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May 24 2018

Some Great Tech Tools Every Small Business Owner Needs to Check Out

When you’re in business, you’re always looking for new ways to work. Here are some online tools worth checking out.

TestSubject (https://zurb.com/playground/testsubject)

It’s official: more email is being read on mobile devices than any other device. But odds are you’re composing, and testing your marketing emails on a lap or desktop.

The challenge is, smartphones truncate subject lines and email previews. Truncated in the wrong place, an email about loads of pool toys can end up being about loads of…something else.

TestSubject is a simple and free tool for testing how your email subject line and sender name look on the most popular mobile devices and email clients. Just copy and paste your text to get instant previews.

Email Subject Line Grader (http://emailsubjectlinegrader.com)

While we’re talking about email subject lines, here’s a great tool to test out the overall appeal of email subject lines before you send. This one is free, and no registration is required — my favourite things in a tech tool. As someone who works in a creative field, I love getting confirmation I’m on the right track; it’s even better if I find out I’m not, before I hit send.

Canva.com (https://www.canva.com)

Canva is pretty well-known because it is easy to use and the results look really polished and pro. If you haven’t tried it yet, you’re missing out. Easy to register, easy to use, and very low-cost or free. Canva’s stock photos cost $1 to $2 for one-time use, which is a smart way to ensure you are using images legally, with no worry about copyright complaints coming back to bite you later because you used something you found using Google.

Cold Turkey www.getcoldturkey.com

Easily distracted? “Squirrel!” If you need to block out distractions, Cold Turkey will lock up your devices and get you focussed.  They offer a free version, and a pro version, for $29 for the true procrastinator. Stop getting sucked in by clickbait and get more done, starting today: www.getcoldturkey.com.

Hubspot (https://www.hubspot.com)

Ready to try out some new approaches to digital marketing? HubSpot’s dazzling array of hundreds of downloadable e-books and templates are free for the downloading in exchange for your contact information. I’d be irresponsible not to point out two things. First, if you get excited about new marketing ideas, you can spend hours on Hubspot, so be warned. Second, if you don’t like your inbox flooded with exciting and distracting offers, use a secondary email address.  Just be sure to check it, because Hubspot sends out great stuff.

Stephanie Regan is a writer and editor who gets her husband to hide her laptop at night. Some of her work can be seen at www.durhamwritingservices.com.

 

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Written by Dwania Peele · Categorized: Stephanie Regan · Tagged: canva, Email, tech, Technology

May 12 2016

15 free or low cost marketing ideas for small businesses

FB Pic

1)  Communication: start up as many social media sites appropriate for your business; LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, e-mail, blog site, live chat through your business website and a toll-free phone number.

2)  Business cards: leave them everywhere and hand them out to everyone!

3)  E-mail newsletters: collect e-mails and send out weekly, bi-weekly or even monthly newsletters informing customers about upcoming promotions or events.

4)  Business webpage: keep your website and social media pages up to date and fresh. Your customers need to see that you are active within your business.

5)  YouTube: create a video of your product or service, post the YouTube link of your video on all your social media accounts and on both your blog and business site.

6)  Stay connected: keep in touch with your clients by sending them a hand written thank you card and attach a coupon.

7)  Loyalty: reward your loyal customers with, for example, a 20 per cent off discount for their next purchase. Do not assume customers will keep coming back, acknowledge them and show them that you value their commitment to your business.

8)  Go old school: print out pamphlets, brochures or flyers and go door to door in your community and hand them out. You could also leave them on the windshield of cars in a full parking lot at a local mall.

9)  Get listed on directories: both Google and Bing offer free listings for local businesses.

10) Vendors: speak with the vendors from whom you buy products or services from and ask them if they know of any other businesses that could use your products or services. Also, check to see if they have a bulletin board where you can display your business card and ask to place yours up!

11) Offer to be a speaker: often volunteer organizations, industry conferences and local business groups are looking for guest speakers for their meetings. This will help you and your business gain contacts, name recognition and publicity.

12) Product or services: it does not matter what you are trying to sell, get out there, hand out sample size products and show off your work. This will help potential customers get a feel for your company and give them a chance to see what you have to offer.

13) On the go marketing: if you use a car or truck for your business ensure that your business name, logo and contact information are painted on the vehicle. For a less costly alternative use magnetic signs and place them on the vehicle.

14) Contest: run a contents through your business website or on Facebook. Ensure that the prize is desirable and that it relates to your business. Example: a coupon offering 40 per cent off a service from your business or a gift bag full of sample size products. *Note: this will also create traffic on your business website and social media sites, along with helping you gain more followers*

15) Community events: a fund raiser, festival or even a family day event, ensure you get out there and offer or donate your services/products to events within your community. This is a great way to get your brand out there and help you better connect with potential clients/customers in your area.

 

Dwania is the Founder and Executive Director of Canadian Small Business Women Contact Canadian Small Business Women:

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Website

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Written by Dwania Peele · Categorized: Canadian Small Business Women · Tagged: Bing, blog, business cards, Canadian Small Business Women, community events, contests, diretories, Email, entrepreneur, Facebook, google, Linkedin, live chat, newsletters, offer to speak, on the go marketing, products or services, raffles, Speaker, stay connected, Twitter, vendors, YouTube

Jun 29 2015

Multiple Streams of Income … getting yours!

yvonne

 We seem to live in a world of wanting and needing more, and most times, meeting these needs requires money! For more than half the population or what we have come to know as the one percent, making more money is the key to unlocking all our desires. Even the scriptures aptly state that money answereth all things.

If you have ever asked, ‘how can I make money doing the things I like?’ and are unwilling to give up you primary source of income, then you are faced with a challenge many face in today’s economy.

A good way of taking of this feat is to identify what suits you best, take it seriously by committing to it, and create a plan that makes you stand out from the rest. Here are a few strategies to help get you started

  • Explore a skill you have. Something you enjoy doing, which you can easily be offered in your spare time in return for a charge. Have you got a flair for decorating, interior design, fixing furniture, baking or making clothes? Whatever it is, you can use this skill! Many people have created successful businesses from making use of their skills on a part-time basis.
  • Provide a service using the web. The world has become a global marketplace, and taking advantage of this easily accessible platform brings you closer to the centre of creating an income. Services that you can provide on the web may include proofreading; writing articles and reviews; designing graphics and websites; or anything else that does not require a face-to-face interaction. Web services are good money makers, given that you provide services based on your skills.
  • Online Stores. Can you sell something that people from around the world would buy? Having an online shop does not require you to be constantly present. As long as you have a valid email, a proper payment tracking software, and desirable goods and services you can make more money. Items you could think of selling include unwanted furniture, traditional and vintage pieces, handmade crafts, accessories and clothing, etc.
  • Selling your knowledge. Are you good at giving advice and helping people find solutions to problems? Do you have the training and techniques that can mentor a person through a difficult time? Then you can turn your knowledge and wisdom into income. It is from such intellectual knowledge that consulting agencies, counselors and therapist make money.

Be aware that these ideas are not new, the only difference is the unique and special thing which you will add to make you stand-out, as well as planning and structuring your services professionally.

There is a quote that goes “A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before great men.” The answer might very well be in your hands, but it is up to you to apply wisdom to you gifts, talents and skills, to make room for more money.

To learn about Yvonne’s latest book on Changing your Mindset for greater results, visit http://www.oliveblue.com/changeyourmindset/

Yvonne is an Author, Speaker, Change Consultant & John Maxwell Leadership Coach who is passionate about working with Individuals, Entrepreneurs and Organisations to help implement change they want and achieve their goals.   

She can be reached at: www.oliveblue.com . www.facebook.com/oliveblueinc . www.twitter.com/oliveblueinc.www.youtube.com/ChangeYouWantTV

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Written by Dwania Peele · Categorized: Yvonne Ruke Akpoveta · Tagged: advice, business, Canadian Small Business Women, coach, coaching, decorating, Email, fixing furniture, Global Marketplace, income, interior design, John Maxwell, knowledge, leadership, make money, money, needing more, OliveBlue Inc, online store, part-time, plan, scripture, selling, service, skill, streams of income, techniques, tracking software, training, wanting more, website, wisdom, Yvonne Ruke Akpoveta

Nov 13 2014

Managing Information Overload

Tamara high res 1

Whatever stage your business is in, I can guarantee that you are managing a lot of information. It may sound familiar to be juggling things like correspondence, deadlines, project work and your many-amazing-ideas on a daily basis.

Today I am going to share some simple strategies of how to easily (and enjoyably) send and receive information without it being a stressful or overwhelming process.

Information can come to in the form of a phone call, email, text or even a knock at the office door. When you get that email or pick up the phone, the first step is to identify if it is reference material that is ‘response required’ or not.

Reference material is anything that you will need to access at a later time. For example, it could be details about the date and time of a networking event (time based) or some industry news that you will need to look at later for a project you are working on.

The information that comes to you (but doesn’t require a response) is often the hardest to keep track of. The most effective strategy I have ever used has been to categorize information and prepare a collection area before it comes. Of course you can’t predict every type of information that will come your way, but don’t worry. You should easily be able to create word documents or sections in your paper planners/notebooks to divide topics such as Marketing, Product/Service Development, Website, Industry news etc.

As you start noticing trends in types of information you can add them as you go. Having this area prepared is a quick solution for handing the information that does not yet need to be processed. It is also an easy way to input new information and reference it because it is not getting mixed up from the beginning.

If the reference material is time related, it is considered ‘response required’. To handle this information, simply write down the task in relation to a date or time in your calendar, right at that moment. This could be details of a webinar you intend on attending or something related to sending information to someone else. If you don’t do it as soon as you receive it, it will be something that can get lost in the shuffle. If you don’t have time to do it right then…read on and I will tell you the next important strategy.

If you don’t have time to do any follow up action when receiving information (ie. Look up a quote for a client on the phone), then don’t receive it. Remember, this is your business and you get to set up your day the way that works best for you. It’s better to call the client back when you are available to talk, rather than let it interrupt your current work and risk forgetting to follow up.

Finding a way to manage this information proactively is key to being productive and reducing the stress that comes along with not being able to easily access information when you need it. You get to step out of being reactionary in your business and give yourself more time and opportunity to dive deeper into the work at hand – reference materials near by.

Lastly, becoming organized with information takes commitment and time. It’s an evolutionary process that needs to be adjusted as your business grows. If you find yourself having so much information collected on one certain topic, it may be time to sub-categorize or sift through the information and pull out the most important parts.

It may require an initial time investment but it will definitely save you far more time and decrease stress in the future when any kind of information needs to be sent or received in your business.

Tamara is the owner and designer at ‘Your Pretty Pages’ where she provides templates, guides, tools and resources for creative entrepreneurs to get and stay organized. To gain access to Tamara’s FREE 5 Day Challenge (Transforming Information Overload to Organizational Bliss) visit https://yourprettypages.com/5daychallenge/ .

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Written by Dwania Peele · Categorized: Tamara · Tagged: business, business communication, business development, Business Woman, Canadian Small Business Women, communication, effective, Email, entrepreneur, information, information organization, lists, organization, organize, overload, phone, Reference material, response required, small business, small business development, small business owners, strategy, Tamara, Your Pretty Pages

Jul 23 2014

Infomania Could Be Making You Sick

Martina New

Technology and today’s widespread connectivity that is available any hour of the day, any day of the week and year, is supposed to make our lives more convenient and help reduce our workload and previously more time-consuming tasks. The truth is, it might actually be making many of us sick!

In a Global and Mail article on 29 March 2014, feature writer Erin Anderssen shared an eye-opening investigative piece in a week-long series on digital overload. In it, she shows the growing scientific evidence that indicates our state of distraction and “unchecked infomania” adds to making us physically and mentally ill.

Research from multiple experts at Stanford University, including experts on technology and distraction, shows that the convenience of constant connectedness has become a stress factor, and often even an addiction. The seduction of beeping or flashing cell phones, smart phones, e-mail, and social media sites is all too often irresistible. Yet, even though we seem to think otherwise, life does go on even if we don’t check and respond immediately to those interruptions. When we do, we’re paying less attention to the things that truly enrich our lives and in ways that electronic addictions rarely or never can do. Too often we allow devices to disrupt the flow of a good conversation, dinner with friends or family, playtime with our children or a relaxing walk with our dog, or even disturbing our personal quiet time or much-needed sleep.

Stanford’s Calming Technology Lab reveals that obsessive visits to Facebook have been linked to eating disorders and depression in teenage girls. In adults, dealing with never-ending e-mails or conducting web searches can cause users to take shorter breaths, or even hold their breath. This is called Screen apnea.

Here is my confession: while I do not consider myself a device addict, I do experience screen apnea whenever I hyper-focus for a long time on computer work, or when I flit between e-mail, web searches, and computer documents that I need to finish in a rush. My breathing becomes shallow, changes from a healthy diaphragmatic `belly breath` to a hectic – and to my body unsatisfying – short chest breath. When I leave it unchecked for too long, I suffer increased tension and stress symptoms by the end of the day.

Researchers at Kings College Institute of Psychiatry in London found that constant e-mail and social media use (unchecked infomania) even resulted in a temporary drop in the IQ of their study participants. Another survey shows that 22 per cent of adults have walked into obstacles while distracted by texting!

We laugh, but how often a day do you have to swerve around a walking texter, or even witnessed a pedestrian almost stepping out into traffic because they’re not paying attention at an intersection? I see both with disturbing regularity!

Anderssen`s article closes with the suggestion that we should think less about time management and instead consider more attention management. With that said, I will quickly submit this blog by e-mail, and then step away from my computer to make and enjoy a nice cup of tea.
Source: Anderssen, Erin. “Digital overload: How we are seduced by distraction”, Globe and Mail, 29 March 2014, F1. bit.ly/UnR5JY

Martina Rowley is the founder and operator of Beach Business Hub – THE co-working space east of the Don Valley. She combined her passion and experience in the environmental sector with her community engagement side to create a local work environment where space and resources are shared. She fosters and facilitates collaboration, networking, and learning for and with small business owners and new start-ups. Contact her at:http://www.beachbusinesshub.ca, on Facebook and on Twitter

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Written by Dwania Peele · Categorized: Martina Rowley · Tagged: attention management, Beach Business Hub, blog, business development, Business Woman, Calming Technology Lab, Canadian Small Business Women, cell phones, connectedness, connectivity, digital overload, distraction, Email, Erin Andersen, Erin Anderssen, Facebook, Globe and Mail, Infomania, information overload, IQ, Kings College Institute of Psychiatry, London, Martina Rowley, Screen apnea, small business development, small business owners, smart phones, social media, Stanford Calming Technology Lab, Stanford University, Technology, texting, time-consuming, uncecked infomania

Jul 04 2014

Handling Negative Feedback with Poise and Professionalism

 

Praveeni

Negative feedback – it’s something all professionals deal with. Not everyone is going to love you, your products and services or the way you do business. Negative comments and feedback can either bring out the best or the worst in you as a professional. How you handle it is entirely up to you.

 

Here are a few tips for handling negative feedback with poise and professionalism:

1. Don’t take it personally
This is easier said than done as we all have feelings, some of which get hurt from time to time.  The main thing to remember with negative feedback is that it’s just an opinion, which may not necessarily be the truth. In the business world most feedback is based on your work, products or services so it’s best not to think of negative comments as a reflection of you as a person. People may like you but hate your work and vice versa.

2. Never respond in anger
Whenever you get a negative or “mean” email, voicemail, letter or phone call never respond in anger. If you’re dealing with negativity over the phone simply listen to the comments, let the caller know you understand their concerns and tell them when you will get back to them. The last thing you want to do is to respond to a caller or reply a message or email when you’re angry. Anger can affect your thinking and judgment causing you to respond in an unprofessional manner.

3. Don’t retaliate
If a customer, client or competitor makes comments that you don’t like or agree with, do not fight them. Retaliating and arguing with them will only make the situation worse. Listen to what they have to say and think about whether it is valid or not. If valid address it on a professional level. Do not trade insults or sling mud, if they wish to take that route let them it’s up to you to be the Polite Professional.

4. Distill and understand the issues
When faced with negative feedback it’s important to properly understand where it’s coming from and what it’s regarding. Take some time to process what your clients or customers are displeased with. Once you identify and understand the problem you’ll be better equipped to find a solution.

Praveeni Perera is the CEO and co-founder of Professional Edge Consulting a corporate training company based in Ottawa offering training and coaching services to clients around the world.  She can be reached via Website, Twitter, Facebook or her Blog.

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Written by Dwania Peele · Categorized: Praveeni Perera · Tagged: anger, business, business development, Business Woman, Canadian Small Business Women, Email, entrepreneur, feedback, feelings, issues, negative comments, Negative Feedback, personally, poise, Polite Professional, Praveeni Perera, Professional Edge Consulting, professionalism, respond, retaliate, small business development, understand, voicemail

May 17 2014

How to Get Good Online Reviews

HWTGGOR

Online Reputation Management is not only about monitoring your online reputation it is also about soliciting reviews.

Below are some surefire ways to get people talking about you online.

Compliments

If someone says something nice about you, your employees, your products / services or your company ask them for permission to use it in your marketing.

Testimonials

As part of your sales process you should always ask for customer testimonials / feedback. Get your customers to write testimonials you can use on your website and other marketing materials, then ask if they would write a Google+ review.

Review Sites

Point potential customers to check out your review site profiles. Even before you start working let customers know that it’s part of your process to get customers to post reviews – this gets them in the proper mindset. When the work is completed don’t forget to ask them to write a review.

Promotions

Depending on your type of business you can use promotions to solicit feedback. A restaurant could offer 10% off your next visit after you post a review.  (Please note it is unethical to buy reviews and most review sites will remove paid reviews. However offering a discount to get any feedback good or bad is allowed.)

Email

You can send an email to satisfied customers to “Spread the Word” after your work is complete that will ask for a testimonial and a Google+ review.

Website

Have a dedicated page on your website for customer reviews / testimonials. Also make it easy for people to leave reviews either by email or via a form.

Be active in your Online Reputation Management and solicit reviews.

Dwainia Grey is an online marketer at Awesome Biz Online. She creates
awesome websites and blogs for businesses as well as working with
companies to optimize their websites with Search Engine Optimization and
Social Media. She can be reached at Awesome Biz Online or by phone at 647-799-1090 x 104. You a can also follow her on Facebook to get the latest on online marketing.

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Written by Dwania Peele · Categorized: Dwainia Grey · Tagged: Awesome Biz Online, business development, Business Woman, Canadian Small Business Women, Compliments, customer testimonials, Dwainia Grey, Email, entrepreneur, feedback, google, marketing materials, online marketing, online reputation, Online Reputation Management, Promotions, reputation management, review site, Review Sites, small business development, Testimonials, website

May 07 2014

If it’s worth saying, say it right!

Sheralyn

Whether in business or in life, the importance of effective communication is paramount.  We have all been on the receiving end of a text that came across the wrong way or an email that was peppered with 13 completely unnecessary exclamation points! These leave an impression and not always a favorable one.  Make your words matter.  Don’t leave people guessing and don’t inadvertently assign them the difficult task of attempting to decipher your true meaning.  Clarity counts, no matter what the message or the medium you choose for its delivery.

Looking at the first example, what do we think of the author with the excessively exuberant use of exclamation points? The truth is we tend to take them a little less seriously and perhaps also question whether they are familiar with some of the basic rules of business communications. Exclamation points are seen as a juvenile expression of emotion and we might ascribe to the writer a personality that suggests they are prone to over-exaggeration. Similarly, the ALL CAPS WRITER also leaves us frowning, maybe even more so.  Unless you’re my 75 year old uncle, a recent convert to the internet age, who seems to have taken his “caps lock” function literally, anyone receiving such a message gets it LOUD and CLEAR but not always in good humour.  Use of capitals implies the sender is YELLING AT YOU TO MAKE A POINT! Don’t be that person.  As the reader you are forming the impression that the writer is angry or short-tempered.  Expressing oneself in ALL CAPS is neither businesslike, nor conducive to fostering an environment of teamwork and cooperation.

In our digital environment another common error in communications is the medium chosen to deliver your message.  While it seems some days that we are in an “anything goes” world, there are still some generally accepted rules of etiquette and common business practices.  Texting, for example, never falls into one of these categories. Should you be texting a co-worker about important financial documents? Texting a client to say you will be late with your deliverables? Absolutely not.  Personal contact with an explanation in the latter example and common sense would suggest no in the former.  The reality is however that common sense seems to be in short supply these days.

Emails are more problematic.  Many businesses are now creating policies around the use of email and tracking and storing all of their employees electronically created data.  That’s a good thing. When choosing email as your communications option, a guideline is to ask yourself a series of questions before you hit “send.”  Should you forward to your boss, co-workers or clients that hilarious joke you saw on Facebook? Clearly no. Is the subject matter only business related and something that should be documented and tracked? If so, go ahead and send an email.  But what about those times when you choose to send an email rather than pick up the phone or stop by someone’s office for an important or potentially difficult conversation?  Are you making that choice because “it’s easier” for you?  Take stock. What needs to be said? What is the best method for communicating that message?  Who needs to hear it? When should it be heard and how should it be heard?  Like any other business process, communications should follow a defined step by step model that anyone can refer to when in doubt.  Cleary, the use of email is important, sometimes faster and more efficient and it provides a well documented trail if necessary in legal matters.  Email only works however, when we also remember all the other pertinent facts:  use proper sentence structure, review your use of grammar, don’t write in all caps and never use email as a means to avoid a conversation when talking would be more appropriate.

Finally, never underestimate the power of both tone and body language in communications. Telling someone to “Have a nice day” can turn from sarcasm to a pleasantry with just a slight shift in tone. How you stand, where you stand and what you are doing with your hands sends another message to your audience.  Like that Seinfeld episode, “close-talkers” are intimidating.  If you stand with your arms crossed you appear defensive and not willing to listen.  Hands on your hips suggest an angry tone and can be construed as confrontational.  If you talk with your hands you are perceived as expressive and more open. Standing over someone who is sitting is a position of power and you will gain far more trust and cooperation if you match your level to that of the person you are addressing.

Make the clarity of your communications paramount.  We have all, at some point in our lives, opened our mouth, inserted a foot and hoped the ground would rise up and swallow us.  Communication takes time and practice to get it right. Take five. Make your communications matter. After all, if it’s worth saying, it’s worth saying right, the first time, every time.

 

As Owner and Principal partner of “Writing Right For You” Sheralyn is a Communications Strategist – working together with entrepreneurs to maximize profit through effective use of the written word. Looking for web content that works, blog articles that engage or communications strategies that help you get noticed?  Contact Sheralyn today. Sheralyn is also the mother of two children now entering the “terrible and terrific teens” and spends her free time volunteering for several non-profit organizations.

Sheralyn Roman B.A., B.Ed.

Writing Right For You

Communications Strategies that help you GET TO THE POINT!

416-420-9415 Cell/Business

writingrightforyou@gmail.com

LinkedIn / Facebook / www.writingrightforyou.weebly.com

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Written by Dwania Peele · Categorized: Sheralyn Roman · Tagged: All Caps Writer, avoiding conversation, business development, Canadian Small Business Women, close-talkers, common business practices, communication, Communications, Email, entrepreneur, exclamation points, Facebook, Leave an Impression, Loud and Clear, Make Your Words Matter, networking, professional etiquette, Seinfeld, Sheralyn Roman, small business, texting, Writing Right For You

Mar 05 2014

The Ins and Outs of Email

Laura Bungarz

We all know that email is critical to our businesses.  Most of us would be lost without it.  But there is more to email then simply keeping in contact with others.  Let’s look at some of the basics of email.

  1. Free email is great!  But not for business!  If you have a website you can have what is often called domain email.  It’s email with your domain name after the @ symbol.  I could set up an email for this website that was laura@nontechforwomen.com.  This is by far the most professional way to go.  So how do you get domain email?  Talk to your host provider!  GoDaddy and Hostgator both provide email as part of their hosting packages.  It’s easy to setup from the Control Panel.  Already established with a free provider?  That’s what forwarding is for.  Setup Hotmail or Gmail to forward to your domain email and start replying to email from the new address.  Over time everybody you come in contact with, will be using the new address.
  2. Keep personal and professional separate!  Free email is awesome for personal use.  Give your friends and family that email address and use your work email for work.  There is nothing worse than getting distracted by your friend’s silly emails in the middle of your work day.  It also helps reduce the clutter in your inbox.  A top tip here is to have what I call a slush email.  If you surf the web like I do you’ll often sign up for things, freebies, newsletters, etc.  Not all of it is business and some of it you probably aren’t even sure about.  I have a free email that I use just for those times.  It’s great for those websites you just know will be sending you 10 emails a day.
  3. Outlook is just software.  Outlook is not email, it’s not an email provider.  It is software that you setup or configure to retrieve your email from whatever email account or accounts you want, whether it’s free or paid for.  For me personally, it’s not something I would ever use and here’s why.  It’s local to your computer!  You are downloading all of the email onto your computer.  Wondering where all your hard drive space went?  Email takes up tons of space!
    Also what tends to happen is that because you’re using Outlook you forget your password or in some cases don’t even know how to check your email without using Outlook.  So if you don’t have your computer with you, you can’t check!  My strong suggestion is to leave email on other people’s servers.  It’s safer, it takes up less space and it’s more convenient because it can be accessed from anywhere.
  4. I get it.  Accessing your domain email from your host provider is about as convenient as a root canal.  Set up Google Apps for Business and run your business email through there.  Then it’s as convenient as checking your Gmail account.  Access it from anywhere at any time.  It integrates beautifully into the Gmail apps on most smartphones.  Plus you have all the benefits of using Google with other apps like Google Drive.  You can setup your virtual assistant with an account through Google Apps for Business and it’s almost as if she’s a member of your staff with an email that carries your domain name and access to shared files through Google Drive.
  5. Now, I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t remind you about safety.  Don’t open email and in particular email attachments, from people you don’t know.  Those files often contain viruses.  Make sure that you have your anti-virus software setup and running.  Some of the more expensive anti-virus software will have email scanner options right in them.  Norton and McAfee are two that come to mind.  Many of them, if you are an Outlook user, will integrate right into Outlook.  It is important, if you are using Outlook and downloading all of your email onto your computer, that you use a big full featured anti-virus program like Norton because it will provide additional protection for your email.

So what’s the moral of the story?  Spend some time thinking about your email, how you access it and what type of email you use.  It has to be convenient, professional and safe.  Look at getting a domain email for your business and save the Hotmail addresses for personal use!

If youhavequestionsfeelfree to contactmeusing the informationbelow.
LauraBungarzComputerTraining
212-207Fort Street
Winnipeg, MBR3C1E2
Laura@Laurabungarz.ca
www.LauraBungarz.ca

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Written by Dwania Peele · Categorized: Laura Bungarz · Tagged: @symbol, anti-virus, business, business development, Business Woman, Canadian Small Business Women, control panel, domain name, domian, Email, entrepreneur, free email, Gmail, Go Daddy, google, google apps, Google Drive, Hostgator, Hotmail, inbox, Laura Bungarz, Laura Bungarz Computer Training, McAfee, Norton, outlook, personal, professional, small business, small business owners, website

Feb 23 2014

What Your Communication Style Says About You

Martina-R.

Communication is key. Whether we communicate in writing – in letters or e-mails – or verbally, over the telephone or in person, what business owners and clients say and how we say it is important to understanding one another. Getting it completely wrong can have consequences ranging from simple misunderstandings to lost business.

While we all know how to talk, and business training teaches us what to say, what do we really learn about interpreting someone else’s communication style and what it says about their preferences in dealing with us?

In a recent Lunch & Learn, Jayne Huhtanen, a business coach with Focal Point Coaching of Toronto [http://ca.linkedin.com/in/jaynehuhtanen], addressed whether our communication style might be holding us back. Not speaking the same ‘language’ as our existing or potential customers, Jayne says, “can significantly limit your success”. To start with ourselves and recognise our own style, Jayne demonstrated the DISC profile created in the 1920s by psychologist William Marston.

The profile identifies four main communication styles: Dominant, Influential, Steady, and Conscientious. The first step is to recognise your style or that of the person you are communicating with. Then it helps to know what does and does not work when dealing with someone of that style.

  • Dominant individuals are: decisive, competitive, direct, often demanding and impatient. When dealing with a D-style it is best to be brief and to the point, focused, and logical. Keep the conversation results oriented and on topic. Do not dominate the dialogue, get emotional or touch the person.
  • Influential individuals are: sociable and talkative, impulsive, spontaneous, and emotional. When dealing with an I-style it is best to focus on the positive, show enthusiasm and smile a lot. Be warm and friendly, let him or her talk, and ask their opinion. Do not squash their enthusiasm, be negative, or focus on too much detail.
  • Steady individuals are: calm and laid-back, amiable, patient, modest, and often indecisive. When dealing with an S-style it is best to build trust, and slow down to draw out his or her opinions. Do provide reassurance and enough time to make a decision. Do not press for an immediate answer, make sudden changes, or fail to deliver on promises you make.
  • Conscientious individuals are: precise, logical, analytical, quiet, and disciplined. When dealing with a C-style it is best to present facts and data, use proven ideas, and stay on task. Do be patient, provide detailed information, and give enough time to think. Do not touch the person, be too chatty and talk about personal issues, or keep important information to yourself.

Recognising these different communication styles quickly is, of course, a challenge for anyone who is not a psychologist or otherwise trained. Nevertheless, when dealing regularly with your existing clients it will probably become quite evident which style pervades.

With some observation and a little practise you should be able to recognise which style your clients – and you! – fall under. It may help to understand that someone’s curt mannerisms are borne not out of malice but a habit they have less control over. Makes me think of the TV character Sheldon in ‘Big Bang Theory’!

 

Sources:

https://www.discprofile.com/what-is-disc/william-marston/

 

Martina Rowley is the founder and operator of Beach Business Hub – THE co-working space east of the Don Valley. She combined her passion and experience in the environmental sector with her community engagement side to create a local work environment where space and resources are shared. She fosters and facilitates collaboration, networking, and learning for and with small business owners and new start-ups.  Contact her at:http://www.beachbusinesshub.ca, on Facebook and on Twitter

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Written by Dwania Peele · Categorized: Martina Rowley · Tagged: Beach Business Hub, Big Bang Theory, business, business development, business owners, Business Woman, Canadian Small Business Women, coach, coaching, communication, communication style, communication styles, competitive, Conscientious, desicive, DISC, Dominant, Email, emotional, entrepreneur, Focal Point Coaching of Toronto, in-person, Influential, interpret, Jayne Huhtanen, Martina Rowley, networking, small business, small business development, small business owners, Steady, telephone, verbal, William Marston

Feb 05 2014

Buying A New Computer?

Laura Bungarz

So it’s time for a new computer is it? That can be a very challenging experience. What’s the difference between the $399 model and the $799 model? Why should I buy this one and not that one? What was the sales guy talking about?  Lots of questions, lots of decisions. But I’m here to help. Here are some simple questions to ask yourself that will narrow down your decision.

1. What am I going to use it for?
Internet? Email? Videos? Music? Just word processing? Games? The more media types you use (videos, music, games) the more power you’re going to need. Generally the low end models of computers aren’t designed to run online games and store your top 500 favourite movies of all time. They also aren’t meant to stream large quantities of video. Don’t get me wrong, they will do one here and there but it probably won’t have enough power for a movie buff.

2. What’s my budget?
$400 or $1500? There’s a big difference in price and features between a $400 computer on sale at your local computer shop machine and the $1500 top of the line model that does everything but the dishes. You can narrow the list down considerably just by deciding how much to spend.

3. How much do I need to spend to get what I want?
The gap between what you need to spend to get what you want and what you actually have to spend may be wide.  Think about what you can live with for now and what you really have to have.  Many computers, particularly desktop computers, are upgradeable.  You can buy more parts as the budget allows for it.  Things like video cards, sound cards, RAM and storage are easy to add after the fact.  Look for a computer that gives you the room to grow that you need but that still fits within your budget.

4. Laptop or Desktop?
Laptops and desktops these days are mostly equal in terms of power. Technology has advanced enough now that we can squish all of that power into a machine that’s rather small.
There are lots of pros and cons between laptops and desktops, but speed and power aren’t on that list anymore. Decide whether or not you might need to be portable and go from there.
Portability doesn’t always affect the price either. It depends on what brand you choose and how much power you actually need.
Within that you also need to decide how much room to grow you want to have. Laptops don’t allow for the same amount of part changing that desktops provide. Is this something you intend to trade up in the next couple of years or do you want to keep this machine for a while and would like to be able to add a bigger hard drive, a new video card or increase the memory?
Laptops also tend to be disposable.  Once they break they are done.  They aren’t easily fixed and are often more expensive to fix if you decide to go this route.  This is an important consideration for those that may want to keep their computer for more than a couple of years.

5. What did the sales guy mean when he said…?
Yep, computer sales people can be worse than car salesmen at using all that fancy terminology to talk you into buying something you don’t really need.  Here are the big things to think about.

  1. 1.    RAM (Memory):  Get at least 4 GB if not more.  That’s standard these days and it will last you a while.  Extra is cheap to buy and install.  Don’t get talked into a more powerful computer when you can buy a stick of RAM for $40.
  2. 2.    Hard Drive space:  If you’re like me a 500 GB hard drive is impossible to fill, but for some of you that take a lot of pictures or download music or videos, you’ll eat through a 500 GB hard drive in no time.  If the computer with the bigger hard drive is too expensive, think about external storage.  External hard drives are under $150 now.  It’s definitely cheaper than upgrading the computer solely for the space.
  3. 3.    Video and Sound:  Onboard video and sound (as it’s called), is just video and sound that is built into the motherboard.  It’s good, basic quality video and sound for not a lot of money.  If you want amazing graphics or professional quality sound, spend the extra money to buy yourself a video card or sound card.  The computer tech at your local shop can install it for you.
    Laptop users remember that you probably can’t add a sound or video card to your computer.  You have to get a laptop with that already in place.  You can upgrade hard drives and RAM however.

There you go.  Whether it’s a Christmas present for someone you love or a new computer for business, there are lots of things to think about when buying a new computer.

I am Laura Bungarz, owner of Laura Bungarz Computer Training which I started in January of 2012.  I am a certified teacher and English as an Additional Language instructor in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.  I specialize in helping women small business owners who are terrified of technology but know they need to learn.  Teaching, computers and helping people are my three favourite things to do and I get to combine them every day in my business helping other women succeed in their businesses.

Contact Laura:
Laura Bungarz Computer Training
212-207 Fort Street
Winnipeg, MB R3C 1E2
Laura@Laurabungarz.ca
www.LauraBungarz.ca

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Written by Dwania Peele · Categorized: Laura Bungarz · Tagged: Budget, business, business development, Buying A New Computer, Canadian Small Business Women, computer, Desktop, Email, entrepreneur, Hard Drive, internet, Laptop, Laura Bungarz, Laura Bungarz Computer Training, RAM, small business, small business owner, Sound, Video, video card, Winnipeg

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