Top 10 Ways to Efficiently Run a Business from Your Home Office
By SOHO Wife
In the spirit of Oprah's Favorite Things being curbed this year, below are the home business owner's list of not only favorite, but essential goods and services. While they may not be as flashy, or be delivered on a silver platter, or adorned with a big red bow, they are equally as pleasing when used effectively. Pleasing because you, the home business owner, are given the benefits of extra time, money, and happiness to share as you will.
1.The first is the Blackberry or iPhone.
Be in the know no matter where you are! Have all means of communication in your pants pocket or purse wherever you go. Over the summer I found a new appreciation for this when ditching the office to go hiking. Caring my Blackberry in my backpack I was able to answer emails and return calls whenever I needed a rest. There is the other aspect of the Blackberry in allowing you to escape the home and still feel as though you are being productive.
2. Constant Contact & Quick Books Online: take your marketing and accounting departments with you!
Market your products/services from anywhere! Constant Contact holds all of your contacts in one place where you can create an email marketing campaign and send out from wherever work takes you. Potential customers sign up to be on your mailing list from your website, blog, and store. You can also enter in contacts from current customers, vendors, friends, and family who have consented to receiving your email. Constant Contact has a stellar reputation with email clients making your emails more likely to wind up in the Inbox vs. the Junk Mail, while still allowing you to mail out in bulk. You can also target the emails to specific customers and then track the results.
Quick Books acts in a similar way. Create invoices and bill clients from your home office. There are an array of packages to suit your business' individual needs.
3.Video Conference- Skype
Skype offers Skype to Skype calls, Skype to land line calls, video conferencing and so much more! I have an Online Number with Skype for my home office so that when I am not in the home office I can transfer the phone calls to my cell, or our office. I can also receive phone calls then from my computer while working at a coffee shop. Our company also uses free Skype to Skype calls for communication and free video skype calls along with the Skype chatroom and file transfer.
