Project Planning - A One Year Update

Last year I created a project planning video that showed you how I keep projects organized using a binder, tabs, and customized sheets that you’ll find here.

Has this or another system helped you keep your project planning on track? I’m pleased to report that I’ve not only stayed on course, I’ve also created a system to streamline my recordkeeping.

Tracking receipts and reconciling statements aren’t the most-glamorous duties, but they’re certainly necessary to know if your marketing efforts are progressing.

I placed pocket folders inside of a black binder. Both are available at any office supply store. Each folder holds receipts for each of my accounts; savings, checking, credit cards, and petty cash. I’ve set up two checking accounts for business, so each account has a separate folder, and the same is true for the credit card accounts.

After making a bank deposit or buying a business product, I return to the office and place the receipt into the correct folder. When an expense statement arrives, I can easily pair the receipts with the statement.

I applaud all of you who give this work to an accountant. The more you can delegate to professionals, the better, and the more time you’ll have for marketing. My accountant reviews the accounts every six months or whenever I have a question about revenue or expenses.

My hope is that this information encourages you to maintain better order in your office so that you can focus on your marketing plan. I’m far from perfect when it comes to organization, but I know that the few orderly steps I put in place makes business life much easier.

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May 14, 2008 | Filed Under Solo Housekeeping, Video Tips | Leave a Comment

What Parts of Your Business are Automated?

There’s a good chance that you receive questions and requests for similar information each week.

In the past I’ve sent newly-created Emails to each prospect or site visitor. How much time do you think it takes to form and send those Email responses?

Marketing-related information is added to the response, but a lot of time is spent writing something from scratch rather than setting it to automation.

Perhaps, like me, you’re unable to be totally automatic, which is the ability to have a computer program send a response that’s customized for each subject (outsourcing the task also helps). That’s unfortunately impossible for marketers who’d rather send information that relates to the query instead of a canned response that totally misses the mark.

What I’ve done is create a “Responses” folder. Each file within that folder is named according to the questions I receive most often.

When a question arrives, I open the folder and look at each file’s name to choose a response. After copying and pasting the answer, I add the person’s name within the salutation and press “send.”

There are times I feel that this is a lot of work, and you, too, may see it that way. However, this part of marketing has turned prospects into customers more times than I can count. Canned responses send the prospect straight to a competitor, or at the least, they won’t return to you.

In the past I’ve talked about creating a frequently-asked questions area on your site to respond to certain queries, but even with this, you’ll still receive numerous Emails from people who may not see that section or simply want to speak with someone at your firm.

I’ll continue to look for better ways to automate responses and other parts of business. For now, the ability to answer quickly by typing less streamlines this task.

Technorati Tags: solo business marketing, frequently asked questions, small business marketing, how to streamline your work

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April 17, 2008 | Filed Under Problems & Solutions, Solo Housekeeping | Leave a Comment

Marketing Planning 101 - A One Year Update

One year ago I talked about marketing planning and shared insightful excerpts from the book, Multiple Streams of Income, by Robert G. Allen.

I’m looking back at that post because I like to measure what I’ve planned versus how much I’ve progressed through my own advice.

It’s very easy to take market planning for granted, doing whatever task floats to the top without considering the long-term benefit of unglamorous projects that automate business in order to enjoy a more-fulfilling life.

My score card from one year ago? About a B-.

I’ve planned many of my business projects throughout 2008, and I’ve also created a streamlined process for organizing my receipts to make monthly reconciliations less taxing. That’s a huge change for the better, but it’s not enough.

One task that I will soon complete is automating more of the predictable marketing dilemmas. Not doing so has wasted a lot of my time.

There’s more on my agenda, but I’m still searching for the right solutions.

How has your marketing plan progressed since last year? What grade would you give yourself?

Technorati Tags: small business marketing, solo business marketing, marketing plans

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April 10, 2008 | Filed Under Solo Housekeeping | Leave a Comment

Finding Solutions Outside of the Office

Talk with a trusted friend to find business solutions Yesterday, I took the advice from chapter two (Network Marketing, Solo Style) of my book.

I’m facing a business dilemma and left the office to discuss it at a tea room with a good friend.

We ordered tea, chose a table, and immediately began discussing my problem. Within five minutes she presented a solution. It’s one that was in front of me all along but needed to be revealed by her.

Why didn’t I meet with my friend before the problem overwhelmed me instead of stay in my office cocoon? There’s a simple answer to this: I thought I could handle it on my own. Isn’t that what you think, too?

Family members and corporate employees rarely understand our unique problems. Talking to them can be frustrating. That’s why it’s best to turn to a like-minded person.

I invested two hours of time and $11.99 for tea and cookies to remove the problem, and even if there was no solution found during that time, getting out of the office invigorated my day.

What dilemma are you facing? I bet that help from a trust source will end your madness.

Technorati Tags: small business marketing, Marketing Strategies for the Home-Based Business, solo business marketing, solo entrepreneur

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April 3, 2008 | Filed Under Networking, Problems & Solutions, Solo Housekeeping | Leave a Comment