Saving time and headaches :)

[Keeta]

I've spent a lot of time over the past few weeks, streamlining the way I run my business. The main goal was reducing my to-do list each week, without compromising the actual results.

While I'm still trialling a few of these ideas out, here are some suggestions.

Dropbox
Great for online data storage. Free unless you need lots of space. Easy to use on a few computers. No need to carry bulky storage devices around.

Curdbee
Invoicing software. I wanted something really simple. I checked out a few and this is affordable and no fuss. It's quite cute and I love using it.

Mail Chimp
So I've sent out my first e-mail newsletter, which I've been trying to avoid for years. I'd heard of this site before... so far can't fault it. Awesome for small runs as they are free.

Another thing I need to mutter quietly under my breath is that I've finally started using Wordpress. I used to be one of those freaks who typed out code by hand. That was fine for a few pages, but now I'm adding content regularly to my site, I've had to suck it up.

Saying all that, I'm actually really stoked with it. It seems the trick is, don't pick a dodgy template, and if you can, customise it into obscurity.

Social Media. I have managed to link up all my social media profiles, and I've actually noticed a greater response because of it, and there's a lot less work for me!

All of this is still new, and I'm learning to change my ways. Anyone have their own experiences or suggestions?

[Dane Pymble]

Hi Keeta

Some good ideas there.

I use Box.net which is similar to DropBox. Box.net allows you to synch your desktop files, and those of your team's to one web portal. It's $15 a month for 500GB of storage but a far cry from the ridiculous $400p/mth we were paying an IT service company to access their server and be told to turn our computer off and on again when we had an IT issue.

I've used Mailchimp before and yes I agree it's a good tool but my only issue with it was that it didn't allow attachments. Is anyone aware of an emailing service that can cater for attachments?

What social media organiser do you use? I am just looking at Onlywire at the moment that allows you to schedule and distribute to up to 42 social media accounts including the main ones eg Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin etc. I was using Hootsuite but I think you can only use 5 social media accounts for free before having to pay a monthly charge.

[Keeta]

Thanks for your positive feedback.

I am using HootSuite and Tweepie now, but I haven't made up my mind. I am trying to simplify my business, but not take away the personal touch. It might take a while to work out if I am achieving this with these programs.

I only have a few social media accounts, so HootSuite is fine for me at the moment. I just don't like the bloody advertising when you post to Facebook from it! grrrr.

[Dane Pymble]

I guess though that seeing Hootsuite is free a little bit of advertising is a reasonable price to pay

[Keeta]

Originally Posted by Dane Pymble

I guess though that seeing Hootsuite is free a little bit of advertising is a reasonable price to pay

They still have it on the paid version!!! *sob*
I haven't checked but you might be able to add more profiles if you pay.

[Keeta]

To follow up my social media changes...

I can update my status in Google+. This then transfers to my Facebook page, then to my Twitter account, and then to my Linked In status.

My main goal for social media is staying on contact. Some of my connections prefer a specific social media site, and now it doesn't matter, they still all get the same information.

If anyone finds they are being bombarded with too much repetition, please let me know lol....but so far the results have been great!

[acrom]

Hi Keeta

I'm currently using Dropbox and love it.

Speaking of to-do lists, I recently found Asana which is a task/project management software made by one of the co-founders of Facebook. It's without a doubt the best task, list, to-do, project management software I've used (and free!). I have only been using it for a few days but so far so good.

[Keeta]

Thanks! I'm going over to check it out now.

Here's my results from mail chimp!

After the first 20 people opened the newsletter, this is what happened.

• I received 3 personal e-mails in response.
• I received 1 invite to a Christmas party.
• 2 people added me on Facebook. 2 on Twitter.
• 2 new people subscribed to the list.
• I found I have 1 stalker. He opened the thing 4 times and clicked on every link I gave him. I’ve never even met the dude.
• Also, 1 guy opened the bloody thing 22 times… Um newsletter. Not word porn.
• I knew the peak times my contacts check their e-mails.
• 0 marked me as spam.

My main goal was to stay in contact with people. I’ve sure done that!

[victorng]

Originally Posted by Dane Pymble

I've used Mailchimp before and yes I agree it's a good tool but my only issue with it was that it didn't allow attachments. Is anyone aware of an emailing service that can cater for attachments?

Most don't I think. Probably because they don't want attachments potentially sucking bandwidth and clogging up their service.

Rather than an attachment you could include a link to the file hosted on your Box.net account. Or Mailchimp will even tolerate you using their service to host the file - they explain how here.

Cheers,
Victor

[gossipism]

i heart dropbox

re: the social media stuff, get out a pad and pen (yes remember those) and draw out how each platform is syndicated to another. it will look like a huge mish mosh of crap to be honest.

ive done this previously and its helped me no end in troubleshooting missed updates, fixing up double ups and to help improve productivity.

though a fully automated service is great, there is still better control over manually doing things, ie, posting a tweet about your new blog post (as opposed to using a wordpress app for it).

ive had fully syndicated content go to my fb page in the past, but find i can tailor links that still go to the same content, that would make people want to read it more.

on a side note

if you already arent doing this, look @ getting a hosted email setup such as Google Apps or Office 365. It will help with synced emails from multiple locations (desktop, laptop, tablet, iphone) also does calendars and tasks.