You are here: Home / Archives for Improving your web site

How to Improve Your E-mail Efficiency

September 8, 2010 By

I did it. I finally broke the habit of checking my e-mail first thing in the morning and too many times throughout the day. It wasn’t easy but I kept reminding myself of how much time I was wasting logging in and checking to see what I had missed.

E-mail is a great way to communicate with others, but it can quickly spin out of control if you don’t organize all of your messages.

  • Develop a system for reading, responding to and storing e-mail messages electronically. Set up electronic file folders to store e-mail messages worth keeping and label the folders clearly. Treat the electronic folders the same as paper files and regularly purge documents you don’t need [Read more...]
Filed Under: Balancing home/office Life, Home office technology, Improving your web site, Making money from home, Time mgmt./Productivity, Working at home Tagged With: , ,

Research Your Competition and Then Change Your Approach

August 19, 2010 By

Some people welcome competition and see it as an opportunity to improve their business. Others put on blinders, ignore the competition and are happy to run their business as usual. There are a few ways to learn about what works and doesn’t work for your competitors so you can create a business that’s all your own.

  • Research your competition honestly. Never mislead competitors by pretending to be a client. Instead, set up a Google alert with your competitor’s name in quotes. Each time they’re in the news, you’ll receive an e-mail alert. Check out their Web site to learn more about their products, services and business philosophy.
  • Introduce yourself to your competitors. Savvy business people know that there’s enough business for everyone. If a competitor is up to his or her eyeballs in clients, they may send a few clients your way. [Read more...]
Filed Under: Balancing home/office Life, Improving your web site, Making money from home, Marketing/Public Relations, Time mgmt./Productivity, Working with clients Tagged With: , , ,

You Get What You Pay For

August 5, 2010 By

Guest post by Katrina Sawa

You’ve heard this phrase, but do you really pay attention to this when it comes to investing in yourself or your business? Many entrepreneurs do not. I know this because I talk with hundreds of women entrepreneurs every month. They are continuously trying to find ways to cut costs, get stuff for free, find someone to trade for services or find a reason why they “can’t afford it” or shouldn’t invest.

Yes, it’s fine and very important to cut costs when you can in your life, business, and in any economic market. However, when it comes to necessary things in the running and marketing of your business or making sales, why would you risk it? Here are some areas where you do not want to skimp or be cheap: [Read more...]

Filed Under: Balancing home/office Life, Improving your web site, Internet marketing, Making money from home, Time mgmt./Productivity, Working at home, Working with clients Tagged With: , , , ,

4 Ways to Make the Road to Success a Little Less Bumpy

July 19, 2010 By

My son just earned his driving permit.  When he slips into the driver’s side and carefully adjusts the mirrors and seat, I realize that everything is new to him.  Yet at some point, he’ll run on autopilot and driving will seem second nature to him.

When I look back at my career and think about every job I’ve ever had, I realize I’ve experienced the same thing. At first I’d learn everything I could and then eventually I’d go into autopilot.  There was nothing new to learn, my boss refused to do anything differently and I quit using my business skills.

Working from home has changed everything.  As my own boss, I can’t afford to sit back and coast through each business day.  Instead, I make a conscious effort to develop more skills. This keeps me in the loop and keeps my business from being left behind.  There are a few ways to do the same.

  • Sign up for webinars in your field. You could spend a solid year (virtually) attending every [Read more...]
Filed Under: Balancing home/office Life, Improving your web site, Internet marketing, Making money from home, Time mgmt./Productivity, Working at home Tagged With: , , ,

Social Media Strategies That Make Sense and Cents

June 30, 2010 By

Guest post by Becky Powell

Social media is just another tool in your box of tactics, but leaving your digital footprint requires a thought-out strategy.

Think Smarter Not Harder. Now, most journalists have their own blogs, Twitter and Facebook, so you may reach exponentially larger audiences, all from sending to one contact. And remember many communication tools are multi-purpose – embed links, photos and videos that direct readers to your web site, Facebook, Twitter and more. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Home office technology, Improving your web site, Internet marketing, Marketing/Public Relations, Time mgmt./Productivity, Working with clients

Blood, Sweat and Home-based Business Fears

June 28, 2010 By

Working from home is hard work, but at the same time it’s scary.

When you first start working from home and you’re spending time growing your business, it’s normal to face a few worries along with fear. Aside from figuring out how you’re going to grow your business, you have to worry about how to pay the bills, where your next client will come from and how to keep your family from turning on you because of your crazy hours.

For some people, fear is a motivator.  For others it’s the first step to feeling discouraged. While being motivated is a good thing, being paralyzed with fear and weighted with worry can dampen your spirits and possibly keep you from growing your business.

You can’t get rid of all of your fears but there are a few ways to tame them.

  • Don’t quit your day job. Lately I’ve been reading about business owners I thought were doing well but it turns out that they work full time during the day and work on their business at night. When they make enough money, they’re going to quit their job and focus on their business full time.
  • Go for the low-hanging fruit. If you left a corporate job to work from home, turn to your old employer as your first client. The company won’t have to train you, pay your health insurance and give you two weeks off each year. If you left your last job on bad terms, skip to the next tip.
  • Use skills not related to your business to make money. If you’re handy with a hammer, have an eye for design, or can landscape like nobody’s business, get to work. There’s nothing wrong with taking odd jobs to supplement your income or in some cases to serve as income until your business takes off.
Filed Under: Balancing home/office Life, Home office setup, Improving your web site, Making money from home, Working with clients Tagged With: , , , ,

Copyblogger Makes Writing Your Blog Easier

June 25, 2010 By

The blog Copyblogger is as addictive as chocolate, and if their blog posts had calories, I’d go over my daily limit! If you haven’t taken the time to check out this blog bursting with useful and practical writing and SEO tips, drop everything and read one, two or as many blog posts as you can.

I try to read one post and then click off, but I can’t help clicking on the links to other posts. An hour later I have to stop reading and get back to work. A few of my favorite Copyblogger posts are:

The 8 Habits of Highly Effective Bloggers. The first tip is to be prolific:“The more you write, the better your writing gets.” Another tip is to be concise. Short paragraphs, bulleted points and numbered lists keep your readers interested.

How to be Interesting. (I read this one twice, thank you!) It’s important to be wrong as well as right and to surprise people by doing the opposite of what you normally do. Also, make people laugh.

20 Warning Signs That Your Content Sucks. The truth hurts and Copyblogger isn’t afraid to be direct about your blogging skills. This list of 20 questions will make you take a close look at your blog to figure out what’s working and what’s not. This list is invaluable to anyone wanting to improve his or her blog.

Filed Under: Improving your web site, Internet marketing, Making money from home, Marketing/Public Relations, Time mgmt./Productivity Tagged With: , , ,

Getting Started With E-mail Marketing

June 24, 2010 By

Guest post by Wendy Lowe

For small businesses, e-mail marketing is one of the best tools available to increase revenue and awareness of what you’re offering.  However, a lot of people don’t know where to start.

Here is a great list to get you on the road to effective e-mail marketing.

Put yourself in your customer’s shoes. Take a step back and think through what you’re trying to accomplish.  The best way to do this is to see things through your customer’s eyes – what would they want?

  • What type of information would attract attention and get people to open, read and act on your e-mail [Read more...]
Filed Under: Home office technology, Improving your web site, Internet marketing, Making money from home, Marketing/Public Relations Tagged With: , , ,

Believe it…You Can Make Your Blog More Credible

June 23, 2010 By

You can spend hours a day working on your blog, pouring your heart out or sharing everything you know about your area of expertise.  But how do you make your readers believe what you’re saying or feeling? Darren Rowse’s ProBlogger blog post, “12 Ways to Make Your Blog Posts More Credible,” will give you a few clues.

  • Use rich, vivid detail. When you use rich, vivid language, words that paint vivid pictures in your reader’s mind, she tends to believe what you are saying because she can see it for herself. Storytellers are amazing and can draw in their audience with their words. It’s a skill that takes time to master (I’m still working on it) but being able to illustrate a story with [Read more...]
Filed Under: Balancing home/office Life, Improving your web site, Marketing/Public Relations Tagged With: , , , ,

Martha Stewart Whips up a Batch of Social Media Tips

June 17, 2010 By

When I think of social media, Chris Brogan and Brian Solis come to mind, not Martha Stewart. So what does this culinary queen and media mogul know about social media? Apparently a lot. In a recent blog post, Jesse Stanchak of SmartBlog On Social Media highlights a few of the social media tips Stewart shared during a recent speech. With almost 2 million Twitter followers and 72,000 Facebook fans, Stewart’s tips are worth following.

  1. Don’t let anyone tell you what to do. At its core, Stewart said, social marketing is about finding your own voice and communicating your brand’s personality. It’s easy to do what everyone else is doing and hope for a good response.  Mix it up, break the rules and be willing to let others see the real you.
  2. Find yourself a good co-pilot. Throughout her keynote, Martha Stewart tossed questions and remind-me-later asides at Eliad Laskin, her all-purpose technical guru. At some point you’ll realize that you can’t do everything and actually, you shouldn’t.  Find someone who has strengths in areas you don’t.
  3. Go where your customers are — and remember that everyone’s a customer. Instead of picking one platform, Stewart advises finding ways to adjust your pitch to reach the different communities that form online. My Twitter and LinkedIn accounts are all business while my Facebook account combines aspects of both my business and personal life.
Filed Under: Improving your web site, Internet marketing, Marketing/Public Relations, Time mgmt./Productivity, Working with clients Tagged With: , , ,
« Older Posts
Newer Posts »
Hide me
Sign up now for an excerpt from Organize Your Home Office for Success!
Name Email
Show me
Sign up now for an excerpt from Organize Your Home Office for Success!
Enter your e-mail address below to get an excerpt from Organize Your Home Office for Success. You'll also receive updates and occasional promotions that are available only to subscribers. We respect your privacy and will not share your information with anyone.
Close