“I first heard about Sanitation Creations at a networking event in a local co-working space and entrepreneurial community I helped start, HUB Raleigh,” Jesse writes.  “Sanitation Creation’s story impressed me: It helped remind me that good ideas are everywhere, and that the best ideas solve simple problems.” Read more at http://www.forbes.com/sites/jesselipson/2013/06/13/check-the-bathroom-for-your-next-startup-idea/

Follow Jesse’s weekly Forbes.com column at http://www.forbes.com/sites/jesselipson/

The post Check the Bathroom for Your Next Startup Idea appeared first on ShareFile Blog.

Step 1: Introduce yourself in advance.  You can save a lot of time and reach more qualified leads by contacting attendees before the show.  One question you should always ask management is if a pre-show attendee list will be sent out.  Pre-show lists are often a benefit included in the cost of your exhibit space or can sometimes be made available with an extra fee. If you are able to receive the pre-show list, you should always reach out to attendees to introduce yourself and your product or solution and to ask them if they’d like schedule a time to meet with you at the show. If a list isn’t available, many shows will allow you to purchase an advertisement or email blast with similar messaging.  No matter what route you choose, it’s very important to be included on the attendee’s agenda and to know who your leads are before you actually meet them.

Step 2: Record your leads and remember the faces you meet.  The best (and usually most difficult) way to reach your leads is meeting attendees face-to-face during the trade show. You can often make a more lasting impression on an attendee once you are able to relate with them in person and show them physically how your product fits their needs.  It’s very important to record your leads after meeting with them.  The traditional way to do this would be to swap business cards.  Fortunately, there are easier ways to record leads in this day and age through lead scanning devices, which scan an attendee badge or business card, loading the information into an easy, accessible database.   You can also manage leads by offering a raffle giveaway – attendees simply drop their information into a bowl and have the chance to win a prize – providing them an incentive to give you their information.  There’s really no wrong way to manage your leads at the show, but the most important thing to remember is to take good notes so you will remember all of the faces you meet.

Step 3: Follow up, and follow up soon.  A critical step in managing leads that many exhibitors miss is follow up after the show.  It can be easy to let those business cards sit in the suitcase or database while catching up on all the work you missed while you were out, but the sooner you follow up, the better! If you wait too long, your new contacts may forget you or find another solution to fit their needs.   Just as with the pre-show list, you should find out if a post-show list is available to reach attendees.  You can match the list with the leads you already have to thank the attendees you met and introduce yourself to those you may have missed out on meeting.  If you are loading your leads into a CRM database, be sure to credit them from the trade show and keep a close eye on their progress.  This will help you to determine whether it will be worthwhile to exhibit again next year.

Good lead management starts with proper preparation.  There is an overwhelming amount of information available to help you manage your trade show leads, but the easiest solution is to create a feasible action plan to reach attendees before, during and after the show.

Have more tips on tradeshow lead management? Share it with us in the comments below.

The post How to Reach and Manage Your Trade Show Leads appeared first on ShareFile Blog.

We’re hosting FREE events for small business owners across the US in February and March. Find your nearest city and register via the links below.

Denver, CO: February 11, 2013

Tucson, AZ: February 13, 2013

Las Vegas, NV: February 19, 2013

Oakland, CA: February 21, 2013

Philadelphia, PA: March 4, 2013

Dallas, TX: March 6, 2013

Located in or near one of these cities? Here’s why you should consider attending:

-Free event with free stuff (and who doesn’t like free stuff?)

-Get words of encouragement and tips from successful entrepreneurs

-Learn the best way to evaluate your business model

-Set achievable financial goals

-Build out an action plan to hit your goals

-Opportunity to network with local and national small business owners

Plan to attend? Leave us a comment below and we’ll be sure to connect you with other Citrix users. 

The post Thank You Small Business- A Tour to Show Our Support of Small Businesses Everywhere appeared first on ShareFile Blog.

As changes occur, making sure your teams work together is of utmost importance. Disagreements aside, as long as everyone focuses on the same end goal—making a great product, giving customers a great user experience and increasing conversions—you will succeed.

Everyone’s website is different, customers are different, and products or services are different. Here are a few things to think about as you grow:

Do you really know who your customers are?
Use analytics, your product marketing team and customer surveys to create personas. Using this information in your marketing collateral will allow you to match features and benefits to potential customer’s specific pain points.

Site testing
The key is to set up a testing schedule and continually test. Do not be discouraged if you end up with tests that do not increase conversions. Notice I did not use the term “failures.” If a test does not do well, it is not a failure. You now know what not to do; take note, and move on to the next test. A simple test you can start with is changing button colors or the text in the button. We have seen increases in conversion rates completing these tests and they do not take up much time or resources.

Paid search ad and landing page testing
Again, test test test! Google makes it very easy to test ads within the Adwords interface. Don’t just test click thru rates, test conversions and revenue as well. Just because an ad or landing page has a higher click thru rate, does not mean it will bring in higher conversions and revenue.

Improve content on your site
Is the content on your site informative? Always write informative content for your specific visitors, not for the search engine bots. This will not only help with conversions, but you will be seen as a resource and most likely see increases in your website rankings as well from others linking to your informative content.

Is your website layout easy to read and easy navigate?
Can visitors easily find the information they need? Does the site look current and professional? Most importantly, do visitors know what to do once they are on your site? Try UserTesting.com (we are not affiliated with them in any way). For $39, you can have someone visit your site and answer questions you may have. Start with 3 and see what happens. Everything is recorded and sent to you. Have someone go to your site, look at your home page for 5 seconds and then have them answer “what do we do and what action do we want you to take?” You will be very surprised at the answers.

Take action
One final note: ideas to improve your site are meaningless without action. Start slow, set a schedule, and the main thing, start now!

The secret of getting ahead is getting started. - Mark Twain

The post Marketing strategy. Who said, “don’t sweat the small stuff?” appeared first on ShareFile Blog.

5.  Twitter

The ever-expanding world of 140 characters or less  has caught fire over the last several years. Twitter’s mobile application, which perfectly caters to the social media site’s attitude, has seen its popularity rise along with the original website.

This application allows users to not only quickly spit out tweets with their thumbs, but also track their timeline at a moment’s notice to keep up with their colleagues, sports teams or rock bands. This app has had a major hand in connecting individuals with each other and businesses with consumers

4.  Evernote

Evernote is one of the leading mobile applications in notetaking, archiving and record keeping. This app allows its users to pen down notes on any topic or any idea and seamlessly sync their musings to their computer tablet, or any other device with the application installed.

Evernote allows users to keep themselves organized and their tasks prioritized which has helped to benefit them both professionally and in everyday personal life.

3.  ShareFile Mobile

ShareFile’s very own mobile tools, whether for Android, iOS or other platforms, have given  users the ability to take their entire data repository in their pocket wherever they go. ShareFile’s mobile tools provide a quick, intuitive way of accessing and managing your documents whenever you need them.

As well as reviewing your data, you can also manage user access to your files  and send data out whenever you need to. It’s great in a pinch when you need to get that presentation to your client, but are nowhere near your computer.

2.  Podio

Citrix’s recent acquisition, Podio, brings group collaboration to any mobile platform for quick use. The Podio application allows work groups to establish a place to exchange thoughts and notes, update each other on a project’s progress, or brainstorm for their next project.

With nearly all the features of the web application integrated into the app, the mobile tool is all you need to get the full effect of all of Podio’s benefits!

1.  GoToMeeting

With the introduction of GoToMeeting’s mobile application, Citrix’s mobile vision truly hits full force. This app gives you the ability to conduct and attend meetings, regardless of whether you are in front of your computer.

With the ability to view the full presentation of the meeting as well as attend the call, GoToMeeting allows users to fully participate in a conversation with their peers from wherever they may be, without missing a beat. The added ability to quickly schedule and create meetings further allows users to collaborate on the go.

Do you use any of these apps for work? Share your favorites with us.

The post 5 Favorite Apps Used by Clients appeared first on ShareFile Blog.

The great news is that it doesn’t have to be. There are a plethora of organizational experts and systems out there that can show you how to get and stay organized and implement an organizational system all your own. In regard to email, there are a few key tips to follow that can help you keep your workflow under control and your inbox as close to zero as possible.

1)   Schedule. Set aside time every single day to review your inbox. When and how much time you spend is up to you. I’ve seen folks process email for 30 minutes in the morning, 30 minutes right after lunch and 30 minutes at the end of the day. While others may choose to do 45 minutes to 1 hour in the morning and also in the evening. The key here is to respond to any email that will take you less than 2 minutes to complete. If it is going to take you more than 2 minutes, file it away and respond to it during your next email review session. Not only will you feel more in control of the content flying at you, but you will also prevent email from dictating your workflow.

2)   Delete. Do not be afraid to delete emails that you no longer need. I’ve seen inboxes with upwards of 10,000 emails that could be deleted. If you are really concerned that you may need an email in the future, move it to a reference folder. But I strongly encourage you to delete as many as you can muster the courage to.

3)   Commit. In the beginning, it can seem overwhelming to get a handle on the system. They key is to schedule the email review session on your calendar, and then stick to your calendar. Obviously, fires will need to be put out and last-minute things will come up. When that happens, reschedule your email review just like you would any other meeting. Over time, reviewing email will become a habit and you may not even need to schedule the time for yourself anymore…you will just automatically do it.

(Okay, I know I said 3 tips, but this next one is important…)

4)   Accept. Most of us are working on numerous projects at any given time. If we are setting goals and prioritizing effectively, it is impossible that we will get everything done every single day. If you implement a system, commit to that system and can say, honestly, that you are working as hard and as effectively as you can toward your goals, not getting it all done is ok. If you can get it all done, you don’t have enough to do. Work your hardest. Give yourself a break. And if your inbox doesn’t get down to zero, it is ok.

For more info on some of my favorite organizational systems check out Getting Things Done, Inbox Zero, The Now Habit and Organizing from the Inside Out.

The post Top 3 Tips for Getting Your Inbox to Zero (or close, anyway…) appeared first on ShareFile Blog.

1) Send a File

When you need to send a large file fast, log into ShareFile online and use the Send a File link in the top navigation bar. This link will open a Send form, which works just like sending a regular email. Set up your email, upload a file, and ShareFile will send the recipient a link to download the file online.

2) Convert attachments to ShareFile links

When you need to send a file in Outlook that’s too large or too sensitive to attach normally, use the ShareFile plug-in to easily change the attachments to a secure ShareFile link. The Convert to ShareFile button makes it easy to change normal email attachments to secure ShareFile links.

3) Send from your preferred mobile app

ShareFile mobile apps are available for iPad, iPhone, Android phone and tablet, Windows 8 and Windows Phone, and BlackBerry. With so many apps to choose from, you can use ShareFile’s secure sending from any device.

4) Right-click to send

With the ShareFile Plug-in for Microsoft Outlook, you have the option to right-click and send any file via a secure ShareFile link. Just locate the file that you want to send on your desktop or in Windows Explorer, right-click the file and hover over Send to in the menu that will open. Click Mail Recipient with ShareFile, and a new message will open immediately with a link to the file you selected.

5) Send a ShareFile link in your own email software

When you use the Send a File link or the Send option in a folder, you can change the Email Sending Options setting to Give me link I can copy and send using my own email software. This option collapses the Send form, so you can just use the check boxes on the screen to determine how the link will work. Instead of sending an email, ShareFile will simply provide a link to your file that you can copy into a message in your normal email program.

6) Send from the Widget

The ShareFile Desktop Widget features built-in send capabilities. Open the Widget and use the Send option at the top of the screen, or right-click a file and click Send File. A Send form will open so that you can compose a message and send a link to your file, without even opening your email program.

7) Set Outlook preferences to always send large files via ShareFile

With the ShareFile Plug-in for Outlook, you can enable ShareFile to replace any attachments over a given size limit with ShareFile links, or choose to send all of your attachments through ShareFile. Click the Plug-in Options button in your Outlook Inbox toolbar and then click the Attachment Policy option to view and change your automatic attachment settings.

Happy sending!

The post 7 Ways to Send Large Files with ShareFile appeared first on ShareFile Blog.

1)      Wake up early

It’s an unfortunate truth for many of us, but an early wakeup can get your day off to a great start and help you save time throughout the morning. Waking up early allows a few minutes to get organized and take care of tasks that otherwise wait for the end of the day, even things like washing and putting away breakfast dishes. Moreover, getting an early start can save time on one of the primary drains on daily productivity. If you commute to work, leaving your house a little early can help you beat the last-minute traffic rush. Extra time at work in the morning can pay off with a more productive day, especially when you get started before any distractions develop.

2)      Start taking notes

Adding a new task may seem like a strange way to make yourself more productive, but go ahead and put this one on your to-do-list: write things down. Keep a calendar of appointments and lists of tasks and projects that need attention. Keeping a planner with this information helps many people visualize what they can realistically get done with the time available for them, and it is much easier to manage long term projects with a running list of individual actions that need to be completed. Taking notes on your ideas, appointments and plans requires a few minutes, but it saves time overall by providing direction and clarity.

3)      Do one thing at a time

We all wish we could do two things at once, but when you need to get more done in less time, multitasking actually slows you down. Instead of seeing individual tasks to completion, multitasking divides your ability to focus on any one task, so you’re more likely to leave things unfinished or waste time mentally shifting between activities. If you must work on two things, go ahead and take a few minutes to work on one, and then take care of the other. You won’t be able to magically get two things done at one time this way, but you will really accomplish more in the same amount of time.

What habits help you do more in less time? Share them with us below.

The post 3 Ways to Increase Productivity – For Free! appeared first on ShareFile Blog.

Everyone in your company is part of the service team: You may have a specific customer service team, but every employee can work to improve the customer experience. Inghilleri and Solomon call this approach ‘Function Versus Purpose.’ Employees can provide the best service to a customer when they know that is their primary responsibility, above and beyond any routine tasks. By emphasizing that the company’s foremost goal is to help the customer, leadership can foster a service environment where everyone is ready and able to drop what they are doing to assist a customer.

It’s never your policy to inconvenience a customer: Has a service rep ever told you that they cannot fulfill a request due to company policy? Within your own company, you may not be able to give every customer what they ask, but turning a client away with a reference to company policy shows a breakdown in the problem-solving capability of the rep.

There are steps that you can take to ensure that your customer support team is empowered to provide a more satisfying experience.

-Enable client-facing employees to resolve issues on the spot: If you work in an industry where refund requests are frequent, consider adopting a more liberal refund policy. Offering refunds for problematic goods and services restores trust with clients, encouraging them to try your services again in the future or even pass along a good word to potential new clients. This tactic applies to other concessions, such as allowing customer service to expedite orders. Giving customer support reps the power to resolve issues immediately can increase the cost of support, but it can also lead to more positive, helpful service interactions and loyal customers.

-Brainstorm appropriate responses to requests you cannot reasonably fulfill: There will be times when fulfilling a client’s request isn’t the best option for the company or for the client. Talk to your customer support employees about what they should and should not say in these cases. Instead of giving an excuse, a rep may be able to offer an alternative resolution that the client may not have considered. Working with clients to come up with a suitable response to any issues they report can take some trial and error, but it can also build stronger client relationships.

Look out for more lessons from Exceptional Service, Exception Profit next week. To experience world class customer service, sign up for a free ShareFile trial or call us at 1-800-441-3453.

The post Key Lessons from Exceptional Service, Exceptional Profit – Part 1 appeared first on ShareFile Blog.