In 2006 our goal is to bring in a minimum of 24 projects ranging in size from 5 thousand to 50 thousand dollars. How will we do this?

Do What We Love - Delegate Everything Else! For the past three years I have acted as the President, Creative Director, Bookkeeper, 'Legal Council', Project Manager, Sales Representative, and more for DivaDesignWorld. I realize that while I have done an excellent job of assembling an incredible team of web developers, graphic designers, illustrators, commercial photographers, and writers, I have failed miserably at developing a 'back office' team. The result is that rather than spend all of my time doing what I love (managing my creative team and consulting with clients on how to maximize their on and offline branding and marketing efforts), I've lost precious hours muddling through things that I am not particularly fond of (bookkeeping, legalities, busywork and paperwork).

This 'do-it-yourself' mentality, based upon the desire to 'save money', is extremely costly. How much more happy, productive, and profitable I would be if I would just outsource those jobs that I do not enjoy, or that I am less-than-good at.

What about you? Is there anything on your plate that you would be better off outsourcing? Often I see savvy business folks fail miserably at piece-meal, 'do it yourself-marketing'. This year the choice is yours, get by with amateur marketing, or take your business to the next level by hiring a professional agency like DivaDesignWorld to invigorate your marketing communications strategy.

Focus on What We Love - Say No to Everything Else As a full service marketing agency DivaDesignWorld provides a full line of consulting and creative services. If you're in need of a new brand identity, increased web traffic, an interactive web site, a tradeshow booth, custom illustration, consulting or a number of other things, we can help.

However for every project that we accpet, there are many more that are not a good fit. Being able to say yes to the right clients is critical to our profitability, our client's success, and my personal sense of satisfaction. For DivaDesignWorld, clients that are a good fit meet one or more of the following criteria:

1. Businesses or Non-Profits that are poised for growth, and understand the need to hire a professional marketing agency, such as DivaDesignWorld, to make it happen. These businesses are well run, organized and financially healthy, however because they lack the internal resources and expertise to truly assess their marketing efforts they turn to DivaDesignWorld for guidance.

2· Businesses or Non-Profits that want more than someone with the technical ability to develop a web site, brochure, or tradeshow booth. These savvy businesses seek an agency that understands the 'big picture', will carefully assess their needs, and design a web site, brochure, or tradeshow booth that leverages current branding and marketing efforts. They understand the meaning of value, and don't try to 'save money' by cutting corners. It's like the difference between hiring a $15/hour clerk to fill out your tax return, and hiring a professional CPA who can not only file your tax return, but provide money saving tax planning advice.

3· Businesses or Non-Profits that add value to society. I am a person first, a businesswoman second. This means that as the President of DivaDesignWorld I strive to maintain relationships with honest, ethical businesses that better our world. As a result, DivaDesignWorld discounts its consulting, web design and branding services for 501C3 nonprofits. We also do not accept work for companies that promote gambling, hard alcohol, pornography, pyramid schemes, racism, or get rich quick schemes.

4· People that I like. There, I said it. The bottom line is that over the course of a project the client and I develop a close and trusting relationship. Therefore, it is imperative that as Project Manager, I have good rapport and good will with the people representing the companies that DivaDesignWorld serves. So, what kind of people do I like? Hmmm. . .I like people who are honest, ethical, strong, decisive, in control yet know when to relinquish control, trusting, kind, responsible, reliable, positive, motivated, true to their word, and pay their bills on time.