January 28, 2016 - Vertū Marketing

You Don’t Need More Time In Your Day, continued

January 28, 2016 by tylie eaves

Changing habits and regaining control over your schedule will take more than just one day or one week of implementing new rules and routines. At Virtue Marketing, we are dedicated to making your business the best it can be, which may include helping you gain more productivity and better time management.

Many experts believe that habits are made or broken in three weeks. We recommend implementing some or all of these tips for at least that amount of time in order to change some not-so-great habits that may be stealing your time during the day. Once you have read through the first installation of our helpful time-management tips, consider the following additions:

Focus on one thing at a time. Multitasking is wonderful in concept, but nearly impossible in practice. When you do more than one thing at a time, you are likely not completing that particular task in the best manner possible. Do one task at a time, and not only will you produce results of a higher quality, you may save time as well.
Eliminate distractions. Social media changed the business world forever, but it can also be one of the main sources of distraction during the workday. If you find yourself skimming Twitter or checking Facebook more than once an hour, try staying off social media unless it is a designated break time or after the workday is over.
Don’t deviate. Incoming phone calls and emails can take a lot of time, but they can also change the course of your day if you allow it. If it is not a matter that demands an immediate response, stick to your scheduled task. Most of the time, the issues that pop up during the day are not life and death, and you can keep control of your day by refusing to deviate from your “must-do” list. Respond to non-essential memos, emails and phone calls during the designated time slot in your daily calendar.

Using your time wisely can lead to higher productivity, which may lead to higher profits and better products and services. However, it also has a great deal to do with how much you respect yourself and your time. You are valuable and should respect your worth by acknowledging that every minute you devote to business should be fruitful and meaningful.

We are here to help you. We believe that you can do great things in business and in your personal life, and we know that time management skills are one of the most important efforts you can take for your long-term success. Take back control of your day–you are worth it!

Bring a Dying Business Network Back to Life

January 28, 2016 by tylie eaves

When was the last time you updated your network? If your list of business contacts is still spinning around on a rolodex, it’s time to get moving. Networks are living and thriving organisms, and no two are exactly alike or composed of the same materials. No matter how long you have been in the online business game, failing to feed and care for your network can result in a withered and dried up series of business connections.

Are you still looking at the rolodex or a planner filled with emails that might not even be active anymore? Let’s get started…

Throw out old info. Go ahead, erase it, delete it and toss it in the trash. There is absolutely no need to keep out-of-date or irrelevant information if a contact is no longer in business or has upgraded to a new entity. Your network cannot be active if half of its occupants are out of business or unreachable.

Stop in to say “hi.” Networks are not a card collection that can be amassed and stored away for long periods of time. Check in with your business connections and perhaps even see if they could use anything in the near future. Keep your connections alive and healthy by maintaining open lines of communication. When you need a contact, they will be there.

Take it off the Internet. Some business owners have the type of model that does not require leaving their office chairs in order to build a network, but that is not the reality for every entrepreneur. Seek out real-world conferences and meetings for entrepreneurs and business owners and give your network the benefit of face-to-face interaction. Just remember to use your time wisely and make as many genuine connections as possible. In other words, don’t talk to the same person all night!

Networks are invaluable for garnering business deals, negotiating sales contracts and an endless number of other potential business benefits. Keep yours intact, up-to-date and ready to go.

Understanding What Wealthy Entrepreneurs Already Know

January 28, 2016 by tylie eaves

Real wealth can mean a number of things to different people. Definitions can include:

Strong savings accounts
A diversified investment portfolio
Multiple, steady lines of income
Maintaining a certain standard of life

So, what connects all of these definitions of wealth other than the accumulation of the finances necessary to reach them? They can all be achieved through successful business ventures headed by determined and focused entrepreneurs. For years, entrepreneurs have been writing their own stories to success and wealth by building and running their own businesses. However, as most people know, not every online startup reaches multi-million-dollar acclaim, and many more fail to succeed in the first place.

How the most successful and wealthiest entrepreneurs set their businesses apart is no secret, and their examples can even be quite easy to follow. Get a leg up on other startups by establishing your wealth early with these tips:

Monetize, monetize, monetize.
Entrepreneurs who want to build wealth through business absolutely must keep monetization on their minds from the very beginning. Create a clear plan for how the money will start flowing in and use it as an essential piece of structure for the business plan.

Know your numbers.
The news loves to trot “big data” out as a scare tactic, but data is your friend. Stay on top of the numbers for marketing, income, customer information and all points of data directly relevant to your business and subsequent profits.

Don’t skimp on staff.
A mediocre employee will produce mediocre work, and there is really no way around this outcome. Find employees who can thrive at your business and hire them, even if their salary is a little higher. In the long run, your business and customers will benefit more from these workers than someone picked up off of Craigslist. Customers are more likely to make subsequent purchases or refer friends after they have had an excellent experience with a business.

Keep your goals focused and business practices up to (or above!) standards and realize what other entrepreneurs discovered long ago — running your own business can be the best path to true wealth.