Managing Your Email Cleverly

• You need not respond to every email.
• Prioritising your email is all-important, so only apply to the ones you have to.
• Lower-value emails and messages that are intended for others should be ignored.

Here are a couple of email tips that will increase productivity:

• Cheat by creating templates to help manage answers to frequent email subjects. In other words these are templates that enable you to create and use boilerplate responses to the questions and the requests to which you frequently draft identical replies on an ongoing basis.
• If you know for sure that you are never ever going to respond to an email, be honest with yourself and get it out of your sight by archiving it or simply deleting the mail.
• Write short emails and cut conversation to a minimum by responding immediately and with really short actions.
• Select the easy ones first. If you are able to reply in one or two lines, tackle the task right away. The main idea is about action.
• Shut off auto-check.

Email is a phenomenal tool and it was meant to make our lives easier in order to liberate us, but it has everyone in a tizz, as there simply is too much of it. Make this simple, and learn to manage your mail like a pro.

Getting More Out Of Your Day Is Essential

Here are an a couple of pointers so that you can get more hours out of your day by overcoming time management obstacles

• Create a time journal. For one week write down everything you do and make a note of exactly how long this takes. Include everything such as interruptions, errands, phone calls, emails, lunch, tea and coffee breaks. Write them in order.
• At the end of the week, you will be able to see exactly how much time is spent on each task.
• This will most probably be the first time in your life that you confront the chaos of your poor time-management.
• Start planning your time.
• A schedule of your day must have certain boundaries.
• This schedule is important for entrepreneurs who need to do multi-tasking.
• Entrepreneurs are often guilty of losing their balance regarding time-management, as the juggle between marketing, billable work, and admin becomes a little overwhelming.

Everyone has to deal with the unexpected

• Never fill your day to capacity; always include a couple of instant cushions should the need arise.
• If you are in a service-based industry never schedule more than three hour’s work in an  nine hour day; if your clients need instant gratification, you need to accommodate them.
• For every hour of scheduled activity try to keep the next hour open, as this will spread your availability across the day and you will still have sufficient private time in which to do work uninterrupted.

Procrastination is a biggy

• We are all guilty of procrastinating.
• If the job is too difficult, then break it into manageable bite-size pieces.
• If you loathe the task, get someone else to help if you are able to do so.

Remember that things take a long time to do. Writing and email or making a phone call could take a lot longer than you bargained for. If there is a pressing matter waiting to be done and you have not allowed enough time for that particular task, then you will simply run out of time. Learn to estimate exactly how long it will take to do certain tasks, as this will be a step in managing your time properly.

What is Business Coaching and what is Business Mentoring?

It is important to know a little about everything to do with your business if you own a business.

• A mentor will pass along knowledge and experience and will also open doors to opportunities that would otherwise be unattainable.
• There are distinct similarities between business mentoring and coaching; in order to distinguish between these two it all depends if you would like a more informal or a more formal approach.
• The main aim of the business coach is to teach.
• The main of the business mentor on the other hand is to guide.
• Coaching is a formalised process that will enable learning and development to take place and is based on a set of systems and techniques and is backed by extensive learning material.
• Mentoring is more relaxed, and unlike business coaching is free and is more along the linesd of advice.
• The mentor is usually a wiser and worldlier individual who has experienced challenges which he or she has overcome in the business world and takes someone under their wing. This person usually knows what makes a good leader.
• Mentors usually have qualifications and experience in your field; they focus on developing capabilities and talent and share experiences.
• Coaching is, on the other hand, time-bound and formal.

South African businesses are not good at going global because they are often localised in their thought process.  A business coach will be able to help you work through the process and insular approach and pave the way for genuine and real expansion.

Business Coaching Will Make Your Business Work

What is business coaching, and how can it help?

• You might be wondering how business coaching can increase your profits. Quite simply put, the measurement of business coaching is increased profit. That is the only barometer to use when measuring the success of a business.
• Business coaching is more beneficial than consulting, because a consultant helps a business with a particular area of expertise, does the work, and then leaves, taking the knowledge with them.
• Business coaches help the owner of the business in all areas of the business, which include sales, operations, finance and marketing.
• The business coach is there to help the owner make better decisions that impact on the bottom-line results.
• A coach works with the business owner to determine where they are and where they would like to be.
• The business coach is there to implement systems and strategies that are based on what is most appropriate for that particular operation; in other words increased profitability, systems, employee training and controls.

Here are some tips from top business coaches to make your business work, and what you can expect from a business coach:
• A business coach will hold the business owner countable and assist in keeping the owner focused at all times.
• Expert knowledge based on proven systems and strategies that work.
• An expert in business to consult when you need a second opinion, or different point of view.
• The opportunity in which to evaluate areas of the business that might be overlooked.
• Someone who is willing to listen and who will assist in developing long-term planning.
• The opportunity to evaluate areas of the business that might have been overlooked.
• A resource that will permit owners to reach out to a larger network of other business owners as business coaches often hold group events and work with many clients at any given time.

Take note; business is all about making a profit, and business coaching assists entrepreneurs to become successful through a process that teaches them how to make more money with less effort. Watch a dramatic turn-about in revenues and profits simply by applying some basic principles.

There is a Distinct Formula to a Marketing Plan

Before you put a marketing plan together it is imperative that you do not interrupt your thought process, so be prepared and organised. Ask your customer and sales support team to list the most important points that need to be included in the marketing plan for the coming year.
Listening to what your team has to say is important; you don’t need to include every one of the ideas, but listening and sifting through what works is important.

Ensure that you have on hand:
• The latest financial reports of your company.
• Target markets and also listings of current products.
• Understanding of your marketplace; this includes competitors, geographical boundaries, types of customers and clientele, existing channels of distribution, latest and pertinent data, and other information on trends pertinent to your specific market

Always take into consideration your products or services and compare those against those of your competitors; how well did you feature? Is there any significant niche in the market that neither you nor your competition has already explored? These are points you need to consider and take into account.

Much information is in the minds of management, therefore it is important to write this all down.

Some good questions you should be asking yourself and your staff:
• Which trends in the marketplace are you up against?
• Are there trends that are competitive and are threatening?
• Are your current products ready to succeed in the market as it exists?
• Are there trends that are competitive and that are working to your benefit?
• Are demographics of your market in your favour or are they working against you?

Make your marketing plan work for you in the year ahead; careful planning will certainly put you on the right path. Work out a plan, a budget, track the effectiveness of your marketing plan, and always be on the lookout for gaps in the market.

Attitude is Everything to Achieve Personal Success

• Self confidence and optimism is all important when it comes to achieving personal success.
• Jealously, doubt, depression and anger are all negative and fear-based feelings that you need to get rid of.
• You need goals and plans that will invigorate and inspire you to reach your goals and dreams.
• Overcoming fears will automatically lead to a more self-confident and fulfilled life,
• Having self confidence means that you will be doing what you believe is right even if others do not believe in your dreams and aspirations and make fun of you.
• You will find personal success if you take risks and go the extra mile to reach your dreams.
• If you do make mistakes, admit to these and simply move forward.
• It is not vanity if you wait for others to congratulate you on your successes and accomplishments.
• Remember when someone does praise or compliment you, accept these with grace.

When we set out to find success in life, defeat will happen along the way. Overcoming the fear of failure is not easy but essential. Individuals who are afraid of failure are often too scared to try out their ideas and are afraid these will not work out.

Winning personality traits
• It is without a doubt that winners often have amiable personalities, and form strong bonds with others.
• Moral fiber is often the core of highly effective people, as other people trust and like them.
• Winners have a tendency to surround themselves with positive and good souls.
• Winners are good at communicating; communication involves having good listening skills. Remember that sharing knowledge and understanding is what makes communication highly effective.
• Determination is one of those personality traits that all winners seem to possess.
• Successful individuals are aware of what happens around them at all times.
• Winners know how to move forward and not dwell on the past.
• Winners also live in the now, being focused on the ball at all times.
• Winners know how to use criticism constructively.
• Winners love what they do.

Remember that to be a true winner is to love and be continuously inspired by what you do.

More on Personal Success

Take responsibility when seeking personal success
• It is easy to blame your childhood, events, bad luck etc for not achieving the goals you need to aspire to.
• Success is not dependent on the hand you are dealt in life, but the way you choose to play that hand.
• Always be both accountable and responsible for yourself and your life.
• You alone are the force behind what happens in your life.
• Being positive and proactive is the secret behind your personal success.
• Proactive individuals always look for solutions to problems.

Proactive people believe that:
• You will always be able to find a solution.
• Proactive individuals always look at alternative ways of solving problems.
• A proactive person will always choose an appropriate response.
• A proactive person will always choose to act differently.

The language we use is an important indicator of the extent to which we see ourselves as positive and proactive individuals.

If you are reactive in your thoughts, this will soon become a self-destructive way of looking at situations, and before you know it you will begin to believe the negative thoughts and feelings. In real life feelings control our actions and this is primarily due to the fact that we transfer all responsibility and blame outside influences, and do not empower ourselves by taking on the responsibility of our circumstances and our lives.

Controlling fear will also ensure that you attain personal power, and to attain personal power you need goals that will inspire and energise you. Set high goals, be brave, bold and ambitious and have confidence in your ability to reach these dreams.

Success – How To Achieve Personal Success

It is imperative to find out how to achieve personal success in life – never think of being rich as your first aim; the enjoyment and the dare in life is far more significant than the motivation to make wealth.

Making that important decision

• Before you can become a successful individual, you have to decide what success means to you on a personal level.
• Yes – it is far easier to cry in a Mercedes than on a bicycle, and let’s be honest, money does have its own place in life, but this should not be the beginning and end of everything.
• Remember that the rich and famous might not get all they want in life, either.
• Set the correct goals for personal success; ensure that they are realistic.
• Many believe that attaining a level of wealth and fame is what it is all about.
• If you measure success on this level you will lose out on what really is important and what really does matter.
• Waking up each day of your life and being desperately unhappy is certainly no way to eke out an existence.
• If you do something you absolutely love, all else should follow suit.

Set goals for your dream
• Goal setting is the key to your dream
• A workable plan and strategy is essential
• Write down your goals and plans
• The transformation of your life career or business can only be brought about if you have a workable plan or strategy
• Be realistic in your dreams and goals
• Ensure that they form part of an achievable and measurable life strategy
• Follow your intuition
• Ensure your plan is detailed for the actions and resources that are required in achieving your goals.
• A reasonable time frame is needed to execute any do-able plans or strategies
• There might be personality and life changes required to attain what you are looking for
• Be pro-active and take action to achieve your dreams and desires.

Success in your personal or business environment is attainable; remember that without risk you could still be in the same place ten years from now. Life is too short not to live your dreams.
“I did not set out to be rich. The fun and the challenge in life were what I wanted and still do.” These are the words of Richard Branson – perhaps a leaf can be taken out of his book.

An effective email marketing strategy basis itself on the premise that people do not have a lot of time on their hands and your email needs to be quick, to the point, personal and well targeted. It is through these basics ideas that a business will get the most return on investment (ROI).

Email Marketing Strategy Tips.

Some basic tips to ensuring a successful email marketing campaign:

• List the goals you want to achieve with the email
• Conduct a market analysis, what have you got in place now in regards to email marketing strategy and what are people looking for
• Determine what type of email will meet your needs
• Construct a content strategy based on your market analysis
• Design the email template
• Send and
• Assess the results and change the email marketing strategy accordingly

It is by following these steps that an effective Email Marketing Strategy can be made.

Email marketing requires a high level of creativity, business acumen and patience. The rewards however are substantial. Once you have established your email marketing strategy and have been noted by your client list as being a source of quality emails your business conversions can only increase.

TouchBase Pro is a reliable resource to get your email marketing strategy rolling.