Running a credit card processing company, the digital world is a critical part of my business. It is easy to get caught in a trap of information all over the place (I am looking at you with the 100 documents on your desktop). There are several organizational tools and tips that can make the digital world more manageable, and you more successful.
Reading Articles/Blogs
In order to stay on top in your field or business, you must read about what is happening in the world. Have you ever come across an article you know will be worthwhile, but at that moment you don’t have the time to read it? Tools like Pocket, Readability, and Instapaper can help. You add a button (similar to a “pin it” button) on your browser and any time you come across an article you’d like to read later you just click the icon. This makes it easy to catch up on your own time.
Inbox
Lots of emails are part of the process when you run a business. It’s important to have an organization system that will allow you to archive/label important emails and delete unnecessary emails. In order to keep your inbox clean, respond to messages as soon as possible. Or, flag the message to respond at a later time. Once a message is opened either archive and label the message or delete it. Once a week take a few minutes to unsubscribe to emails. If it’s not necessary or doesn’t bring productivity to your day, delete it.
Cloud
There are many cloud options, like Dropbox, Google Drive, and iCloud. Using a cloud service is a great way to have a digital filing cabinet. You can keep employee files, owner’s manuals, and anything else that you’d typically physically file. Tools like Google Drive also make it very user-friendly to set up collaboration documents that can be shared and edited between staff members.
To Do List
Who doesn’t love crossing an item off a to-do list? There are so many options to digitizing a to-do list. Wunderlist, Any Do, and Asana are just a few. Evernote also allows a blank slate for creating and sorting that never ending to do list. Putting everything in one place will not make the tasks disappear, however it keeps everything in one place, making prioritizing things easier.
Customer Surveys
The best way to see how you’re doing (or what you could be improving) is to ask your customers. Digital surveys can be an effective and easy way to capture information about your business. Survey Monkey is a popular option, but there are also some other options such as Typeform and even Google Form. Capturing data has never been easier, sending out a short, relevant questionnaire to your customers is a convenient way to make your business even better.
Streamlining your digital life and reducing computer clutter will make your machine run faster and your productivity skyrocket, which is always good for the bottom line.
