If you are like me - or any small business owner for that matter - emails are a important part of communication. In fact more people are trending towards the email communication then towards the now more antiquated phone call. An email can be short and sweat, sent at 3:00 AM so as not to disturb, but it can also contain a "to do" list, most of which must be addressed in a time sensitive matter.
Here are some small but proven tips on how to stay on top of your in box, and keep things at Inbox Zero.
1. Don't let it dictate your day - start your day by cleaning out your inbox and replying to those emails that need attention. Check it again at lunch, and then again in the afternoon and evening. Try not to be a reactive business owner, every time an email comes in you must react to it.
2. Work backwards - when you read through your emails, work from the oldest first, that way they get attention first. Reply, delete, or file.
3. Deal with email once - dont let one email over whelm your day. once you receive it, delete, reply and delete, or reply and file. Make your inbox organized. Have files for your clients so that all correspondence is saved under their names.
4. At the end of your day make your inbox at your comfort level, so you don't have to start your day tomorrow with a huge "to do" list.
5. Reply - there is nothing worse in my world then sending off an email into cyberspace and never getting a reply. I spent the time, so you can to. Reply with a quick thanks for the information and move on. That way you won't be plagued with emails in your inbox that read, "did you get my message."
Always remember that small business etiquette applies to emails as well. Small steps in organization and respect can lead to big rewards down the road.
26 August 2010
19 August 2010
An Hour a Day - How to Keep your Social Media Addiction in Check
If you are like me - or any small business owner really - social media plays an important part of your business. But time is limited and it is a rare day that I dont answer the phone while in the bathroom. Multi-tasking at it's best. If you let it social media can suck your time, and use up all of your day if you let it. The important part is not to let it take over your life.
Here are a few important tips to be smart with your time and your social media campaign:
Plan social media into your schedule for 30 minutes 2-3 times a week.
1. Turn on your computer and open 7 windows. Twitter, Facebook including your Facebook Fan Page, your website, and 2 of your favorite news websites with pertinant news on your industry. Move fast, don't get distracted.
2. Facebook: Scroll through the page – make 3 comments on other people’s posts. Post what you are up to that day. Respond to anyone who has commented on your status or left you a message. Move fast, don’t get distracted.
3.Twitter: Click your @ button. Anyone who has mentioned you – thank them publicly. Respond to DM’s. Scroll through your home page and re-tweet 3 things of interest. Move fast, don’t get distracted.
4. LinkedIn: Post your status update. Don't re invent the wheel, it can be the close to the same status update that you posted on Facebook or Twitter. Eventually you will have your Twitter feed update automatically on LinkedIn. This will save a few minutes. Respond to any messsages, join a group and make a comment on that group. Move fast and don't get distracted.
5. Blog: Post a quick blog post . Place a feed from your blog on your facebook fan page, then Twitter it, both with links to your website.
6. Close All windows Really the most important and relevant step, along with move fast and don't get distracted.
Pick a schedule and do this exercise two to three times a week.
If you follow this schedule it will become a habit. Also don’t underestimate the power of commenting and interacting – this is probably MORE important than posting your own content and links. Social media is just that – social!
BONUS TIP: Plan into your schedule an additional 2-3 hours a week if you are a blogger to sit down and write at least 20-30 relevant articles for your blog for the next month.
Here are a few important tips to be smart with your time and your social media campaign:
Plan social media into your schedule for 30 minutes 2-3 times a week.
1. Turn on your computer and open 7 windows. Twitter, Facebook including your Facebook Fan Page, your website, and 2 of your favorite news websites with pertinant news on your industry. Move fast, don't get distracted.
2. Facebook: Scroll through the page – make 3 comments on other people’s posts. Post what you are up to that day. Respond to anyone who has commented on your status or left you a message. Move fast, don’t get distracted.
3.Twitter: Click your @ button. Anyone who has mentioned you – thank them publicly. Respond to DM’s. Scroll through your home page and re-tweet 3 things of interest. Move fast, don’t get distracted.
4. LinkedIn: Post your status update. Don't re invent the wheel, it can be the close to the same status update that you posted on Facebook or Twitter. Eventually you will have your Twitter feed update automatically on LinkedIn. This will save a few minutes. Respond to any messsages, join a group and make a comment on that group. Move fast and don't get distracted.
5. Blog: Post a quick blog post . Place a feed from your blog on your facebook fan page, then Twitter it, both with links to your website.
6. Close All windows Really the most important and relevant step, along with move fast and don't get distracted.
Pick a schedule and do this exercise two to three times a week.
If you follow this schedule it will become a habit. Also don’t underestimate the power of commenting and interacting – this is probably MORE important than posting your own content and links. Social media is just that – social!
BONUS TIP: Plan into your schedule an additional 2-3 hours a week if you are a blogger to sit down and write at least 20-30 relevant articles for your blog for the next month.
13 August 2010
This Week's Presenter is....
Ian Scott, Managing Director
BNI BC
BNI BC Director Ian Scott works with and provides support for more than 1200 referral marketing networkers in British Columbia.
In his ongoing quest for innovative ways to grow one's business, Ian has found social networking, and particularly LinkedIn, to be very effective. LinkedIn eliminates the need for cold-calling, Ian explained. It's a network of trusted contacts, making it easier and more comfortable for people to promote one another.
Ian invited BNI Connections to play a role as his LinkedIn "test chapter" for 10 weeks, and we gladly accepted the invitation. During the 10-week time period, Ian will refer to our goal sheet, essentially a detailed list of potential members we're hoping to add to our group. He'll keep an eye out for these people, and when he sends their names our way, we as a chapter will decide which of us would be the most appropriate to contact them. For example, if Ian were to share the name of a Vancouver-based massage therapist, someone on our Health & Wellness Power Team would be asked to contact her.
Although BNI remains a face-to-face networking organization, Ian stressed that we can't allow ourselves to go the way of dinosaurs. Social networking is here to stay. Fully half the population of Canada is under 30 years of age (a statistic cosmetic surgeons must love), and 96% of those people engage in some form of social networking. 'Nuff said.
So check your Tweets. Update your Facebook status. Join LinkedIn. And remember: Missing a BNI meeting can be hazardous to your wealth!
BNI BC
BNI BC Director Ian Scott works with and provides support for more than 1200 referral marketing networkers in British Columbia.
In his ongoing quest for innovative ways to grow one's business, Ian has found social networking, and particularly LinkedIn, to be very effective. LinkedIn eliminates the need for cold-calling, Ian explained. It's a network of trusted contacts, making it easier and more comfortable for people to promote one another.
Ian invited BNI Connections to play a role as his LinkedIn "test chapter" for 10 weeks, and we gladly accepted the invitation. During the 10-week time period, Ian will refer to our goal sheet, essentially a detailed list of potential members we're hoping to add to our group. He'll keep an eye out for these people, and when he sends their names our way, we as a chapter will decide which of us would be the most appropriate to contact them. For example, if Ian were to share the name of a Vancouver-based massage therapist, someone on our Health & Wellness Power Team would be asked to contact her.
Although BNI remains a face-to-face networking organization, Ian stressed that we can't allow ourselves to go the way of dinosaurs. Social networking is here to stay. Fully half the population of Canada is under 30 years of age (a statistic cosmetic surgeons must love), and 96% of those people engage in some form of social networking. 'Nuff said.
So check your Tweets. Update your Facebook status. Join LinkedIn. And remember: Missing a BNI meeting can be hazardous to your wealth!
12 August 2010
Facebook is all A Twitter!
This is not new news, but timely for BNI Connections and its members who have facebook pages and fan pages to promote. Facebook is offering users the ability to tag your friends in status updates and posts.
Facebook explains:
Now, when you are writing a status update and want to add a friend’s name to something you are posting, just include the “@” symbol beforehand. As you type the name of what you would like to reference, a drop-down menu will appear that allows you to choose from your list of friends and other connections, including groups, events, applications and Pages. Soon, you’ll be able to tag friends from applications as well.
Once tagged users will be alerted via email and it will also show up on their wall, and the @ symbol will simply dissappear with the hyperlink in its place.
The wonderful thing about twitter has always been its ability to track and monitor conversations and tweets about you or your business. With this feature from facebook it will give you the same functionality. Each time you’re tagged (ie someone starts a conversation), that tag will appear on your wall. It gives you one centralized place to watch for new brand mentions. If you see one of your Fans or Group members talking about you, you can get in there and go participate. You can calm concerns, answer questions or give out high fives to people who are just excited about you. It makes you part of the conversation.
So you are thinking why bother?
Every time someone tags you, or reciprocally you tag someone and start a conversation or give a testimonial about their business and how they conduct it, both my friends and your friends see it on the wall. If you have a fan page, all your fans can see it, making it a viral testimonial and a very good place to start. As every good small business owner knows, good news travels quickly!
Facebook explains:
Now, when you are writing a status update and want to add a friend’s name to something you are posting, just include the “@” symbol beforehand. As you type the name of what you would like to reference, a drop-down menu will appear that allows you to choose from your list of friends and other connections, including groups, events, applications and Pages. Soon, you’ll be able to tag friends from applications as well.
Once tagged users will be alerted via email and it will also show up on their wall, and the @ symbol will simply dissappear with the hyperlink in its place.
The wonderful thing about twitter has always been its ability to track and monitor conversations and tweets about you or your business. With this feature from facebook it will give you the same functionality. Each time you’re tagged (ie someone starts a conversation), that tag will appear on your wall. It gives you one centralized place to watch for new brand mentions. If you see one of your Fans or Group members talking about you, you can get in there and go participate. You can calm concerns, answer questions or give out high fives to people who are just excited about you. It makes you part of the conversation.
So you are thinking why bother?
Every time someone tags you, or reciprocally you tag someone and start a conversation or give a testimonial about their business and how they conduct it, both my friends and your friends see it on the wall. If you have a fan page, all your fans can see it, making it a viral testimonial and a very good place to start. As every good small business owner knows, good news travels quickly!
10 August 2010
This Week's Presenter Is....
Erika Sivertson, Founder & Principal
ERKA Interiors
An accomplished interior designer who loves her work, Erika Sivertson enjoys the clean, elegant esthetic of her Swedish heritage. When she meets people embarrassed to admit they own Ikea furniture, she puts them at ease. "I like Ikea," she says. "The furniture may not be built to last a lifetime, but the design is great."
Ikea is known for design that optimizes use of space, and Erika also embraces this strategy. Wasted space is the enemy, she says, and it's a point of pride in her own work that every inch is used in the most fucntional and visually pleasing way possible.
Whatever Erika's personal tastes, she listens closely to her clients and ensures their own personalities shine through in the finished design. So whether you favour minimalism, a traditional style, or a Bohemian look, Erika can work with you to make your space truly your space. And she'll do so using environmentally friendly products and renewable resources (consider beautiful and sturdy cork flooring) whenever possible.
Contact Erika today and put ERKA Interiors to work for you. ERKA: It's Swedish for "great design."
Cell: 604.728.9780
Email: erika@erkainteriordesign.ca
Website: erkainteriordesign.ca
Blog: erkainteriordesign.ca/blog
ERKA Interiors
An accomplished interior designer who loves her work, Erika Sivertson enjoys the clean, elegant esthetic of her Swedish heritage. When she meets people embarrassed to admit they own Ikea furniture, she puts them at ease. "I like Ikea," she says. "The furniture may not be built to last a lifetime, but the design is great."
Ikea is known for design that optimizes use of space, and Erika also embraces this strategy. Wasted space is the enemy, she says, and it's a point of pride in her own work that every inch is used in the most fucntional and visually pleasing way possible.
Whatever Erika's personal tastes, she listens closely to her clients and ensures their own personalities shine through in the finished design. So whether you favour minimalism, a traditional style, or a Bohemian look, Erika can work with you to make your space truly your space. And she'll do so using environmentally friendly products and renewable resources (consider beautiful and sturdy cork flooring) whenever possible.
Contact Erika today and put ERKA Interiors to work for you. ERKA: It's Swedish for "great design."
Cell: 604.728.9780
Email: erika@erkainteriordesign.ca
Website: erkainteriordesign.ca
Blog: erkainteriordesign.ca/blog
05 August 2010
Dressing For Your Profession
Mark Twain once quipped, "Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence in society.
Everyone know that you get 30 seconds to make a first impression on your new client. In that 30 seconds they will not only make a judgement on you, your personality, how best you will represent them in the sale, but also they will make a judgement based on what you are wearing. It is important that you dress for your profession.
Appearance can create credibility. You know this from your own experience watching TV interview shows. Think of the number of times experts from opposing sides of an issue have made good points, but you remember what one said simply because that person was better dressed and looked better on the screen.
When dressing for your career, remember that you want to be noticed for the quality of your work--not the horrible miscalculation of your duds.
If a personal trainer showed up to work, or a meeting in a suit and tie, what would you think about that trainer? Personally I would think twice about using his services, because how much time does he spend in the gym in that get up. Alternatively, if my accountant showed up to our meeting in a spandex workout suit, I would question her ability to add numbers, and get my taxes done correctly and on time.
Remember: Always dress for the task at hand. If you're a civil engineer headed for a construction site, jeans and work boots are fine, they actually give you credibility amongst your peers, not to mention being job site appropriate. But, if you are heading to work in jeans and work boots and you are a accupuncturist, hopefully you have a dear friend or colleague who will stop you and remind you that you may be fashion impaired.
Everyone know that you get 30 seconds to make a first impression on your new client. In that 30 seconds they will not only make a judgement on you, your personality, how best you will represent them in the sale, but also they will make a judgement based on what you are wearing. It is important that you dress for your profession.
Appearance can create credibility. You know this from your own experience watching TV interview shows. Think of the number of times experts from opposing sides of an issue have made good points, but you remember what one said simply because that person was better dressed and looked better on the screen.
When dressing for your career, remember that you want to be noticed for the quality of your work--not the horrible miscalculation of your duds.
If a personal trainer showed up to work, or a meeting in a suit and tie, what would you think about that trainer? Personally I would think twice about using his services, because how much time does he spend in the gym in that get up. Alternatively, if my accountant showed up to our meeting in a spandex workout suit, I would question her ability to add numbers, and get my taxes done correctly and on time.
Remember: Always dress for the task at hand. If you're a civil engineer headed for a construction site, jeans and work boots are fine, they actually give you credibility amongst your peers, not to mention being job site appropriate. But, if you are heading to work in jeans and work boots and you are a accupuncturist, hopefully you have a dear friend or colleague who will stop you and remind you that you may be fashion impaired.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)