Why You Should Be On Facebook All Day As A Business Owner

Yes, you read that right. I am a firm believer that your business can grow and excel if you know how to use Facebook properly. 

We've all read the articles, blogs and case studies. They don't always agree either. 

Some will strongly suggest that employers should allow their employees to use Facebook as it has been shown to increase their motivation to work. A little peek on their social media pages won't harm, right?

Yet other bloggers and professionals strongly caution business owners that the social network with almost 1 billion active users per day is a time stealer and should be avoided during normal working hours so that productivity is maximized. 

We even have handy tools like Hootsuite, buffer, and similar services that help us schedule our social media updates so we can remain focused and productive without actually logging into the website. 

However, I have found that using Facebook as a mode of communication for prospective and current clients is faster and more efficient than emails. 

Monday Motivation for the Business Owner

It is Monday! Time to get back to work...

Celebrate GroundHog Day with Some Changes In Your Content Marketing

This morning was exceptionally cool for February. In this part of South Texas, I have become accustomed to two seasons: spring and summer. Not surprisingly, for Groundhog Day, it has been predicted that we will have 6 more weeks of winter weather. 

No complaints here. 

This day got me thinking about the movie GroundHog Day, starring Bill Murray and how it relates to our content marketing routines - how we create and develop content to share across the web. 

In the film, the weatherman is going about his regular routine to predict the weather but gets stuck in a time warp that leaves him repeating the same day, over and over. Sound familiar?

The movie is hilarious and Bill Murray has never disappointed in any role I've seen him in (from Ghostbusters to Scrooged). However, this movie presents a very real issue that many of us can face when approaching our content marketing routines - getting stuck, repeating the same mistakes over and over again, and sometimes unsure of how to get out of the "time warp."

In the film, Bill Murray had to repeat the same day until he was able to figure out where he went wrong, and get it right. As business owners we learn the value of repeating the same processes and create a daily routines that work. This can also help us improve our content marketing efforts, including writing articles and publishing blog posts on a regular basis.

However, we should assess the profitability of what we are doing and then decide if should continue to repeat the routine or not. Is your content marketing routine working? Do you even have one?

Four Ways to Start Marketing Your Product or Service with No Money

You have a great product and your services are in demand. You need to let people know that you have something they could use. Cashflow is always an issue for new entrepreneurs and business owners. Even if your business plan was successful and you were able to secure funds for your organization, you have to maximize every penny.

Marketing your product and services can be tricky but your passion and belief in it is the very first ingredient to success in this area. Without a passion that may sometimes annoy people, you will quickly be discouraged by people's lack of enthusiasm and give up. Giving up is not an option. I repeat, giving up is not an option. So here is what you do:

The Mistake of Multitasking

Being able to juggle several tasks and multi task is a skill that may or may not prove to be an asset for business professionals. Job descriptions in every level of an organization routinely mention the need for an employee that can work on several projects concurrently usually within a dynamically changing work environment. 

But is multitasking an effective and efficient way to accomplish entrepreneurial tasks?

Type in "the argument against multitasking" in your Google search box, and you will find that several professionals in diverse industries believe multitasking to be a hindrance. The argument seems to be growing in popularity that accomplishing tasks in a sequential manner is far more efficient than attempting to do many at once. 

Perhaps this is the point of the old childhood exercise of patting ones head while rubbing their stomach at the same time. In this exercise, it is easy to see that doing both actions causes one action to be slowed, or stopped altogether. 

The mistake in multitasking is assuming that the same quality of work provided for each project will be the same. Even while completing several projects, it is important to focus on one project at a time so that attention to small details is not compromised. The quality of work is far more important than quantity, especially in service based industries where customer satisfaction is directly related to return business and referrals.

Imagine walking into your local supermarket and having the cashier check out your groceries and someone else's at the same time. This would cause many problems from a customer perspective:

• Customer will not receive the same attention they would have without competing for the cashiers service
• Customer is more likely to be annoyed by the above fact alone; but add the increasing possibility of double scans or money errors and the customer could become irate
• Customers with an agenda to steal would have more opportunity to do so

The issues from the company perspective would include:

• Slowed productivity in the store
• Higher rate of complaints from annoyed customers
• Higher rate of errors in handling cash and resolving customer concerns

As entrepreneurs, multitasking can spell disaster. When working on several projects, it is better to develop a schedule where one project will be worked on at certain times before moving on to another. Scheduling the day so that each project has a time slot with small goals or objectives will produce better quality work allowing the brain to focus on a particular issue. Focusing is difficult to achieve when the mind is attempting to process several requests at the same time.

Even if duties cannot be completed in the time allotted, working in sequence saves time, increases quality, and reduces possibility of mistakes and stress. Just as computers slow when too many requests are sent at once, so does the brain take longer to process requests when bombarded by too many at once. 

Do you disagree or have an experience you can share about multitasking and its effect on your business?

ChrissyBiz Solutions provides clients with customized, results-driven web marketing strategies. Our primary business writing duties include: article marketing,  search engine optimized web copy, blog content, social media, press releases, and newsletters  designed to drive traffic to your website and influence buyers decisions when purchasing products and services.

Contact ChrissyBiz today to discuss the impact that web marketing copy can have on your business.

Choosing the Right Social Media Platform for Your Business

Several platforms provide businesses with opportunities to expand operations, advertise, market and gain valuable information about their target markets. Be aware that using every platform may be advantageous for some businesses and industries, while using only one or two will provide maximum benefit for other businesses. Let's take a look at some popular platforms and their best uses for your business:

Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, & Youtube best uses for your business.

Continue reading on Examiner.com 

ChrissyBiz Solutions provides clients with customized, results-driven web marketing strategies. Our primary business writing duties include: article marketing,  search engine optimized web copy, blog content, social media, press releases, and newsletters  designed to drive traffic to your website and influence buyers decisions when purchasing products and services.

Contact ChrissyBiz today to discuss the impact that web marketing copy can have on your business.

Seeds and Dreams: Parallel Processes, Similar Results

Have you ever thought about how wonderful a small seed really is? Think about it for a moment. You can take something very small, plant it in the ground, give it water, and it will grow millions of times larger than it's original size. Let's examine what the seed that grows into a tree can teach us about the dream that becomes reality:

1. The size of the seed is irrelevant: Diverse plants and trees across the planet all begin with seeds. While not all seeds are the same size, none of the seeds are the same size as the finished product. Seeds are so small they can be easily lost, trampled, and thrown away. Similarly, when you conceive a vision, have a goal or dream, it begins small, and it is easy to lose if not careful. You can share your vision with the wrong people and throw your seed away because they could not see what you see. Instead of planting it, you shared it -- prematurely nonetheless. You might share it with close friends or family members that eventually trample all over it and discourage you to the point of quitting. Seeds and dreams are the similar: small, fragile, easily destroyed, but also potentially great, larger than you could ever imagine, and able to produce more seed. 

2. Soil is very important: Preparation for the ground in which you plant your seed is very important and will determine the success or failure of your seed. You can plant prime seed in dry, infertile soil, and it will not bring forth what it is supposed to. Instead, you have planted perfectly good seed into bad ground. Position yourself and prepare so that your seed is planted into good ground. Don't be the man or woman with the greatest idea and poorest execution skills. You will need to prepare in advance for the success of your crop. Do you expect your vision to come to fruition? Or is it just a great conversation starter at business functions? You have to be serious and being serious requires turning over the soil before you plant the seed, and making sure the ground is capable of producing fruit. Timing, resources, and your attitude might be the soil in which you can plant your dream -- if they are not right, how can you expect the seed to take root and grow?
3. Cultivate the seed: Beside the initial preparation, watering the seed and making sure it has enough sunlight will be determining factors in the seeds success. Gathering the funding and support for your dream is very important to bringing it to pass. However, without proper attention after the seed is in the ground, it will not produce what you want. It may take root and actually spring up into something, but not what you envisioned. When you get your business off the ground and your first clients have began to applaud you for your expertise, continue to work hard. Do not allow complacency to stunt the growth of your dream or rob you of its full potential. The entire process weeds out the dreamers from the go-getters, the talkers from the doers. Soon, you will see that small seed bloom into something that everyone can see. You never have to share your seed in the beginning because if you stay the course, all will see it grow.

4. Get rid of the weeds: There will be thorns, weeds, and days you water the seed too much or give it too little sun. Mistakes happen, but you must pull up the weeds and thorns immediately. Anyone in your life that chokes your dream or vision and leaves you feeling drained or lifeless must be removed immediately if your seed is to see full growth. Don't be surprised when they come and don't waste much time wondering why they are there or their purpose -- pluck them and throw them away. Your seed is in jeopardy the longer you allow them to stay near the seed. In fact, they could be stealing essential nutrients from your seed! Prepping the soil and the daily cultivating will mean nothing if you allow the weeds to stay. A decision must be made: whether you will continue to grow a dream or will waste time on thorns. They cannot dwell together very long. One will thrive, one will barely survive. Sometimes they can do a great job of blending in, but the careful planter can easily determine the real from the fake. 

5. Allow it to grow and mature: There will come a time when your dream and vision has been monitored, pruned, and cultivated to the point it appears to be growing without any of your help at all, but be careful. No matter how large or great the dream has become, it is never completely "out of the woods" from destruction. The good news is that maintaining your dream and vision may be slightly easier than planting, growing, and cultivating it. Not because you have become an expert but because you have experience. Regardless, do not allow your experience to make you feel immune to the real threats that still remain. While your dream is no longer a seed and easily trampled, it is now large and impossible to hide. The threat of trampling or not seeing the seed grow is no longer there, but now that all can see it, new threats emerge. While the weeds can no longer come and choke it, it can still be axed. Use wisdom in keeping the dream, reminding yourself of the work involved in bringing it to fruition.

ChrissyBiz Solutions provides clients with customized, results-driven web marketing strategies. Our primary business writing duties include: article marketing,  search engine optimized web copy, blog content, social media, press releases, and newsletters  designed to drive traffic to your website and influence buyers decisions when purchasing products and services.

Contact ChrissyBiz today to discuss the impact that web marketing copy can have on your business.

How To Position Yourself and Promote Your Product or Service with a Press Release

Press Releases are a way to notify the public of what is going on and give them access to information that would otherwise be a secret. Is your product, service, or expertise a secret? You can begin to use the same power in the press release for your product or service, event, or promotion. The problem is that we see so many "less than newsworthy" releases that we may tend to forget the necessity and advantage of them. They serve many purposes for many people, but here I will write about positioning yourself as an expert as well as promoting your product or service with a release. Obvious promotion of yourself is not allowed in a good release. However, well written press releases dispense information that can be consumed by your target market, and leaves them with the impression that you are the best person to solicit for their needs.

Position Yourself

Your press release is one of many, so what makes you the person capable and sought-after for the product or service you are writing about? You must position yourself as an expert. This takes time and will not come overnight, but you can do it with proper preparation, educating yourself on your product or service, and commitment to endure all obstacles or setbacks.

Writing articles and blogs about your product or service will help establish you as an expert. Interacting on social media websites such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn will also help. You can use these platforms to answer questions, find out what your market is interested in learning about, and common questions / issues associated with it. Stay updated with all news related to your product or service via newsletters, Google Alerts, or any other type of news outlet. 

Gathering this information will help you come up with a relevant press release campaign that not only displays your knowledge and skills, but also gives prospective clients information they are already seeking. Creating content within your releases that pertains to already needed information is a traffic generator as well. People are interested in concise, relevant information about their topics of interests; press releases provide the medium and you provide the information they need. 

Promote Your Product or Service

You have all of the information you need for your target market, and you know that press releases are a cost effective and efficient way to give them the information. The next step is to promote that product or service without being pushy, or sounding like the neighborhood used car salesman. How do you sell something without selling something?

• First you will  target the release to the audience that would benefit from your product or service. Do not be general or attempt to gain everyone's attention. You know who you are aiming at, so talk directly to them!
• Next, present the need that your product or service will meet. This could be as simple as writing about how oil changes will extend the life of an engine to sell your new oil change package, or writing about the necessity for proper grammar when speaking to people in public. You must present the need so you can present the solution. 
• Be sure that the need is related to what you are selling and that you can easily tie in your solution to the need. You must not forget that this is a news release, so it must be newsworthy. The best way to get newsworthy ideas is to peruse the internet or your local news to see where the need is, what people are writing and asking about, and how you can respond to their need. For example, if you live in a community where there is a recent spike in head lice, you can write about your hair salon and how the shampoo used is effective in killing lice. What about a laundry detergent that can aid in the eradication of the bugs eggs in the sheets? Get creative but remember that people want news, something that will help, and ultimately a problem solver.
• Incorporate quotes, research or other interesting information that adds credibility to your claim. If your shampoo will kill the above mentioned lice bugs, why should anyone believe you? Can you offer a guarantee?
• Make sure the release is no shorter than 3 complete paragraphs before the "About Company" section, and no more than a standard page in length. With all of the information available online, people will likely skim the information and move on if they don't find anything interesting. Remember your browsing habits online.

ChrissyBiz Solutions provides clients with customized, results-driven web marketing strategies. Our primary business writing duties include: article marketing,  search engine optimized web copy, blog content, social media, press releases, and newsletters  designed to drive traffic to your website and influence buyers decisions when purchasing products and services.

Contact ChrissyBiz today to discuss the impact that web marketing copy can have on your business.

Vision Statement How-To with Example

What is A Vision Statement? Your company vision statement briefly yet thoroughly  describes where you see yourself in the future. What do you envision for your company, for your customers, for yourself?

Reflect on your resources and those you hope to acquire -- this will aid in constructing a complete vision statement. Aim high and work tirelessly to make your vision a reality.

In preparation for expansion and growth you must consider this beforehand so that it is not clouded by any decision you are facing in the future. Whether you are an entrepreneur or a small team -- vision is similar to mission in that it is a guiding force. Mission is more of a present tense statement with descriptors while vision is futuristic. Without vision, it can be very difficult to come to decisions within your organization. 

Breaking Projects into Smaller Tasks to Increase Productivity

The first post about improving productivity outlines exact steps in assessing your current productivity level as well as identifying the obstacles to that productivity. The second step in this process is to:

Evaluate Individual Tasks / Break Projects Up into Smaller Tasks

Small business owners that work from home (which is the primary audience for which these tips are written) can become overwhelmed by their everyday duties. When duties are taken apart and made into separate tasks that are actually part of a bigger project, completion is quicker and easier. For example: As a business writer, one duty for my day may be to "write press release" for a client. In all actuality, I need to dismantle this into specific duties like 1. brainstorm subject and catchy press title 2. gather required information 3. first compilation 4. spell check 5. send to client for proofread. Doing so will show me how productive I am throughout the day.

These individual tasks will help increase my productivity because I now have a mental picture of the individual things I have to accomplish before the project is complete, and also allows me to see other tasks I can fit in between. I am not advocating multitasking, rather breaking each duty into smaller tasks so that if there are breaks or spaces in completing the whole project, that time can be used wisely and be efficiently scheduled (more on this in a later post). In the example of writing a press release, I may spend a lot of time brainstorming the title or searching the internet for keywords but after the first compilation and it is sent to the client for approval, while the entire task is not yet complete, I am able to fit in another task from another project.

The individual tasks are also helpful in case there are legitimate reasons you have to leave your home office. While taking a family member to a doctor appointment, you can write down press release titles and possible keywords you want to incorporate. Prior to breaking the duty into individual tasks, if you are only concerned about writing the entire press release but unaware of the specific tasks involved, time spent at the doctor is not productive. The point is that you are making each moment within your workday count. When you begin to break all of your overall duties into smaller tasks, they are more manageable and easier to benchmark / measure the effectiveness of your productivity throughout the day. That 4 hour workday just increased by an additional 30 minutes just because you are prepared for your time out of the office.

While there is much debate on whether or not multitasking is effective, I would suggest that if multitasking is something you do, breaking projects into these individual tasks will greatly help you. Back to the previous example of the press release, lets add to the to-do list editing a professional document for a client. For that day, you may not be able to completely edit that doc, but in between tasks for the press release you may pick it up and begin to edit it in chunks.

The goal is that eventually the document is completely edited and the press release is done. Factoring in the inevitable presence of obstacles in your workday, you have greatly improved the amount you are accomplishing in both tasks when you evaluate the individual tasks involved in completing both projects. While neither the press release or book editing is yet complete, within 2 days the press release can be done and the book editing well on it's way. Without evaluating specific tasks for these, you may be hesitant to put off the book editing until you have more time. But more time is not what you really need, it is more efficient use of the time you have.

Waiting for the perfect work day to accomplish bigger tasks will never net anything and keep you frustrated as your bigger projects pile up. Every day has its own unique challenges and demands. Instead weave the smaller tasks of the big project into your day, even in between other tasks (in case you get bored with one task easily like myself), and you will see a dramatic increase in your productivity. Instead of not even beginning to edit that book, within 2 days you could have two chapters complete when you have already broken each project up into individual tasks.

ChrissyBiz Solutions provides clients with customized, results-driven web marketing strategies. Our primary business writing duties include: article marketing,  search engine optimized web copy, blog content, social media, press releases, and newsletters  designed to drive traffic to your website and influence buyers decisions when purchasing products and services.

Contact ChrissyBiz today to discuss the impact that web marketing copy can have on your business.