me at develop@winnersd.org or call (605) 842-1551.
TCB
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