Slides from guest lecture by Mike Maddaloni - @thehotiron - Fall 2020 at the University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh to students in the Interactive Web Management (IWM) major on consulting skills, ahead of their first client visits. This was presented virtually, and features "extras" on domain names and Web site maintenance.

1. Mike Maddaloni
thehotiron.com 1
Consulting Your Way
To An “A”*
*your own results may vary
Journalism 440 – Dr. Sara Steffes Hansen
University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh
Fall 2020

2. Mike Maddaloni
thehotiron.com 2
Overview
• Who is Mike Maddaloni?
• Being a Consultant
• Client Meetings
• Status Reports
• Proposals
• Bonus Topics

3. Mike Maddaloni
thehotiron.com 3
But first…
#VEHAMO
(views expressed here are my own)

4. Mike Maddaloni
thehotiron.com 4
Who is Mike Maddaloni?
• Consultant my entire career
– Actually, since high school
– Even when it wasn’t my title
• Worked with and for
a variety of firms and industries

5. Mike Maddaloni
thehotiron.com 5
What is a Consultant?
• Merriam-Webster says:
– One who gives professional
advice or services
– Expert
Image Source – Jantoo.com, under license

6. Mike Maddaloni
thehotiron.com 6
My Definition of a Consultant
• Providing value-added services to clients
• Providing capabilities they do not have
• Finding the right answers, with context
• Customer Service

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thehotiron.com 7
Client Meetings
• First impressions mean a lot
– Whether you like it or not
• Look the part – attire, organization, background
• Computer vs. Paper

8. Mike Maddaloni
thehotiron.com 8
Status Reports
• A Vital Evil!
• Ensures all on the same page
• Identify target audience, progress,
outstanding work, and risks
Image Source – Amazon.com

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thehotiron.com 9
More on Status Reports
• Be realistic with schedule
– Allow room for changes
– Beyond the status report, check in on schedule
• Deliverables are your reputation
• We are better editors than we are writers

10. Mike Maddaloni
thehotiron.com 10
Target Audience
• The ultimate spaghetti test
• All hinges on it and its accuracy
• Use the clients own words to describe it

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thehotiron.com 11
Risk
• Risk is there – deal with it!
• It’s Risk Management, not Risk Elimination
• Identify it, create plans to address it
– Plan B

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thehotiron.com 12
Proposals

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thehotiron.com 13
What is a Proposal?
• What you are going to do – scope
– Not what you are not going to do
• A sales tool
• An extension of you

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thehotiron.com 14
More on Proposals
• Selling the work to be done AND you to do it
• Make sure they read it!
– Client should fully understand it
– Review it with them together if necessary

15. Mike Maddaloni
thehotiron.com 15
Even More on Proposals
• Cite relevant sources
– To industry
– To client contact
– Get more than you need, pick the best
• Write it like you have competition for the work

16. Mike Maddaloni
thehotiron.com 16
Bonus Topics
Image Source – Pixabay.com, under license

17. Mike Maddaloni
thehotiron.com 17
Bonus – Domain Names
• Your client’s own digital brand
• Make it memorable
– e.g. ChildProofHome.com
• After the Dot

18. Mike Maddaloni
thehotiron.com 18
Bonus – Domain Aftermarket
• When a domain and it’s already registered
• Premium domains
• General Terms
• Think long-term

19. Mike Maddaloni
thehotiron.com 19
Bonus – Maintenance
• Another Vital Evil!
– Record after you leave
– What and how
• Turnover Document

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thehotiron.com 20
Bonus – Accessibility
• No barriers to your site and content
– Built into design
– Work with assistive tools
– Don’t get sued!
• More @ WebAIM.org
Image Source – NationalGeographic.com

21. Mike Maddaloni
thehotiron.com 21
Thank You!
thehotiron.com
Image Sources – Harry Houdini (https://www.britannica.com/biography/Harry-Houdini),
Marie Curie (https://www.britannica.com/biography/Marie-Curie),
Frida Kahlo (https://www.britannica.com/biography/Frida-Kahlo)