About Melinda Emerson

Melinda F. Emerson, known to many as SmallBizLady is one of America's leading small business experts. As a seasoned entrepreneur, professional speaker, and small business coach, she develops audio, video and written content to fulfill her mission to end small business failure. As CEO of Quintessence Multimedia, Melinda educates entrepreneurs and Fortune 500 companies on subjects including small business start-up, business development and social media marketing. Forbes Magazine named her #1 woman for entrepreneurs to follow on Twitter. She hosts #SmallBizChat Wednesdays on Twitter 8-9pm ET for emerging entrepreneurs. She also publishes a resource blog http://www.succeedasyourownboss.com Melinda is also bestseller author of Become Your Own Boss in 12 months; A Month-by-Month Guide to a Business That Works. Her latest ebook, How To Become a Social Media Ninja; 101 Ways to Dominate Your Competition Online was released in 2012.

Author Archive | Melinda Emerson

Employee Time Tracking: Nothing Personal It’s Just Business

By on May 7, 2013 in Guest Articles, Your Small Business
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Can they see me?

Guest Article

Tracking where and how your employees spend their time is critical, especially for service-oriented companies that bill per hour. It’s also important to understand what the overall productivity level is of your employees, especially those who work from home. It’s not that you don’t trust your employees, but when you measure something, people tend to be a lot more serious about it. Here are some ways to make the process of employee time tracking easier…

Keep an eye on employees even when you can’t see them.

There’s nothing like seeing employees hard at work only to realize they’re really just updating Facebook or Twitter. Keeping track of what employees are really doing while in the office or working remotely can be done with certain software tools.

Time tracking software is one of the easiest ways to guarantee that employees are actually working. The programs are often times fairly inexpensive, highly accurate, and worth every cent. Plus, employers get the added benefit of having all of the busy work of adding up hours and wages already completed for them thanks to the software. The biggest things to look for when thinking about purchasing a time clock software program is to make sure that it allows for unlimited employees, is easy to use, and has quality customer support.

I always feel like somebody’s watching me.

As with online time tracking software, monitoring software tracks everything employees do while using company computers. These programs can track every keystroke, block certain websites, prevent the downloading of certain files, and do just about anything employers need it to do. Reports are then generated so that employers can look at what employees have been doing.

This software improves productivity, prevents employees from either intentionally or unintentionally exposing confidential information, and keeps everyone in line. However, make sure employees know they are being monitored. Nobody wants to deal with an employee accusing the company of spying.

Keep tabs on telecommuters.

Many companies hire contract workers that either telecommute or report to the office rarely. This makes it difficult to know for sure if the hours they record were truly spent working. One way to circumvent the problem of hourly-billing is to make contract work a flat fee.

But service-oriented companies tend to have employees that work away from the office and bill by the hour. Trust is essential with these employees, but it’s not the only way to make sure they’re working.

Scheduling face-time using software programs such as Google Hangout, Google Chat or Skype, arranging for call-ins, or checking in with instant messaging helps provide the link between the home office and the traditional office.

If telecommuting employees use company-provided computers, then monitoring software should be installed to track their work as it would be if they were in the office.

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Monitoring software prevents on-the-job cat naps.

What about employees who don’t use a computer for work?

Short of installing a microchip into the arm of employees that work remotely without a computer, it is almost impossible to tell how their time is spent. However, accountability goes a long way for these employees. Setting up goals and timelines for employees to reach ensures that they are working toward something.

Let them know you’ll be watching.

Using tracking software to monitor the work done by employees is the easiest way to keep track of their time spent working. Knowing that their activities are being monitored means employees are far less likely to devote time to non-work related activities… and Facebook will still be there once the work day is over.

Dana Rasmussen Employee Time Tracking: Nothing Personal Its Just Business

About the author:  Dana Rasmussen is a freelance author who writes about a variety of topics, including time tracking, vacation destinations, corporate jet travel, social media and trends in the work place.  

Photo attribution: www.flickr.com/photos/evilerin/3093851614
Photo attribution: www.flickr.com/photos/pangpang/3505022325

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7 Ways to Manage Your Life and Business as a Mompreneur

By on May 6, 2013 in Business Inspiration, Featured Post, Mompreneurs, My Recommendations

Ways to Manage Your Life and Business as a Mompreneur3 7 Ways to Manage Your Life and Business as a MompreneurSponsored post

Running a small business is hard work, especially for a “mompreneur.” In many cases, you are doing the three full-time of jobs of wife, mother and business owner all at the same time. Every day you are doing more with less and trying to figure out how to get it all done smarter, cheaper and faster.  But remember, on the airplane the flight attendant always says you must put the oxygen mask on yourself first before helping anyone else. This idea is true in your business and personal life as well. Here are 7 ways to manage your life and business as a mompreneur.

Start each day with meditation or prayer:  I run like the wind with my demanding profession as a small business expert on top of my mom duties.  It’s hard to feel like you are not in a race every day. To keep my one-woman circus under control, I pray each morning.  Yoga is another great way to practice meditation techniques.

Stop the never ending to do lists: To do lists leave me feeling overwhelmed.  Who needs that? Focus on getting five things done before 11 a.m. each day. Start each day with a plan and anything you accomplish after your top five is a gift.

Be present: Your family wants to feel like they matter more than your work. Limit your work hours. Don’t be afraid to hit ignore and turn the cell phone off at a certain time each day. When you pick-up the kids, talk to them – don’t be that parent in the carpool line on the phone.  Don’t be tempted to multitask at work. Focus on phone calls and face-to-face meetings.  People can tell when you’re mentally checked out.

Use one calendar: You have one life so you need one calendar for your family and your business. I suggest using Google Calendar as it syncs to your phone. Put all your family and work appointments in one place and you’ll be far more likely to make everything happen.

Take regular breaks: I use the app Coffeebreak to make sure I walk away from my computer every 90 minutes. Then every three months, I take at least a 48-hour break from everything to be good to myself. Think about the things you used to do when you had more time: fishing, gardening, hiking, golfing, jewelry making, etc. You need rest to focus.  Have you scheduled a summer vacation yet?

Workout at least 3 times a week: You might feel like you don’t have time, but think about working out in a different way. Use working out as a way to spend quality time with yourself. If you need to think about an important decision in your business, walk or run and think.

Get more rest:  I recently read a study that said the body repairs itself between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. when we are asleep. Do not get swallowed up in your work. You can’t get a lot done with a cluttered mind. Focus on getting more rest! You’ll be a lot more productive if you do.

Do you have any tactics to add to the list?

Join me Thursday May 9th at 8pm ET for a live QA sponsored by @FedExOffice on Twitter on Ways to Manage Your Life and Business as a Mompreneur. Use the hashtag #SMBMoms and sign into www.tweetchat.com to join in the conversation.

Disclosure:  FedEx Office compensated me to write this post and participate as a small business expert during their Tweet Chat program.  The ideas in this blog post are mine and not ideas or advice from FedEx Office.

Mother And Daughter courtesy of Ambro / www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net

About FedEx Office

FedEx Office, an operating company of FedEx Corp., has more than 1,800 stores and locations primarily in the U.S. and Canada, providing convenient access to printing and shipping expertise with reliable service. The company’s network features retail stores, centralized production centers, corporate on-site print centers, and on-site business centers at hotels, convention centers and universities. Services include copying and digital printing, professional finishing, document creation, direct mail, signs and graphics, computer rental, free Wi-Fi and corporate print solutions. In addition, the company offers FedEx Express and FedEx Ground shipping, Hold at FedEx Location, and packing services backed by the FedEx® Packing Pledge. InformationWeek 500 recognized FedEx Office® Print Online and FedEx Office® Print & Go solutions with the 2011 Most Innovative Products award. Products, services and hours vary by location. For more information, please visit www.fedex.com/office.

For more tips on how start or grow your small business subscribe to Melinda Emerson’s blog http://www.succeedasyourownboss.com.

Melinda F. Emerson, known to many as SmallBizLady is America’s #1 small business expert. As CEO of Quintessence Multimedia, Melinda educates entrepreneurs and Fortune 500 companies on subjects including small business start-up, business development and social media marketing to fulfill her mission to end small business failure. She writes a weekly column on social media for The New York Times. Forbes Magazine named her #1 woman for entrepreneurs to follow on Twitter. She hosts #SmallBizChat Wednesdays on Twitter 8-9pm ET for emerging entrepreneurs. She also publishes a resource blog http://www.succeedasyourownboss.com Melinda is also the bestselling author of Become Your Own Boss in 12 months; A Month-by-Month Guide to a Business That Works. Her latest ebook, How To Become a Social Media Ninja; 101 Ways to Dominate Your Competition Online was released in 2012.

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How To Get Your Idea Onto Store Shelves

By on May 2, 2013 in How to Start, Q & A Interview, SmallBizChat

SMALL BIZ CHAT LOGO 20121 300x123 How To Get Your Idea Onto Store Shelves

Every week as SmallBizLady, I conduct interviews with experts on my Twitter talk show #SmallBizChat. The show takes place every Wednesday on Twitter from 8-9pm ET. This is excerpted from my recent interview with Steve Greenberg.  Steve is a product scout, the author of Gadget Nation and the co-host of Food Network’s Invention Hunters. You can follow Steve on twitter @stevetv,  www.facebook.com/stevetv and on his website www.stevegreenberg.tv

SmallBizLady: What’s the first step to get my product into the marketplace?

Steve Greenberg: OK, you’ve come up with an idea–what’s next?  I suggest you do a serious search on the web.  Try to find your idea somewhere– anywhere.  After you have Googled it – next, search Google Patents to see if you can find it there.

SmallBizLady: How do I know if anyone will buy my product?

Steve Greenberg: Talk to some family and friends and see if they truly like the idea. Would they buy it?  How much would they pay?  How can the idea be improved?

SmallBizLady: What are some resources for inventors?

Steve Greenberg: Join Your Local Inventors Association.  There are inventor groups all across the country.  You can get a list by going to the United Inventors Association (UIA) website http://www.uiausa.org.  These local associations are a great resource.  You’ll meet other inventors from your area and you’ll get first-hand information on the pitfalls of inventing.  These are people who are ahead of you on the journey and can spare you a great deal of time and save you money on your journey.

SmallBizLady:  Filing a patent is time consuming and costly.  Is there an alternative? 

Steve Greenberg: Before you spend the big bucks on a patent–go for the less expensive Provisional Patent.  It costs under $200 and offers “some” protection.  It’s NOT a patent, your product is NOT patent pending–but at least a Provisional Patent draws a line in the sand–and gives you some protection for one year.

SmallBizLady: Even with a provisional patent, how likely is it I’ll actually get my product sold?

Steve Greenberg: Now you have a year to do your homework.  Do you really want to invest thousands of dollars into this idea?  Bringing a product to store shelves is gambling–plain and simple.  The pay-offs can be huge–but so can the losses.
This is the stage where you do market research to see if consumers really want this product.  Price out doing a prototype, manufacturing costs–really evaluate what you’re getting into.

SmallBizLady: How can I protect my idea and my product?

Steve Greenberg: Beware of Scams.  It’s about here in the process that you’ll start to notice late night TV ads for inventors and you’ll start looking for a company to take this project off your hands.  It’s here that I tell all inventors to beware.  There’s a cottage industry of companies that make their living by ripping off first time inventors. They are experts in saying what you want to hear — be careful.  Talk to people in your local inventors group to find out who you can trust.

SmallBizLady: Should I license my product?

Steve Greenberg: To License or Not To License. It’s about here that you might start to think about licensing your idea to a large company.  Keep in mind IF you get a licensing deal (and that’s a BIG IF) you will only get about 3-5% of the product sales.  BUT the upside is that you won’t have the hassle and costs associated with manufacturing, shipping, distribution etc.  You can shop your idea around yourself–or use the services of a product scout –like me :-)

SmallBizLady: Do I need an attorney to file for a patent?

Steve Greenberg:  If you’ve come this far–it sounds like you are very serious about going all the way–so it’s time to approach a patent agent or a patent attorney.  Do your homework.  Ask other inventors who they recommend.  You don’t want to over-pay, but you also don’t want a crappy patent.  Keep in mind, your patent is only as good as the person who wrote it.  So really put some serious thought in this decision

SmallBizLady:  Why should I create a prototype?

Steve Greenberg: I’m a big fan of prototyping.  Sure it costs money, but it’s really the only way to see if your product truly works.  In fact it’s a good idea to do the prototyping before the final patent paperwork is filed so that you can tweak the design based on what you learn from the final prototype.

SmallBizLady:  Where should I have my product manufactured?

Steve Greenberg:  Assuming you want to manufacture the product yourself—you’ll need to decide where you want that to happen.  America is one option–and very patriotic BUT also very costly. If you decide on China or somewhere else in the world, the costs will be lower but you’ll probably need to hire an expert to help you though the jungle of importing, factory selection, shipping, etc.  Luckily there are many professionals who can walk you through this tough process.

SmallBizLady:  Do you have any packaging advice?

Steve Greenberg:  Maybe in the 1950′s and 60′s packaging was just the box that held the product.  Not today. In today’s world there are no sales people.  When you walk into a store, the product’s packaging must sell the product.  I know of so many examples of products that had almost no sales UNTIL they changed the packaging–then the products flew off the shelf.  Here again, there are lots of pros who can help you design powerful packaging.

SmallBizLady:  Any final tips to get my product idea onto store shelves?

Steve Greenberg:  Inventing may seem like a solitary endeavor–and maybe the very early stages are all about you alone.  But to be a successful inventor you need help.  There’s no way you have all of the answers.  That’s the bad news–the good news is that there are lots of talented trustworthy professionals out there who can help you through this bumpy journey.  My advice–use them.

If you found this interview helpful, join us on Wednesdays 8-9pm ET follow @SmallBizChat on Twitter. Here’s how to participate in #SmallBizChat: http://bit.ly/S797e

For more tips on how start or grow your small business subscribe to Melinda Emerson’s blog http://www.succeedasyourownboss.com. 

Melinda F. Emerson, known to many as SmallBizLady is America’s #1 small business expert. As CEO of Quintessence Multimedia, Melinda educates entrepreneurs and Fortune 500 companies on subjects including small business start-up, business development and social media marketing to fulfill her mission to end small business failure. She writes a weekly column on social media for The New York Times. Forbes Magazine named her #1 woman for entrepreneurs to follow on Twitter. She hosts #SmallBizChat Wednesdays on Twitter 8-9pm ET for emerging entrepreneurs. She also publishes a resource blog http://www.succeedasyourownboss.com. Melinda is also the bestselling author of Become Your Own Boss in 12 months; A Month-by-Month Guide to a Business That Works and the ebook: How To Become A Social Media Ninja; 101 Ways to Dominate Your Competition Online.

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