Productivity: Tools I Use

With all the mobile devices available today, seems like we all use at least 1 to connect to our businesses on a daily basis.

There are some apps and plugins that I've used to save time so I can work smarter and not harder. See if any of these can help you be more efficient.

WordPress  - if you have a site or blog built with WordPress you can set up a post-by-email feature so you can make updates on the fly. Find it under Settings/Writing/Post by Email.

Facebook app - get the Facebook app for iPhone, iPad or Android to access and update a mobile version of your Facebook or business page. The app also allows sharing of photos or videos. If you use text messaging, you can set up your account so that you can post updates from your smartphone via text message.

GMail - I like this web-based email service better than my old Outlook. It's easier to access no matter where I am. Get GMail using your Google account or sign up here.
Warning: I don't have this automatically sync to my device. I don't want to be that connected! But if I need to access email on-the-go, I have the option.

Evernote - I have this add-on to my Firefox browser as well as an app on my mobile devices. It allows me to save my notes, ideas or a web page. This free service is available for your computer and almost any phone or mobile device. Bonus = the things you save are searchable by keyword even if the text is within an image! Really handy way for me to keep notes since a large part of what I do for a living is consume, distill, write and share information.

LogMeIn - when I go to a meeting or travel, some times I need something from my computer at home. I use this free service to log into my computer and get what I need (your computer at home has to be on in order for you to use it remotely). If that's not practical, try DropBox. You can save any file using this free online file storage service and access it from anywhere.

Woobox - free Facebook app that allowed me to create a custom tab for one of my business pages on Facebook. Use it to personalize your Page with additional tabs. It can be hard to find within Facebook. Go to your business page, choose "edit page", then choose "Apps" from the left-hand menu. Use the search bar to find it. You'll have to walk through some permission steps to install it to your page.

What types of tools do you use to improve your business efficiency? Share them here!

Ciao for now, Paula

Tips to Build Customer Loyalty

Most local businesses know the value of customer loyalty and the relationship to profitability. It costs significantly more to gain a new customer than to keep an existing one.

Small businesses realize that it's more about building relationships than being a good sales person or even having a good product.

Inc.com's Goeffrey James shares ways to build customer loyalty simply by putting your customer's needs ahead of your own.

--find a unique niche and be the expert to your customer
--help your customer build their own business (B2B)
--deliver what you promise
--deliver IMPECCABLE service AFTER the sale

Most of this is common sense, but the last bulleted item is where nearly ALL businesses fail. In my opinion, very few local small businesses provide "impeccable service after the sale". This is critical to customer loyalty. It keeps you top of mind and lets your customers know that you truly value their business.

Challenge: What way(s) can you implement an "after the sale" service? It can be as simple as a series of follow-up emails or a phone call. You know what's best for your business--just pick one thing you can do easily and do it!

Ciao for now, Paula

Social Media: Should You Be There?

In recent weeks, this question has come to me multiple times from my local, small business clients. Should I be on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.? Should I be participating in the whole Social Media craze?

My answer has always been, IF your customers are there, then it makes sense for your business to be there. Otherwise, don't bother. Let's face it, we all have many things we must do in a day. If there is no business purpose for you to be there and you're just following the latest trend, you'll be wasting time. And time = money!

Since it's a question so many of you have, I developed a one-page planning worksheet. You can use it to determine if it makes sense for your business to be in the social media world. If you're already there, you can use it as a tool to revisit and re-focus your efforts.

Get the free download on this page of my site:
Social Media Planning Worksheet

*adapted from Jay Baer's Social Media Strategy Worksheet, Convince & Convert

Ciao for now, Paula

Private Social Networks

This is intriguing. Private ways to keep in touch with small groups you establish - family or business - using a mobile app.

Most of us participate in some form of social network whether it's for personal use or for business. And the mobile world has allowed us to do so on the fly from our portable devices. This new way of using social networks will allow us to do more of what we're doing already, but faster and in a more private manner, from our mobile devices.

Group texting apps like GroupMe and Beluga allow you to have a private chat (group messaging), conduct a conference call or share photos with any groups you create using the app.

I can see how these private social networks can be valuable in my own business and family. How about you?

I'd use it to chat with my kids (who both live in different states), conference call with the immediate family or share photos family-wide. I'd also utilize it to communicate with some of my client groups that have more than one decision-maker or multiple team members. This app could be a great time-saver!

I read about this at DuctTapeMarketing.com (John Jantsch). Read his full blog post here.

Dreaming Big, with Courage!

I've discovered a new blog writer. I'm really enjoying his writings! His name is Sean Low and he writes a blog entitled The Business of Being Creative. Sean shares some simple, straight-forward tips about how to balance being a creative person with the tasks of operating a successful small business.

Here's the excerpt that spoke to me today: "...I am all for realism and staying true to yourself. However, if you never push yourself to be uncomfortable, you will never know what is possible...".

How many of you reading this would like to earn more money? Yep, just as I thought, all of you! Dream big, visualize yourself where you want to be. As Sean says, if you don't, you'll certainly miss the forest for the trees!

But dreaming big takes courage - the courage to - be away from family, become a manager, make an investment, be uncomfortable, be afraid. Give yourself permission to think big. If you don't, you'll never know the possibilities.

So dare to make more money, dare to make your dreams reality, dare to be happy, dare to dream big, WITH courage!

I always find Sean's writings inspiring; they help keep me on track and keep my goals in the right perspective so I can focus. I hope you find him inspirational. You can read his most recent post here: The Tiny Trap

Joining you in dreaming big,
Paula

Java Security Issue!

Please be aware that a number of the accepted, free technologies we use today (Java, Flash, Adobe, etc.) are the target of hackers!

Regarding Java, this quote is from Trusteer's CEO via Website Magazine "From a security threat standpoint Java is very much like Flash in that it is a ubiquitous technology installed on virtually every computer in the world, which makes an ultimate platform for distributing malware."

Seems these hackers have nothing better to do but monitor bug disclosure lists, then mobilize their resources to re-route Internet traffic to a malware server.

If you have received a message from any of these software companies (for paid versions), please install the security update immediately. If you have free versions, query your favorite search engine to see if a security patch is available AND use your browser's security technologies to minimize or block the threat.

FYI: Norton has excellent Web protection and it's part of the Internet security package I purchase from them. (I don't endorse Norton or receive any $'s for recommending them - it's just what I have personal experience with. 
Use whatever security system you deem appropriate - but USE ONE!!!)

You can read the full article about Java's security hole at Website Magazine.


I'm hoping this update finds you WELL protected. :)
Ciao for now, Paula

How to Develop a Courageous Mindset

I recently received a copy of a magazine that NFIB (National Federation of Independent Business) puts out called MyBusiness. A valued client and friend passed it along to me - thanks, Mark!

As an independent business owner, I found it invaluable. I read with great interest, an article called Courage: Where to Find It. It had some key points that I identified with and have tried to implement during my years in business. They come from a book that the author of the article (Doug Hall) wrote called Maverick Mindset. Doug touches on and encourages us to be willing to take riskier, rockier and less-traveled paths to turn our dream business or invention into reality.

Here are the key points (click any of them to read the details of each and the full article online):

• Start by listening to the little voice
• Fail fast, fail cheap
• Step on the gas, not the brakes

In the conclusion of his article, he says "It's not simply enough to have an idea--you have to show it off to make it real." Be proactive rather than passive. Take small steps toward your goal and start today!

Ciao for now, Paula

P.S. I'll be pretty quiet for the next 3 weeks or so. I'll be traveling, partially for business, but mostly for pleasure. I'll post again near the end of October. Until then, I wish you every success as you forge ahead in your business and life!

The Key to Making the Right Business Decisions

is FLEXIBILITY. I could relate to a recent blog post by David Bullock about the ever-changing business environment we live in today. He reminds us that technology is changing, customers are changing, and market demand is changing. How do we make the right decisions when changes happen so quickly.

In my business, Internet Marketing, some things change gradually while others things like Social Media change rapidly. How do I make the right decisions for my own business as well as my clients? BE FLEXIBLE.

I'm a planner and cautious by nature, so once I have a plan it's difficult for me to change on the fly - it creates stress for me. So working in the online environment has taught me to not hold too tightly to any one client or any one decision. More often than not, technology changes, customers change, market demand changes, goals change, etc. I have to learn to change with them. That's a challenge for me! Most of my business requires that I get to know a client's customers and business market. A great deal of effort and time goes into this process.

My best experiences have been when I have the opportunity to work long-term with small businesses. It helps me immerse myself into their target market and think like their customers do. That's the only way I can best serve them. But the catch? Most small businesses don't have the time or money to commit to such a relationship. So I must always be 'listening' to them to find out how I can best meet their needs and budget; it's a challenge!

If you are willing to share some thoughts with me about what you struggle with in your small business, it would be helpful for me. You can email me at marketyourbizonline[at]gmail.com or simply post a comment at the end of this post. It will help me be more flexible when making my business decisions, which ultimately will help you, my customers/clients. :) Thanks, in advance, for your input!

Ciao, Paula

P.S. David's entire post on this subject  is brief and should only take a couple of minutes to read, but it's worth a look. Click here to read: Learning How to Make the Right Business Decisions.

Who Will Have Access to Your Digital Data If You Die?

Believe me, I've really been thinking about this lately! My husband and I have been chatting about updating our will now that our children are grown. It's such a lot to think about and we need to add our digital data to the picture also.

I know many of you that follow this blog are also small businesses with either just a few employees or you are THE solo owner/operator. Who will be able to carry on if you are not around? We have and need passwords for EVERYTHING digital these days. And, if you are wise about protecting your digital footprint and identity, you DON'T have the same password for everything. PLEEEEAAASE tell me you don't! So, what happens if you get hit by a bus tomorrow? Do you have a plan?

I've always been careful about giving sensitive client information to another person within the client's company should I become inaccessible. BUT, I haven't been good about seeing that my own digital data is located somewhere with instructions for someone to carry on. Yikes...passwords for absolutely everything I do will need to be recorded in a safe place - Web hosts, Web sites, email accounts, password-protected files on my computer, social media accounts, bank accounts - and the list goes on!

I'm not sure what the answer is for me yet, but you can read more about ways to accomplish this for your business at the Inc. Magazine Web site.
Passing on Your Digital Data

How Businesses Are Using Facebook

Get a free webinar download from Hubspot! Provide your email and you can download and listen at your convenience to find data on how businesses are leveraging Facebook and case studies covering ways to use Facebook for marketing.

Find the link to the webinar and other free resources on my site: http://PaulaBonelli.com/resources/free-stuff/
or go directly to HubSpot now: How Businesses are using Facebook

IRS Plans to Audit 6,000 Companies Over Next 3 Years

Do You Rely on Independent Contractors?
As reported by Inc.com on February 18, 2010, the IRS plans to audit 6,000 companies over the next three years in an effort to crack down on companies that erroneously classify employees as independent contractors. This made my ears prick up since all of the work I do for other businesses is done strictly on this basis. I did my review and find I'm in compliance.

Do you know the difference between an Employee and an Independent Contractor?
Here's 10 tips for business owners on the subject directly from the IRS.gov Web site. Check it out and be sure you are in compliance before you get audited!

Employee vs. Independent Contractor - Ten Tips for Business Owners from the IRS.