Tech Tools For Success

Small Business Technology Tools

For Success Today

By Terry L. Brock

I’m often asked about the tools that are necessary for success today. Although it is an ever-changing topic, the tools that are helpful for you today in your small business can help propel you farther.

The whole point about using technology tools is to extend your ability farther with the right hardware and software than you’d be able to do by yourself alone. You can leverage technology to get more done in less time, serve more people and make your business more profitable.

Here are some tools that I’ve seen successful businesspeople use today that help them to achieve their success. These tools work regardless of whether you’re man or woman, what country you’re in or your educational background. Tailor these to your lifestyle and desire but get the right tools to make it work for you.

1. Contact Management System. This means staying in touch with important people and remembering important details about them. I use a combination of Outlook, Word and Excel from Microsoft. Others use ACT!, Goldmine or other tool. The most important consideration here is not the tool you use but your use of that tool. I don’t care what tool you get, if you don’t use it – with discipline – it won’t do you any good. Regularly cull through names and see those whom you haven’t touched base with in a while. Call. Write. Email. Send a postcard. Write a letter. Make a quick personal visit. Stay in touch with important people and leverage a contact management system.- even notepad and pen – to maximize your contact with important people.

2. Word Or Other Word Processing Software. This is one of the greatest inventions in the history of mankind! Word gives you the ability to do so many things. I capture thoughts, create daily ToDos, write memos and letters, keep details on important people (linked to Outlook) and more. Leverage this tool to get those things done that you need to do.

3. Mobile Access To The Net You need to have access to the Internet as you travel either in your city or on road trips. The Internet is where the world meets, communicates, interacts and lives today. You don’t want to be out of touch with it when you can reach contacts. You want to be able to access what you need from where you are. I use my Windows Mobile PDA for my cell phone. It also gives access to all my Outlook accounts through Pocket Outlook. I can see quick notes through Pocket Word. I can do some quick calculations with Pocket Excel. I can also access email and the Net with it (although I don’t use my PDA much for that). Lately, I’ve been using my PDA for capturing quick audio notes and filtering them into Outlook with a tool called TeleNotes. I use the Verizon Wireless access to get pretty reasonable access speeds to the Net from just about anywhere in the States. This way I get access to the Net (most important) from just about anywhere and usually good speeds. I can operate from just about anywhere and that gives a strong advantage to business and lifestyle.

4. Ability To Change Website Quickly You know you need to access the Net and use your website to reach customers. Use the bare basics of your web design tool to make quick changes. A program like Contribute from Adobe (formerly Macromedia) is great for us mere mortals to make quick website changes. Get a web designer to do all the fancy stuff, then change text and pictures in a template. It’s easy and powerful. Of course, you can also use Dreamweaver, FrontPage 2003 or other web design tool as well. The point is to be able to change your website and not depend on a technician to do it for you. This way you can create custom web pages based on your customers’ needs when they need it.

5. Mentality To Learn From Everything, Everyone, Everywhere Lifelong learning is the mantra of successful people worldwide. Keep stretching and learning. Everyday make it your goal to learn something from something, someone, somewhere. Read quality books. Listen to mind-stretching audio. Hang around really smart people who can teach you. This makes each day more exhilarating and helps you become more productive and profitable in business.

6. Mentality To Be Of Service It is one of life’s ironies – you attain more for yourself when you serve others more. Always be on the lookout for helping the other person. Look for those needs that customers have – but haven’t discussed. Be the first to be there with great ideas that are of service to others.

Of course, there are lots of other good tools that you probably use. I use others that are must-have tools for me in my business. Remember to leverage the technology to help people and you’ll succeed today and tomorrow.

Terry Brock is a marketing coach and regular columnist for Biz Journals who helps businesses market more effectively leveraging technology. He shows busy professionals how to squeeze more out of their busy days using the right rules and tools. He can be reached at 407-363-0505, by e-mail at terry@terrybrock.com or through his website at www.terrybrock.com.

Copyright © 2007, Terry Brock, All Rights Reserved Internationally. No portion may be reprinted or used in any way without prior written permission.