Time Management, Deadlines, Business, RedRite

Deadlines and Time Management

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February has seen me taking part in a group project as part of my university studies, and it was a testament to my time management skills more than anything else I have ever done.

I am use to juggling several projects, children commitments and my own personal commitments but this project required me to work to someone else’s time table and to do so with a group of 15 other people. Now you can image how hard it is to get 15 people from all over Yorkshire together at one time when we all work different hours, have different commitments and the odd technical issue thrown in. But we have managed it and the 28th of February saw the end of the project and a sigh of relief from us all – even though we loved having the collective support!

It got me thinking though about time management and meeting deadlines – how do you manage your time to meet a deadline? Here are my top tips to managing.

1)     One bite at a time

I use a number of tools and those that receive my emails or follow me on LinkedIn will have seen what those tools are – number 1 being Trello. It helps me to break down a project into bite size manageable chunks, similar to the timetable our tutor gave us with set deadlines for each step of the project.

I take a project and create a series of milestones for that project. Then I note these down on a board, with a cut off point for each milestone – these are my deadlines. As I am aware of the time frame most tasks will take it is then possible to slot work in around other projects and still have it done within my self-allotted deadlines. However, it is essential to always add in extra time for any unexpected problems e.g. system down, delay in client feedback etc

2)     Keep Track

It can be easy to get distracted or go off on a tangent, but then you find yourself with a bunch of half-finished projects and no track of where you got with them. This is where I love reminders – they maybe pesky little pings on your phone but they do save your projects.

Each deadline has a 24hr reminder before it’s due and any emails or conversations associated with that particular task is all kept in one place. I find sending the client and myself a summary email every few days keeps us all on track. We know what has been done, what is still needed and if there are any issues. Try this yourself, have a draft email with each task and as you go through add any notes, comments or accomplishments and at the end of every day/week send it to yourself so you can see where you are – many email apps will no let you schedule emails so auto schedule it and it will be one less thing to remember. (If your email client doesn’t allow this there are various ones that will aid this – depending on the client you use.)

3)     Observe Time

Whether you’re having fun or not, time will fly by without you noticing. That 5 minutes break on Facebook, or a quick look at the news can turn in to channel surfing and before you know it an hour has gone by and your deadline is ever closer.

I am guilty of this but found timing my breaks helps me restrict them and cut back on distractions. I will turn the kettle on and in the time it takes to boil I will flick through Facebook, or put a bit of washing away (downside to working from home!) then as soon as my cuppa is ready I am back at my desk and working away.

Taking a break though is not a bad thing, twice a week I take an hour break for gym and twice a week I start late so I can spend time with family/friends or take care of housework, this helps me get out and about as well as benefits my health. These are breaks for set times on set days, so I can easily plan my work around them and nothing has to suffer. What breaks do you take, and how often?

The number one thing not to do when you have a deadline is stress! Yes I know easier said then done, but when you stress you make small mistakes that suddenly seem overly proportional and you start seconding guessing yourself. So a 2 minute job to fix ends up taking 20 minutes, a few blue words and handful of hair pulled – or is that just me?

Need help with your Time Management? Then get in touch and let me help you put together a workable time table.

 

Time Management, Virtual Assistant, RedRite, Leeds

Time – The one thing your business needs!

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The top tip you can learn for your business comes from a single drop of water!

Have you ever been caving? I have and get totally transfixed every time too think that something as gentle as water can create such large caverns under the ground. Our tour guide when we went to Ingleborough Cave, Skipton explained to us (me and my eldest daughter) how it can take thousands of years for the water to slowly but persistently work its way through the cracks in the rock levels before the pressure causes the layers to break up enough to create the caverns people explore through today. It also takes thousands of years for the drops of water and calcium to create the stalactites and stalagmites formations that add to the views inside these caverns. The beauty left behind can be breath taking and humbling at the same time, to see something so basic yet beautifully made by nature. We were lucky enough to be in a cave with so much documented history and could see exactly how the cave had changed in just 100 years, which was not much even though water still flows through and occasionally floods.

You are probably wondering why I am talking about caving and what it has to do with business but you will see. When the guide explained the time it takes for a small drop of water to wiggle its way down in order for more water to follow and great this amazing caverns it got me thinking. Many people are trying to make millions in weeks and expect it all to just happen instantly when they click the start button, however it is not true.

Just like that little drop of water it takes time for small actions in your business to build in to bigger and better things. Those minutes you sit putting together posts for social media and blogs, those graphics you created and stressed over just to advertise a new product, even all those emails you sent time after time with no replies. They are those drops of water slowly edging their way in to the cracks of the business world. Right now they seem small and insignificant to your business, mostly when they seem to bring very little return for the time and effort put in. Nevertheless, each tiny step you take in your business is pushing your business one small drop at a time to the biggest cavern of success you could ever imagine.

‘Many businesses are known to fail within the first 3 years’ and not always because they are not a viable business but because the owners suffer burnout over the small steps. So do not let those small steps burn out your passion for your business. Do not give up those little steps, take even more of them and celebrate each time you come across a large crack in the ‘limestone’ that is the fight to success. Celebrating each small step makes the step even more significant and therefore can increase your motivation to continue taking those small steps.

Things will take time but they will happen.

Facebook Etiquette, RedRite, Leeds, Virtual Assistant

Top tips of Facebook Etiquette of Business

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Facebook is one of the most popular social media platforms with 1.71 billion active users as of the second quarter of 2016. That is 1.71 billion people who have logged in within the past 30 days and who could potentially see your business. But how do you use Facebook correctly for business and avoid Facebook jail?

Let’s first look at how to get your business on Facebook. The best, and safest way, to place your business on Facebook is either through a Page or a Group.

Pages

Facebook dislikes people using their personal profiles to advertise business, so creating a Page linked to your personal profile is specifically created for that reason. On a Page you can choose a category as well as up to 3 sub-categories in which to advertise your Page, the sub categories are determined by the main category so make sure you choose the most relevant to your business. If you add your business address you can also place a map in the sidebar so that others can locate you as well as if there is any parking available on site, perfect for location based businesses. Other details such as opening hours, price range and contact details are also added so consumers know all they need to about you.

A Page can then be used just like a personal profile, the difference being the Page is public and used for business posts rather than what you had for dinner. The occasional personal post can allow consumers to see the person they are buying, just make sure you use details you are willing to go public.

Groups

If you want to limit what the audience sees or maybe want to create a small community around your business, then Groups could be for you. Groups can be publicly available to all, closed – public can only see members or secret – were public cannot see anything but the Group name and type. Members can be free to add other members, however if you want to limit your audience you can control who is actually allowed to join once members refer a friend. Choosing the relevant type of group – such as Club, Support, Study group, Team or travel to name just a few – can help identify to potential audiences what your Group is about. There is also a Buy and Sell type which adds the option to list things for sale within the Group, many local communities start up Groups like this for locals to sell second hand items. If you wish for only certain posts to be allowed, or limit the days in which certain posts can be posted, such as Promo Thursdays, then you can adjust settings to require post approval required.

I have found some of the best groups are those that offer support and networking, with numerous members posting issues they are having with their business and other members offering their support and advice.

What are some etiquette points for interacting on Facebook for business

People buy from people and if they see you being rude, offensive, even just plain ignorant to those posting on your wall or commenting in your Group then it can put them off actually purchasing from you. Although many users are not on Facebook to buy, through the correct and polite methods you can slowly build up a relationship with your audience. This relationship can encourage people to return to your business for their purchasing needs, either a product or a service you may offer.

The biggest NO NO of all time is spamming. Posting adverts for your business within groups is perfectly fine (as long as it doesn’t break the Group rules) as long as it is done tastefully. Respect that there is not just you in the Group and spread your posts out over a period of time. Some groups, such as my networking group, only allow business advertising posts once every 48 hours. While others only allow promotional posts on specific days and posts such as a Promo Thursday post. Abiding by these rules put you in people’s good graces, ignoring the rules and you will find yourself blocked from the Group as well as seen in bad light by others within the Group. Be polite, friendly, chatty and respectful of other group members or those on your Page.

The same goes for replying to comments and messages, sometimes even just a simple thank you can make the difference for your business. Facebook places a little icon on your Page for those that are fast to respond to messages including the length of time it can take you to reply to messages. Ignoring messages altogether can have you coming across rude and consumers will go look elsewhere for their purchasing needs.

Keep your content fresh, if you use a Page for your business it is necessary to post regularly to a degree. If you post once every few weeks, make sure the content is valuable! Consumers like to see what a business is up to and the more you post, the more you will be seen in their newsfeed. If you do not post, you do not get seen.

Sticking to these basic rules of Facebook for business and you will avoid ending up in Facebook Jail and can successfully grow your business.

Business Networking, Leeds, RedRite, Virtual Assistant

Business Networking and the Benefits

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I previously wrote about the benefits of networking using the social platform, Twitter. However, this time I want to expand on that and discuss the benefit of networking as a whole.

What is networking?

Wikipedia classes business networking as – “Networking is a socioeconomic business activity by which business people and entrepreneurs meet to form business relationships and to recognize, create, or act upon business opportunities, share information and seek potential partners for ventures.”

Many think of business network marketing as Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) companies, such as Juice plus, Forever Living and Arbonne, however network marketing works for everyone. It is the process in which you use networking situations to market your business and can be beneficial particularly to business to business (B2B) companies who are looking for other business owners to market to.

What is the benefit of networking for a business?

Being a business owner can sometimes be a lonely experience. Yes, you have staff and yes you family but to the staff you are the boss and not all family are interested in talking about business. So who do you turn to when you want to chat about business without being formal? That is where the benefit of networking comes in to play, whether it is face to face networking or even just a member of a Facebook/LinkedIn group. Having access to people in similar position as you to talk to when needed eases the responsibilities of being a business owner as well as open avenues of business you might not have considered.

Through networking you can create a close knit network of individuals that you can go to for advice, do skill swaps with in order to complete projects on a budget or to attend conferences with. The connections made through networking can also provide collaboration possibilities. Regularly meeting and communicating with other owners about your business it can effortlessly spread the word about what you have to offer, without the expense of a marketing campaign or keeping track of what posts went in to which Facebook group. In this way it is one of the cheapest ways of building your audience, keeping people aware of your business and, when giving advice, it is also a way to show your expertise in your industry.

Top Tip: Always carry business cards with you to networking meets, every person you come in contact with is a potential new customer and providing them with a business card means they can find you again after the meeting.

My experience with Networking.

I personally am a member of several groups and run two of my own face to face networking groups. Through these groups I have met so many new people and even obtained several new clients, clients I would not have met any other way. A plus to these groups is when I want to vent about a situation, or dying for advice I can turn to them, provide a little detail and receive feedback that clears up the situation for me.

These networking groups and those on Facebook also offer me an audience to provide market research and it’s a guarantee they are the correct market to help me. I have offered to complete market research for other individuals as well as provide advice in regards to what actions a person should take, particularly in a situation they may not have experienced before. Answering questions put to the groups has helped my show that I do know what I am talking about, I can do what I advertise and in turn has built my client list. I have created a level of authority in my industry by a simple comment on a post.

Is Networking suitable for my business?

Yes! Networking is perfect for any business, whether you sell a physical product or provide virtual services. Finding a group of individuals that can offer you support and open more avenues for sales is one of the easiest and most effective techniques to running a business.

How do I find a local face to face group?

Local business networking groups are everywhere, some of the best ways to find a local group is to post in local Facebook groups or search on local ad pages such as Craigslist or Gumtree. Websites such as Meetups.com or Eventbrite.co.uk are specific sites created to advertise networking events, simply enter in your postcode and choose a search area. If you know another local business owner why not attend together if you are nervous about attending.

If you are local to North Leeds and want to know more about networking groups pop us an email across and I can share my local groups. I also have a list of some networking groups in the West Yorkshire area, just send me a message and I will share a copy.

Time block, time management, Leeds, RedRite, Virtual Assistant

Time block your way to a work/life balance

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Time block can be an effective business practice that helps obtain that work/life balance we are all searching for.

Recently on my Facebook page  I talked about the benefits of time blocking. This is the system of setting up a calendar where certain periods of time are ‘blocked’ so that for those particular periods you are doing nothing but what you have scheduled in. This allows you to organise your time better, schedule in some ‘me time’ and provide a clearer picture of available time in which you can take on new clients or spend more time on producing products. The spare hours could also be used to catch up work that is due or start something new.

Why time block?

The thought that provoked this post was that over the weekend I set up 1 hour blocks to complete some studying, watch a seminar, get social media planning done and get housework done as my to do list was overflowing. By 9am Monday morning I was caught up on everything and feeling positive about starting the week. By continuing this throughout the week I have got ahead with studying and my seminars, caught up on all the housework and still had time for myself to enjoy a good book without letting my clients down. Usually weekends involved a little work and lots of sofa surfing but this particular weekend I found myself energized and full of motivation to get things done, which in turn helped me focus better and stick to the time block schedule.

Do you ever find yourself waking up one morning with more energy and determination than other mornings? Then you need to sit down to time block your day and get the ball rolling! This focus plan can help keep the ball moving through the following days and with a schedule in place showing your down time you can give yourself something to look forward to. Book in a massage, or organise a get together with your mates at the pub, knowing that nothing will intrude on that time as its been scheduled in just for you. If you have clients getting in touch you know exactly what time you have available to offer them without taking on too much leading to stress and loss of passion for your business.

What if something unexpected happens?

Sometimes unexpected events happen that can throw off your time blocks – i.e a child is off sick when you are scheduled to attend meetings or a system malfunction. A positive is you can re-arrange your time blocks or use your spare time blocks to catch up without affecting the rest of your week.

How do you get started?

Simple… Write down all the tasks you do on a daily/weekly/monthly basis both for business and personal – make sure to go through your emails for this as well, sometimes it can help you remember tasks forgotten. Then using a spreadsheet note them all down with approximate time length for each task. Once you know this you can determine when you are most productive (find out why this is important in my other blog post , and work out the most effective time for certain blocks. If you have clients who require work done on a certain day/time, then you can use this information to schedule a block of time that works well for this deadline. You can fiddle with the timeline until you find a perfect balance of work and life.

Add a little colour, highlight high priority sections then print and stick it above your workspace, the fridge or somewhere you can see it daily. Now you have a plan and it’s in writing, in a place you will see therefore there is no reason to forget it. Family members can also see it so they know what you are doing and when, which can make planning family time a little easier too.

Still too much to do and not enough time?

Then maybe it is time to consider outsourcing those tasks that are taking up too much time. Those tasks that you dread having to do, and start slimming down your time blocks till your time equals your to do list.

Record Keeping, Business, RedRite, Leeds, Virtual Assistant

Record keeping – why it is important

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Record keeping is a vital task for any business but why?

For the past two years I have been dealing with a utility company whose administrative and financial record keeping leaves major room for improvement. It all started with a request to update serial numbers, a simple process of updating a database through a step by step process. It should have taken no more than 6 months, however it took nearly 18 months of monthly phone calls and complaints before I called in a governing body to handle it for me.

On several occasions I provide the same details over and over again including the address I reside at, opening usage readings and the current readings. The first attempt they blamed new software being the cause for delay. Second attempt they claimed the previous attempt had actually been done on my previous address and therefore needed to be reversed and done again. Third attempt they had reversed the last attempted and then successfully changed the serial number to have a member of staff then put a request through to cancel it on my behalf (trust me I never asked for it to be cancelled).

It took months of the governing body being involved before someone was able to successfully change the serial number and provide an accurate bill. At this point I had had enough and switched provider thinking that a final bill would be issued and my problems would end. Boy was I wrong! I was sent several final bills each with different financial figures, different dates and even debt collectors claiming I owed nearly £500 for one month’s usage! So once again requested the support of the governing body. Today I received notification that my problems are at an end, a correct statement was provided and analysed to calculate a final accurate bill which I have now paid and wished them good bye.

It had me thinking about the lack of organisation and the issues they must have between departments. I am always advising people to record everything, no matter how little, so if something was to happen they had information to help them. In this case I had made note of every phone call I had made, all the details I had provided and due to this was able to show a very clear picture of my utility usage, while the figures provided by the supplier seemed to change with each invoice, as well as the requests I had put to them. When requesting what the previous notes stated on my account some where missing and at times not even my phone calls where recorded which is a big no-no for businesses. 

RedRite Record Keeping

It is essential to keep clear concise notes on all your accounts – both clients and suppliers. After every phone call send an email covering the points made in the call to the caller and even keep a record in a CRM system or a database of some kind. An accurate billing system which tracks every income, every expense, even refunds means you are never financially caught out. It can also provide you a clearer view on where your business stands. Use an app or diary to record when you need to make a call, or as a reminder that something needs doing – even keeping notes on social media posts you want to send.

All of this can seem like additional stress and work but in the long term can save you such a headache. If I hadn’t kept record of communication between myself and the utility company, they could easily have fobbed me off. It also helps when dealing with my clients as sometimes they may mention something offhanded which I can use that to improve the services I offer to them; find them a connection they might not realise they needed or even get an idea as to the type of person they are to create a much more personal service.

I have several apps and software systems – particularly cloud based systems – that I suggest to my clients, if you are interested I will be more than happy to share. Send me a quick email with your business, the type of information you wish to record and I will have a nosey through my index.

I would love to hear if anyone else has had an experience such as mine, an experience that has had you questioning the administrative practises of a business. It doesn’t have to be a big business or a corporation we all know. So get sharing!

Research, importance of research, RedRite, Virtual Assistant, Leeds

Research – How important is it?

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Research seems to have filled every spare moment this April, but how important is it?

What a busy start to the month I have had so far, with Easter holidays, birthdays and plenty of interest from people I feel like the year may have finally truly begun for RedRite and hope the shower of interest this April will help my business bloom like the flowers of May.

One of the biggest services I have had an interest in this month is research. I have had clients who are looking to expand their connections and need help researching suitable individuals and businesses to contact. Clients who are interested in a particular app but want the full story and alternatives before making the final decision, and clients who need a little help coming up with blog content. All different types of research but each just as important as each other to the recipients.

According to Wikipedia “Research comprises creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of humans, culture and society, and the use of this stock of knowledge to devise new applications. It is used to establish or confirm facts, reaffirm the results of previous work, solve new or existing problems…”

Research can come in a variety of forms, even watching the evening news can alert you to so much information that you can put to use, or converse with others about and expand your knowledge more. With so many access points to use when researching the amount of content out there is phenomenal, and finding what is relevant to you and what is not can be a tricky task. In my recent University studies I have been looking at information management and it is intriguing how the theories taught in the book can give insight to the way we research.

Every action of research starts with the need to obtain knowledge and to find it first a person needs to investigate the data available to them. For example you want to obtain knowledge regarding new technologies for your business. You can do a Google search for new technologies and those results are your data. This data then becomes what is known as capta (the process of Capturing Data) when you go ahead and click on several of the search results to investigate further. The data provided on each of those web pages are turned in to information because you are taking on board the data in front of you, making an opinion regarding it and placing in to context – the use the technology may have for your business. Once the information is applied in theory to its possible impact on your business you then hold the knowledge of new technologies for your business.

Research can be a time consuming aspect of everyday life in a business and sometimes not everyone has the additional time it takes to find the information they need to make an informed decision. Many apps and businesses obtain business purely because they are suggested to them or they happen to catch a fancy looking advert, when in reality there could be something far more suited to their needs out there. Unfortunately freedom of time makes the decision for a business owner in these situations rather than financial aspects or easier usability aspects and in the long term may end up costing the business more time and money.

Save a few quid by hiring someone to do the research for you. All it will take is to read over a well-structured document listing pros and cons of each app, the ease in which each app would fit with your company and any other information you require. We at RedRite would be more than happy to help.

Personal note from RedRite, Leeds

On a Personal Note This Month…

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How have you been this month? Can you believe it is nearly Easter?

Where has the month gone? After our last post I have just not stopped, with so much going on in the business and personal life it seems the month has gone in a blink of the eye and suddenly Easter is peaking over the hill.

The end of February saw me preparing for some time off and checking the record keeping of many clients and friends who were unsure whether they were safe from the changes of Working Tax Credits. The beginning of March saw me take a few days off to have surgery – a small procedure on my knee to help relieve some persistent pain I have been suffering with for some months now – then diving head first in to a large data project for one of our most exotic clients so far, a lovely fashion house in Malaysia. This month has also seen the introduction of several other businesses to our network including an accountants firm based in Wakefield, AFor Accountants, I am starting to focus more on businesses who want and need a little extra help getting themselves organised for the next financial year. Making sure record keeping is straight forward, simple and exactly what each business needs to keep them running smoothly no matter the industry or their budget.

Not just a busy month in business but on a personal front too. With 3 kids in a dance show and needing costumes, several school projects that all required time to create, my surgery and university assignments to improve the skill set I can offer my clients I do not think I have sat still for long at all this month.

It would be lovely to hear what you have all been up to. So please comment below or contact us on our Facebook page

Why hire a VA, Virtual Administrator, RedRite, Leeds

Why hire a Virtual Administrator?

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Virtual Administrator services is a growing service throughout all levels of business but why??

Your desk is piled high with paperwork that needs electronically filling, your drawer is filled to the brim with business cards from networking events and your email box is ready to quit on you it is so full of unread emails, yet the thought of having to research and advertise for an assistant brings you out in a cold sweat. That is where a Virtual Administrator comes in, they take care of all these jobs plus more and the best bit is you only pay for the time they work, no need to clock how many minutes they waste on cigarettes breaks or how long their lunch break is.

Virtual Administrators are a growing trend not only in the small business arena but also in the large corporation world, with many employers turning to the ease of hiring a Virtual Administrator rather than wasting time and money advertising through agencies. Virtual Administrators can take care of any aspect of administration from screening and sorting your e-mails on a daily basis to managing projects that you do not have time to handle.

Every Virtual Administrator can research the life out of anything, has a professional demeanour in which to handle your correspondence with and some can even handle your taxes helping you save even more money. Whether it is a one-off job while your regular PA is off ill, or you are a small business needing someone who loves paperwork to handle the tedious tasks you despise, a Virtual Administrator is the life saver for it all. Virtual Administrators are ‘on-call’ for when you need them, yet are not hovering in the office filing their nails waiting for the work and charging you for it.

Here at RedRite we have the skills and experience in the following services plus many more:

  • Accounting Software Setup and Management – Including Payroll
  • Microsoft Office Applications – Word, Excel, Access etc
  • Social Media Marketing and Online Brand Reputation
  • Data Entry
  • Quote/Invoice Production and chasing
  • Audio/Copy Typing
  • Website Development
  • WordPress Setup and Management
  • E-Customer Service – Email, online chat, website/social media enquiries

If you are just setting up a business but do not have the time to deal with the creation of records, setting up social media and websites then a Virtual Administrator can help with that too, you do not have to be an established business to hire a Virtual Administrator. RedRite can help a business at any stage in its development, supporting it as it grows and making sure each step is as smooth as can be. Stop putting off getting everything sorted and hire someone who makes their living do so, Virtual Administrators love their jobs and it reflects in the quality of work you will receive.

For more information and to see how a Virtual Administrator can help you contact us today!

Business Paperwork, What you need, RedRite, Leeds

Paperwork – What do you really need??

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Paperwork: The bane of every company owner’s existence but a necessary evil.

 

Even with the developments in technology the one thing that has not changed over the many many years of business is the need for paperwork, whether it is hard copies or electronic, every company needs to keep track of everything going on.

Every business, not matter what size or type, needs at least some form of tracking the following:

  • Income and expenditures/Receipts –
    • Even if you are a business consultant or offer a professional support you still need to keep track of all the paper, marketing tools and software you purchase.
    • Even if you have an accountant who takes care of all your finances to send to HMRC at year end, it is also good for you to keep track of all your receipts on a monthly basis, a simple spreadsheet is more than enough.
    • Another major piece of finance paperwork that needs tracking is invoices. Knowing when they are due and if any payments have been made guarantees you keep track on any overdue invoices and you are not short changed by clients.

 

  • Marketing Campaigns –
    • Keeping track of any marketing campaigns you run, i.e Google Ad words, Facebook Ads etc, helps you identify which are successful and which are a waste of your money.
    • Keeping track of newsletters sent out also keeps track of any information you have sent out and if someone contacts you regarding that information you can easily look it up.

 

  • Social Media –
    • Keeping track of social media/blog posts means you do not end up repeating yourself and looking unorganised. For example our ‘This month in history…’ posts are saved and we keep track of all facts used so next year we are not blogging the same information and boring our readers.
    • Tracking the amount of followers gained and people engaged helps you see more clearly your company grow and spread.
    • Searching your business on social media also helps track any bad publicity you may have obtained. If you do not create a page for your business before someone else does then you have already lost control of what your audience sees.

 

  • Appointments and Planner–
    • This will help you work out exactly which months are more popular and if you have repeat customers it allows you to see how often they are returning, maybe to help offer them a loyalty offer. If you reward referrals it also helps confirm the name you are given has genuinely been a client.
    • May seem an obvious one but keeping on top of everything from client appointments, business meetings and even your social media time can help you make the most of your time and reduce the risk of double booking yourself or running out of time for something.  Why not try the Business Planner offered by Educate Business, it not only helps you plan your business but also your personal life.

 

  • Potential and Current Clients –
    • Keeping track of your clients helps your business grow. Even keeping track of potential clients means you can email them at a later date and see if there is anything you can do for them or sell them. With lives so busy these days it is easy for people to forget who they contacted for help, sending a quick ‘Hi, how are you…’ email can help them remember. If you have sent a current client something it is always best to follow up when there is no response in case your email slipped through the cracks, or again they have been too busy to remember.

 

  • Hours Worked –
    • Whether you are selling handmade items or providing a service, keeping a note of all hours worked means you can compare your income to the amount of work required, it helps to see if the financial return is worth the time invested or if things need changing. If you spend an hour networking every Monday then still record it, if you were an employee your employer would be tracking every time spent at work whether you are working or not.
    • If you have employees it also helps see how the workloads are shared and work out their wages due. It also helps you understand more clearly how many hours an average job will take so when quoting a similar job you have a better understanding of the time truly required.

 

  • Current News –
    • It may seem an unusual thing to keep track of but it prevents you from making mistakes similar to those seen in our previous blog post, ones that could cause severe damage to your business. Using a severely distressing situation as an advertising ploy will not settle well with customers and followers.

 

It can be time consuming and tedious to keep track of all this as well as running the main body of the business. A simpler method to keep track of all this is to outsource it to a capable and experienced team, such as RedRite. All we require is access to invoicing and appointment systems, customer databases and any receipts obtained, if none of the databases are in place we can easily create them for you, helping to smooth out the running of your business.

No need to stress over the piles of paperwork building up, stop digging through shoeboxes full of receipts or paying your accountant a fortune to do it for you, pass it on to someone who loves paperwork and will cost you less than an accountant or an employee who needs desk space. We love paperwork and promise to handle it with the upmost care.

Call today or Email us for help digging out of the sinking hole of paperwork you have found yourself in.