ARE YOU WORKING TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY?

You can save lots of time and headache by simply being organized.

Do you have a place for everything you use in your business?

Is everything in its place when you need to use it or do you spend extra time looking for important things?

Reserve a specific place to do your business activities.

There is nothing more frustrating than being in the middle of something only to have to put it away because it's either in the way, or you have to do something else in that very spot.

Find a place that is out of your way for "every day chores", yet handy if needed to store your business items and conduct business easily.  Don't allow "just anyone" to do other things in your area of business if you can possibly manage that.  If you are going to be productive you need to make others aware of the importance of leaving your things where you left them.  The best idea, if you can do it, is to use the OHIO method.  ONLY HANDLE IT ONCE.

Do things in order

1. Find something to list
2. Take a photograph of this item (crop and adjust this photo as needed)
3. FIND A BOX TO SHIP THIS  ITEM IN  (This is a good idea BEFORE you list so it will be ready when your item sells.)
4. Write up a description for your item and list it.  It's very important to be honest in your description and let your buyers know exactly what they will be getting.  Give your buyers as much information as you can.  Make sure they know it's OK to ask questions, and let them know you will get back to them quickly.

Keep your work area clean and in order.

There is nothing quite as frustrating as having something finished only to see it become damaged because you didn't clean up a prior mess.

Keep enough supplies on hand.

Store items you frequently use close to where you are going to use them.  Much time can be wasted by just having to look for things you thought you had "on hand", or even worse, it's not cost productive to go buy something you "need" only to discover you already had that at home.

Set aside at least one day a week to take inventory.

It is important to keep track of what you need to run your business.  Do you have enough postage, boxes, and packing stuff?  Did you check your accounts to make sure everything is in order, and ALWAYS answer your e-mails that have been sent to you by your customers or potential customers.

Set realistic goals from yourself.

In other words, make a schedule that you can follow, and set goals that you can keep.  Make a plan to run your business in a way that is enjoyable as well as profitable to you.  Make sure you take time for yourself and take breaks so you don't suffer from "burn-out".

Your customers are the "heart" of your business.

Without customers you only have "stuff".  ALWAYS answer the questions that your customers ask in a polite manner, and thank them for their interest.  ALWAYS make sure that your customers feel important and that you are happy to be of service to them.  And, most important, ALWAYS say "Thank you".

Thank you for reading my guide, I appreciate your interest and hope I am able to do business with you in the future.

HAVE A GREAT DAY