Reasonable Expectations

A few days ago a customer sent me an email saying how frustrating it was to use our system and setup a new employee's email address. This is a serious anomoly because our system is ultra-user friendly and we have tons of people utilizing our system every day without issue so I knew something was amiss.

I gladly went to the customer's location to see what I could do to solve the mystery and get back to everyone being happy, including me. Upon arrival I was told both that the email was and was not working so I went to the machine that held the answer as to which it was. What I found was nothing. Nobody had setup Outlook on that machine with any of the user's settings so no wonder it wasn't working.

Once I input the settings the multiple "test" emails came pouring through.

Here's the thing; I would have been much happier to find the account setup, but incorrectly input or whatever, rather than to find nothing.

If you ever face a situation in the computer world where you cannot figure it out, try to search online for a solution or even call a tech and ask for assistance, but don't hide from it or do nothing and expect magic to happen.

Total accountibility and customer satisfaction is all that Over The Net is about so we will go the extra mile to make our customers happy, but in situations beyond our scope we can only help so much so the more you can command your tools the better off you will be. All within reason of course as you do not need to know how to write HTML or build your own computer, but mastering your Office tools and basic computer user knowledge will keep you and your computer happy and productive.

Along these same lines is the expectation of being able to buy a templated or cheap website and make money from it as this is a falacy that has played out many times over with no success stories in their wake. It takes money to make money is still and will always be true. What is important is ROI (Return On Investment) because if you spend $1 dollar and only expect to get back $.50 then you're good, but if you expect to spend $1 and make a million dollars you should buy a lottery ticket because those chances are actually BETTER than the odds of the website generating that revenue. However, it is very possible to start with a modest budget and make some very good money each month if the following conditions are met 1) You spend what is needed to be competetive with the existing websites and business' you are competing against. 2) You are willing to work hard to attain new customers and keep existing customers coming back via communication by email and other means. 3) You have some kind or marketing advantage, including a well-built website and a good, easy to remember and spell domain name. 4) Paying attention to your site's activity and statistics to learn as much as possible about both why certain things succeed and why others are not as popular. 5) Be flexible with the model and go with what your customers want and use most and not what you think is important. Adjust the model to incorporate what your best margin item is or the service you wish to promote the most within what the users are most likely to use or visit so that both sides get what they want. A little give and take is common anymore on the web. 6) Be reliable and accountable and do all you can to legitimize the business via links such as the BBB or a secure SSL signature for ecommerce sites and always strive for excellent customer service and you'll have a better than everage chance at success.

A website company that cannot work with your business to ascertain your goals and needs in order to provide you a cost and user effective website is selling you short. If your website is not the best sales and/or customer service representative for your business then you need to make a change. Your website should set the standard for your business and when current or potential customers arrive they should recognize immediately that they are where they should be and want to come back.

My expectation is that these blog postings are helpful, am I correct? Let me know or ask me a question that's been bugging you Greg@otnmail.com