Organization
Time Management: Five Tips for Staying Organized in Your Time
Time management is something that many people struggle with. It can be difficult to figure out how to schedule yourself, how to make your time more effective, or how to get the most from your day when you have decided to start an internet marketing business or other business where you can enjoy working from home. Working out of the home is a great experience for many but often causes more trouble than people realize because it allows them to manage themselves and that doesn’t always go well.
In order for you to be effective in managing yourself and your time, here are five great time management tips to keep in mind:
1. Allocate every single task with a priority. If you need something done today, mark it accordingly. If you have three deadlines on Friday, make a note of it. Prioritize your list of things to do so that you feel less overwhelmed and can cross the list off as you complete tasks.
2. Never allow interruptions if you can help it. Working from home is always more of a challenge because you have instant access to family, television, chores, pets, and other elements. Make sure that you and others know when you are working and that you are not to be disturbed.
3. Never put off anything that isn’t interesting or that seems like a challenge. Get the boring stuff done first and make sure that you give yourself enough time by starting on hard tasks sooner instead of later. Master procrastinators are not known to be very successful.
4. Keep things organized and neat. If you know where everything is at, you will spend less time digging for that perfect pen or that report that you printed last week. You will be able to focus more on work and less on finding the tools that you need to work.
5. Schedule breaks and work hours. If you have to, schedule your daily routine down to the last detail. If you want to go to the Post Office at 2:00, pencil it in and allocate enough time to get there and back. By keeping yourself on a schedule, you will have a much better chance at being productive and managing your time effectively.
Time management is never an easy task. It takes practice, commitment, and an understanding of just how valuable your time really is. Make sure that you prepare yourself and keep these tips on hand to help you get more from your time.
Create a Product Launch Calendar: How to Lay Out the Dates
Creating a successful business is all about organization. One of the best elements that you can use to achieve that organization is a product launch calendar. This is a calendar where you can layout every single detail of your pre-launch through the launch as well as continuing tasks after the launch to ensure that your business comes out of the gates as a success without any waiting. Learning how to create this calendar and layout, the appropriate dates can seem like a daunting task. Take the time to look at your options carefully and make sure that you have all of your ducks in a row before you get started.
To be successful with the date layout in your product launch calendar, here are some important events that you need to include:
- Product launch date. This can come before or after the other events on your calendar, or at any place in between depending on your marketing strategy. If you want some pre-launch marketing, go for it. It will certainly help improve your business by letting people know what is coming.
- Page releases. This includes the sales page and the squeeze pages. You need to capture email addresses and create a sales page that intrigues buyers to invest in whatever it is that you have to offer. You need to release these pages at the right time in order to get the right results for your business or product launch.
- Next comes the introduction or tease. This is something that you can do before the product launch to get people geared up. It can also be offered after the launch as a segue into your squeeze or sales pages. Get people interested and tease them so that they want to know more and become a buyer.
- Getting affiliates. While this might seem like it should occur after the product launch, you should be networking and farming your prospects well before launch for the best results. People will obviously be hesitant until they see the end result of the product that you have to offer, but lining them up and generating interest is a great way to get ahead. This is also something that you need to keep as an ongoing task on your product calendar.
When it comes to laying out the dates for your product launch calendar, the typical order is: launch date, squeeze page release, sales page release, introduction or teaser, and affiliate gathering. However, if there is a more suitable timeline that fits your needs, feel free to rearrange as needed.
Organization of a Home Office – 5 Tips for Staying Organized
When you start any type of business, you need to make sure that you have an organized, efficient space in which to work. The organization of a home office might seem like a simple task or even something that you don’t really need to worry about. However, you really need to make sure that you take the time to learn how to keep things organized and ensure that you are ready for business every single day with a clean, neat space. Here are five tips to help you stay organized in your home office.
-Buy the right storage solutions. Find a desk, filing cabinet, and other items that will suit your organizational needs. If you don’t have a lot of paperwork to deal with because your business is mostly online or on the computer, you will likely not need as much storage in your office space.
-Make sure that you set up your office to be organized from the start. Choose a place for everything and put it there. When you use whatever it is that you need throughout the day, put it right back where you found it to keep things clean.
-Make a goal of cleaning up your workspace at the end of every day or even once a week. As time goes on, clutter can easily pile up and you need to make sure that you keep it under control by giving yourself extra cleanup sessions.
-Keep only the things that you need on your desk. If you use something daily, it belongs on your desk. If you use it weekly, keep it in the desk. If you use it occasionally throughout the month, keep it in the office somewhere. If you don’t use something very often, store it in a closet or other area where you can still find it but it isn’t in the way.
-Keep your work area separate from your home area. If you are working from a home office, this is important. If you have to invest in two computers so that you use one only for work and the other for games and social networking, do it. Just make sure that you can work in your office and keep it separate from your personal life.
The organization of a home office is not a complete impossibility, even for the most cluttered and unorganized person. It is all about putting things in perspective and creating an effective plan to keep things neat and orderly.
Drop Boxes Make it Easier to Communicate with Your Virtual Assistant
Most virtual assistants are fast-paced multi-taskers. If you work with one of them, you know sometimes it is difficult to keep up…especially when they are running many aspects of your business from email to affiliates…and everything in between. Depending on how much your assistant does for you, you could get hundreds of emails in a month from your virtual assistant. With all of that communication (especially in the world of OVER COMMUNICATE IS BETTER), it is no wonder that it’s tough to put your hands on important files that come through email.
Entourage and Outlook do a decent job of “searching indexes” for those missing attachments…but not always. It’s usually the “but not always” moments when you could really use a file send, receive and store service with a dropbox.
Services like YouSendIt and Mongofiles have the market covered on the drop box concept. It is perfect for sending large files to your assistant (or vice versa) – think Video an Audio files. These services offer simple solutions for sending files and knowing they were delivered…with tracking. The great thing is that you can always go back and download sent files…so you don’t need to store them on your computer (gulp – think hard drive crash and losing important files).
I use a drop box right on my website so that client’s can easily send me files, folders, videos, audios…you name it. I’ll always be able to access them and I never have to ask “where did that file go” again.
Productive New Years Resolutions – Be Efficient with Change
Are you ready for change?
New Year’s resolutions are notoriously tough to keep, but this year could be different. I found a quiz created by the psychologists at the Center for Motivation and Change that helps you better understand how you develop new habits.
There are three essential elements for creating long-lasting change: a strong sense of self-awareness, a strategic approach to the challenge, and a good perspective on the difficulties involved.
There are a total of 12 questions that I will share with you over the next few days. On the last day, I will share the answers from the Center for Motivation and Change with you so keep track of your answers! It’s a fun way to learn new things about yourself!
1. When you consider your goal, what else do you automatically think of?
a.) The sacrifices I’ll have to make.
b.) All the great things that will come of it.
c.) I actually try not to think about it too much. “Just do it” is my motto.
d.) Both the costs and the benefits. I can’t help feeling a little hesitant.
2. How important is this goal to your happiness?
a.) This is it! If I meet my goal, I will finally be happy.
b.) It’s a pretty big deal, but I realize it’s not the answer to all my problems.
c.) It doesn’t seem crucial to me-though I feel like it should.
d.) It’s a small but important step for me.
3. What is inspiring you to try to make this change?
a.) A suggestion from a loved one.
b.) My own desire.
c.) Societal pressure.
d.) At least two of the above.
4. Do you expect to encounter any obstacles on your path?
a.) Yes, my path is a minefield!
b.) I certainly imagine I will, though I don’t know exactly what they will be.
c.) Not really. Once I decide to do something, nothing can stand in my way.
d.) I can think of a few. But I have some ideas about how to get past them.
5. If you were to start making the change today, what would you do first?
a.) I don’t have a plan per se. Determination is all I really need.
b.) I’d talk to a friend about my expectations. I want to be sure they’re realistic.
c.) I have no clue. I get overwhelmed just thinking about it.
d.) I’d make a rough list of the steps I need to take.
6. Say a few weeks down the road you slip back into old behaviors. Which scenario is most likely?
a.) I’d feel very discouraged and probably give up, at least temporarily.
b.) I’d try to figure out what went wrong and fix the problem.
c.) I can’t even entertain that possibility now. It would be like giving myself permission to fail.
d.) I’d look back to the success I had early on and use it as inspiration to keep going.
7. Imagine that before you meet your goal, you start feeling worse rather than better. What would be your first impulse?
a.) There must be something wrong with me.
b.) It’s too soon to quit. I need to keep pushing myself.
c.) This is a sign. I’m not ready to change.
d.) I need to revisit my goal to see if it’s still what I really want.
8. Which best describes your attitude toward challenges?
a.) I embrace them, but I get impatient when I’m not successful right off the bat.
b.) It depends on the challenge. Sometimes I’m motivated; sometimes not so much.
c.) I have to admit I don’t love them. I prefer to stick with what’s familiar.
d.) When I commit to something. I’m committed 100 percent.
This content was provided by Jessica Walker Galland, DeskOfJess.com. Desk Of Jess provides copyediting services and Organizational Therapy for entrepreneurs in overwhelm. Visit her at www.deskofjess.com
Try Before You Buy
In the current economy, it is so easy to look for the quickest and cheapest way to get things done. Hey, sometimes you catch a break but most of the time, you do only get what you pay for! Anything you can buy over the internet has pretty wrapping, a list of great features and benefits, and testimonials galore. But one size never fits all. Before you purchase anything for your business, you have to take the time to do your homework. Otherwise, you will end up wasting time and money. Read the rest of this entry »
How To Create An Effective Marketing Plan
An effective marketing plan should spell out the marketing objectives of a business and provide details about how they will be reached. A marketing business plan needs to be based on research and sound marketing strategies, which will help the business to reach its objectives. Business marketing plans are usually written for periods ranging from one year to five years.
Besides creating a strategic marketing plan, you also need to define how the plan will be implemented on a day to day basis. An effective sales marketing plan serves as a reference document that can be used to monitor the progress of the business and to improve performance. Read the rest of this entry »
Setting Up The Perfect Home Office
If you are planning to set up a small office home office, make a list of your critical requirements, bearing in mind your type of business. Design a small business home office that meets your specific requirements. Try to maximize productivity and comfort, without investing too much in business office furniture and equipment.
1. Look for suitable small home office space: If you are presently running your small business from your dining table, you need to look for another area where you will have more space and privacy, like a spare room or garage. Look for space that you can use exclusively for your small business office, which is separate from the main living area.
If you will be meeting clients in your office, you may need an area near the entrance, or may have to rent office space.
Choose a place with lots of natural light and supplement it with additional lighting. Keep you monitor in a place where it will not reflect any light from a window or other light. The window or light should be on one side to avoid reflections. There should be sufficient light in the room to prevent eyestrain while working for long hours on the computer.
2. Small home office furniture: Get the best chair that you can afford, because you may have to spend many hours every day in it. Look for an adjustable chair and try it out to see if it is comfortable. An ergonomically designed chair will provide good support to your back and arms.
Small home office desks that are designed to make the best use of the available space may not always be comfortable to use. If you get a small desk home office with a pull-out keyboard drawer, look for one that has space to keep the keyboard and mouse at the same level. Look for a desk that is deep and provides enough space between you and the computer screen.
Get one or more filing cabinets in which you can store your critical records. You will also need space to store essential business office supplies.
3. Choose the right small home office computer: Make a list of the work you need your computer for, before you decide about whether a desktop or notebook is suitable for you. You may need to use your PC for browsing the Web, emailing clients, creating documents and worksheets, designing promotional material, creating a customer database, printing mailing labels, making presentations, etc.
The latest notebooks are just as powerful as desktops and you can take them with you when you meet clients or travel. On the other hand, current desktops are cheaper, smaller, and are easier to repair and upgrade. The latest desktops occupy very little space on a desk and use compact LCD monitors. Look for a quiet, energy-efficient computer.
You will need to get licensed software that is essential for your line of work. Get antivirus software to protect your computer from viruses, worms, spyware, hackers, and other online threats. You can save money by downloading free antivirus programs, though they don’t receive updates as frequently as paid versions.
4. Essential peripherals for your computer: A multifunction printer may be the most cost-effective choice for you, because it can work as a printer, scanner, fax, and copier. A multifunction device makes a lot of sense for a small office home, even though it may not be able to do any of these jobs as well as a device that is designed for only one task.
You can get an ergonomic wireless keyboard and mouse to enhance your productivity and comfort. You can use Wi-Fi to set up a wireless small home office network. This will help you to reduce clutter by getting rid of all the wires behind your desk. A network will also allow you to use your notebook to access the Internet from anywhere in your small office home.
A surge protector will protect your computer from power surges and fluctuations. If you are in an area where there are frequent power outages, you will need a UPS with sufficient backup to ensure that your work does not come to a standstill when there is no power.
5. Use bundled services: Your mobile connection may provide bundled services like caller ID, voicemail, call waiting, and call forwarding, at no extra charge. You can also get an Internet service that includes voice services with all these facilities for free. This costs much less than paying for each of these services separately. VoIP services, which allow users to make voice calls via the Internet, are another economical option.
If you are operating from your home business office, get a dedicated phone for your work. Your customers may form a poor impression about you if you use your home phone for your work.
Setting the stage with a comfortable fully functional office environment is one of the first steps to building a productive and efficient business. Be sure that you buy the best that your budget will afford. After all, you will be spending a ton of time here as you build your empire!
Productivity Starts Before You Walk in Your Office
If you are setting up your own small office or small home office, take time to learn about the latest online software and services that can help you to boost productivity, without having to invest in expensive hardware.
You will need a reliable phone system, e-mail service, fax service, and CRM system for your small office business. You will also have to choose between proprietary software and open source software. Some of the most important online systems for small offices are mentioned here:
1. Virtual small office phone service: A dependable phone system will help you to communicate with customers, partners, and suppliers. There is no need to invest in expensive hardware.
You can join a virtual small business PBX service, which will use your current phone lines or add a local or toll free number. This will serve as the main telephone number of your business and all callers will be greeted by a virtual receptionist.
You can arrange for calls to be routed to any phone number and receive calls on your home phone after office hours, or have them routed to your cell phone when you are on vacation.
2. Small office email service: A reliable e-mail service can help you to communicate with people in the same building or on another continent instantly, and at an affordable cost.
You can access your e-mail service from anywhere by means of a browser, and an off-line mode will allow you to work in areas where there is no Internet service and in airplanes. The service should also support PDAs, so you will be able to access your e-mails while you are on the move.
Microsoft Outlook will allow you to organize your work, search your communications, and share information with others. Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 offers additional protection and reliability, though it is expensive and requires more support. .
3. Online fax service: You can use an online service to send and receive your faxes, without having to pay for a fax machine or dedicated phone line.
There is no need to spend on long distance charges, paper, or toner. You don’t have to worry about keeping a fax phone line or fax machine in working order. You can opt to have your faxes delivered to any fax machine or PDA.
Once you sign up for an online fax service, you will be assigned a dedicated fax phone number. Incoming fax messages will be converted into email attachments and forwarded to your email address. You can also send word documents, PDF files, and pictures to physical fax numbers as regular faxes.
4. Web based CRM system: A CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system can help you to identify the customers who make the biggest contributions to your profitability. You can prioritize your selling efforts and give them better service. This can lead to improved customer loyalty, with higher sales and profitability.
If you have a fast Internet connection, you can opt for a Web based CRM system that has a lower cost of ownership than a traditional desktop based system. You will only have to pay a periodic subscription and can access your customer data from anywhere.
Look for a dependable and affordable CRM system that is easy to use. Most small businesses only use the basic features, so systems that have too many features may not be of much use.
5. Open source small office software: You can avoid buying expensive software licenses by getting free open source office small business software. There are lots of Microsoft Office and Internet Explorer alternatives that you can choose from. Some of them, like Open Office, can be downloaded for free, while others, like Google Docs, are hosted online.
However, open source small business software may not be as powerful as proprietary software and may not be as easy to use. You may need the help of an IT to learn how to use or customize some open source programs. Open source programs may not provide any technical support.
6. Cloud computing: Instead of investing in several powerful small office computers and small business software, you can use Web based cloud computing services and access software that is hosted online.
These services can be accessed from anywhere via the Internet. Your data will be hosted at several locations and if any of those locations stops working, the other locations will be able to provide copies of your data. Your email account is also a type of cloud computing service.
The technology is still in its infancy and there are concerns about privacy of accessibility of personal data. However, there is a lot of interest in the concept and many people consider it to be the technology of the future.
Consider your business needs and budget before you choose an online small office home office system. Look for dependable, affordable small office solutions, with good service backup, which can be expanded to meet the needs of a growing business.
