Small businesses often wonder at what point, if any, they should seek an outside consultant to provide objective marketing advice or run their marketing functions. There is no clear-cut answer to this question. However, I do offer a few words of advice to small business owners (or managers).

According to an oft-repeated cliché, “May you live in interesting times” constitutes a particularly malevolent curse in the Chinese language. Like it or not, these days are indisputably interesting times in the field of defense acquisitions.

"We will get a huge circus tent , with open sides on both ends to usher in and out the hundreds of guests that will attend. We will put our highest performance vehicles on display so visitors can touch and feel the quality. We will have mounted engines, chassis, cut-a-way models, accessories, performance charts and graphics, racing vehicles, performance tests, resource libraries, driving video games, give-a-ways, and live entertainment as well as high powered presentations and music."

Application of best practices for user interface development helps to ensure that programs are intuitive with a logical flow and strong visual cues, and that these positive attributes are further supported by Help/Instructions accessed through an easily recognizable mechanism.

Proposal Director Mike Schutz writes about SF330 development: how A/E firms can separate themselves from the pack by handing this standard form properly.

In the rush to the Web over the last dozen years, much attention has been given to the website "user experience". To a certain degree, this extensive dialogue has been reapplied to print marketing pieces as graphic designers strive to combine traditional print design with visual elements familiar to web users.

Three years ago, Trinity collected research from diverse sources about increasing business efficiency through Information Technology. Specifically, we were looking for low-cost solutions that did not require implementation of sophisticated process automation.

Trinity's graphic design process focuses intently on the client's need to communicate its message, mission, and unique benefits to its target audience.

The poor economy has prompted many companies to reevaluate their customer focus. In some cases, companies have had to reassess what customer service means to both themselves and to their customers.

Since Trinity Consulting does a good amount of work in both the for-profit non-profit sectors, we occasionally serve as a sounding board for individuals who are contemplating the career leap from for-profit to non-profit. This is particularly true as Trinity assists our clients with staff recruitment.

Trinity employs certified systems administrators and application developers with expertise in network security, web technologies, and Information Management (including MS SharePoint deployment, configuration and management).

Trinity supports its B2G communication work with in-house Information Management expertise, ensuring that the client proposal development process is efficient and that client data is protected.

Large general contractors require an IT solution to handle the creation, access, and storage to what I call “jobsite documents”. Jobsite documents are those created by field users, such as daily reports, RFI, drawings, etc. Many companies develop the bad habit of storing these documents on jobsite computers and/or in the Project Manager’s email software data file.

My web developer colleagues could tell you...I sound like a broken record when it comes to complaining about Microsoft’s web browser, Internet Explorer (IE). And in most cases, I’d say such diatribes are well-warranted. But instead of going on a rant in this article, I figured I would take a more rational approach. Let's take a brief look at some of the known downsides of IE and shed light on some alternative browsers.

Understanding how the government solicits business and evaluates proposals is critical for those who want to win contracts. This was discussed in Trinity's recent Proposals Done Right workshop.

Trinity reviews Notable, a web application enabling better collaboration/review on design drafts, including web and other graphic design.

Trinity’s primary role as a consulting firm is to help our clients build context for business decisions. Regardless of the applied Solution Area, Trinity solicits information from the client and then adds its own expertise and insight to create the context in which good business decisions can be made.

Have you completely saturated your market?

No? Good. Because that means even if your market is shrinking, you still have room for growth.

Trinity defines the strategic business development process as a repeatable cycle that uncovers ever more accurate information about both the market and your organization with each revolution.

The basis of Trinity's marketing theory is knowledge gained through self-discovery. The path of vision to self-discovery is directly through the eyes of your market.

To solidify its standing within the fields of capture strategy and proposal development, Trinity's key related staff members have recently received Shipley certifications.

The goal of my recent Strategic and Business Planning workshop was to draw out the difference in roles between strategic and business plans. A good deal of interest is always placed on the difference in mindset in the two processes.

Within your company, some internal business communication is very important—so important that it is documented to create a permanent record, define positions, build consensus, and bolster support.

Trinity's staff creates the blueprint that defines the essential skill set of the true consultant.

Probably the most fun part of Strategic Planning for any organization—and one of the most healthy parts—is taking the time to envision the future success of the business.

A reader requested that I provide some thoughts directed at sole proprietors who are just getting started in business. This got me wondering: what sort of advice would I give to someone who was in the process of setting up their first business? Here are some tips.

The SEE part of “See, Transform, Act” presents a roadmap for growing business through an effective market approach. In the TRANSFORM part of the model, the company readies itself for this approach by applying necessary internal change.

Dr Andrew Abela, Associate Professor at the Department of Business and Economics at The Catholic University of America, has commended Trinity on its web development efforts for his new “Extreme Presentation” website.

In less than one year, Trinity has more than doubled its customer base across multiple lines of business including proposal development, web development, and marketing strategy consulting.

A Fortune 1000 federal systems integrator has engaged Trinity's proposal development services to provide support in the acquisition of key task orders on multiple large contract vehicles.

Trinity Consulting, Inc. (Trinity) became an Adobe Solution Partner in March 2010 by demonstrating a commitment to developing and integrating client solutions using Adobe technologies.

Trinity Consulting, Inc. (Trinity),  announces that it has moved its headquarters location to 9200 Church Street in historic Old Town Manassas, VA.  The new location provides Trinity with increased office space and a central location from which to serve its growing client base.

In recent weeks, Trinity has been working on a valuable application for a leading construction contractor ("the contractor") whose primary work comes through federal contracts.

From Part 1: Trinity will be integrating three tools from the suite's toolset to improve the bid solicitation process: the Communications System, the Bidders List, and the Project File Management/Download System.

Trinity Consulting, Inc. (Trinity) recently received an outstanding review from an Executive Director at a Fortune 1000 proposal development client.

In this workshop we focused on presenting some of the online applications/tools that Trinity has used to improve its own business operations, and how they may do the same for our clients.

Copywriting, simply stated, is the process of using words to promote something or someone. Once a term that only pertained to writing for traditional (old, legacy) media, in contemporary parlance “copywriting” also includes writing for new media (such as the web). Good copywriting is a part of good brand development, and as such is of great benefit to any company.

Creating a “win strategy” involves the identification and constant improvement of key differentiators/advantages that allow the client to succeed (win contract awards) in a competitive market.