During 2011 I was invited to be part of a vodcast series with Business Victoria. Here I give practical tips on how to use social media to find customers, build business credibility and generate sales.

The complete vodcast series can be viewed on the Business Victoria Youtube Channel where small business owners share the experience of starting their business, including the successes, achievements and mistakes they made along the way. Benefit from their hindsight as they give advice and tips for other small businesses on a range of problem areas from finance and employment to marketing.

Don’t forget to check your website regularly for plagiarism. I suggest you diarise to check your site monthly using the tool www.copyscape.com and run a check on all website URLs.

A URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is of course your domain and all extensions, so include a test of your additional pages to ensure your content has not been copied. To run the test, simply copy each page URL from your browser and paste it into the Copyscape field and select “GO”.

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We are finding Dropbox has changed the way we work virtually. It has certainly enhanced efficiencies between our business, clients and sub-contractors in using this cloud computing tool. Take the time to view the video below to learn how simple file syncing, sharing and online file storage can be.

Dropbox is used in our office across two computers and one laptop. We can readily access our synced files via the web hosted Dropbox account from any computer that has internet access. We also have secure shared folders with clients and associates, making file sharing far more efficient. We think you will love it as much as we do! 

Download Dropbox HERE

There are a few things I like to do before the start of a new week, especially a week full of appointments and scheduled jobs. Working through these tasks during the Sunday eases the pressure of the forthcoming week.

Sunday’s, ‘Make Life Easier’ List of Tasks

1.    For me, there is a noticeable difference in the number of emails received on a weekend, compared to what comes in during the week. My number one task is to get my ‘Inbox’ under-control whilst it’s quiet! My main Inbox receives anything which does not have a ‘rule’. All other emails with ‘rules’ will get automatically filed into its relevant Sub-folder Inbox. i.e. clients, Twitter, Facebook, Newsletter subscriptions etc. I will sort through my main Inbox, including any sub-folders and delete or file accordingly. My aim is to have it empty or near empty prior to Monday!

2.    I will also send a quick confirmation email to those I have scheduled appointments with during the week. This allows me to plan my week knowing what commitments are set.

3.    Draft emails will be created to send first thing Monday to follow-up the status of any meetings with prospective clients or Engagement Letters sent the previous week.

4.    A job plan is generated for the week of known jobs and their priority status, and

5.    Finally, I will have a quick clean up of my desks, inboxes (of a 3D nature) and general office surrounds.

I am now ready to take on the week with an organised environment!   

For a change, I am having a lovely time preparing everything for my Accountant for yearend tax time! Yes, you did read correctly. I have Bookzkeeper to assist me to get all my reports, statements etc organised, so the Accountant has everything at hand. She will be thrilled to see this!

This terrific business resource is every Accountants dream come true. How easy will it make their life if all their clients presented their books in such a systemised manner, rather than the shoe box?

The sturdy, funky folder with tabs for easy filing and recording of all relevant information your Accountant will require to complete your yearend financials and tax return. Here’s what it does:

• Guides you step-by-step on how to file essential financial records
• Provides simple file dividers with instructions on BAS, reconciliations, reports, statements and other documents
• Replaces the dreaded plastic bag or cardboard box of ’stuff’, and is so simple that you will love it!

What's even better, it's an Australian product. Do check it out! I'm sure you'll be equally impressed. Click the image below for more information.

Bookzkeeper can also be joined on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/bookzkeeper and Interim Business Solutions proudly created this Page!

I’m not sure where I first read this quote but I filed it away because it struck a chord with me coming from a Quality Assurance background.
 

"The true business owner creates a business that will run by itself even when that owner is not there. The owner has completely removed himself from the day-to-day operations. He has put people in place to create the machine that fulfills his or her ideas.

 

And that my friend is what you need to aspire to. When the business runs on its own, when it follows a set system you are then free. Your goal as a business owner is to take every little thing that you do and turn it into a step-by-step, connect-the-dots system anyone can follow. If one employee leaves or is fired a new one can be plugged in like a fresh battery."

Is your business systemised? Are the systems documented and supported by well defined position descriptions that are reviewed regularly. All documented business procedures are living systems and will change and evolve as technology changes and when you determine better ways of doing things. Have your business operating like a well-oiled machine. A business with documented and implemented systems will also display consistencies the client will come to expect. Documented systems and procedures can also add much value to your business when it comes to selling.

 

 

A prospective buyer will surely prefer the business that works like clock-work and has everything documented, than the business where all the systems are memorized in the owners head! So get them documented and get assistance if you need it.

I have recently been contracted by a client to source local businesses in regional Victoria for a Victorian Government roadshow which is travelling to various towns during August. I am based in Melbourne and whilst I am aware of these towns and have visited many of them, I certainly don’t know what businesses are there. So being the internet savvy VA I am, I jumped on Google to undertake my searches. Well, I was amazed at how few businesses had a website (or at least a website that was found in search results!). I certainly expected the local accountant to have a website, so I could email them to query who the ‘Local Heroes’ in business were!

With so many businesses still not having a website and yet, to truly embrace Web 1.0, they’re a long way from embracing Web 2.0!  Most had not heard of Twitter and most would not dream of using Facebook for their business. Now what they should be considering, is embracing both of these and skipping the static website, to create a Blog to start to establish an online presence. Yes, it depends if their relevant market is there but I have seen the smallest, home based knitting business ‘Hand Made by Missy’ collect 1,000+ members on their Facebook Page in just 6 months. It’s about “making” it work for you and creating some buzz!

A great blog post I read just last week by Social Media Examiner was ‘Six Ways Blogs are Changing the Web’ and Flying Solo published this article titled ‘Facebook for Business’. Small businesses should be embracing whatever means they can, to assist their business to get exposed. Social media is a great way to get your business exposed and generally they are free...other than your time! If you’d like to learn more about social media for business exposure, Interim Business Solutions can assist you to get social media ready quickly with the packages and guides available. Visit our website for more information www.interimbusiness.com.au   

 

Sometime ago I created this document ’60 Ways This VA Can Assist You’. It came about from the numerous inquires I would get with business owners crying for help, knowing they needed administrative support but couldn’t get their head around how to engage a Virtual Assistant. The ‘virtual’ thing stumped them!

To make this a little easier for them, the list outlines how I can support them and their business in a number of ways. Technology is also available to allow this, such as email, Skype, Dropbox, Google Docs and even the social media platforms are useful for quick communication channels.

You can check out ‘60 Ways This VA Can Assist You’ below.

60 Ways a VA Can Support You

A topic I covered in our recent May 2010 Newsletter received some interest and a number of subscribers contacted me to learn more. One of the first things we investigate when we get a new client, is how their business website performs in a Google search. One very simple task any business owner can do, is to add their business to the 'Google Business Center' (now known as Google Places) together with other free business directories that are available. If you are a business owner who's short on time, we have a special package designed to assist you. We can submit your business to 15-20 free business directories including the Google Places. Contact us to find out more!

Our Google Places Listing