Tag: Business Tips

Developing the perfect pre-work routine can help maximize your daily productivity. Start this week by implementing the following routines:

1. Wake up early: Join the ranks of top executives from Apple, Twitter and Starbucks by getting an early start to your day.

2. Get prepared early: Before logging off for the day, jot down the top three things you need to accomplish for the next day. This allows you to have a clear understanding of priorities for the day.

3. Knock out the hard stuff first: Always tackle your hardest task first to get it out of the way.

– Ashley Ross, The Oklahoma 100

Want to create stronger passwords to protect yourself against cybercriminals? Here’s our two cents:

Use acronyms. Think back to your grade school days when your teacher shared tricks to remember information. Maybe you’d think “ROY G. BIV” in your head when reciting the colors of the rainbow, as an example. When creating passwords, try using acronyms in a similar fashion. Just make sure the acronym in your password comes from a phrase you’ll remember.

Try a passphrase. Choose a passphrase that includes numbers and symbols, and aim for 12 characters in length. The longer the password, the greater the security.

– Kathy Wright, Valley Bank

I once got to meet renowned fashion designers Mark Badgley and James Mischka. As Badgley Mischka, they dress celebrities including Sarah Jessica Parker and Helen Mirren. I asked the designers what they consider a true fashion faux pas.

“We never liked casual Fridays,” Badgley sighed. At some workplaces, casual Fridays have evolved from no heels or tie to yardwork clothes or beachwear, he said.

Every business has its own culture. Employers and staff might want come up with casual Friday guidelines, especially as temperatures rise.

Things to consider:

• Flip-flops or flats?

• Yoga pants or jeans?

• T-shirts or polos?

– Katherine Snow Smith, The Tampay Bay 100

Could you be benefitting from marketing your products and services on LinkedIn? Recently released reports from Microsoft suggest that you could be. The professional and business-based platform has shown increased levels of engagement recently.

Boasting 600 million members, LinkedIn has posted on-platform time increases of over 24% and increases in revenues of over 27%. The number of active members has even eclipsed the number of active users reported by Twitter.

LinkedIn may allow digital marketers a secondary avenue to counter diminishing Facebook ad reach. Developers continue to roll out improvements, such as a Stories feature and post reactions.

– Patricia Mills, The SWFL 100

 

Saying sorry has become a habit these days, but over-apologizing at work can undermine your confidence and credibility. Here are fixes for three common scenarios:

– Sorry I’m late. Swap your apology with, “Thanks for your patience,” if you’re running late.

– Sorry, but I disagree. Don’t apologize for having an opinion. Instead try, “Hearing everyone’s thoughts has been helpful. Here’s mine … ”

– Sorry for (insert thing you have nothing to do with). Chances are you’re not the brains behind the lack of parking in your company’s lot, so why apologize to your office guest? Focus only on what you can control.

– Beth Meccariello, The Tampa Bay 100

Are your promotions going out to social media channels when customers are online? Don’t post and get lost in feed clutter. Research shows the best times and days to post on the various social platforms are:

• Facebook – Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, with peak hours from 12-4pm.

• Instagram – Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, with traffic peaking during the 11am-1pm time frame.

• Twitter – Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, peaking at noon.

• LinkedIn – Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, between 5pm and 6pm.

Identifying peak days and times that your customers are present will keep your content from getting buried in their feeds.

– Patricia Mills, The SWFL 100

I’m a naturally curious person, which can lead to wasted time going down internet “rabbit holes,” where one topic connects to information on a dozen or more fascinating subjects that I can’t help but be interested in. Sound familiar?

To better manage my productivity, I’m going to try something that entrepreneur Caterina Fake practices. She keeps a “when next online” notebook next to her computer and jots down the subjects, names and websites she comes across while working on a project online.

Rather than getting sidetracked from her current project, she consults her notes next time she has free time.

– Stephanie Spell, The SWFL 100

If you think that going green at work is difficult, think again.

Simple ways you can help the planet:

– Designate an on-site recycling center, or ask that employees be responsible for their own recycling at their desks.

– Ask whoever is last to leave to turn off lights and change the thermostat to a reasonable temperature.

– Reduce printing. If you must print a document, cut it in fours after being used instead of buying sticky notes.

– Use a large screen for meetings instead of printing documents.

If you’re up for a bigger challenge, use refillable pens to reduce plastic waste.

– Destynee Bush, The Tampa Bay 100