5 Marketing Tools You Can Use Right Now To Run Your Business

Do you have a steady pipeline of customers walking through your doors? In these tough times the answer is probably no but just because things are challenging right now doesn’t mean that your marketing efforts have to take a back seat. Here are 5 marketing tools that you can use in your business right now! Even in the middle of the Covid-19 virus.

Meetup - This is a great way to get your message out and connect with your ideal customers. “Meetup is a service used to organize online groups that host in-person events for people with similar interests.” You can create virtual Meetup events to get started or create an event outside that has social distance measures in place.

HubSpot - This software is a one-stop-shop for marketing your business. They have tools for customer relationship management, content management, and of course marketing software. They offer free certification too.

Mailchimp - This tried and true email marketing platform is one of the most popular email solutions out there for managing your growing or beginning to grow email list.

Google Analytics - I know this sounds really nerdy and complicated but it is easy to connect your business website to this tool that can give you some serious data and feedback about visitors to your site.

Hootsuite - This is a must-have tool for managing your social media channels.

There you have it! It can be challenging to get customers to come through the door right now but it is not impossible. You can use these 5 tools that all have free versions to test them out on your business and start connecting more with your ideal client.

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3 Video Conferencing Tools To Help You Stay Connected!

The great pandemic of 2020 has revealed many realities. We learned that toilet paper is pure gold, the ability to hang out with our friends and colleagues for dinner or lunch is deeply missed and the best way to stay connected is to use an online video conferencing tool. There is an array of tools to choose from and they have different features and price points. So let’s take a look at 3 video conference tools that you can use in your business right now:

Microsoft Teams - We have all seen the commercials on t.v. promoting this tool as an alternative to using Zoom given some of the security challenges it has faced. What does MS Teams offer and how much does it cost? According to their website you can, “Chat, Meet, Call, & Collaborate From Anywhere Without Compromising Privacy & Security. Host Meetings. Cloud Phone System. App Integrations. Instant Messaging.” There are different price points. My favorite one is for FREE. To learn more about how to use this tool for free click here.

Blue Jeans - Blue Jeans is a “Secure video conferencing platform that makes you more productive.” They have two price points: BlueJeans Standard which is their entry-level plan which is $12.49 per month & BlueJeans Pro which is their most popular plan and is $17.49 per month. The plans both come with unlimited group meetings, unlimited 1:1 meetings, 5 hours of meeting recording, and an array of other features. The main difference between the two is the integration of apps which is found on the higher paid plan and the ability to host more participants also comes with this plan. They also offer a free 7-day trial to try out the meetings feature. Check out the features here.

Go To Meeting - Go To Meeting has been around for a very long time. It has different pricing plans that are categorized as professional, business & enterprise. All the plans offer a one-click meeting feature that has screen sharing, web audio, dial-in conference line, unlimited meetings, no meeting limits, chat feature, personal meeting room, and meeting locks. The plans start at $14.00 per month for up to 150 participants. Additionally, they offer a 14-day trial to check them out.

The technological era is here to stay. Check out these easy to use and affordable tools to help you stay connected to your clients and your team.

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Welcome To The Month Of May!

Welcome to the month of May!

I can’t believe how fast this whole year is going by. I am sure that the strange array of events is helping us to lose track of days. May is full of fun events most importantly celebrating Mother’s Day. It is also a good time to stop and take stock of where you are in your business. This month I want to take a deeper look at tech tools to help run your business better and online marketing resources that can be used to reach your customers. I hope you are taking advantage of all the government-related business financing resources available to keep your business running smoothly.

Keep IT Sunny!

Wrapping Up The Month of April

The month of April is over and we took a look at a variety of things to help us run our business better. The covid-19 virus has put many of us in precarious situations. The sudden order to shut down our business if it was not essential in accordance with our local government has put a strain on our business and personal finances. Although these are trying times there are many resources that came to light in an effort to help us survive these challenging times. We took a look at what financial capital resources were available to help us weather the storm until we can get back to business as usual. We learned that it was a good time to take a business financial and service offering pulse check to make sure we know where we stand in our business and how we can work differently to deliver new services to our customers.

Yes, this challenging world event has put us all in a tailspin BUT we also learned that we are tough and can come out on the other side of this event stronger than ever.

Keep IT Sunny!

Is It Time To Revamp Your Services?

Living in a state of a shutdown is no fun but if you use the time wisely it can take your business to new heights. The one thing that the shutdown has forced people to do is reimagine how they work snd do business. The use of video conferencing tools like Microsoft Team, Blue Jeans, and Go To Meeting is making doing work remotely a little easier. Some businesses are using technology to extend or expand their business services. Here are 3 ways to revamp your business services:

1. Use technology - Are there in-person services that are easily adaptable to being digitized? Now is a great time to take a detailed look at your service offerings to see if you can use Youtube, Vimeo, or any number of online tools to bring more personal experience to your clients. If you offer services that require privacy concerns to be taken into consideration like online or virtual counseling, then you want to ensure that the tool you use has end- to- end encryption and has privacy guidelines that closely follow the very strict GDPR EU privacy policy. Incidentally, Zoom does not support end-to-end encryption.

2. Rethink Your Target Market - Have you been so busy working in your business that you have gotten far away from who your target customers are? According to Investopedia, “A target market refers to a group of potential customers to whom a company wants to sell its products and services. This group also includes specific customers to whom a company directs its marketing efforts.”

3. Get Social-If you haven’t been much of a social media person in the past then now might be a good time to dig into using this tool. We are all at home and now more than ever people are using social media to stay connected. This is a great inexpensive tool to use to engage with your customers. To get started check out this article from Entrepreneur.com.

The Covid-19 virus has thrown a wrench in all of our lives but if you stay focused on how you can use your downtime wisely to grow your business then you will come out ahead of the game.

Keep IT Sunny!

Check The Pulse Of Your Business Finances

We are all aware that maintaining positive cash flow in these stressful times is paramount. If you had a chance to read my post last week about how to keep your business afloat in the midst of the storm then you already are aware of some tools you can use to do just that. Today I wanted to share one more resource:

SBA.Gov’s EIDL Program - The Economic Injury Disaster Loan Emergency Advance is “A loan advance that will provide up to $10,000 of economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing temporary difficulties”. The eligibility requirements are:

“The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan provides vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

This program is for any small business with less than 500 employees (including sole proprietorships, independent contractors and self-employed persons), private non-profit organization or 501(c)(19) veterans organizations affected by COVID-19.

Businesses in certain industries may have more than 500 employees if they meet the SBA’s size standards for those industries.

The Economic Injury Disaster Loan advance funds will be made available within days of a successful application, and this loan advance will not have to be repaid. “

These are challenging times that we are facing but we will get through this season of life and move forward stronger than ever before.

Keep IT Sunny!

How To Keep Your Business Finances Afloat In The Midst Of The Storm

The Covid -19 virus has wreaked havoc on all of our lives in more ways than one. Outside of the world health crisis that is unfolding before our eyes, it has put many businesses in financial jeopardy that has lingering consequences.

According to a survey from PwC, “The findings show that businesses are prioritizing cash spending, while assessing options for financing and/or deeper pullbacks as they look forward toward a recovery time frame.”

• 67% of finance leaders surveyed have already taken steps to contain costs as a result of COVID-19.

•  64% are considering the need for taking further actions on costs or investments.

•  76% of respondents expect that their business would be back to normal within three months if COVID-19 were to end immediately. 

What does this all mean for you?

Find ways to reserve cash on hand by cut expenses that are not necessary - Now is a good time to take a look at your business expenses to see which ones are absolutely necessary to run your business operations and which ones are just “wants.” If you have your bookkeeping accounts organized this will enable you to see all of your expenses in one quick snapshot so that you can make these types of decisions.

Look for alternative ways to get capital - There are a variety of ways to get financial help during this time of crisis like applying for the much talked about small business assistance loan offered by the government called the Small Business Paycheck Protection Program. This program is a part of the Cares Act and is designed to, “Provide small businesses with funds to pay up to 8 weeks of payroll costs including benefits. Funds can also be used to pay interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities. Small businesses with 500 or fewer employees—including nonprofits, veterans organizations, tribal concerns, self-employed individuals, sole proprietorships, and independent contractors— are eligible.” Check out the top-line overview of the program on the US Department Of The Treasury website here. I also shared another great resource for obtaining capital in my previous blog post called BlueVine.com.

We are in very troubling times. But the good news is that we have resources to help us to get through this storm together.

Keep IT Sunny!

Welcome To The Month of April! Now Is A Great Time To Do Business Planning

The world seems to be in a tailspin. We are all glued to our t .v and computers to learn about the latest developments surrounding the Coronavirus.

It can be easy to get overwhelmed and lose a grip on all things business.

Instead of living in fear and hopeless take this time to do some business planning. This month we will take a look at two areas: Business Finances & Business Services. We will look at tools to gauge what the current health is for our business, discuss resources to help us stay afloat during the pandemic, tools we can use to set and measure revenue goals for the future. Additionally, we will look at our current services offerings for ideas on how to expand on our services.

These are challenging times, to say the least. But it can also be a great time to do business planning so that you can be in a position to provide amazing services to your customers.

Keep IT Sunny!

March Monthly Recap

The month of March marks the beginning of spring. It also moves us closer to the end of the first quarter of the year. It is a great time to assess how you are doing in your business so far. This month we took a look at how to choose the best project management tool to use in your business and 3 practical steps to apply in your business to help you reach goals successfully.

This month has been an unprecedented challenging time of transition and change for all of us. It can be easy to get lost in all the noise that surrounds us and lose focus on what is going on in our businesses. I would challenge you to use this time to do business planning, learn new skills and get organized within your business rather than live in a stressed-out state. If you're looking for a resource to get capital check out BlueVine.com,” a fintech company providing flexible working capital financing to small and medium-sized businesses.”

Be proactive and get ready for the next phase in your business journey.

Keep IT Sunny!

Ready Set Go! 3 Practical Steps To Help You Reach Your Goals

Are you good at setting goals and reaching them?

Do you still remember your New Years Resolutions?

According to an article in Inc. Magazine only, “92 percent of people who set New Year's goals never actually achieve them. And only 8 percent of people who set goals actually obtain them. But don’t be discouraged. The key thing to remember is that people who set goals that are not elated to novelty events like New Year’s Eve can actually obtain them. So it’s time to start setting those goals.

1. Start with the end in mind - Where would you like your business to be in 10 years or 20 years? If you have no clue then start dreaming. It’s important to have a BHAG: Big Hairy Audacious Goal. This is “An idea conceptualized in the book, “Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies” by James Collins and Jerry Porras. According to Collins and Porras, a BHAG is a long-term goal that changes the very nature of a business’ existence.”

2. Set a plan for your goals and break them into small manageable bites - I am sure you have tons of time to spend on your goals right? That really sounds laughable as most entrepreneurs are crazy busy and find it challenging to juggle their business, family, and self-care. But what doesn’t get planned doesn’t get done. I use a business planner notebook and my project management tool Teamwork to plan goals by breaking them into small bite-size chunks. For example, my goal for writing this blog post was to block out 30 minutes to write the post free from editing and then I set another goal for a different day to read, edit and then schedule it to go live. This helps me to not feel overwhelmed and to stay energized and focused.

3. Reward yourself - It is important to give yourself a reward after you have reached a goal to keep yourself motivated. According to an article on StunningMotivation.com, “When we give ourselves treats, we feel energized, cared for, and contented, which boosts our self-command — and self-command helps us maintain our healthy habits.”

Setting and reaching goals can seem overwhelming. This can be minimized if you figure out where you are trying to go, put a plan in place & execute it and then the best part of all give yourself a nice reward.

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How To Choose The Best Project Management Tool For Your Business

The life of a busy entrepreneur can get chaotic fast! A few stickies here and a notebook full of barely legible scribbled notes can quickly add up to a headache. What is the solution? Find a system that works for you and use it. The first stop on the “getting organized train” is to find a project management system to use in your business.

What is a project management system?

According to Study.com, “A project management system is a means of managing a project by planning, organizing, and managing its different required aspects. Depending on the sophistication of the project management system, it can include:

• Estimation activities

• Scheduling

• Cost control and budget management

• Resource allocation

• Quality management

• Risk management

• Change control

• Decision-making managing

So now that we know what a project management system is then the next question to answer is how do you choose one that works best for your business?

There are many options to choose from like, Trello, Basecamp, Asana, Active Collab and ClickUp to name a few. The challenge is figuring out which tool will work for you.

1. Determine your specific needs - According to Hive.com, “The first step to finding a project management tool is identifying the current problems in the way your team works.” The team can be a team of one. Do you need help with organizing e-files, a to-do list, customer management?

2. Once you are able to determine your needs then it is time to start shopping - There are many sites that can help you compare different tools like Capterra.com or GetApp.com. I like the idea of picking your top 3 choices and digging more into the details of their features.

3. Is it secure? We all know how vulnerable we can be to a data breach. It only takes a minute for some nefarious person to try to steal your information. One of the best practices out there is called GDPR which is short for General Data Protection Regulation which has been adopted by the EU and is widely acknowledged as a best practice for protecting data. If your project management tool adopts these regulations within their software that is a good sign to move them to the top of the heap.

4. Determine the cost - There are so many choices out there and along with them come some pretty hefty price tags. But do you really need all the bells and whistles? It is time to take a look at your top 3 choices and figure out which has the features you need the most like, managing your to-do list, goal setting and client management then figure out the costs, simplicity of use and make your decision.

Running a business can be an arduous task. You can be your own hero by getting organized and implementing an easy to use project management tool that will help you to focus on the core part of your business which is delivering your special brand of awesomeness to your customers.

What are you using right now to manage different aspects of your business? Share in the comments below.

Keep IT Sunny!

Welcome To The Month of March!

Spring is in the air and it is time to start planting new seeds for your business success!

Did you reach your goals last month?

Do you have a system in place to track how your doing in your business?

If not then this month we will look at two areas of your business: project management & goal setting. We will take a look at tools you can use in a practical way to help you reach business success. What doesn’t get planned doesn’t get done. It is time to start getting things crossed off your to-do list and reach business success!

Keep IT

February Monthly Recap

The month of love is finally winding down. I hope you took some time out to celebrate with your loved one.

This month we showed our businesses some love by taking a look at our business journey to see if we are on the right path. We took a deep dive into trying to determine if we really are in the right business. There were 4 tell-tale signs that signaled you might NOT be in the right business. Next, we took a look at how we can fall back in love with our business again. The tips shared were sure to help you get back on track and rediscover your reason for going on this crazy journey in the first place.

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4 Ways To Fall Back In Love With Your Business Again!

Are you in a rut and starting to wonder why you started your business in the first place? You might have “entrepreneurial burnout" according to an article in Entrepreur.com.

“The reality is also that entrepreneurship is an intense endeavor, and it’s hard to separate the self from the business. Sooner rather than later, and because of the rollercoaster nature of entrepreneurship, business setbacks start happening (a lot!), and some entrepreneurs can’t help but take them as personal setbacks, especially when they get so invested in their business. Depression follows, and so does burnout.”

So now you know that this type of burnout is a real thing let’s start focusing on how to fall back in love with your business again:

1. Take Time Off - It is important to designate time to take a breather from work. It can be a challenge if you are like most entrepreneurs who are type A but the consequences of not taking regularly scheduled breaks in your workweek to reflect and rest can start to hinder you and your business. The article also states, “ When we spend more time with ourselves (not working), we are able to have better mental clarity, more abundant creativity, and improved ability for sound business decisions.”

2. Get Social - If you have been glued to your computer and nothing else then going to a lunch or breakfast networking session could prove to be beneficial. It will give you real face to face time to be in a community of other entrepreneurs who are excited to be in business and this could help to reignite the passion you once felt for your own business.

3. Go back to your “Why” - Simon Sinek’s book and Ted talk on “Start With Your Why” is something that is worth listening to on audible or watching the Ted Talk. He really does inspire you to remember why you started your business in the first place and to take action.

4. Go learn - There is nothing more invigorating and fun than going to a conference that includes your peers and those leaders that you aspire to become. There is no shortage of conferences to attend in your industry and it makes a great write off according to my tax professional. Check out this one called Entreleadership to get you energized.

   There you have it! Four ways to fall back in love with your business again. The life of an entrepreneur can be a rollercoaster ride like no other but it is worth it. Get your fire back and try some of these ideas.

Keep IT Sunny!

Are You In The Right Business?

You are a new entrepreneur and you have been diligently working in your business wearing every hat imaginable. You started off with a real passion in your belly and you were full of energy.

Then something changed!

Are you just in a business rut? Or are you in the wrong business? Here are 4 ways to tell:

1. You feel sick - You start having that nauseous feeling on Sunday night just like you did when you were working for a company. If you feel dread come upon you and start having a case of the Monday’s this could be a bad sign that you are in the wrong business.

2. You are struggling to sell your services - Looking for your raving fan clients can take a while to find but you should still have a decent client base to sell your services to that will keep your doors open and at least get you to “ramen profitability.”

   “According to Smallbusiness.chron.com, Beginning entrepreneurs should distinguish between what is called "ramen profitability" and actual corporate profitability. Ramen profitability is enough cash flow that the founders of a company can sustain a minimal lifestyle as quickly as possible without the need to resort to outside jobs or income. "Shoestring" start-ups that need very little capital to launch can reach ramen profitability in a very short time, but it may take far longer for the founders to draw a decent salary and also leave enough cash on hand for the business to show a profit.”

3. You are out of gas - You are not as passionate as you used to be when you first started. This could be a simple case of burnout or it could be that you don’t like the services that you are trying to sell to clients. it is time to do some deep thinking.

4. You followed popular Googled business ideas - If you went online and researched something like the top ten small businesses to start fast instead of going with your own interest and passions then this could be the fatal flaw.

Entrepreneurship is a fun journey but if you identify with any of these 4 signs then it might be time to change course, do some soul searching, reach out to a business coach and get back on track.

Keep IT Sunny!

Welcome To February - The Month Of Love

Do you love where you are in your business journey right now?

If not then it might be time to take a serious step back and reassess what is causing you to feel this way. Is this the right business for you? Do you need more professional development in certain areas to help bring more value to your clients? Are you having money woes? Now is a great time to really start to dig into the details of what is stopping you from grabbing the success that you know you deserve. This month we will take a look at tools, resources, and techniques that will help you fall in love with your business again.

Keep IT Sunny!

January Monthly Recap

It is 2020 and most of the “newness” of Happy New Year wishing is starting to fade. I will say once again Happy New Year to you!

I think it is still okay to say that one month into the new year. :)

This month we focused squarely on different pain points within the startup entrepreneurial journey like 5 tips to building a solid business foundation and how to deal with the taxman. If you have a chance to take a look at these posts I believe it will provide valuable information to help you toward success on your entrepreneurial journey.

The decision to become a business owner and go through the ups and downs as you pursue your goal is not for the faint of heart. It does come with many rewards and for most of us that make this decision, the entrepreneurial path chose us and not the other way around. As we wrap up the month of January I wanted to share a great article that I read on Forbes.com about “How To Launch A Profitable Startup in 2020.” It provides an easy to follow roadmap that will help you as you pursue your entrepreneurial dreams.

Keep It Sunny!

The StartUp Journey - How To Deal With The Tax Man

You are living the dream. You wake up when you want to and you call your own shots. The passion that you have always held to run your own business is coming to fruition before your very own eyes. What could go wrong?

You didn’t take taxes out and now you owe the tax man big time.

This is not supposed to be ruining your entrepreneurial dream. What can you do now to avoid this sad scenario that plagues many new startup business owners? Get informed and get your ducks in a row.

Get Informed

So now that you have made this pile of cash how much of it do you really need to set aside for the tax man? According to Bench.com, you should save a minimum of 30% off the top to save for taxes. “Land somewhere between the 30-40% mark and you should have enough saved to cover your small business taxes each quarter.”

Get Your Ducks In A Row

Take some time to find a qualified professional who can walk with you on this tax journey. They can also help you plan for the future so that you can avoid paying too much in taxes. Check out an Endorsed Local Provider from the Dave Ramsey network.

The startup journey is very exciting but it is no fun when you owe the tax man so get busy planning for your taxes. I wish you the best on your new journey.

Keep IT Sunny!

The Start Up Journey - 5 Tips To Building A Solid Business Foundation

Starting a new business from your own ideas is exhilarating! Just like the rocket ship above you can feel like your blasting into a new journey filled with excitement and freedom. As fun as the journey can be it’s important to make sure that you are building your future business on solid ground. According to the SBA, “there are over 28 million small businesses in the United States and only about 50% of them survive."

That is sobering news!

But the good news is that it is avoidable if you build your business on a solid foundation. Here are 5 tips to help you do that:

Tip 1 - Create a plan for your business

We all know the famous saying failing to plan is planning to fail. It’s important to create short-term and long -term goals for your business. Check out these business planning tools to help you get a jump start on this important task.

Tip 2 - Obtain capital to run your business

The first few years of running a business can be pretty meager and if you don’t have the startup capital to help you survive those lean times then things will start to tank fast. In my opinion, the best way to cash flow your business is with good ole fashion cash that comes from you saving BEFORE, DURING & AFTER your business has legs. I am a fan of Dave Ramsey and his debt-free school of thought. If you can put your mind to cash flowing your expenses for your business and stay away from debt you will be a much happier camper. Yes, it is challenging but in the words of Dave “Live like no one else so later you can live and give like no one else.” Check out these creative ways to bootstrap your business and the Entreleadership website on tips for running a successful business.

Tip 3 - Don’t Scale Too Fast

There are many horror stories of startups that were hot and on their way up and then quickly crashed. You don’t want to add your name to that list. Check out this article for helpful tips.

Tip 4 - Put a system in place to manage your accounting

The key to financial health for your business is the ability to know your numbers at all times. If you use professional software like Quickbooks Online or another cloud-based system then you will always have those numbers at your fingertips. Additionally, it’s important to get the experience of an accounting professional to help you get everything set up and either manage it for you or train you how to do it for yourself.

Tip 5 - Work with a business coach

First let’s start with defining what exactly is a business coach. According to Brian Tracy who is recognized “as the top sales training and personal success authority in the world today business coaches are typically experienced entrepreneurs and business owners themselves who decide to use their talents for building and growing a business to help other business owners reach their goals.” Now that we know what a business coach is here is why you should work with one:

“Statistics on business coaching have proved that using a business coach can increase your profit margin by an average of 46 percent, according to a practice development company. However, further statistics reveals that 42 percent of businesses of don't use a business coach.” source streetdirectory.com

So there you have it. 5 tips to help you get off to the right start on your startup journey!

Best of luck and Keep IT Sunny!

HAPPY NEW YEAR & WELCOME TO 2020!

The New Year is here and along with it comes a barrage of marketing emails & commercials urging you to make and keep your new years resolution. It also comes with reminders of how long those resolutions usually last.

All of it can feel overwhelming.

Much in the same way when you are an entrepreneur there are plenty of resources to look at that will tell you how to start a business and just as easy there are resources that will tell you how long it usually takes people to fail.

It can be discouraging.

My goal with this blog is to take a look at how you can be more informed to run your business and create more peace in it. As we begin this new year this month I want to focus on the journey of an entrepreneur who is in the start-up phase of their business. My goal is to share information that will help to build a solid foundation. If you are way past this journey no worries because there are still things to glean and take away that will be reminders to help you along your entrepreneurial journey too!

Happy New Decade & Keep it Sunny!