Joy Duling is a business strategist and creator of The Fearless Leaps Series (TM). If you'd like to learn more, we invite you to visit our main website at www.a25hourday.com.
I get compliments all the time on how great my website and various blogs look. Did you know that my e-business team can do the same thing for you?
If you're a consultant, speaker, coach, or other customer-oriented service professional, my experienced team knows what it takes to make you look like a million bucks... and get you transitioned out of the "dollars-for-hours" approach and into making real money on-line.
We have experience with:
Website design & blog set-up
Product development and shopping cart set-up (we recommend 1Shopping Cart)
Drip marketing systems (we recommend Aweber for email marketing and Send Out Cards for postcard campaigns)
Article marketing and directory submissions
Online project management and file-sharing systems
Online client invoicing
Tele-conferencing and audio recording
If any of these things are part of your 2009 business plan, please do give us a call. We'd be glad to support your next business leap.
If you are a female entrepreneur, congratulations! You know how to plan for your business growth. According to Everywoman, a female business network, 55% of female entrepreneurs work to a business plan, compared with only 34% of male entrepreneurs. The research also shows that more women entrepreneurs than men predict that their business will grow in the next five years. Read more about the study here.
It's good find out that women, who have traditionally been known as business owners who don't particularly seek to grow, are taking the bull by the horns and pursuing their true potential. I encourage you to become part of this trend!
The bottom line is, planning for business growth is essential whether you are male or female. It's the most important thing you can do to ensure that you have the resources and the capabilities to succeed. And in the course of planning, if you realize you don't have what you need, you can adjust your plan and pursue the additional finances, resources, support, or training that you need to survive and thrive. This is especially true now, when so many businesses are struggling to stay afloat in the downturning economy.
How has the economy affected your plans for 2009? If you think your business plan needs a major overhaul for the new year, I'd be happy to work with you on identifying and implementing those changes. Send me a note or give me a call!
I'm a recent Twitter convert. I enjoy the online application because powerful relationships develop between what may at first seem like trivial posts. When used effectively, Twitter isn't a timewaster... it's a venue to make connections in a fast and meaningful way.
Recently, when I needed a few folks to preview a product I was releasing, I just shot out a tweet and got some replies right away. Within 24 hours, I had some great feedback and even a couple of testimonials.
This video from CommonCraft provides a great explanation of what Twitter's all about.
I know everyone's busy with the holidays, so I'll keep this post super-brief. I've become a big fan of the Warrior Forum, an online resource for biz owners/entrepreneurs who are looking to make money on-line.
Tons of active discussions, places for you to post special offers for members, etc. If you're even remotely interested in growing an internet-based business, you'll want to check it out.
My project for the holidays was to create a video that perfectly captured my 2009 vision. I call it "The Fearless Entrepreneur's Pledge"... I invite you to view the video, then visit www.fearlessleaps.com to sign the pledge for yourself.
Is Santa bringing you a new computer this year? Lucky you! For us productive entrepreneurs, there's nothing quite like starting up a new computer with a fresh slate. It's probably faster, has some cool features, and will increase your productivity for 2009.
That being said, it can also be quite a chore to install all of your required software, and expensive, too. You also need to be sure you computer and data are completely protected from viruses, spyware, hackers, trojans - all those nasty little bugs that can really destroy your day!
At download.com, CNET offers 2 useful starter packages, and they apply whether your computer is new or not. You can get the Windows Starter Kit, which includes recommended programs that are free, as well as the Security Starter Kit, another group of recommended free software. Check them out!
What software program have you found that really increases your productivity? I'd love to hear about it - maybe we productive entrepreneurs can make a list of our own!
*** Joy Duling is a business strategist and creator of The Productive Entrepreneur ProgramTM. If you enjoyed this post, we invite you to explore the resources available at www.theproductiveentrepreneur.com. Each month, Joy presents resources and educational opportunities aimed at helping self-employed, entrepreneurial business owners increase their personal productivity so that they can accomplish BIG goals.
Who knew that camera on your cell phone could come in so handy? Sure, it's nice to be able to snap a quick picture of your kids and use it for your wallpaper, or send it on to family and friends, but your cell phone camera could actually help you be more productive.
Ever been to a seminar where the presenter keeps writing and writing and writing on a white board? It's not long before your hand get tired, and you find that you've done more notetaking than listening and applying the concepts presented. And, you're probably lucky if you can read your notes when you get home. Well, here's a thought - grab your phone and take a picture of the board at the end of the presentation. Not only will you have it all to refer back to later, but you will also be able to focus your attention on the speaker.
Now that you have this example, you can probably think of many more situations where a picture is worth a thousand words. Maybe you want to capture an image, exact name, and product number of an item you've been thinking about purchasing. This gives you the opportunity to go back to your office to do some research before investing in a piece of software or equipment. Or, maybe you want to remember somebody's contact information or written directions to a new client's office. By taking a picture, you don't have to worry about losing a piece of paper, and you'll have the information with you until you choose to delete the photo.
Here are a couple of more tips that work great for iPhones and other comparable devices. Just goes to show if you think outside the box a little, you can really save time and frustration!
How do you use your cell phone/iPhone to be more productive. I'd love to hear. Send me your ideas!
*** Joy Duling is a business strategist and creator of The Productive Entrepreneur ProgramTM. If you enjoyed this post, we invite you to explore the resources available at www.theproductiveentrepreneur.com. Each month, Joy presents resources and educational opportunities aimed at helping self-employed, entrepreneurial business owners increase their personal productivity so that they can accomplish BIG goals.
Rochester, Illinois, Dec. 10, 2008 — Communications Made Easy, a 4-1 broadcast communication service, was named as one of the finalists in the Business.com What Works for Business Contest which aims to identify the best solutions to business challenges. CME’s entry was selected as one of the best in the Technology category from hundreds of contest entries by a panel of business expert contest judges.
Winners for each of the 10 contest categories, and the overall contest winner, will be chosen by popular vote at The What Works for Business Contest Voting page from Wednesday, Dec. 10 through Friday, Dec. 19 at 5 p.m. Pacific. The final contest results will be announced on Monday, Jan. 12 with each category winner receiving $2,000 and the overall contest winner receiving $10,000.
“We are very excited to have made the final cut for this contest,” said co-owner Michelle Tjelmeland. “We’ve worked hard to design our own software to bring rural communities the capability of sending emergency messages through text messages, e-mail, recorded phone messages, and Web site postings. It’s great to be included as one the top 5 technology solutions.”
Co-owner Mark Roberts thanked the judges for selecting their story as one of the finalists. “We appreciate the support from Business.com’s editorial team, judging panel, and all those who read our story and vote. You’ve given us a fantastic opportunity to get some nationwide exposure for CME.”
Sponsored by Business.com, the leading business search engine, directory and pay-per-click advertising network, the What Works for Business Contest is open to all North American businesses and is designed to help shift business focus from what’s wrong with the economy to what small businesses can actually do to survive and thrive in 2009. Eligible participants submitted a brief description of a business challenge they faced and how they solved it in one of 10 key business categories - Money, Technology, Sales & Marketing, Web, Office Management, Operations, People, Business Location, Startup, and Management – between Oct. 22 and Dec. 3. These entries were reviewed by Business.com’s editorial team and then rated by a panel of action-oriented business leaders to determine the finalists.
“The What Works for Business Contest showcases the ingenuity of small business owners, managers and startup entrepreneurs while creating a resource for businesses seeking real answers,” says Daniel Kehrer, Editor of Business.com and the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Journalist of the Year for the Los Angeles region.
Communications Made EasyTM is an affordable communication tool that broadcasts any message in a matter of seconds to a mass mailing list, using a proprietary 4-in-1 system. This innovative and user-friendly service makes it easy to use one access point to send messages simultaneously, via the Web, e-mail, text message, and phone. CME offers monthly messaging subscriptions, premium service add-ons that enable customers to enhance their package as needed, concierge service to ensure customer messages are dispatched immediately in times of crisis, and a reseller program to allow organizations to brand and sell the product as their own. Communications Made EasyTM is a subsidiary of The Easy Life, LLC, headquartered in Rochester, IL.
Have you ever really researched your target market? I mean really investigated who wants your product or service, who can afford your product or service, and who is mostly likely to become a client or customer?
The term "market research" can sound intimidating and expensive. In fact, many entrepreneurs fail in their business ventures because they fail to do the proper research to learn how to market their products. I dare say that most entrepreneurs aren't experts at market research.
In "Why Marketing Fails: Market Research #1", Karen Greenstreet, author of The Self Employment Blog, writes, "The first - and ultimately biggest - mistake that small business owners make is that they fail to do adequate market research." She offers a free tutorial to help self-employed entrepreneurs learn how to conduct their own market research.
Take time to learn more about market research and use those newly-learned skills to hone in on your ideal target market and attract those buyers to your products and services. And as always, I can help you put your market research to good use. I'd love to help you implement a new marketing plan that pushes your business above and beyond your expectations!
*** Joy Duling is a business strategist and creator of The Productive Entrepreneur ProgramTM. If you enjoyed this post, we invite you to explore the resources available at www.theproductiveentrepreneur.com. Each month, Joy presents resources and educational opportunities aimed at helping self-employed, entrepreneurial business owners increase their personal productivity so that they can accomplish BIG goals.
I've been writing my daily email series A Day's Potential for some time now, but SelfGrowth.com Founder David Riklan one-upped me with his site’s brand-new video series, “Change Your Life in Five Minutes or Less.”
His premise? That the entire course of your life can be changed by an experience that happens in five minutes or less. Watch his video and check out his post here.
Social networking is fast becoming the new networking and marketing trend, and it certainly seems to have taken on a life of its own. And along with this trend is a whole new world of technological jargon. Don't let that language scare you! There are many advantages to joining this popular online culture, especially when you can use it as a marketing tool for your business.
Successful entrepreneurs are naturally adventurous and willing to try something new, and they always start by feeding their natural curiosity with a little research. Today I have a great tool that you can use to figure out what this social networking craze is all about. John Jantsch of Duct Tape Marketing wrote a guide to help you navigate through this social networking maze, and thanks to a sponsorship from Microsoft Office Live Small Business, you can download it for free.
After you read this, and do a little more exploring on your own, I'd love to hear how you plan to use social networking in your own marketing plan. And if you're not quite sure how to leverage this tool, let me know! We can figure out a plan together.
*** Joy Duling is a business strategist and creator of The Productive Entrepreneur ProgramTM. If you enjoyed this post, we invite you to explore the resources available at www.theproductiveentrepreneur.com. Each month, Joy presents resources and educational opportunities aimed at helping self-employed, entrepreneurial business owners increase their personal productivity so that they can accomplish BIG goals.
Successful and productive entrepreneurs know how to manage projects, and they appreciate good business tools that help them implement a project management system. If you've every tried to find a system that works for you, then you know that there are hundreds of options available.
"Smashing Magazine" has tried to help you narrow your choices by summarizing the features and benefits 15 project management tools. These are especially targeted toward creative entrepreneurs, such as Web designs, graphic and print designers, but actually, almost all of them work well for anyone needing a project management tool. Check out their article to see their list and recommendations.
I have a few additional recommendations of my own to add:
WebEx WebOffice - online project management and collaboration
Wrike - online project management for individuals, teams, and businesses
ToodleDo - online to do list and task manager that also allows you to collaborate with others
TimeTraces - a time tracking program that you DON'T have to initiate - it's automatic and produces very insightful information in regards to how you use your computer
*** Joy Duling is a business strategist and creator of The Productive Entrepreneur ProgramTM. If you enjoyed this post, we invite you to explore the resources available at www.theproductiveentrepreneur.com. Each month, Joy presents resources and educational opportunities aimed at helping self-employed, entrepreneurial business owners increase their personal productivity so that they can accomplish BIG goals.
We've all had those conversations with others who, upon finding out you "work from home", say, "Oh, you're so lucky you're able to do that!" You probably stand there, nodding your head in agreement, while secretly thinking, "Yeah, but if I only had a real office..."
Those who work from home certainly appreciate the advantages, but also understand that sometimes, it's not all it's cracked up to be. Sure, we generally set our own hours, save money and time because we don't drive to work, and can work in our sweats if we want. But there are SO many distractions at home - kids, TV, that pile of laundry, the refrigerator - and having a productive day maybe the exception rather than the rule.
Working from home takes discipline - not only for you, but also for your family. Here are a few tips to help you establish some guidelines to promote productivity:
1. Have your own office. This is the best way to keep your work life and your home life separate, not to mention maintain an organized workspace. Establish a "sign" (such as a closed door) so your family will know when it's ok to come it, and when you don't want to be disturbed.
2. Add a phone line just for business calls. With a dedicated phone line, you'll know when business-related calls are coming in. This can help you avoid lengthy chats with friends who are just calling to catch up. It will also help your family distinguish between calls from your clients or customers, and personal phone calls.
3. Set a work schedule and stick to it. Determine what time you will begin each morning, when you will take your breaks, when you will eat lunch, and when you will close up shop for the day. Working from home allows you to be flexible with your scheduling, but you will be more productive if you are determined to work at specific work times. This will also help you separate life from work and family.
4. Determine who has access to your office and when. You children might think it's fun to "work" at your desk, but you should be sure to have important papers and files stored away for safe keeping. You never know what could disappear, or turn into artwork, when you're not around.
5. Dress professionally. If you're having trouble getting motivated, maybe you're in "lounging mode" because you are still wearing your comfy pajamas. Shower and dress for work each day as if you were going to drive to the office and be surrounded by co-workers and clients. If you dress the part, you will have a different attitude toward your work and be a more productive entrepreneur.
6. Allow yourself 10 or 15 minute breaks throughout the day. Take a brisk walk to stretch your legs and get some fresh air. This will help clear your mind and keep you from feeling stuck in a little office all day long.
*** Joy Duling is a business strategist and creator of The Productive Entrepreneur ProgramTM. If you enjoyed this post, we invite you to explore the resources available at www.theproductiveentrepreneur.com. Each month, Joy presents resources and educational opportunities aimed at helping self-employed, entrepreneurial business owners increase their personal productivity so that they can accomplish BIG goals.
Here's a resource that I simply have to pass on to all of my Productive Entrepreneurs. It's called "Productive Magazine" and it's full of articles on, well, productivity!
Editor Michael Sliwinski is offering his first issue as a free download, so there's no risk in checking it out. The very first issue was just released on November 20, and already, Sliwinski is reporting over 20,000 downloads. Here are the highlights: * An interview with the David Allen himself - the best-selling author of the Getting Things Done book * 17 great articles by the most active productivity bloggers in the blogoshpere
Can you imagine how many great productivity tips and ideas are in this issue? I think you'll find some very worthwhile information that you can implement TODAY to help you increase your business and personal productivity.
And if you have questions about how to apply these suggestions to you, call me!
*** Joy Duling is a business strategist and creator of The Productive Entrepreneur ProgramTM. If you enjoyed this post, we invite you to explore the resources available at www.theproductiveentrepreneur.com. Each month, Joy presents resources and educational opportunities aimed at helping self-employed, entrepreneurial business owners increase their personal productivity so that they can accomplish BIG goals.
This is the coolest tool I've run across in a while.
Xobni (inbox spelled backwards) http://www.xobni.com/ - is a plug-in for Outlook that saves you time by organizing your email conversations, contacts and attachments.
All you have to do is download the software... it's free. When you start it up, it'll index everything in your current in-box right away. After that, it just runs in the background.
Every time a new email arrives, you'll see a whole bunch of information appear in a Xobni sidebar.
As an example, after downloading the software, I received an email from one of my clients.
Unbelievably, since the end of September, she and I have had more than 700 email conversations and have exchanged 20 different documents. Now, instead of having to wade back through all those strings of emails to find something, I can access any email or document that has been exchanged in a single click.
She and I also share some clients in common. Xobni automatically "knows" this because those individuals have been cc'd on various emails over the months. All of those relationships are listed right in the sidebar, so again... I can access any of those people in a single click.
This is one of those things that you have to try before you'll believe that it actually works.
I'm always on the look-out for tips that make my on-line time more productivity. Stumbled upon this great post on the Simpleology website and thought I'd share it here. Enjoy!
I am always interested in learning about the latest small business trends. Not only do they help me in my own business, but they also help me help my clients take advantage of new technology and refined techniques. To keep up, I check the blog at "Small Business Trends." Recently one of the authors attended the New York Times Small Business Summit. Anita Cambell had the opportunity to visit with small business owners to see what was on their minds and shared her experiences in her blog at American Express' Open Forum blog, "Partnering, Online Marketing, Hiring - What Biz Owners Wanted to Know at the OPEN Advice Cafe."
I was not surprised to read their answers. She relates that almost all of them were concerned, not necessarily about the economy, but how to market their business and leverage opportunities to reach clients and customers.
Cambell says that online marketing was a big topic. She writes,
"This was by far the number one category of discussion. Business owners
typically wanted to know how to get found online, and more importantly,
how to spend their efforts online wisely, so that they didn’t waste
time or money they didn’t have."
Another topic - Web sites and blogs. While most had Web sites, many entrepreneurs she spoke with were unsure of how to implement blogging into their business marketing and routine.
These are topics that I encounter nearly every day, and I'd love to help you find ways to incorporate online marketing and blogs into your list of business resources. If you're considering taking the leap into this realm of marketing and publicity, I can guide you in the right direction so your efforts are productive and successful. It's really not hard if you have the right systems in place to support it, and I can show you how!
*** Joy Duling is a business strategist and creator of The Productive Entrepreneur ProgramTM. If you enjoyed this post, we invite you to explore the resources available at www.theproductiveentrepreneur.com. Each month, Joy presents resources and educational opportunities aimed at helping self-employed, entrepreneurial business owners increase their personal productivity so that they can accomplish BIG goals.
A portion of my holiday spending is going to support a cause I believe in. A friend of mine made it really easy by sending me a link to - www.igive.com/os
Whenever I shop online at the 700+ stores, Operation Snowball & the Illinois Teen Institute will get a percentage of what I've spent.
I think this is a brilliant way to make even my shopping a little more productive! :)
Probably the single hardest thing for you to do, yet possibly the most critical to your long-term business success, is delegating action items or business functions that are not part of your true competency make up. Entrepreneurs typically begin their journey usually solo or at best duo or trio. And it's not easy to hand over important projects to another person. Many times, it's not even clear which tasks you should delegate!
Your goal in delegating should be to shed your low competency duties to a new someone with more specific skill sets that cover that competency. By releasing the burden of those less-developed and peripheral duties, you free up your mind and energy for fulfilling and top line focused issues.
Here are some tips for figuring out what you can hand off to someone else:
Write down everything you do in one day, or one week,to help you understand where you spend most of your time.
Highlight those tasks that you really don't like to do and that aren't directly related to your reason for being in business.
Identify any tasks that you struggle with, things that require skills you don't have or activities that you can't perform with complete confidence.
Think of regular projects that can be divided up into specific steps or sections. Decide which pieces could be handled by someone else.
Ask a colleague how he/she get these tasks done. Their solutions might spark some ideas.
Call a couple of virtual assistants who have the skills required by your tasks and projects. Most VAs will give you a free 15 or 30 minute phone consultation.
Talk to me! I work with virtual assistants myself, and I can help you identify activities and develop a list of ideal skills that you would need in a VA.
*** Joy Duling is a business strategist and creator of The Productive Entrepreneur ProgramTM. If you enjoyed this post, we invite you to explore the resources available at www.theproductiveentrepreneur.com. Each month, Joy presents resources and educational opportunities aimed at helping self-employed, entrepreneurial business owners increase their personal productivity so that they can accomplish BIG goals.
Those of you that know me even a little know that I am a HUGE advocate for putting systems in place that will help make you more productive. And one of those systems should be having a reliable support system that allows you to delegate important tasks.
There are so many entrepreneurs who just aren't ready to hire a full-time employee, even if they do need help and are feeling overwhelmed by EVERYTHING they have to do to keep their business afloat. That's where virtual assistants can come in and make a big difference.
If you don't know what a virtual assistant is, you should. Basically, a VA is a highly skilled, technology-savvy business owner who works from his/her own office and helps you manage projects and complete administrative tasks. Many VAs also specialize in additional tasks such as Web design, writing, bookkeeping, live phone answering, and other areas.
VAs work remotely so they don't take up space in your office, which is especially nice for those of you who work from a home office. And, they are independent contractors, so you aren't paying employment taxes or providing insurance or other benefits. Another bonus - VAs are business owners and entrepreneurs themselves, so they understand what it takes to own and operate a business. They are also a wealth of resources and know where to go on the Web to help you automate tasks and work more productively.
*** Joy Duling is a business strategist and creator of The Productive Entrepreneur ProgramTM. If you enjoyed this post, we invite you to explore the resources available at www.theproductiveentrepreneur.com. Each month, Joy presents resources and educational opportunities aimed at helping self-employed, entrepreneurial business owners increase their personal productivity so that they can accomplish BIG goals.
Do you plan as you go, mapping out your trip as you drive? It may sound like your not really "planning" if you approach life this way, but it's an interesting, and even helpful, way to think about your business planning.
Business plans have to be sound, yet flexible. You definitely need a good foundation to build a business, and a good plan is probably your best bet. You need an endpoint in mind. Where are you trying to get to?
But at the same time, you need to understand that there might be several ways to get there. If you plan a trip with one route in mind and aren't willing to deviate from that route, you might get held up. Who hasn't been detoured by road construction or the need to find a gas station, restaurant, or decent hotel?
The same goes with your business plan. You have to know where you want to be and when you want to get there, but your plan shouldn't be so rigid that you can't "move on" should something get in your way. It might take a new way of thinking or a little bit of back tracking, but the best business plans are easily adaptable to any situation or circumstance that you might encounter.
In my coaching and advising roles, I highly recommend simple, straightforward business plans. A complicated, in depth plan is of no use to you if you can't follow it or apply it to your changing situations. Another resource that promotes this idea is a book by Tim Berry', "The Plan As You Go Business Plan." Tim is the creator of Palo Alto Software, and he guides his readers through the process of creating practical plans that evolve as your business grows.
If you need help mapping out your entrepreneurial road to success, give me a call! I'd love to help you clarify your goals and develop a plan that will put you on the right track, and give you a few options should detours challenge your progress.
*** Joy Duling is a business strategist and creator of The Productive Entrepreneur ProgramTM. If you enjoyed this post, we invite you to explore the resources available at www.theproductiveentrepreneur.com. Each month, Joy presents resources and educational opportunities aimed at helping self-employed, entrepreneurial business owners increase their personal productivity so that they can accomplish BIG goals.
With the economy in such a quagmire right now, many small business owners are a little unsure of what to expect or how to react. What better way to hedge against some of the uncertainly than to talk to "seasoned" business owners who have been there?
The Small Business Association's resource partner SCORE "Counselors to America's Small Business" has been a source of free support for entrepreneurs since 1964, and now would be a great time to get know their service.
SCORE is a non-profit group of over 10,000 volunteers who have been in business and have experience as entrepreneurs. They function as mentors to small business owners who have questions and need guidance to be successful. SCORE volunteers want to pass on their own knowledge to educate and support other entrepreneurs working to fulfill their dreams.
SCORE has just created a resource that could be very valuable to those of who fear losing customers during economic uncertainty. In "10 Simple Steps to Finding Customers…and Delivering the Goods", presented by The UPS Store, SCORE helps small businesses learn more about marketing outreach and order fulfillment.
The guide covers some of the most important aspects of customer relations and satisfaction, including:
Defining your target market Building your brand identity Creating your marketing strategy Building a Web site & using the Internet Fulfilling orders & handling shipping
10 Simple Steps to Finding Customers…and Delivering the Goods is free and available at SCORE’s 389 office locations nationwide. Find the nearest SCORE office using your ZIP code or city and state at www.score.org/findscore. Or for other information, and there's A LOT there, just visit www.score.org and start exploring!
*** Joy Duling is a business strategist and creator of The Productive Entrepreneur ProgramTM. If you enjoyed this post, we invite you to explore the resources available at www.theproductiveentrepreneur.com. Each month, Joy presents resources and educational opportunities aimed at helping self-employed, entrepreneurial business owners increase their personal productivity so that they can accomplish BIG goals.
An article in Selling Power had this to say “ The average consumer receives over 300 emails a week”.
How will you make sure that yours not only stands out, but sells?
Successful small businesses use email as a cost effective, flexible tool to build their brand, drive sales and strengthen customer relationships. But as inboxes get more cluttered and spam continues to test people's patience, getting customers to click on your email and buy what you're offering means doing a few key things:
1. So, where are you from?
In today's spam filled world, it's critical that consumers recognize your email as coming from a legitimate source. According to a DoubleClick Study, the "from" line of an email continues to be the most compelling reason to open it. Be clear—not clever—in your "from" line, so people immediately know the source of the email. Consumers respond best to companies and brands that they know—and trust.
2. Make your subject line a stand-out.
As soon as a customer knows who the email is from, they need to know, "why should I bother opening it?" Use the subject line to tell the reader what you're offering in a compelling way, in seven words or less. For example, "Get 10% off our new summer products" is better than "This month's update."
3. Give a call to action.
So they've opened your email, now what? Your emails should include a clear, compelling call to action. Some examples include, "Register now for a chance to win," "View our exclusive online products," "Buy now and get free shipping." You can better engage your customers by telling them how to interact with you.
4. Get to the point.
The bullet point, that is. Shorter is better. Replace long paragraphs with short copy blocks, catchy headlines, and bullet points that provide an at-a-glance summary of what you're offering. If they have to search for it, chances are they won't take the time to find it.
5. Encourage them to pass it on.
Give your customers a reason to pass your email on to friends and colleagues. Offer relevant content, free downloads, or even coupons that they can forward. This type of viral marketing will help build your brand and business quickly.
6. Sell, survey, satisfy.
Emails can do more than sell. In fact, emails that show customers that you care about what they think create more profitable, revenue-generating relationships for the long run. Use your email newsletters to occasionally survey your customers and get their feedback. How satisfied are they with your products and services? Where could you improve? What other products do they wish you offered?
7. Make it easy to subscribe/unsubscribe.
When people sign up for your emails, only ask for the information you really need. Long registration forms are a turn-off and make your emails more about you than them. Importantly, include a prominent, clear opt-out function and keep your email lists up to date. If a person unsubscribes, promptly take them off your list.
8. Timing is everything.
When you send your email can be as important as what it says. Send your email at the beginning of the week or beginning of the day, when people are fresh and less overwhelmed. Emails sent during the day take a backseat to work demands and distractions, while emails sent on Fridays get buried in the weekend inbox and are more likely to get deleted.
9. Test it.
Before you send out your email, do you know that it works? Do the links take you where they should? Can you complete a test transaction? You only have one time to make a first impression with your customers, and with email, every impression counts.
10. Use your own customer list first.
Should you buy a 3rd-party email list, or not? While you may want to make yourself better known quickly, it's better to start with the people who already know you. While permission based emails get an average response rate of 3.2%, eMarketer, a New York City research firm, notes that using your own internal customer lists can result in 10-20% response rates—or higher. If you haven't started to gather your own customers' email addresses, start doing it now.
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition has finished up its project in Pekin, Illinois, and it's still hard for me to believe that I was part of this incredible experience!
The Grys family returned home yesterday (Tuesday) to their beautiful new home. If you’re not familiar with the back story, let me tell you that this is an amazing family and the show is themed on celebrating local heroes. The couple has fostered more than 250 children over the years, mostly with special needs. Their youngest adopted son has been diagnosed with dwarfism and brittle bone disease. It is said that he is in almost constant pain and breaks 2-4 bones every month.
The old house was torn down to the ground and a new one built in its place over the course of 106 hours… implementing special accommodations and technology that will make the home more appropriate for Jake’s very special needs. During that time, we had to coordinate 500 skilled laborers, nearly 1,000 other volunteers and supply/labor donations from more than 200 companies. It’s been an exhausting week, but fulfilling nonetheless.
The link below will take you to a video of the family's reaction and the photo is what the house actually looks like from the front. The show is tentatively scheduled to air on January 11th.
Have you "disappeared" from the sight of your clients?
It's hard sometimes to keep in touch with your clients, especially when we're busy (and maybe overwhelmed) and concentrating hard on a big project or two. Most of us have gone through times when we haven't been very good at this.
But what if your clients wanted to get in touch with you? Do you return e-mails and voice messages in a timely manner? Or do they wonder if you've evaporated in to thin air?
Sam Carpenter, a blogger for StartUp Nation, recently talked about contractors that had a reputation for disappearing before completing the job. He talks about how they don't answer phones or return phone calls, and leave their voice mailboxes full so no other messages can be left. He wonders how they stay in business.
In his post, "Gone Missing" he writes, "The dysfunctional communication system is a reflection of the new contractor's chaotic personal methodology in which he or she is so wrapped up in fire-killing and "doing the work," that insidious inefficiency remains invisible while it gobbles up the bottom line."
So take a minute right now to think about your communication system. Is it dysfunctional? If so, you are truly hurting your own productivity, because even though you're out there working hard, you are losing valuable clients to the competition.
Here are some tips to get functional again:
Commit to returning phone calls and e-mails within 24 hours – no ifs, ands, or buts! At the very least, let the sender know you received their message and will get back to them about the issue soon.
Set aside time each day to answer voice mails and e-mails. Find a time that works for you and stick to it.
Consider using a virtual answering service so your callers can talk with a live voice.
If you are going to be unavailable for a while, use the auto response feature on your e-mail to explain when you will be able to respond. The same goes for your voice mail message.
Delegate responses to your virtual assistant or an employee. Give them enough information to thoroughly answer the question and then allow them to be the contact person if the client needs more information.
Don't let your business earn the reputation of those contractors who disappear, never to be heard from again! Take care of your clients with prompt communication.
Election day will be here before we know – thank goodness! I am definitely looking forward to campaign-commercial-free radio and television again!
There's been A LOT of focus on "Joe the Plumber" in the last few weeks. He has become the face of "small business owners" across the country. And whether he's the best example to use for this role or not, he has encouraged the presidential candidates to talk about their positions on issues that affect small businesses everywhere.
With all of the back-and-forth, accusations and assumptions, it's still sometimes hard to get a clear picture of where the presidential candidates stand. I agreed with StartUp Nation's blog writer Melanie Rembrandt, when she recently wrote an entry titled, "Public Relations and Politics – Question Everything." She said,
"It's important to review what the candidates support and what the various propositions entail. Instead of "going with the flow" and simply following what you see, hear and read in the news, please do me a favor and conduct a little bit of research. Get the real facts and make your own decision…You may be surprised at what you find."
What a whirlwind the last 2 weeks have been! On October 7, "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" announced that the show would be coming to Peoria and partnering with my good friend and colleague, Melanie Spurgeon, to build a new house for a local family. The surprise "door knock" by Ty Pennington will happen today!
I've been working closely with Melanie to coordinate her communications strategy, project management, and sponsor and donation procurement. This particular project is completely dependent on volunteers and donations, and Melanie knows she could not build a house in seven days without this support.
I invite you to follow the progress of the build - sign up for updates at http://www.extremehomemakeoveril.com. You can also donate at this site.
To learn more about the project, visit http://www.designbuilthomesextreme.com. Here you will find information about Melanie and her business, our team, the show, and the family.
I am so excited to see the final results! It will be a busy and exhausting week, but we will all be extremely proud of our efforts when we watch the family's expressions as we yell, "Move That Bus!"
The 80/20 Rule is one of the most helpful of all concepts of time and life management. It is also called the "Pareto Principle" after its founder, the Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto, who first wrote about it in 1895. Pareto noticed that people in his society seemed to divide naturally into what he called the "vital few", the top 20 percent in terms of money and influence, and the "trivial many", the bottom 80 percent.
He later discovered that virtually all economic activity was subject to this principle as well. For example, this principle says that 20 percent of your activities will account for 80 percent of your results, 20 percent of your customers will account for 80 percent of your sales, 20 percent of your products or services will account for 80 percent of your profits, 20 percent of your tasks will account for 80 percent of the value of what you do, and so on. This means that if you have a list of ten items to do, two of those items will turn out to be worth five or ten times or more than the other eight items put together.
Number of Tasks versus Importance of Tasks Here is an interesting discovery - Each of the ten tasks may take the same amount of time to accomplish. But one or two of those tasks will contribute five or ten times the value of any of the others.
Often, one item on a list of ten tasks that you have to do can be worth more than all the other nine items put together. This task is invariably the frog that you should eat first.
This is important to the productive entrepreneur because it tell you to focus on activities, not accomplishments. The most valuable tasks you can do each day are often the hardest and most complex. But the payoff and rewards for completing these tasks efficiently can be tremendous. For this reason, you must adamantly refuse to work on tasks in the bottom 80 percent while you still have tasks in the top 20 percent left to be done.
Before you begin work, always ask yourself, "Is this task in the top 20 percent of my activities or in the bottom 80 percent?"
The hardest part of any important task is getting started on it in the first place. Once you actually begin work on a valuable task, you will be naturally motivated to continue. A part of your mind loves to be busy working on significant tasks that can really make a difference. Your job is to feed this part of your mind continually.
Deciding what you value most is an essential task for you to be a productive entrepreneur. Because the things that are high on your value list will be the things that you spend the most time on, and the tasks that you give 110% to complete. By defining what you value most – the things that are most important to you – you will be creating an instant priority list.
Since I'm a business coach concerned with helping you reach your fullest potential as an entrepreneur, let's focus just on your business for a minute. Go ahead and write down the things that you truly value about your business. What (or who) can't you do without?
Now take a minute and consider the top two or three things you have written down. If you truly value them as much as you say you do, don't they deserve your most focused attention and best effort?
I have no doubt that you are bombarded throughout your day with questions, demands, and needs from others. And even if you realize that you can't do it all, that doesn't mean that you won't at least try.
Your productivity and ultimately, your success, depends on you being very focused on those top two or three priorities, giving your very best to get those tasks done or meet those responsibilities with excellence and satisfaction.
Self Employment Expert Karen Greenstreet presents it this way in a recent blog:
"Give yourself a break from perfectionism and make a choice to give your very best only to those things that are high on your "Things I Value" list. Things that are unimportant should be dealt with quickly so that you can focus your time, attention and passion on the things that need your best work."
What are the things you value most in your business endeavors? Which things need your best work? If you don't know, I'd love to help you find out. And if you do know, I can help you figure out how to deal with those other things so that you can dedicate your time to the things that you value most. Leave a comment, or send me a note!
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Joy Duling is a business strategist and creator of The Productive Entrepreneur ProgramTM. If you enjoyed this post, we invite you to explore the resources available at www.theproductiveentrepreneur.com. Each month, Joy presents resources and educational opportunities aimed at helping self-employed, entrepreneurial business owners increase their personal productivity so that they can accomplish BIG goals.
The concept of "value" seems to be taking a top spot in the news these days, and it's almost always referring to money or things of monetary value. What's the value of your home now? Your investment portfolio? Your savings account?
Money is the lifeblood of the economy – so much so that the government has taken on a huge sum of bad debt just to open up the credit markets again to keep money flowing. It has an intrinsic value to you as an entrepreneur and a small business owner because it's how you complete transactions – buying new equipment, supplies, and office space, and receiving payments for the services you provide. But does the value of the money you have become the overriding concern in your business?
I'd like to think, and even suggest to you, that money doesn't hold the top spot in terms of the values you hold in business. Successful entrepreneurs think about the other principles upon which they should build their business – customer relationships, the sense of accomplishment, dedication to service, a good, honest reputation.
In a recent post to his blog, Personal Development Coach Steve Pavlina says, "Does it bother me that my financial assets (such as my home) may go down in value because of the broader financial meltdown? Not really. The numbers in my life may get smaller, but money isn't the primary way I store the value I've created. I prefer to hold excess value in goodwill and relationships, not a number in a bank account. I'd rather have a million friends than a million dollars."
There are things that a bad economy can't take away, and those are the things that should really be the foundation of your business. Granted, the money pays the bills and allows you to take care of your needs. And there's nothing wrong with setting goals to make enough money to accomplish this. But remember that money can't buy those intangible things that really make our businesses and services attractive to our customers. Although our economy may be in limbo, a business built on those principles will persist and survive.
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Joy Duling is a business strategist and creator of The Productive Entrepreneur ProgramTM. If you enjoyed this post, we invite you to explore the resources available at www.theproductiveentrepreneur.com. Each month, Joy presents resources and educational opportunities aimed at helping self-employed, entrepreneurial business owners increase their personal productivity so that they can accomplish BIG goals.
Interested in simplifying your tax return? Then here's some information you'll like to hear! The federal government is considering legislation that would introduce a standard deduction for small business owners. It's called the Home Office Tax Deduction Simplification and Improvement Act. The press release follows, as well as a sample letter that you can send in support of this legislation.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Chief Counsel for Advocacy Thomas M.
Sullivan today commended Representative Charles Gonzalez (D-TX) for introducing
the Home Office Tax Deduction Simplification and Improvement Act (H.R.
7074).The bill will simplify the home
office deduction by introducing a standard deduction for small business owners.It is companion legislation to S. 3371,
introduced earlier this year by Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME).
In a letter to Representative Gonzalez, Chairman of the
Regulations, Healthcare, and Trade Subcommittee of the U.S. House Small
Business Committee, Sullivan said that he supported the measure and commended
the Representative’s introduction of the bill.Sullivan wrote, "H.R. 7074 will address the issue [home office
deduction] legislatively."
Members of the small business community frequently appeal
to the Office of Advocacy for relief from tax requirements that are
disproportionately burdensome.According
to research from Advocacy, tax compliance is 67 percent more burdensome for the
smallest businesses compared to their larger competitors.Tax complexity, combined with the fact that 53
percent of America’s small businesses are home-based, prompted Advocacy’s
support for H.R. 7074.
Last year, as part of Advocacy’s Regulatory Review and
Reform (r3) initiative, the National Association for the Self Employed (NASE)
and others identified the home office deduction as a tax provision that is
unduly complex.
Advocacy agreed with the NASE and named the deduction as
a 2008 r3 Top 10 Rule for Review and Reform.
In July, Chairman Gonzalez held an oversight hearing on
"Regulatory Burdens on Small Firms: What Rules Need Reforms?" that
examined the 2008 r3 Top 10 Rules for Review and Reform.The hearing, at which Chief Counsel for
Advocacy Sullivan testified, focused on the need for reform of the home office
deduction.
The Office of Advocacy, the "small business
watchdog" of the federal government, examines the role and status of small
business in the economy and independently represents the views of small
business to federal agencies, Congress, and the President.It is the source for small business
statistics presented in user-friendly formats, and it funds research into small
business issues.
For more information, visit the Office of Advocacy
website at www.sba.gov.advo.
Letter follows here:
September 26, 2008
VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL AND FACSIMILE
The Honorable Charles Gonzalez U.S. House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515
Re:Support for
H.R. 7074: Home Office Deduction Simplification and Improvement Act of 2008
Dear Mr. Gonzalez:
I am writing to express my strong support for H.R. 7074,
the Home Office Deduction Simplification and Improvement Act of 2008.Members of the small business community
frequently appeal to my office for relief from tax requirements that are
disproportionately burdensome for small businesses.
The latest research shows that tax compliance is 67
percent more burdensome for the smallest businesses compared to their larger competitors.Tax
complexity, combined with the fact that 53 percent of America’s small businesses are home-based, prompts my
office’s support for H.R. 7074.
H.R. 7074 is consistent with what small business
expressed to my office during an initiative we launched last year to encourage
Federal agencies to minimize the regulatory burden on small business on a
regular basis.As you are aware, the
Office of Advocacy started the Regulatory Review and Reform (r3) initiative as
an annual exercise for the small business community to identify the top 10 Federal regulations that should be reviewed
and reformed.The home office deduction was identified by the National
Association for the Self Employed (NASE) and others as a tax provision that is
unduly complex.We agreed with NASE and
have called upon the IRS to consider implementing a standardized deduction under their existing
administrative authority.
This issue was further highlighted in a recent hearing
you chaired in the House Small Business Subcommittee on Regulations, Healthcare
and Trade on July 30, 2008.The hearing
examined the extent to which agencies are complying with their obligation under
the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) to review the regulations to determine if
they are outdated, duplicative, or overly complex.
The hearing so aptly conveyed the need for reform of the
home office deduction and your legislation, H.R. 7074, will address the issue
legislatively.Congress established the Office of Advocacy to represent
the views of small business before Federal agencies and Congress
independently.Due to the Office’s independence, the views expressed in this letter
do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Small Business Administration
(SBA) or official administration policy.
I commend your introduction of the Home Office Deduction
Simplification and Improvement Act of 2008.Thank you for your leadership and I look forward to working with you on
this and other issues of importance to small employers.If you have questions about the content of
this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me or my office’s tax counsel,
Dillon Taylor.He is reachable at (202)401-9787 or Dillon.Taylor@sba.gov.
There's an increasing emphasis these days about holistic health - the concept of taking care of yourself by acknowledging the connection between mind, body, spirit, and emotions.
Don't ignore this connection. When we are at our best and feeling great, we have engery and confidence that transfers into the work we do. When we're tired, emotionally drained, or in physical pain, we procrastinate, avoid work, and just muddle through the day.
We can all probably relate to the physical aspects that we feel we were are stressed to the max. Don't ignore these signs. Often, our bodies react and hold in the tension, even if think we've moved beyond it. Give some thought to the the vital information that other "parts" of yourself are giving you. When you use only your head, your experience of yourself and the world is more limited.
What is your body telling you? Notice the messages your body is giving you. You probably know many of these, but here are some physical signs of stress:
* Back pain
* Change in appetite
* Chest pain
* Constipation or diarrhea
* Dry mouth
* Extreme tiredness
* General aches and pains
* Headaches
* High blood pressure
* Insomnia (trouble sleeping)
* Lightheadedness
* Palpitations (the feeling that your heart is racing)
* Sexual problems
* Shortness of breath
* Stiff neck
* Sweating
* Upset stomach
* Weight gain or loss
If you are experiencing some of these signs, you should probably take a time out. Check in with your doctor, and if nothing else is wrong, figure out how to de-stress. Let go of activities that aren't important, ask for help with chores and responsibilities, get a massage, have a long talk with a trusted friend - anything to give your mind and body a break.
When you're pulled down by the physical signs of stress, your emotional well-being and spiritual passions will be pulled down as well. To regain a successful and postive outlook, you need to heal your body and your mind.
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Joy Duling is a business strategist and creator of The Productive Entrepreneur ProgramTM. If you enjoyed this post, we invite you to explore the resources available at www.theproductiveentrepreneur.com. Each month, Joy presents resources and educational opportunities aimed at helping self-employed, entrepreneurial business owners increase their personal productivity so that they can accomplish BIG goals.
Who are you? What do you believe? What do you really need?
When we discover who we really are, we stop living on auto-pilot and start to live with intention, focus and purpose. Our choices become clearer. We begin to make active choices in our life, instead of making excuses or passively living with the status quo.
If you feel a disconnect between your work and your life, then maybe your initial plans haven't been very successful at helping you carry out your passion about who you are, what you believe, or what you really need.
Think about these questions and consider actually writing down your answers. This gives your thoughts a permanent home, and once you have them out of your mind, you not only have a reference for what to work on, but you also have a clearer head to do so.
What makes you happy?
What ideas or thoughts do you have that you haven't expressed?
What do you value most?
What unique gifts, talents and skills do you bring to the world? How are you using them (or not)?
Who do you need to forgive? How about yourself?
What beliefs are holding you back or getting in your way?
What can you let go of in your life?
Be honest. Now is the time to start being candid about who you really are. Encouraging those unlived parts of ourselves to emerge can provide an exhilarating sense of discovery and optimism, a new source of energy to carry out your passion and define a new path for your career.
Successful entrepreneurs know how important it is to stay connected to their dreams. Performing this exercise when you're feeling frazzled or out of touch can help you assess what's missing and give you a clearer picture of your status. You can then begin to plan a new course or slightly deviate from the one you're on to better connect your actions with your passions.
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Joy Duling is a business strategist and creator of The Productive Entrepreneu
