Create a Twitter Background Using PowerPoint (with Video Instructions)

In a previous post, I explained how I use PowerPoint for all of my graphics projects. A designer will laugh at this because they probably use software such as PhotoShop to handle complex projects. Well, I don’t know PhotoShop well enough to whip out something fast, but I know just about everything that PowerPoint can do. And for the types of projects I have, I’ve figured out how to get them done fast using this software I already have.

My latest project consisted of changing my Twitter background for my main account, and another one here @ digitalbreaks. PowerPoint gives me total control of customization.

Here’s how I did it.

Twitter Background 20001

Ready PowerPoint for Your Design

  1. Decide on your color scheme, matching your Website, blog, etc. (or not), and sketch out a rough design. (Here are some charts that show you Web colors that match.)
  2. In PowerPoint, resize a landscape slide to 20” Width and 12.5 inches Height (click the File menu, Page Setup). Depending on your monitor and resolution, you may have to reduce the Zoom level in order to see more of your slide. Both monitors are set at resolution 1280 by 720 pixels.
  3. Either from Slide Master view or directly on the slide, change the color of your background. Make it more interesting by using two colors and experimenting with Shading styles (click the Format menu, Background, down arrow to Fill Effects, Two colors (then click the down arrow and choose colors). Try the different Shading styles. My @peggyduncan Twitter background is a dark blue and white with the Shading style, From title.

Here’s a Video – Part 1
(Rate and Comment please. Subscribe to my channel for updates.)

Place Your Graphics and Customize Your Design

  1. Display the ruler (click the View menu, Ruler).
  2. To place graphics on your slide, first set your Zoom level at 50%. The zero (0) marks the center of your slide. Using the ruler as your guide, to the left, place your graphics between 0-8.5. On the right, place them between 4.5 and 6.5.
  3. Use guides and a grid to help you line everything up (View, Grids and Guides, Display drawing guides on screen, Display grid on screen.
  4. Create more guides by hovering your mouse over one and dragging while holding down the  Ctrl key. When you’re finished and don’t need as many guides, click and drag some of them off the screen.
  5. Add any other drawing elements and graphics you want (the higher the resolution the better). Add text using a text box so it will be easier to move around (located on the Drawing toolbar. Click the Tools menu, Toolbars, Drawing).
  6. Save the slide as a PNG (click the File menu and change Save as type to PNG Portable Network Graphics Format, Current Slide Only). The final filesize can not be larger than 800k for Twitter. If you need to resize any photos (but maintain the quality), read my previous post, Resize a Bunch of Photos by the Batch.

It’s important to note that when you save your slide as a graphic, it’ll only be 96dpi. This might be good enough for your design but if it’s not as sharp as you want, check out Image Exporter from the PPTools Website. This is the software I use when I need to save my PowerPoint slides in higher resolution (about $30.00 and worth every dime), especially when I need to print them.

Here’s a Video – Part 2
Here’s a Video – Part 2.5

Add Design to Twitter as Background

Once you’re satisfied with your PowerPoint design, sign into your Twitter account.

  1. Click Settings, Design tab.
  2. Under the default theme, click Change background image, Browse to find your graphic, double-click it.
  3. Untick the tile background box (so design won’t repeat itself when viewing using different monitor resolutions), Save changes.

Tweaking It Until It’s Right

You will probably have to tweak your PowerPoint design several times and resave until you get it just the way you want it. I use two monitors: one on my laptop and a second 22?, with both set at resolution 1280 by 720 pixels. The designs looked different on both so I tweaked it as much as I could so it would look great both ways. You have no control over other people’s monitor resolutions so just do this to your satisfaction. A huge advantage of doing this in PowerPoint is that tweaking is so easy.

Now change the default colors in Twitter such as the sidebar background color, text, and links.

  1. Go back into Settings, Design tab, Change design colors.
  2. You may want to change the text, links, sidebar, and sidebar border, keeping everything color-coordinated with your new design.
  3. Click the sidebar block to select it. Now use your mouse to click desired color in the box and use the sliding bar next to it to hone in on the exact color you want. When you’re satisfied, click Done.
  4. Repeat Step 3 for each color block until you’re satisfied and click Save Changes.

Here’s a Video – Part 3

After you’ve created your new background, leave a comment and link so I can check it out.

Is Your Business Card Ugly?

When I got back to my office after a few conferences, I started reviewing some of the business cards I’d collected. I kept noticing the same, common missteps business owners continue to make. Here are a few:

  1. No email address.
  2. Email address is illogical, hard to spell, impossible to remember, hard to type, hard to read.
  3. @yahoo.com, @aol.com, instead of @anybodybutyourownURL.com.
  4. No physical address.
  5. Cheap paper.
  6. Type is too small to read without a magnifying glass.
  7. Background is too wild and text impossible to read or scan.
  8. Design ignores all the rules (e.g., font too fancy for type of business).
  9. Unnecessary words such as “email” before the email address, “Website” before the URL.
  10. Coating on both sides that makes it impossible to take notes on.
  11. Vanity phone numbers such as 400-488-PHONE (not a real number). Don’t make me have to work to call you. Please also include the actual numbers.

Your business card is part of your marketing team, and it needs to be dressed and looking like you mean business. Take a look at yours. Are changes needed?

PEACE.

I Installed a Wireless Router by Cisco in My Home Office – Did It Myself

I just switched to Comcast for high-speed Internet. I want all of my computers to have wireless access so instead of leasing a wireless router from Comcast, I stopped by Best Buy and picked up the Linksys® N Ultra Range Plus by Cisco. It’s a slick-looking unit that resembles something from outer space. I was expecting sticker shock but it was only $100 bucks.

I’m a computer trainer and not a hardware person so I was a little skeptical about installing this router myself. I popped in the installation disk and was amazed at how simple it was. It walked me right through it with great pictures too.

My next step is to share printers and files. I’ll set that up and let you know how it goes.

So if you’ve been thinking about going wireless in your home office, there’s no need to wait any longer.

Note: Some Amazon reviews mentioned this product overheating so I stood it up on one side instead of leaving flat.

PEACE.

Resize a Bunch of Photos by the Batch

I’ve discovered that just about anything I dread doing, there is some type of technology that will do it for me. Doing something with the photos on my digital camera was one of those projects I needed to simplify.

I found some inexpensive software ($10.00) that makes resizing photos quick and easy. It’s called Digital Photo Resizer (DPR) at www.icegiant.com. There are probably other products out there, but this is the one I found and like.

The software is intuitive in most cases, but I do want to point out the following.

Input Image Folder. If your photos are on a CD/DVD, create a folder on your Desktop (or anywhere) and move the files there. You’ll Browse to this folder when you start.

Autoset Output Image Folders. If you want your images to stay with the folder you created, tick this box. If you don’t, leave it unticked and Browse to find the folder you want to save the resized pictures to. It’s not obvious, but your photos will be resized into the folder you specify, but they will land inside a subfolder named “out.” (I keep all my photos together.)

Resize to. I usually choose the Resize To 438 Height option because I’ve played around with sizing and this usually works for what I’m doing. (It’s a good idea to crop the photos before you resize them. You’ll have to do this outside of DPR.)

Generate/Zip File. Explore this feature for different options for your final output. If you need to zip your photos before you email them, load them and click Generate to open the Package Photos dialog box, Create Zip File. Other options in the Package Photos dialog box include Create Screen Saver, Create Slide Show EXE, and Create Photo Website.

Finally, anytime you have a project you dread doing, look for a better, slicker way to do it. Find other free or inexpensive software downloads at www.snapfiles.com.

Note: If the photos you’re using are on a PowerPoint slide, click a picture to select it. The Picture toolbar will appear. Click the Compress Pictures toolbar button and follow the instructions to resize all or some of your pictures.

PEACE.

Peggy Duncan, Personal Productivity Expert

How to Tweet from Your BlackBerry

Twitterberry Screen CaptureIf you want to tweet from your BlackBerry and you can do so without being disrespectful of the people you’re with or without becoming distracted from your family or something else more important, here’s how.

The following steps require you to download software from your BlackBerry.

  1. Open the Browser on your BlackBerry’s homescreen.
  2. Type the shortcut, G, for the Go To screen to appear. Type the URL orangatame.com/products/twitterberry/ and click the trackball to enter.
  3. Go to bottom of Web page and click to Download the software.
  4. Once the software is loaded, you’ll click to give your Twitter account and your BlackBerry access to each other.
  5. Add your Twitter username and password to TwitterBerry.

When you’re ready to tweet, open Twitterberry and type your message. When you’re finished typing, click the Menu button, Update. You should see a Success notice.

If you press the Menu button with Twitterberry open, you’ll see some different options such as Friends Timeline, which allows you to keep up with what your friends are doing. You can Get Replies, check Direct Messages, and more. (Once you click any option, give it a few seconds to load the results.)

PEACE.

See Also
Changes I Made to My BlackBerry to Make It Easier to Use

BLOGGING BOOTCAMP: WordPress Training with DIY SEO and PR

Blogging Bootcamp

Create a self-hosted WordPress blog, implement search engine optimization techniques, and start getting free publicity that attracts the media and new business to you like a magnet!

Description
This is a full-day workshop that’s hands-on with your laptop. Learn from experts how to build a professionally-designed, self-hosted WordPress blog from scratch and optimize it (and your Web site) for search engines. You’ll also learn how to use other no- to low-cost tips and strategies for getting found online, including social media.

Dates & Time

See Website for details.

Prerequisites
Easy pre-work (e.g., register a domain) is required for this training and full details are on the official Website, www.DigitalBreakThroughs.com.

Who Should Attend?
The workshop is designed for small business owners, non-profits, virtual assistants, and anyone else who needs to build an online presence and get found. You must be computer savvy.

Your Trainers
Part I. Peggy Duncan will teach you how she started her blog from scratch, maintains it with fresh content, and what she does to keep her top position in Google’s organic search results. She is a personal productivity expert and author of six books on organization, time management, and technology tips, tricks, and strategies. Peggy travels internationally helping busy people spend less time working but get more done. She is an award-winning blogger, and her technology blog was recently selected the Top Business Blog by Fast Pitch! Visit Peggy online at www.PeggyDuncan.com and also enjoy tips in her award-winning technology blog, www.SuiteMinute.com.

Part II. JB Brathwaite will teach you how to build a professional WordPress blog from scratch and enhance it with some of the most popular plug-ins that will increase its functionality. He is an Internet strategist, WordPress blogging expert, and Peggy’s teacher. He’ll work with you to build your self-hosted blog from scratch or will take what you already have to another level with more functionality. Visit JB online at www.DentistSOS.com and www.2TheNextLevel.com.

Get Details and Register Here TODAY!
www.DigitalBreakThroughs.com
Space is Limited to 10 Participants

SPONSORED BY

AGL Resources, Inc.

President Obama Could Limit His BlackBerry Use Now That He’s Survived Without It

President Obama had a mountain of issues to deal with in his first 100 days, and not having his BlackBerry helped him stay focused. I’m hoping that he doesn’t get sucked back in to his BlackBerry addiction.

It’s old news that President Barack Obama was addicted to his BlackBerry. Now that he’s had to live without it, he’s benefited in ways he may not have realized.

From the perspective of a time management expert who teaches people how to manage email overload, here are  some benefits I believe the President has experienced since being forced to live without his BlackBerry.

Did his best work because he was more focused. Once the President’s addiction was in check, he was better able to complete a thought, finish what he started, and pay more attention to what counted. He has some serious messes to lead us out of and his total attention is needed to do that.

Got back ability to concentrate. The President no longer gets distracted the instant something rings, beeps, or buzzes. He is no longer walking down the street and taking a chance of bumping into poles and people while he’s thumbing and scrolling. Yes, he’s brilliant and can manage several things at once, but to lead us out of this mess, his brain cells are in overdrive and we can not afford for him to waste a single one. The results of his more focused efforts speak for themselves.

Showed staff he trusted them. He was not always “on” so his team felt more confident about believing they could get things done without letting him know their every move. Everyone should be trained well enough to make good decisions based on well thought-out processes and procedures. This being the case, it’s OK to miss an email or two.

Listened more intently. With the ringing and buzzing gone, President Obama was able to listen and get it right the first time instead of having to double-back or double-check. People come at him with everything they’ve got so not having the BlackBerry distraction leaves nothing to chance.

Made others around him feel more worthy. The most important person in the room is the one you’re with. I would not want the President appearing disrespectful by not being fully engaged. It’s best to turn the BlackBerry off in all meetings. “You’re the boss, Mr. President, and no one will say anything, but trust me, it doesn’t make people feel good when you ease your BlackBerry under the table and peek. People want your undivided attention as a sign of respect. And don’t even think about leaving it on once you’re in your private quarters.

Slept better at night. Once President Obama stopped sleeping with his beloved BlackBerry under his pillow, he was able to get a good night’s sleep and feel more refreshed in the morning.

The President has already proven that life goes on without the BlackBerry. You can do it too. People such as 9-1-1 operators, receptionists, specialists for medical emergencies, and high-level technicians on call may have to be available the instant something rings, beeps, buzzes, or dings, but why do you? As much as I love email, I don’t want to be tied to it 24/7/365. If you’ve got it so bad that your work and home life suffer, box up your BlackBerry and ship it to yourself with 3-5 day ground delivery. When you get it back, you’ll be more sensible with it. And every time you start to feel the urge to overindulge, ship it again.

7 Must-Have Gadgets I Use to Make Work Easier

AT&T 993 Corded 2-Line SpeakerphoneI was recently interviewed by a national magazine and the reporter asked me about some of the must-have equipment I use to run my solo enterprise. Here is what I listed.

Feature-rich telephone. You might think that finding the perfect desk phone is easy, but it wasn’t for me. I finally found everything I needed in one unit that was also priced right. My AT&T 993 phone is a corded, 2-line phone. In addition to the standard features that come with most phones such as speed dial, mute, auto redial, etc., I also wanted the following:

- Speakerphone to use when I’m on hold.
- Headset connection for hands-free operation.
- Volume control to use for callers who talk too loudly or too softly.
- Voicemail indicator to remind me of messages waiting.
- Call waiting/Caller ID so I can see who’s calling when I’m on the phone.

Note: I just purchased the Magic Jack and will report on it soon.

Dymo LabelWriter. I can print my own stamps in any denomination, and also use my LabelWriter to print shipping labels. It’s much simpler for me to do this than to go to the USPS Web site, complete all the information, pay for the postage, print the label, then affix. Every time I use the LabelWriter, I feel so cool, empowered, efficient, a woman about town.

Business card scanner. I can’t remember what I did back in the old days with a collection of business cards I wanted to add to my database. My CardScan is at my fingertips. I’ll slide a card in and it starts automatically. With one click, I can transfer the data to Outlook.

Dual monitor setup. In a previous post, I talked about how I love using a second monitor. It’s easy to set up and you’ll increase your productivity by expanding your desktop. Visit the link for more details.

All-in-One Printer/Fax/Scanner/Copier. It amazes people when I tell them that I ran my business for a year without a printer. It was easy because I rarely print anything. I got a free printer when I bought a new computer, and I hardly use it. But it’s nice to know it’s here when I need it. So far, I’ve only printed boarding passes and CD labels.

BlackBerry-8820BlackBerry. I travel a lot and I always have my laptop and BlackBerry with me. Here is a post I wrote, Changes I Made to My BlackBerry to Make it Easier to Use. I make a point of learning tips and tricks in software I use and gadgets and gizmos that I buy.Mini-USB-Hub

Mini USB Hub. Although I have three USB ports on my laptop and two more on my second monitor, I still needed more. A mini USB hub with four additional ports is my solution in my office and on the road.

What about your must-haves? Let me know what and why.

Widget Calculates How Much Free Time You Have Each Week

One of the exercises I conduct in my time management training involves having the attendees determine how much free time they have after doing all the things they absolutely have to do. I came up with a brilliant idea (at least I think it was brilliant) and had this time log coded as a Flash (SWF) file (hired a programmer through Elance.com). After that, I was able to turn the SWF into a widget (at WidgetBox.com). The widget will also provide a way for me to shamelessly promote my blog as others download it and add to their site (see more of my shameless tips in my ebook).

Use the time calculator above (also located in the right sidebar of this blog), and it will do the math. You’ll quickly see that you have more free time than you think.

The big question is how will you use it?
Will you waste it by being disorganized, procrastinating, and dealing with all the other time bandits you allow to take over your day? Or will you set goals and prioritize how you spend your time based on them? Get selfish and focus on making YOU better.

To get the work done, you have to work hard but you shouldn’t have to work long. To create time for a life, you have to work smart. See the related posts below for tips on how to spend less time working but get more done.


You can add my widget to your Web site or blog by clicking the
Get Widget
button. It’s free.

PEACE.

Related Posts

Spend Your Time Doing Things That Matter

6 Ways to Create More Time

Macros and Templates Will Save You Hours a Day

Use Dual Monitors and Spend Less Time Working

Change a PDF to a Graphic (jpeg, TIF, etc.)

I received a PDF and needed to change it to a graphic. This way, I’d have more flexibility when I needed to insert it in various documents. I’m using an older version of Adobe Acrobat (7.0) and although I saw the  option to File, Save As, jpeg, it didn’t work for me.

Here is what I ended up doing.

  1. Open the PDF in a graphic program (I use Paint Shop Pro and also PhotoShop Elements).
  2. Click the File menu, Save As, choose desired graphic format.

That’s it!

PEACE.

Related Posts

Attach a Native Word File to a PDF Before You Send It
Is Your Ebook Ugly?

How Do You Remember Due Dates, Commitments, and Promises?

Use your brain for thinking; not for remembering
- Peggy Duncan

As you go through the day acknowledging due dates or making commitments and promises, always ask yourself: “How am I going to remember this?” Then put some type of external cues in place that will trigger the action.

You probably already use a to do list, tickler file, calendar or task reminders in Outlook, sticky note, etc. I use all of these plus a lot of checklists. But when it’s something I need to remember that I will look pretty foolish if I forget (such as a Webinar, radio interview, etc.), I use a free download, the Talking Alarm Clock from Cinnamon Software. If I’m going to be away from my computer, I set alarms on my BlackBerry.

The Talking Alarm Clock lets your computer remind you of important deadlines. Each reminder pops up in a separate box with either a talking character or other sound. You’ll also discover these other features.

  • An alarm can be set to go off once, daily, weekly, monthly or annually, with very flexible scheduling.  Each alarm can have multiple schedules.

  • You can configure an alarm to open files, run programs, send email, and open Web pages.

  • An icon in the Windows® system tray gives quick access to the alarm clock.  The New Alarm Wizard makes adding an alarm fast and easy.

So the next time you need to remember something important, set the reminder and forget about it. Let me know about the first time it saves you! Visit my Website and find out about my popular time management training.

PEACE.

Related Posts

Spend Your Time Doing Things That Matter
6 Ways to Create More Time
Macros and Templates Will Save You Hours a Day
Use Dual Monitors and Spend Less Time Working
Are You Wasting Time at Work?
Let’s Not Take It Anymore! Talk to Me or On the Phone?

Small Business Owners Want to Know How to Get Found Online on a Budget

100-0463-thumb.jpgI presented my shameless self-promotion seminar for SCORE Chicago recently. The standing-room-only crowd of small business owners was totally into it. Lots of great questions and comments. Jo Anne Cano, Vice President of A.J. Smith Federal Savings Bank, said: “Thank you so much. Your presentation on Tuesday at SCORE was awesome. It gave me lots of great tips and I hope to put them to good use.”

My secrets to getting boatloads of publicity are detailed in my ebook, Shameless Self-Promotion: Do-It-Yourself PR. Get Found Online. And I’d love to travel to your next event to speak live, or we can meet on the Web. If you’re interested, contact me directly.

100-0459-thumb.jpg

This seminar and ebook outline is as follows:

  • Get Your Website Ready.
  • Promote What You Know.
  • Find Out What the Media Wants.
  • Find Time to Do All This.

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I put all this together because people kept asking me how I get so much major publicity without a public relations agency. This is beginning to be one of my favorite things to teach.

Here are a few of my tips in this
FREE slideshow titled Shameless Self-Promotion: Do-It-Yourself PR.

Related Posts

Changes I Made to My BlackBerry to Make It Easier to Use

When I buy new gadgets and gizmos, I read the how-to booklets and also look for more tips on the Web. I purchased the BlackBerry 8820 over a year ago, and in addition to setting up my laptop to use it as a modem (tether), here are some other things I learned and changes I’ve made to increase my productivity.

(I’ve added links to videos that will help you too. See bottom of post.)

http://suiteminute.com/wp-content/plugins/image-shadow/cache/bb5fcf7a9d484a270f5d00da932daeb5.jpg

Note: This graphic is not the 8820 but it's close. The top Mute key is my On/Off switch. My Mute key is on the right (it also puts the unit in standby mode). Use this image as a general guide. Source: NYU.edu.

Changed the order of the icons on the home screen. I wanted quicker access to the items I use most often so I moved the icons around. I also hid the ones I don’t use. You’ve probably already figured out how to do this for the icons already on the home screen (use the trackball to select the icon you want to move, click the Menu button, choose Move (or Hide), move the icon to the desired location with the trackball and click it to finish. On some units, you might have to hold down the ALT key and click Menu button).

I wanted to move Options out of Settings so I selected it and moved the icon as I described above. Once the Options icon was on top of the Up icon, I clicked the trackball to enter. With it now out on the home screen, I moved it.

Made it easier to change to Vibrate mode. If I need to put my phone in Vibrate mode quickly, I can. I moved the Profiles icon to the first row (use the same method as I explained above in the previous point).

Changed the Convenience Key. By default, the button on the left side of my unit (Convenience Key) was a shortcut to Push to Talk (PTT), which gives a cell phone walkie-talkie capabilities. I didn’t need this, so I changed the Convenience Key to open Alarm. I want quick access to this because I use my PDA as an alarm clock when I travel, and I also use it for important reminders (the reminder sounds even when the phone is off). To change this, go to Settings, Options, Screen/Keyboard, Convenience Key Opens. Now select whatever is there and click the trackball to open the choices.

Set up a few speed dial numbers. For the few people I call regularly, I assigned letters to their phone number so I can call them with one click. You can hold down a letter key and assign a speed dial number, but I wanted to see the list as I was adding to it so I could keep the process more organized. Roll trackball over Phone icon, click to enter, click the Menu key Menu, Add Speed Dial, View Speed Dial List, scroll to the alpha key you want to assign to and click (e.g., H for husband), New Speed Dial, find and click contact to add, click which number to add.

  • Call someone on the Speed Dial list: hold down the letter you assigned their number to until the phone starts to dial.
  • Delete someone on the Speed Dial List: Repeat the steps above to delete. Simply find them in the Speed Dial List, click Menu key, Delete.
  • Move someone to a new location on the Speed Dial List: Repeat the steps in the previous point but choose Move instead of Delete. Use the trackball to move the number to a different alpha key and click to enter.

Set it up to automatically BCC sent messages. My BlackBerry doesn’t save sent messages so when I created each email account, I set up Auto BCC (I didn’t see this option when I created the account, but once it was set up, I went back in to edit/add). With Auto BCC, each message I send is also automatically sent to a designated Outlook email account  as a blind copy (this email account is not set up on my BlackBerry).

When I’m back in Outlook, the BCC messages come in, and an Outlook rule automatically moves them to my Sent folder (exception to the rule: when my name is on the To line, the messages stay in the Inbox), and marks it as read. My rule looks for the words “Sent via BlackBerry” in the body of the message. If I hadn’t made that exception to the rule, messages people send me from their BlackBerry would go to the Sent folder if they have “Sent via BlackBerry” in the body. (If you don’t use Outlook rules, this will not make sense.)

Dressed up my email signature using AutoText. I created an AutoText entry that automatically replaces the letters “psdu” with my signature text below. When I finish typing my message, I space down and type psdu, then hit the Spacebar once.

Sent via BlackBerry. Excuse brevity and any typos.

PEACE.
Peggy Duncan
404-492-8197 Eastern

http://www.PeggyDuncan.com

To create AutoText, go into Settings, Options, AutoText. Click your Menu button, New. Then under Replace, I typed psdu. Under With, I typed the signature text above.

Bumped up security with a code and owner notice. No butt dialing for me. Before I can use my BlackBerry, I have to unlock it and enter a 4-digit password. Go into Settings, Options, Security Options, General Settings. I chose Enable Password, Lock Upon Holstering. You should make the changes that fit your needs and add a password when prompted. (I created a password that can be entered with one thumb and limited the number of tries I can use to access it.) To enter the password, just start typing it from the home screen.

My name, phone number, and email address show first on my home screen before I enter my password. To set this up, go into Settings, Options, Owner, and make desired changes.

Selected a default email address for messages. I set my unit up to receive email from several of my accounts, but I want my main email address to be the default for new messages. To change, go to Options, Advanced Options, Default Services, select the email address you want as the default, click the trackball to choose, ESC and Save. (See end of this article for link to a video on setting up email accounts.)

Changed my calendar defaults and learned some shortcuts. I like looking at details on my calendar at a glance. I changed the default view to Agenda (from inside the calendar, click Menu, Options, Initial View). Look around to see if there are any other options you’d like to change). For example, I changed to calendar items never get deleted (the default is to delete everything older than 60 days).

The following are some more tips to use from inside the calendar.

  • Move to the next day/week/month – SPACE
    (CAP or NUM (this is Shift) +SPACE moves backward).
  • Go to the current date, t.
  • Go to a specific date, g.
  • Create a new appointment, c.
  • Change the view, d for day, w for week, m for month).

Learned some email shortcuts. You probably already know shortcuts such as holding a letter key down until it’s capitalized. Another of my favorites is inserting the @ sign when I’m typing an email address (in an email field) by pressing the SPACE key. And when I’m typing a message, I love it that I can insert a period followed by a space by hitting SPACE twice (the next letter will be capitalized).

When I’m composing a message, I can:

  • Cut, Copy, Paste. Select text by holding down NUM and use the trackball to scroll across the text. To cut, ALT+DEL. To copy, ALT+click trackball. To paste, NUM+click trackball.

From list of messages, I can:

  • Create a new message, c. (If I’m on the home screen, I triple-click the email icon.)
  • Go back to the home screen, ESC key.
  • Move through a message (or a list of messages) one screen at a time, SPACE
    (CAP or NUM (this is Shift) +SPACE moves backward).
  • Go to the nearest unread message, u.
  • Delete several messages at once, hold down NUM and scroll over messages, DEL (to delete all messages at once, see below “Learned how to monitor email…”).
  • Review all past calls I’ve made (Call Log), ALT, O (not zero). Weird but only works from Messages list. If you’re on a network server, you should be able to see all sent messages from here.
  • Search through messages, s.

When I’m inside of a message and need to:

  • Reply, r.
  • Forward, f.
  • Reply to All, L (don’t do unless All need to know!).
  • Go to the next message based on receive date, n
    (if you’re inside the first message in Inbox,
    this takes you back to Inbox).
  • Go to previous message based on receive date, p.
  • Go to top of message (or the Inbox), t (or b for bottom).
  • File a message, I.
  • See a sender’s email address, highlight the name, q.
  • Go to the nearest unread message, u.
  • Select text by holding down the NUM (or Shift) key and
    scroll (this works with email, calendar, contacts, tasks).
  • Insert the current date, type l (an L) d, SPACE key.
  • Insert the current time, type l (an L) t, SPACE key.
  • Type accented letter, type the letter, scroll trackball left or right
  • Type numbers in a paragraph, hold down ALT and type.
    Or to turn on NUM LOCK: ALT, NUM, type. To turn off, NUM.
  • Add an apostrophe in a word such as didn’t, type didnt and AutoText corrects it.
  • Cut, Copy, Paste: select text by holding down NUM and using the trackball to scroll across the text. To cut, ALT+DEL. To copy, ALT+click trackball. To paste, NUM+click trackball.

Added special terms to the Custom Dictionary. There are several terms specific to my business and industry that showed up as errors in spell check. To add all these words to the Custom Dictionary at once, Options, Spell Check, scroll down and click Custom Dictionary, Menu button, New. To edit a word later, select it and click the trackball.

Used it to monitor email instead of trying to manage it. I don’t try to manage my life on a phone. I do my serious email stuff when I’m back at my laptop in Outlook. I just use the BlackBerry to monitor email in case something critical comes through while I’m out and about.

Once I review all messages and answer only the ones that need an immediate response (e.g., a journalist on a deadline), I delete all messages in the Inbox at once (type t to go to the top of the message list/select topmost date, click Menu button, Delete Prior. All messages prior to the date I selected will be deleted. Because I want all messages deleted, I select the topmost date).

I can delete everything because my email messages are not synched with Outlook and they’ll come to my Inbox when I’m back on my laptop (if you’re not on a server, email messages can’t be synched). You can also delete one message at a time by selecting it and DEL.

Made it easier to delete stuff. I turned off Confirm Delete, and I now keep messages forever until I choose to delete. To make these changes, click to open Messages, click the Menu button, scroll Options, General Options.

Loosened it with a quick reboot. Sometimes for some unknown reason, email stops coming into my BlackBerry. Rebooting it fixed the problem, ALT-CAP-Backspace (the DEL key is my Backspace). Sometimes you may have to remove the battery for a few seconds (no, you won’t lose your data).

Learned how to send a contact’s vCard via email. When I had my iPAQ, I could beam a contact to another iPAQ. To email a contact’s information to someone, find the contact in your address book list (don’t open it), click the Menu button, Send As Attachment, send email as you normally would (first send it to yourself so you’ll see what happens).

Add custom phone tune for a particular person. I assigned a distinctive ringer for someone. Find them in the address book (don’t open it), click the Menu key, scroll to find Add Custom Phone Tune.

Learned how to send an SMS (text message). You can send a text message of 160 or less characters with SMS (Short Messaging Service) to a contact’s cell phone. If you’re inside the address book, select a contact who has a cell phone number (don’t open it), click the Menu button, SMS Text, click the trackball to open, compose message, click Menu, Send. On the other hand, if you’re on the home screen and already know the cell phone number, dial the number, click the Menu key, select SMS Text, click the trackball.  I rarely use this because I prefer having a paper trail of what I do and would rather do email with Auto BCC).

Figured out how to get somewhere before I needed to. The GPS feature with AT&T Navigator works great. I was recently trying to find a business and wanted to make sure I was going the right way. I did a quick search in the Navigator and it talked me right to the door. And when during a trip to Chicago, I needed to find a FedX Kinko’s, I opened the Navigator and clicked to Search for one. Within seconds, I was on my way. To get started with GPS, click the icon on the home screen, sign up for the service, and learn how to use it before you need it.

You should explore more keyboard shortcuts in the Help menu on your unit. There are lots of goodies in there. And here are some how-to videos you might find helpful.

Video series that helps you get started with your BlackBerry

How to set up email accounts on the BlackBerry

How to add new contacts to the BlackBerry address book (I add my contacts when I’m in Outlook and sync to BlackBerry)

How to set up appointments and to-do lists with the BlackBerry

How to surf the Web on the BlackBerry

How to install an application onto the BlackBerry

More shortcuts for the 8820

How to Tweet from Your BlackBerry

So how about you? Have you discovered shortcuts or tips that make using your Blackberry easier? Leave a comment and let us know.

PEACE.

Related Posts

Tether Your BlackBerry to Your Laptop and Use as a Modem
Cure BlackBerry Addiction
Cure Email Addiction: 15 Things to Try

Justify Paragraphs for a Clean Finish but Avoid Wide Gaps in Text

Have you ever tried to block justify your paragraphs (make your right margin even) in a Word document and ended up with an amateurish look of too much space between words? Try this instead (Word 2003).

  1. Select the text you want to block justify.
  2. Click the Format menu, Paragraph.
  3. On the Indents and Spacing tab, click the drop-down arrow next to Alignment, and click Justified, OK.
  4. Now click the Format menu, Font.
  5. On the Character Spacing tab, tick the Kerning box, and set font size to match the size of the font in your paragraph (kerning is character spacing.)
  6. Click OK.

To fine-tune the spacing:

  1. Click the Tools menu, Options. Then click the Compatibility tab.
  2. In the resulting Options list, tick “do full justification like WordPerfect...”
  3. Click OK.

Important: If you ever have a very short sentence at the end of a paragraph that spreads out in spite of your adjustments, just press Tab at the end of the paragraph to close it up. Occasionally, you’ll have to reword to fill up space.

It’s also important to note that this tip does not work if you use the Courier font. This is a monospaced (or non-proportional) font which is a typewriter-like, fixed-width font, and each letter occupies the same amount of space. Other computer fonts are variable-width (or proportional) and the software adjusts the spacing automatically. (This is why since the advent of computers, only one space follows a period, not two.)

BTW, you can receive regular computer tips from me by joining my private email list (and get lots of free stuff too). And if you want to dig deeper and register for one of my workshops or Webinars, it’s all on my Website.

PEACE.

Related Post

Is Your eBook Ugly?

When You Send Press Releases Does Google or Yahoo Know?

Shameless Self-Promotion
In my seminar and ebook on shameless self-promotion, I share how I’ve received international media coverage by doing my own public relations. One of my suggestions is to send weekly online press releases because they will boost your search engine rankings and attract reporters and clients. (I am on the first page of Google for my expertise and this is just one of the things I’ve done to make this happen…without using Pay-Per-Click.)

Several fee-based services are available for distribution of your media releases, including: BusinessWire.com, PRWeb.com, PRNewswire.com, BlackPR.com, USAsianWire.com, and HispanicPRWire.com. There are also several free press release distribution services.

In addition to improving your search engine rankings, online press releases could get picked up by Google News and Yahoo News. This is important because 64% of journalists use these two sources for story ideas, 79 percent of journalists find story ideas from newswires in general, and 74 percent from Websites [Arketi 2008]. I started digging more into Google News and Yahoo News and what effect sending an online press release has on it, and which services produced the best results (showing up on the news sites).


In checking the Google News and Yahoo News archives, I discovered that some free press release technologies such as PRLog.com don’t even show up. I also found that although the fee-based service, PRWeb.com, costs less to use than PRNewswire.com per release, it shows up WAY more: 45,200 compared to 14,400. And BusinessWire.com leaves them all in the dust with 161,000 results.

I’m going to have to dig a little deeper to find out what makes one service get so many more results over another. I’m sure it has something to do with the popularity of the sites and how many links there are to the site, but I want to discover other related factors. I’ll update this post when I do.

The service that I use, FastPitchNetworking.com, doesn’t show up either, but it’s terrific for keeping me high in the regular Google search. And I can send as many releases as I want to for one very low monthly fee. I used PRLog.com for the first time last week and am waiting to see how my press release (Email Etiquette in the Workplace Can Reduce the Stress of Email Overload) will place in a standard Google search (that is, not in Google News). This is important because journalists also do regular searches, not just on the news sites.

The bottom line is that before you pay for a wire service, check before you buy. Here’s how.
  1. Go to http://news.google.com/archivesearch and search for all news releases from the service you’re considering.
  2. Type the following and replace prweb.com with whatever service you’re considering (see site:prweb.com in the search box. Google will return the press releases on this site only.)
  3. Then check the total of results.
Google News Archive Search
PEACE.
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Email Etiquette Can Reduce Email Overload

Email overload is that mess that’s packed and stacked in your Inbox…hundreds and thousands of messages that you scroll through every day. You can lighten the load if you stop using your Inbox for storage and also think through every message you handle.

Conquer Email Overload with Peggy DuncanMy solutions that work are outlined in my book, Conquer Email Overload with Better Habits, Etiquette, and Outlook 2003. Here is a recent testimonial I received from Suzette Eaddy, Director of Conferences for the National Minority Supplier Development Council, Inc., in New York.

I am forcing myself to put Conquer Email Overload down and go to bed. I am up to page 74. I have flagged and highlighted many items.  I can’t wait to finish it…I have made several changes to my laptop and can’t wait to get to work on Monday to make the same changes on my desktop...I knew that I wasn’t taking advantage of Outlook’s full potential but I didn’t realize how much of a difference a few, quick changes could make. This book is invaluable.

This post focuses on improving email etiquette. It’s important because it will reduce the flurry of messages going back and forth, your messages will be clearer and have more meaning, and your recipients will be able to answer more thoroughly.

  • Protect the privacy of the recipients with Bcc. If you’re sending a message to a group of people, send it to yourself and blind copy (Bcc) everyone else. You’ll protect the privacy of everyone’s email address and you’ll prevent a Reply to All fiasco (with Bcc, if a person clicks Reply to All, only the originator receives it).
  • Make your subject line sizzle. Your subject line should read like the headline in a newspaper. The recipient should know precisely what your message is about just by reading the subject line. It should always match the message.
  • Add a salutation. Always greet the person you’re writing with Hi Mary, Dear John, Hello John, etc. Otherwise, your email will come across as an order, especially if you’re making a request.
  • Remind the recipients of who you are. If you’ve met someone once or it’s been awhile since you’ve reached out to them, remind them of previous encounters.Workshops with Peggy Duncan
  • Treat email as a business letter. Email should receive the same treatment as a letter on your company’s stationery. If you wouldn’t put smiley faces, ivy growing down the side, shorthand as in an instant message, etc., in a letter, then don’t do it in email. Proper grammar, capitalizations, and punctuation should be standard.
  • Be brief but be clear. Spend time crafting a well thought-out email and get to the point quickly. Use bullets if you’re making several points so the message can be quickly scanned. Put any deadlines in a bold font near the top and bottom of your message.
  • Thank people in advance. You can reduce email overload if you simply thank people in advance. Then you won’t feel compelled to send a useless one-word thank you email later.
  • Avoid receiving numerous useless replies. When you send a message to a group, add at the top and bottom of the message whether you need a reply (e.g., NRN for no reply necessary).
  • Keep the body of the previous email with your answer. Set your email software to include the previous message when you reply. Don’t make the originator have to go back to figure out what they asked you for.
  • Answer within 48 hours. An email message is not a 9-1-1 call, but it should be answered within a reasonable time. Your company should set this standard.
  • Think before you send. Read the message before you reply, giving the sender everything they’ve requested. If you’re in a meeting with your PDA under the table, you’re not going to send a good answer. Wait until you’re back at your desk and can think more clearly. And don’t answer any messages when you’re upset.

Start practicing better habits and etiquette today and keep me posted on your progress.

PEACE.

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27 Email Pet Peeves that Tick People Off as Much as SPAM
US State Department’s Reply to All Nightmare
Using Autoresponders is Not the Way to Manage Email
If It’s Not a Hyperlink, Don’t Underline It

Put Business Cards to Work or Dump ‘Em

Ask Peggy Duncan for time management helpHi, Peggy! I have lots of business cards from others. What is the most productive way to store them. I originally thought I’d use a desk top Rolodex; then I thought I should group them according to services, photocopy the page and then file the pages. What do you suggest?

amarkNone of the above. I batch scan all my cards into categories using the CardScan. For example, when I speak at an event, I’ll create a category for it and scan all cards into that category. Later if I want to send an email message (or mail merge email or letter) just to those people, I can.

I trash all cards after scanning because CardScan creates an image of each one. All of my files are backed up online at MozyPro.com so no worry there.

If you don’t want to invest in a CardScan, decide how cards can become electronic (Excel spreadsheet, Outlook, etc…either way, add categories so you can filter later). If you never intend to contact the people, dump them because they’re junk. Only keep the few you actually need.

I also have a card file and keep cards for vendors such as gardener, barber, etc. I don’t file them by the person’s name but rather by what they do. So the barber’s card would go under B because that’s the first thing I’d think of when I need the number.

Hope this helps.

If you have questions about improving your personal productivity, Ask Peggy by leaving a comment on a related blog post or send to email address on the Contact page above.

PEACE.

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Which Files Should You Back Up?
Does Your Business Card Say You Mean Business?
Business Cards Piling Up? Dump ‘Em
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Sell Digital Products Online While You Sleep – eBooks

ISell your digital products while you sleepn addition to my traditional books, I also sell two ebooks on my Website. Digital products are a breeze to sell, especially when you store them on a site like PayLoadz. My customers purchase the book on my Website via PayPal with any major credit card. Before they can blink, an email shows up with a link to download the file. They have immediate access to my pearls of wisdom and I don’t have to lift a finger.

I created my ebooks in Microsoft Word, saved them as PDFs, set the Security so buyers cannot edit, and uploaded them to the PayLoadz servers. The money is deposited into my PayPal account and PayLoadz gets their cut without me doing a thing. And there’s no monthly fee. If I don’t sell anything, I don’t pay anything. How much you pay PayLoadz is determined by which plan you choose…read that part carefully.

Check Payloadz out and start making money while you sleep. And here is a link to my two ebooks: Make Work Easy: Get Organized at Work and Shameless Self-Promotion: Do-It-Yourself PR. Get Found Online.

PEACE.

Spend Your Time Doing Things That Matter

In a recent time management seminar I conducted, one of the attendees said she was so happy to have a BlackBerry. She said now she can sit in meetings and get her email done. I said, “Excuse me, did I hear you right? You use meetings to do email?”

I’d heard it right.

So I asked, “Why go to the meeting if you’re not engaged and respecting everyone’s time and the facilitator’s message by paying attention?” She said, “Oh, I have no interest in the meeting and don’t need to know whatever is being discussed.”

By now, I’m absolutely floored and asked, “Then why go to the meeting? You’re in this training because you want to free up more time, so please explain to me why you would bother going to a meeting, or doing anything for that matter, if it adds no value.”

Therein lies a major point. Spend your time and your money on things that add value to your life and your business. And to her response of “I’ve always gone and they expect me to,” reexamine everything you do and ask why. Then decide whether it deserves your precious time. Then do something about it.

P.S. Use the calculator in the right sidebar to determine how much free time you have after doing all the things that MUST be done.

PEACE.

Related Posts
Cure BlackBerry Addiction
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How to Promote Your Events Using the Internet

I’m helping a client develop ways he can market an upcoming conference using the Web. Here are some ideas I’ve come up with so far.

Website/Blog
Create a detailed Website with seminar descriptions, speaker photos, bios. Give visitors and people who want to help you promote your event something to link to. Consider creating a separate Website for the event.

Create a group blog and get all speakers to contribute articles to it. Also create an RSS feed using a site such as FeedBlitz.com.

Create banner buttons (called blog bling) in different sizes that every registrant, exhibitor, speaker, and volunteer can post on their Website or blog. If you create an affiliate program where members will get paid when people click their link, that’s even better.

Event TV
Create a TV channel on YouTube.com and have speakers contribute any appropriate videos. Also add video from previous events. In addition to having a TV channel on YouTube, my blog has one that I created at Viddler.com (see the SUITE TV tab above).

Press Releases
Create an online press release to announce the event. Also create separate releases to announce each speaker and sponsor. I pay a flat monthly fee ($14.00) and use FastPitchNetworking.com to create multiple releases that include videos. A free service is PRlog.com. Every time something new happens, send a release.

Also write a press release template so all speakers, exhibitors, and sponsors can send out on their own.

Webinars
Conduct seminars via the Web with some of your speakers to give just a taste of what attendees can expert. Record everything and publish that too.

Teleseminars
Set up a free call on demand for up to 150 people and three hours at www.freeconference.com/reservationless.aspx

Podcasts
Create a radio show for free but please use a professional radio interviewer (free service is www.talkshoe.com or www.blogtalkradio.com).

Social Media

Twitter. Create a conference Twitter account to keep everyone updated.

Also for Twitter, create a hashtag and encourage everyone to always add it to any tweets when they mention the event. For more information on hashtags, visit http://twitter.pbwiki.com/Hashtags.

To find the tweets that mention your hashtag, go to search.twitter.com and type your tag in the search box. Put the resulting URL on your Website and blog. Also create an RSS feed using a site such as FeedBlitz.com.

Be sure to explain hashtags on your site and at the event. Encourage people to tweet before, during, and after the event.

Communities-Existing. Post your events, start discussions, and relay news on LinkedIn.

Communities-Create. Use various free services to create communities so attendees, speakers, exhibitors, and sponsors can create profiles, post articles/blog posts, and interact with each other (e.g., www.crowdvine.com, Facebook profile group (up to 5,000 people can join), Facebook page, Collectivex). You can also create your own group on LinkedIn.

Other

Advertising – Comcast Cable. Create Comcast cable commercial and air in major markets. (Kim McClure, a former TV producer, can create your commercial if you need one (very economical). Contact her at 770/559- 2361.)

Email Campaign. Create email campaigns with tips from speakers and ads from sponsors. I use iContact for my email campaigns. And I set it up so that every blog post I write can go out via RSS. You can also create autoresponders set up to go out to your subscribers at pre-defined intervals.

I’ll update this list as I develop more ideas. Let me know if you have any other suggestions by leaving a comment below.

P.S. Check out my ebook, Shameless Self-Promotion: Do-It-Yourself PR. Get Found Online. You’ll learn all about how I receive national publicity all the time because I  show up on the first page of Google and other search engines. When journalists and potential clients are searching for my expertise (personal productivity expert, time management expert, email expert), I’m there on the first page and never paid one red cent with pay per click.

I also have a seminar based on this topic, and I travel internationally.

The 35-page ebook is available for immediate download on my Website for only $77.00 (http://www.PeggyDuncan.com/learnmore.htm). You’ll also have access to my national TV producer list.

Your purchase includes:

  • FREE updates emailed directly to you.
  • 24/7/365 online access to my national media database (television producers for Oprah, The View, and more).
  • Teleseminars (I had a teleseminar for purchasers of my ebook that went over so well I’m creating a podcast titled SuiteTalk. Stay tuned.)

PEACE.

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Social Networking Can Lead to Social Notworking

It’s easy to get caught up in the latest craze of social media and networking. But when it takes over and you start to neglect handling business, it’s a problem.

One of my clients didn’t understand why it was so hard for her to finish projects on time. She worked crazy hours but was always trying to catch up. I suggested that she maintain a time log for at least a week to track how she was spending her time.

Guess what? She quickly realized she was spending more time Twittering, Flickring, Facebooking, and Myspacing than she was working. She’d landed into the thick of all the popular social networking tools, but she became so addicted it led to social NOTworking.

If this sounds familiar and you think the same thing has happened to you, keep the time log for a few days. Make a visual of how you’re spending your time and let me know what you discover.

The social media tools can be good for business if you do it right. I hope you’ll start to balance all this.

PEACE.

UPDATE: Here is a study conducted by Nucleus Research on the topic of social notworking.

Peggy Duncan, personal productivity expert

Peggy Duncan, personal productivity expert

My Blog Takes Top Honors: Top Business Blog

I’m excited to announce that Bill Jula, CEO & Co-Founder of Fast Pitch!, informed me that SuiteMinute has been awarded “Top Business Blog” as part of a recent competition. A thousand businesses across nine categories participated.

The honor was based on a combination of open voting and an expert panel of judges.

Fast Pitch! is an active social network for business professionals to connect with friends, colleagues and customers and share content about their business.As one of the fastest growing social networks for business professionals, Fast Pitch! has connected millions of businesses across the world and provided a simple and intuitive way for professionals to enhance their online presence.

PEACE.

Save Time by Using the US Postal Service

I haven’t seen a commercial from the US Postal Service in awhile, and I’m finding that a lot of business people have forgotten how they can help you be more productive.

Order free packaging from their Web site. I keep a supply of Priority Flat Rate envelopes and Flat Rate boxes with postage already applied. And their regular envelopes with the postage already on them come in handy too.

Keep various denominations of stamps on hand. I always have Priority Mail and other denominations of stamps with me when I travel. I keep them in a pouch with each type separated. When I’m in my office, I use my LabelWriter(TM) Twin Turbo by DYMO to print my own stamps in any denomination. I also use it to print shipping labels. It’s much simpler for me to do this than go to the USPS Web site, complete all the information, pay for the postage, print the label, then affix. When I need to send email shipment notifications to my customers so they can track a shipment, I use the USPS printed stamps.

You can buy stamps at local businesses such as Office Depot, Staples, Wal-Mart, and more. Just look for the “USPS Buy Stamps Here” logo.

Have your letter carrier pick up your mail. If you’re shipping at least one overnight guaranteed, priority 2-3 day, international, or a return, the letter carrier will pick up your shipment for free. I use Federal Express and UPS drop-off, but I don’t ship enough to justify paying extra for pickup. With the US Postal Service, I schedule the pickup on their Web site, (https://carrierpickup.usps.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/CarrierPickup.woa) and leave the package on my front porch. That’s it.

UPDATE 2/28/2010. I scheduled a USPS pickup online as usual and left a package on my porch for the letter carrier. After two days and no pickup, I went to the post office and asked why. “You have to put the package inside your mailbox because we no longer pick up on the porch,” the man said. So I asked “Then why is the porch option still on your Website?” He just stared. (Nor is there any type of announcement on the Website. Perhaps this is just an Atlanta thing.)

Mail it when you can’t fax or email. I have fax capability on my combo printer/fax/scanner/copier, but sometimes faxing is not practical (too many pages). So when I can’t email it or fax it and it doesn’t make sense to use Fedex or UPS, I mail it. It’s funny how people have forgotten about that option. (I  receive faxes in my email using a free service from efax (http://home.efax.com/s/r/efaxprint).

Wish List
There is one thing I wish the US Postal Service would offer: I’d like to be able to get self-adhesive, coded labels that track and bill my account. Then all I’d have to do is affix my shipping label to my package, and their computers would track the cost of the postage and bill me later. I have this option with Federal Express and love it.

The next time you’re standing in line at the post office, ask yourself why. Perhaps a few of my ideas will help you increase your productivity and get the most out of your day.

Let me know what you think.

PEACE.

Peggy Duncan Personal Productivity Expert

Does Your Business Card Say You Mean Business?

I’m about to start a new business and need to get business cards. Would it be appropriate to use the punch-out or pre-designed paper stock I see in the stores?

Congratulations on starting your business! Be sure to visit your local SCORE office to increase your chances of success.

Your stationery, business card, newsletter, proposal, etc., are all part of your sales team. They will often get through the door in an effort to sell your products or services long before you do. If the suit they’re wearing appears to be of inferior quality, so will your business.

The quality of this paper is not sufficient to project the image you’ll want. The more inferior your image, the harder you’ll have to work to prove your value to a potential client.

The paper you dress your business card in says more about your business than you may realize. Quality paper feels good and rich to the touch, much like the fabric in a fine-tailored suit. It speaks to you. Do you want your paper selection to whisper words like: quality, stable, and professional? Or do you want it to shout: cheap, fly-by-night, or smalltime? If it’s the latter, your package will rarely get to the hands of the decision-maker: it won’t get past the gatekeeper.

Design is also crucial to creating an image that shouts success. You should avoid using ClipArt and pre-designed cardstock for the same reasons as choosing good paper. If you can’t afford a professional designer, it’s best to keep your card very simple, using lettering that matches the type of business you’re in (e.g., avoid using a typeface that’s more appropriate for a wedding invitation unless you’re in that or a similar business.)

Making the additional investment of using quality paper and hiring a good designer will put you one step closer to the decision-maker and is a giant step toward building your brand. The difference in the cost becomes negligible when compared to the cost of losing the deal.

P.S. Here is a blog post on creating unforgettable business cards.

PEACE.
Peggy Duncan, Personal Productivity Expert

State Department’s “Reply to All” Email Nightmare Needs Better Solutions

Well, well, well, I see a “Reply to All” nightmare hit the State Department and was caused by an email message being sent to thousands of email addresses that were exposed on the To line. The mess that almost crushed the email system happened when the employees clicked Reply to All to answer the email instead of clicking Reply to respond only to the sender. This happens all the time.

Before I wrote my book, Conquer Email Overload with Better Habits, Etiquette, and Outlook 2003, I did an informal survey in my classes asking about email pet peeves. By far, people using Reply to All was the number one habit that ticked attendees off (enjoy my list of 27 Email Pet Peeves that Tick People Off as Much as SPAM on my Website).

To prevent this from happening again (according to the Associated Press), the State Department sent a notice to employees warning them of unspecified disciplinary actions if they  did it again.

This is not a solution folks. People are human and no matter how many times you tell them this, they could slip.

Here are my solutions that will work better. I use Outlook 2003 and hope you’ll be able to do this if you use something different.

Remove the “Reply to All” toolbar button. Open a message you’ve received and hold down the Alt key while you click and drag the Reply to All button down off the toolbar.

Remove the “Reply to All” command from the menu. Click the Tools menu, Customize. With the Customize dialog box open, click the Actions menu (not inside the Customize box, but on the toolbar as you normally would) and drag the Reply to All command off the menu.

Disable the “Reply to All” command. In Outlook, you can disable this command for internal communications only. Here is an article that shows you how to create a macro that will do this (be sure to read through all of the questions and comments).

Alter the “Reply to All” command. Have a programmer alter the Reply to All macro and add a box that pops up with “Are You Sure.” This will make you think twice before you let the message go.

You can add any items back later if you decide to.

If you don’t want to remove commands, consider doing one or more of the following.

Use blind copy (Bcc). You can protect the privacy of everyone’s email address if you simply send the email to yourself and Bcc everyone else. That way if anyone clicks Reply to All, the response will only go to the originator.

If you don’t see the Bcc option when you create a new message, click the View menu, Bcc (if you use Outlook as your email editor). If you use Outlook but use Word as your editor, click Options, Bcc. (Use Bcc whether you remove your command buttons or not so everyone’s privacy is respected.)

Send a message to Undisclosed Recipients. I wrote a previous post on how to send an email addressed to Undisclosed Recipients (which works the same as Bcc).

Complete the To line last. When I’m composing an email message, I write it, attach everything, complete the subject line, then address it. I don’t want to make the mistake of clicking Send before I’m ready.

Create a 2-minute rule. Every message I send stays in my Outbox for two minutes before it goes. This gives me a small window to change it if I need to. (This was created using an Outlook Send rule.)

It’s important to use care when you’re crafting your messages. So slow down for a minute and think it through.

PEACE.

Related Posts
How to Send an Email Addressed to Undisclosed Recipients
Clearing Unwanted Email Addresses that Pop Up

Peggy Duncan, Personal Productivity Expert