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Archive for month: May, 2012

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Elizabeth’s Favorite Things: SMEAD Viewables Filing System

this entry has 0 Comments/ in Files and Labels, Mail and Bills, Office Organizing, Paper Management, Product Spotlight, Time Management and Productivity / by Innovatively Organized
May 30, 2012
SMEAD Viewables
Here’s a video we wanted to share that demonstrates how the SMEAD Viewables Filing System works, since it’s one of our favorite products!  We love that these tabs are readable from not just the front, but also the back and top views.  Plus, labels can be customized by color and font, which helps you create a more organized paper management system.  Find your local dealer at Smead.com.  

Elizabeth’s Favorite Things: Mesh Inboxes

this entry has 0 Comments/ in Bags and Bins, Business Organizing, Elizabeth's Favorite Things, Files and Labels, Office Organizing, Paper Management, Product Spotlight / by Innovatively Organized
May 29, 2012
inbox
Description:
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: we love these silver mesh filing products!  This inbox is great for the surface of your desk.  Whether you have just one or you stack a few, it will give quick access to important documents.  

Abilities:

  • Creates incoming and outgoing paper flow
  • Stackable
  • Papers lay flat, so they do not distort
  • Can add labels

Great for: Anyone who needs to create paper flow, a mail center, or inbox system within an existing space but wants it to look nice for a very reasonable price.  Anyone can use these, they’re very versatile!

Available at: our Amazon store

Elizabeth’s Favorite Things: SMEAD FastTab Hanging Folders

this entry has 0 Comments/ in Ask the Organizers, Business Organizing, Elizabeth's Favorite Things, Files and Labels, Paper Management, Product Spotlight / by Innovatively Organized
May 28, 2012
folder
Description: SMEAD FastTab Hanging Folders (No: 64082)

You’ll love it for:

  • No longer requiring plastic tabs.
  • Its larger tabs (they’re larger than plastic tabs, which is good for people with vision trouble).
  • Its 10% recycled content.
  • Its availability in either a single position (right) or assorted positions.
  • Creating a fairly simple file structure.

Just keep in mind:

  • If you ever want to change what the label says, you can’t just take the plastic tab off and reuse the folder.  You’re stuck with what you have labeled it.
  • Although it is available in both single position and assorted positions, we like the customizability of standard plastic tab labels.

Available at: Find nearby dealers on Smead.com

Improve Paper Management by Printing to PDF

this entry has 0 Comments/ in App of the Week, Electronic Organizing, Innovative Idea, Media, Paper Management, Time Management and Productivity / by Innovatively Organized
May 23, 2012
Save time and resources by printing to PDF.
As a small business owner, how much paper and printer ink do you go through in a month?  Here’s a suggestion that could help you save money by using less paper and less ink.  As an alternative to printing your documents on paper, print to PDF.  Printing to PDF creates a PDF of your documents which you can file electronically and easily access and share later.  A few options you can use to print to PDF are PrimoPDF, doPDF and CutePDF Writer.  If you have to print a web page, try PrintFriendly, which removes ads, navigation, and web page junk, so you save paper and ink when you print.  Plus, you save time by not having to navigate around the extra clutter in the document!

Elizabeth’s Favorite Things: Gist

this entry has 0 Comments/ in Cloud Computing, Mobile and On-the-Go, Tools and Apps / by Innovatively Organized
May 23, 2012
Gist brings your contacts into one place.
Description:

Your various contacts are scattered everywhere: in email, among social networks, and in many other sources.  Gist brings your contacts into one place to give you a full view of your network, making it easy to find anyone, anytime.
Abilities:
•  See a unified contact list across email, social networks, and other sources.
•  Get news, status updates, and contact details for everyone in your network.
•
  Take your contacts on-the-go with your Android, iPhone, or Blackberry.
Great for:
•  Managing multiple contacts from email and various social media sites.
Cost: Free

Before and After of the Week: Solo-Preneur’s Home Office

this entry has 0 Comments/ in Before and After of the Week, Business Organizing, Innovatively Organized, Office Organizing / by Innovatively Organized
May 21, 2012
Case study
Organized desk
Service: Business Organizing
Challenge:
This client is a solo-preneur with a home office.  He wanted a clutter-free work environment that eased stress and cultivated productivity.
Solution:
We worked on organizing his paper files by sorting and creating labels, reorganizing and moving all of the office supplies, and defining process flows for incoming paper, contact management, receipt/expense processing, and invoicing.
Result:
After a lot of hard work and determination, this client now has an office environment with clear surfaces that are conducive to productivity, as well as processes in place to handle the work that comes in!View more Before and After photos on our Facebook Fan Page!

Want to Increase Engagement? Ask Questions

this entry has 0 Comments/ in Fun, Guest Blog / by Innovatively Organized
May 16, 2012
social_media22
During our social media webinars, people often ask how they can increase engagement through social media.  While we can help people save time with their social media efforts, we are not the marketing experts.  So, we turned to Kristin Heffley at Caffeinated Communications Studio to provide us with a few tips.

Writing a social media post that will generate comments, likes, and replies takes practice.  It can be frustrating when you feel as if no one is reading your posts.  As you figure out what works best for your audience, one of the easiest techniques to encourage conversation is to simply ask questions.

When writing a question, keep it simple, clear, and easy to answer.  The point is to invite your audience to join the conversation, not to confuse them.  Here are five types of questions that can increase engagement:

1.  Ask yes/no or true/false questions
Readers are more likely to respond to questions that require less thought and shorter answers. Begin these questions with “Yes or No”/“True or False” so your readers can quickly understand that one word is all that is required.

2.  Ask poll questions
Facebook’s Question feature is a great way to poll your readers.  Options for answers can be easily and quickly selected.  You can either input options or your readers can add their own.

3.  Ask fill-in-the-blank questions
Fill-in-the-blank questions can produce some creative and fun answers.  Begin these questions with “Fill in the blank” so fans know what to expect.

4.  Ask for tips
Social media enthusiasts love to share their personal experiences and insights.  This form of question can nurture a sense of community among your followers through their shared experiences and advice.

5.  Ask fun questions
Asking off topic questions isn’t always a bad thing.  These questions create a human connection with your brand.  Something as simple as asking about weekend plans or favorite vacation spots can generate a lot of activity.

Once your post receives a response, acknowledge someone when they answer.  You can “like” or retweet their response or even better, comment back to deepen the conversation.  If someone asks you a question, be sure to respond.

4 Time-Saving Tools for Small Businesses

this entry has 0 Comments/ in Business Organizing, Innovative Idea, Resources, Tools and Apps / by Innovatively Organized
May 15, 2012
Tips for small businesses
Small business owners deal with several challenges and frustrations.  Here are some tips and tools to handle some common situations.Challenge: Too many business cards to process
Solution: World Card – Take a picture with your phone of a business card and enter all of its information into your own contact list without having to type all the info!

Challenge: Get caught up trying to schedule appointments (no one else to answer phone)
Solution: Time trade
Solution: Doodle – Create polls so people can vote when planning times and schedules.

Challenge: Accepting credit card payments
Solution: Square – Accept credit cards from anywhere using your cell phone and a small plug-in device (very portable and easy), for just a small fee (2.75% of total).

Challenge: Too many tasks to keep track of
Solution: project management software (like Evernote, OneNote, Zoho Project, Basecamp, Batchbook, Sugar, Microsoft Project).  If you have a lot of tasks, projects, or “hats,” you need a way to keep track of all your to dos. Common features include task reminders, division by projects, lists and sublists, sharing, calendars, Gantt charts, project lead designation, dashboards, and wikis.  
Solution: CRM (like Zoho)

Before and After of the Week: De-Cluttered Drawers

this entry has 0 Comments/ in Before and After of the Week, Innovatively Organized, Office Organizing / by Innovatively Organized
May 14, 2012
Cluttered drawer
Organized drawer
Service: Small Business Home Office Organizing
Challenge:
This client is a real estate agent who works part of the time from her home office and part of the time from her work office.  Her home office had been set up with a desk, file drawer, and supply drawers, but all her files and supplies had just been placed inside.
Solution: 
We sorted all of her supplies and set up her file drawers in categories so she could find what she needed, when she needed.

Result: 
The result is a desk where this small business professional can work comfortably and find her supplies to be productive. 
View more Before and After photos on our Facebook Fan Page!

It’s “Clean Up Your Room Day”!

this entry has 0 Comments/ in General Organizing, Gifts and Holidays, Residential Organizing / by Innovatively Organized
May 10, 2012
Helpful tips for cleaning your room.
Always enthusiastic about any reason to get organized, we are happy to announce that today is “Clean Up Your Room Day”!  How is your bedroom looking?  Have you been unable to see the floor in quite some time?  Do you need some help clearing and organizing your space?  Here are some tips that you can use today!Focus on one area
Whether your dresser is spewing out clothes or your nightstand is buried under books, choose one area to clean first and stick with it until it’s finished.

Have the right ‘tools’
Getting your room cleaned and organized will be much easier if you have the right tools on hand.  Some suggestions to come with:

  • Bags for trash, recyclable items, items to be donated and items that belong somewhere other than your room
  • Cloths and cleaning products for cleaning surfaces
  • A vacuum or broom to clean the floor

Reward Yourself
If cleaning is not your idea of fun, try motivating yourself with a reward.  Perhaps coffee with a friend, 30 minutes of relaxing, or something that you feel is a treat.

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  • Are you a little distracted right now? Here are tips to save an unproductive day (like today!): http://t.co/44imv3wkui
    May 21, 2013 - 5:01 pm
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Testimonials

Innovatively Organized’s Email Mgmt Webinar was great! My inbox is now down to zero for the first time in a long time. I would highly recommend it to any friends or associates!Dan F., Realtor
I am able to accomplish more, in less time. When I work in my home office, I’m not distracted by piles of paper all around me. I am able to proudly show off my work space now! Angela Shen
The one-on-one attention I got from Elizabeth helped me identify problem areas and prioritize changes to become more streamlined and organized.  Replacing old habits with new ones is challenging but extremely rewarding! Thanks again, Elizabeth!Eliott P., Event Services Manager
I can’t tell you how accomplished I feel today. Even when someone came to me with an “emergency” project, I noted that on my calendar. I know that I can use that information to help people better schedule time with me to get these projects done.Erin George, Real Change News
IO has changed my whole perspective on being organized. You guys rock.Amy T., Blueflame Heating & Air Conditioning
You definitely demonstrated what you do best – being organized! It was very apparent that you’ve gone through training and certification and truly know your business.Jeanette H., BPW
I loved your presentation of Email Organizing 101. The presentation was clear and informative, and you offered wonderful tips to make our busy lives easier. I already implemented some of your recommendations, and have no remaining emails at the end of the day in my inbox. Also, you have a great sense of humor, so like everyone else, I truly enjoyed my time there. Time and money well-spent.Jennifer S., Merrill Lynch
Elizabeth got right down to the critical changes we needed to make to improve our work flow. And we had fun doing it!Sheree C., Paralegal, Office Max
Elizabeth swiftly and efficiently demonstrated easy methods to organizing my online clutter.  My creative and innovative management style no longer clashes with daily details and extensive reporting requirements.  What a relief!  With a new, common sense system in place, our non-profit initiative become more productive and so have I!Brian Jaeger
Very illuminating going over my weekly review checklist and realizing that the parts of the work I dread doing are the things I don’t have systems and structure for… I can see already that this is going to be a big help, and wish I’d gotten started sooner! I’m feeling optimistic, and looking forward to solving the problem(s) and getting my time more focused on the patient work I love to do!Dr. Deborah E., ND

Quick Tips

If you can respond to an email in 2 minutes or less, tackle it now.
When someone gives you a business card, make notes on the back to jog your memory later. Notes might include when you met, what you discussed, potential relationship, etc.
Share part of your inbox with your assistant so you can efficiently delegate email responses to your assistant.
Create a system for processing business cards you receive. Try delegating the data entry portion of the task to an assistant or intern.
Schedule a time/date to file and clean your files (weekly or bi-monthly).
When downloading an image or file, make sure to save it in a specific folder rather than to your desktop.
When organizing your office, imagine a semi‐circle around you when you sit at your desk. Place the supplies you use most often inside this space so they will always be within reach when needed.
Use unexpected free time wisely – while waiting in line or sitting in traffic, have a list of things you can do then.
It’s distracting hearing your phone buzz. Block off time to truly focus; shut the door, silence your phone, close your email.
To reduce digital clutter, unsubscribe to email newsletters you don’t read.
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