April 2007 online newsletter

Time = Money
Make the Most of It

We all want to do as much as we can, as fast as we can, and as completely as we can, without sacrificing the quality of our work. American business today is the most fast-paced environment ever.

Efficiency is a simple concept:  if you’re not efficient, you won’t survive. It doesn’t mean that you have to time every activity with a stopwatch, ticking off the seconds like the father in the classic novel Cheaper by the Dozen. What it does mean is that you can’t waste precious minutes by hunting through a disorganized filing system or by using outdated resources when searching for the answer to an important business question.

Also, being more efficient in business will translate into more dollars on that bottom line AND more time and money to think about strategic marketing!

Today's corecubed newsletter gives you some handy tips on ways your business can become more efficient.

TIP #1: KNOW YOUR SEARCH ENGINE

The two most effective search engines are Google and Yahoo. Both are powerful tools, but, like any tool, you have to know how to use it. If it’s not specific enough, a Google search can literally return thousands - sometimes millions - of Web sites.

What you need to know are some tried and true methods of refining your search to get the information you need. Try the Google tips below:

• USE QUOTES:  If you’re looking for a page that contains the exact phrase “marketing strategies for smart penguins”, you should put quotes around it when you enter it in the Google search box. This will tell Google to ignore any page that doesn’t contain those exact words in that exact order. Otherwise, Google may give you search results containing pages about marketing and pages about penguins.
  
  
• USE OPERATORS:  Google has a number of system commands called “operators” that can help narrow down a search. For example, when you enter “marketing AND robots” (without quotes) into the Google search box, the operator “AND” tells Google to ignore any pages that don’t contain BOTH the words “marketing” and “robots”. Otherwise, Google will return pages containing the word marketing and pages that contain the word robots. (Note: Search terms should always be typed in lowercase while many operators should be uppercase.) There are other operators as well, including “OR”, “+” and “-“.  For a list of them, visit: www.google.com/help/operators.html.
  
  
• SET UP ALERTS:  Google can even alert you when new information about your search term appears somewhere on the Web. If you go to www.googlealert.com, and enter “ACME Marketing and Penguin Washing Company”, Google will continuously monitor the Web for those words. Whenever they appear in a new Web page, Google will instantly send you an e-mail containing a link to that page, enabling you to stay on top of your company’s presence on the Web.

For more tips on how to use Google more efficiently, visit www.google.com/help/basics.html and www.google.com/help/refinesearch.html.

TIP #2: ORGANIZE YOUR CONTACTS

There’s nothing more annoying than having to waste half your afternoon trying to find the phone number of the new client you met just yesterday…or wracking your brain to remember the last time you made a courtesy call to your favorite client, Ribs-R-Us.

Investing in a customer relationship management (CRM) software can work wonders for your marketing and sales efforts.

CRM software can do more than organize your clients’ phone numbers in an efficient, easy-to-find system. Some software packages include extra features, such as the ability to analyze ROI from specific customers, keep track of customer support issues and forecast upcoming sales opportunities. Some packages are even adaptable for Blackberries and Pocket PCs.

Below are links to some companies that offer CRM packages:

• Salesforce.com 
• Microsoft Dynamics CRM
  
• NetSuite

TIP #3: TAKE PART IN THE ONLINE CONVERSATION

If you’re grappling with a tough question, don’t go it alone. You can spend hours beating your head against the wall, but you don’t have to. It’s pretty likely that the question has been asked before. Someone out there has faced the same business challenges you have – and has somehow managed to overcome them. They may have some answers that are right for you.

The only question is, how do you find them?

The answer is no further than your nearest keyboard and a good Internet connection. Yahoo, as an example, offers thousands of groups where registered users can convene online to discuss a common interest.

There are also are loads of free small business focused resources. Try Studio Dell, for one avenue. They feature some well made videos about small business and tech solutions as well as case studies and small business stories.

These are just some basic tips you can employ to make your day run more smoothly, and to be more efficient. Remember: it’s easy to get caught up in all the challenges of running a business while neglecting your number one mission of providing a good product or service to your customer. Strategy, organization and having the right tools at your disposal are the keys to efficiency.

corecubed can help!  At corecubed we are not only efficient, but can also help you get more bang for your marketing dollar. For more information on how corecubed can assist you in growing your business, branding your product or service, launching a new product or communicating to your targets better, visit us online at www.corecubed.com, contact us at 1-800-370-6580, x1 or email us at info@corecubed.com.

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800-370-6580 ext.#1
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© 2007 corecubed