Archive for September, 2008

270+Applications for Small Businesses

September 21st, 2008 Sarah Arrow

A great blog here for all small businesses!
Last August we featured a post with more than 230 online apps for running your business. Since there are hundreds of new apps coming on the market every year, we figured it was time for an update. This year we came up with more than 270 additional apps. Some are completely new since last year, others might have been overlooked, and still others made significant improvements that gained them a spot on the list.

Accounting, Billing, Invoicing, Estimating & Contracts

LiteAccounting – Invoice and track payment from your customers without a bunch of extra, useless features.

Invoice Journal – Free invoicing program.

endeve – Issue invoices, manage clients and check revenues all in one place.

ContractPal – Take your contracts and forms paperless and have them completed, validated, signed and processed online.

Bootstrap – Online bookkeeping software that lets you track sales and expenses, organize your records for tax time, and more.

Citrus – An online billing website that allows your customers to view, download and pay their invoices by credit card or direct debit.

Zapproved – Create and send proposals, manage the approval process and reach agreements without any hassle.

Mumboe – Online contract and business agreement management app.

FinanciFY – Easy to use online financial management tools for small businesses and individuals.

Plus many more on their blog – http://mashable.com/2008/09/21/270-online-business-tools/

Take a look and tell me what you think.

Sarah

Essex Same Day Couriers and Delivery services

Resources for those that drive for a living

270+Applications for Small Businesses
Posted in Uncategorized No Comments »

Where have all the customers gone?

September 19th, 2008 Linda Mattacks

Did the new Chief Executive of Woolworths wake up one morning with that thought resounding through his head?

Did nobody notice that sales had been slipping for years?

Whilst I agree with many of Mary Portas’ comments on what she found on a recent visit to Woolworths’ branch in Finchley Road, I disagree with those about the staff.

I happened to pop in on the off chance to that same branch only last Saturday. Yes, the layout is confusing, signposts are non-existent and I couldn’t find what I was looking for.

The chap I asked, though, couldn’t have been more helpful: He didn’t just tell me where to look: he walked me to it. Once there I found that choice was very limited, however, price and quality compared favourably with what I’d previously bought elsewhere.

When I went to the checkout the young lad there was courteous and carefully wrapped my purchase.

By all means have a go at Woolies where it gets things wrong. But don’t blanket pan the company where they get it right. Maybe I was lucky, and two helpful staff certainly can’t change the fortunes of a chain of stores that’s lost its way but would I go back on the off chance again?

Yes. I would.

Where have all the customers gone?
Posted in Business, Market/Marketing Research, Marketing, Sales 1 Comment »

How to sell in a recession: 1

September 4th, 2008 Linda Mattacks

How can you grow your business when the economy takes a nose dive?

… and your traditional market’s sinking without trace?

Anybody seen to be “selling” today is probably going to get short shrift, so how about making it easier for your market to buy from you instead?

Firstly think about what your company does for your customers.

Not what you THINK you do (keep their telecoms, IT, delivery, fleet running smoothly) but what they value about what you do enables THEM to do (communicate, run their business optimally, deliver last minute items, keep their employees safe on the roads).

Oh and how do you help them do this on time, on budget and protect and advance their company brand and reputation)?

Isn’t that a little bit different to: “I’m gonna sell you something because I need the business/ need to reach my targets”?

The key here is being able to demonstrate that you understand the worries, cares and hassles of your customers and that you’re here to help them.

You can’t fake this: If you try your prospects and see through you in seconds

It’s worth working on, though, and it isn’t just an ‘elevator pitch’!

How to sell in a recession: 1
Posted in Business, Finance & Accounting, Market/Marketing Research, Marketing, Sales, Telemarketing No Comments »

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