Avoiding Wired MistakesWritten by June Campbell
You can't do anything on Internet that you can't do in real life, but Net lets you do it faster and in view of global audiences. When you're doing somewhat great, that's good. When you're making a gigantic mistake, it's less good. From a consumer's perspective, here's some suggestions that would help induce me to reach for my credit card. Guideline #1: Your Web site should compliment your real-life business. As an example, I offer you story of florist shop with beautiful Web site. It was a couple of days before Christmas and I had left my shopping till last minute. An Internet search revealed a florist shop situated in my friend's home community. The Web site was excellent. Fast download, well laid out, easily navigated. Their floral designs were pictured on site, identified by code numbers and with pricing information clearly visible. Obviously, it was work of a professional designer and obviously it was not done on cheap. I was impressed. I copied phone number and dialed up to place my order. Then things got sticky. The salesperson didn't know there was a Web site, had no idea what floral arrangement I was trying to order, or at what price. If you're going to trouble of being on Web, be sure that your sales personnel are giving a consistent message. Guideline #2: Answer Your E-mail. If you are going to make your email address available to your customers, make sure that somebody answers e-mail that you receive, and make sure that person who does this is knowledgeable and able to communicate through that medium. Nothing will tick your customers off faster than sending an email that is ignored. And please note: webmaster or programmer in your organization is not usually best person to be handling your marketing material or fielding questions about your product. You've gone to a lot of trouble to attract potential customers. Try not to annoy them too much through ineffective email practices.
| | Four Important Tips for Working Effectively at HomeWritten by Alvin Apple
You've started your own home business and it's a beautiful thing. You've finally achieved your dream and gotten out of rat- race. You've emerged triumphant from commuters nightmare; you set your own hours, set your own dress-code and call your own shots. The world is your oyster and your raring to go, just be careful you don't fall into classic "non-productive" work-at- home trap.One of most common problems behind failure of a home business is lack of productivity. People get out on their own, and find that they just don't get things done. In excitement of getting away from frustrating rigors of corporate world, people sometimes forget to bring a little of that corporate structure and discipline home with them. When you've got no one to answer to, procrastination and poor time management can creep into your routine, and they're killers. Now I'm not suggesting you go running back to your cubicle in that generic high-rise downtown, merely that you take some of productive elements of a 9-5 job and incorporate them into your home business. Here are some basic pointers: First: Set a schedule. This is crucial to success. Saying "I'll get to work sometime this afternoon," just doesn't work. Something always comes up. Your work time has to be a top priority, so set a schedule and stick to it. Maybe this is 7-3 when kids are at school, or maybe this is late at night when kids are in bed, or a combination of both. Regardless of time you choose, make sure you honor it. Second: Police your productivity: Now that you're your own boss there's nobody looking over your shoulder. This is a great feeling, but it can also lessen your productivity. Once you sit down at your work desk, make sure you're being as productive as possible. No computer games, no web surfing, no personal phone calls. Now, don't chain yourself to your desk, that would defeat purpose of working at home, just be as productive as possible. You can always schedule breaks and phone time, after all you're calling shots.
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