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    Traditional Retail Advertising is Ineffective
    January 30th, 2007A recent online study by Deloitte and Touche uncovered that two thirds of store visits during the 2006 holiday season were not influenced by holiday advertising. It turns out that most consumers picked stores because of their pre-existing familiarity with the stores and the stores locations. Additionally, the products purchased were researched on the internet.This means t
    rms, rates and hourly billing minimums? What is billable and what is not billable?

    Do you charge for your travel time? Telephone support? E-mail/online support? Remote support?

    Are there any hourly rate billing premiums for after-hours or emergency service? What constitutes “after hours” or an “emergency”?

    Do you offer support contracts

    The Employment Interview - How Hard Can It Be
    bInterviewing Requires SkillInterviewing a new job candidate sounds easy. After all, you are in control. You have something to offer. You can select anyone you choose to select. Right? That sounds good but in reality interviewing a person to fill a job opening is one of the more difficult tasks you may face as a manager. It does require specific skills to do it right and increase your chance of h
    Does your company need to retain the services of a competent computer consulting firm, but you have no idea how to really evaluate “competence”? In the first part of this two-part series on Computer Consulting 101 hiring tips, we looked at why small businesses find it so difficult to hire good computer consulting companies, as well as four basic questions that you must be addressed when searching for a new computer consulting vendor. Now in this second and final installment of this two part series on Computer Consulting 101 hiring tips, we’ll look at how you can evaluate the true, often-confusing expenses of using a computer consulting company, as well as how to more thoroughly review the computer consulting company’s professional credentials and experience.

    Reseller, “Pure” Computer Consulting Company, or Hybrid Technology Provider

    Does your company resell various technology products, such as hardware and software? Is this a profit center or do you mind if we shop for our products elsewhere? And if we do shop elsewhere, can we still purchase your needs analysis and procurement services?

    Are there any other vendors, such as ISPs or telephone companies, that your firm acts as an agent or affiliate for? In other words, do you accept commissions or referral fees for steering business toward certain vendors?

    Costs, Hidden Charges, and Billing Procedures

    What are your payment terms, rates and hourly billing minimums? What is billable and what is not billable?

    Do you charge for your travel time? Telephone support? E-mail/online support? Remote support?

    Are there any hourly rate billing premiums for after-hours or emergency service? What constitutes “after hours” or an “emergency”?

    Do you offer support contracts?

    Time Management: The Overlooked Outline
    In this era when you are bombarded with deadlines and multitasking is listed as a job requirement, it becomes even more important to find easy-to-use tools to keep you as efficient and effective as possible.You were probably first taught about outlining in early school years when they told you how to create a story by listing three events within the body of the work and then developing those. In
    s that you must be addressed when searching for a new computer consulting vendor. Now in this second and final installment of this two part series on Computer Consulting 101 hiring tips, we’ll look at how you can evaluate the true, often-confusing expenses of using a computer consulting company, as well as how to more thoroughly review the computer consulting company’s professional credentials and experience.

    Reseller, “Pure” Computer Consulting Company, or Hybrid Technology Provider

    Does your company resell various technology products, such as hardware and software? Is this a profit center or do you mind if we shop for our products elsewhere? And if we do shop elsewhere, can we still purchase your needs analysis and procurement services?

    Are there any other vendors, such as ISPs or telephone companies, that your firm acts as an agent or affiliate for? In other words, do you accept commissions or referral fees for steering business toward certain vendors?

    Costs, Hidden Charges, and Billing Procedures

    What are your payment terms, rates and hourly billing minimums? What is billable and what is not billable?

    Do you charge for your travel time? Telephone support? E-mail/online support? Remote support?

    Are there any hourly rate billing premiums for after-hours or emergency service? What constitutes “after hours” or an “emergency”?

    Do you offer support contracts

    In a Perfect World Everyone would be Employed
    In the United States of America the unemployment rate is down around 4.7% and by historical records that is one of the lowest unemployment rates ever in the history of our nation. Of course even with such low unemployment rates some folks still are complaining. In a perfect world everyone would be employed, but this is not a perfect world and many people are not perfect and don't want to work.I
    ting company’s professional credentials and experience.

    Reseller, “Pure” Computer Consulting Company, or Hybrid Technology Provider

    Does your company resell various technology products, such as hardware and software? Is this a profit center or do you mind if we shop for our products elsewhere? And if we do shop elsewhere, can we still purchase your needs analysis and procurement services?

    Are there any other vendors, such as ISPs or telephone companies, that your firm acts as an agent or affiliate for? In other words, do you accept commissions or referral fees for steering business toward certain vendors?

    Costs, Hidden Charges, and Billing Procedures

    What are your payment terms, rates and hourly billing minimums? What is billable and what is not billable?

    Do you charge for your travel time? Telephone support? E-mail/online support? Remote support?

    Are there any hourly rate billing premiums for after-hours or emergency service? What constitutes “after hours” or an “emergency”?

    Do you offer support contracts

    Venture Capital Financing: Is It Within Your Reach?
    Many firms dream of the day that a venture capital financing occurs. This is the day when they are handed a check for millions of dollars and told to go fulfill their entrepreneurial dreams. Unfortunately, for most this remains a dream. But this doesn’t necessarily have to be the case. Securing a venture capital financing can be a reality under the right conditions.Perhaps the most important cond
    e your needs analysis and procurement services?

    Are there any other vendors, such as ISPs or telephone companies, that your firm acts as an agent or affiliate for? In other words, do you accept commissions or referral fees for steering business toward certain vendors?

    Costs, Hidden Charges, and Billing Procedures

    What are your payment terms, rates and hourly billing minimums? What is billable and what is not billable?

    Do you charge for your travel time? Telephone support? E-mail/online support? Remote support?

    Are there any hourly rate billing premiums for after-hours or emergency service? What constitutes “after hours” or an “emergency”?

    Do you offer support contracts

    Taking Advantage of Trends: Cocooning
    One of the biggest established trends on the market front today, and still gathering momentum, is cocooning - the desire to perform the majority of social and cultural interactions (working, entertaining, relaxing, etc.) from home, rather than by going outside the home. This trend was strongly reinforced by the 9/11 tragedy, as many people began to review their lives and, sometimes for the first time, c
    rms, rates and hourly billing minimums? What is billable and what is not billable?

    Do you charge for your travel time? Telephone support? E-mail/online support? Remote support?

    Are there any hourly rate billing premiums for after-hours or emergency service? What constitutes “after hours” or an “emergency”?

    Do you offer support contracts? What are the cost and benefits?

    Client Reference Accounts, Case Studies, and Testimonials

    Can you tell me about one of your more long-term small business client accounts?

    Can you tell me about one of your more recently signed-on clients? Can you tell me about a small business client who didn't work out and why?

    Can you provide references?

    Research/Developments and Keeping Skills Sharp

    How do you keep up with new tech developments?

    What do you bill clients for and what do you absorb internally? Are there any gray areas?

    Training Approach and Knowledge Transfer

    How do you feel about handholding and in-depth training with users?

    What kind of user and technical training can you provide?

    Will you train our internal computer administrator to become more self-sufficient, even if it takes away from your "job security" and opportunities to bill more hours?

    The Bottom Line

    Don't fall into the ultra-common trap of hiring an independent computer consultant or computer consulting firm that isn't a good fit for your business. Use these Computer Consulting 101 hiring and screening questions as the basis for making a more informed hiring decision for your computer consulting vendor. And if you have any doubts, don't be afraid to seek out a second opinion with another computer consulting company.

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