“Best of 2022” Fractional Forum Tips
2022 was the year in which many of us were required to step up and reevaluate our processes to face an uncertain global economy. Thankfully, we here at Sebastian Lane Consulting have found no shortage of thoughtful and intelligent writing from industry experts that have helped guide us and inspire us for these past 12 months.
Throughout 2022, we have been fortunate enough to share some of these valuable insights and words of wisdom from guest contributors within our monthly newsletter. This is why, before we officially enter 2023, we want to share a selection of excerpts from a few of our favorite featured guest blog posts from the past year, provided to us by our friends and colleagues.
Human Resources
Kristyn Berger, Founder and President of Berger HR Solutions, on how to establish a streamlined and consistent hiring process:
“The more organized and measured your recruitment process is, from start to finish, the harder it will be for a ‘bad apple’ to slip through the cracks… Make sure you are leveraging the right job posting sites, targeting industry-specific boards where applicable, asking for employee or client referrals, and maintaining an ongoing list of contacts for key positions. But remember, the ‘free’ option is not always the cheapest option if you waste valuable time only posting your position on ineffective, free job posting sites.”
Branding
Michele Correnti, Owner and Founder of Correnti Marketing, on the importance of modern branding:
“In this day and age, clients want to work with service professionals that are technologically savvy and up to speed with the current times. As time passes, it will become increasingly unacceptable to have a lackluster brand and outdated website. Your business may be doing well today, but what about investing in its future? What are you doing to ensure your brand stays on the cutting edge?”
Cybersecurity
Pete Alatzas, Partner at Slate Enclave, on the benefits of hiring a virtual CISO:
“Specialists are trained for a reason—not all cybersecurity problems are the same. By outsourcing your cyber needs to a vCISO, all your issues receive impeccable insight, overview, and attention to detail… A vCISO allows you to focus on the work you love to do, with the security of your company and customers safe in hand.”
Delegation
Kelly Jennings, Owner and Founder of Quincy CFO, on what small businesses should know in regarding delegation:
“Perfection is impossible. Establish a high standard of quality, but make sure you do not expect a masterpiece. At the same time, stop believing that you are the only one who can do the job properly and that your way is the only way. Be open to learning something new from your staff (and make sure they are interested in learning something new from you, too).”
Marketing
Jeff Goldscher, Owner and Founder of JK Squared, on how a fractional CMO can help businesses connect with customers:
“Think about your business metrics – how long does it take to make a sale, what’s the average sale price, how often do your customers purchase again, how long does it take to make that second purchase, etc. By carefully reviewing your business metrics, you may be able to identify pain points that marketing can help solve – particularly when combining it with your qualitative research.”
Technology
Kristen McGarr, Owner and Founder of Adroit Insights, on how an ERP + CRM benefits your organization:
“A comprehensive (ERP + CRM) system is going to allow you to see any remaining gaps throughout your organization clearly. It’s going to enhance cross-departmental communication and collaboration and allow you to scale your business much more effectively. Adding an ERP + CRM can be a total game-changer, but it’s not as simple as adding a single application for one specific purpose and if not done correctly could create frustration among your employees.”
Payroll
SHS Payroll on Maryland's new mandatory requirement for retirement plans:
“The Maryland Saves Law, passed in 2016 but fully taking effect in 2022, was created to ensure that Maryland workers have a retirement plan. This law forces employers to address the issue by requiring employers to take actions on setting up a retirement savings plan… The goal of this law is to ensure employees are saving for retirement. Employees can opt out of this program and choose not to have funds withdrawn from their paycheck but it requires an opt-out process to be followed.”
Networking
Jim Ries, Director of Business Development for Offit Kurman, P.A., on how to network more effectively:
“Conversations at networking events should flow naturally. No one likes it when a person suddenly and forcefully changes the topic in a way that only serves their own interests. But you also don’t want a conversation to reach a dead-end before you’ve had the chance to make a good impression. Without sticking to a script, consider keeping a few relevant questions and unique conversation topics in your back pocket.”
Tax Planning
Michael Hammelburger, Business Development Specialist at Bookminders, on year-end tax planning:
“So what should you be doing today to ease your tax burden? Firstly, make sure your books are up to date so your CPA can project out what taxes will look like. Second, purchases. If your cash flow is strong, then consider front-loading some expense line items now so you can deduct all of it this year. Items in this category can be insurance, software, and vendor services like IT. Third, invest. No, not in the market. In the company. Are sales down? Now is the time to work on professional development. Fourth, settle all your bills. Even if they aren’t due yet, getting the expenses on the books now will help you save more later.”
Thank you once again to all our 2022 guest contributors for providing us with their insights and perspectives. We look forward to sharing even more quality content in the new year. For more writing from industry experts such as these, as well as the latest sales management tips from the Sebastian Lane Consulting team, be sure to subscribe to our monthly newsletter.
To learn more about our outsourced sales management and business growth strategy services, call Sebastian Lane Consulting at 443-534-6783 or email us at jesse@sebastianlaneconsulting.com to schedule your free consultation.