Office Hallways Growing Longer

First technology brought us telecommuting. Now some companies have opted to go virtual. Virtual companies seek the skills they need, at a price they can afford, without worrying about locale. The Internet, email, and other technologies allow individuals to work together from miles apart. In The Long Hallway on A List Apart, Jonathan Follett offers some important advice to anyone considering a virtual company.

His advice is easily transferrable to most businesses. To be successful virtual (or non-virtual) employees should:

• Understand the importance of a solid process


• Know how to network


• Have strong written communication skills


• Set boundaries on how and when to communicate with other team members


• Trust in their team members

With the amount of virtual communication in today's world, it's good to know that some of the same old rules, not to mention a little common sense, still apply.

Knowing Your Website's Purpose

Setting up websites has become rather easy thanks to free hosting sites and templates. This weekend I set up a website for the local youth baseball team in a matter of hours. The team's parents will be able to see announcements, schedules, rules, and practice tips. The purpose is to aid communication.

It surprises me that more people don't take advantage of web communication. Sure many have websites, but how often have you been unable to find what you need on a site? Sometimes their intentions are unclear. Sometimes their information is incomplete.

A few things to consider if you have a website are:

Why do you have a site?

What are you trying to accomplish?

Does your home page tell users what they need to know and what to do next?

Every website can gain from a periodic review to make sure it is still on track.