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Tip #7: Getting Organized After the Chaos
Posted By RCI, Thursday, February 16, 2012
Updated: Monday, May 4, 2020
Now that two of the biggest candy-buying holidays are behind you, it’s time to get organized for the year ahead. We’ve given you tips on how to Declutter Your Desk, so now we have a tip that will benefit you anywhere in your facility. From the office to the retail store to the manufacturing facility, this tool will save you time and money.
 
What is this grand tool?
 
 
 A labeler.
 
Here’s why we love a labeler and think you will to:
  • Very affordable and often on sale (Think ‘spring cleaning season’ sales.)
  • No more straining to read someone else’s handwriting (or your own J )
  • Provides a consistent look to keep your area organized
  • Can be purchased in clear or white labels to meet your needs
  • Adds a level of professionalism to your system
  • Makes the most organized office staff and ‘type A’ personalities happy and more productive
 
There is a large variety of types and brands of labelers. Visiting your area office supply store is a great place to start. Have fun labeling!
 
If you have a labeler, share a comment and let us know why you love it so much.

Tags:  Organizing  Productivity  Technology 

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Tip #4: Free Tools for Measuring Your Social Media Presence
Posted By RCI, Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Updated: Monday, May 4, 2020
You’ve listened to everyone saying you must have a Facebook page, Twitter handle and maybe even a blog, but how do you know these things are working? How do you leverage social media platforms for your business?
 
We have gathered some of the top free tools available to collect data from your social media networks and make sense of it. Check them out and let us know what tools you use!
 
Facebook Insights – Facebook has a built-in tool for measuring and analyzing your Facebook page. As you know, Facebook often has changes and updates and it’s the same for Facebook Insights. They recently revamped it so that you can view even more information about your page. To access Insights, just click on the “Insights” link on the left side of your Facebook page. From there, you can view a detailed analysis of your page including items such as likes,  reach and engagement.
 
NetshellMail – Rather than logging into each account separately, this free tool allows you to receive updates on your social media accounts through a single weekly or daily email.  NetshellMail currently supports Facebook Twitter, LinkedIn, Yelp, MySpace, YouTube, Foursquare and Citysearch.
 
Hootsuite – One of our favorite features of Hootsuite is the ability to schedule posts to social media accounts in advance, but did you know it also has great analytics features? You can monitor keywords, followers, trends and engagement.
 
Tweriod – This free tool will analyze your Twitter account and let you know when your followers are most engaged on Twitter. Then, you can schedule your tweets at times when your followers are most likely to see and respond. No login or registration is necessary; just enter your Twitter account information and it will email you a report. Tweriod suggests doing a monthly analysis since behaviors tend to change over time.
 
Klout – Klout measures your online influence. How many people are you really reaching? Are you driving them to action? Visit this website for your Klout Score to find out how significant your online influence really is.
 
Do you have tools you use to monitor your company’s social media presence? Leave us a comment and share below!

Tags:  Productivity  Social Media  Technology 

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Tip #1: Write Down Your Ideas
Posted By RCI, Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Updated: Monday, May 4, 2020
We are in the first week of January - the week of new beginnings, right?
 
Have you been coming up with new ideas for your business for 2012? Our first tip of the year is to write down your ideas when you think of them. Candy makers live fast-paced lives, moving from chocolate tempering to supply ordering to payroll, oftentimes all within the first hour of the day. If you don't write down what you're thinking, there is a pretty good chance you'll forget it.
 
Here are some of the useful ways RCI staff and members track ideas:
  • Pencil and Paper - Sounds old-fashioned, we know, but it works! Keep a notebook and pen with you at all times and you'll be ready to write down (or draw) those brilliant ideas when they come.
  • Apps  (this is a small sampling of the many available note-taking apps for your smart phone)
    • Notes - Most smart phones have a 'notes' app that allows you to type in notes to be saved in your phone. You can save it and get back to it later and you can usually email your note as well.
    • Evernote - This cross-platform application allows you to keep all of your brains in one place and access them from anywhere. Our favorite feature: when you search by keyword it actually searches handwritten text inside of your images (Example: Take a picture of a handwritten sticky note and it saves it and includes the handwritten text in the search!). From evernote.com: "You're always moving, your notes should be too. With Evernote, your memories are on every computer, phone and device you use." 
    • reQall - This app lets you record your ideas and then send them to yourself in a variety of ways (text or email, for example). Also incorporated is a reminder option to help you 'reQall' your notes. We haven't used them together, but the reQall website says there is a reQall for Evernote to get the best of both applications
  • Email - Sitting at home on your computer? Email yourself the idea so you'll have it in your inbox when you get to work. Of course, you can usually do this with your smart phone as well.
  • Google Notes - Google Notes allows you to collaborate with multiple users. Rather than emailing your colleague back and forth, you can share a notes page and see each other's additions and edits.  Plus, if you already have a Google account, it's one less username and password to remember.
We know this is just a few of the many ways to write down your thoughts. Share your ideas in the comments below: How do you take notes and ensure you don't forget those great middle-of-the-night ideas? 
 
Be sure to check back for next week's tip! Want a hint? We have an answer to a sticky question.

Tags:  Productivity  Technology 

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