Richard Gee Presents....

 
John Shattock here.
 

This is your Get Your Message Across,  the email
newsletter which helps you do just that.

In this issue:

* Why Busy can be bad for Business

* This month's computer tip: How to make sure you get email attachments

* An on-line resource for serious business networkers

Reading time: Less than 3 minutes

* * * * * * * * *

** Did you know being busy can be bad for business? **

These days it seems every business is busy. There's lots of work in hand,
and more in prospect.

According to Chamber of Commerce surveys, the biggest problem is getting
good staff (any staff at all in some cases).

So how can being busy can be bad for business (apart from the staffing
problems)?

Dilbert has five well-known pieces of advice for busy businesses (this is
why Busy can be bad for Business):

1. Don't answer the phone, or if you must, do so only after at least four
rings and without a smile in your voice.

2. Don't return messages, even those left with real people. If you don't
have voice-mail, invest in one of these wonderful systems, but don't ever
play the messages back.

3. Don't respond to inquiries from your website. Set up direct emails and
form-mail to go to a generic  "inquiries@..." address. Make sure no-one ever
checks it.

4. When you do get even more work (and despite the above advice, that seems
inevitable these days), don't complete it promptly or particularly well
(you're busy, remember).

5. Don't do any marketing. Forget about keeping in touch with clients/
customers and prospects (busy businesses don't have time, do they?).

Sound like a recipe for success to you? I don't think so. However, there
seems to be an increasing number of businesses using these concepts.

If your business is following even some of Dilbert's advice, you know what
is going to happen as soon as the country, or maybe just your sector,
becomes just a little less busy. If you wait until that happens, it will be
too late.

Before you smile smugly and dismiss this as facetious nonsense which doesn't
apply to you, you might want to have someone play "mystery shopper" on your
business.

Are all phone messages being returned the same day? If you can answer Yes,
you're in the top 10 per cent.

What is your standard for dealing with email or website inquiries? An
immediate acknowledgement  and an answer within four hours? Many businesses
stretch this to 24 hours, 3 days, or more than a week. Is that acceptable
for Internet communication in 2005?

Is your marketing and client/ customer communication being maintained ­ or
is the tap being unconsciously turned off in a bid to manage work flow
(instead of the other way around)?

When WAS the last time your website was reviewed and updated? How often is
your client newsletter published?

How frequently is your business in contact with clients/customers? How often
are inquiries/ proposals/ quote requests followed up?

And about those staffing problems: If you can't get good people to cope with
the workload, why not make better use of those you already have?

Instead of employing staff to do administration, accounting, or marketing
tasks, why not contract services in those areas and use your staff to
directly meet the needs of clients and customers?

Despite low unemployment, real expertise in contract back-office functions
can still be found at affordable rates (email me if you would like some
options ­ there are several I can recommend).

Despite the challenges, there is no reason why being busy should be bad for
your business.

* * * * * * * * * *

** Computer Tip: How to make sure you get email attachments **

If you get the message "Outlook Express removed access to the following
unsafe attachments" it is because of a default setting in your email program
which needs to be adjusted.

Microsoft intermittently uses security updates to block certain file types
when a spate of viruses is using e-mail attachments to propagate. (Your
email settings have been re-set through one of these updates).

To re-enable attachments, open Outlook Express Tools/Options/Security.
Remove the tick from "Do not allow attachments to be saved or opened that
could potentially be a virus". Then click OK.

Incidentally, we have the following anti-virus measures in place to protect
you:
- Norton Anti-Virus running at Full Protection settings on all computers,
with up-to-date virus definitions
- Our ISP runs a server-based virus checker
- Our network runs on Mac OS, so we're not vunerable to PC viruses, and with
the above in place, we're not likely to pass any on to you.

Computer Tips come to you courtesy of Extra Mile Training, which provides
courses that work for working people. For details of courses to make you
more productive, call Pam on 0-9-486 4622, email pam@extramiletraining.co.nz
or visit http://www.extramiletraining.co.nz

* * * * * * * * * *

** An on-line resource for serious business networkers **

łA great source of inspiration, information and practical tips to help you
network effectively . . .˛

łA great seminar in your own home. What more could a busy working woman
want!˛

łA valuable experience for those wanting an understanding of networking and
some useful ideas.˛

What is it these people are talking about? Check it out at:
http://www.marketingcoach.co.nz/networking.html

* * * * * * * * * *

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Best wishes,

John Shattock
Shattock Communications & Research Ltd
http://www.shattock.net.nz
PO Box 590 Orewa, Hibiscus Coast, New Zealand, 1461
Ph: +64-9-426 6664
john@shattock.net.nz