A Few Small Businesses Organizing Tips

A big part of business success is being organized and keeping it that way. So here are a few tips to help:

1. Create procedures
Even the most mundane procedure in your business should be documented so everyone knows exactly what needs to be done and how it needs to be done. For example, incoming paperwork should be processed in a way that it is processed through a single handling process of action and then filing. This type of policy keeps those disturbing piles of printed matter from cluttering desks and being either difficult or impossible to locate.

 

2. Set a schedule
Small businesses tend to run wide open for as long as possible as long as there is work that needs to be done. To avoid burnout and to promote a sane working environment, however, office hours should be set, with scheduled breaks, so everyone involved including workers and customers knows what to expect when they arrive and when they can come and go. This structure makes it easier and more predictable to work for a small company.

3. Use virtual assistants
Repetitive tasks like editing documents, printing reports or answering phones can be done by anyone, so consider using one of the many virtual assistant services that are springing up to get the routine work done at a super-low cost to your business. This frees up your time and others’ for productive work.

4. Have a computer backup plan
Small businesses often end up being disabled for days or weeks at a time just because a key computer or server crashed, losing all the information it contained. Small businesses should have a backup plan in place where all their computers, servers and external storage devices are backed up so when the worst happens, the work can go on. Consider using one of the modern online backup services, so you always have a copy of your work.

Read more… keyorganization

Quote of the day….

‘Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.’

-Steve Jobs

LDP wine of the week- The Boland Cellar Reserve No 1 Merlot 2009.

This week’s LDP wine of the week is the Veritas gold winner, the Boland Cellar Reserve No 1 Merlot 2009.

A full bodied wine with firm, yet soft tannins. An impressive core of rich and ripe fruit is complemented by soft oak flavours. Chocolate & violets hints add further interest. The intense red colour invites you to smell the concentrated flavour. As with all our single vineyard wines, it is ultimately defined by its length, allowing for a lingering aftertaste that will stay long after the last sip.

Unfiltered and naturally fermented.

Read more… bolandwines

A Few Small Business Success Tips

Small business success can be achieved in many ways, but here are a few simple guidelines to the road of success:

1. Target
   You are not all things to all people. Decide on your niche–narrow your focus and broaden your appeal.
2. Be Different
   If your competitors are doing it, don’t. Stand out from an overcrowded marketplace where so much of the advertising and products look the same.
3. Build a Team
   Don’t hire an employee to fill a position. Employ a person to be part of a team to build your business.
4. Be Fast
   Time is the most precious commodity. When delivery is expected Friday, show up Thursday afternoon. Return calls and emails now.
5. Say Thank You
   A lot. Tell your customers and employees how much you appreciate them. Better yet, do it the old fashioned way: take pen to paper and write them a note.
6. Be Consistent
   Make sure your business has a consistent look and feel. A customer must get the same flavor from everyone within your organization. Always.
7. Smile
   Throw out the reasons you think people buy from you like price, product quality or your warranty. They buy because they like you.
8. Fanatical Optimism
   The glass must always be half full. Attitude will always win out in the end and infect all of those around you.
9. Sell Soft
   Don’t ever hard sell. Solve problems. Satisfy wants. Do what is truly best for your customer.
10. Leave Your Comfort Zone
    Never accept the idea that this is the way you’ve always done it. Never accept that a new idea or technology could never work for you.

Source: marketing.about

Quote of the day…

‘Rule No. 1: never lose money. Rule No. 2: don’t forget rule No. 1’

-Warren Buffett

LDP wine of the week- Welmoed Merlot 2011.

This week’s LDP wine of the week is the Welmoed Merlot 2011.

This is a great value for money wine.

The palate shows ripe berry fruit with a hint of mint and a spicy edge. Nose reminiscent of mulberries cassis and plums with underlying nuances of wood and vanilla.

Medium to full bodied wine with well-integrated wood balanced ripe fruit mid-palate and a persistent yet soft tannin finish.

Read more… welmoed

A Few Small Business Franchising Tips

If you have a small business that can be easily replicated, then franchising can help to expand your business at a fast pace.

Here are a few franchising tips:

1. Get organized. Think through the process of precisely how your business works. Franchisees will need exact details and guidelines to get their businesses up and running. This process takes some time, but it’s worth it — even if you decide not to launch the franchise option, this will still ultimately help your business run more smoothly. From marketing to signage to business cards to staff training, it all has to be executed in a similar manner. Develop an operations manual to give franchisees a quick way to reference policies and best practices and create an approval process so that you sign off on major decisions.
2. Hire an attorney. Getting expert advice is really crucial during the franchising process. For starters, you’ll need to fill out a Franchise Disclosure Document. It has a very distinct format you need to follow, and it’s important to have a lawyer walk you through this process. You’ll need to set pricing, create a franchise agreement and determine intellectual property protection.
3. Be picky. Just like dating, you should be extremely selective when it comes to choosing franchisees. It’s easy to find people with capital, but are they the right people? Do they have the right background in order to run a business? This is someone who will be representing you, so it needs to be a good fit. After all, you are in this to protect and grow your brand. Set up an interviewing process and know what your deal-breakers are.
4. Build and protect your brand. As a franchisor, your most valuable asset is your brand; protect it at all costs. Your brand represents your culture, your beliefs and your attitude toward your customers. When you franchise, you are giving new people the ability to represent your brand. This is one of the biggest risks of franchising. Clear guidelines should be established for the use of all of the brand assets. You want to be sure that you are sending one clear message from one clear source, and that message is consistent throughout the organization. No detail is too small. This can seem overbearing, but never let anyone use your brand assets in any way, no matter how small, without your prior approval. Monitor everything, pay close attention to videos and pictures, and monitor all social media outlets in a regular and detailed fashion.
5. Choose the right locations. What locations make the most sense for your business? Where do you have brand recognition already? Consider keeping your first few locations close to home, but far enough away that it doesn’t hurt sales at your initial location. That way, you can manage logistics easily. Keep in mind you’ll want to visit these locations in person from time to time, so choose locations with easy access to an airport.

Source: forbes

Quote of the day…

‘I don’t pay good wages because I have a lot of money; I have a lot of money because I pay good wages’

– Robert Bosch

LDP wine of the week-ALTO Shiraz 2007.

This week’s LDP wine of the week is the ALTO Shiraz 2007.

Generous, luscious and seduces the senses with aromas of smoked meat and crushed pepper, black berry fruits and hints of vanilla from gentle oak maturation. The dense concentrated palate offers an abundance of currants, cassis and brambles, with a savoury finish.

Enjoy this wine with Mediterranean dishes such as spicy lamb and meat casseroles. It is also a good partner to roasts, oxtail and even the traditional South African barbeque.

Read more… capelegends

A Few Small Business Time-Saving Tips

Small business owners play many roles and finishing everything daily can seem like a daunting task. So here are a few tips to manage time more efficiently:

1. Plan ahead: Always plan for the following day, or you will find the hours slipping away from you. Good planning helps shield against procrastination and distractions.

2. Prioritize: After planning the next day’s to-do list, number the items. Give top status to the most pressing tasks, and second-tier status to tasks that could wait for another day.

3. Apportion time realistically: Block out a reasonable amount of time for each project. You’ll avoid frustration if you assume that tasks will take longer to accomplish than they should.

4. Avoid over-scheduling: Leave some wiggle-room between tasks. That way, when the inevitable emergency arises, you won’t feel stressed by the pile-up of activities on your list.

5. Don’t multi-task: Contrary to popular belief, multitasking is not a time-saver. People function best when they their full attention to one task at a time.

6. Avoid interruption: Work with only one thing on your desk, in order to avoid distraction. Resist the temptation to check your email before a task is completed.

7. Implement technology: Use technology to your advantage. As you recognize or remember new tasks, mark them in your phone, Blackberry, or computer desktop’s calendar. Use automated reminders to alert you about meetings or scheduled phone calls.

Read more… allbizopps