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We all use email every day. And while social media gets most of the buzz, it’s really email (social media’s less sexy roommate) that gets the work done, day in and day out. All this means that if you own and operate a small business, you need to be sure that you’re taking full advantage of this wonderful tool. Step one is paying attention to how you come across when you send emails to other people. Here are some thoughts about two commonly made mistakes:  A generic or hard-to-understand “from” line Most of us pay a lot of attention to the “subject” line of our emails. It’s the headline and the thing that makes people open our emails in the first place. But the “from” line is even more important because that tells the recipient who is sending the email. If it’s a friend, relative or company I do business with, I’m likely to open it regardless of the subject line. If I don’t recognize the sender, I probably assume it’s spam and click delete. The other day I got an email message from “Theresa,” with a blank subject line. Well, even though I do know Theresa, she wouldn’t usually send me an email. I was therefore one neatly manicured finger away from deleting it until, at the last second, I remembered a Theresa I had contact with regarding some editing work a while ago. Sure enough, she was sending me some important information, but it made me wonder: How many of her emails are regularly deleted? Another similar faux pas is when the “from” line is simply an email address. That’s okay if your full name is part of your address, but not so good if your email address is something like [email protected]. What’s the solution? Try something like this: First and Last Name | Company. My first and last name, followed by my company name, either of which might help you realize who I am. You’ll find the vertical separator line that I use – “|” – by typing [Shift+\] or [Alt+124].  Not using a custom domain for email You may not know this, but if you own a domain (e.g., www.marionmetz.com), you have the ability to create email addresses ([email protected]) that use that domain name (and sometimes at no additional cost). However, I often see emails from small businesses and solo professionals who use Gmail, Yahoo! and other providers to act as their domain. An example is [email protected]. Not only does this approach paint you as a hobbyist as opposed to someone who’s really in business, but it also represents a missed opportunity to help people find your website. When you create an email address that uses your custom domain, you are constantly advertising your company, as well as where it can be found on the web. Like any tool, email is only as good as the way in which it’s used. Polish up your approach and start getting the full benefit from this important aspect of your business! If you don't know where to start, contact me, I can help you.
 When you work for someone else, your employer often provides you with a computer, a phone, an email address and/or business cards. The company has a logo, a website and procedures established for how to get the work done. When you work for yourself, you start with none of that. It’s up to you to provide these things for yourself. And even though many professionals have come from a corporate past, they don’t bring many of these things into their own businesses. Let’s think about that for a minute Many small business owners assume that because they are small, they’re under the radar and they can get by without pulling together all the essential components of their business. But, whether you’re just starting out or already established and sitting pretty, here are five things that let the world know that you’re a professional and that you mean business! Get a professional business card Don’t get a free card from Vista Print. And don’t have them printed by yourself on your home printer! Have one designed by a professional, with up-to-date information and nice card stock. Your card makes an impression every time you hand it to someone – a small investment in a professional-looking card will make a good one. Get a real email address If you have a registered domain (www.YourCompany.com), it’s just a few more steps to use it for email ([email protected]). It’s worth the little bit of extra effort to demonstrate that you’re serious. Please leave [email protected] behind! Get a professional headshot This should be renewed every couple of years and used on your website, your LinkedIn profile, your bio, etc. It doesn’t have to be expensive, but it should be done by a pro in a professional setting. Create a consistent look Presentations, brochures, online materials, etc., anything you show to clients and others should feel consistent. Don’t try to reflect a new expression in creativity in each piece. Use consistent fonts and colours, as well as consistent wording in the way you describe who you are and what you do. Don’t skimp on your tools Make sure you have what you need to run your business well. This includes a good computer, a reliable printer, and a dedicated place to work from. Invest in the software you need to do your work and maintain your business on the back end. All of these things are easy to set up or implement, and relatively inexpensive. By doing them, not only will you give the world a better impression, you’ll feel like a million bucks!  One thing I love about all my clients is that you are all small business owners. You're excited about your work and you’re passionate about your ideas. You love your businesses (sometimes) as if it were one of your children. And you spend a lot of time working. That’s the good news. The bad news is that many of you don’t always feel like you’re getting anything done … despite the long hours and hard work. You are pretty sure you're being inefficient and feel like there’s never enough time. And that’s exhausting, so here are some tips for you!  Get clear about what you’re trying to accomplish I see clients every day who are heading in 15 directions all at once. They jump from one thing to the next and back without any clear destination, always chasing the next shiny object. The best way to become clear is to take the time to set measurable goals that are easy to articulate. For example: “In 2022 I want to increase revenue by $50,000”, “I want 10 more monthly clients”, or “I want to delegate 10 hours of work per week to an assistant."  Make a plan that supports your goal If your goal is to increase revenue by $50,000, identify five or six activities to support that objective. This might include raising prices, additional public engagements, attending more networking events, writing a newsletter or blog, publishing on LinkedIn, etc. Be deliberate about this. This is how you are going to spend a lot of your time.  Set up support systems In order to know whether you’re carrying out your plan, it’s important to track what you’re doing. Part of my plan to increase revenue this year is to be consistent with my social media presence. There’s no way I could track my progress in my head, so I have an excel spreadsheet to track my success each day/week. Am I flawless in my execution? No. Does it help to see what I’m actually doing so I can make mid-course corrections? Absolutely!  Don’t be afraid to say no If you get a request that’s not aligned with your goal, it’s important to say no. If you have a bright idea that’s also not aligned with your goal (no matter how bright) it’s equally important to say no. For example, I loathe one particular social media channel, and even though I know there are millions of people that would be able to see me, I say no to this. It doesn’t align with my values. Do your goal setting and planning in quiet.
Also, do it separately from your day to day activities. Be clear in your language and remove any ambiguity. Stick with it, even when you’re feeling short on time or energy. Be sure to add time to keep updating your systems. In the end, you’ll feel more focused, get more done and enjoy your business a lot more than you thought you could. If you don't know where to start, contact me, I can help you. |
AuthorHi, I am Marion of Marion Metz Solutions Archives
September 2024
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