Work Hacks: Techno Goober CEO Frank Payton

Long before he created Techno Goober, Frank Payton grew up on a farm in Milton, Del. Starting a tech company in southern Delaware — or just having a strong interest in websites and online gaming — was unusual at the time.
In college, Payton’s interest in IT grew little by little until he formed Techno Goober, which is now based out of Lewes. The company’s business model mirrors Payton’s own values: the client comes first, the product must be perfect, and there’s always ways to improve.
“I came to the realization that clients deserved to get some web savvy to go along with their new site,” Payton said. “Today, I now know that it’s important to deliver an awesome site, provide direction and support the client’s marketing decisions online.”
When Payton isn’t working on search engine optimization for his clients, he relaxes by hanging out with his kids or spending some downtime with his staff.
Here’s how Payton keeps business going.

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What is your tech/creative background?
Had I told friends and family as a child that I was going to grow up and manage websites, some folks might have laughed. Such is life when you’re growing up on a farm in Milton. I’ve still got the farm, but now I’ve got a web design firm, too — and a damn good one, at that.
It all started when I was forced to install my first ISA card to make sure I got the full experience playing Wolfenstein back in college (who needs to study?). After that, exploring the IT field just kept getting easier and easier. Now, years later, I’ve spent entire life in the Delmarva region, and I’ve dedicated a lot of it to making sure my customers get the top-of-the-line treatment they deserve. I’ve spent years involved in every facet of Delaware web design services, and I’ve learned what burgeoning businesses need to do to succeed online.
I’ve built machines from the ground up. I’ve managed projects, written content, debugged code and helped fine-tune designs. I live and breathe tech, and I’m always ready to bring my years of creative oversight to the table. 

How did Techno Goober get started?
In short: Out of sheer necessity. Many of my early clients weren’t happy with product being delivered by their web designers, and a number of them were looking to me for advice and guidance. I decided to take action. Yes, there were business aspirations — but I was also driven by a desire to continue supporting the very clients that had helped furnish the web design career that I had been cultivating for the better part of a decade. Loyalty is a part of my upbringing. And so I began assembling the finest “Goobers” I could find. Some made it, some didn’t — but the team I have surrounding me today is one of the best you’ll find.
What’s the first thing you do every day at work?
Game plan, game plan, game plan. Determining what’s going on and prioritizing my team’s projects on a day-to-day basis makes for an efficient work environment. Consistently reviewing where we stand makes it easier to spot potential problems before they manifest — and then come up with the most effective solution, too.
That said, I wouldn’t say no to starting with a cup of coffee or three, either. 
How often do you check your email?
About as often as my contact list can send one. Communication is imperative — if we’re going to lose a client, it won’t be because we weren’t staying in touch with them. Thus I check my email constantly.
My years in the corporate sector taught me the “Sundown Rule.” If you can’t answer the email, at least let them know that you received their request. Should we ever fail a client, it WON’T be because they couldn’t reach us — that much, I can guarantee.
How have you matured, both as a web designer and a business owner?
When my career in web design started, producing a high-quality website for a client seemed like a job well done. A little while after that, I came to the realization that clients deserved to get some web savvy to go along with their new site. Today, I now know that it’s important to deliver an awesome site, provide direction and support the client’s marketing decisions online.
So, in fewer words, as I’ve matured I have realized that one of the biggest keys to being both a successful web designer and business owner is providing clients with the most complete package possible. By becoming a “full-service” web design firm, so to speak, I’ve become a much more valuable asset to potential clients than the man they might have met some years ago.
What is the most gratifying part of your job?
That’s easy: helping a client to reach their goals. The gratification is twofold — not only do we get to see our clients’ face light up in excitement, but we get to celebrate the sheer pleasure of knowing we’ve achieved a job well done. There’s little more gratifying than knowing that you’ve reached the goal you set out to achieve days, weeks or even months before.
When you need to take a break, what are you turning to?
On a day-to-day basis, my breaks typically involve activities with my children. They’ve been my inspiration ad saviors, even in the most stressful of times. Some folks might need a full-fledged vacation to get back on track — but I need only a few hours with my son and daughter to remind me of the simple things in life.
That said, the kids aren’t always available when I need a break — they do need to attend school, after all. So I’ve made a dedicated effort to ensuring that Techno Goober remains an enjoyable, supportive environment in its own right. We work as a team: when someone is down, someone is there to pick them up. We do what we can to make sure that we don’t burn out. We are always on the lookout for classic signs of that. In no uncertain terms, I turn to the people around me when it’s time to take that break. They haven’t let me down yet.
What’s your gear (program preference/ones you use the most, Mac or PC)?
When push comes to shove, supporting my clients has to be the top priority — and, as such, I run Windows 7 at the office in order to achieve that. That said, I keep a Mac at home, and am very adept at operating either platform. When it comes to staying in touch, I’ve found that Google delivers the most efficient email communication in the industry. On the go, meanwhile, I prefer my Galaxy Note 3.
What’s one way in which you believe your day-to-day work is better now than it has been in the past?
Simply put, I’ve become a better communicator.
Whether I’m dealing with co-workers, clients or my clients’ intended audience, I’ve taught myself to send clear and concise messages and to decipher what I what I’m told in turn. It’s been said that we’re stronger when we listen, and smarter when we share — and I agree wholeheartedly. 
Is there something you do now (or don’t do) that has made a big difference?
I preach to my employees the very thing I spent the last question talking about: communication. I go above and beyond to make sure that the Techno Goober team does everything in its power to get to know our clients better. The more we know about a client and what they do, the better off both parties are. Truly knowing a client — their strengths, weaknesses, wants, needs and end goals — is key to delivering the finest possible product. It’s how projects become passions.