Articles

Back to the Future for your Business

2007-03-23T04:07:00Z

Are you someone with an interest in growing and improving your business?

Are you looking at new technologies to keep your business ahead of the competition?

Does it seem to you that it takes a lot of time to understand new technology, and by the time you do have a grasp on something, new and improved products have arrived on the market. And this happens before you have even had a chance to implement the first product you considered for your business!

How does this leave you feeling? Frustrated??

The truth is, failure to understand, adapt and fully embrace new technology in your business can lead to only one thing, Obsolescence.

So what do you need now to assist your Business get up to speed today and KEEP it ahead of the technology curve? Read on to find out more.

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Business Systems Manager will assist you to develop

your business providing you with proven tools to plan, systemize and grow.

Find out More!
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There are a number of things I look for when researching new software for my business.

One of the most important features is online training.

I run a Small Business and the costs involved with commissioning a trainer to bring my staff up to speed is huge. Therefore, new software that provides the latest information online is a must.

I have found online video training to be the most effective means of training my staff.

I have both analytical and visual people in my workplace, so while I need a software provider who can give my staff the step by step procedures on how to get the most out of the software, I also need training that is effective for all types off employees. Online video is effective with both my analytical and visual people.

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Business Systems Manager offers online video training

at the click of the button. This allows your staff to train

themselves at their own pace with the speed

and effectiveness of on-screen video instruction.

Watch Video Tutorials
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Another aspect that I look for is whether or not the software provides ongoing updates, and at what cost. The best way to overcome this issue altogether is to utilize software that is 100% web-based. This allows me to implement new software without requiring a Systems Administrator, large downloads, installation and configuration. With web based software, updates and improvements are released automatically. I find it much more convenient, particularly when you have a number of PCs in your business, or a distributed workforce.

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Business Systems Manager is web based software.

The software is available to be used on any computer

with an internet connection. Updates and new features

are applied automatically and available to you immediately.

BusinessSystemsManager.com
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Finally, I look for a product that can offer my business flexibility. I like to think that I am the type of employer who is approachable by my staff. If they are experiencing some sort of problem and find it difficult to make it into the office I generally offer my more trusted and experienced staff the option to work from home. Software that allows these employees to work from home is therefore highly regarded.

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Business Systems Manager is 100% web based software that allows

your employees to work from home, when on the road or

wherever there is a computer or mobile device and

a connection to the internet.

Click for a Free Trial.
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It's understandable that most small business owners find the process of evaluating new software and technology difficult, however, we do know it is a necessity if we want our businesses and our staff to thrive and grow.

I hope the tips that I have provided you with here will assist you in your search for new technology and enable you to make the required decisions before it is too late!

It's all about Attitude

2007-03-11T16:09:00Z

Do you wake up every morning and decide what sort of a day you are going to have?

Do you decide to make your day a "WIN"?

I will bet that if you do, you will ensure your success for that day...

It's all about attitude when it comes to running a successful business... oh and a few other bits and pieces... but without the attitude it would all amount to a pretty meaningless existence... Positive thinking and always improving the way that systems run in your business will ensure your company drives forward the way you have always dreamed and planned (you do have a plan for your business don't you?)...

OK... I will define some of the "bits and pieces" you need to think about...

For starters, you do not have to be an Alpha (i.e. a strong dominant personality) to run a successful business. It is a common myth that everyone has to be the next Richard Branson in order to run a thriving, successful business, an Entrepreneur Extraordinaire. But the truth of the matter is that Richard Branson has chosen to become part of the BRAND that instils confidence in us, therefore making his companies successful. Which brings me to my first part of the "bits and pieces"... you have to build your brand.

Tell me, what do you think of when you think of "The Body Shop"? The Body Shop is the epitome of a good brand. The Body Shop makes us think of environmentally friendly, quality products... they even give their staff paid time off to attend to their favourite charities!! So, a good brand is something that makes us FEEL something... that makes us think of something other than "just another business". Just as Richard Branson has won us over with his underdog cheeky persona, we believe in him as a brand and hand over our hard earned cash for his products and services.

Another essential consideration is to understand your market... it is simply not enough to know that you have a great product. Even if you think that you have created a product better than anyone else, you still have to sell it to an identified target market. Just because you have developed the best product or service does not ensure your success! Yes I suppose that sounds a bit cynical, but perhaps a quick chat with one the 4 out of 5 failed businesses would support my statement...

So, do your market research, identify your target market, speak to your customers and develop the relevant strategies... one simple sentence, but a decent amount of work required to apply successfully. This is the path well travelled by the successful companies that have gone on to become an important part of our daily lives.These same principals will ensure a much greater chance of success for you as well.

Finally: Passion and Confidence. It's about having the strength and courage to follow through on that brilliant idea or concept, having a decisive attitude to get out there and put yourself on the line... no great win has been achieved without some element of risk, and a lot of hard work... You need to calculate your risk (as per our target market discussion above) BEFORE you put in the hard work to put your ideas to the market!

And that, my friends brings us back to "Attitude"... having a positive outlook and a positive energy about yourself and your business is the foundation from which you can build your brand, your target market and your passion and confidence.

Without the right attitude you aren't going to win anyone over, let alone have a "WIN" for yourself!

Start work on your Attitude Today!
Sign up for Business Systems Manager,
- Start Here -

A System a Day Keeps the Creditors Away.

2007-03-02T22:14:00Z

Have you ever wondered why your customers keep returning to your business instead of going to your competitors?

Have you ever asked your clients directly why your business is so valuable to them? I’ll bet that if you have asked, you would have found their answer quite different from what you thought it would be!

Have you ever considered how this invaluable information could help to improve your business beyond your wildest dreams?

Information gained from actually speaking to your clients can enable you to develop your businesses Competitive Strategy rather than relying on your Operational Strategy.

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So, what is the difference between a Competitive Strategy and an Operational Strategy?

Operational Strategy is actively doing whatever it is you do better than your competitors.

Competitive Strategy is all about offering your clients, something that is completely different (and better) than what you and your competitors are currently offering. Put simply its all about Informed Innovation in your business.

Competitive Strategy is not about an entirely new business or concept, we are not suggesting that you shut up shop and start all over! It is about your current business providing a unique, new, Innovative solution or service.

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Business Systems Manager allows you to plan and Systemize your Business

so you can manage your business without having to be there watching over it all the time.

Free yourself from your Business

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So, how do I come up with a new concept in an age-old trade or service?

This is where we look back to our original questions.

“Have you ever sat down for a quiet chat with your clients to ask them how they feel about your business and its services?”

Your clients are the experts in market needs, and generally, apart from buying them a coffee, the information is free!

This information from your clients, as well as talking with your family and friends is sure to drum up some positive, original and Innovative ideas and concepts that will liven up your business and provide your Competitive Strategy with the edge it needs.

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What happens in your business if an employee leaves or is away sick?

Business Systems Manager allows you to quickly and

easily assign other employees to cover the work.

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Why does your business need a Competitive Strategy?

The answer is simple, and I am sure you have probably heard it before, you may even think about it every time you visit your Accountant... You need a Competitive Strategy because 4 out of 5 businesses fail within the first 5 years. Doesn’t this say something about operating your business the same as your competitors?

This is your opportunity to start applying Innovation and Systemization so your business can succeed and prosper into the future.

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A System a day keeps the Creditors Away.
Use Business Systems Manager to ensure that the critical

work in your business gets done the way you want, each and every time.

Plan and Implement the Systems in your Business

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What do you Want?

2007-03-01T10:32:00Z

What do you really want from your business?

A short question, but take a moment to think about it.

Do you want to develop your business to the point where you can escape?

Imagine being able to get other people to complete all the work while you sit back and enjoy your "perfect lifestyle"

Or would you like to sell your business?

Money in the bank giving you the time and resources to enjoy whatever it is you are passionate about.

Or are you really passionate about your work?

Would you simply like to develop your business so that you can concentrate on your core work, systemizing the daily routine parts of your business, allowing you to get the real work done.

By developing your business you can choose if you would like to escape from your business, sell to the highest bidder or continue to enjoy the benefits of working in your business.

Business Systems Manager software allows you to
Get what you want from your Business.

Use our software to Develop, Document, Measure and Systemize your Business, then communicate this directly to your employees.

Need Some Quality Time Away From Your Business?

2007-02-27T02:33:00Z

Do you find yourself longing for a holiday, a break from your business?

Do you find yourself working exceptionally long hours and miss spending quality time with your loved ones?

Do you want to be able to do these things, without worrying about your business… without worrying that things are not getting done because you are not there to do them properly?

What if I told you I know how you could have all of these things and more?

Business Systemization and Documentation is your answer.

BusinessSystemsManager.com was designed to assist you to Document and Systemize your Business.

BusinessSystemsManager.com is your ticket to freedom.

Ok, so this might sound like just another advertisement to some, let me explain to you the benefits that business systemization and documentation (and using BusinessSystemsManager.com software) will bring to you…

Firstly, and most importantly, as outlined in the first few lines… most small business owners get so caught up in the running of their business that they start to miss out on the very reason why they were working so hard in the first place: their family; being able to afford a great holiday; a nice car; a lovely home, the list goes on! All of these things can’t be enjoyed while you are slaving away for 14 (or more) hours a day can they?

So how does Business Systems Manager allow you to spend time with your family and go on holiday?

Well, quite simply, BusinessSystemsManager.com allows you to completely systemize and document your business so that the POSITION you hold is still relevant even if the EMPLOYEE is not there. With BSM, you allocate systemized and detailed work to POSITIONS, not to EMPLOYEES. So when a person who holds a position goes on holiday, the position is simply allocated to another employee. Using Business Systems Manager means that all of the tasks associated with a position are then sent to the new or temporary employee/s who are performing in that position while the other person is on holiday!

Positions rather than People. At the click of a button you can reallocate positions. One person can hold any number of positions. For instance, when you are first starting your business, you were the CEO, Accounts Clerk, Administration Clerk, HR Manager, Payroll. All of these positions have specific functions and tasks that are documented in BusinessSystemsManager.com, so that each task and each function (whether a repeated action or not i.e. fortnightly payroll) is assured to be completed how and when you want it to be completed. With BusinessSystemsManager.com the manager of any position will be notified if any work is overdue, thus ensuring accountability and efficiency of your business.

Why else would you want to Systemize and Document your Business?

The list is endless, but a pretty good reason to me would be to grow my business and then to eventually sell my business. How can you sell your business if the magic that makes it work is not assured and communicated to the purchaser? With the business systemized and documented you can deliver the magic in return for that hefty check!

Also, why not look into franchising your business? You can’t tell me that McDonald’s isn’t a systemized and documented business! How else were they able to replicate the tried and tested Big Mac to every continent on Earth?

Once again I ask you, do you need a holiday? Do you need a holiday that is worry free? A holiday that isn’t disturbed by phone calls from the office each day? Do you desperately need some good quality time with your family?

That Holiday and Freedom is Just Around the Corner...

Start implementing Business Systems Manager Today – either do it yourself or enlist the aid of a Business Coach, your life and business will be better for it.

Is Your Business Growing As Fast As You Planned?

2007-02-23T11:47:00Z

Or are you not planning for growth at all?

Or worse yet, do you even know how your business is performing and what the key growth drivers are for your business?

An essential part of growing and developing your business revolves around the concept of identifying then tracking and measuring the Key Indicators in your business. Once you have established what it is you would like to achieve, and you track how you are performing, you will begin achieving your goals. You will also find that your employees will become aligned and begin working together towards growing your business.

A Key Indicator is a numeric value that you measure in your business. A Key Indicator is based on areas of your business that you have identified as being crucial to your growth and success. You should define the range of values that a measurement of a Key Indicator could fall within. It is also useful to give a brief text description for the Maximum and Minimum values of the Key Indicator. This assists you when you are actually measuring the Key Indicator.

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Click here to view a Video Tutorial showing you how to set up and measure Key Indicators

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The Key Indicator should be measured consistently over time. If the measurement value is determined by a series of steps a Business System should be put in place to ensure a consistent and repeatable process is used to measure the Key Indicator.

I did not begin to have the success that I hoped for in my businesses until I actually took the time to define, track and measure the key values in my business. I can now tell in an instant how my business is performing and what areas I need to concentrate on to improve and grow.

In my web based businesses some of the key indicators I track include:

Number of visitors to the web site:
Number of Conversions;
Conversion Rates (Number of Conversions/Number of Visitors); and
Gross and Net Profit.

These Key Indicators are applicable to my business and may not be directly relevant to your business. You should identify what it is that truly drives your business and then measure and track the values over time with Key Indicators.

You can then incrementally make changes to the way your business operates in a concerted effort to improve. If you have identified and set up your key indicators you will be able to establish what works and what does not work.

If you consistently do more of the things that work in your business and stop doing things that do not work you greatly improve your chances of success.

Business System Manager allows you to define Key Indicators in your business, also allowing you to create Tasks and Business Systems to ensure that the Key Indicators are measured and reviewed on a periodic basis.