Follow the lead of a well-organized home office. Using the checklist
below, incorporate many of the organizing tips found on the list.
You will
have both a professional and efficient home office.
ORGANIZE YOUR
BOOKKEEPING
Prepare and send invoices to clients
Enter monthly
transactions into bookkeeping software
Reconcile bank, credit card, and
other account statements
Send reminders for paying bills on their due
dates
Write and prepare checks to be signed to pay bills ORGANIZE YOUR
DESKTOP PUBLISHING
Design and print brochures and business cards
Create flyers, price lists, and other marketing documents
Lay out,
printing, and mailing regular client newsletters
Prepare
professional-looking certificates for seminar participants
Print labels
using company logos or clip art ORGANIZE YOUR DATABASE MANAGEMENT
Enter
business card data into a database
Send an introductory letter to new
prospect leads
Send scheduled marketing pieces to clients and prospects
Track marketing efforts and summarize the results in a report
Send
regular follow-ups, reminders, and communications to clients
Call people
for missing contact information
Send fax and email broadcasts ORGANIZE
YOUR TELEPHONE AND FAX SERVICES
Receive telephone calls while a client
is out of town
Forward important messages that require immediate
attention
Retrieve voice messages and responding to routine requests
Receive and handle faxes while a client is out of town ORGANIZE YOUR
TRANSCRIPTION SERVICES
Type letters and memos from tape or handwritten
notes
Type legal transcripts from cassette tape
Type medical reports
from tape or handwritten notes ORGANIZE YOUR WORD PROCESSING
Type
handwritten notes from a meeting or seminar
Type letters, printing on
stationery, addressing, and mailing
Proofread, edit, and check spelling
/ grammar
Lay out larger documents ORGANIZE YOUR MARKETING SERVICES
Send out the appropriate sales brochures for inquiries
Create and mail a
customer feedback questionnaire
Track the responses to this
questionnaire
Summarize the responses and suggestions in a report
ORGANIZE YOUR INTERNET SERVICES
Maintain a newsletter subscription
database
Post announcements and newsletter issues to the list
Perform
an internet search for an item or piece of information
Edit or upload
new information to a website ORGANIZE YOUR MAIL AND EMAIL SERVICES
Retrieve email and mail, sort, and get rid of junk
Respond to routine
email requests
Forward items of importance to the client for attention
Track and forward urgent issues while client is out of town
Prepare
packages and mail out products as orders arrive ORGANIZE YOUR RESEARCH
Research potential locations for an upcoming seminar
Find which
locations have the appropriate dates available
Find which can
accommodate the size and type of event
Research the services available
(decorating, food, entertainment)
Obtain written quotes and
specifications from each location
Monitor periodicals and clip articles
of interest
Visit the library to copy specific articles ORGANIZE YOUR
PERSONNEL SERVICES
Send reminders for annual performance reviews
Prepare or update resumes and introduction letters
Review resumes and
summarize each in a short biography
Sort resumes for a job according to
pre-arranged criteria ORGANIZE YOUR PRESENTATIONS
Prepare PowerPoint
slides from sketches of diagrams and charts
Send questionnaires to
seminar participants before the talk
Track completed questionnaires and
call non-responders
Summarize the questionnaire results in a report
ORGANIZE YOUR SECRETARIAL SERVICES
Confirm upcoming appointments
Schedule or reschedule appointments
Get directions for a meeting or
appointment
Store back-up computer tapes for safekeeping
Track
birthdays, anniversaries, and other important dates
Send out the
appropriate cards or gifts for special events
Manage lists of necessary
office supplies and ordering refills
Coordinate air travel, car rental,
and hotel reservations
Summary:
Taking control and being organized requires commitment - your
commitment - to try something new and to break old bad habits. By being in
control of your work day, you'll be more confident about yourself and your
career.
Nishanth Reddy is an author and publisher of popular self help blog.
Visit his website for more information on how to get organized, goal
setting, motivation, self help, self-improvement and personal growth. http://www.selfhelpzone.com/