Motivated To Learn

I’ve been going through old files lately, trying to decide what I no longer need to keep. One of the items I came across was a print newsletter I wrote fifteen years ago. I had forgotten all about it, but it served as a reminder of my pursuits through the years. Even though I was working in a university library at the time, I wanted to have my own business.

I rented a mailbox and wrote out a four page newsletter filled with tips on saving time and money. Then I had a few hundred copies printed and delivered them to the houses in my neighbourhood. There wasn’t much response and after a couple of issues, I decided it wasn’t the best use of my time and stopped printing.

But my dream of a business didn’t die. It smoldered for a few more years, then rose again in the form of an Internet cafe. More time and money spent that time, but great experience. I learned to deal with government regulations, to lease equipment, to order supplies, to provide good customer service. I realized that I didn’t enjoy sitting in a shop all day, waiting for people to come in.

Next, I started training people to use computers and learned that I preferred groups to individuals. I found that I loved to plan lessons and to motivate and encourage others to be the best they could be.

Now I’ve come full circle. I’m back to writing, but this time my audience is virtual and my expenses are minimal. I still teach and motivate and encourage. As the years go by, my desire to learn and achieve is still a driving force in my life. And I still want to be an entrepreneur – it’s in the blood!

Technorati Tags: small business, entrepreneur

If you notice the top of the page, I’ve changed my opt-in form. Aweber has a number of new graphic web forms that in many cases have increased the number of people who are signing up for email lists. So I decided to test and see if a more visually appealing form makes a difference in my subscriber rate. I’ll keep you posted on my results.

As well as the new web forms, Aweber has upgraded their response messages. When someone gives you their name and email address, no longer do they simply get a text message telling them to confirm their subscription. Now the messages can also be audio or video. What a great way for your new subscribers to remember you.

Using an autoresponder such as Aweber allows you to contact potential clients with the click of a button, no matter how many subscribers you have. There is no better way to keep your business in the minds of your target audience.

Technorati Tags: Aweber, opt-in form, mailing list

The beginning of a new year is the perfect time to organize your files, both physical and on the computer. Weed out all the duplicate or outdated information. Decide on a filing system that works for you.

I find file management to be one of the hardest areas of organization for me. I tend to over organize and end up with three times as many file categories as I need. Then when it’s time to find a document, either on my hard drive or in my file cabinet, it takes endless searching. For instance, a report about Twitter could be in the Social Media file, or the Traffic file, or the Internet one. I could have duplicates in all those places, but for me it seems like a waste of paper or space to do that.

I’ve read a number of organizing books and have tried numerous filing methods. But I still haven’t found the right one for me. Right now I’m reading “Organizing Plain And Simple”. Maybe I’ll find my answer there. I would love to hear how you keep track of your files, both on the computer and in your office.

Technorati Tags: file management, organizing, filing

I’ve added a page called “Email Marketing” to the links at the top of the site. There you’ll find a number of articles that will help you keep in touch with your clients. You’ll also notice an  ‘Order’  button above each article’s text – click that and you’ll get your first month of Aweber’s autoresponder service for just one dollar. Use the service to send automatic updates, one time offers, or a regular newsletter.

An opt-in form that collects the names and email addresses of potential clients offers a quick and easy way to keep in touch with your target market. By allowing you their contact information, these people are giving you permission to tell them more about what you offer. Used wisely, email marketing is useful for every business person.

Technorati Tags: email marketing, autoresponder, Aweber

While Twitter is my favourite social marketing tool, it works even better when coupled with Facebook. Not the personal Facebook site that you may share with your family and close friends. For your business, it’s best to create a Facebook Fan page that isn’t linked to any private Facebook account.

To accomplish that, go to the Facebook main page and at the bottom “Create a Page”.  Your Fan Page title should contain the keywords that potential customers are looking for when they search for your product or service. By using some of the additional Facebook apps, you can supply contact information, articles you’ve written, and a questions and answers page. Include an opt-in form to add people to a mailing list in return for some  valuable free information on your topic .

Once you’ve set up the Fan Page, it can be linked to your Twitter account. That way, you build a following on both social sites with minimal work on your part. Facebook and Twitter, along with your photo and links back to your website, provide a way for people to Know, Like, and Trust you – all crucial factors before a potential client spends their hard earned money.

Technorati Tags: Facebook Fan pages, social marketing, Twitter