Entries from December 2008 ↓

In a down economy, we have got to get creative. This is the time when we must come up with new marketing methods, new pricing strategies, new markets to penetrate. The one drawback to all of these new efforts, is the cost. There is one way to get yourself out there, without breaking the bank. We hear about it all the time, we know it’s a good idea…but so many of us just don’t do it. The strategy I am referring to is Networking.
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Just this past Wednesday, as many Angelenos were heading home after a long days work, a select group of smart-minded LA small business owners gathered for the monthly O.N.E. (OneCoach Networking Event), which was once again held at the inspiring entrepreneurial work space of BLANKSPACES, designed and owned by Jerome Chang.
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A bold Statement…well, maybe.  But it’s absolutely possible.

Imagine this; you are deep in thought, tackling an important project, you are in the zone - then…’ding’…the echoing sound of your email inbox, that’s right, you’ve got mail.  Your thought process screeches to a hault, your mind shifts, you think ‘nah, I’ll check it later’, but what if it’s important?  What if it is crucial information?  Or, what if it’s an amazing discount offer from your favorite online retailer…?  Doesn’t matter, you’ve now lost focus on the task at hand and reach for the mouse.  How many times does this occur throughout your day?  I bet it happens often enough, that if you added up all of the diversion of time wasted you could calculate that into money lost.

Test: Take an egg timer and set it for 1 hour.  If you can go a whole hour without checking your email, you’re fine.  If you start having a nervous breakdown and can’t go just 1 hour without checking that precious inbox, you’ve got problems.

I recently listened to a great interview John Assaraf

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did with ‘The Productivity Pro’, Laura Stack, in which she states you should check your email no more than 4 times a day.  “Checking your inbox any more than that is just a fancy way to procrastinate”, says Stack.  She continues to add that most people use their email as a ‘to do’ list causing them to alter their focus and thought patterns which results in a high level of inefficiency in the workplace.

Follow Laura Stack’s 6 D’s just 4 times a day so you can maintain focus, maximize productivity, and increase your bank account!

1. Discard / Delete;  You can quickly decide whether a message is junk, spam, information that does not need to be kept.
2. Delegate it;  Give it to someone to handle, a partner, staff member, or employer - then move it to a personal folder in your email application.
3. Do it; Ask yourself ‘can I reply right this second?’  get it off your plate and be done with it - then delete it.
4. Date it; Can’t reply right now? don’t just leave it in your inbox!  Convert it to a ‘to do’ or ‘task’ in the email application and then move it to a folder.
5. Drawer; This email doesn’t require any action, but needs to be saved - simply move it into a folder in your email application.
6. Deter; Why do I keep getting this? Unsubscribe, block, set up a rule to automatically move it into a folder.

These simple steps will save you time, money and most importantly - your sanity.  Remember, the way you do anything is the way you do everything.  You must change your actions if you want to change your results.  If you would like a copy of this interview for detail on the 6 D’s and even more ‘Productivity Pro’ tips, send me an email; spencer@worksmartla.com micardis

Looks like we have a new international phenomena on our hands. Unless you are really living in the dark, you have probably seen the media madness that is following the vampire movie “Twilight” and it’s cast. Thousands of teenage girls are swept up in the frenzy, packing malls, retail stores and movie theaters just to get a piece of this movie for themselves.

Now, if you have been reading this blog, you’ll know that one of our favorite business growth strategies is to create partnerships or joint ventures. Using your products or services to support a complimentary product or service is a tremendous way to increase your brand awareness by getting in front of a completely new customer base.

The City of Industry clothing retailer, Hot Topic, Inc. has sunk their teeth in to a  JV relationship that has its third quarter net income up 11% vs. the same period last year. This rise in sales is directly related to a licensing detail between the “Twilight” movie and the Los Angeles retailer. According to Joel Russell’s article in the LABJ, Hot Topic, “has long tried to shed an image as a seller of goth clothing and become a mainstream store for young buyers…Sales peaked leading up to the film’s release, when stars signed merchandise in Hot Topic stores around the country.” If the “Twighlight” book series continues to be converted to the big screen, the company can for see a very bright future ahead of itself.

Are you stuck in a sales slump? Do your customers only see you in one light? Are you searching for ways to market your other benefits to a new group of consumers? Keep your focus on potential partners out there with the same message and customer base that you want to reach. Strategize all the opportunities that both parties could receive from the partnership and then create a winning proposal to present to your prospect. Now is the time for creativity and everyone is looking for ways to grow their businesses. If you can show them how your partnership can create mutual growth, then you have just found your new bloodstream (sorry, I just couldn’t help myself!). buy synthroid

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