Black Friday - Attention Shoppers: Create your shopping list
It is to be behind the scenes. Secretly passing notes in the hallway. Password protected boards sharing anonymous resources of the Black Friday deals. But no more - either it’s publicized with the merchant’s blessing or black listed with the threat of lawsuit.
Now there’s a one stop shop to create your Black Friday shopping list at Black Friday Info. Deals are grouped into categories. And if your favorite store hasn’t released its ad then sign-up for email notification
The Point
Save time and browse the ads on-line at Black Friday Info. Then select your choice buys and create your shopping list. No more fumbling through ads to find what you want when you’re still half asleep.
TweetLater - Follow the leader, but which leader .… or just simply lead?
Recently there has been much to do about the use of Twitter add-ons and extras such as TweetLater that can be set-up to welcome new followers via public reply or direct message; automatically follow new followers; and set-up scheduled tweets. See my post How Do You Say It’s a Pleasure to Meet You! Too much of a to-do about well, not much. It’s so easy to get swept up into the roar of crowd about what is considered proper etiquette, acceptable and deemed appropriate.
Since I am a newbie of sorts in the social networking scene, I have fond myself jumping this way and that way. All the while wanting to do what is considered socially correct in the business networking circles; aka - the majority in Twitterville. After switching the Outllook rules that forward notices to TweetLater on and off several times over as many weeks, I think I’ve had enough. Actually, I know I’ve had enough.
I use TweetLater to acknowledge new followers. I don’t spam them with a link to my website. My website is in my profile so there isn’t a need. I simply want a timely tweet to let my new followers know that I appreciate their interest. You can’t be hooked to Twitter 24/7. I can’t – between building my Virtual Assistant practice and raising a family that involves keeping up with an active 2 year old – their ain’t no way, Joe!
The Point
As the adage goes - you can please some of the people all of the time and all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time. So I’m pleasing myself and taking the lead. TweetLater helps me manage those that follow me. I can then go back as time allows and view a new follower’s site, see if I want to follow them (9 out 10 times I do) and send a more personal reply commenting on one of their blog posts or their website.
Photo by martellobrasile
Outlook Shortcuts - Time Savers
Entrepreneurs today seem to always be seeking new devices and the latest softwares to quickly accomplish more. We seek the trendy self-help books that are to lead us out of chaos and show us how to save time, manage effort and get more out of our day.
Start by looking at what you already have in place. An easy way to reduce time wasted is utilizing Outlook shortcuts. While it seems taxing in the beginning, once implemented, shortcuts become a thoughtless habit.
Do You Tweet? 9 Tools to Enhance Your Twitter Experience
Despite its critics, Twitter is a useful micro-blogging tool entrepreneurs can utilize in a social networking setting to build relationships, promote their blog and market their business. This post is not to debate the pros and cons of Twitter; whether it’s viewed as professional or otherwise; nor is it to cover proper tweeting etiquette or what is and is not considered spamming your followers. My intent is to provide you with nine tools that will simply enhance your Twitter experience.
Ping.FM
Do you have multiple social network profiles that you want to keep a daily presence without spending all day doing it? Ping.fm saves you the time and effort. Ping.fm will send a single post across 26 social networking platforms at one time. It utilizes the same 140 character limit as Twitter. Sites in addition to Twitter include: Facebook, Plurk, LinkedIn, MySpace, Google Talk, Delicious, and many more.
Tweet Later
Tweet Later works for you while you are away; whether you’re traveling, focusing on a project or simply living life. Tweet Later can be set-up to welcome new followers automatically either publically or by direct message. It will, at your election, automatically follow those that follow you. You can also schedule pre-scripted Tweets to broadcast while you’re away. Scheduled tweet is a great tool to alert followers of a new post on your blog.
Effective Productivity - 7 Tips to Designing a Productive Day
Working from my home office, I find at times that my day can sometimes overlap into my home life and visa versa. By setting goals and designing a plan for my day, I accomplish more and feel good about the results at the close of the day.
Here are seven tips to assist in designing your productive day:
1) Early to bed – early to rise. Just like your momma said – it makes a man healthier, wealthier & wise. Get the amount of rest that is right for you. We all vary in what is the proper amount of rest and when we need it. If your business is structured that you do not have to be available during standard office hours and you’re a night owl then by all means, take advantage of it. Just get the rest that your body needs.
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Password Protection – How do you protect and manage the data that is safekeeping your proprietary information
Photo by elbisreverri Today, protection of proprietary information and personal data is mandatory. Throughout your workday, you enter websites, programs and systems that require passwords to gain access – administration panels for web hosting and blogs, web-based emails and applications, data storage, newsfeeds, social networks and forums.
Passwords are the gatekeeper of your critical business information. What systems do you have in-place to protect and manage your passwords? Are you able to remember each login and password to various sites and applications? How quickly are you able to access a protected site or an account that you seldom access?
Three systems to protect your passwords, logins, and account information:
5 Tips for Managing Information Overload in Your Inbox
As an entrepreneur in today’s fast paced business world, you find yourself facing it sooner or later – Information Overload. In order to keep up with the ever evolving business model, new information is always sought and information overload becomes the daily grind.
So, how do you keep that steady information stream from becoming overwhelming? Simply put, you must manage the information as it comes in. It’s like the game Tetris. In the beginning you’re doing well keeping the decks cleared. As the pieces fall, you turn and twist them, line them up and clear the row. Then as the clock ticks, speed begins to build, first one layer builds, then another and another. There are gaping holes that you suddenly can’t fill. You start to scramble, shoving pieces here and there, no longer thinking about the flow and alignment. Before you know it – GAME OVER.
Your e-mail inbox can sometimes resemble a Tetris grid. Important emails are starting to pile up, eventually lost in a long stack as new ones fall on top. Emails are pushed into folders with no systems in place for follow-up, archiving or review. You are no longer managing your inbox, it’s managing you.
Here are five tips to put into practice and take back control of your inbox.
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