SUCCESS 2LZ

5 Time Saving Business Tools

How often do you wish that there were more hours in the day?  Or maybe, that you could sleep less so you could work longer?

These online business tools can help you to do more in less time, be more productive, and do what you do more effortlessly.

1. Copy and Paste – Clean and Simple  When you copy text from a document or a web page and paste it into another application, your Facebook wall, for instance – what happens?  The formatting is pasted in along with the text, usually creating a result that you didn’t want.  Here is a free and very easy way to resolve that problem once and for all.  PureText 2.0  

PureText is a great time saver.  Basically, it’s the same as opening Notepad, doing a PASTE, followed by a SELECT-ALL, then a COPY, and a final PASTE.  PureText lets you do all that with just one Hot-Key.

2. Virtual Meetings – without paying for expensive GoToMeeting subscriptions.  You can start web conferencing with one click when you keep this free tool in your belt.

Share your screen. See the participants.  Conference with Adobe ConnectNow for up to three people per meeting.  Get it here.

3. Forgot Your Password? – Do you have trouble remembering and managing your passwords?  Keep those secret words private and secure with Password Agent, an easy-to-navigate password management program.

The lite version of Password Agent allows you to store up to 25 entries in your password database for free.  If you need to store more entries, you can purchase the unlimited version for only $24.95.  Go to Password Agent.

Here is a tip for creating a strong password:
Think of a statement you can remember easily such as when you got married or when your child was born.  For instance, I married Steve in December 1986.  Taking the first letter of each word in the sentence and adding the last two digits of the year, my password is as follows:  !ImSiD86!  You can add other characters at the beginning and end if you want to, as I did with the exclamation marks, and make your password even stronger.

4. Mind Mapping and Brainstorming – Let your creativity flow and enhance your problem solving techniques with mind mapping.

One extremely simple and intuitive online mind mapping application is Lovely Charts.  You can create professional looking bubble charts and diagrams of all kinds, such as flowcharts, sitemaps, organization charts, and more… for free!  Follow this link to the Lovely Charts website.

5. Say Goodbye to Misplaced Notes on Post-Its  Here is an extremely powerful way to keep track of everything and remember those great ideas, items to add to your to-do list, or client contact information.

Evernote is an exciting way to stay organized using your computer, phone, and the web.  A few suggestions to get you started:

* Keep notes from your meetings all in one place.  Take a picture of a whiteboard and you’ll be able to find it later.  Leave a voice memo.

* Plan your next trip.  Clip web pages, maps, and itineraries.  Capture sights, sounds, tastes, and anything else.

* Snap a photo of a business card with your phone, and have an easy way to store and access contacts.

Create your free Evernote account here and remember the things you were supposed to remember. 

How about you? Which one of these great business tools will you grab first?  I hope you will take a moment and share your thoughts.

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“Lost time is never found again.” ~ Benjamin Franklin  

Tags: online business, Success 2LZ, time saving tools, tools for business success, Vicki Vannoy

7 Tips to Re-ignite Your Passion for Business

Labor Day has come and gone already!  We celebrated the weekend with one last picnic and a day of fun at the Evergreen State Fair!  Now the kids are back in school.  Summer vacations are over and there’s a definite hint of fall in the air. 

September in the Pacific Northwest means that the mountains and the sailboats will be out most days.  Since it’s one of our driest months, September is a great time to take a walk in the Washington Park Arboretum or to enjoy a drive along the Columbia River Gorge where the fall foliage is spectacular!  Of course, September is also when we ‘do the Puyallup’.  The Puyallup Fair is among the top ten largest fairs in the world!

Autumn is also a good time to renew the commitments we made on January 1st, take another look at business plans, re-establish priorities, and ‘gear it up’ again.

I met with friends for a brainstorming session last week and we came up with some ideas I’d like to share with you.

Tip #1:  Prioritize your To Do list.  Focus on completing the important things first, specifically, the projects that will help you achieve your goals.

Tip #2:  Promise yourself that you will not work in a cluttered mess of an office.  It will slow you down and stress you out.  Get organized!

Tip #3:  Redecorate your office with light and color.  Is your office too dark?  Maybe this is the time to add another window to the room or buy a new desk lamp.  What about color?  Does your office feel dull and monotonous?  If you have been feeling like you’re stuck in a rut, your surroundings could be partly to blame.  Infusing your décor, furnishings, and accessories with colors you are drawn to will lift your spirits and invigorate your mood.

Tip #4:  Polish your image.  Branding is your identity in the marketplace; is yours saying what it should?  Large companies regularly review their brand imaging.  Why wouldn’t you?

               * Has your target market changed?
               * Is your product or service as current and up-to-date as it needs to be?   
               * Could your website or marketing materials use some rewriting and tweaking?

Tip #5:  Analyze the results of your marketing strategy.  Take a fresh look at your message, approach, and tactics.  If you’re marketing on a shoestring, make the best use of your budget by creating a balanced campaign that combines sales activities along with your marketing methods.

Consider the idea of presenting a webinar as a joint venture with an associate or vendor in a related industry.  Think of the opportunities for lead generation and list building. Write a killer press release, position yourself as an expert in your field, and generate tons of free publicity by introducing yourself to the media.  Contact your existing customers and let them know that you are looking for referrals.  Show your appreciation by offering them a compelling incentive such as a discount on your products or services.

Tip #6: Improve your mindset for success by envisioning success in the production of everything you begin.  Develop this habit; it will help you stay motivated and inspired.

Tip #7:  Put your ideas in writing!  Then determine how you will carry out those plans.  Merely writing them down is not enough.  You still need to schedule time in your day to take action and follow through.

Bonus tip:  Get away for a day or a weekend once in awhile.  Go to the mountains or the ocean, breathe some fresh air, look at the stars, and re-connect with your true self.  A change of scene is great for thinking clearly and getting re-energized!

How about you?  What projects are you focusing on to boost your business through the end of 2011?  Leave me a comment and share your ideas here.

I hope you have enjoyed today’s post. If you have, please share it on Facebook or perhaps Tweet it!

 

Tags: branding your image, business plan review, marketing strategy, success mindset, tools for business success, Vicki Vannoy, work from home

Create a Profitable Web Business . . .

.  .  with the Right Tools for Success!

Creating your online business is exciting!  And using the right tools will really make the difference in building your successful business and getting the results you’re after.

Business owners write their own paychecks.  Your entrepreneurial spirit puts you in control of achieving your goals and realizing your dreams for yourself and your family.

Working for yourself in your own business benefits you directly rather than lining someone else’s pocket.  And using effective tools and resources will make your work easier and more rewarding.

Launch your e-commerce business and work from home or from anywhere that you have an Internet connection.

“There is only one success – to be able to spend your life in your own way.” ~Christopher Morley

Tags: entrepreneurial spirit, online business, successful web business, tools for business success, Vicki Vannoy, work from home