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It’s always a good time for Working Naked

February 2, 2012 By Leave a Comment

This year’s Working Naked day was a huge success. People around the world shed their sweat suits, chucked their daily commute and celebrated the freedom they have to work from home.

Now that this year’s event is over, you have 364 days to think about how you’ll celebrate next year’s big day. And of course, you’ll have plenty of time to figure out what you’re going to wear that day…or not.

Although we officially recognize Working Naked Day once a year, there’s no reason you can’t enjoy the benefits of Working Naked all year long. These guest blog posts I wrote for Bit Rebelsand genConnectshould keep you in the mood for Working Naked.

4 Geeky Ways to Stay Safe While Working Naked 
Whether you’re literally working naked, birthday suit and all, or figuratively working naked — without the support of the corporate workplace — staying safe while working from home is important. After all, if for some reason you can’t work, who’s going to cover for you? These four gadgets can help you stay safe and stay on track when you’re working from home.

Working Naked Day: 10 Ways to Make You More Productive
Working Naked Day is tomorrow and whether you’re working in your birthday suit, a business suit or in your jammies, being productive is important. Think about it: When you work for someone else, your time isn’t your time … it’s your company’s time. When you work for yourself, time is precious and any time you waste during the workday is money out of your pocket. When you look at it that way, being productive takes on a whole new meaning.

There’s still time to get your FREE Working Naked Day gift, a collection of eBooks and guides to help you grow your business. Click here for your gift.

Filed Under: Working at home Tagged With: , ,

6 Ways to Expose Yourself on Working Naked Day

February 1, 2012 By 4 Comments

Working Naked means different things to different people. To you it may mean working au naturel, while your neighbors and friends may follow the other meaning — working on your own without the support of the corporate workplace.

Whichever way you interpret Working Naked, today is the day to celebrate your independence from corporate life, bask in your break from a daily commute, and enjoy the flexibility you have to work from home on your own terms.

Today as you bare it all and enjoy your work-from-home freedom on the 3rd annual Working Naked Day, expose yourself to these six ways to grow your business.

1. Partner with other small business owners

Working Naked can be lonely, but it doesn’t have to be. Connect with other small business owners and find ways to work together. Let’s say that most of your clients are realtors. Think about companies that target realtors, like sign companies and home stagers. You could approach them to put ads on your site, sponsor your seminars or webinars and even share client lists. You’re both trying to reach the same market, so why not work together?

A different option is to work with another business or several businesses to sponsor a contest. By pooling your resources, you can come up with a strong list of prizes. When the contest ends, everyone involved in the contest can share the list of names and e-mail addresses they collected.

2. Update your website

Take a close look at your website. When someone wants to know about your business, or when he or she searches for a business that fits your keywords, what impression does your site give? Your site is your link to the outside world. Make sure that impression is a good one.

Have fun with your site. Add photos and videos. Let visitors get a sense of who you are and what you can do for them. If you don’t have a site — you need to have one — or your site needs a facelift, hire a Web designer. Before you decide which designer to hire, check out the sites they’ve designed to make sure you like their work. Most site designers have a link at the bottom of the sites they’ve created so if you like a site, contact the designer to find out what he or she can do for you.

3. Sign up for a class online or on campus

When I graduated from college, I swore I’d never go back to school. So much for never saying never. I loved school and learned so many skills that I’ve applied to every client I’ve worked with since I graduated. Also, I’ve been able to write for different design magazines and websites that wouldn’t have given me the time of day without my degree.

Consider whether going back to school or learning online will give you the skills you need to serve your clients better. You don’t have to earn a degree but if taking Web design, marketing or programming classes would give you an edge over your competitors, consider investing time learning new skills. Keep in mind that you can write off any expenses related to your classes.

4. Attend a webinar

You can get in your car or catch a plane to attend a seminar, or you can grab a cup of coffee instead, sit at your desk, and attend a webinar. Different websites offer free webinars throughout the year. If you want to learn more about SEO (Search Engine Optimization), check out Hubspot. If you want to learn how to start and maintain a WordPress membership site, WordPress University offers regular, short programs loaded with good tips.

Some webinars are live, but if the webinar time doesn’t work for you, sometimes you can download a recording. How easy is that? Best of all…you don’t have to get dressed to attend a webinar. Seems to be the perfect Working Naked Day activity. The bottom line: nothing beats learning something new while you’re sitting in your pajamas or your birthday suit. Ask your corporate friends how often they get to do that!

5. Read business books and eBooks

I admit I’m an eBook addict, but you can learn so much from experts in every field. The best part is that you can find hundreds of eBooks online, loaded with information, for free. There’s an eBook on almost every subject. Use Google to find eBooks about something you want to learn about or need to know.

The more you read eBooks, the more you’ll realize that you can write (and eventually sell) your own eBooks. Research the topic for your eBook to find out if there’s anything similar available. If so, figure out how to make yours different.

6. Set up a group chat through Skype or over the phone

When you’re Working Naked, most of the time there’s no one around to tell you that your ideas are worthless or even amazing. There’s no reason to reinvent the wheel when you can meet with other entrepreneurs and pick their brains. They can filter your ideas, encourage you (everyone can use a pat on the back) and maybe even tweak your ideas a bit to make them work for you. Also, it’s incredibly helpful to be able to get input from other business owners who may have faced the same problems you’re dealing with now.

Enjoy your day and call your friends who are stuck in a cubicle or in a boring office today and wish them a Happy Working Naked Day. Maybe next year they can celebrate it with you.

How are you going to celebrate Working Naked Day?

Click here to get your FREE Working Naked Day gift, a collection of eBooks and guides to help you grow your business.

Filed Under: Working at home Tagged With: , ,

5 More Business Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

January 23, 2012 By 15 Comments

When I blogged about business mistakes I’ve made, several of you asked me to list even more. This time I asked a few of my friends to share some business mistakes they’ve made, but I admit I’ve made a few of these mistakes too.

Mistake #1 Not spreading the word about your business

Maybe your business is better than everyone else’s, but it doesn’t matter if no one knows about you. When you develop a new product or service, send an e-release out to your media contacts, spread the news on Twitter and other social networks, and tell everyone you know. Don’t be shy.

Mistake #2 Not seeking advice or guidance from others

Don’t expect to know everything about finances, marketing, and sales. A business consultant, or a volunteer at SCORE (the Service Corp of Retired Executives) can offer business help. Or call someone whose business style you admire and ask them specific questions.

Mistake #3 Not knowing when to cut your losses and move on

It’s too bad that no matter how much you believe in your products or services, that belief doesn’t determine how much success you’ll have. If you’re losing money on a product or service, take a close look at what you can offer instead. It’s tough to let something go, but when you do you make room for more opportunities to grow your business.

Mistake #4 Skimping on the wrong things

A computer, printer, scanner and other office equipment are more important than a top-of-the-line desk and credenza. Keep in mind that most of the time clients will see only what comes out of your office, not what’s in it. Focus first on technology, then go from there. Don’t forget to invest in a reliable, comfortable and adjustable office chair. After you sit in front of your computer day after day, your back will remind you that you need more support.

Mistake #5: Forgetting to listen to your clients’ needs or requests

You may be so closely tied to your business that you overlook new ways to serve your clients, your best resource for new ideas. Before I wrote my first home office book, people often asked me to recommend a book to help them set up their home office. Finally the light bulb went off and I wrote a book. Some people have “aha” moments. Mine was more of a “duh” moment.

There’s nothing wrong with making mistakes, and when you work for yourself you’re going to make plenty. In fact, that’s part of being an entrepreneur. The key is to learn from those mistakes.

Filed Under: Working at home Tagged With: , , ,

How to Keep the Promises You Make

January 19, 2012 By 22 Comments

source: discoodoni

A friend of mine keeps as many promises as she breaks. Why are we still friends? The main reason is that the promises she makes to me aren’t important.

When she promises to meet me for coffee, I enter the time in my iPhone and then before I leave my house, I send her a text to confirm. Sometimes she remembers and sometimes she doesn’t.

While those broken promises aren’t earth-shattering and haven’t affected our friendship, if she did the same thing to her clients, her client list were dry up. To a client, any broken promise is important, so you need to do what you can to keep every promise you make.

Start with these tips.

Don’t promise what you can’t deliver

A huge corporate client with a large budget may tempt you to make promises you can’t keep, and add more to your plate than you can handle. Before you say yes to a request from a big client, take a close look at your current schedule and decide whether or not you have time to complete the job. Don’t forget to consider if you’re even the right person to handle the project. If not, recommend someone else who can help your client.

Prioritize your projects and clients

The minute you sit down at your desk each morning, make sure you have a clear idea of the tasks and projects that need your attention that day. Start by reviewing your list of ongoing projects. Bringing in new clients is important, but don’t forget about your existing clients. If a prospect calls you and you accept the project, how will the new client affect the attention and service your current clients expect? Will you be able to do a good job if you face a time crunch? You have one chance to make a first impression and if your work isn’t up to par, you’ll lose any chance of building a long-term relationship with any client.

Build in a cushion

When you promise something to a client, do your best to gauge how long it will take you to finish the project and then, if possible, add a week. That gives you extra days to make sure you deliver what you promise, when you promise it. Even if you’re the most qualified person to handle a job, yet you can’t meet your client’s deadline, you could damage your relationship with that client. And rebuilding a damaged relationship can take longer than you think.

As the old saying goes, “Promises are made to be broken,” but that doesn’t mean they should be.

What strategies do you use to make sure you keep your promises?

Filed Under: Working with clients Tagged With: , ,

Drawing the Line Between Your Business and Personal Relationships

November 28, 2011 By 2 Comments

In my first job out of college, I sold commercial time for an AM talk radio station. Our station owned a suite at the football stadium, and during one of the games one of my co-workers was a little nervous. His biggest client was going to be there so several bottles of beer and a few too many shots of Tequila later, he needed to make a quick exit. He didn’t embarrass himself, but he could have.

He blamed it on the chicken nachos.

While it’s important to build rapport with a client, you need to make sure you keep your business relationship in line, starting with these tips.

Remember that you always represent your business

If you’re out with a friend and you do something reckless, a friend may laugh it off. But if you’re with a client, he or she may wonder whether you’re handling his or her account the same way. They may even lose faith in your ability to make good decisions on their behalf. There’s nothing wrong with having fun. Being out of control is beyond wrong. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Balancing home/office Life, Working at home, Working with clients Tagged With: ,

How a Broken Fridge Can Motivate You to Reduce Home Office Papers

November 16, 2011 By

source: NatalieMaynor

A few days ago, my refrigerator stopped working.

When I opened the refrigerator door, the light turned on but everything felt a little warmer than it should. When I opened the freezer and squished an ice cream sandwich that should have been frozen solid, I knew I didn’t have much time to clear everything out.

While I cleared out my freezer, I tossed a few things I’d had a bit too long. I did the same thing with some of the food from my refrigerator. I was making a clean start (no pun intended).

My forced refrigerator and freezer purging and cleaning made me think about people who struggle to toss papers they don’t need. What if the papers scattered all over your home office were fruit, vegetables, or meat that had an expiration date? You’d be forced to deal with them within days instead of within weeks or months from when they hit your desk.

You may have stacks of papers on your desk that you want to get rid of, but don’t know how. There are a few ways to get started.

To read the rest of my guest post on Success Your Way, click here. (I’ve closed comments on this post so you can post a comment on Success Your Way.)

Filed Under: Home office organizing, Home office setup Tagged With: ,

Look for New Ways to Work With Old Clients

October 26, 2011 By 8 Comments

One of my clients, a business consultant, has worked with the same clients for years. She helps a client solve a problem, the client’s business grows, and then she finds other ways to help that client again. She knows that if her clients are happy, they’ll refer her to new clients…and they do.

When your business is thriving, you may not be worrying about getting more clients. On the other hand, if you’re waiting for the phone to ring, hoping that prospects will fill out your “get more info” form, and you have more bills to pay than clients to cover them, you’re probably thinking about ways to find more clients.

You can go after new clients, which can cost time and money, or you can find new ways to serve old clients. Studies show that it’s less expensive to service an existing client than to market to a prospect.  Consider these tips before you spend more time and money trying to find new clients.

  • Anticipate your clients’ needs. You don’t have to be psychic (although it wouldn’t hurt) to gauge your clients’ thoughts and concerns. Some people use intuition while others use a more direct approach: they simply ask their clients for other ways they can help them. If you ask the same question rephrased differently each time — try not to be annoying — you should get the information you’re missing.
  • Be a resource to your clients. If a client asks you to do something that’s outside your area of expertise, recommend someone else. Your client will appreciate your willingness to help and when they need your help again, you should be the first person they call. Make sure you recommend someone reliable, because if they drop the ball, it reflects poorly on you.
  • Create new products or services based on your clients’ needs. For years I’ve heard from clients who have moved from one part of the country to the other, but still want to work with me individually. Some weren’t able to fly me to their home offices, so I had to refer them to a colleague in their city. The light bulb finally went off and I started offering consultations via Skype. At first I didn’t think the virtual consultations would work, but they do, and have become a large chunk of my business.

Before you give up on a client who hasn’t contacted you lately, ask yourself it there are any other services you can offer them. They’ll enjoy hearing from you, you’ll enjoy reconnecting with them, and the bottom line: you’ll be able to help them again.

How have you found new ways to help old clients?

Filed Under: Making money from home, Working at home, Working with clients Tagged With: ,

Would More Hours in the Day Make You More Productive?

October 25, 2011 By 14 Comments

When my (now 29-year-old) nephew was four years old, I asked him if he wanted to go to the store with me. He told me that he didn’t have enough time because he was too busy.

I don’t remember much about my life at four years old, but what I do remember is that all I had was time. My nephew probably had learned that response from everyone around him.

What would you do with more time?

No matter what type of business you’re in, and whether you’re working from home full-time or part-time, time is a valuable commodity. Take the time to consider what would happen if you had more time.

  • Would you take the day off, spend more time with your family, or work on your personal development?  If so, let go of tasks that don’t need your attention so you can have more time to spend on yourself or with your family. [Read more...]
Filed Under: Time mgmt./Productivity Tagged With: , ,

Do The Right Thing But at The Right Time

October 6, 2011 By 2 Comments

source: Ant Smith

Yesterday, I grabbed a sandwich at a deli near my house and the place was packed. While I was waiting in line, one of the employees almost knocked me over. He was busy mopping the floor and putting the rugs back, while customers tried to walk past him to pick up their orders.

The floor needed to be mopped, but did the guy have to mop during the busy lunch rush? He was doing the right thing, but his timing was off.

How is your timing? Consider these questions:

Do you follow up with clients when say you will?

A superstar realtor friend of mine has had a record year. Why? She calls her prospects back on the exact day she promises to call. When she shows that much attention to detail, the prospects are so impressed (and surprised), they hire her to represent them.

One of the few times a prospect she was working with decided to sign with another realtor, was when she responded to the prospect’s text at 3 am. The client had sent the text at dinnertime the night before and didn’t appreciate the text in the middle of the night. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Balancing home/office Life, Time mgmt./Productivity, Working with clients Tagged With: ,

4 Ways to Get Your Reading Under Control

September 26, 2011 By 8 Comments

If you had a few extra hours every day, how would you spend them? Considering that I’m a closet bookworm, I’d probably spend part of them reading.

For most of us, taking time to read seems more like a luxury than a necessity, but keeping up with the latest in your industry and knowing what your competition is doing, is an important factor in moving your business forward.

While you can’t add more hours to your day, there are a few ways to make a dent in your reading pile.

1. Sort through your books

As you look through your books, give away the ones you’ve had for years and will never look at again. You could make a few extra dollars by selling your books to bookstores that sell used books. In most cases, any books they don’t buy, they’ll donate to charity. An interesting online option, BookMooch, is a point-based bartering system. You type in the books you want to give away, [Read more...]

Filed Under: Balancing home/office Life, Home office organizing, Time mgmt./Productivity, Working at home Tagged With: ,
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