Business, Marketing, and New Technology
Online Entrepreneurs
Snipping Tool Captures That Screen!
Aug 7th
Have you ever wished you could just take a picture of what’s right there on your computer screen? Well you can. There are actually many different ways to do this. No, I’m not talking about your good ol’ Nikon.
One way to capture exactly what’s on the screen is by using the “Print Screen” button on your keyboard. Every time you press this key, it will capture an image of the entire screen and place it on the clipboard. Then, you can paste it onto a Word document, or into Excel, or any other program you wish. Then, of course, you have to crop off the parts you don’t want. I used this method for years, before I found out that there are MUCH easier ways to get images.
I found that you could download software that would make the job a snap. I tried GreenShot Image Editor (free) , which does a great job. So does Snagit by Techsmith (not free).
But my favorite of all was found right under my nose! In the Program Files, under Accessories, there is a thing called the Snipping Tool. It came with the system. (I am currently using Windows Vista- yes, I know, thanks for the sympathy) Just click it open, and it will grab whatever part of the screen you shade. The image is on your clipboard, and you have the option of saving as a jpeg, or sending it via email as an attachment. Or, of course you could just paste it onto whatever program you need it in.
Happy Snipping!
Considering Becoming an Entrepreneur? Ask Yourself These 7 Questions
Jul 20th
Working for yourself sounds rosey, doesn’t it? No boss, no set hours, no boss, freedom to make your own decisions, did I mention no boss?
But it’s not as easy as it looks. Often the entrepreneur/business owner is the one who never gets a break, has all the responsibility, and works almost 24/7. Still, if you’re successful, it has its perks. Before taking that leap from the corporate world to one of your own making, consider these 7 questions.
1- What is your motivation? Make no mistake, you will hit rough times. Your motivation must be strong enough to carry you through.
2- What is your experience? You will probably have to acquire some new skills to make this work. How are your going to do this? Are you willing to put in the effort to learn?
3- How are you going to find customers? You must have a plan in mind for making contact, or a plan to find out how to do this.
4- Do you have the capital to carry you for the first year? The main reason for start-up failure is lack of cash flow. It takes time to get a business running, and you’ll need to be prepared with some means of support outside of the business itself.
5- What is your action plan? Do you have a map of where you are going and how to get there? Do you know what you are willing to do, and what you are not willing to do?
6- What resources are available to you for mentoring yourself? Make no mistake- you will need advice.
7- How dedicated are you? Do you have the will and determination to hang in there until success is at hand?
With a little planning, determination, and true grit, you can get there- go for it!
Copywriting From Your Personal Computer
Mar 15th
Working from home is one of my life goals, and over the years, I have tried many ways to achieve the personal freedom and flexibility that a home based job will give me. It was much more of a challenge before the new millennium, because, of course, there was no internet! I knew right away, when the world wide web began, that there was massive potential there for the tapping. Although I’m certainly not the geekiest of people, I do love finding out about all the varied ways people are using their own PCs and Macs to make a living.
If you google, “make money online”, you’re going to get a lot of stuff about affiliate marketing, and other “internet marketing” related things. But, there are different tacks to using your computer to make money. One I find most interesting is copywriting. Can you write? Can you think? Can you learn? Although copywriting per se is a skill, it is one that can be learned.
Then, the jobs you get can be done at home, on your own personal computer, on your own time. You can take a few, or your can take a lot. It gives you the flexibility to work hard some days, and not-so-hard on other days. You can even vacation when you want.
And here’s the best part- you can do it anywhere. This is one of my main criteria for “work”. It has to be able to be done on a tropical island, under the cabana, watching the clear blue waves rolling in. Oh yeah…..
Copywriting has been a learnable skill for over a hundred years now, and there are lots and lots of books written on how to do it. Not only will learning about it increase your own marketing skills, it will increase your social skills, too, as you find out what motivates people to do what they do.
So, I keep it on my list of very viable job opportunities via computer. Later, I’ll let you know about some of my other great ideas.
Later!
-Jana
Using Dropbox to Synchronize Files on Different Computers
Feb 26th
Dropbox is a service that allows you to “drop” files and folders into a specific folder, and then have access to them from other computers. You can place a file into the Dropbox folder on your home computer, and it is instantly available to your computer at work, or your laptop.
Dropbox not only stores your files on the Dropbox server, and makes them available to others of your choosing, it also synchronizes changes to those files. So, you can pull up a file on your laptop while sipping that Mocha at the coffee shop, and when you get back to work, your changes are already there, on the same file at the office.
Just sign up for a free account with Dropbox, and a special Dropbox folder will be downloaded to your computer, landing on your desktop, or wherever you choose to put it. Install Dropbox on your other computers, and they will have a similar folder. Then, when you want to either “save” or “share” a file, just drag and drop it into that folder, and you’re done! That file will immediately be available to all your other computers via the Dropbox folder on their systems.
Dropbox also saves versions of your file, so if you change something, and later wish you hadn’t, you can go back and find the previous version of that file, and change it back. Same for deleted files. You can also share files with anyone, by giving them the link to just that file.
Entrepreneurs Need Systems
Dec 18th
Distractions are the death of your small business. Entrepreneurs often find themselves in the trap of running from one “urgent” thing to another. Putting out fires, so to speak. Many times these things are out of control, because there is no system in place for dealing with them before they become so urgent.
One thing that can be automated fairly easily is your marketing efforts. By getting systems in place like email automation, lead generation, follow-up, social media maintenance, and support services, you can ease the pressure of immediate things to be done.
Almost every part of the business process can be automated, and there are many different systems out there already in place that you can tap into. Focus on growing your business in a logical way that includes adding and using systems, so that your time is free to deal with the really important things. Not only that, your customers will benefit from the increased professionalism and attention that they will be getting.
Don’t leave your money on the table because you have no system or process for dealing with daily activities and maintenance.
Good News At Last
Sep 14th
In these times of distress, one can pick up any newspaper or turn on any
TV and get bombarded with news of murders, economic failures, destruction and stories that can make your toes curl. Thank Heavens for one free-lance writer, Cutressa Williams, who vowed to fill the happy-gap by publishing her own magazine that carries only uplifting and positive news. The new mag is called Positively Alabama, and can be found online at PositivelyAlabama.com.
According to Williams, the magazine will include stories about positive things people are doing, as well as “places and venues that make Alabama the Beautiful.” The goal is to have one central place for people to share their experiences and uplifting stories. Content will include narratives about neighbors and friends, and their accomplishments.
Williams is naturally nervous about launching her new venture, but is, of course, positive about it’s success. It is not only a new approach to the news, but a desperately needed one as well. She draws on her 13 years of freelance writing experience to bring professionalism to the effort.