June 29, 2015

Why Taking Canada Day Off Could Make You Smarter

Happy Canada Day, entrepreneurs

Oscar Wilde used to say, “work is easy, fun is hard.” As an entrepreneur, I’m sure you can relate. With your small business, you know what you have to do. That’s the easy part. You have deadlines, routines–daily tasks to tackle. But giving yourself permission to take a day off – a real, full day off – now that’s a tough one for entrepreneurs.

But here’s the thing: Taking a day off could make you smarter. Like any other muscle, our brains need down time in order to work at its highest potential. Want proof? Remember the last time you were burning the midnight oil, trying to figure out the solution of a weighty problem? You were tired and hungry and the more you tried to come up with an answer, the more frustrated you became? So you walked away. Or you ran away. And you slept on it. The next morning, you sat down at your desk and there it was – in black and white — the answer staring back at you.

You + Sleep = Problem solved.

Still need more proof? When did you come up with your last brilliant idea? When you were behind your computer screen or on that leisurely stroll through the park?

Taking a break = You — smarter.

The truth is, we are far more creative when we don’t push our brains to the limit.

According to research from Scientific American, “Downtime replenishes the brain’s stores of attention and motivation, encourages productivity and creativity, and is essential to both achieve our highest levels of performance.”

Well, with Canada Day just a few days away, what better time to test the theory?

Here are some things you can do on July 1, instead of working:

    • First: Sleep in.
    • Visit one of Canada’s national parks. To celebrate Canada’s 148th birthday, admission is free to all national parks and historic sites all day July 1.

For long-term success, give your brain a (much-needed) break, and have a wonderful Canada Day, entrepreneurs!

Find a Canada Day celebration near you.

Keith Arkle – Keith Arkle – Product specialist and customer advocate

Keeping our customers at the forefront of my mind is always a priority in my work. In talking about our product and preparing product launches, I always want to make sure our messaging is consistent and accurate. When I’m not working, I am probably hanging at home or travelling with my wonderful family.

Follow me on Twitter.

June 26, 2015

How to Engage Your Small Business Audience (Instead of Boring Them)

engage your audience Your small business doesn’t have a big budget for marketing – but you do have something that many big companies struggle with – you’ve got personality. Whether you’re a solo owner or run a small team, you’re in a position to make a connection with your potential customers through content that bigger companies may not be able to.

But far too many small businesses bore their audiences and miss out on the connections and the sales. Whether they are using blog posts, social media or any combination of content marketing tools, they’re missing the mark.

Never fear! You don’t have to have boring marketing. With these tips you can use your content to engage your small business audience.

Address your audience directly.

You’re reading this article. Not a group of people. Not a faceless mass. You. Your audience is made up of individual people too. By addressing your audience as “you” and not something more impersonal, you’re making a direct connection with them.

Show off your personality.

If you’re a solo business owner or founder, get out in front of your company! Show off a bit of your personality, your hobbies and your passions through your blog posts and videos. It will be a lot easier to remember “Bob the racing fanatic” than “that accountant I saw online.”

Be consistent with your content.

You can’t develop a relationship with your audience if you blog for a while, then disappear, then reappear again. You have to be consistent, and that means creating a calendar for your content. Use your project management system to create a content calendar that will keep your blog, social media and other marketing activities up to speed. The more you publish, the more your audience will come to know, like and trust you.

Share specifics.

Want to set your small business apart from the pack? Get specific in your blog posts and marketing content. Share real life stories, case studies and detailed examples that put a real face on what you do and how it affects your customers.

Here’s an easy place to start:

  • Call up your client with the longest track record with your company, and interview them.
  • Highlight their successes, including how your product or services helped.
  • Feature the story on your blog.

Not only does this type of post help you get specific, it paints a picture for your potential clients. They get to see exactly how your company can help, and what kind of results to expect. And as an added bonus, your current client gets featured as well.

Pump Up the Visuals

A big block of text is boring! Using images, diagrams and even videos in your content makes it more visually engaging. In addition to adding images to posts and updates, you can also explore infographics – which are like diagrams on steroids.

Even if you don’t have videos or fancy diagrams for a post or content, you can display your content in a visually interesting way. Use subheadings, short paragraphs and bullet points to break up the flow and make it more engaging.

This is a challenge to all small business owners—but you really don’t have to be boring. Use these tips in your content, on your website and in your social media updates to engage your audience, stand out and help your small business make a mark.

About the author:

Tobi North – Creativity rock star and marketing master
I enjoy being innovative and creating communications that customers can relate to. I am always looking for that “light bulb” moment, when I find an interesting topic that I know our customers will love to learn more about. In between creative brainstorming sessions, you can probably find me at a concert or searching for the best BBQ joint in town. .

Follow me on Twitter.

June 24, 2015

#MOMpreneurChat Recap: “SMChat “Keeping Your Accounts in Check Over the Summer”

Last week, we had the privilege of sponsoring, and participating in, a Twitter chat hosted by Mompreneurs® — a national network dedicated to the support and empowerment of Canada’s moms in business.

The virtual conversation among busy mompreneurs was around the topic of balancing your books during the summer—and how to take a real vacation.

Top two takeaways from the discussion among the women entrepreneurs included:

  • When you’re an entrepreneur, it can be tough to take a “real” vacation, but it’s so important to unplug, regroup and spend time with family when you can. And that it can be done.
  • Having help – a good team to support you, who has access to your books – can make it easier to get a break and keep things running while you’re away.

Missed the Twitter chat? Here are a few of the highlights.

mompreneurs-chat

Q1. Are you planning on taking a vacation this summer? Or are you taking ‘downtime’ at home?

Chat-1

 

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… and an interesting stat ….

stat

 

Q2. Have you ever avoided going on vacation due to fear of being out of touch? Any tips to stay on the grid while “away”?

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Q3. What aspects of your business (if any) do you keep on top of during your vacation? Or is work completely out of bounds?

 

chat3-1

 

chat-3-2

Q4. Do you do any bookkeeping while on vacation? (Invoicing, expense management) –or does someone else do it for you?

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Q5. How often do you discuss your books w/ your accountant (if you have one)? How do you share financial info?

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Q6. What tips can you offer to be organized with your business BEFORE vacations start so you there is actual enjoyment?

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chat-6-1

Are you taking a summer vacation? How do you keep on top of things when you’re away?

About the author:
Keith Arkle – Keith Arkle – Product specialist and customer advocate

Keeping our customers at the forefront of my mind is always a priority in my work. In talking about our product and preparing product launches, I always want to make sure our messaging is consistent and accurate. When I’m not working, I am probably hanging at home or travelling with my wonderful family.>
Follow me on Twitter.

June 22, 2015

5 Low Cost Ways to Promote Your Small Business

Tips to save money with your marketing It’s often said that it takes money to make money – but when your funds are tight you need to make every dollar stretch. Cutting out promotion costs may make sense from a bottom line perspective, but it will stall the growth of your business.

The solution? Keep marketing and advertising, but spend as little as possible while you’re growing. When these low cost ideas start working, you can then allocate more funds to your promotion. But for now, here’s where you need to spend your time.

  1. Know your market inside and out.

    This should be your first step no matter what – and best of all, it’s free! Spending more time on Google, mining your customer database and strategic searching on social media can help you develop a better promotion plan. You should also scope out the competition and see how they are approaching your shared target market. Doing your homework will keep your costs low as you set out and help you keep them low when you have a bigger budget.

  2. Don’t be shy about asking for referrals.

    Just like research, asking for referrals will cost you very little but will produce big results. Your existing client base is a gold mine – and you could be missing out on its potential. If a customer is happy with your company, take the time to ask for a referral. Or consider starting an official referral program that rewards your customers for spreading the word about your great work.

  3. Think DIY when it comes to PR.

    A high priced publicity firm isn’t a necessity to get the word out about your business. Although there is value in PR firms when you have the budget, as you grow your small business you need to think DIY. Become a master self-promoter by focusing on techniques that are high-impact, low-cost. Try this list from Inc.com or visit HelpAReporterOut.com to view opportunities to be featured in the media.

  4. Teach what you know to your potential advocates.

    On average, people know at least 200 people. Some will be perfect customers for your business and others may know someone who would be. Educate your audience through a blog, through social media and through local presentations. You’ll build relationships with people in your current circle who can become advocates for your business. Think of it like planting seeds for future business.

  5. Engage with email.

    E-mail marketing is cost-effective and easy to track. It can deliver results with each and every send. Deliver high quality content via e-mail newsletters can help you reach your audience on a regular basis. Use an email marketing platform like MailChimp or Constant Contact to develop pieces that reflect your brand as well as manage your contact list and gain permission for sending messages.

Marketing and advertising don’t have to take a majority of your budget to be effective. Use this list as a springboard for your own marketing campaigns.

About the author:

Tobi North – Creativity rock star and marketing master
I enjoy being innovative and creating communications that customers can relate to. I am always looking for that “light bulb” moment, when I find an interesting topic that I know our customers will love to learn more about. In between creative brainstorming sessions, you can probably find me at a concert or searching for the best BBQ joint in town. .

Follow me on Twitter.

June 19, 2015

5 Ways to Have a More Productive Day

how to be a more productive entrepreneur
As a small business owner, how you spend your time counts—and it doesn’t matter if you’re a one person shop or in charge of a dozen employees, if you’re not being productive, you’re losing money.

In honor of World Productivity Day tomorrow, we’ve put together five ways to set the stage for getting more done—every day.

  1. Don’t pick up your phone first thing.

    We know – it’s easy to reach for your phone when your morning alarm is attached to it. But opening your email or scrolling through Facebook while you’re still in bed can be a time suck and it can be a bit of a downer. Studies show that browsing through Facebook feed can actually make you feel worse about yourself – and you don’t want to do that to yourself first thing! Shut off your alarm, and then shift your attention to more positive things.

  2. Take care of you with a morning routine.

    Entrepreneurs are often so overworked that they put themselves last – including putting off self-care essentials. Establish a morning routine that not only takes care of those necessary hygiene needs, but also gets your blood flowing. This is especially important if you work from home. Whether you start the day with a shower, or prefer to just wash your face and brush your teeth when you rise, take care of you. You’ll feel more awake and ready to tackle the day. It doesn’t matter if your “business” attire is a hoodie and a pair of jeans, personal hygiene is a must.

  3. Write things down.

    You’re wearing a lot of hats and juggling a ton of to dos when you’re an entrepreneur. Give your poor brain a break! If you try to keep everything that you need to do top of mind, you’re going to tax your memory. Just like your computer can’t handle too much going on at once, neither can your mind. Carry a notebook, planner or calendar with you so you can get things off your mind and into a secure place. Opt for a paper notebook because it helps your brain remember what you are writing. Try it.

  4. Fix your posture.

    If you want to stay focused, your brain needs oxygen – and that can only happen if your lungs are able to expand. By sitting or standing up straight you give yourself more room to breathe. Unfortunately, most people sit or stand hunched over thanks to years of computer use. Train yourself to sit up straight at your desk, and consider getting a sitting/standing desk or a Varidesk so you can shift position throughout the day.

  5. Focus on your energy, not your time.

    Although productivity is often associated with time saving, it’s actually about getting things done when you have time as well as energy. Think about it this way – when are you going to want to spend your creative time? First thing in the morning or at the end of the day after lunch? Match your tasks to your energy level in order to be more productive. Evaluate your own energy peaks and valleys, and then plan your work accordingly.

Productive days are just around the corner! Use these tips to start the day better and keep the motivation going all day long.

About the author:

Tobi North – Creativity rock star and marketing master
I enjoy being innovative and creating communications that customers can relate to. I am always looking for that “light bulb” moment, when I find an interesting topic that I know our customers will love to learn more about. In between creative brainstorming sessions, you can probably find me at a concert or searching for the best BBQ joint in town. .

Follow me on Twitter.

June 18, 2015

Add your business to your spring cleaning checklist

Spring cleaning - small business tips
There is no better time than spring to reflect on how the year is going and make adjustments to continue the year even stronger than you started. Take a few minutes out of your day and focus on these important areas this spring:

Check in with your customers

  • Now is the perfect time to take a step back and take a fresh look at the customer initiatives you started earlier in the year. Review the analytics, stop what’s not working and try something new. But don’t stop there – these insights will help you recognize your target customer profile for future prospect campaigns. Reach out to customers with new communications or an offer to let them know they’re appreciated.
  • Send out a short survey to understand how your customers perceive your business. Ask about customer service, quality of offerings and things they’d like to see more of. There is no better way improve your business than by listening and responding to customer feedback.
  • Meet with your customers face-to-face if possible. Ask about how they view your business and your products or services, every connection counts. Nothing beats in-person interactions, and this extra step will make a lasting impression with your customers.

Look for ways to save

  • Take a look at your expenses, and see if there are any obvious areas you can reduce or eliminate. From Internet, phone, web hosting, and merchant services to office supplies, travel, and other expenses, many businesses overspend each month without knowing there are more competitive solutions.

Sit down with your employees

  • While it’s always a good idea to get regular feedback from your employees, make it a point to have an in-person meeting with each of them. If you don’t schedule regular employee performance reviews, now is a good time to start. Set up a comfortable forum to give constructive feedback, and allow employees to give suggestions on how you can improve your business.
  • Too often businesses get stuck on surviving day-to-day operations without taking a step back to ensure strategies and goals are aligned with the overall strength of the business. Encourage each employee to highlight the good and the bad of daily business operations. This effort may even lead to new offerings or repositioning your branding to better reflect your business.

 Perform an online tune-up

  • Is everything on your website and social media channels running smoothly? What about your newsletters and email blasts? Take the time to make sure everything is up to date, accurate and easily accessible for current and prospective customers.
  • Is there something you’d like to have on your website or social presence but don’t have the knowledge or bandwidth to update? Consider hiring an outside agency or freelancer to help boost your online persona or create visually appealing graphics to make your website stand out.

Do you have any other business related tasks you generally tackle in the spring? Let us know in the comments below!

About the author

Jim GustkeJim Gustke – VP of Marketing, Ooma

Jim Gustke has over 20 years of experience in marketing and general management for online, consumer and SMB focused technology companies.