I attended my first Tiny Talk session with my 6 month old daughter today and met some great people. Basically the class teaches us sign language through music to bridge the gap in communication until they can talk.
What I notived was that the communication tools were very simple and easy to pick up. The simpleness of it reminded me about a great post written by Karen Skidmore.
Would love to hear people comment about their communication successes and failures.
Until next time,
Emma Walker
CKPA Office Solutions
Showing posts with label Business Operations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Business Operations. Show all posts
08 June 2007
07 June 2007
My favourite productivity tip
I have been tagged by my VA colleague Crystal Pina - thanks Crystal. The topic for this tag is our favorite productivity tips, which was started by Ben Yoskovitz at the Instigator Blog.
My best productivity tip.....using Outlook for everything. Heres how I use it:
Calendar - all appointments are included on my calendar including personal, family and business.
Tasks - I include all tasks relating to my business and my clients and also have recurring tasks for certain items (writing newsletter copy, client invoices, specific deadlines etc).
Contacts - all my personal and business contacts are in one place and I make use of the category facility so that I can search for people easier.
Bonus Tip
Take time to focus on YOUR business. I take part in monthly vision calls where for 5 hours, I concentrate on doing some tasks for my business that I haven't been able to do that doesn't include client work (marketing, writing etc).
Who shall I tag?
From the US, my VA colleagues Laurie Dart, Patty Dost and Karen McGreevey. From the UK, Jaqueline Rogers and Karen Skidmore - can't wait to see your posts!
Here are the rules from the Instigator Blog:
1. Write a post on your best productivity tips
2. Include links to other people that have written posts, or include their tips in your post with proper attribution
3. If you use Technorati Tags, then tag your post “ultimate guide to productivity”
4. Tag others in your post to spread the meme. Tag as many people as you like!
5. If you link back to Instigator Blog and email Ben, he’ll be sure to include at least 2 links back to you.
Happy tagging!
Emma Walker
CKPA Office Solutions
My best productivity tip.....using Outlook for everything. Heres how I use it:
Calendar - all appointments are included on my calendar including personal, family and business.
Tasks - I include all tasks relating to my business and my clients and also have recurring tasks for certain items (writing newsletter copy, client invoices, specific deadlines etc).
Contacts - all my personal and business contacts are in one place and I make use of the category facility so that I can search for people easier.
Bonus Tip
Take time to focus on YOUR business. I take part in monthly vision calls where for 5 hours, I concentrate on doing some tasks for my business that I haven't been able to do that doesn't include client work (marketing, writing etc).
Who shall I tag?
From the US, my VA colleagues Laurie Dart, Patty Dost and Karen McGreevey. From the UK, Jaqueline Rogers and Karen Skidmore - can't wait to see your posts!
Here are the rules from the Instigator Blog:
1. Write a post on your best productivity tips
2. Include links to other people that have written posts, or include their tips in your post with proper attribution
3. If you use Technorati Tags, then tag your post “ultimate guide to productivity”
4. Tag others in your post to spread the meme. Tag as many people as you like!
5. If you link back to Instigator Blog and email Ben, he’ll be sure to include at least 2 links back to you.
Happy tagging!
Emma Walker
CKPA Office Solutions
03 May 2007
How to make working from home enjoyable and productive
By Robert Warlow - Small Business Success
For many people the ultimate dream is to escape from the rat race and work from home. To some people who have achieved this dream it has turned into the ultimate nightmare!
With the everyday stresses of life, work and commuting, working from home can appear to be the way out, but it is not as easy and idyllic as it sounds. If you are seriously thinking about setting up in business on your own and working from home, what are the pitfalls and what can you do to avoid them?
Understanding your motivation
It can be too tempting to stay in bed for ‘a little longer’ when you are working at home. The need to get up and beat the early morning traffic or to be at your desk by 8.30am is missing when you only have a short walk to your new place of work.
If you are to be effective in your new work environment you have to find a motivator which is sufficiently strong enough to get you up and about and at your desk by your appointed time. To find out what your motivator is cast your mind back to why you wanted to work from home in the first place. Was it to spend more time with the family? Was it to give you freedom to pursue other interests?
If you don’t find these strong enough to get you out of bed, find a financial reason. Visualise you and your family being thrown out of your house because you couldn’t make the mortgage payment! Keep this image in mind and the next time you find yourself staring at the bedroom ceiling raise this image and you’ll quickly find yourself at your desk!
Establish a routine
We are all creatures of habit and a set routine can help keep us motivated and focused on the job in hand. Set yourself a starting time, a tea break and lunch break etc. A set routine can help you settle into your new role much more quickly than a ‘let’s see what happens today’ approach. Without a working schedule, which includes a finite finishing time to the day, your working day will be unfocused and could stretch late into the night, ending what ever social life you may have.
You’re all alone
Working from home can be a lonely existence. As human beings we are born to seek out contact with other humans. In an office environment there is daily contact, quick 10 minute chats at the coffee machine finding out what colleagues did the night before, and someone to celebrate a big sale with. All of this is essential to making our lives feel complete and yet this is missing from a home based business.
To overcome this feeling of isolation, which will be especially pronounced during your early months, you must establish a network of people who are in the same position as you. Agree that you will talk on the phone at least twice a week, and arrange to have lunch or a quick coffee once every couple of weeks. Your family may not be the right people to talk over a business problem with, so you have to find someone who can relate to your successes and problems.
Get out of the house
Staying in the house Monday to Friday without seeing the light of day is certainly not good for your health or state of mind. You may be so focused on your work that you convince yourself you cannot afford the time to leave the house. But this is a false economy. You have to schedule time to move out and experience a different environment.
As well as meeting your fellow home workers for a regular get together, join a health club, go for a swim once or twice a week, go to the cinema, check out your local Business Link to see what seminars they are running – anything to get you out of the house! Don’t get trapped into only working, eating and sleeping in your home.
Be mobile
These days you can do most work related tasks away from your home desk. Once your business is established invest in a laptop, PDA and a good mobile phone. Armed with these devices you can take your office with you and work from your garden, the local park, or even the library. It doesn’t matter where, just as long as you are out of the house and being around the rest of the human race.
Create an office
If you have been used to working in a formal office environment all your working life, then switching to the kitchen table or the spare room can be an unwelcome distraction. To give you that discipline and focus designate a part of the house as your office. If you have a spare room or study then even better. Buy a desk and office chair, filing cabinets and other office style stationery. Remove all family and home related items so this tells your mind that you are at work and not home.
Get organised
In any office you have too many colleagues and clients visiting you to allow your work area to get cluttered. At home it’s different. Unless you are expecting clients on a regular basis then it’s too easy to allow your paperwork and filing to get out of hand. The saying that a cluttered desk leads to a cluttered mind is true. Your efficiency and productivity will suffer unless you are organised. Buy filing cabinets, box files, waste paper bin, put up shelves, so that everything is in place.
Getting organised and being efficient also includes setting the ground rules with the family. They need to understand that you are at work and not at their beck and call for every little job that needs doing. Be firm and say no unless it is very urgent and requires immediate attention. Allow nothing to get in the way of your business.
Working from home can be a liberating experience, yet at the same time it can be dangerous unless properly handled. Before embarking on your home business, take time to plan and prepare how you are going to deal with the transition. Done correctly, working from home can be a very attractive alternative to the daily grind of the office.
© Robert Warlow - Small Business Success
http://www.smallbusinesssuccess.biz
Small Business Success is a resource dedicated to helping small business owners be more successful. If you are looking for a regular flow of ideas and tips then subscribe to the Small Business Success, a free newsletter, which provides you with quick tips, ideas and articles.
For more information visit http://www.smallbusinesssuccess.biz
Here at CKPA, we work with home based businesses so know the challenges you face and can help free up some extra time for you to focus on other tasks. Contact us now to discuss how partnering with a Virtual Assistant could be the answer for your business.
Until next time,
Emma Walker
CKPA Office Solutions
For many people the ultimate dream is to escape from the rat race and work from home. To some people who have achieved this dream it has turned into the ultimate nightmare!
With the everyday stresses of life, work and commuting, working from home can appear to be the way out, but it is not as easy and idyllic as it sounds. If you are seriously thinking about setting up in business on your own and working from home, what are the pitfalls and what can you do to avoid them?
Understanding your motivation
It can be too tempting to stay in bed for ‘a little longer’ when you are working at home. The need to get up and beat the early morning traffic or to be at your desk by 8.30am is missing when you only have a short walk to your new place of work.
If you are to be effective in your new work environment you have to find a motivator which is sufficiently strong enough to get you up and about and at your desk by your appointed time. To find out what your motivator is cast your mind back to why you wanted to work from home in the first place. Was it to spend more time with the family? Was it to give you freedom to pursue other interests?
If you don’t find these strong enough to get you out of bed, find a financial reason. Visualise you and your family being thrown out of your house because you couldn’t make the mortgage payment! Keep this image in mind and the next time you find yourself staring at the bedroom ceiling raise this image and you’ll quickly find yourself at your desk!
Establish a routine
We are all creatures of habit and a set routine can help keep us motivated and focused on the job in hand. Set yourself a starting time, a tea break and lunch break etc. A set routine can help you settle into your new role much more quickly than a ‘let’s see what happens today’ approach. Without a working schedule, which includes a finite finishing time to the day, your working day will be unfocused and could stretch late into the night, ending what ever social life you may have.
You’re all alone
Working from home can be a lonely existence. As human beings we are born to seek out contact with other humans. In an office environment there is daily contact, quick 10 minute chats at the coffee machine finding out what colleagues did the night before, and someone to celebrate a big sale with. All of this is essential to making our lives feel complete and yet this is missing from a home based business.
To overcome this feeling of isolation, which will be especially pronounced during your early months, you must establish a network of people who are in the same position as you. Agree that you will talk on the phone at least twice a week, and arrange to have lunch or a quick coffee once every couple of weeks. Your family may not be the right people to talk over a business problem with, so you have to find someone who can relate to your successes and problems.
Get out of the house
Staying in the house Monday to Friday without seeing the light of day is certainly not good for your health or state of mind. You may be so focused on your work that you convince yourself you cannot afford the time to leave the house. But this is a false economy. You have to schedule time to move out and experience a different environment.
As well as meeting your fellow home workers for a regular get together, join a health club, go for a swim once or twice a week, go to the cinema, check out your local Business Link to see what seminars they are running – anything to get you out of the house! Don’t get trapped into only working, eating and sleeping in your home.
Be mobile
These days you can do most work related tasks away from your home desk. Once your business is established invest in a laptop, PDA and a good mobile phone. Armed with these devices you can take your office with you and work from your garden, the local park, or even the library. It doesn’t matter where, just as long as you are out of the house and being around the rest of the human race.
Create an office
If you have been used to working in a formal office environment all your working life, then switching to the kitchen table or the spare room can be an unwelcome distraction. To give you that discipline and focus designate a part of the house as your office. If you have a spare room or study then even better. Buy a desk and office chair, filing cabinets and other office style stationery. Remove all family and home related items so this tells your mind that you are at work and not home.
Get organised
In any office you have too many colleagues and clients visiting you to allow your work area to get cluttered. At home it’s different. Unless you are expecting clients on a regular basis then it’s too easy to allow your paperwork and filing to get out of hand. The saying that a cluttered desk leads to a cluttered mind is true. Your efficiency and productivity will suffer unless you are organised. Buy filing cabinets, box files, waste paper bin, put up shelves, so that everything is in place.
Getting organised and being efficient also includes setting the ground rules with the family. They need to understand that you are at work and not at their beck and call for every little job that needs doing. Be firm and say no unless it is very urgent and requires immediate attention. Allow nothing to get in the way of your business.
Working from home can be a liberating experience, yet at the same time it can be dangerous unless properly handled. Before embarking on your home business, take time to plan and prepare how you are going to deal with the transition. Done correctly, working from home can be a very attractive alternative to the daily grind of the office.
© Robert Warlow - Small Business Success
http://www.smallbusinesssuccess.biz
Small Business Success is a resource dedicated to helping small business owners be more successful. If you are looking for a regular flow of ideas and tips then subscribe to the Small Business Success, a free newsletter, which provides you with quick tips, ideas and articles.
For more information visit http://www.smallbusinesssuccess.biz
Here at CKPA, we work with home based businesses so know the challenges you face and can help free up some extra time for you to focus on other tasks. Contact us now to discuss how partnering with a Virtual Assistant could be the answer for your business.
Until next time,
Emma Walker
CKPA Office Solutions
01 March 2007
Microsoft Vista
Well I am really excited as last night, I purchased Microsoft Vista and Office 2007 Ultimate software and now can't wait for it to be delivered so that I can install it.
I decided to bite the bullet and get it now as I want to benefit immediately from the new features which should save me time running my business.
As a Virtual Assistant, I am especially looking forward to working with:
- Groove - as an online collaboration tool with my clients
- Outlook - utilising the added functionality to help me manage both mine and my clients time more efficiently
I will do a review of Vista and the different Office 2007 software at a later date.
Until next time,
Emma Walker
CKPA Office Solutions
18 January 2007
Companies to update websites and emails before 2007
You can locate the original news item here.
An article published on The Register (21st December 2006) outlined regulatory changes that will effect UK business email. From 1st January 2007, companies in the UK will be required to include certain regulatory information on all business email.
This update to the Companies Act requires you to clearly present the following information on your business emails:
Until next time,
Emma Walker
CKPA Office Solutions
An article published on The Register (21st December 2006) outlined regulatory changes that will effect UK business email. From 1st January 2007, companies in the UK will be required to include certain regulatory information on all business email.
This update to the Companies Act requires you to clearly present the following information on your business emails:
- Company Registration Number
- Place of registration (e.g. England & Wales)
- Registered office address
The article, which was written by Outlaw.com outlined how businesses failing to include this information will be in breach of the Companies Act and this can result in a fine. The article also mentions the UK Ecommerce Regulation requirement to include the same information on websites.
I have already updated my email signature to include the necessary information and am making changes to my website shortly. Is your information up to date? If not, make the changes now so that you don't incur a fine!Until next time,
Emma Walker
CKPA Office Solutions
15 January 2007
New Year means new opportunities
A lot of people think about the same type of things at this time of year - New Years resolutions.
So are you taking the opportunity to plan for the year ahead and use it as a means to focus on how to get there?
For me, it is no use just thinking about what I want to achieve and how to get there, I have to have it written down in the necessary stages. For example, I am currently revamping my PR and marketing plan for 2007 and I am producing a calendar so that I know exactly what activities are needed and when - I can then schedule my time appropriately and plan in advance for any specific tasks or expenditure.
Do you need help with any planning for the year ahead to take up the many new opportunities? Contact us now to see how a Virtual Assistant and CKPA can help.
Until next time,
Emma Walker
CKPA Office Solutions
So are you taking the opportunity to plan for the year ahead and use it as a means to focus on how to get there?
For me, it is no use just thinking about what I want to achieve and how to get there, I have to have it written down in the necessary stages. For example, I am currently revamping my PR and marketing plan for 2007 and I am producing a calendar so that I know exactly what activities are needed and when - I can then schedule my time appropriately and plan in advance for any specific tasks or expenditure.
Do you need help with any planning for the year ahead to take up the many new opportunities? Contact us now to see how a Virtual Assistant and CKPA can help.
Until next time,
Emma Walker
CKPA Office Solutions
25 November 2006
Do you know who is on your contacts database?
Your contacts database is one of the most valuable assets any business has regardless of what product or service you provide.
Why is your database so valuable?
Simple really, it is the means to communicate with your customers and associates about your products / services enabling your business to operate.
Emma Walker
CKPA Office Solutions
Why is your database so valuable?
Simple really, it is the means to communicate with your customers and associates about your products / services enabling your business to operate.
However, you need to ensure that your data is accurate and here are some ideas for you:
- Schedule time on a regular basis to update your database
- Don't throw away someone's business card thinking they won't be of any benefit to you, you can't see into the future and they could be the perfect referral source
- Categorise your contacts for easy filtering (clients, associates, suppliers etc)
- Include as much information as possible as you can only remember so much
- But most importantly, use your database (send out newsletters, emails, letters)
If you don't have time to maintain your database, then I suggest you either find the time or delegate the task.
To see how CKPA and a Virtual Assistant could help your business by maintaining your database and much more, contact us now.
Emma Walker
CKPA Office Solutions
19 October 2006
10 ways to reduce the stress of Christmas
Christmas is fast approaching and can be one of the most stressful times for any business. The secret to less stress during this holiday period is to be organised. Below you will find a list of things that all business owners need to consider to really enjoy the holiday.
- What will your opening times be over the Christmas and New Year period?
- Do you need to advertise your opening times anywhere (website, leaflets etc)?
- Customised Christmas cards or purchase from shop?
- Any gifts for valued clients / suppliers?
- Do you need to purchase any stationery for 2007 (diaries, calendars etc)?
- Any corporate branding promotional items (diaries, calendars etc)?
- Is your Christmas lunch / party organised?
- Is your contacts database up to date (to ensure all your cards go to right people / address)
- Have you got any work deadlines approaching during the run up to Christmas?
- Review work to complete for 2007 (Business Plan, Marketing Plan, recruitment)
Once you have answered these questions, you can proceed with drawing up an action plan to ensure that the necessary tasks are completed and on time.
CKPA and a Virtual Assistant can handle all of the above tasks for you and more - leaving you to concentrate on what you do best and enjoy the holiday season. Contact us now to book a FREE Information Session to discuss your requirements.
Emma Walker
CKPA Office Solutions
13 October 2006
How to build a customer focused business
By Robert Warlow - Small Business Success
You can have the best products, the plushest offices, the best location, but unless you are a ‘customer focused’ business, all of this counts for nothing, you will never really hit the heights you deserve.
So what can you do to build a business which focuses outwardly on the customer, and not inwardly on the business?
Build passion and commitment
The first building block is passion and commitment. This is the very foundation stone of a customer focused business. Without passion and commitment the structure you will build above will be weak and prone to collapse at the first sign of stress.
The passion and commitment has to come from you and your staff. All of you have to totally believe in the concept of the customer being the centre of everything you do. From the moment you step into work everyone has to do whatever it takes to satisfy the customer.
As the key person in the business what can you do to build passion and commitment? Lead from the front and set an example. Keep the concept at the top of the agenda and demonstrate it in everything you do. Keep talking about it. Celebrate all the great examples of putting the customer totally in focus.
Build processes around your customer NOT the business
All great businesses have clearly laid down processes on how to get things done. Whether you have a formal Process Manual or a Quick Reference Guide which sets out your processes, a clear procedure provides confidence and clarity for both your staff and the customer.
But don’t just build your processes around making things easier for you, build them to make things easier for the customer. Look at every step in the process and ask yourself, “Can we do something to make it even easier for the customer to do business with us?” Are there steps which can be refined or even eliminated all together? Be inquisitive, bold and challenging!
Build a relationship
Building a relationship with your customer is at the very heart of a customer focused model. Build a strong, firm relationship and you will have a customer for life. The basis of relationship building is ABC – Always Be Communicating. Here are some ideas on building an enduring and profitable relationship through ABC:
Make a point to periodically call your customers - set up a diary system to provide you with a regular reminder or prompt. Call them even if you have nothing to sell! A strange concept perhaps but you never know what will come out of the conversation
Issue quarterly newsletters - telling them about your latest products, what you have planned for the future, a customer profile, news about new employees. Find anything which would be of interest and at the same time binding both of you closer together
Make it a point during any conversation to find out something about the business you didn’t know before - file away any interesting facts and think how you can use it in the future. Imagine how powerful it would be when you ask how the idea they mentioned in your last conversation was going!
Do memorable things - send birthday or anniversary cards to your key contact, a simple thank you note for doing business with us, send articles or newspaper cuttings, which you think will be of interest to them
Build a culture of ‘wanting to know’
If you are to build a reputation for being customer focused you should be making an effort to find out on a regular basis what they want from you. This can be achieved by either an informal phone call or a more formal survey via mail or email. Find out what they like about your business, what they don’t like and what changes they would like to see.
Having gathered together all the information, suggestions and ideas, set out an action plan to follow up. Once you have acted upon the workable suggestions, get in touch with the customers again and tell them what you have done in response to their comments. This will demonstrate that you have taken their ideas seriously and really care about what they think. Powerful stuff!
Being customer focused can be very rewarding and help in building a great business. Which of these steps are you going to put into practice today? Remember this – let the customer be your focus and you will become their focus.
© Robert Warlow - Small Business Success http://www.smallbusinesssuccess.biz/
Small Business Success is a resource dedicated to helping small business owners be more successful. If you are looking for a regular flow of ideas and tips then subscribe to the Small Business Success, a free newsletter, which provides you with quick tips, ideas and articles.
For more information visit http://www.smallbusinesssuccess.biz/
CKPA can help you and your business become customer focused by sending out newsletters, diary management, client liaison, production of manuals and much, much more. Contact us to see how we can help.
Until next time,
Emma Walker
CKPA Office Solutions
You can have the best products, the plushest offices, the best location, but unless you are a ‘customer focused’ business, all of this counts for nothing, you will never really hit the heights you deserve.
So what can you do to build a business which focuses outwardly on the customer, and not inwardly on the business?
Build passion and commitment
The first building block is passion and commitment. This is the very foundation stone of a customer focused business. Without passion and commitment the structure you will build above will be weak and prone to collapse at the first sign of stress.
The passion and commitment has to come from you and your staff. All of you have to totally believe in the concept of the customer being the centre of everything you do. From the moment you step into work everyone has to do whatever it takes to satisfy the customer.
As the key person in the business what can you do to build passion and commitment? Lead from the front and set an example. Keep the concept at the top of the agenda and demonstrate it in everything you do. Keep talking about it. Celebrate all the great examples of putting the customer totally in focus.
Build processes around your customer NOT the business
All great businesses have clearly laid down processes on how to get things done. Whether you have a formal Process Manual or a Quick Reference Guide which sets out your processes, a clear procedure provides confidence and clarity for both your staff and the customer.
But don’t just build your processes around making things easier for you, build them to make things easier for the customer. Look at every step in the process and ask yourself, “Can we do something to make it even easier for the customer to do business with us?” Are there steps which can be refined or even eliminated all together? Be inquisitive, bold and challenging!
Build a relationship
Building a relationship with your customer is at the very heart of a customer focused model. Build a strong, firm relationship and you will have a customer for life. The basis of relationship building is ABC – Always Be Communicating. Here are some ideas on building an enduring and profitable relationship through ABC:
Make a point to periodically call your customers - set up a diary system to provide you with a regular reminder or prompt. Call them even if you have nothing to sell! A strange concept perhaps but you never know what will come out of the conversation
Issue quarterly newsletters - telling them about your latest products, what you have planned for the future, a customer profile, news about new employees. Find anything which would be of interest and at the same time binding both of you closer together
Make it a point during any conversation to find out something about the business you didn’t know before - file away any interesting facts and think how you can use it in the future. Imagine how powerful it would be when you ask how the idea they mentioned in your last conversation was going!
Do memorable things - send birthday or anniversary cards to your key contact, a simple thank you note for doing business with us, send articles or newspaper cuttings, which you think will be of interest to them
Build a culture of ‘wanting to know’
If you are to build a reputation for being customer focused you should be making an effort to find out on a regular basis what they want from you. This can be achieved by either an informal phone call or a more formal survey via mail or email. Find out what they like about your business, what they don’t like and what changes they would like to see.
Having gathered together all the information, suggestions and ideas, set out an action plan to follow up. Once you have acted upon the workable suggestions, get in touch with the customers again and tell them what you have done in response to their comments. This will demonstrate that you have taken their ideas seriously and really care about what they think. Powerful stuff!
Being customer focused can be very rewarding and help in building a great business. Which of these steps are you going to put into practice today? Remember this – let the customer be your focus and you will become their focus.
© Robert Warlow - Small Business Success http://www.smallbusinesssuccess.biz/
Small Business Success is a resource dedicated to helping small business owners be more successful. If you are looking for a regular flow of ideas and tips then subscribe to the Small Business Success, a free newsletter, which provides you with quick tips, ideas and articles.
For more information visit http://www.smallbusinesssuccess.biz/
CKPA can help you and your business become customer focused by sending out newsletters, diary management, client liaison, production of manuals and much, much more. Contact us to see how we can help.
Until next time,
Emma Walker
CKPA Office Solutions
21 September 2006
Email frustrations
I'm afraid today's post is about a pet peeve of mine but also a very important business tool, so bear with me.
We are in the 21st Century and technology is a daily part of our personal and business lives - whether we like it or not. Nearly all businesses use email as one of their communication tools with their customers, associates and suppliers and advertise this fact on marketing material, websites, business cards etc.
I belong to a networking group and am a member of the Leadership Team. I regularly send out communications to our members via email so that everyone receives the information. What frustrates me though is that a good number of these members don't even look at their emails - even though they advertise a personalised email address on their business cards!
The other annoyance I have is when I specifically ask for information, normally to the benefit of everyone and THEIR business, and I get a big fat zero response.
Well if they can't be bothered to check or respond to my emails, why should I refer business to them? After all, I am one of their potential customers and if they treat me this way, how are they going to treat a paying customer!
I was having a talk with another member of this group who has the same frustrations as me and he said that our members are supposed to be mature business people who are serious about their business. I question whether they are serious business owners as their behaviour and actions speak differently - why should I have confidence and trust in them to be the specialists they are supposed to be?
Please remember that customers can include people who don't actually spend money with you, but they know and refer your future customers!
What is your communication like with all your customers and suppliers? Now might be the perfect opportunity to review your processes and train your staff. To see how CKPA and a Virtual Assistant can help improve communications within your business, contact us now.
Until next time,
Emma Walker
CKPA Office Solutions
We are in the 21st Century and technology is a daily part of our personal and business lives - whether we like it or not. Nearly all businesses use email as one of their communication tools with their customers, associates and suppliers and advertise this fact on marketing material, websites, business cards etc.
I belong to a networking group and am a member of the Leadership Team. I regularly send out communications to our members via email so that everyone receives the information. What frustrates me though is that a good number of these members don't even look at their emails - even though they advertise a personalised email address on their business cards!
The other annoyance I have is when I specifically ask for information, normally to the benefit of everyone and THEIR business, and I get a big fat zero response.
Well if they can't be bothered to check or respond to my emails, why should I refer business to them? After all, I am one of their potential customers and if they treat me this way, how are they going to treat a paying customer!
I was having a talk with another member of this group who has the same frustrations as me and he said that our members are supposed to be mature business people who are serious about their business. I question whether they are serious business owners as their behaviour and actions speak differently - why should I have confidence and trust in them to be the specialists they are supposed to be?
Please remember that customers can include people who don't actually spend money with you, but they know and refer your future customers!
What is your communication like with all your customers and suppliers? Now might be the perfect opportunity to review your processes and train your staff. To see how CKPA and a Virtual Assistant can help improve communications within your business, contact us now.
Until next time,
Emma Walker
CKPA Office Solutions
04 September 2006
Small business challenges
I run my own successful Virtual Assistant practice providing professional secretarial, creative and administrative support to individuals and businesses.
As a small business owner myself, I can totally understand the challenges that we all have to face. For example, what do business owners do with their administrative tasks when they are busy, overloaded with work, on holiday etc?
By hiring the services of a Virtual Assistant, they could free up their valuable time to focus on other tasks for their business, achieve better work / life balance, go on a much needed holiday - all in the safe knowledge that your business is taken care of by a professional partner.
To find out exactly how a CKPA Virtual Assistant can help you MAKE more money and SAVE money, contact us now.
Until next time,
Emma Walker
CKPA Office Solutions
As a small business owner myself, I can totally understand the challenges that we all have to face. For example, what do business owners do with their administrative tasks when they are busy, overloaded with work, on holiday etc?
By hiring the services of a Virtual Assistant, they could free up their valuable time to focus on other tasks for their business, achieve better work / life balance, go on a much needed holiday - all in the safe knowledge that your business is taken care of by a professional partner.
To find out exactly how a CKPA Virtual Assistant can help you MAKE more money and SAVE money, contact us now.
Until next time,
Emma Walker
CKPA Office Solutions
03 August 2006
How to get your first customer
One of CKPA's target markets is start up businesses and I think the most popular question they have, regardless of industry, is how to get their first customer. I saw this article and thought it might be beneficial.
By Robert Warlow - Small Business Success
Starting a new business is always tough. You have spent hours and hours putting your Business Plan together, sorting out the financing, arranging your office and buying equipment. And the big day arrives - you have to get out there and secure your first customer. It all looked so easy when you were planning, but now this is real and doesn’t seem as effortless as you thought.
What practical steps can you take to ensure your business gets off to a flying start?
Put a plan in place
If you didn’t write a Business Plan (tut tut!) then putting pen to paper is your first step. You have to carefully plan what you want to achieve and what you are trying to do. A Plan will help crystalise your thoughts and ideas and act as a spring board for creative thought.
It will also be a useful boost when you come to review your progress against what you set out to achieve – a cause for celebration or a kick up the backside!
The key element in your Plan is to spell out exactly who your typical customer is going to be. Are they young or old? Well off, or on the look out for bargains? Single or married?
Once you have clearly defined who you are after then chasing your first sale becomes easier.
Email all your contacts
You may not think that personal friends and family may be interested in your product or service, but don’t forget that they have friends and family as well and so can help spread the word!
Email every one in your address book and tell them, if they don’t already know, that you are starting up in business and need their help. In your email describe what you do and the products you offer and request that they forward it to everyone in their address book. A bit ‘spammy’ I know but when such a note comes from someone you know then it doesn’t seem so bad.
For those family and friends who don’t have email, call them, write to them, to officially launch your business. Very quickly word will spread and enquiries and orders will start to flood in.
Ask for a referral
It’s possible you may have ‘road-tested’ your business before you decided to go full time. In that case you will already have a small database of customers. Ask them if they can provide you with some names of people or businesses whom they think may be interested in what you have on offer.
A referral, or positive recommendation, is a powerful and easy way to give your business a kick start. If you want, why not offer a small gift, or a discount on the next sale, for all customers who refer someone to you? This gesture will further cement your relationship.
Tell everyone you meet
Be a walking advertising board for your business! Find any opportunity to tell people, especially strangers, what you do. Be enthusiastic! Have a rehearsed opening which encapsulates everything about the benefits and problems your business offers and solves.
Take your business cards wherever you go and leave them all over the place! Supermarkets, restaurants, shops, anywhere where people will find them.
Be a media star
The local newspaper or radio stations are always on the look out for stories which are of interest to the locality. Don’t expect them to run a story along the lines of ‘And today, Joe Bloggs has just started in business doing …’. Your story needs to be interesting and have an unusual slant. Did you travel the world and come up with your idea whilst riding a train in India? Did you have a flash of inspiration following a shocking experience? Carry out a survey which shows that local people are crying out for a service such as yours. Think of something that will grab the editor’s attention and this will increase your chances of appearing in print.
Build relationships
Don’t be disappointed if you don’t get a sale on the first approach. Sometimes you have to be patient. A way of achieving your batch of first sales is to concentrate on building a relationship with your prospective clients. Keep in touch, remind them you are still around and, assuming you have targeted correctly, they may eventually place that coveted order!
If you are about to start your business get planning right now and start to implement some of these ideas to get your new business off to a flying start.
© Robert Warlow - Small Business Success www.smallbusinesssuccess.biz
Small Business Success is a resource dedicated to helping small business owners be more successful. If you are looking for a regular flow of ideas and tips then subscribe to the Small Business Success, a free newsletter, which provides you with quick tips, ideas and articles.
For more information visit http://www.smallbusinesssuccess.biz
CKPA can help any business start up in the beginning stages of business - contact us now to find out how.
Until next time,
Emma Walker
CKPA Office Solutions
By Robert Warlow - Small Business Success
Starting a new business is always tough. You have spent hours and hours putting your Business Plan together, sorting out the financing, arranging your office and buying equipment. And the big day arrives - you have to get out there and secure your first customer. It all looked so easy when you were planning, but now this is real and doesn’t seem as effortless as you thought.
What practical steps can you take to ensure your business gets off to a flying start?
Put a plan in place
If you didn’t write a Business Plan (tut tut!) then putting pen to paper is your first step. You have to carefully plan what you want to achieve and what you are trying to do. A Plan will help crystalise your thoughts and ideas and act as a spring board for creative thought.
It will also be a useful boost when you come to review your progress against what you set out to achieve – a cause for celebration or a kick up the backside!
The key element in your Plan is to spell out exactly who your typical customer is going to be. Are they young or old? Well off, or on the look out for bargains? Single or married?
Once you have clearly defined who you are after then chasing your first sale becomes easier.
Email all your contacts
You may not think that personal friends and family may be interested in your product or service, but don’t forget that they have friends and family as well and so can help spread the word!
Email every one in your address book and tell them, if they don’t already know, that you are starting up in business and need their help. In your email describe what you do and the products you offer and request that they forward it to everyone in their address book. A bit ‘spammy’ I know but when such a note comes from someone you know then it doesn’t seem so bad.
For those family and friends who don’t have email, call them, write to them, to officially launch your business. Very quickly word will spread and enquiries and orders will start to flood in.
Ask for a referral
It’s possible you may have ‘road-tested’ your business before you decided to go full time. In that case you will already have a small database of customers. Ask them if they can provide you with some names of people or businesses whom they think may be interested in what you have on offer.
A referral, or positive recommendation, is a powerful and easy way to give your business a kick start. If you want, why not offer a small gift, or a discount on the next sale, for all customers who refer someone to you? This gesture will further cement your relationship.
Tell everyone you meet
Be a walking advertising board for your business! Find any opportunity to tell people, especially strangers, what you do. Be enthusiastic! Have a rehearsed opening which encapsulates everything about the benefits and problems your business offers and solves.
Take your business cards wherever you go and leave them all over the place! Supermarkets, restaurants, shops, anywhere where people will find them.
Be a media star
The local newspaper or radio stations are always on the look out for stories which are of interest to the locality. Don’t expect them to run a story along the lines of ‘And today, Joe Bloggs has just started in business doing …’. Your story needs to be interesting and have an unusual slant. Did you travel the world and come up with your idea whilst riding a train in India? Did you have a flash of inspiration following a shocking experience? Carry out a survey which shows that local people are crying out for a service such as yours. Think of something that will grab the editor’s attention and this will increase your chances of appearing in print.
Build relationships
Don’t be disappointed if you don’t get a sale on the first approach. Sometimes you have to be patient. A way of achieving your batch of first sales is to concentrate on building a relationship with your prospective clients. Keep in touch, remind them you are still around and, assuming you have targeted correctly, they may eventually place that coveted order!
If you are about to start your business get planning right now and start to implement some of these ideas to get your new business off to a flying start.
© Robert Warlow - Small Business Success www.smallbusinesssuccess.biz
Small Business Success is a resource dedicated to helping small business owners be more successful. If you are looking for a regular flow of ideas and tips then subscribe to the Small Business Success, a free newsletter, which provides you with quick tips, ideas and articles.
For more information visit http://www.smallbusinesssuccess.biz
CKPA can help any business start up in the beginning stages of business - contact us now to find out how.
Until next time,
Emma Walker
CKPA Office Solutions
28 July 2006
How to get the best out of your phone
By Robert Warlow - Small Business Success
When Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone, little did he realise the positive effect it would have on customer service – or the negative effect it could also have!
Yes, the telephone can be a great tool in helping to provide exceptional customer service but it can also quickly destroy a customer’s perception of your service. What steps can you take to ensure that, whenever you or your staff use the phone, it adds something positive to the customer experience? Here are some ideas.
Answer Promptly
It’s an old tip but one usually ignored! You are sitting at your desk, deep in thought, writing your monthly report and the phone rings. “I’ll just finish this sentence quickly" you say to yourself and before you know it, the phone has rung 10 times. The caller is unlikely to be in a good mood – assuming they haven’t already hung up!
Just try and remember the last time you sat on a phone with it ringing and ringing. What pictures came into your mind while you were waiting? An image of the person you are trying to call sitting at his desk chatting or casually drinking a cup of coffee? Didn’t get you in a good mood did it? So why put your customers through it?
Aim to answer your phone within 3 to 5 rings. A prompt pick up will get the conversation off to a positive start and also avoids you having to open your conversation with an apology. So, get to the phone as quick as you can.
Be Enthusiastic
When you answer the phone make sure your voice conveys the message, “really happy to be speaking to you!” Make your voice light, bring a feeling of enthusiastic emotion to your tone and most importantly sound eager. You don’t want the caller thinking that you would rather be doing something else - even if you do!
Get a real upbeat feeling into your opening greeting. Say your “Good morning” or “Good afternoon” with a strong, enthusiastic tone. This will immediately lift your caller’s spirits and get you both off to a good start.
If you really are having a bad day (and we all get them), and enforced enthusiasm is going to be struggle, stand up and take the call. This helps makes your voice lighter and the change in position and body language can have a positive impact. Try it out.
Listen To What They Have To Say
You may think that you listen intently to all conversations you have. It’s difficult enough to do this when you are face to face with someone, but over the phone without eye contact, keeping your attention is even more difficult. It’s too easy, especially if the caller has a habit of padding out every point he wants to make, to think about the task you were just interrupted on, or about that chat you had with one of your suppliers earlier. Before you know it, you’ve lost track of what the caller is on about.
Actively listening to what is being said is a skill everyone needs if they are to use the phone as a tool for great customer service. But how can you keep your attention focused on what is being said?
Small Business Success is a resource dedicated to helping small business owners be more successful. If you are looking for a regular flow of ideas and tips then subscribe to the Small Business Success, a free newsletter, which provides you with quick tips, ideas and articles.
For more information visit http://www.smallbusinesssuccess.biz
Here at CKPA we recognise that all calls are important and that if you don't answer your call, then your competitor will. That is why we offer our Virtual Receptionist service. Take a look now to see how it could benefit you and your business!
Until next time,
Emma Walker
CKPA Office Solutions
When Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone, little did he realise the positive effect it would have on customer service – or the negative effect it could also have!
Yes, the telephone can be a great tool in helping to provide exceptional customer service but it can also quickly destroy a customer’s perception of your service. What steps can you take to ensure that, whenever you or your staff use the phone, it adds something positive to the customer experience? Here are some ideas.
Answer Promptly
It’s an old tip but one usually ignored! You are sitting at your desk, deep in thought, writing your monthly report and the phone rings. “I’ll just finish this sentence quickly" you say to yourself and before you know it, the phone has rung 10 times. The caller is unlikely to be in a good mood – assuming they haven’t already hung up!
Just try and remember the last time you sat on a phone with it ringing and ringing. What pictures came into your mind while you were waiting? An image of the person you are trying to call sitting at his desk chatting or casually drinking a cup of coffee? Didn’t get you in a good mood did it? So why put your customers through it?
Aim to answer your phone within 3 to 5 rings. A prompt pick up will get the conversation off to a positive start and also avoids you having to open your conversation with an apology. So, get to the phone as quick as you can.
Be Enthusiastic
When you answer the phone make sure your voice conveys the message, “really happy to be speaking to you!” Make your voice light, bring a feeling of enthusiastic emotion to your tone and most importantly sound eager. You don’t want the caller thinking that you would rather be doing something else - even if you do!
Get a real upbeat feeling into your opening greeting. Say your “Good morning” or “Good afternoon” with a strong, enthusiastic tone. This will immediately lift your caller’s spirits and get you both off to a good start.
If you really are having a bad day (and we all get them), and enforced enthusiasm is going to be struggle, stand up and take the call. This helps makes your voice lighter and the change in position and body language can have a positive impact. Try it out.
Listen To What They Have To Say
You may think that you listen intently to all conversations you have. It’s difficult enough to do this when you are face to face with someone, but over the phone without eye contact, keeping your attention is even more difficult. It’s too easy, especially if the caller has a habit of padding out every point he wants to make, to think about the task you were just interrupted on, or about that chat you had with one of your suppliers earlier. Before you know it, you’ve lost track of what the caller is on about.
Actively listening to what is being said is a skill everyone needs if they are to use the phone as a tool for great customer service. But how can you keep your attention focused on what is being said?
- First of all, commit to yourself that you will actively listen. Without a clear commitment nothing ever happens
- Take notes during every call, even if you don’t need to. The act of having to capture the caller’s key points, will force you to listen. Just focus on writing down keywords, not complete sentences otherwise you’ll be concentrating on writing and not listening!
- If an important statement has been made, repeat it back in your own words. This will force you to listen for the key points worth repeating
- Ask questions. Don’t go too far with a constant barrage of questions but ask just enough to keep your mind alert
Active listening is not just about making sure you pick up all the key points; it’s also about respecting the caller. They will feel they have been treated with importance and respect if it’s clear you have been listening. Relevant questions and the occasional “umm” can go a long way to making the caller feel they have been listened to.
Avoid Distractions
If possible, try and remove as many distractions as you can while speaking on the phone, especially if the call is important. If your office door is open and general office noise is affecting your listening, ask the caller to hold for a moment and close the door.
If someone walks into your office while you are taking an important call, indicate for them to stay outside or come back. It can be very distracting having someone sitting at your desk while you are talking.
If you were working on your PC when the call came through, turn and face away from it. You don’t want your eyes and mind wandering back to look at the document you were working on!
Respect the caller’s time and remove or avoid anything which may cause your mind to drift off.
Finish Strongly
When the call is coming to an end it’s important to finish in a strong, convincing way. Summarise what has been agreed, what actions are to be taken and by whom. Leave the caller in no doubt as to what the next step is.
Just as your opening was full of enthusiasm, so should your closing statement. A good, strong and positive, “good to talk you and speak to you soon” closer will bring the call to a satisfactory end. Your customer will hang up knowing that the call was worthwhile.
Answer Phone and Voicemail Messages
If you are not at your desk or in the office, any recorded message you leave is just as important in creating the right impression as the actual call itself. Some people don’t like leaving messages but if your phone has the capability then use it. By leaving a message at least your customer will have the opportunity to partly satisfy the reason he called. Not being able to say anything can be frustrating.
Here are some thoughts on how to record effective messages:
- Write out the message before you record it. Don’t do it off the cuff as it will probably be full of “umms” and pauses. It won’t sound professional
- When recording, speak slowly and carefully, making sure that the caller can understand everything you say. This is especially the case for telephone numbers where you can be reached in an emergency
- Make the message punchy and too the point. Don’t fill it with unnecessary information
- Call your number and listen to the message. If it doesn’t sound right record it again and again until it does
- Regularly change your message to reflect what you are doing. If you are going to be away on holiday, give a date when you will be back. If you are out only for the morning, tell the caller you will return their call in the afternoon. Messages which are up to date will make the caller more confident about leaving a message
If used correctly the telephone can be a great asset in building a reputation for providing exceptional customer service. Used incorrectly, it can damage your business and give another reason for your customers to go and take their business elsewhere.
© Robert Warlow - Small Business Successwww.smallbusinesssuccess.bizSmall Business Success is a resource dedicated to helping small business owners be more successful. If you are looking for a regular flow of ideas and tips then subscribe to the Small Business Success, a free newsletter, which provides you with quick tips, ideas and articles.
For more information visit http://www.smallbusinesssuccess.biz
Here at CKPA we recognise that all calls are important and that if you don't answer your call, then your competitor will. That is why we offer our Virtual Receptionist service. Take a look now to see how it could benefit you and your business!
Until next time,
Emma Walker
CKPA Office Solutions
13 July 2006
10 common mistakes start up businesses make
By Robert Warlow - Small Business Success
Unfortunately very few start up businesses make it beyond their 3rd year. Failure is usually down to a number of clearly identifiable mistakes, which if small business owners are aware of, can increase their chances of survival.
Here are the top 10 common mistakes which small businesses tend to make.
Lack of Market Research
When a budding entrepreneur comes up with an idea for a new business he assumes that because he would buy such a product or service then everyone else will. This may be the case for day to day necessities but for other items this is usually not so.
It’s important that when you start up you carefully research the market to check that:
Until next time,
Emma Walker
CKPA Office Solutions
Unfortunately very few start up businesses make it beyond their 3rd year. Failure is usually down to a number of clearly identifiable mistakes, which if small business owners are aware of, can increase their chances of survival.
Here are the top 10 common mistakes which small businesses tend to make.
Lack of Market Research
When a budding entrepreneur comes up with an idea for a new business he assumes that because he would buy such a product or service then everyone else will. This may be the case for day to day necessities but for other items this is usually not so.
It’s important that when you start up you carefully research the market to check that:
- There is demand at a level which would lead to a sustainable business
- People are prepared to pay the price required for you to make a decent profit
Undertaking market research may appear time consuming but the effort will pay off.
Poor Record Keeping
Some business people are not born administrators; they feel more comfortable getting out there and ‘doing the business’. Paperwork is too easy to ignore but can never be put off indefinitely.
Sales, purchases and other expenditure must be carefully documented, so you know whether you are making a profit or not. Invoices must be issued on time and chased up promptly if there is a delay in payment. It’s all very well having the sales but poor record keeping can hold you back.
Having your paperwork in order will also save you time when it comes to your accountant doing your year end books!
Insufficient Capital
When starting off it’s easy to decide what capital is required for fixtures and fittings, machinery and stock. What many new business owners forget about is the cash needed to fund day to day requirements, i.e. cash to pay expenses before your customers pay you. This is known as your working capital requirement.
Small businesses can fail because they have insufficient cash to start off to meet these immediate expenses. If you wish to survive, make sure you set aside enough cash to meet all your needs for the first few months.
Ineffective Marketing Or None At All
You cannot afford to treat the cost of marketing as an unnecessary expense. A business with no marketing is like waving in the dark – you know you are doing it but no one else does!
There are many ways to promote your business on a small budget; it’s just a case of being inventive and creative. What ever you do, don’t assume that people will quickly know you are in business – they won’t, unless you tell them.
Ignoring Changes In The Market Place
As a small business owner it’s very easy to get immersed in your business and not see what is happening around you in the market place. Always keep your eyes and ears open to what the competition is doing and what your customers want. Don’t get left behind.
Owner’s Attitude
Attitude is everything in business. Don’t forget that the real boss in your business is the customer. Running a business may make you feel important but don’t let this develop into an ‘I am better than you’ attitude. Do this and you will quickly chase your customers away.
Spending On The Wrong Things
Being in business can be exciting, especially as the cash starts to roll in! However, don’t be tempted to spend it on a new car, a house or just a good time. If you are to own a successful business, then you have to keep some cash back to fund future growth. A business cannot grow without cash, so commit to spending business money on the business.
Dependent On A Small Number Of Customers
Don’t fall into the trap of setting up a business just because one person says they will buy from you every week or month. Setting up and running a business, which is dependent on one customer, is not a recipe for success. What happens if, one month after you have spent all your cash to set up your business, that customer says he has changed his mind and has decided to buy elsewhere? Unless you can find other customers very quickly you are faced with closure.
Before embarking on a new venture make sure you have a sufficient number of customers such that if a few go elsewhere you can still continue trading.
Growing Too Quickly
Surprisingly, growing too quickly can be a problem. You have to be disciplined enough to only take on work you can handle. If you are tempted to accept too much you could end up disappointing not only the new client but also your existing ones.
Also, don’t underestimate the impact rapid growth can have on your administrative burden. As I mentioned earlier, getting behind on the paperwork can have an equally damaging effect on your business.
Trying To Do Everything
Finally, the problem most small business owners have is the fact that everything falls on their plate. Inevitably this is how it’s likely to be in the beginning, when the limited budget means that staff are a luxury, but as the business grows be aware that you cannot continue to do all tasks. There will come a point when you become inefficient and not have enough time to complete everything in sufficient detail. Taking on an extra pair of hands will increase your costs but you will be surprised at how much time will be saved, allowing you to do what you do best – getting the business in.
Take a look at each of the mistakes and make sure that you don’t fall into these traps.
© Robert Warlow - Small Business Success
http://www.smallbusinesssuccess.biz/
Small Business Success is a resource dedicated to helping small business owners be more successful. If you are looking for a regular flow of ideas and tips then subscribe to the Small Business Success, a free newsletter, which provides you with quick tips, ideas and articles.
For more information visit http://www.smallbusinesssuccess.biz
To find out how partnering with CKPA could help free up your time to make more money and save you money, contact us now.Until next time,
Emma Walker
CKPA Office Solutions
15 June 2006
7 tips for a successful small business
By Robert Warlow - Small Business Success
Getting a small business off the ground is challenging to say the least. Here are some tips which will prepare the ground for running a successful small business.
Have Goals
This is where it all starts – the foundation for success. Know exactly where you are heading. What will the business ‘look’ like in the future? How will you know when your business is a success? When you wake up in the morning, do you know what actions you have to take to get you on the road to success?
Take Action
The difference between success and failure is down to the actions you take. The failures in life are the people who know what they have to do but never do it. The successful small business owners are people who take action on their ideas, ones who never say, “I wish I had done …”!
Seek Feedback
There is a saying that feedback is the breakfast of champions. During the early days of your business you must continually seek feedback about all aspects of your business. What works? What doesn’t work? What needs changing slightly? Speak to customers, suppliers, your bank manager, your accountant - anyone who can provide you with a fresh perspective.
Find Out What You Don’t Know
You can’t expect to know everything about running a business. Undertake your own skills analysis and find out your areas for development. Once you know your knowledge gaps seek out courses, books and advice, which will get you on track.
Be Focused
Let no one distract you from achievement of your goals. At the start of every day get yourself into the frame of mind that you will only do tasks which will get you closer to your goal – nothing else matters.
Take Risks!
You will never achieve anything if you’re not prepared to jump off the cliff a few times! We’re not talking about risks which will put the business in jeopardy; just risks which are planned and thought out, yet at the same time test the edge!
Think Positive
Yes, the oldest cliché in the book, but totally true. See the positive in everything. If something has not gone right train yourself to ask “What good has come out of this?” Understand that in every problem there is potential for good.
© Robert Warlow - Small Business Success
http://www.smallbusinesssuccess.biz
Small Business Success is a resource dedicated to helping small business owners be more successful. If you are looking for a regular flow of ideas and tips then subscribe to the Small Business Success, a free newsletter, which provides you with quick tips, ideas and articles.
For more information visit http://www.smallbusinesssuccess.biz
To see how partnering with CKPA and your own Virtual Assistant can benefit your business, please have a look at our website.
Until next time,
Emma Walker
CKPA Office Solutions
Getting a small business off the ground is challenging to say the least. Here are some tips which will prepare the ground for running a successful small business.
Have Goals
This is where it all starts – the foundation for success. Know exactly where you are heading. What will the business ‘look’ like in the future? How will you know when your business is a success? When you wake up in the morning, do you know what actions you have to take to get you on the road to success?
Take Action
The difference between success and failure is down to the actions you take. The failures in life are the people who know what they have to do but never do it. The successful small business owners are people who take action on their ideas, ones who never say, “I wish I had done …”!
Seek Feedback
There is a saying that feedback is the breakfast of champions. During the early days of your business you must continually seek feedback about all aspects of your business. What works? What doesn’t work? What needs changing slightly? Speak to customers, suppliers, your bank manager, your accountant - anyone who can provide you with a fresh perspective.
Find Out What You Don’t Know
You can’t expect to know everything about running a business. Undertake your own skills analysis and find out your areas for development. Once you know your knowledge gaps seek out courses, books and advice, which will get you on track.
Be Focused
Let no one distract you from achievement of your goals. At the start of every day get yourself into the frame of mind that you will only do tasks which will get you closer to your goal – nothing else matters.
Take Risks!
You will never achieve anything if you’re not prepared to jump off the cliff a few times! We’re not talking about risks which will put the business in jeopardy; just risks which are planned and thought out, yet at the same time test the edge!
Think Positive
Yes, the oldest cliché in the book, but totally true. See the positive in everything. If something has not gone right train yourself to ask “What good has come out of this?” Understand that in every problem there is potential for good.
© Robert Warlow - Small Business Success
http://www.smallbusinesssuccess.biz
Small Business Success is a resource dedicated to helping small business owners be more successful. If you are looking for a regular flow of ideas and tips then subscribe to the Small Business Success, a free newsletter, which provides you with quick tips, ideas and articles.
For more information visit http://www.smallbusinesssuccess.biz
To see how partnering with CKPA and your own Virtual Assistant can benefit your business, please have a look at our website.
Until next time,
Emma Walker
CKPA Office Solutions
25 May 2006
4 great business card ideas
By Robert Warlow - Small Business Success
How often have you opened your office drawer to find a pen only to have to search your way through a pile of business cards collected over the past few months? Your immediate response is to throw them away and that’s the problem with business cards - they are usually unmemorable.
Here are some ideas on how you can make your business card a bit more useful.
Handy Websites
On the reverse of your card, why not list some web sites which your clients may find of use. They don’t have to be related to your line of business, for example you could print details on a site providing a list of jokes (useful for speech writing!).
Do You Remember?
Going to a networking event is the equivalent to a business card swapping club! Once your card goes into someone’s drawer they are unlikely to remember where you met. So on the back of the card, print “Do you remember we met at ………. and discussed …………” This should be a good memory jogger!
Print Your Picture
Our minds are more efficient at remembering pictures than words. Why not print your picture on your card? When the recipient looks at your card sometime later, he is much more likely to remember who you are and what you do.
What’s The Date?
People are always scratching around to find out what the date is. Print a calendar on the reverse of your card. This gives an excuse for someone to keep your card permanently in his pocket.
Take a fresh look at your business card and see what you can do to make it more memorable.
© Robert Warlow - Small Business Success
www.smallbusinesssuccess.biz
Small Business Success is a resource dedicated to helping small business owners be more successful. If you are looking for a regular flow of ideas and tips then subscribe to the Small Business Success, a free newsletter, which provides you with quick tips, ideas and articles.
For more information visit http://www.smallbusinesssuccess.biz
Until next time,
Emma Walker
CKPA Office Solutions
How often have you opened your office drawer to find a pen only to have to search your way through a pile of business cards collected over the past few months? Your immediate response is to throw them away and that’s the problem with business cards - they are usually unmemorable.
Here are some ideas on how you can make your business card a bit more useful.
Handy Websites
On the reverse of your card, why not list some web sites which your clients may find of use. They don’t have to be related to your line of business, for example you could print details on a site providing a list of jokes (useful for speech writing!).
Do You Remember?
Going to a networking event is the equivalent to a business card swapping club! Once your card goes into someone’s drawer they are unlikely to remember where you met. So on the back of the card, print “Do you remember we met at ………. and discussed …………” This should be a good memory jogger!
Print Your Picture
Our minds are more efficient at remembering pictures than words. Why not print your picture on your card? When the recipient looks at your card sometime later, he is much more likely to remember who you are and what you do.
What’s The Date?
People are always scratching around to find out what the date is. Print a calendar on the reverse of your card. This gives an excuse for someone to keep your card permanently in his pocket.
Take a fresh look at your business card and see what you can do to make it more memorable.
© Robert Warlow - Small Business Success
www.smallbusinesssuccess.biz
Small Business Success is a resource dedicated to helping small business owners be more successful. If you are looking for a regular flow of ideas and tips then subscribe to the Small Business Success, a free newsletter, which provides you with quick tips, ideas and articles.
For more information visit http://www.smallbusinesssuccess.biz
Until next time,
Emma Walker
CKPA Office Solutions
13 April 2006
Why you should continually update your website
As someone who runs a business via the internet, I am always looking at other peoples websites to conduct business as that is what is comfortable for me.
However, the amount of times I look at a website to find it hasn't been updated for 2 years, the following thoughts go through my head:
Emma Walker
CKPA Office Solutions
However, the amount of times I look at a website to find it hasn't been updated for 2 years, the following thoughts go through my head:
- They are not in business any more
- They do not want my business
- They can't be bothered so why should I buy from them?
- They don't know they should be updating their website
If you have a website, you need to ask yourself 'what makes visitors keep coming back to my website?' People will only come back if there is new content which means you need to have in place an Online Marketing Plan to ensure that you review and update your website regularly.
Take the time now to look at your website through the eyes of a visitor and evaluate the good and bad parts so that you have somewhere to start.
If you need some help updating your wesbite or conducting a makeover, contact us to see how CKPA can help.
Until next time,Emma Walker
CKPA Office Solutions
06 April 2006
Another year has gone
The majority of businesses have their financial year running from April to March and I am no exception.
Another year has passed in our businesses and this gives us the opportunity to:
CKPA Office Solutions
Another year has passed in our businesses and this gives us the opportunity to:
- Reflect on how business has been over the last 12 months
- Produce budgets and marketing plans for the new year
- Plan for the future growth of the business
- Relax and take time out for yourself
Have you looked at your business and planned for the new financial year? If not, you need to do it quickly to make sure your business is running to its potential.
Until next time,
Emma WalkerCKPA Office Solutions
16 March 2006
How can a Virtual Assistant help me?
I attend a weekly BNI meeting and have got to know the chapter members with a couple of them signed up for my services. However, it is always difficult to get across exactly how a Virtual Assistant can help.
During a conversation with 2 members (with one of them being my client), I was explaining that it was difficult to explain exactly how I can help but gave them some examples. My client then said in wonder "can you really do that?". I then proceeded to tell them that it was really important to have one to one meetings with members to tell them what I do and educate them in order to pass quality referrals.
So what do we do? We help people make more money by freeing up their time working as a Virtual Assistant. We do this by providing professional secretarial and administrative solutions to a range of clients. Some non recognised areas we can help include:
Remember, if you don't ask, you'll never know.
Until next time,
Emma Walker
CKPA Office Solutions
During a conversation with 2 members (with one of them being my client), I was explaining that it was difficult to explain exactly how I can help but gave them some examples. My client then said in wonder "can you really do that?". I then proceeded to tell them that it was really important to have one to one meetings with members to tell them what I do and educate them in order to pass quality referrals.
So what do we do? We help people make more money by freeing up their time working as a Virtual Assistant. We do this by providing professional secretarial and administrative solutions to a range of clients. Some non recognised areas we can help include:
- Management of newsletters - this could be writing your newsletter to distributing it
- Internet marketing - SEO, passive income, affiliate programme monitoring, Blogs
- Accounts support - creating and sending out invoices, accounts organisation, payment facilities
- Marketing support - mail shots, follow up calls, advertising co-ordination
- Time management - create systems and processes to organise people and businesses
Remember, if you don't ask, you'll never know.
Until next time,
Emma Walker
CKPA Office Solutions
02 March 2006
Presentation Tips
I thought I would share this article with you to give you a chance to incorporate the tips into any presentations that you do to make sure that you keep the attention of the audience.
The seven lethal mistakes that suck the life out of any presentation
By professional speaker Paul McGee
I’m staggered that after giving a presentation, some delegates remark “Yours was the only talk I didn’t fall asleep in”! What is it about some presenters that makes the audience wish they’d watch the grass grow rather than listen for a minute longer? Here are seven beliefs that lead to woeful presentations:
Until next time,
Emma Walker
CKPA Office Solutions
The seven lethal mistakes that suck the life out of any presentation
By professional speaker Paul McGee
I’m staggered that after giving a presentation, some delegates remark “Yours was the only talk I didn’t fall asleep in”! What is it about some presenters that makes the audience wish they’d watch the grass grow rather than listen for a minute longer? Here are seven beliefs that lead to woeful presentations:
- Believing that just because you have a lot of knowledge about a subject that automatically makes you a great speaker (does knowing the words to a song make you a great singer?)
- Believing that the more facts and information you throw at a person, the more they are likely to retain it
- Believing that people prefer reading powerpoint slides as opposed to listening to another human being
- Believing stories are for children and that adults want just the facts
- Believing that speaking off the cuff is an adequate substitute for planning and preparation
- Believing that the ‘way’ you deliver your presentation is of little or no importance compared to ‘what’ you say
- Believing that all presentations must follow a standard format, where the audience listens passively and are only expected to contribute during question time
If you want to be a powerful presenter, it might be time to start changing your beliefs. For further information visit www.PaulMcGee.com
Some simple comments but I think if we look at these whilst working on an important presentation, we can't go wrong.Until next time,
Emma Walker
CKPA Office Solutions
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