A Small Business Owner’s Guide
6 Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing IT
Don’t pick someone you can’t communicate with. If you choose someone who can only speak their own language and can’t be bothered to learn yours, they absolutely will not be able to help you. You’ll be just as stuck as you were if you hadn’t hired anyone at all. Maybe worse.
Never choose someone who promises you the world. You should be very scared if you find yourself attached to someone who makes a lot of promises at the outset. This technique is primarily used to drive the price of service up and wow you into signing the contract. More often than not, you’ll just end up buried in a disaster.
Avoid the person who is married to one solution or family of solutions. While a company might produce some of the most heavily used products, don’t let someone else dictate what’s right for you. The professional you’re looking for should always take the time to listen to you and work with you to find a solution that makes sense for your business.
Focusing on the cost of service. This can be a problem on two levels, first if you buy an IT contract like a pair of jeans, you might be stuck with the Wal-Mart brand of uncomfortable jeans for a year with nothing else to wear. Second, the cost of service should be offset by the value the professional brings to your company, they shouldn’t just be some huge, unnecessary expense you’re stuck with.
Don’t assume that being forced into an hourly rate is the only way to go. Not only is this not the best option, but generally people that function on hourly rates make themselves available to anyone who will pay their rate. Find someone that will use a Guaranteed Service Agreement. This assures you an exclusive level of attention, translating into less downtime, less headaches, more free time and more money that you haven’t just dumped down the drain.
Making the assumption that your IT professional will be more competent than a skilled adolescent. A great many teenagers are often just as skilled with computers and to a lesser degree, networking and have the talent to provide a similar service. What you really want is someone who can understand your business and your needs so you have more time to devote to the important things in life, instead of sucking it all away.
If you can’t wait to find out more, contact me!
Aaron Schlagel
Phone: 505-692-4953
Email: info@s2consulting.net
Web: www.s2consulting.net
Check Back Soon for Part 5!