The vision of the Paperless Office has been promoted for
many years. Yet, we can be sure of one thing - paper is here to stay, for a
very long time. So, while you might be storing a large volume of your files
electronically; I am sure that there are still some documents which you might
feel obliged to store as hard copies. It could be legal documents for which you
require original signatures; or perhaps you simply have not made that shift to
electronic filing, and do have documents that need to be stored in some logical
system. Here are a few guidelines for starting a simple filing system for your
home-based business:
1. Once you have completed dealing with a document, place
the document in a labeled folder. As a start you might wish to label the folder
in pencil. In labeling the folder, ask, how would I most likely use this
information, and what would I look for, should I need to retrieve the document?
2. Set aside fifteen to thirty minutes weekly to review
documents, which have piled up around your office and place them in folders as
outlined in 1.
3. As you create and label folders, compile a list of all
files on your Computer, using Microsoft Word or Excel. This is the start of
your Filing Index.
4. Create broad headings for grouping folders. For example,
you could create a heading for Administration, which would include
documents/files related to the establishment and day to day running of your
business. This could include documents related to business licensing, website
development, company profile, staff matters, lists of contacts and so on.
Another possible heading could be Financial Matters. This
section could include files containing accounting information such as Bank
Statements, Invoices, Receipts, Expenses etc. Use headings related to your
service offerings and business concept.
5. Number each broad heading or section consecutively (e.g.
1. Administration; 2. Financial Matters).
6. Assign a number to each file based on the section within
which it is placed. You might wish to start each section with a general folder
(e.g. Administration, General -- 1.0. This will be a sort of catch all, for
one-time documents which do not require a separate file. However, please be
conservative in using this file.) Then number the other files in the section:
1.1, 1.2, 1.3, and so on. The next section would begin 2.0, 2.1 etc.
Initially, assign numbers to section headings and files
alphabetically. As the files grow, assign numbers consecutively, as files are
added.
7. As you progress, update your Filing List/Index, to
include new sections and file numbers.
8. Use the information in your Filing Index to create labels
to be placed on the folders. Use a large readable font and include on your
label the number and the name of the file. (e.g. 1.4 Website Development). You
might also wish to include your logo, perhaps as a watermark.
9. Prepare two sets of Index Tabs. One containing the number
and name of each broad heading or section in a large font, e.g. 1.
ADMINISTRATION. The other set containing the number and name of the individual
file, e.g 1.1 Business License. Feel free to use a different colour tab for the
sections heads.
10. Insert the index tabs in the file jackets, placing all
section heads in a straight line and angling the index tabs for the individual
files, to facilitate visibility.
11. Place each file in the corresponding file jacket.
12. Print your Filing List/Index and place in the first file
jacket in the Filing Cabinet. Label the tab Filing Index or Filing List. This
list will provide an overview of the files and will be your roadmap for
locating your files.
You have now established your
filing system. Do remember to regularly set aside time to maintain your filing
system, as paper accumulates quickly.
In this article, I am going to walk you through the 6 simple
steps to setting a website or blog for your home based business. I recommend
having your own website even if the opportunity you are associated with
provided you an affiliate link.
The platform I am going to use is WordPress. WordPress
allows you to set up either a blog, or you can create pages and close comments
and just use it as a regular website - which is what I do.
I like the WordPress format because it is very easy. You
don't need to know any HTML coding. For those of you like me who need a
website, but don't have time to learn HTML or the money to pay someone else to
do it for you...this tutorial will be very helpful.
Before we get started, you will want to open 3 tabs in your
browser. On the first tab, login to your email. On the second tab, pull up
GoDaddy.com. On the third tab, go to HostGator.com. Having these 3 tabs open
will allow you to easily switch between websites as we go back and forth
setting everything up.
1. Decide on a domain name.
Ideally, you want your site to be the name of your business.
This way, people will have a much easier time remembering the name of your
website.
If you need a site that is not just for one business, but
perhaps a set of affiliate products you are trying to promote, you will
probably want to use your name as the domain name.
This allows you to brand yourself instead of just your
business. In this case, it would be appropriate to include some information
about yourself so that people can get to know you.
People Buy From People They Know And Trust.
2. Register your domain name.
I personally use GoDaddy.com to register my domain names.
Their service is easy and their prices are generally quite competitive.
On their homepage there will be a box that will allow you to
search the availability of your domain name.
When setting up a domain, you always want to make it a
".com", NOT a ".info" or ".net". Dot com's are
what most people will remember easily... and that's what we're going for.
I also would NOT recommend using any hyphens in your name
(ie. Bobs-Toys-and-Treats.com). Hyphens make things easy to read, but they are
harder to remember. When someone is talking about your site, they are not going
to remember all the hyphens. They are going to tell their friends about Bobs
toys and treats dot com (ie. bobstoysandtreats.com). Not remembering the
hyphens could lead your customer to your competitor's website.
The registration with GoDaddy is very easy and straight
forward. Once you select the domain you want, you continue through their
process to purchase the domain. Once your domain is paid for, we are going to
move on to hosting.
3. Set up hosting for your domain name.
Hosting provides your domain name with a home. A hosting
company is going to have many computers hooked up to the internet. When you
place your domain name on their computers, you are making your domain available
to everyone on the internet.
This would be similar to setting up a business in town.
First you need to register your business with the county business license
office (selecting a domain name). Then you would find somewhere to set up
shop....perhaps a rented building on Main St. or a rented suite in an office
building. This is what hosting is. You are renting a spot to put your website.
There are quite a few good hosting companies out there. I
personally use HostGator.com. HostGator is easy to use. And that's what we're
going for.... Simplicity.
On the homepage for HostGator.com, you will want to select
"View Web Hosting Plans", and then pick which one is right for you.
If you are just starting out, either the "Hatchling Plan" or the
"Baby Plan" will probably suit you well. The only difference between
the two is the number of domains that can be hosted.
Finish setting up your account (which is very easy...just
follow HostGator's instructions) and then check your email for your
confirmation email from HostGator. In this confirmation email, you will be
given two nameservers: NS1 and NS2.
There may also be a Verification email from HostGator. If
they need verification, the easiest way to do this is to call into their 800
number and verify your information.
4. Changing your nameservers on GoDaddy.
So you have received your email and you have scrolled down
to the part of the email that lists your nameservers. Login to your account
with GoDaddy (if you are not logged in already).
On your main account page, you will see a section called
"Domains". Your domain name should be listed in this section. On the
title bar where it reads "Domains" on the left, there will be a
"View Domain Manager" link on the right. Click on "View Domain
Manager".
This will bring up your domain name under a title bar that
lists various options like "Organize", "Locking",
"Cash In" and "Upgrade".
Select your domain by checking the box to the right of it,
and then click on the "Nameservers" option at the top.
A new window will pop up. There will be 4 options. The
bottom option will read "I have specific nameservers for my domains."
This is the one you want to select. Underneath that selection, will be boxes
where you can enter the nameservers you received in your email from HostGator.
Copy and paste the two nameservers into the appropriate boxes. (ie. The
nameserver that follows NS1: in the email, you would copy and then paste into
the Nameserver 1 box.)
Then click OK.
What we just did was tell GoDaddy that we don't need them to
host the site anymore. This change can take between 24-48 hours to take effect,
so when you type in your address directly into the browser, you will still see
the GoDaddy advertisement until the switch is made.
5. Fantastico De Luxe
In the same confirmation email that your nameservers came
in, there will also be a link to your control panel for your website. Under
that link in the email, there will also be a username and password that you
will need to access the control panel.
Click on the link, it should open a new tab, and then enter
your username and password. This will open up your control panel.
Your control panel has a lot of helpful features and
information. For example on the left sidebar there is an option to see how much
traffic your site is getting. Underneath the Domains section, you can redirect
a website or create subdomains. After you finish setting up your website, I
would recommend spending some time in your control panel and getting familiar
with the different features.
Now, go down to the section called Software / Services. This
section will be down toward the bottom of the page. In this section you will
see a blue smiley face with the title "Fantastico De Luxe". Click on
the smiley face.
This will open the Fantastico Home. On the left sidebar,
there will be a list of scripts that Fantastico can install. We want to select
WordPress. It will be under the "Blogs" section.
Once WordPress is selected, it will bring up a new page. We
want to select "New Installation" on this page. Another page will
pull up.
This is where we select which domain we would like to set
WordPress up on: next to "Install on Domain", select your domain.
Below that it will read, "Install in Directory". Leave this box
blank.
In the next two boxes below, you will select a username and
password to access your WordPress blog.
Then finally, in the last set of boxes, you will just put
your email in the box next to "Admin e-mail", and then click
"Install WordPress".
6. Customizing your blog/website.
Like I said at the beginning, even though we are using a
blog format, it is not necessary that you set this up like a blog. You can
create pages and turn off the comments on each page and use WordPress to create
your website.
WordPress is probably one of the easiest programs to use,
and it is already included with the cost of your hosting, so you do not need to
pay an additional fee (Bonus!!)
WordPress offers several different themes to choose from. It
also offers a large selection of plugins. Plugins are computer programs that
work with a host application, in this case WordPress, to provide a specific
function.
For example, one plugin that I use in my WordPress site is
"My Page Order". This plugin allows me to put the pages that I create
in the order that I want them.
If you need a certain function, you can search plugins right
from your WordPress back office, download the one you want and begin using it
immediately.
Being such a popular program, you will find a wealth of
information on WordPress when you Google it. This also comes in very handy if
you run into problems or have questions.
I don't know about you, but I would rather run into a
problem that I can have fixed in 5 minutes just by running a Google search for
the solution, than to have a problem that I have to call my programmer or
website designer to fix. (Not to mention, they are going to charge me - whereas
the Google search was free.)
Well, with these 6 steps you
will have a website up and ready to fill with content, videos and testimonials
that will help your business grow. I hope you found this tutorial to be
straight forward and easy, and I wish you the best of luck in your new
adventure as a webmaster.
Whether you are planning on starting a new business or
expanding an existing one, you need to ask yourself: Where am I? And where do I
want to be? And how am I going to get there?
To answer these questions you will need to develop a
marketing plan, the most important tool you can use to develop that competitive
advantage your business needs to survive.
Develop a Mission Statement
Every business has a purpose and this is one of the most
important aspects when developing marketing strategies for your home based
business. A mission statement is a simple and clear statement outlining the
purpose and direction of your business. Every decision the business makes
should be based on its mission statement.
Analyze the Market and Competition
What makes your marketing strategies for your home based
business special, and gives you a distinct competitive advantage over your
competition? How do your customers see your business and how does your product
or service relate to others in the marketplace.
Strategic Market Planning
Strategies are the planned action plan you are going to take
to meet your objectives. You must have strategies for operations, pricing and
promotion in your marketing plan. These strategies will be used to convince
customers that your product or service is better than you competitor's product
or service.
Promotion
Advertising is another critical component of marketing
strategies for your home based business. Advertising is your way of communicating
your message to your target market. How and when to promote your business or
service are decisions that will depend on your budget.
Budgeting & Keeping Track
When preparing your marketing budget your decision should be
based on: The company's resources and financial position as well as the
businesses goals and objectives and your target market
Action Plan
Decide who is going to do what, to carry out the marketing
plan. Set completion dates for planning and evaluating your marketing
strategies for your home based business.
Evaluate
Monitor, Change and Evaluate your marketing plan often to
ensure that your company goals and objectives are being met.
Marketing affects everything about your business, small
things like your business cards are part of your marketing plan and smart
marketing puts money in the bank.
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