Rogers Online Business Management for the Agriculture Community

Archive for the ‘Tips and Tricks’ Category

Through the years I have assembled tons of tips from my research, reading, and by helping my clients with their marketing plans. And today I’m going to share three of them with you.

These tips are cost-effective ways to market your business so you can get more clients, increase sales, and increase your wealth!

1. My first tip is very very important and should not be taken lightly. You need to spend 1-hour everyday doing marketing activities. This can be in the form of planning activities and promotions, or actually implementing your plan. If you’re saying to yourself right now how can you fit one more hour into your already busy day…then you need to outsource this activity to your online business manager or virtual assistant–it’s that important!
2. This second tip is as important as the first one and many farmers don’t think it’s necessary in this industry. But let me tell you right now—-You must have a Website! When it comes to today’s consumers we first look to the Internet for information.

   In my everyday travels I may see a small sign or fruit stand alongside the road and quickly record the farm name into the memo feature on my cell phone. Later in the day when I’m reviewing my memos, I start searching the Internet for anything I can find on that Farm. And what do you think happens? Well, the majority of the time I find nothing. Nothing!!!

   Do you know how disappointing that is for me? I saw your sign but couldn’t stop right at that moment. So now I can’t even get a hold of you to find out what type of products you’re selling or if I can even place an order to pick up later. I may never pass your sign again for weeks or maybe months. So guess what…you just lost the sale. How many other sales might you be losing this way?

   It does not have to cost you a thing to get a website up. You don’t need to have all the fancy bells and whistles at first. You just need to get your name and some basic information up on the Internet so people can get a hold of you. I would suggest that you actually start out with a blog design for your website. There are three blog platforms that are easy to set up and use, and affordable. My first recommendation is WordPress.com. This very site is a WordPress site and I love how easy it is to use, and it’s free. My second recommendation is Blogger.com. This platform is also free. Now if you want just a little bit more without having to work hard at setting it up, you can always use TypePad Blogs – Get a 14 Day Free Trial! After your trial the plans start as low as $4.95 per month. You get one-click integration with Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn, plus built-in search engine optimization.

3. Now my third and last tip for today is one that I love. Post your farm on your vehicle. All you need to do is get a pair of magnetic signs either at your local sign shop or take advantage right now from VistaPrint and get a Free Car Door Custom Magnet. Include your farm name, phone number, website, or maybe even a special seasonal offer by ordering many different signs that you can change throughout the year.

If you need help with accomplishing any of these three tips, my staff at Rogers Executive Administrative Services can put together a package that is right for your budget. Just contact us at agriculture@easmyworkload.com or make a consultation appointment right now that is convenient for you by going to our online Appointment Scheduler.

You may be asking yourself how do you keep your reader engaged in your ebook after you spent all that time writing it?

Well often times if you include some anecdotes, testimonials, little stories, photos, graphs, advice, and maybe some tips, you will keep the reader turning the pages. Include some sidebars which are useful for quick, accessible information, and they help break up the density of the page as well.

Make sure you write with a casual, conversational tone rather than a formal tone such as textbook diction. Reader’s respond to the feeling that you are having a conversation with them. Try to break up the length of structure of your sentences so you don’t hypnotize your readers into sleep. Sentences that are all the same length and structure tend to be a good aid for insomnia!

Just remember that good writing takes practice. Lots and lots of practice. Make a schedule to write at least a page a day. Read books and magazines about the process of writing, and jot down tips that jump out at you. The art of writing is a lifetime process; the more you write (and read), the better your writing will become. And the better your writing becomes, the bigger your sales figures.

Do you wish you could be more productive at your computer? There’s good news! There are some things you can do that will allow you to get more done in less time.

You may be surprised at how simple these strategies are, how little some of them have to do with your computer, and how much they have to do with organization!

Here are the top five computer strategies to get more done in less time:

De-clutter. One of the simplest computer strategies is having a clean workspace. When most of us think of our computer, we think of the actual machine, but did you know that the space around your computer is as important as the computer itself?

• When you keep your computing space as tidy as possible, you can get more done because you won’t be distracted by stopping to “clear a path” as you work.
• De-cluttering also means removing old software and files that are taking up too much space. You’ll be surprised how much speedier the machine will feel when you’ve cleared all the junk off your computer!

Run anti-virus software every day. Viruses can slow down your computer or worse. Obviously if your computer is unresponsive, you’ll lose precious time during your workday.

• Running anti-virus software will help you make sure your computer is running at its very best so you don’t lose momentum by waiting for a document to open.
• You’ll also prevent things like hard drive crashes and data loss. So run anti-virus software on your PC or get a Mac.

Organize. A little observed, but very effective, computer strategy is to organize your files and folders in such a way that everything you need is within reach. This way, you can move seamlessly from one task to another without wasting time searching for files.

• Put commonly used files in one place, such as your Documents folder. Also, use full file names so you can easily find what you’re looking for.
• Use a search tool like Google Desktop on the PC or Spotlight on the Mac to easily find files not within reach.

Clean the desktop on your computer. Many people don’t give much thought to their desktop and they may have dozens of unused icons and downloads just taking up space. Keep only the files, folders, and programs you need on your desktop.

•  Delete the icons you don’t use regularly so that you can find what you’re looking for quicker.

Learn the shortcuts. Set a goal to learn something new about the software tools you use the most. There are plenty of options hidden in menus and keyboard shortcuts that can save you time, energy, and sanity.

• Print out a list of common shortcuts and keep it beside your computer for easy reference. When you challenge yourself to learn these new tricks, you’ll get faster and more productive over time.

These are all very simple computer strategies that will help you be more efficient and productive. When you incorporate even one of these strategies into your daily routine, you’ll find that you truly can get more done in less time.

Sayings and quotes about success can have a powerful effect on you. If you take the time to think about the deeper meaning behind the words, you’ll realize how easily you can apply these sayings into your own life to achieve the success you desire.

 Here are the top ten inspirational success quotes, as well as some self-reflection questions to ponder:

 I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life, and that is why I succeed. – Michael Jordan 

• Every failure brings an opportunity for growth and sets you up for future success in a new effort. For example, failing at one job may bring you the opportunity to enjoy great success in another. Learning from failure will lead you to greater achievement.

 It is no use saying, “We are doing our best.” You have got to succeed in doing what is necessary.  - Sir Winston Churchill

• Too often, people use “I did my best” as an excuse for not doing what really needed to be done. Plan and prepare appropriately for the task at hand so that you can do what is required to succeed. Using this results-oriented strategy will help you accomplish your goal.

We are told that talent creates its own opportunities. But it sometimes seems that intense desire creates not only its own opportunities, but its own talents.- Eric Hoffer

• Try new things to spark your passions and develop your talents. You may actually have talents that you’re completely unaware of. When you desire something with a fiery passion, your mind will push you to take action and persevere until you’re successful.

We were born to succeed, not to fail. - William Barclay

• You were put on the Earth to succeed in your pursuits. When you use your God-given gifts, abilities, and strengths to fulfill your purpose, success is within your grasp.

Success is not the key to happiness – happiness is the key to success. -Herman Cain

• When you’re happy with your life and you enjoy every moment of each day, it’s easy to feel the joy of success in the smallest accomplishments. Live joyfully and your positive attitude will attract greater successes.

Success doesn’t come to you – you go to it. – Marva Collins

• You need to take action to achieve your goals and get what you want out of life. Once you define exactly what you want, design a plan of action steps to get you there, and then follow your plan.
  

You must do the thing you think you cannot do. – Eleanor Roosevelt

• This quote is to challenge you. You must overcome your fears that are holding you back in order to become successful.

A great leader’s courage to fulfill his vision comes from passion, not position. – John Maxwell

• Believe in yourself. Know that you can achieve anything. Put your mind to it and be passionate about that which calls your name.

Forget about the consequences of failure. Failure is only a temporary change in direction to set you straight for your next success.- Denis Waitley

• When you fail, opportunities open up to help you succeed. You may need to start your task anew or change your route, but each failure brings you closer to success.

Success is not measured by what you accomplish, but by the opposition you have encountered and the courage with which you have maintained the struggle against overwhelming odds.- Orison Swett Marden

• No matter how tough a situation may be, don’t give up easily. When you persevere through great odds and overcome many challenges to achieve your goal, success is even sweeter!

Self-Reflection Questions:

1. When I suffer a setback, do I still persevere toward my goal?
2. Do I bring passion to my endeavors?
3. Have I designed my action plan to reach my goals? Have I taken swift action to get where I want to be?

Distractions get in the way every day, keeping you from being as productive as you might like. These distractions come in many forms, from ringing doorbells and telephones, to emails and voicemails. It can be a real challenge to stay focused!

How do you go about disregarding all these disturbances to get any work done? It can be tough, but there are ways to reduce the interruptions.

Here are some strategies you can use to control your distractions:

1. Telephone distractions. Unless you’re expecting an important call, turn off your ringers and direct your calls to voicemail. Then only check your voicemail once or twice a day.
   • Return the calls you must, but if you can reply via email, that’s even better. When you send an email reply, you can keep the conversation succinct.
     
2. Email interruptions. Unsubscribe from email lists you don’t need and set up separate email accounts for business and pleasure.This way, when you’re trying to work, you don’t find yourself bombarded with jokes, videos, party invites, or Facebook messages. 
   • Reduce the frequency emails are delivered to your inbox or set your email so you only receive emails when you go in and manually retrieve them in batches.
     
3. The World Wide Web time drain. If you don’t need the internet for your work, stay away from it. You’ll save yourself a lot of wasted time.
   • Fully close web browsers so you eliminate the temptation to surf online.
     
     
4. Co-workers. If you find that co-workers annoy you, try wearing headphones while you work to give the illusion you can’t hear them. It might sound silly, but it eliminates being subjected to endless babble.
   • Another option is to post a Do Not Disturb sign outside of your workspace. Hopefully, your co-workers will know that you mean business and honor it.
     
     
5. Work space clutter. Get rid of any visual clutter – it’s distracting and kills productivity. Seeing unfinished projects or pending work can cause unnecessary stress. This stress can have negative results, like making you unable to focus on the task at hand.
   • Put everything you don’t need for your current project into a drawer or box out of sight if you have to. You can always sort it out carefully when you’re less busy.
   • The same should be said for computer clutter. Eliminate unneeded computer programs and icons to make your computer more efficient. The quicker you’re able to find the file you need, the faster you’ll be able to get back on track.
     
6. Work-at-home distractions. If you work from home, make sure friends and family respect the fact that you’re truly working just like anyone who goes into an office. Some people may have a difficult time understanding this concept, but they’ll comply if you explain it.
   • Avoid doing household chores during your work time. Train your mind to think about these tasks when your work is finished.

When distractions do arise, whether at home or at the office, make notes and deal with them at an appropriate time at the end of the day. If someone pops by to chat, stand up to let them know your chatting time is limited. Don’t allow them to sit or get cozy.

Of course, you still need to set aside time to handle these distractions. You don’t want to be so restrictive on yourself that you burn out. After all, everyone benefits from a little guilt-free downtime! It’s okay to let your mind wander, browse the web, or do whatever appeals to you, just make sure it doesn’t creep into your work time.

Follow these tips every day to make effective use of your time and energy. When you eliminate distractions, you’ll find that you can get more done in half the time!