About Me

Meet Leslie Stafford

After graduating from Simmons College (Boston) with a degree in Chemistry, I worked in various laboratory technical positions for about three years.  I soon discovered that, although I like science, I needed to interact with people more.  Fortunately, I worked for a small company that gave me the opportunity to move from technical support and customer training into marketing and business management.  And, the rest, as they say, is history.

I moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1980, taking a position as product manager for a company that made orthopedic implants.  Although, it was primarily a way to move myself to San Francisco, I found the job fascinating and learned a lot.  The next 20 years were spent in Silicon Valley with a range of companies (start-up to large corporations) that provided laboratory instruments for blood testing.  I was part of the founding team in a company that developed an outstanding product for testing for the signs of a heart attack that could be used at the patient’s bedside.

In 2001, I left the corporate world to take a break and decide what was going to come next.  In 2003, I became an “accidental entrepreneur” when I started a service as a rental broker for a wonderful new resort of luxury privately owned condos in Cabo San Lucas.  I built it from the ground up, learning something new almost everyday.  When the business grew too large for me to handle by myself, I sold it.  La Estancia Vacations continues to offer wonderful service and great prices on condo rentals at this beautiful resort.

The experience of starting and running a web-based business really opened my eyes to the awesome power of the internet.  And, of course, the possibilities for using the web continue to expand exponentially.  I now focus on helping small business owners, many of them solo practitioners, to leverage the power of the web to create, grow and manage their businesses.

Contact me to learn more about how we can work together to grow your business!

Photo: Genevieve Shiffrar

My Operating Principles

Under-promise/Over-deliver
I am a marketing person who has learned to use a number of great web tools. I am not a graphic designer.  I can do some manipulation of photos, but I’m not an expert in photo imaging software.  I will be honest with you about what I can do and, if I can’t do it, I will try to find someone who can.  What I will offer is a marketing person’s perspective on your project and help with making the content the best it can be. I am a pretty good copywriter.

Empower My Clients
I like to form long-term relationships with my clients and watch their businesses grow.  But, I want my clients to feel that they can, for example, update a website themselves.  So, I only use tools that do not require specialized technical knowledge.  All third-party accounts are set up in the client’s name, not mine, and I will provide training in the use of the tool.  Clients are then able to continue to use me to do updates and maintenance, do it themselves, or have someone else do it.

Don’t Swat a Gnat with an Elephant Gun!
A small business doesn’t need to spend a lot of money to make a big impact.  There are times when it is wise to spend a little extra, but, often a less expensive, equally effective, alternative is appropriate for the stage of the business.  I have also learned that “free” usually comes with some strings attached, but there are times when “free” and “trial” services can be very useful and save some money at a critical point.