Momentum Monday – Something New!

I usually do software for these posts, but I was thinking that your computer has plenty of software on it so maybe I should take a look at it.  So after the jump, I’m going to give you a list of the web browsers I use on the PC (and why).  I’m not going to talk about my Mac in this post (maybe down the line).

  1. Firefox – I use this when I need to do things in addition to look at sites.  I have a million plugins for it (the plugins are great) but I can’t use it for regular browsing.  It’s too slow.  So if I need to see how fast a page loads or something like that – then I use Firefox.  It’s like a Swiss Army knife.
  2. Chrome – This is my every day.  It is fast, I haven’t added any plugins and even though some sites don’t look right in it (aimg.com ones do, though!) it gets me to the information I need and does it quickly.
  3. Internet Explorer – I know lot’s of “hip” Internet people like to make fun of it, but I use it all the time.  I am using it right now to make this post.  It is dependible and I while it might not be the fastest, I know that most good web developers make sure their sites work in it.  PLUS, it is the only browser I know of that still shows a red X if a pic is missing!

This is a quick list but I would love to know what you all use and why.

Evernote – You’re Gonna Want to Jot This Down

Momentum Monday

Today’s Business Development Tip is another tool that can help you be more efficient in tracking those all-important, but pesky, notes and reminders.

There was a time when Post-its were considered a game changer. The ability to jot down important information and stick them in a place to serve as reminders for a while seemed kind of revolutionary. But with all the things you have to do in a given day, the notes can often pile up and become a mess of things that go unattended.

Add in the fact that when your day may actually have a break in it where you could take action on them, odds are you won’t have your notes with you, and they are suddenly not so helpful.

This is why you should explore Evernote.

Evernote is basically a way for you to keep all of your notes and reminders in one location, even if your location physically changes. Whether you’re accessing it on your desktop, a remote PC or Mac, a tablet, or even your smart phone, the program syncs your information with your devices keeping it all in one centralized location.

So now you know what it is, but what could you use it for?

Evernote is perfect for all of the things you need to do that don’t necessarily fit on your calendar. By inserting notes, creating lists, recording audio, and even taking pictures, all the information you need can literally be at your fingertips.

By simply downloading the free application you open up a multitude of possibilities for your organizational needs. By creating “notebooks” and “notes” within the program, you allow yourself consistent access to all the bits and pieces of information you may want. One way to use it may be to have designated notebooks for each of your clients, and creating related notes for each. You can attach files to your notes and with it’s enhanced features, even add video recordings, or take a picture of something that inspires you. What’s even better is you can even share your notebooks with colleagues, or peers.

While there are other information management tools out there, Evernote allows you access to your information when you need its and with whoever you need to. Thanks to Evernote, you can say goodbye to ruffling through stacks of papers searching for information and having to wait until you get back to the office to get something done, and say hello to instant organization and convenience.

Why Fit In When You Were Created to Stand Out

Dr. Seuss was a wise man. Oftentimes we find ourselves working so hard to look and sound just like everyone else when maybe what we ought to do is uncover what makes us stand out.

Finding your company’s ‘unique value proposition’ may be challenging. I can’t tell you the number of times I hear clients express their frustration: “I make screws. Nothing really unique here. They’re just screws.” True. But maybe your company’s ‘unique value proposition’ doesn’t lie with what you make but rather with the way in which you serve customers.

If you make screws, for example, maybe you have additional value added services that help your customers get the products they make with your screws to market faster. Maybe other manufacturers in your industry don’t offer some of the things that you do. Maybe you’re just more knowledgeable or polite. In other words, look at everything you provide your customers to uncover your ‘unique value proposition,’ including such things as supply chain management solutions, foreign language sales or support, satellite office locations, value added services, customer support, and so forth.

In my own experience, I find it best to really partner with clients to understand what they need from soup to nuts. And then I develop ways to make sure I can fulfill those needs so they know the level of service they get from me and my team is better than they can get anywhere else.

You may want to add ‘Stand Out from the Competition’ as one of your New Year’s resolutions.

Cheers to all my valued readers and clients! May the New Year bring you all prosperity, health, and happiness! Have a safe and happy holiday!

Google Confirms SEO is NOT Spam

Matt Cutts, the Principle Engineer at Google, has stated many times in SEO (Search Engine Optimization) conferences that Google respects and has no issue with “white hat” SEO (Search Engine Optimization) tactics, but now has finally dedicated a short video to it.

Matt states, “We don’t consider SEO to be spam,” and went on to state that SEO is “a valid way to help people find what they’re looking for via search engines.”

Gratefully he was clear to state there are bad SEOs out there as well, known as “Black Hat” SEOs (think cowboys) that can produce web spam and ultimately do harm to their clients via their site rankings.

Organic Search Engine Optimization is part art, part science.

It is key to align with a vendor who is honest and makes YOU part of the process.  Take the time to learn from your trusted SEO firm what they are doing and why.

It’s not rocket science, but it CAN rocket you to the top if done correctly!

Also, if a prospective vendor “guarantees” placement, RUN!

Remember, it’s not difficult to pull some tricks that give short term gains but think of SEO like working out.  You cannot get long lasting, quality results overnight.  If you want to really see the results, it’s a process. You must first get your plan and foundational elements set and then work toward your results in an ongoing, steady and structured fashion.

It works online the same way it does in life!