LaKesha Womack

Archive for the category “Business Dollars and Sense”

30 Jan 2013

[GUEST POST] Cloud Storage for Small Businesses

These days, it seems we can hardly go a day without hearing something about how much technology is changing the ways we work and do business. Indeed, with a new smart phone, tablet, or other electronic gadget being released seemingly every week, communication standards are constantly being upgraded. Of course, the benefits of these changes for small businesses are easy to understand: file transfer, email, and other communications can now occur more quickly and simply than ever before, which helps employees to maximize work output. In fact, communication now occurs so quickly and frequently through online means, that many small business owners are even looking into increased file sharing support and security through companies such as Share File.

Among all of these changes and advances in communication and Internet capability, one development that is particularly exciting in environments like that of a small business is cloud storage. With more and more work being done electronically, it has become paramount to back up and store files in a secure and reliable manner, and no matter how advanced our devices become, they will always be prone to certain errors. For example, consider the following potential malfunctions and misfortunes for important files and work documents.

    • Lost Devices – When employees are working on a project, presentation, document, etc., it is most common for them to save this work on personal devices such as computers, tablets, phones, or even USBs. However, if these devices are subsequently lost, all of that work disappears, which can set back the entire business.
    • Damaged Devices – Even if a device is not lost, it can still be damaged, which in turn can ruin the work all the same. Whether that means accidentally dropping and stepping on a USB, getting water damage on a phone or laptop, etc., accidents occur, and can erase or destroy valuable data and work.
    • Other Malfunctions – Additionally, it is worth considering the random, unpredictable malfunctions that can occur with any electronic equipment. For example, an employee may be working on a laptop that suddenly freezes or dies for no apparent reason. In such instances, files and important work can be beyond retrieval.

Cloud StorageThese types of issues can be somewhat rare in a work environment, but they are always unpredictable, and can still cause disastrous setbacks for the entire business. Instead of risking these mishaps, many small business owners are opting to bring in cloud storage systems – which essentially provide a means of backing up and saving work data automatically, without reliance on specific devices. With cloud storage, you can access saved work from virtually any Internet device – meaning that even if you lose the laptop you work on, you can log into the cloud from your smart phone and access your work. The potential benefits in file security and work efficiency are well worth considering for any effective small business.

This is a guest post by Dale Simmons. Dale is a blogger and freelance writer who posts on topics in the technology field.

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27 Mar 2012

Eleven Tips for a Successful Book Signing

When I participated in my first few book signings, I had absolutely no idea what I was doing.  I would look around at the other authors (when it was a group event) and try to take some cues from them but for the most part; I was just winging it.

Last year, I signed up to participate in Copyrighted hosted by Pure Artistry Literary Cafe and received a great little tip sheet with some ideas to ensure each author’s participation was a success.  (Thanks Monique and Ms. Janice).

These are the ones that have helped me the most…

  1. To attract customers have a large (2×3) colorful poster of your book cover on display.  Table sized (11×18) posters are also useful in catching a customer’s eye.  Be sure to have the poster mounted and laminated.  I invested in one from Kinko’s and have been able to use it on multiple occasions.  It’s also useful to have set up in a room if you are speaking.
  2. Wear comfortable clothes that photograph well.  Be mindful that some people will want to take pictures with you so don’t dress too relaxed but also consider that you may have to lift your own boxes and/or do a great deal of walking.
  3. Bring someone along to be in charge of the book sales so that you can focus on meeting people and signing books.  It’s hard to try to do both which can sometimes to lead to a loss in sales.
  4. Make it clear on your book sales table which payments you accept and who the checks should be written to.  There are many devices, such as the Square and PayPal Here, that allow you to accept credit cards on the spot using a wireless device.  This could be a wise investment especially if you are leery of accepting checks.
  5. Don’t forget your cash box and make sure you have an adequate amount of change.  Not having change could also result in a loss of sales and be an embarrassment if you are walking asking people for change.
  6. Make your signings personal and don’t just sign your name.  Ask the person’s name and add a comment or words of encouragement related to your book’s topic.  People like the additional personal touch.
  7. Take bags to put their purchased books in.  I bought a bunch of solid color gift bags from Dollar Tree after reading this suggestion and it did make me feel more  professional to bag their books after making the sale.
  8. Set sales goals.  Know how many books you need to sell in order to break even (paying for your books, paying for your booth and covering any travel and other related expenses).
  9. Set up a guest book and ask for addresses or email addresses so that you can keep in touch and inform them of upcoming events and book releases.
  10. Offer to donate a signed copy of your book to the venue as a thank you.
  11. Finally, assess the day – what went well, what would you do differently next time, what did you need and not have and how did you do in relation to your sales goal.

 

I hope these tips are helpful and that your future book signings are a success.  Do you have any tips that I missed?  Leave a comment and share with us…

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03 Nov 2011

Can You Connect The Dots?

I was speaking with Allen Price, Risk Management Executive, the other day and he shared one of his secrets to success.  He says that early in his career he learned the importance of being able to connect the dots.

I spent some time pondering exactly what that meant, not only in its stated context but also how it could apply to me.

I surmised the following…

There are certain people who think on the surface.  They see things exactly as they are, no more and no less.  They don’t spend time trying to figure out what something means or digging deeper into an issue.  It is what it is.

There are others constantly searching for meaning.  They want to know how this relates to that and they are not afraid to come up with their own conclusions rather than being force fed popular opinion.

This line of thinking led me to a few of my own success secrets…

  • Politics… if you really want to know what is going with public and economic policy, you have to be able to connect the dots.  Every decision being made is because of something else.  There are no independent actions or events in politics.  Although something may seem simple on the surface, there are other events driving the end results.  Often the media only pubicizes the end results without taking the time to dig into the story to figure out why a thing happened.
  • Relationships… You have to be able to connect the dots between how a person grew up and their dating habits before they met you.  I am sure there are plenty of incidents of a person not behaving within those patterns but I assure you they are few and far between.  Most humans are creatures of habit and no matter how unique and different we try to be, we can be predictable within our individually identified patterns.  I always say, “don’t expect a person to be anyone other than who they are” but you have to figure out who that person is and then you can begin to connect the dots.
  • Business… Having a successful business involves having successful relationships with a variety of people and sometimes being able to connect the dots between people, projects and information can result in additional opportunities.  This ability will allow you pave a road versus traveling a more traditional path.
One of the biggest fears that most people have is making a mistake.  We hate to be wrong so it is easier to agree with the conclusions that other people come up with because we assume that their theories have been tested and are more accurate than ours.  This could and could not be true.  The point is you need to trust yourself to be able to able to draw your own conclusions when you connect the dots.  Learn to process information and decide how that information relates to the other things that you know and continue building on that knowledge.  Caution: sometimes you will be wrong so just back up, learn from the mistake and move to the next dot.
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21 Dec 2010
2 Comments

4 Strategies to Eliminate the Competition

While serving on my local Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors, a member contacted me and wanted the BoD to ban a competing business from an event.  At first, I thought it was joke until he continued the conversation with a high level of seriousness in his voice.  Since then, as I have been working my consulting clients, I am mindful of how they view their competition.  Although you can not make your competition disappear, there are some strategies that you can implement to reduce your worry factor.

  1. Don’t be afraid to get to know your competition. There are some things that your competition is obviously doing well to have remained operational but there are also some things that they can probably improve upon.  Don’t feel as though you have to fill the void of each of your competitors but when creating your marketing strategy, you should be aware of what sets you apart as well as what key service/products will help to keep you in business.
  2. Play nice. Once we find out some areas that our competition may struggle with or hear some client complaints, it may be tempting to shout it from the rooftops so that prospects can see how we are better.  However, it can be turn off to those prospects when you begin to bash your competition.  Rather than focus on their negatives, turn the conversation to your positives.  I have been in several situations where a client began to tell me how they felt I was different from someone who did the same thing that I do.  I knew who they were talking about and could have easily pointed out some additional differences but instead I kept the conversation focused on my products and services.
  3. Be true to yourself. Not only do you need to understand who your competition is and be able to articulate what sets you apart, you have to be sure that you are staying true to the mission of your business.  Many businesses get sidetracked trying to fill a void outside of their core competence and it creates confusion for the customer.  I remember when Hardees started selling fried chicken.  Although the product was very good, it was hard for me to get into because Hardees is known for the burgers.  Needless to say, it didn’t last very long.  If you stray from your primary brand offering, make sure that don’t move too far away from what your business is known for to avoid customer confusion.
  4. Deliver on your promises. Many businesses have a tendency to overpromise to get the customer and under deliver which causes them to lose the customer.  It is less expensive for your business to keep a customer than to market and obtain a new customer.  Take a realistic look at your service/product offering and what you are telling your client they will receive.  Are you delivering on your promise?  If not, you could be the competition that we mentioned in point 1 and eliminating yourself from the market.

In today’s globally competitive marketplace, understanding your unique value to your customers as well as how you’re different from your competition and being able to deliver on your promises will be keys to your success.

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30 Nov 2010
3 Comments

5 Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make During the Holidays

It’s hard to believe that December 1st is upon us.  It feels as though this year has rushed by but I’m grateful for each day that has passed.  However, as an entrepreneur once the Thanksgiving week passes, it is tempting to shift into cruise control and coast through the end of the year.

Here are five tips to avoid common mistakes that entrepreneurs make during the holidays.

  1. Don’t take too much time off. When you work for yourself and have the power to control your own schedule, it can be tempting to take more time off than necessary.  Having the freedom to travel and make time with family may be one of  primary reasons you became an entrepreneur but it is important to make sure you balance that freedom with keeping your business viable.  Think very carefully about how much time away from your business activities your business can tolerate without losing momentum.
  2. Set goals. At the beginning of each year, you should set revenue goals for your business.  If you know that you want to take time off during the holidays, make sure that you have factored that into your annual goals.  This is also the time for you to begin setting goals for 2011.  Goal setting one of those passive activities that you can do while traveling, while enjoying a drink in front of the fireplace, etc. As you’re enjoying your down time, give yourself the time to dream about what you to accomplish in the new year and commit those ideas to paper and begin to create your master plan for 2011.
  3. Get out and network. You will probably receive lots of invitations for holiday parties and events.  Obviously, this a great opportunity to get out and have some fun but you should also be making connections with people who can help to achieve your goals in 2011.
  4. Don’t empty your pipeline. It may be tempting to complete all of your projects so that you can start the new year fresh, however you should also have some projects that will begin in January so that you are not starting from zero on January 1.  The worse feeling is not knowing where your next client will come from when the new year begins and having to start rebuilding your business from scratch.  You goal should be to be able to hit the ground running once you return from your holiday vacation.
  5. Use this opportunity to connect with old clients. Sending holiday cards or e-cards may not seem like a profitable activity but think again.  These cards are a great opportunity to connect with old clients and let them know that you are still around.  This subtle reminder of your existence and letting them know you are thinking of them will go a long way in maintaining a connection with the client and possibly remind them to use your service again.
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