Help wanted

From Ken Kaufman, SLC, UT

Don't forget that teh CFO will help Dearth increase sales – no more need to worry about that so they can grow the company!

From Venkat Iyer, New Delhi, India

I disagree with the aggressive sales strategy. That's way too easy coming from s seasoned sales pro, however there are some downsides to it where a HR Consulting firm is concerned.

As a professional running an HR consulting firm, my observations are as follows:

Its a volume/value conundrum, that bugs most HR consulting firms today. If you aggressively seek out business, you get entangled in beauty parades, RFQs and lowest quotes on the work that you will bid for.

On the other hand, if the client has heard of your good work and is impressed with your credentials you can charge a decent premium over what the other service providers charge the same organization.

Never pitch an HR service to a HR head. there's way too much baggage there. Always pitch it to the leadership, preferably the CEO.

Also, I strongly believe that the all woman team strategy is a good way to go.

Please ensure that you get full value delivery from your part time CFO. Look beyond the numbers, business is best run by the gut, irrespective of what the world tells you in spreadsheets!

From Susan – Phoenix, AZ

I reviewed the website 6/26 and agree that it still needs work. I would reccomnd simplifying: Huge space at the beggining of each page, too many pictures and non-value added flash, and navigation slow.

I love the fact that Monique is utilizing the FSB forum to get help.

From Alexis Stevens Rye New York

I disagree with Tom Strawn, ISHR home page picture does not look like the next cast of Charlie's Angels. It looks like Desperate Housewives! All those smiling, long legged blonds can be a real distraction. Just what you need is a person with a big budget for consulting beginning to fantasize.

It also smacks of "sex sells"

Also ditch the sounds. There is something about going to a website and alerting the person nearby of your movements.

Perhaps less touchy feely info on the first page, and use larger font to make a point of what you can and want to do. I hate sites where the typeface on the main page is barely 10pt.

From James Casey

Monique,
Very nice site indeed. Glad to see it back up.

As far as search engine ranking: I suggest you ask your web contractor to redo the home page “title” to reflect the term HR Consulting as the first words and eliminate any commas, etc. between the other key terms you hope to get to the top of Google natural search listings. This assumes “HR consulting” is the main key search phrase to try to compete with the big companies in search engine rankings.

Decide which word/phrase is your main focus and add some more of those terms in the written content of your site. Then pay for Yahoo directory listing. Add your site to DMOZ directory. Wait 3 months see if you get in the top 3 pages. If not then suggest Pay per Click ads in Google and Yahoo Overture to bring in regular work from search engines.

Good luck. Let me know if I can be of further assistance.
Jim
M3Company

PS. HRoptin is on Page 4 of Google which helps. Do some more SEO on that site to get on page one and you will do loads for ISHRGROUP.COM’s SEO.

From Michael Weller, Miami, FL

Hi Patricia,

Your business definitely needs some financial oversight on a regular basis. It also needs a plan for the future. My suggestion is to find a CFO who is a CPA with proven project management experience. One who is able to look after current finances while providing a vision with a long-term plan for the future. Combining both areas of expertise will give you the biggest bang for the buck and help insure the long-term success of your company.

From James Casey

Monique,
Great news. I’ll look forward to seeing your new site. I am now glad I decided to outsource my hosting business to a wholesale hosting company that has mirrored sites on 2 continents (USA & Germany) and both are served with UPS backed up by diesel Generators.
Regards,
Jim

From Monique A. Dearth, President, ISHR Group

HI Jim,
Thanks for your comments!
Unfortunately, the facility which houses our server was damaged in a fire last night so that is why the ISHRGroup.com website isn’t functioning at the moment. Fortunately, the servers were not damaged, and they are being moved to a facility where power will be accessible. I think you will find that our new ISHRGroup.com site has the blog and other components necessary for optimal SEO. We are now in the process of ensuring that the stand-alone HROtIn site does provide the requisite links back to ISHR.
We certainly appreciate your comments and invite to you take a look at ISHRGroup.com when it is restored (by best estimates, this will be tomorrow!).
Thanks,
Monique

From Jim Casey

FSB Makeover:

I agree with all the suggestions offered by the panel.

However, I just tried to access the website of ISHRgroup.com and found it not available. I went to Shari Johnson’s website and saw that it is well done and may offer some help to the ISHR Group website by its professionalism but not by any link backs to ISHRGroup.com. I saw that Ms. Dearth’s blogs were an asset to the search engine optimization for HR OptIn but not ISHR Group website.

My specialty is Internet marketing, concentrating in area of Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Without a website to review I find it difficult to offer much advice other than: A site down too long may have to start over as a new website within Google’s search engine ranking algorithm. If that becomes the case, I suggest a domain name change which would help the search engines drive traffic to the new website better than ISHRgroup.com name. This domain name competes with large volumes of searches for ISHR The International Service to Human Rights and International Society for Human Rights organizations which will usually dominate any searches for term ISHR.

To avoid starting over with Google ranking process, I recommend the ISHRGroup.com site be immediately revived with whatever site content you can put together even if it is not as you would like it. There are many links to ISHRgroup.com pages throughout the Internet search world. To avoid these dead link pages, include the old page in the revived site even if to say, “The page content is now on….” Search Engines do not like dead websites or dead links. I will check back in a few days and offer a few suggestions on the new site’s marketing potential.

Jim Casey
General Manager
M3Company

From Tom Strawn

Hi Patricia,

Twenty five years in Leadership Development with companies such as HP, Bausch and Lomb and Fidelity Investments.
—————————
Saw your article on “Help Wanted For HR Firm” on CNN Money.

Went to the firm’s web site and had a few observations:

Who are their customers?
What is the added value to businesses vs. activities that they provide – buried on web site
Seems like they cover a broad spectrum of activities which do not equal solutions – perhaps too broad
It is a dynamite web site with great streaming and visuals but I think they overdid it
Do not let format and animation dominate content – sensory bombardment clouds the core added value message
The picture of the group looks more like a screen shot for the next cast of “Charlie’s Angels” vs.
business professionals. Show work being done in business setting.
Word of mouth is best marketing and the President should not underestimate that. They are in a very
crowded space where great web sites and journal presence needs to be “part” of the marketing strategy
but only part.
I agree enough with G.E. – who just decided to discontinue their appliance business due to inability to
compete. Jack Welch is no longer current or relevant.
Focus on customer testimony and business examples on your web site. That is best marketing of all

Hope that helps.

Regards,

Tom Strawn

From Ennis, New Castle, Delaware

As far as a marketing strategy – try using a referal marketing strategy – by developing and implementing a marketing plan to stimulate referrals.This can be the most effective and efficent marketing plan and the best of resources. I would like to take advantage of this job opportunity for Dearth. How can I get involved. I am recent college graduate with BS degree.

From Mike, Philadelphia, PA

I disagree with Madden's advice that the new CFO not be a CPA. My experience as a CPA has given me insight into the financial decision making process, especially as it relates to strategy. The CPA designation shows that its holder has a basic toolkit of skills in business, tax, and financial accounting that are important in any business situation – not just an audit. My suggestion in looking for a CFO is to look for someone with big four or second tier (Grant Thornton, BDO Seidman, etc…) experience who has worked on private clients and has experience with the consulting/advisory side of the business. In general, that career path should yield a well rounded professional with a broad range of experiences and a working knowledge of what works and what doesn't in keeping the records of a small private company.

From Raymond M Nowicki, CPA

A first suggestion: Call the Georgia Small Business Development Center. They have great advisors who have practical small business experience, are federally and state funded. They also have no reason to steer you wrong or no financial conflict of interest. They will help you with a 1, 3 and 5 year plan.

Second: Do not panic, since growing pains are a good problem . Stick to quality, care for your clients, and treat your internal clients (your staff) well.

Third, make sure your financing keeps up with your growth. There's nothing worse than wasting time chasing money. But , at the same time, make sure someone inside your business is collecting your receivables.

From Brian, Phoenix, AZ

I'll be in touch with Monique to discuss her online strategy. Better if I could have got to her before the redesign but the first thing she'll want to do is keep the aged domain any aging pages that we can overhaul later and any aged links she currently has leading in to the page. Never scrap an old site.

From Adam

Website is still pretty bad. Content is cluttered and unattractive. There are design issues where it's not clear if it's a mistake or intended. The movement of the Flash elements are also unsettling.

From Alexis Stevens Rye New York

Did anyone notice that only one of the business advisers, Eisenman, was willing to "bell the cat", so to speak, with proactive advice pointing out and addressing Dearth's obvious shortcoming in the conduct of the business.

The need for a CFO, even part-time, is going to be short lived if Dearth cannot grow the business.

The intro to the article made it quite clear that this was a business of part-time moms and GE centric experience, with some inside contacts and referrals.

As more HR people are put out on the street competition from other HR people seeking a consulting role is only going to increase. Also given that businesses, especially in the financial sector, are goging lean, Dearth is going to have to show she has the depth of experience and commitment to take on the new business environment.

Focus groups are all well and good, but one can get bogged down in then and wind up churning one's wheels over focus group results.

Dearst neds to put her endeavor on a fully professional footing. Executives want to know who to hire and fire and how to do it in the best way possible. They don't care about sewing or baking chocolate chip cookies, they can buy all they want.

From Brian Dani, Laguna Niguel, CA

This is not a comment to address your immediate needs. This concerns marketing in general in the U.S. The Extreme has been the current trend in attracting potential business, consumers. While that may get one's attention, is it productive? One of the most successful businesses models has been Disney, their marketing is about family and fun. Sex, image, hype of the extreme has brought us where? Has this been positive for America?

From Bryan Jupiter Florida

The only way this woman got any buasiness at all is because of contacts on the inside of last employer. Once the 3 accounts dry up and she has to go to strangers and try and get business, the company will go under.

I noticed they have not picked up any accounts where she has not had contacts.

They will close in time

Youtube – END GAME by Alex Jones

From Cinde, Columbia, SC

Create a plan to run the "business of your home". Your business is a full time job as well as being a wife and mother.Hire a housekeeper-cleaning service. Hire a high school student (senior year) to act as a personal assistant to help with the kids. Or consider a virtual assistant – they are a wonderful help and only work when you need. Don't be reluctant to hire the help you need – you are worth the money!

From Murali, Trivandrum, India

In the given article clear marketing plan is not seen.In my personnel opinion, At first a good database of customers is to be prepared and seek the help of customers from this database to give references and this will make a difference in business. The profit will be multiplied. I think this is one of the simple and less expensive way to increase sales. But for this team work is very important than great managerial candidates.