SOHO Admin Force

Author: SOHO

  • WP 101 – Hosting

    WP 101 – Hosting

    Last week we talked about domain names – what they are, how much they cost, and how to choose one that fits your brand. This week, we’re moving on to the next piece of the puzzle: hosting.

    If your domain name is your address, hosting is your house. It’s where your website actually lives. Without hosting, your domain name is just a sign pointing to an empty lot.

    So what is hosting, really?

    Hosting is a service that stores your website’s files and makes them accessible to visitors online. When someone types in your domain name, their browser connects to your hosting provider, pulls up your site, and displays it. Simple as that.

    There are a ton of hosting providers out there — GoDaddy, Ionos, Fusion Arc, Bluehost, SiteGround, and so on. Some are great. Some are… not. And some are just overpriced for what most small businesses actually need.

    Here’s what to look for in a hosting provider:

    • Reliability — You want your site to stay online. Look for uptime guarantees of 99.9% or better.
    • Speed — A slow site turns visitors away. Good hosting helps your pages load quickly.
    • Support — If something goes wrong, you want help fast. Look for providers with live chat or phone support.
    • Ease of use — A clean dashboard and simple tools make life easier, especially if you’re managing things yourself.

    Most basic hosting plans run around $5 – $15/month. That’s plenty for a small business, blog, or portfolio site. You don’t need a fancy VPS or dedicated server unless you’re running a high-traffic site or doing something complex.

    A few tips:

    • Buy your domain and hosting from the same provider if you want to keep things simple. Fewer logins, fewer billing headaches.
    • Don’t overpay for features you won’t use. If you’re not running an online store or managing dozens of email accounts, skip the premium plans.
    • Watch out for upsells. Some providers love to tack on extras – security tools, backups, SEO packages – that sound important but aren’t always necessary. For the most part, the only thing you might need to buy is an SSL certificate. I say “might” because most of these plans come with one as part of the base price.
    • Ask your peers. If you post a question about hosting on a Facebook or LinkedIn group, you are almost guaranteed to get some real-world responses. Many times, this will be the best advice since most in unbiased.

    If you’re not sure where to start, I usually recommend Fusion Arc for the more technical, Ionos if you prefer a smooth interface – both for folks who want solid performance without the sticker shock. GoDaddy’s fine too, especially if you’re already familiar with their dashboard and want something simple.

    Bottom line: Hosting doesn’t have to be complicated. You just need a provider that’s reliable, fast, and easy to work with. Once you’ve got that in place, you’re ready to start building. You can always upgrade your plan when you need more oomph later.

    Next week, we’ll talk about mapping out your content – what pages you need, what to put on them, and how to keep things clear and useful for your visitors.

    Until then, if you’ve got questions about hosting or want help picking a provider, drop a comment or shoot me a message. I’m happy to help.

    Have a great week!
    Jeff

  • WP 101 – Getting Started

    WP 101 – Getting Started

    As I mentioned in a previous post, I got into HTML and creating websites years ago and was never really a big fan of WordPress. Well, until I tried it and saw how well it worked for its users. Now, I’ve used it for many years and love it for what it is – a simple, easy to use tool. Why overcomplicate life when you don’t have to, right?

    I added WordPress services to SOHO Admin Force because I just cringe when I see startups and individuals looking for quotes on static or basic websites and the prices they are quoted are in the thousands of dollars. Thousands of dollars for, what is usually, “Just Another WordPress site” or similar. The sadder part is that, often, they pay it because they don’t know any better.

    I am in business to make money – we all are – but I just hate when I see people being taken advantage of because they simply can be. Anyway, long story short, that’s why I added affordable WordPress services to the offerings.

    In doing so, I’ve noticed that most startups don’t really know what a WordPress site is. So, this week I began putting together a WordPress 101 page. It’s a plain language guide to what you need to have a basic website and how WordPress can factor into it. I plan on sharing some of that info here in my weekly blog posts for the next couple of weeks.

    So… let’s start at the very beginning.

    Yes, it’s a very a good place to start, for sure. Before you dive into domains, hosting, or design, take a step back and ask yourself the big question: Why do you want a website? What’s its job?

    Are you simply looking for a basic online presence for lead generation – something that says, “We’re real, here’s how to reach us”?

    Do you want to blog regularly to share your expertise and give your brand some personality?

    Or are you planning to sell products directly through an online store?

    These kinds of questions shape everything that follows – from the tools you’ll need to the way your site is built. Whether you’re doing it yourself or hiring someone to handle it for you, having a clear purpose up front will save time, money, and a whole lot of second-guessing down the road.

    Beyond that, why do you want a WordPress website? Not sure what WordPress actually is? You’re in good company.

    The simplest way to think about it: WordPress is a free website building software (from WordPress.org not WordPress.com) that doesn’t require coding to make updates. Once it’s set up, you can add and edit your own content – blog posts, pages, images – in a way that feels a lot like using Microsoft Word. Type it up, hit “publish,” and you’re live.

    You only really need someone to help maintain your site if you don’t have the time or just don’t want to mess with it.

    The alternative to WordPress? You could use Wix, SiteBuilder, etc. But those sites usually look cheap and none of them will give you the flexibility that WordPress does. You could also hand-code everything from scratch. And if that’s your jam, you’re probably not reading this post.

    It’s also important to point out that WordPress does have some limitations. If you are planning a multi-million dollar company with a heavy focus on ecommerce, yeah, hire someone and don’t use WordPress. Amazon doesn’t use WordPress lol. WordPress can do ecommerce (and it does it pretty well), but when you get into really high traffic and complicated logic, there are better solutions and, yes, they will cost you a pretty penny.

    So, back to us – the small businesses. If WordPress sounds like something that might work for you, read on…

    What You’ll Need to Get Started

    Before you build anything, here’s what you’ll need in your toolbox:

    • A domain name — This is your web address (like yourbusiness.com). Choose something memorable and relevant. You can check name availability for free at GoDaddy.com.
    • A hosting provider — This is where your website lives. Look for reliability, speed, and support. Popular options include Fusion Arc, Ionos, and GoDaddy.
    • A rough map of your content — Think about what pages you’ll need: Home, About, Services, Contact, maybe a Blog. Jot down the info you want on each.

    Let’s focus on the domain name this week. We’ll tackle the other bullet points in the coming weeks’ posts.

    Where Do I Get a Domain Name?

    Here’s where things can get a little murky. You can buy a domain name from all kinds of places – registrars, hosting companies, even bundled with other services. The most common route is to grab it from your hosting provider (don’t worry, I’ll explain hosting later).

    That said, it’s perfectly fine to buy your domain from one company and your hosting from another. If you spot a better deal from a reputable provider – or you’re the adventurous type who doesn’t mind juggling accounts – go for it. They all get the job done.

    But if you’re not super technical or just want to keep things tidy, I recommend buying both from the same place. Fewer logins, fewer headaches. Keeps it simple. No yodeling required.

    Some popular domain name providers are GoDaddy, NameCheap, and Network Solutions.

    What Does a Domain Name Cost?

    Most domain names run about $20 a year, give or take. The price can shift depending on how popular the name is and what kind of extension you choose – .com, .us, .biz, and so on.

    Just remember: this is a yearly fee you pay to the registrar to keep your domain active. Skip a payment, and your domain goes dark – meaning folks won’t be able to reach your site, even if they know the address.

    That’s one reason it’s smart to buy your domain and hosting from the same company. It keeps your billing in one place and makes life a little easier when renewal time rolls around.

    What If My Domain Name Isn’t Available?

    It happens. Between domain squatters and the fact that the internet’s been around a while, a lot of good names are already taken. Just like a home address, you can’t have two of the same – once it’s claimed, it’s off the table until someone forgets to renew it.

    That’s why it’s smart to brainstorm a few backup options. Can’t get yourbusinessname.com? Try something like yourbusinessnameTX.com or yourbusinessnameonline.com. Most registrars will toss out suggestions when your first pick isn’t available – some are decent, some are downright weird. Better to come in with a few ideas of your own than settle for something you thought up in a panic.

    Run your favorites past a few friends. Toss a poll on Facebook. See what sticks.
    Bottom line: don’t rush it. Your domain name is part of your brand – give it the thought it deserves.

    Want to play around with domain name? Click here to check out Fusion Arc’s domain lookup page. Enter what you want, and it will tell you if the name is available and provide alternates below the results.

    So, Let’s Stop Here.

    It’s a good point where you can put on your thinking cap and work on the first bullet point in all your spare time (haha). Don’t buy anything, just do some research. Is the name you want available? If not, is a suitable alternate available? .com, .us. .biz, .whatever? Ask you friends what they think about your domain name choice – heck, ask me with a reply in the comments – I’ll be glad to answer any questions I can about choosing a domain name and provider – just ask!

    I hope this tidbit has helped anyone who might have been curious. Next time, we’ll look at wide world of hosting.

    Until then, have a great rest of your week!

    Jeff

  • No! No! N-Notary, N-Notary!

    No! No! N-Notary, N-Notary!

    Let’s be honest – getting something notarized has always felt like a pain in the butt. You’ve got to find a notary, drive across town, sit in a waiting room, and hope they’re not on lunch break. It’s like trying to get concert tickets in 1986 without Ticketmaster.

    So, since I’ve been a notary for years, I decided to help.

    SOHO Admin Force now offers Online Notary services – fast, secure, and fully remote. No driving. No waiting. No awkward lobby chairs. Just upload your document, verify your ID, hop on a quick video call, and boom — notarized in minutes.

    Here’s how it works:

    • You upload your document
    • Verify your identity through BlueNotary
    • Join a secure video session
    • Download your notarized file – usually within 10 minutes

    It’s available Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm Central (must schedule in advance). Need something off-hours? Just ask. I’m flexible.

    Now, let me be clear – this is not our main business. I’m not switching directions here. SOHO Admin Force is built to help small business owners and solo professionals with admin support and workflow clarity. The notary service is just a convenient add-on I thought my customers might appreciate. It’s there if you need it. No pressure. No upsell.

    This service is perfect for:

    • Entrepreneurs and freelancers
    • Remote workers
    • Anyone who doesn’t want to waste time chasing down a notary

    And because I believe in transparency, here’s the pricing:

    • $25 per document
    • Add-ons for extra stamps, signers, or witnesses
    • Payments go through BlueNotary – I’m not marking it up, just making it easier

    A few things I don’t do:

    • In-person notarizations
    • Estate planning, real estate, or vital records
    • Anything that requires a physical seal

    This isn’t a side hustle. It’s part of my mission to make admin support more human, more modern, and way less annoying. I built SOHO Admin Force around the idea of “enoughness” – doing good work, helping real people, and not chasing some corporate fantasy.

    So, if you need something notarized and you don’t want to deal with the usual nonsense, I’ve got you covered. If you want to bookmark it for when you need it later, here’s your link – Notary Services – SOHO Admin Force

    And if you’re still humming “Notorious” in your head right now – you’re welcome.

    Happy Wednesday,

    Jeff

  • Halloween, Hustle, and Finding Your Happy Place

    Halloween, Hustle, and Finding Your Happy Place

    This week wraps up with Halloween. And like clockwork, we all toot our own horns and post helpful tips and tricks to keep our audiences engaged, as usual. But honestly, sometimes you’ve got to give it a rest and enjoy the world around you.

    When I was a kid, I loved Halloween – not for the candy or the costumes, but because it kicked off the holiday season. For me, that stretch ran from Halloween all the way to my birthday in January. I was happy. Really happy. I loved cold weather and all the family and food that came with it.

    But as time passed, I got older, and like most of us, I stopped feeling that same joy. Halloween still marked the beginning of the season, but it also brought stress – juggling money for gifts, coordinating who was going where on which day, and all the rest. Eventually, my financial situation improved, but the shine was still buried in the past. I stopped caring about putting up Halloween decorations. The Christmas tree became a formality. The kids grew up. Parents passed away. The magic felt gone. I was just working – wake up, work, eat, sleep, repeat.

    After the COVID layoffs swept across the country, I saw how disposable we were to big corporations. We were numbers. Replaceable. I didn’t know what I was going to do, but I decided to try working for myself.

    First up: a T-shirt printing business. I sold a few shirts – lol – but the competition was too steep for my limited advertising budget. Fine. I didn’t lose money. Move on.

    Next: a food truck with a friend. That was a blast. But when supply costs skyrocketed, we couldn’t justify charging $12 for a hot dog in Weatherford, Texas. Hell, I wouldn’t pay that much for one in Dallas! So, we sold the truck and shut it down. I did lose money this time. But no regrets. I learned a lot and had a damn good time.

    I should mention that through both ventures, I was still working a part-time day job at a large company. The food truck reminded me that work didn’t have to be miserable. I didn’t have to sit at a desk all day, grinding for “the man.” However, the dogs gotta eat – so back to full-time work I went (still working for a large company).

    The food truck lit a spark in me and led to my latest venture: SOHO Admin Force. It came after a lot of soul-searching – thinking about what I’m good at, what I’m not (cough cough, Sales), what I enjoy doing, and what I absolutely don’t (did I mention Sales?). I also had to face the reality that I’ll likely be working past retirement age, thanks to draining my 401(k) after being laid off during the pandemic. So, I wanted to make sure my “last” job was one I could live with.

    SAF is feeling like my happy place – work-wise.

    In my business plan, I built in happiness and less bullshit. I built it around the idea of “enoughness.” It will never be a large corporation, and I don’t need to be a millionaire. I just need enough to live the way I want to live. I don’t need endless growth or to get rich off this thing. I just need enough. Right now, I’m putting in 12-hour days to get it off the ground – before and after the day job I still have – and working on weekends. But I’m happier during those extra hours than I’ve been in a long time. I have something to look forward to. It gives me purpose.

    So how does this all tie into Halloween, right?

    Well, the world’s a scary place – Doh! Sorry, couldn’t resist. My point is: find your happy place. I’m still working toward mine, but I think I’m finally facing the right direction. If yours is working for someone else, great. If not, do something about it.

    Life is short. Don’t kill yourself in the meantime. Do your job. Do a good job. But don’t forget – if you dropped dead tomorrow, that big company would replace your ass in a week.

    So, this Halloween, don’t work late on Friday. Take your kids trick-or-treating. If you don’t have kids, hand out candy and enjoy the costumes. Find your happy place and be part of the moment. Moments don’t last forever.

    Happy Halloween,

    Jeff

  • Micro-Subscriptions: Buzzword or Breakthrough?

    Micro-Subscriptions: Buzzword or Breakthrough?

    As I continue the roll out SOHO Admin Force, I’m exploring every angle to make our services more accessible, flexible, and human. One idea that’s caught my attention lately is micro-subscriptions. You may have heard the term floating around – but what does it actually mean? And more importantly, could it work for a service-based business like mine?

    What Are Micro-Subscriptions?

    Micro-subscriptions are small, targeted payments tied to specific features, timeframes, or tasks. Instead of paying $99/month for a full suite of services, you might pay:

    • $3 for adding Salesforce fields
    • $5 for Salesforce object creation
    • $10 for WordPress blog posts

    It’s about low-commitment access to high-value moments – without locking users into long-term plans.

    How Is This Different from Menu Pricing?

    At first glance, micro-subscriptions might sound like glorified à la carte pricing. But here’s the difference:

    • Menu pricing is static: you pay once for a fixed deliverable.
    • Micro-subscriptions are dynamic: they offer ongoing access to a specific feature, tool, or service for a short period or limited scope.

    Think of it like subscribing to a single channel instead of the whole streaming bundle. You’re not buying the movie – you’re buying the ability to watch it for a day.

    Could This Work for SOHO Admin Force?

    That’s what I want to find out – with your help.

    Here are a few micro-subscription ideas I’ve been kicking around:

    • Create Salesforce objects
    • Add a custom Salesforce field
    • Salesforce Knowledge Base maintenance
    • WordPress plugin maintenance
    • WordPress blog posting

    These would be low-cost, high-impact tasks that don’t require a full subscription or long-term commitment.

    What Do You Think?

    I’m genuinely curious:

    • Would you use micro-subscriptions for services like these?
    • What kinds of Salesforce or WordPress tasks would you want available at a micro level?
    • Do you see this as a helpful model – or just another buzzword?

    Drop a comment, send me a message, or reply with your thoughts. I’m building SOHO Admin Force to serve real people with real needs – and your feedback helps shape what comes next.

    Personally, I’m leaning towards micro-subscriptions just being another buzzword but, as a customer, I do think I might like the ability to purchase services like this. Thanks (in advance) – I look forward to hearing your thoughts!

    Happy Wednesday,

    Jeff

  • AI Is a Tool, Not an Employee

    AI Is a Tool, Not an Employee

    Let me start by saying this: I love AI. I use it daily. Depending on which machine I’m on and what my focus is, Copilot, ChatGPT or Midjourney are almost always running. It helps me stay organized, communicate clearly, and build better tools for creatives and small businesses. But as someone who’s been in tech for decades, I also see what’s lurking in the background – and it’s not all progress.

    Two Paths Forward

    We’re at a crossroads. Companies have two choices when it comes to AI:

    1. Let AI do anything and everything it can.
    This is the path I see large corporations sprinting down. Replace customer service reps with bots. Replace sales agents. Replace warehouse workers, designers, coders – anyone whose job can be automated. Why? Because it pads the bottom line and boosts executive salaries.

    But here’s the problem: this leads to universal bad service. When you remove the human element from complex interactions, resolution takes longer. Empathy disappears. Customers get stuck in loops. And trust erodes.

    2. Use AI responsibly – as a tool, not an employee.
    This is the path I’ve chosen at SOHO Admin Force. AI helps me write, troubleshoot, and organize. It powers interactive tools like My World GPT and SOHO Assist. But it doesn’t replace the human touch. It doesn’t make decisions. It doesn’t talk to customers on its own.

    Used responsibly, AI is incredible. It saves time. It boosts creativity. It helps small businesses punch above their weight. But it should never be the face of your company.

    The Walmart-OpenAI Deal: A Warning Sign

    The recent Walmart–OpenAI collaboration is a red flag. It opens the door to turning ChatGPT into another ad-saturated search engine, where paid placements dominate and brand influence clouds every answer.

    That saddens me. One of the things I love most about AI chats right now is the lack of brand bias. You ask a question, you get an answer – not a sales pitch.

    If we let AI become just another marketing channel, we lose the clarity and curiosity that make it valuable.

    Where This Plays into SOHO Admin Force

    Before launching SOHO Admin Force, I spent years studying and preparing. One of the most important courses I took was on AI Governance and Ethics. That course shaped how I use AI – and how I refuse to misuse it.

    I believe companies, large and small, need ethical AI regulations to control greed. Because beyond poor service and job displacement, there’s a bigger risk: fragility.

    Imagine this: you build your entire workforce around AI. You let go or repurpose your trained employees. Then the government steps in – like it did with TikTok – and decides AI needs to be outlawed or heavily restricted.

    Where does that leave you? Scrambling to rebuild. Tarnishing your reputation. Losing customer trust while you try to fix what you broke.

    That’s not just bad business. That’s reckless.

    So, Where Is SOHO on All This?

    Let me be clear: SOHO Admin Force is not an AI development company. Our main business focus is Salesforce administration. SOHO Assist and its sister GPTs – My Resume and My World – are add-on tools. ChatGPT is already here. It’s real. It’s a great tool. All we’re doing is customizing it to make your work resources easier to access.

    As for our workforce? I have no intention of using AI as a customer service resource.

    Our support chat is a live person – that’s why it’s not 24/7.
    Our sales and customer service emails? Also, a live person.
    If we talk on the phone? You guessed it – live person.

    Will we use AI tools? Absolutely. That’s why they’re there.
    But as a matter of ethics, you have to draw the line somewhere.
    Otherwise, the world becomes a very ugly place to do business in.

    Final Thoughts

    In my best Jerry Springer voice, “AI is here to stay. That’s not the question. The question is: How will we use it?

    Will we chase efficiency at the cost of empathy? Or will we build tools that support real people doing real work?

    I know where I stand. And if you’re building something with heart, I hope you’ll stand with me.”

    What are your thoughts on AI in business?

    Are you using it? Avoiding it? Wrestling with how to make it work responsibly?
    Drop a comment, send a message, or reach out – I’d love to hear how you’re navigating this new frontier.

    Happy Wednesday,

    Jeff

  • The Art of Controlling a Call

    The Art of Controlling a Call

    Let me tell you about a phone call that made me want to launch into a customer service training session mid-conversation. It wasn’t just awkward – it was a masterclass in how not to handle a call. And it reminded me why call control is one of the most underrated skills in business today.

    The Call That Sparked This Post

    Toward the end of last month, I was dealing with some pretty strong knee pain. I took myself to Urgent Care, got checked out, and was handed a prescription and some paperwork recommending physical therapy. The paperwork said, “to be scheduled,” but didn’t clarify who was doing the scheduling.

    A few days later, I still hadn’t heard anything, so I called Urgent Care to ask if I should schedule it myself or wait for a referral. They said, “They’ll call you.”

    On September 29th, I got that call – from someone who sounded, frankly, stoned out of her mind. The conversation was a mess: mumbled name, no clear greeting, no structure. She asked if I’d made an appointment. I explained I was told they’d handle the referral. She said she’d schedule it now and asked how far I was willing to drive. After several minutes of fumbling, she found a clinic in a neighboring town (couldn’t find anything in my town – even though we have many who are in my insurance plan) and put me on hold.

    When she came back, she said the clinic needed a referral. I asked, “Isn’t that what we’re doing?” Silence. She then asked if I wanted her to submit one. I said yes. She put me on hold again to connect us with the clinic. Then she came back after a few minutes and said they’d submit the referral, and the clinic would call me.

    Dead air. No confirmation. No next steps. No “Is there anything else I can help you with?” Just silence.

    I had to ask, “So I just wait to hear back from them, right?”
    More silence. “Um, yeah.”
    “Okay, thanks,” I said.
    “Ok. Goodbye,” she replied. End of call.

    After 30 minutes on the phone, it ended leaving me feeling like something wasn’t quite right.

    The Aftermath

    A few days later, I got a call from a confused physical therapy office admin. They’d received a request for medical records from the Urgent Care. No referral. Just a paperwork mix-up asking for records from the place they were supposed to be referring me to.

    Luckily, the scheduler at the PT office took control of the call. She was clear, courteous, and efficient. I asked if we could just work it out directly. She said yes – and I was in her office the next day.

    What Call Control Actually Looks Like

    Back in the ’90s, my first “real” job was at a call center. I hated it – but I learned a lot. They taught us how to conduct a call:

    • Greet the customer clearly
    • Ask the right questions to guide the conversation
    • Avoid dead air
    • Provide next steps
    • Close the call with confidence so the customer knows what happens next

    Those skills stuck with me. And now, they’re baked into SOHO Admin Force.

    What You Can Do to Improve Your Own Call Handling

    Whether you’re a freelancer, a small business owner, or someone who just wants to sound more professional on the phone, here are a few tips:

    • Start strong: Introduce yourself and your role. Set the tone.
    • Lead the call: Ask guiding questions and keep the conversation moving.
    • Avoid dead air: If you need time, narrate what you’re doing. Silence breeds uncertainty.
    • Clarify next steps: Make sure the caller knows what happens after the call.
    • Close with care: Ask if they need anything else. Thank them. End with intention.

    Most importantly, don’t just hop on the phone or put someone on the phone who is not prepared!

    The steps above aren’t scripted. It’s just a common flow. Scripting was popular in years past and still is at some call centers. As a customer, I prefer just a natural flow rather than listening to an agent stumbling through a script full or words they wouldn’t use in everyday talk – especially if I’m on the phone with a small business. Avoid scripts if you’re a small business. If they want something scripted, let them call an AI agent or their credit card company lol.

    Additionally, role-playing helps a most agents who are new to working the phones. Role-playing is awkward, but it does let you work through scenarios and allow you to get more comfortable talking on the phone in a professional setting. Role-play with a peer. No peers around? Role-play with AI. Today, having a conversion with Copilot, ChatGPT or Alexa+ is easy and free. Just tell your AI chat that you want to practice taking calls for work and AI will take from there. I know it’s an old saying, but practice really does make perfect.

    How SOHO Admin Force Handles Calls Differently

    I promise you this: when you speak to someone from SOHO Admin Force, you’ll never have an experience like the one I had. We value manners, courtesy, and basic etiquette. We may have a sense of humor and a little Okie-Texas twang, but we take professionalism seriously.

    Because your time – and your trust – deserve better.

    I’d love to hear your thoughts on the subject!

    Happy Wednesday,

    Jeff

  • Why WordPress?

    Why WordPress?

    I’ve been building websites since the ’90s – back when you had to hand-code everything in HTML and pray your table layout didn’t break in Netscape. So, when WordPress first came out, I’ll admit it: I thought it was a joke. Just something for kids and grandparents to play with rather than something you would use for a “real” website. But time has a way of shifting perspective.

    As the web evolved and social media took center stage, WordPress quietly became the backbone of the internet. And now? It just makes sense.

    From Skeptic to Advocate

    I’ve used WordPress for many years now. What changed? Simplicity. It’s easy to use, easy to set up, and easy to maintain. For creatives and small businesses, that trifecta is gold.

    When I started shaping the concept for SOHO Admin Force, I knew WordPress had to be part of it. Administering WordPress sites felt like a natural fit—it’s still “admin,” after all. I did hesitate at first, though, because I’m not a fan of design work. I can do it, sure, but I prefer the backend: updates, troubleshooting, documentation, and keeping things running smoothly.

    Then it clicked: It’s my business – I can define the boundaries. So I did. I added WordPress installs and updates to my offerings, and I made it clear: I don’t do custom design work. But here’s the thing – WordPress comes with thousands of free and paid designs (called Themes) that users can choose from on their own. So really, there’s no need to hire a designer unless you want something highly customized.

    Why WordPress Works for Small Businesses

    Here’s something a lot of people don’t realize: the self-hosted version of WordPress is free to download from WordPress.org. All you pay for is your web hosting and a domain name (if you want one). That’s it. Oh, and you can buy web hosting from most any web hosting company or domain name provider – you don’t buy it from WordPress. “WordPress” is free.

    If you’re a small business or an individual, there’s really no need to spend thousands of dollars on a website – unless that website is your business, like an online store. For most of us, a self-hosted WordPress site is all you need.

    It establishes your presence online. It gives potential and existing customers a reliable way to contact you. And unlike social media platforms that rise and fall, your website is yours to keep for as long as you want to keep the lights on.

    Why SOHO Admin Force Supports WordPress

    At SOHO Admin Force, we help creatives and small businesses stay visible, secure, and supported. Our WordPress services focus on what matters: installs, updates, and admin support. No fluff, no upsells – just the essentials done right.

    We believe in empowering users to own their digital space. WordPress makes that possible. We make it manageable.

    Questions about WordPress sites? Ask away – I’m here to answer! Don’t want the world to see your question? Click here to email me – problem solved!

    Happy Wednesday – have a great rest of your week!

    Jeff

    Ready to Launch Your Site?

    If you’re ready to have a website that’s truly yours, WordPress is the place to start.

    Click here to explore SOHO Admin Force’s WordPress services!

  • Never Assume

    Never Assume

    So, as I’ve been setting up the necessary services, I continue to run into interesting situations that remind of why I am starting my own business.

    The dreaded phone service…

    Ain’t gonna lie – I hate talking on the phone. Work a few years in a call center and you’ll understand why. I have a cell phone, but I don’t answer it. It is for emergencies. However, I realize it is a necessary evil for a business to have a phone number and I’ll be hiring someone to answer it.

    So, I search the innerwebs for a simple, affordable, soft phone service. Found one. Signed up.

    I receive an order confirmation that is simply a receipt. It has no other information on it (aside from billing information). I don’t receive any other communication from the company.

    I go their website and download the desktop app, but I can’t log in using the credentials I had created.

    I decide to go to their support website to figure 1) what my new phone number is and 2) how to use it. I click on the setup area and am asked to provide my new phone number to enter the information area. Umm… I don’t have my new number. Can I log in with my email address? Nope.

    I find their billing console and am able to log in with my email address. It still didn’t show my what my new phone number was. Rats! This is starting to waste a lot of time.

    So, I decide to give “Mike” (the chat bot) a try. It couldn’t provide me any information without my new phone number. Eventually, though, I was able to be connected with a live person who provided me with my phone number. They had just assumed their customers were writing down the new phone number during the checkout process. I’m thinking they need to add a note saying, “write this down.” Anyway…

    Great! I have my new number! Now, I go back to set things up…

    I log into the desktop app, and it still won’t work. Ugh… back to “Mike.” Mike can’t help me but connects me with a real person after a few routing questions.

    The support rep – “Oh, you can’t login to the desktop version because the plan you signed up for doesn’t support the desktop app.” Fine. I’ll use the phone app for now. Not a big deal. But, again, all of this information should have been included in my welcome email.

    After a few more minor things, I got everything up and running. Kudos to Leah (the “live person”) from their support team who took the initiative to make sure everything was working rather than assuming everything worked.

    Every step, I had to contact support because the initial information wasn’t provided up front. Wasted a lot of both of our times. 

    So, here’s my point – don’t assume anything when dealing with your customers. All of the important information should have been there – phone number, plan, support info, etc. With SOHO, I am going to make providing all necessary info to customers when they place an order or contact us (rather than dragging things out) a priority.

    Now, I’ll leave you with a related laugh…. Don’t send automated marketing emails so fast!

    I received an offer for a free Amazon gift card if I’d click the link right now and write a review for the new service. I received this email about 30 minutes after placing the order. My service wasn’t fully up and running for two days after I had received that email. Do you really want me to write a review right now? Maybe ask me if everything is working first. They assumed all must be up and running.

    Oh well, all is working now and it’s Friday. Try to have a happy one!

    Jeff 

  • About Customer Service

    About Customer Service

    Let’s chat about customer service…

    As I’ve been building out business plans, the overall structure and culture of SOHO, I’ve been making notes of things that get under my skin – things that I don’t think any customer likes – to make sure that I don’t have a business that does any of this stuff.

    I had an experience this weekend that just floored me.

    First, apologies for the long post, as I give you a little backstory.

    I’m in my 50’s and, as a result, have worked all sorts of jobs over the years. Among those, I have worked in customer service and tech support (both by phone, email and chat). I have also done my time in face-to-face customer service as a bartender (back before they were called craft mixologists or whatever) and a little bit of retail.

    I was lucky enough to experience the good and the bad. I learned a lot about how to handle customers with respect and to actually provide good customer service.

    As a bartender, I started in clubs and eventually went to work for Marriott. In nightclubs, bartenders tend to rule the roost and can get away with a lot of rude behavior. At Marriott, not so much. Marriott taught TQM (Total Quality Management). It was an eye opener, and I learned a great deal there. Skills I still use today and plan to build into SOHO. When I began to age out of bartending, I decided it was time to get a “real” job.

    My first “real job” was as a customer service rep for a credit card company. People don’t call their credit card companies for any good reason. It was 8 hours of being yelled at all day long for less pay than I made bartending. I hated it. However, I don’t regret working there as I learned some great skills in dealing with irate folks.

    After that, the internet happened and I had an interest in it. Eventually, I wound up doing tech support for Earthlink. Man, that was brutal as well. Trying to explain why things do or don’t work on the internet to a society, as a whole, who were to computers… yikes! It wasn’t fun, but I gained some really good technical skills there and really ramped up my customer service skills (and patience).

    In my current “real job” role, I don’t have much customer interaction. But, I hold those skills close to my heart and become annoyed when I see (or receive) crappy or lazy service.

    That brings us to this past weekend…

    I’m taking some courses to tighten a few skills for this new venture. One is a business process analysis course. The fourth module of the six-module course required me to use Visio. In the instructions, it said to sign up for the 30-day free trial.

    Great. I did. Worked fine. I finished the module in less than 30 days and was trying to decide if I needed to keep the subscription for the remaining two modules or if I could go ahead and cancel the trial. I have no real use for Visio in my everyday life. No sense in paying for it, right?

    So, I shot off an email to customer support to see if I needed to keep it for the rest of the course.

    I’m going to post screen shots of how this all went down. The training company’s info is redacted. This really isn’t about them, directly.

    The first response was automated. I was not chatting with a bot. I submitted an actual email to support, and they had an automated bot response. How rude! I expect a bot response when I chat with a bot. But not if I submit a support email. Anyway… ok, this is the route we’re going. As you see, I wrote back asking for a real person to look at my request…

    Ahh, poor Blair. What could this Visio I spoke of be? Surely, not something I was learning from the company she worked for. Hmm… ok, so now I’ve lost faith in Blair’s competency, but continue…

    And the response from Blair…

    After all that back and forth, I’m no better off than before I started.

    My question for you – If you were Blair, how could you find that to be a satisfactory resolution? She brushed me off to maybe find an answer in the user group. Mind you, I’m paying cash money for this course. It’s not like a free product that is user supported. I’m a paying customer!

    The point of this post and sharing this interaction?

    I am sharing this because it displays an example of what is not a core value of SOHO (or myself). I promise to you that, as I build and grow this business, half-ass support answers will not be tolerated. If we don’t know the answer to something related to our products, we’ll find the answer rather than push you off to a user community to maybe find it yourself.

    Happy almost weekend,

    Jeff