Category: Run a Home Business

    6 Perks of CRM Software

    There are many benefits of using customer relationship management (CRM) software. Even a very small business can get a major boost from intelligent CRM software. If you have been struggling to boost your bottom line, then you should at least consider a customer relationship software solution.

    We could spend a lot of time breaking down all of the benefits, but let’s start by looking at six key perks of CRM software.

    #1. Faster, better decision-making

    Decisions should be made based on data not your gut. Gut decisions sometimes work out, but wouldn’t you rather rely on empirical data? At it’s roots CRM is a decision-making tool that will help you and your staff access data to make informed decisions. More data = better decisions.

    #2. Better time management

    Your employees will not miss important parts of the customer interaction process. They will know when and who to update and contact when the time is right. They will have access to data like customer personal information, purchases or product information and delivery schedules on location and can make decisions or reports on the spot.

    #3. Do business from any device, at any time, from anywhere in the world

    With CRM anyone in your organization will be able to get access to critical data from anywhere in the world on just about any platform. With CRM’s mobile capabilities your sales reps will be able to check real-time inventory; check customer credit limits; receive alerts like out-of-stock items; and process approval from anywhere in minutes rather than days.

    #4. Automatic updates of bookkeeping files saves you from accounting hassles

    Most CRM software can link up with existing spreadsheet or bookkeeping software. Think about all the time your employees will save not having to input data into your bookkeeping files.

    #5. Cross-company communication improves

    Shared customer interactions, journal entries, notes, and calendars means everyone in your organization is on the same page. When everyone is on the same page, more will work get done and in a more cohesive way.

    #6. Better customer service

    A solid CRM setup makes sure that everyone who needs it has full access to all interactions with a customer. This includes tracking customer feedback, and that can only improve your customer service. Since everyone in your organization will have complete access to all customer interactions, it will be easier to spot issues, take action and deliver better customer service.

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    The Best Office Apps for iOS and Android

    When it comes to working on your smartphone, this will likely ultimately come down to using office software. If your business requires custom software then you will be unlikely to be able to find this specifically for your device but if what you need to do is update a spreadsheet or edit a Word document then there are lots of options. And if you have a Bluetooth keyboard, you can actually get very productive with this software!

    Read on and we’ll look at the best office software available for iOS and Android that you can start using to get more done.

    Office365
    Relatively recently, Microsoft finally unveiled a mobile version of their full suite of office apps. That means you can now use Word, Excel and Powerpoint wherever you are. This is exciting news for a lot of people and businesses but note that you will need an Office365 subscription in order to make use of these apps.

    Google Drive
    If you don’t have a subscription then the next best option may actually be an app that doesn’t market itself as an office app at all. Google Drive is first and foremost a cloud storage option but what makes it interesting is the fact that it also offers office software in the form of Google Docs. Again you can create and edit Word files, spreadsheets and more and more and all those changes will be reflected live online for those back in the office.

    Multiscreen Multitasking THD
    A limitation of most mobile devices is the lack of split screen option. This means that if you need to write something while looking at a website as a resource, you don’t have any option other than to keep flicking back and forth between the browser and word processor apps.
    Multiscreen Multitasking THD solves this pain point by giving you multiple ‘mini apps’ built into a single environment that can be resized and dragged around the screen. Thus you can write while looking at a website. Unfortunately this is only available for Android.

    Kingsoft Office, Documents To Go
    If you’re looking for a free alternative to Office365, then either of these two options will do the trick. Both offer a full range of options and even more than the mobile version of MSOffice. Kingsoft has the slight edge in terms of usability but with either of these there’s no need to shell out for anything expensive.

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    How to Have an Entirely Automated Business Model

    Biz systemization is the process of systemizing a business such that it can run more efficiently and such that you can take a step back and allow it to operate more independently. This then means that you as the business owner or manager will have more time to either take out of work, or more time to spend getting new clients, marketing and expanding the company.
    But some entrepreneurs take this much further. In some cases, businesses can be entirely 100% automated to the point where they completely run themselves and you actually just sit back and watch the money role in. This is what’s known as ‘passive income’ and for many people it represents the ultimate business achievement. But how is this possible and how can you get a slice of the action?

    What is Passive Income?
    Passive income is money you make while you’re sleeping or on holiday. This doesn’t mean that you didn’t work for that money but what it does mean is that you are no longer trading time directly for money.
    An example of such a business model is selling any kind of digital product. This is a product like an eBook or an app that is entirely digital and has no physical form. Thus these products have no overheads and if you have a site where customers can buy them and download them, then you will have no need to do anything to generate income once you have the site up and running and you have marketed it sufficiently.
    Add an app to the app store with a name that people are searching for and it will get downloads indefinitely once it has been uploaded. Of course extra marketing and improving the app will aid your profits  but they are not necessary.
    This is basically like creating one system that can generate you income without your input at all. The best thing about this type of business model is that it allows you to spend your time however you want to and even better, you can create as many of these business models as you like.

    More Examples of Passive Income Business Models

    Other examples of passive income business models include:

    • Letting affiliates sell your product
    • Setting up a website to sell an affiliate’s product
    • Making money from advertising on a website, app or video
    • Being a contractor and getting commission on work that others do for clients you find
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    The Best Project Management Tools for Your Team

    Managing a team and handling a project by e-mail can be a tough process, and the larger your team and tougher the project, the more complex this becomes. This is why project management tools and apps are so crucial to the workflow of countless businesses, and it’s why you should definitely invest in some if you hope to complete your projects on time and to the best of your ability.
    Here, we will take a look at some of the best project management tools and apps out there, which should give you a good idea of what this software can do for you and how you can get the most from it.

    Asana
    Asana is definitely one of the most popular tools for managing projects. Essentially, it lets you create lists of tasks and subtasks and, then, lets you use these for goal setting, brainstorming, creating agendas, and more. You can view the tasks by due date and project and look at conversations within tasks and subtasks.
    Asana is free for teams of up to 15 members, each with reasonable rates after that. It integrates seamlessly with Dropbox, Evernote, WordPress, and other tools, too, but the UI is, unfortunately, rather sparse and unfriendly.

    Basecamp
    Basecamp allows you to organize projects, as well as to upload files and information pertaining to those projects. You can view multiple projects at once, utilize a built-in calendar, and view your personal activity log. It’s a little more flexible and powerful than Asana, but it’s also not free, with fees starting at $20 a month. That said, there is a free trial for the first sixty days, so there’s no harm in giving it a go.

    Trello
    Trello works by using boards that contain lists of cards, each with attachments, conversations, checklists, and more. The cards can have multiple members, and compared with the other options on this list, Trello is by far the most intuitive and user-friendly. The app is popular, not just in businesses for this reason, but also among the wider user-base.
    Trello is also free, with upgrade options, of course, and has tons of keyboard shortcuts for rapid workflow. Aging is also a neat feature, which allows unused cards to start disappearing over time to prevent a large backlog of tasks building up.
    Trello is a great starting point, though, perhaps not as feature rich as Basecamp for larger corporations.

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    The Best Accessories for Your Business Phone

    If you’re looking to get more out of your phone in a business setting, then sometimes what you need is the right accessory. Unlike a PC, it’s unfortunately not possible to upgrade the internal specifications of your mobile device but with the right extras you can nevertheless get a lot more from your device and practically upgrade its ability that way.

    Here we will look at some of the top accessories to consider for your smartphone that will turn it into a powerhouse of a productivity station.

    Keyboard
    A Bluetooth keyboard will give you an input method that is just as quick and accurate as that on your computer. This way, when you’re caught without your PC you can load up something like Office365 and start writing wherever you are.
    To get even more from a Bluetooth keyboard, consider getting a foldable one. As long as it’s sturdy enough when you type on it, this will let you fold your keys and store them in your pocket when you’re on the move!

    Mouse
    For Androids only you can also use mouse input. It’s a little janky as it works the same way that touch input does (meaning you have to drag pages to transition on your home screen). Nevertheless, it’s much easier when you’re navigating the web for instance and inputting data with your keyboard.

    Micro USBUSB Connector
    This is another one for Android only, but with a Micro USB to USB connector you can plug any USB device into your Android as though it were a PC. Of course not everything will work but there are many things that will – such as memory pens for instance.

    SD Card
    This will only work on some specific Androids but if you have expandable memory then this is a must!

    Case and Stand
    If you will be working with a keyboard and mouse then you should get a case that doubles as a stand so that you can more easily see it while you type.

    Hands Free
    For improving your productivity and workflow you should never underestimate the power of a hands free kit. This way you can multitask and catch up with correspondence while on the move or working with your hands meaning that you don’t waste time on hold or in lengthy conversations.

    Stylus
    If you have a Note 4 then you’ll have a ‘real’ stylus. Otherwise you’ll have to make do with a touch capacitive stylus. Though these are limited in their capability, they’re still better than nothing!

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    Business Systemization and Project Management

    Project management is one of the ‘Chandler Bing’ jobs that many of us don’t really understand. We nod when people tell us that they’re in project management, but what does it actually mean? Is it really a necessary job?
    In this article we’re going to look at what project management is and why you should sit up and take notice. If you’re interested in biz systemization to help your workflow operate more smoothly and effectively, then there are some principles here that can apply to your business and save you a lot of time and money.

    What is Project Management?
    Essentially, project management means planning any project in such a way that it will be more efficiently completed and that it will be more resilient against unexpected contingencies. Often this will be a simple matter of switching jobs around and defining the order that those tasks will be completed and it most often is found in physical construction projects and the like.
    Say a house was being built for instance. It would be a project manager’s job to decide what got completed first, when supplies were ordered and who would work when. For instance, a project manager would likely decide that ‘weather dependent’ jobs be completed first. Why? Because that way, when it rained, other jobs could be done instead. Do the weather dependent jobs last and then if it rains on those days you won’t have any work to do  meaning that the entire project takes more time.
    ‘Critical chain’ project management meanwhile focuses more on the time, the people and the materials necessary for a job and aims to ensure that everything is ready at the time it’s needed.

    Applying This to Your Business
    When using biz systemization meanwhile, you will be likely looking at ways you can remove problems from going wrong and ways that you can thus remove yourself from the equation. Using ‘project management’ style techniques when approaching any new project can do this.
    For instance, if you have a job for a client that consists of lots of smaller tasks, then which task will you do first? And when will staff order supplies?
    The better you handle the initial project management and the more you analyze risk, the less involvement you’ll need to have. Sometimes better business systemization is as simple as switching two tasks around.
    Do more research into project management and you should find it has a lot to offer for your business!

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    The Best Project Management Tools for Remote Collaboration

    These days, it’s becoming less and less important for us to work from the office. With tons of powerful cloud storage options, video conferencing and project management tools available, we can build huge projects with people halfway across the world without ever meeting in person!
    Some project management tools are particularly well suited to this kind of work. So let’s take a look at some of the best options available.

    Orchestra
    Orchestra is great for agencies and other companies that outsource a lot of their tasks. It lets you easily assign tasks and then watch the status change as your teammates work through them. It’s attractively designed and has lots of features that speed up workflow.

    PHPCollab
    PHPCollab is a more basic alternative to Orchestra that works in PHP. It lets you assign tasks and upload files as you complete them and also lets people find their own open tasks to work on. While PHPCollab is slower and uglier than Orchestra, it’s also free and very simple to sign up and start using.

    Sqwiggle
    Sqwiggle is a project management system that incorporates video chat. This lets employers and managers see photos of their team working throughout the day, and when they want to chat, it’s just a quick click to do so.

    Google Docs
    Google Docs is fantastic for project management, as it allows you to edit documents in real-time and to see what others are doing. You can see who is viewing a given file at any given time as well, to ensure that you’re not all making changes and undoing each other’s hard work! Throw in the office suite and impressive storage, and this is a very capable piece of software.

    Asana
    Asana is one of the biggest and best known project management tools, and it has a number of great features that make it perfect for remote working. Again, teams can create and organize tasks, assign responsibilities, and set goals.

    Realtime Board
    Realtime board isn’t a project management tool, but it can be a very useful supplementary app. This is basically a real-time whiteboard that you can use to brainstorm ideas online. You can also add sticky notes, and it’s a very natural and easy means of communication.

    Slack
    Slack is sometimes referred to as a team chat app, but really, it goes beyond this and is almost a remote office. As well as letting you chat to your co-workers, this also allows you to see feeds from various online tools, including Trello and more.

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    5 Ways Small Business Can Benefit From CRM

    Many small business owners do not think they need a Customer Relationship Management or CRM system. Other business owners might not even know what it is or how it can help them.

    It may be risky to try to grow your business without one nowadays. Retaining and selling more to your current customers could be the difference between success or eventual failure.

    Here are five simple ways that small business can benefit from CRM.

    #1. Web Traffic Optimization

    You probably get a fair amount of traffic to your website. If you have a blog or some free eBooks, you’re likely getting at least a trickle of visitors from the search engines. But, are you optimizing it? You need to capture that traffic. Many CRM services have forms you can embed to capture leads from your website.

    #2. Enhancing Customer Service

    It should be easy for anyone in your company to pull up any customer profile and look at all the interactions with that customer. You should, at the very least, be able to look at all the sales, customer support emails, and chats associated with that customer. In fact, anyone in your organization should be able to do so. Having an efficiency expert comb through each customer interaction could speed up your service or sales by a healthy percentage.

    #3. Training New Recruits

    A robust CRM system is a big asset when you are training new employees. If you can show new employees examples from your database during training, they will learn how to deal with your customers quickly and efficiently.

    #4. Sales Rep Monitoring
    How can you know who are closing sales and who are letting them go if you do not have some kind of sales rep monitoring. CRM will allow you to monitor the activity of your sales reps from anywhere and getting a close look at each sales rep’s statistics will help you know exactly what is going on.

    #5. Customer Organization

    It can be almost impossible to sift through hundreds, or even thousands, of customer profiles to find the data you are looking for in an old-fashioned paper system. Knowing who, where, and how all your customers are is one of the most important steps in moving your business forward.

    Scaling your business, getting new people trained quickly, and monitoring personnel is a lot easier if you have a reliable CRM system in place.

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    Should You Use iOS or Android for Your Business Phone?

    If you’re looking for a phone to use for business, or you’re looking for lots of phones that you can give out to your staff as ‘work phones’ then you need to make sure that you first do the necessary research to identify which models and brands are the best suited to your specific needs. With that in mind, you might well find yourself torn between getting Android devices or iOS devices.

    Here we will look at the pros and cons of each and which you should ultimately choose.

    iOS
    iOS is the platform used by Apple and iPad and does have many significant advantages. For starters, iOS has the widest selection of apps and services, many of which you may find are useful for use in a business setting. While Android these days has most of the same apps, there are still one or two that you will only find on iOS.
    iOS is also incredibly stable. It can never get viruses or bugs and it very rarely crashes. While Android viruses are rare (and not the same as desktop viruses) they nevertheless can occasionally occur and it’s important to bear this in mind if you want something that will absolutely never let you down. Android is also slightly more prone to crashing.
    Finally iOS has the advantage of being considered somewhat ‘hip’. If you want to give out devices that your staff will appreciate and that will make your business look modern to visitors, then an iPad or iPhone might be a good choice.

    Android
    On the other hand, Android has the advantage of being considerably more flexible and potentially more powerful.
    An example of this is how Android allows you to simply drag and drop files onto your device instead of having to use iTunes or various cloud platforms. This can save you a lot of time and is much easier – especially if you require advanced file management options.
    Android also has better synchronization between applications. What this means is that you can benefit from being able to download a file in your Gmail account and open it immediately in another app for instance – whereas iOS makes this process a lot more fiddly.
    Finally, Android simply exists across a broader range of devices and this means that it’s much easier to find the right device for your business and especially when you come to upgrade.
    There is no right answer but consider these factors when making a choice and you should be well positioned to make the best call! No pun intended.

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    Biz Systemization for the Sole Trader

    Biz systemization is big news right now with every manager and business owner thinking they need to apply these processes to their organization in order to get more out of them, increase profits and improve resiliency.
    And they’re not wrong. Biz systemization is simply the smart application of various strategies that can enable a business to run itself or at least to run more effectively in the absence of a manager or company owner.
    But surely this doesn’t apply to the sole trader? How can a gardener or a freelance writer apply biz systemization and stand to benefit?

    Why Biz Systemization Matters for Sole Traders
    Even if you have a business consisting of a single person and the service or product you provide is supremely simple, it’s important to recognize that biz systemization still applies to you. The reason for this is simply that what you do will still be based on systems. Even if your system is just to cut hair, this will consist of multiple little procedures and processes that help you to get clients, to get to your customers and to provide them with the best and quickest cut.
    In the case of sole traders, the objective isn’t to create a business that could run without you as that is going to be impossible in many cases. However, simply by running your business in a more effective manner, you will be able to expand. And actually this is even more important when there’s just one of you because it’s the only way you can expand your business and increase turnover and sales.
    You aren’t taking more staff and so the only way to make more money is to work faster and to work better.

    How to Apply Biz Systemization to Your Trade
    So how do you apply biz systemization to your trade if you work independently?
    One option is to use tools and software. There are programs and apps out there for instance that exist to take over whole aspects of your business. If you’re a web designer for instance, then using the right software to create templates can save you a ton of time.
    Likewise, just using checklists and flowcharts can help you to avoid making mistakes and to work more quickly and effectively. Even if you know your job inside out, these prevent complacency from leading to mistakes and they ensure you are working in the most effective way possible.

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