by Daria Steigman on June 30, 2008
I recently uploaded all my bookmarks onto Delicious, which lets me multi-tag items so I can find my Library Resources page whether my brain is processing “reference” or “business.” (Of course, just because it’s online doesn’t mean you shouldn’t back up the data.)
The ability to access all my bookmarks from any computer is a useful tool. But what I really like is the option to add notes to an entry. This morning I set up a “prospects” tag. Every time I read about a company that looks interesting, I can not only Google it and tag the Web site, but I can include brief comments about where I heard about the company, any potential contacts, and other relevant data. Plus just having a prospects folder reminds me that I need to follow up.
Tagged as:
bookmarking,
Delicious,
Google
by Daria Steigman on June 27, 2008
There was an episode of Monk a couple of years ago where the brilliant but obsessive-compulsive detective gets new business cards. When he discovers how much each card costs, he starts taking them back from people he doesn’t think really need to have them.
Many people adopt the opposite approach: they hand out their cards to everyone they meet, and take–and hoard–everyone else’s contact information. But all that gets you is a telephone book. When was the last time you went through your stack of cards and Outlook contacts? If you don’t recognize the name, can’t place a face, or know the person’s information is out of date, delete it. It’s not about having the biggest list. It’s about defining the value of each contact.
Tagged as:
Business Cards,
Monk
by Daria Steigman on June 23, 2008
I’m often asked by would-be independents how to go about starting a business. You can’t have a business if you don’t know what you’re selling. So Step 1 is to define your value proposition. These three questions may help:
- what are you good at?
- what do you like to do?
- what’s your market environment?
What you like to do may not be what you’re good at — and it’s important to recognize this. Similarly, your best business option may be something you’re great at but aren’t passionate about. Yet it could be your unique quality and your best selling point.
Understanding the market in which you work is critical. I have one colleague who works in a region where companies want to work with New York and Washington PR firms. Aligning with a Washington firm makes sense and gives him the cachet propective clients demand. Similarly, if you’re a writer in a community that’s rife with freelance writers, you may want to think of a different way to position yourself and your business.
Tagged as:
Business,
Entrepreneurship
by Daria Steigman on June 20, 2008
