These days we are so overloaded with information that it’s easy to lose sight of the basics of running a business, and you very quickly become overwhelmed and suffer from information overload! Just take a look at some of the ebooks, products, ecourses etc. you have stored on your PC – I bet they all relate to marketing your business, getting more clients, increasing your income etc. but I bet NONE of them tell you how to manage your business!
Building a successful long-term profitable business isn’t about “marketing” your business, it’s about “managing” your business – the marketing comes once you have your management systems in place.
You cannot begin to market your business if you can’t find the information you need, don’t know who you are marketing to, and don’t know where you are in your business.
So, let’s go back to basics and take a look at the 3 key office systems you need to “manage” your business before you can start to “market” your business.
Filing Management System
Creating and maintaining a filing system is the very foundation that your business is built on, so this is the very first system you need to put in place – an efficient and effective filing system.
With a proper filing system in place you will very quickly and easily be able to find the information you need, when you need it.
Contact Management System
After you’ve got your filing system all straightened out, you then need to set about organizing your contacts. This is another crucial area of managing your business. If set up correctly your contact management system allows you to:
* Keep a note of clients, potential clients, and colleagues contact information.
* Easily and effectively follow-up with a prospect.
* Locate critical client contact information quickly and easily.
* Build your business.
Financial Management System
The is the final key office management system you need to put in place for managing your business. Once you know where you are in your business financially, you will be able to much more effectively market your business.
Having up-to-date, critical, financial information available at your fingertips allows you to efficiently manage cashflow and be able to know straightaway if you can take advantage of opportunities that come your way.
So remember, go back to basics and first “manage” your business before you “market” your business.
(c) 2008 Tracey Lawton
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About the author: Online Business Manager & Virtual Assistant, Tracey Lawton, teaches professional speakers, coaches, and authors how to operate an efficient, organized, and profitable business. Learn how to create an efficient and organized office in 7 EASY steps, and receive free how-to articles at http://www.OfficeOrganizationSuccess.com
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Such great info., Tracey! I think #2 is my biggest challenge right now. I use Send Out Cards http://tr.im/jbKP for my database, which is great for remembering birthdays and anniversaries and for Thank yous & holiday cards. AWESOME for sending CARDS but not e-mails. Where I’m having challenges is keeping track of detailed notes on what conversations we had and getting NOTIFIED when it’s time to follow up.
What CRM system to you recommend? I’ve had Outlook melt down twice on me so I’m a little gun shy there.
Keep up the good work!
Love & Prosperity,
PJ
PJ Van Hulle
Real Prosperity, Inc.
“Who Says Making Money Can’t Be Fun?”
http://tr.im/j8MQ
I’m a die-hard Outlook fan. I’ve tried several other CRM systems but keep coming back to Outlook because I can manage EVERYTHING through this program. Use the Tasks feature to manage your follow-up/To Dos – and setting them up as recurring tasks is great for activities you do on a regular basis. I also used Send Out Cards from time-to-time.
In terms of Outlook crashing on you, check out this blog post I wrote “Warning! Don’t Let Your Outlook.pst Folder Get Too Large” http://www.traceylawton.com/howvaworks/?p=139
~ Tracey