Hey, small business owners! Today’s guest post by Ken Howard is just for you! He has a few tips that will help you structure your social media efforts and put your brand on the map.
If you’re a small business owner, you know that running a business is a lot of work. The fact is you just don’t have the time to do everything unless you put in a 15-hour+ days. Do you ever feel like no matter how much you get done, there’s always more to do? I’m going to give you some tips that will help to simplify part of your day.
In the past few years social media has grown to the juggernaut of Internet Marketing. Facebook has nearly 8.4 million users and continues to grow. As a small business owner, you want to capitalize on that market as well as those on Twitter, Pinterest and Google+.
The first suggestion I give my clients is to be active. But you must not be spammy, which leads in to my second suggestion. Share expert information frequently. By providing expert information, you are informing your audience and gaining their trust. Here are a few tools that will make these two suggestions easy to manage:
- Buffer – Buffer is available for multiple platforms (Web, Chrome, Firefox, Android & iOS). Connect your Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook accounts. With it, you can spread out your updates to keep your account active. You can also share links to articles you have read.
- Google Reader – Finding relevant news to share with your audience doesn’t have to take hours. With Google Reader you can scan through the headlines of the day for the blogs and news sources in your industry.
- ifttt – “If this, then that” is a your digital assistant. This tool looks for signals in your social media accounts and performs an action based on the rules you configure. Do you want to backup your Instagram photos to Evernote? Ifttt’s best “recipe” is to add starred Google Reader articles to your Twitter or Facebook Buffer queue.
Now that you have a few tools to help your social media efforts, you need to think about what you’re going to share. It’s important that your professional profile stays professional. However tempting it may be, don’t share the daily internet memes. You don’t want to attract the wrong audience.
Let’s say you own a bike shop and want to connect with cyclists. Obviously, you’ll want to share any specials you’re offering or articles you have written. But, you also want to share news stories from around the world, race results, lightweight bike frames, mountain biking YouTube videos, strengthening tips, apparel, tire technology… anything that can establish you or your brand as an expert in bikes.
There’s nothing easy about social media marketing. It takes a lot of work to be successful and is extremely competitive. If you use these simple tips, you can take control and start to develop your own social media strategy. After some time you can identify what type of content works based on how many likes, retweets and comments you receive. Use this newfound knowledge to write your own articles and start your own blog.
What social media challenges have you overcome and what kind of strategy did you employ to achieve your goals? Share your story in the comments.
About the Author
Ken is the Interactive Manager at Turtledove Clemens, an Integrated Marketing Communications firm in Portland, Oregon. He is passionate about Social Media, Search Engine Optimization and intuitive, user friendly web design.
Connect With Ken: Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn| Blog | Web | E-Mail
I want to try every time management app there is! Are you like me? Looking for the right one for you? …the one that will stop you from goofing off?
I want that, too, but I’m a little fickle. I find one I love (like this one and this one and this one), then I start to think that some other app could be sweeter. Enter my wandering eye.
Don’t follow in my footsteps, though. You’ll have to spend some quality time with a few apps at first, you know, to get to know them. Make it a fruitful experience and ask yourself these simple questions:
- Which is the easiest to use?
- Which one’s the most intuitive?
- Does it do all (or most) of what you need? *Sidebar: Do you know what you need?
Ultimately, you’ll have to settle down with the one.
If you choose multiple apps, you’ll probably get confused. Or, worse – you’ll do double duty and have to enter data in several places. Not a good use of your time, right?
So, in my quest to “see what’s out there,” I came across a few articles about good time management apps. Check them out and let me know which one you decide to use. Or, if you’ve already found your true match, I hope you’ll kiss and tell.
- 5 Time Management Apps for the iPhone (HowStuffWorks.com)
- 15 Awesome Time Management Tools and Apps (DumbLittleMan.com)
- Time Management Apps for iPad (AppleSlut.com)
- 5 Great Time and Task Management Apps for Android (TechHamlet.com)
You know that organized people are a bit kooky, yes? Well, that’s what the movies would have you believe. Think Mommie Dearest and Sleeping with the Enemy.
The characters in both films are crazy, and oh, by the way, organized. Just a little too organized and anal retentive. Did I mention they were crazy? Poor Julia Roberts had to run from her abusive husband who liked to organize the contents of his cupboards in a very particular way.
What about Jennifer Lopez’s character in The Wedding Planner? Uber organized she was. And, detailed. She managed other people’s weddings, afterall. Do you remember her dinner time routine? The self-described control freak had a very specific ritual…microwaveable dinner (cloth napkin on her lap) eaten while watching her favorite TV show…by herself.
And, let’s not forget, my all time favorite, Mr. Monk (Felix Unger comes in a close second). You’d need the patience of Job to live with this guy. Like me, he has the urge to straighten out kinks in phone cords and neatly arrange anything that seems out of place. Even if that jumbled mess belongs to someone he’s just met. Sounds like a nice guy to me.
Can you tell I’ve been watching a lot of cable lately? ;)
So, yeah, maybe there’s a bit of truth to organized people being, ah, different. Some of us might be quirky and have little (or big) things that make us a little intolerable. But, that same quirkiness can be put to good use.
Mr. Monk, though he has major phobias (who knew you could be afraid of milk?), also has an uncanny ability to notice minor details, things that most people wouldn’t see. This gift helps him solve cases. His stubbornness and inability to be flexible are otherwise known as persistence, which often pays off in the end.
You might not have this kind of specialness.
Maybe you’re really messy but can think quickly on your feet. Take your fast acting ability and put away 5 things in 5 minutes.
Maybe you have lots of energy in the morning but are completely unproductive at night. Do your most important projects early.
Maybe you really are a loner. That’s ok, use some of that alone time to think through your next project or big dream. Then, invite in all those nosy bodies to help you get it done.
Moral of the Movie, er, Story
So what if people think you’re psychotic and have OCD and are without a friend in the world? There will always be an up- and downside to the many sides of our personalities. Use what you’ve got in the best way you can.
“Number one time waster, you guessed it, email addiction. People use e-mail to procrastinate when they need to do a difficult task.” ~Julie Morgenstern via Twitter
More From Julie Morgenstern
Today’s guest blogger, Austin Weaver, has advice on what to do when you get your pot of gold.
Any lottery jackpot comes with a life-changing amount of money, whether it was from the recent $565 million Mega Millions jackpot or from a jackpot which was only tens of millions of dollars. That money from a winning lottery ticket can materialize into college funds, cars, and vacation getaways.
However, with newly acquired millions come additional financial responsibilities, advisors, investments, and celebratory spending to track. Most lotteries allow winners between 6 months and a year to collect their winnings, so before running to cash in that winning lottery ticket, read this short checklist.
Assemble an all-star financial team
Estate planning is the most important thing any lottery winner can do to protect themselves and their money. Make sure to set up a will and a living trust before even thinking about cashing in a winning lottery ticket. Without these, if a winner dies, most of their millions will be redirected to the government for income tax, estate tax and probate costs.
Any jackpot winner needs to find a top-of-the-line lawyer, CPA, financial advisers and insurance agents that have experience working with large sums of money. Make sure they can be neutral and unbiased with their guidance.
Take a family vacation
No, this does not mean Disney World. Go somewhere peaceful and quiet; spend quality time as a family unit. Suddenly acquiring large sums of money, like a $656 million Mega Millions jackpot, can be overwhelming and confusing for everyone involved.
Any lottery winner has the financial cushion to take some time off work and they should spend it with their loved ones. Have open conversations about maintaining family values, priorities, and humility. Encourage communication and establish an understanding that money should not change people’s values or attitudes.
Make a list of charities to support. Stick to the list.
With millions in the bank, it is only natural for any lottery winner to donate some of their windfall to their favorite charities. However, winners will most likely be inundated with donation requests from countless organizations and projects, making philanthropy incredibly overwhelming and nearly impossible.
Winners should first and foremost compile a list of organizations or causes to which they feel personally connected – a local shelter, environmental group, religious organization or research group. It is impossible to donate to every single charity in the world and winners find they make more of an impact by focusing on a few organizations.
It is also much easier to maintain order over donations and track how the gifts are used when they are concentrated in a few places. Make a list and stick to it.
Diversify the investing portfolio
Any lottery winner should strive to make sound investments that would let them live off their jackpot’s interest instead of the principle. However, smart investing is a balancing act and it is crucial that funds are spread out and invested in a variety of places. Purchase stocks and bonds and establish trusts for children and grandchildren. Winners may also choose to invest some of their millions in new business ventures, fine art, antique cars, or real estate.
So when you check your EuroMillions results (or any other lottery) and find out you have a winning ticket, get excited. But also – no matter what – recognize a risky investment and spread the wealth around to protect yourself and make sure to stay organized!
About the Author
Austin Weaver loves cricket and rugby, and of course organizing things! He is a content and blog writer for theLotter.com, an online lottery website selling tickets throughout the world.
Connect With Austin: Web | Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | YouTube | E-mail
It’s time for a new 5 Minute Organizing Challenge! What can you do in 5 minutes to gain a little order in your life? You can put a few things back in place or gather your important items. Here’s a new set of five things for you to consider adding to your routine this month. Try try them on for size and feel free to suggest a few of your own.
Germs are everywhere. They’re tough. Hard working. The way you want a new employee to be. They just deliver a massive payload that can knock you off your feet. Build these five things into your regular routine so you can get the upper hand.
1. Wipe down your phone, door handles, steering wheel, fridge handles, and other things you touch often.
2. Sometimes, you touch things that don’t belong to you. Like the buttons on an ATM or in an elevator. Be sure that you have a travel bottle of hand sanitizer with you. Put them in all your purses, in your car, on your desk, etc.
3. Something else you touch that’s not yours is another person. Like when you shake their hands. Yep, break out the sanitizer or head to the loo to wash your digits.
4. Keep a garbage container in your car to collect your trash and keep those science experiments from brewing.
5. Have you gotten your flu shot yet?
Welcome to our regular “Transformers” feature (click link and scroll down to see them all). A transformer is a thing that started out as one thing, has been rehabbed, and now functions as another thing. A transformer can also be a thing that is really another thing all at the same time. Check out our latest find… (Yep, I’m still on that mini-sabbatical.)
Actually, this month’s transformer turns into a spoon AND a glass AND a candle holder. How’s that for triple duty?
The Pure-Bottle by Lucirmás is made from a recycled wine bottle that’s cut in two places giving it the ability to be three things all at once. The company, located in Barcelona, Spain, focuses on creating “sustainable glass products which tell a story.” Each piece is original and simple, yet functional, in design.
This 100% recycled bottle also comes in three different colors: brown, beige, and blue. Can you picture the Pure-Bottle on your dining or cafe table? Seems like it might be perfect for the beach or on a picnic. What do you think?
Did you know that wine bottles can be made into many different things? Here’s a look at their Prosecco votive holder called Nino.
Toothpick and votive holders…
Serving trays and salt and pepper shakers…
…and, my personal favorite, coat hooks and note holder. Genius! Click here to see the new mirrored version.
Curious about how they’re made? Check out this video…
Lucirmás Sustainable Glass Design from Lucirmás on Vimeo.
Sources:
Check Out These Other Transformers
“According to the American Psychological Association, stress can result in headache, muscle tension, muscle pain, chest pain, fatigue, upset stomach, insomnia, anxiety, restlessness, lack of motivation, lack of focus, irritability, depression, eating problems, addiction … and social withdrawal. Yow!”
Read More:
6 Easy Ways to Reduce Stress | Inc.com | 4.16.12
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Liz from Simple Italian Cooking is back with a few things you can do to kick kitchen clutter to the curb.
Unless you have had your kitchen recently remodeled, chances are there are a few changes you could make that would create a more efficient and user-friendly environment– without the need to rip out walls or spend thousands of dollars. Here are some practical tips to help you get the most treasured room in the house organized!
Kitchen Storage Ideas
Storage baskets are very popular and they come in every medium from woven grass to canvas to metal wire. Whatever the style of your kitchen, there is a basket that will stylishly contain all those bits and pieces that need a home.
When looking for baskets, consider the purpose and look beyond typical kitchen designed baskets. For example, rolling plastic 3 drawer carts can be used to store bags of onions or potatoes, housing neatly folded hand towels and table clothes or storing plastic lids – all within easy reach. You won’t find these carts in the kitchen department, but most likely in the home improvement or living areas.
Create Space Where There Is No Space
If you have a kitchen with a pantry area and a door, you can easily free up countertop clutter by purchasing pocket holders or racks that hang on the back of the door. This is perfect for housing items such as phones, calendars, notepads, pen/pencils, to-do pads, soup packets, canned goods or even seasonings depending on the style of the holders. If you don’t have a door to use, consider tacking these holders where there is empty wall space.
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Another way to make space where there is no space, is to remove items in your cupboards which aren’t being regularly used. The idea is simple, but when it comes to figuring out what you do and don’t need, it gets a little harder.
Therefore, take the average number of place settings you use on a daily basis, then box up the rest and store them in an area where they are still accessible should you need them in the future.
You may be surprised at how much new space you have once those extra mugs and chipped glassware are removed.
Keep Out Of The Kitchen
If tight on space, look for ways to store items outside of the kitchen. For example, if you keep your tablecloths and other “clothware” in drawers in your kitchen, look for storage units which would fit nicely with your dining room or living room decor.
Use these units to store items such as extra plates, silverware or pots and pans, thus freeing up more space in the kitchen for more frequently used items. These units can be decorative and not intrusive, blending into the existing decor, without giving the slightest indication for its actual purpose.
Keeping yourself organized is one thing, but making your kitchen organized is another. By having an organized kitchen you will find not only does cooking and meal preparation become easier, but it also becomes more enjoyable too.
About the Author
Liz Trementozzi Krause, who grew up in an Italian home, has an Italian website where she enjoys writing about Italian recipes, or reviews about Italian cookware such as the best gelato machine for home use. She loves sharing tips with her readers and subscribers and hopes she encourages others to enjoy spending more time in the kitchen!
Connect With Liz: Twitter | Web
Raise your hand if you have lots to do and suffer from “not-enough-time-in-the-day” syndrome. Even if you just have one finger in the air, you should take a peek at the WADE formula.
WADE has four simple steps and makes sense. I can’t take credit for this strategy, though. It comes courtesy of Julie Morgenstern, author of Time Management from the Inside Out.
Here it is in a nutshell:
Write it Down - This step is very straight forward. Simply put – get it all out of your head! Put all your to do’s on paper or in your smart phone.
Add it up - How long will it take you to finish all the tasks on your list?
Decide - This is often the step that can trip you up. You have to figure out which things you will actually work on. Julie says that if you’re feeling overwhelmed, you can use one of the four D’s: (1) Delete, (2) Delay, (3) Delegate, or (4) Diminish your to do’s into smaller, more manageable tasks.
Execute Your Plan - Get to work! Cut out all distractions and kick procrastination to the curb so you can get stuff done.
If you have Julie’s book and want more details, flip to page 62. Already using WADE? Leave a comment with how it’s working for you.
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