When we think of automation, many different things come to mind. Some people imagine computers, whilst others picture factory lines and robotic machinery. Automation occurs everywhere. It’s in our alarm clocks, our ovens… our computer calendar reminders and even our wristwatches. Automation is a part of modern life, working away without our noticing. What about in ...…
A lot of small business owners have a gut feeling that they should be using social media platforms to create a buzz and attract people, but they aren’t sure if they should expend the time. First, let’s look at the reasons why businesspeople use Facebook: Consumer Brand building Personal branding Establishing yourself as a thought ...…
Yesterday I discussed with a close friend about what it takes to make oneself financially free. This friend has been undergoing a lot of personal development over the years and has a very clear view of what he wants to achieve in a short period of time. My argument was that to become financially free ...…
If you’re a micro or small business owner you may be wondering if a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system is worth the cost or time… It’s a fair question, one that is often debated online or in magazines, because small business is naturally less resourced. So today we look at the benefits of a CRM. ...…
If you’re not utilising your time wisely, you could be leaving a lot of money on the table. Not your table – someone else’s! As a Small Business Owner, it’s easy to find yourself working long hours, doing everything you can, winding up with a few hours at the end of the day to eat ...…
Through my work I meet many marketing managers or business owners intent on marketing their products with all manner of selling propositions to various markets. This could be called ‘too many targets’ syndrome. For any given product, there is a primary target market and possibly secondary markets. If you are trying to capture two different ...…
As I come across a lot of different business types in the small business sector, I often notice similar problems crop up within the very heart of the business: sales & marketing. SME owners without adequate systems often struggle to keep up with different enquiries from different sources, trying to remember who gets what and ...…
You probably already have some way of recording customer contact details, right? Excel spreadsheets, Outlook groups, post it notes, or even a database that was set up once, but is now gathering dust. Is this costing you time and profits? Some micro business owners feel caught in the middle – they do not have the ...…
“Simplify, streamline, automate”. They’re words you’ve heard before and might attribute to large corporate exercises to cut costs, save money and downsize. True in some cases, but streamlining is not just reserved for the corporate world. Where small business owners suffer is in the constant grind of daily tasks, never-ending work, and responding in a ...…
We all can attest to how busy life has become… but how do we make sure that ‘busyness’ is productive to our business? A busy business owner is not necessarily a profitable and productive one. A fresh perspective If you start to contemplate a fresh lifestyle change, for example, taking the family around Australia for ...…