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Organising Your Workspace For Greater Efficiency

There are a number of things that you can do to get more things done throughout the course of your normal workday. Foremost among these, however, is simply organising your workspace for greater efficiency. Eliminating a lot of unnecessary clutter and ensuring that essential items are always accessible can have a tremendous impact on your productivity. The tips that follow will help you get started.

* Purge your space of anything that is not essential. If you are keeping multiple hard copies of a single document, get rid of the extras and just keep one. In fact, you can save yourself a lot of desk space by simply opting to scan your documents in and keep these on the physical desktop or stored safely in virtual space.

cluttered desk

* Get rid of any office decorations that are not serving essential functions. Items that might have added aesthetic value could be old, worn down and dusty. Clearing these out will not only give you more space, but it can also allow the overall work area to take on an entirely new energy. Continue reading →

Business Basics Interesting Extras | Stephen Robertson | | Leave a comment |   Workspace

The Importance Of Delegation

Delegation of duties is a key element of organisation when it comes to efficiently running any business, whether large or small. Those in top management positions must carefully match the abilities of their staff to the particular tasks which need to be accomplished or decisions that must be made.

Doing this conveys a sense of trust to employees and can help them grow personally within their careers, and at the same time it ensures progress within the organisation. Anyone working in management must have a full understanding of the importance of delegation for business success.

Regardless of a company’s size, it is necessary to divide up the various aspects of its operation amongst the workers if it is to continue to run smoothly. Common areas that will be delegated to different people include customer service, administrative functions, inventory, and payroll to name a few.

One person attempting to take on too many of these responsibilities at the same time will usually result in poor overall performance as spreading oneself too thin most often does. With each aspect being run by one person, he or she can concentrate on doing an excellent job of it and not overlook small but meaningful details. Continue reading →

Business Basics | Stephen Robertson | | Leave a comment |   Delegation

Time Management Is A Crucial Skill For Business Success

Among the greatest things you can do towards your success in business yourself is to handle your time wisely. It has been said that “time management is self management” and there is a great deal of truth in that.

Jumping from one task to another is a sure-fire recipe for an unproductive day. Here are some  tips that I finds help me keep my business running.

1. Attempt doing as much as possible the day before something must be done. Do this by charting your course for each day during the preceding night. Preparing the next day’s list is the best thing you can do at the end of each day. As soon as you have your jobs outlined ahead of time, there will be no delay in the morning.

an image of clock Animatable Clock V1.02. Make the effort to really understand target dates to prevent having a lot of eleventh hour emergencies. Take care of the task ahead of time to meet the deadline. Nevertheless, if you keep those deadlines in focus and designate your time intelligently, you won’t need to sacrifice one task to finish another. Continue reading →

Business Basics Personal Management | Stephen Robertson | |   Time Management

Picking A Quality Commercial Flooring Business

I’m taking a little detour today into looking after the bricks and mortar of your business. A number of years ago I leased a commercial property and it was a salutory experience. I signed on for a nine year “care and repair” lease which meant I was responsible for the maintenance of fabric of the building.

It became a nightmare of repairs and a neighbour’s holiday-time leak which meant that the floors had to ripped up and treated. When I sold that business one of the highpoints was getting rid of the lease and I was happy that someone else now had that responsibility.

commercial flooringHere are a few tips I picked up from my own experience about dealing with your floors.

Floor upkeep can be a big deal for any business owner, specifically when it pertains to problems with slippage, cracking and dampness, and the potential safety implications. Finding the correct commercial flooring company is essential as you will be making a considerable investment. Continue reading →

Business Basics Interesting Extras | Stephen Robertson | |   Flooring Business

Embracing New Media To Help The High Street

The next time you take a walk down your locak High Street it’s worth recognising the fact that you are witnessing something of a miracle.

In these difficult times for “brick and mortar” businesses the continued existence of city and town centres as vibrant shopping areas owes much to tbe tenacity, drive, enthusiasm and sheer doggedness of the business owners involved.

Town centres are just shopping and retail areas, they form a vital hub in the lives of our towns and a living link with the past, to an era when there wasn’t much choice, long before mass ownership of private vehicles and the term of “out of town” mean the countryside, not a large cinema and retail park!

But even the most committed of “real” businesses nowadays need to embrace the digital world and utilise and leverage the marketing benefits it can bring. Continue reading →

Business Basics | Stephen Robertson | |   Business

Why Local Trades Owners Need To Be Net Savvy

There’s no doubt about it that word-of-mouth recommendation is the best advert for your business. A good word from a trusted friend goes a long way in convincing any of us to watch a movie, visit a restaurant or use a local business.

Word Of Mouth Recommendation Is Important
Word Of Mouth Recommendation Is The Best Advertisement

Nowadays online recommendations play a huge part in where customers spend their money.

I recently wanted to buy a new television and spend at least three hours reading reviews on various models before deciding on my chosen unit.

Potential customers of your services are able to do the same, which places a higher tarrif on providing excellent customer service – and in dealing quickly and politely with complaints. Continue reading →

Online Marketing | Stephen Robertson | |   Trades Owners

Keeping Your Workspace Fit For Business

“A tidy office is a sign of a tidy mind,” one of my business mentors once said. He was obsessive in his crusade against clutter, convinced that it was a drain on efficiency and also signalled to anyone who saw your workspace that you were not in control.

Over the years I have been in business I have learned that there is more than a grain of truth in his advice.

I have three criteria that are important to my ability to focus and my efficiency.

  • I am well groomed and wearing business atire (even if I am working from home)
  • My desk and immediate workspace is tidy and uncluttered
  • My wider workspace is professional and condusive to business

“Clothes maketh the man,” goes the quote, and I agree that it is true. If I wear a T shirt and jeans then I am in a T shirt and jeans frame of mind. By wearing business attire I am sending a signal to my brain that I am ready to work, and that I am taking my projects seriously. Continue reading →

Business Basics | Stephen Robertson | |   Business

Questions To Ask Before Hiring An SEO Company

Being on Page One of Google is vital for most businesses. Very few people click onto the second page or lower in the search engine rankings so dropping off the first page can make a huge difference to the number of enquiries you receive.

I receive junk email every day from companies promising that they will get me to the top of Google – often for sursprisingly low prices. Some of them can be quite persuasive but I don’t feel confident in hiring such a service without a personal recommendation. Continue reading →

Business Basics Online Marketing | Stephen Robertson | |   SEO Company

Managing Client Expectations

“Under-promise and over-deliver,” is an oft-used maxim for a successful business strategy. It makes sense because it allows you some wiggle-room and is more likely to lead to a delighted customer, and to increased referrals for your service.

In the real world of gaining customers, however, it can be somewhat trickier. There can be a temptation, particularly if you are competing for work, to over-promise what you will deliver. This “get the contract and figure out the details later” approach can lead to disaster. You may end up under-quoting just to get the work and discover you can’t deliver what you promised with the resources you now have.

rocket take offResearch has shown that an unhappy customer is more likely to tell others about you than  a happy customer. So, how can you get the job? In a word – CONFIDENCE.

Give your potential clients the confidence that you above all others will deliver what they want. If you can do that well, price becomes a secondary factor. Continue reading →

Business Basics Personal Management Relationships | Stephen Robertson | |   Managing Client

Internet Design Pointers To Build A Better Website

Many business owners  want a strong web presence and a well designed website, but do not try it due to the fact that they think it will be too difficult. If the idea of internet design intimidates you, scan this article and read the essentials then see if you’re still skeptical.

If you want your site to attract and keep numerous visitors, it has to be simple to browse. It ought to be painless to locate crucial links and various other information. A navigation menu will also assist visitors locate specifically what they’re trying to find. Make sure that you have links posted to every page of the website. This will permit visitors to quickly navigate their way around.

Nowadays with so many smart phones and tablets in use it is vital that you create a mobile website for your business. If your site does not show up properly on a mobile device you stand the possibility of alienating and losing potential customers.

older woman at computer

Go easy on using Flash – this is not supported on iPhone and iPads.

Make sure you have a sign-up form for a newsletter on your site. This is perfect way to keep in touch with potential customers and tell them more about your products and/or services. A free giveaway, such as a valuable report, can help convert more casual visitors to subscribers. Continue reading →

Online Marketing | Stephen Robertson | |   Internet Design

The Best Ways To Do Well In A Home Based Business

Home based business can be both amazing and a little scary. It can be difficult to get a handle on exactly where to start. You likewise have to figure out how you will make it work and find the balance with family demands..

Running your very own home business brings up so many questions that you will need to take care of. You’re in luck, though, as this short article will highlight some details that are vital to preserving and boosting your home business.

Beginning a home business is fun and tough in equal measure. Exactly what will your niche be? It can be nearly anything, but it’s much better if you’re educated about the topic. Do your study before you get involved in anything. Network with other home business owners to get a better idea of which sectors are the best – online forums are a great place to begin. Continue reading →

Business Basics | Stephen Robertson | |   Home Based Business

Business Tips To Get You Found Online

We love business!

There is nothing like the feeling of making your own success. But it can be a lonely and confusing journey at times. There are so many plates to spin it seems inevitable that some of them will fall and break.

WIMAXMAPS = Work It MAX More And People Succeed.

This sums up our philosophy in business and life. Doing “enough” isn’t enough – to get the success you need you have to be continually pushing the boundaries.

We will be bringing you the best tips of help you and your business grow strong and keep developing. We are gathering the real world advice of business men and women who share with you what it took them, in some cases, years to learn. Continue reading →

Online Marketing | Stephen Robertson | |   Online Business