7 Top Tips for the Travelling Entrepreneur
April 29, 2009 by Adam
Filed under Business, Entrepreneurship, Productivity
If you are rarely in one spot for more than a meeting or a business lunch, and when you do eventually get back to the office you’ve got a ‘to do’ list as long as your arm, with call backs to make & enquiries via email to deal with, then here are some tips to save you time and get this done ‘Virtually’, while you’re in transit.
1. A Virtual Phone Number
A virtual number is typically the 800 or 0800/0870 type numbers which are usually attached to businesses. You can purchase one of these numbers - and generally, redirect the calls to a landline or mobile phone. This also maintains consistency in your business practices, as you will never need to change your number when you change locations.
2. Call Answering
It’s a fact that 70% of callers will not leave a message if you don’t answer the phone, so if you’re someone who spends a lot of time in meetings or unavoidable situations, then consider hiring a virtual receptionist. You can route your virtual number through to wherever you’d like when you are not available or on vacation, or simply have it diverted permanently, safe in the knowledge that your calls are always covered. Your virtual receptionist will then relay the call backs and important messages to you.
3. Virtual Address
Working from home or on-the-go is a favorable option, especially in the current climate where offices are closing due to the economic downturn. Why spend money renting an office space just for an address? Utilize a service where they handle your mail, then have it delivered to your ‘Virtual Address’, and at this point your PA or mail handler can sift through the junk mail and scan/email or fax the essential pieces to your current location.
4. Virtual Post
Can’t get to the post office on time? There are several services out there now which will allow you to email documents and information - and they’ll print it and send it for you. The service will actually format your document and walk it to the post box or mail company.
5. Email Handling
How many times have you subscribed to newsletters and mailers even though you only require a small fraction of the information which is sent? Do you really have the time to sift through all that data to find what you’re really looking for? Get a virtual mail box for these types of sign ups, and then have your VA handle the sorting. This will leave your primary mailbox free for only important mail - and will save you all the hassle.
6. Collaboration
Find a VA who utilizes online collaboration software or a client project space. Keep everything perfectly organized in just one place, and subscribe for updates by RSS. One simple stream of workflow which you can keep up to date constantly - even with your mobile devices.
7. Mobile Device
Which brings me to the mobile devices. Make sure you have a hand held computer to avoid carrying around a laptop or briefcase. Always carry your virtual office in your pocket!
Are you always on-the- go? Don’t forget to give us your tips in a comment before you rush off!
Adam Toren
The Google Workout
April 27, 2009 by Matthew
Filed under Entrepreneurship, Internet, SEO & Rank, Website Traffic, Websites
With Google algorithms changing almost daily, it seems there is now a huge question mark over whether page rank really matters.
So, how are they doing it?
The confusion comes when we automatically assume that the two go hand-in-hand. The only honest answer that anyone should be talking about is that Google keeps their algorithms so close to their chest, and changes them so often, that we really don’t know. How is it that a site which is not even in the first 10 pages can jump to page 1 overnight?
With over 150,000,000 sites on the web trying to get to the top, it can often feel like you’re on a treadmill, and just like a regular workout, there are certain things you need to be doing on a daily basis - as part of your Google Regime.
Here is what your Google Workout should look like:
1) Backlink Marketing – 45 minutes
Take an article you have written and market it via directories, websites, blog’s & Ezines. Remember to create multiple variations of your article to avoid the duplicate content issue.
2) Traffic Generation – 45 minutes
Social media is great for this exercise - comments and getting involved with targeted online communities are great ways to get people onto your site. Offering advice in forums, contributing to social media networks and commenting on high page rank blogs are essential – but don’t confuse traffic generation with Backlinks. When you’re working on generating traffic, you should be mingling with likeminded people and only working on sites which are specific to your niche.
3) Updating Your Content – 30 minutes
Write something new on your site daily, update a web page, put in a blog post – anything to create change. If you want Google to take an interest in your website then you need to have interesting content – and above all, it needs to be unique.
4) Reciprocal Links – 30 minutes
Every day try to find a website or blog to exchange links with. Make sure that the partner site has similar traffic to your own site. So for example, if your business is selling computers, start looking for a site selling computer accessories.
So there you have it, your total daily Google Workout. Do you have any tips to add? Let us know in the comments!
Matthew Toren
Should Your Startup Outsource?
Outsourcing has long been the practice of large companies looking to cut costs and streamline processes. But many small startups have also chosen to outsource some of the key functions of their business in order to manage things more effectively. Many young companies are running lean and mean with few employees wearing many hats. This is par for the course in a startup, but it also places you at risk because it means you’re not giving the highest level of attention to any one part of your business plan.
Individual pieces of your overall strategy such as marketing, accounting, or sales should have dedicated professionals running them. Yet it is expensive to hire a staff large enough to take on each portion of your business individually.
In recent years, a plethora of small firms and freelancers have established themselves, focused on providing small business solutions and specialized, outsourced management of key business areas. Thanks to modern technology, outsourcing has become affordable and allows these professionals to work remotely, without even taking up office space in your facility.
But is outsourcing always the best option for a startup? Keep in mind that there is no way you’re ever going to get out of working hard for your own business. Outsourcing can help lift some of the burden, but even then you’ll have to stay on top of everything that you’ve hired someone else to do.
Additionally, in order to be competitive in any market, you must strive to stand out from the crowd. If you’re hiring outside groups to do things for you, chances are high that they will be using tried and true methods. While this offers you some stability, it also means that you’re not going to be blazing any new trails. As an entrepreneur, you need to think creatively when it comes to your business strategy. You are the only one who has that drive and the passion to get your company moving in a unique direction. If you do outsource, it is essential that you maintain constant vigilance over the work being done for you by outside firms.
As an entrepreneur, you are the only who knows if you really need help. It is up to you to balance the decision between the costs associated with outsourcing with your own limitations of time and ability for managing certain aspects of your startup.
If you do decide to outsource, make sure you weigh your decision on whom to hire as seriously as the decision to hire in the first place. There are usually multiple options and you should be prepared to meet with these firms, check references, and find out their processes for working, communicating, and implementing before you sign a contract. Once you hire an outsourcing firm, they become an integral part of your business and you will be working with them on a daily basis. Their overall business philosophy should compliment yours.
Facebook Fan Pages
April 22, 2009 by Adam
Filed under Website Traffic, Websites
Facebook has always been touchy about members spamming, but in the past year they’ve really opened up opportunities for businesses and professionals to represent themselves on the site. The best way to make your presence known if you hope to use Facebook for marketing is to create what is called a “Fan Page” in the name of your business or organization.
The main difference between a Fan Page and a regular user profile is that the Fan Pages are public. For people to view your personal profile on Facebook, they must first register and then request to be added to your list of contacts. But a Fan Page can be viewed even by non-members. It does not contain your personal name (unless you want it to), personal photos or other information that you don’t necessarily want to share with the general public.
Another great feature to Facebook Fan Pages is that whenever anyone becomes a “fan” or adds you as a contact; it is broadcast via their profile to all of their contacts, reaching potentially thousands of other people who may not have heard of you before.
So what are the elements that will make your Facebook Fan Page stand out? Here are five:
- Use a simple page title such as your business name or something else that clearly describes what you do.
- Use an easily identifiable logo or profile picture.
- Keep your page updated, fresh, and interesting without adding a bunch of lame apps to clutter it up.
- Join in on conversations that happen on your page. People love to know that a real person is watching and listening to what they have to say.
- Be willing to make changes and add features that your fans are asking for. They are major contributors to making your Fan Page successful, so let them participate in its design and operation.
Obviously, the same rules apply to Facebook Fan Pages that apply to all other social networking: don’t be pushy and don’t force yourself on your friends. The good thing about Fan Pages, however, is that people who choose to be a fan of your page know that you will be talking about your business or product on there, so you don’t have to worry about them getting indignant at you when you post business-related stuff.
Facebook is now the most popular social networking site in the world, so if you are not using it to promote your business you are simply missing out. Make sure you have links to your Facebook Fan Page on your blog and your regular Facebook profile so people know it exists. You may need to do a little bit of promotion when you first start it up, but eventually it will catch on as people see your updates posted in their friends’ public timelines.
Take time to set up your company’s Facebook Fan Page, put some real thought into it, and then use it as yet another tool for generating awareness about your company online. Do you have a Facebook Fan Page for your business? Leave us a comment with a link so we can check it out!
Why You Should Be Twittering
Last week I engaged in a conversation with a young woman who loftily asserted that Twitter is merely an “ego trip for people who feel the need to let the world know what they are having for breakfast.” It’s a pretty common sentiment among those who have never really used the service. And to be fair, if you peek in on any of the profiles, you may have a hard time figuring out exactly why it can be considered a useful tool. I tried to explain to her exactly why I find it so valuable and I thought I’d expand my thoughts here on the blog as well.
For one thing Twitter is not about YOU, per se. Oh sure, you’re there to engage people and you definitely want to participate. But it is as much about getting information as sending your wisdom out into the ethos. If you’ve been following the news this week you undoubtedly saw the hullaballoo surrounding celebrity Ashton Kutcher and his race with CNN for a million Twitter followers. The biggest critics of this nonsense were Twitter users because they understand better than anyone that it isn’t about getting a bunch of people to follow you and spouting off occasionally. It’s about talking–exchanging information. It’s about communicating.
Using an application like TweetDeck, I am able to keep my followers in categories. I have news services like CNN and NPR in one category sending me real-time news feeds all day. When news breaks, I get it via Twitter. My friends and family are in another category. And I also have different groupings of bloggers and businesses by industry. What this boils down to is a non-stop, highly organized stream of information that is coming at me 24/7. If you’re the kind of person that likes to know things NOW, as they happen; and if your business relies on knowing what is going on in the world you can rely on Twitter to get you news and information before any other source.
The other important reason to Twitter is that you actually make excellent business contacts. It is the equivalent of a business luncheon—part socializing, part networking—you can strike up a conversation about anything from sports to astronomy and once you hit it off with someone they’ll help promote you either directly or indirectly through Twittering. I’ve made some excellent contacts—business and personal—through Twitter. When people get to know your personality, they are more comfortable referring you to others. Obviously, you can tweet regularly about your business. But shameless self-promotion and spamming is a good way to get yourself blocked. Be cool and you’ll be fine.
Finally, Twittering is fun. Fascinating conversations about philosophy, religion, politics, economics, relationships and technology take place at 140 characters at a time. Even the most avid user is not exactly sure why it is so addictive. But anyone who is active on Twitter will tell you that there’s much more to it than just reporting on the minutia of your life. Twitter is about the raw, unadulterated exchange of information. It’s fast, it’s easy and it is a part of the future online. You might as well jump in and start using it now.
