Are you looking for a simple way to keep track of your contacts but have it at your fingertips? If you are a GSuite / Gmail user then you would know about the little google contacts button on the right hand side from within your emails. If you click on this while your email is open then it will ask you if you would like to add to google contacts. Once added you can then go in and edit the details and even assign tags.
Personally I have mine set up with the tags ‘current clients’, ‘ clients’, and ‘leads’. This helps make it quick and easy to access the details without searching. The best part about using google contacts is that you can access this from your phone, it’s apart of your GSuite package and if you decide you would like to do a mailout it’s easy enough to download a CSV copy of your contacts list that you would like.
Say goodbye to double handling your client contact details!
Have you reached a point that you know you need to automate some processes to save yourself time? I bet you’ve heard of Zapier or maybe not. Zapier is a program that uses triggers and actions to streamline your daily activities. For instance I’ve just set up a zap yesterday so any jobs that come to my email (Gmail) and that I apply a certain tag to (New Jobs) will automatically add a new task in my project management software TickTick, this stops double handling and because I am always in my PM software I have the info at my fingertips.
Zapier does do a free plan which includes 100 tasks per month and you can set up 5 single zaps on this plan. For the beginner this is a great starting point as you can automate quite a lot with just the 5 zaps. Zapier has many intergrations for popular programs such as Gmail, Google Calender, Outlook, Zoom, Asana, Trello, TickTick, Toggl and so much more.
If you find that the free plan just isn’t enough the Starter plan gives you an extra 650 tasks per month and 3 premium apps.
Make sure to check them out especially if you are leaning more towards automating your business and saving time.
I’ve been asked the question many times, why network? What’s in it for me? Networking for me is such a vital part in growing my business. Networking is a great way to build your brand and allow people to know you personally and not the online version. As a Virtual Assistant you may think the only way I find my clients is online through social media and online avenues, that is not the case.
Yes the majority of my work is performed online however I run my business like any other business would and that is by networking and word of mouth. Word of mouth is such a powerful tool and the best form of marketing that your business could have.
There are a few different networking groups around to suit your lifestyle for instance BNI which is actually quite large worldwide. I attended a couple of events as a guest however it wasn’t for me as you have to provide a certain level of commitment which can be hard when you are a working mother. However for alot of business owners this group can result in regular referrals.
Meetup is another great tool that can be used to find networking groups near you. You can jump on their app and join in on some free business networking.
Get in contact with your local chamber of commerce chances are they have an association that run regular networking events allowing you to connect with other local businesses. For me this has been my go to, between sundowners and coffee catch ups there is always an opportunity to not only get out of the house but to also network. You have to realise that not every one is on social media and it is up to your to be the voice of your business.
My top tips for networking
Schedule some time out in your calendar in advance and attend atleast 2 networking events per month.
Break it up between a morning and evening networking event. Both events will hold a different demographic giving you more opportunities to connect with your target audience.
Don’t go in to sell! Networking is about educating and connecting not selling.
Reach out to those you had conversations with, send them a quick email or an invitation on LinkedIn. They may not need your services now but they may in the future or they may know someone that does.
Above all make it a habit to include networking in the day to day running of your business you’d be surprised at much it will actually help.
Hi I’m Tammy the owner of TLB Admin Support and Online Biz Connect. With years of experience in administration I help business owners grow and build their business by focusing on what’s important.
I’ve noticed the question being asked a number of times in groups on Facebook recently with people asking what software to use to record tutorials or even just their screen. Well I have been using the perfect program, Active Presenter!
Active Presenter is a free program you can download but it allows you to do so much.
It can be used for;
Smart Screen Capture – when you click the mouse each action is captured in a slide.
Full Screen Recording – this is perfect if creating an online tutorial. You can add voice overs, annotations, captions and special effects.
Voice Recording – while you are recording your screen you can also explain to your audience the process and record your own voice.
They have just added a new feature ‘webcam recording’ where you can record your screen and web cam at the same time.
You don’t need to have another program to edit your audio and video you can do this all from directly in Active Presenter
Make your presentations in line with your branding with colours and style effects.
You can export your video in multiple formats including the most popular MP4, AVI, WMV.
‘New Feature’ – design your quizzes and e-learning in a fully responsive design which is adaptable for tablet, phone and PC.
It has that perfect interactive element, so you can make quizzes and e-learning to teach your audience.
Personally I don’t think you will find another Free program that will give you so many great features and is user friendly. These are only a few of the features to get a full understanding of the program or to download a copy or check out some demos that others have created with Active Presenter you can follow this link – https://atomisystems.com/activepresenter
If you are a Gmail/Gsuite user and would like to be able to schedule your emails directly from your mailbox then this extension may be perfect for you.
