Taming The Paper Tiger When You’re On The Go

Receipts, parking passes, insurance cards, gift cards, maps, stamps…. did someone say we were going “paperless”? Uh, yeah. On the go means papers that can get out of hand. Here’s a few tips to get them under control!

1. Your wallet is not a trash can: before you mindlessly shove another scrap of paper in there, is it really worth keeping?
2. Have a system for keeping those papers in check: Use a small file that tucks into your briefcase or bag, and label, label, label!
3. Use a tickler file: you don’t need to pack around tickets for that concert in two months, tuck them into a tickler file so you have them on the day you need them!
4. Organize your car: Use a second accordion file for the car essentials: insurance card, parking pass, maps, money for the meter or parking prepaid card, registration, etc.
5. Action files: What will you do with the papers you collect? Do they need to be filed? Acted on? Do you need to read them? Do some data entry? Put a note on it, or use files to note what action it will need when you get it home or to the office.

File In Style: A Fun Link Roundup

Who says filing has to be boring, or strictly manila vanilla? Personally, I think manila folders are for the inside of file drawers. Sometimes you need files out on your work surface or on the road with you. Those are times for stylish filing! Here’s a few to get you going.

Bright color filing: Like bright colors? Check out these striped and spring inspired folders, both at Storables.com.

Travel inspired filing: If you have a case of wanderlust and want to bring that feeling into your home office, try these Vintage Map File Folders from Anthropologie. (I have these in my office, LOVE THEM.)

Creative labelling: Sure, you could go with the standard labeler, but use your creativity and do something a little different. Raid the kids’ craft supplies, or go get your own at a craft store. The scrapbooking section is a fabulous alternative for labeling. Markers, calligraphy, stamps and rub-off labels, oh my! Take a lunch break, go in and let your imagination run wild.

You can take it with you: Have files, will travel! Now, how about something to carry those fabulous files in? Check out russell+hazel’s Audrey expanding file tote collection. They come in patent leather-like finishes and a clear Slicker Tote. For a little less “girly” file tote, check out this cascading file tote at containerstore.com.

Nothing can substitute for a really good filing system, but what you put it in doesn’t have to be boring. Get creative, get organized and have some fun!

Starting Out: Home Office Tips Link Roundup

It’s the beginning of another year, and you might be thinking of starting a new business or doing a little moonlighting. If you’re like most, you’ll probably start from a home office (or choose to remain there). There’s lots to consider, and we’ve covered a lot over the last year. If you’re wondering where to start in your newly minted home office, here’s some tips that just might help.

Here’s to your success in the coming years!

Standing Desks: They are all the rage, whether you have a stationary desk or a treadmill desk. Of course, a standing desk isn’t required for a home office (p.s. I don’t have one), but they are a great alternative you’re so inclined!

Simple Paper Management: Life’s hard enough, managing your paper shouldn’t be. Keep it simple.

Fend Off Productivity Killers: There will be times when you’re not feeling so productive in your home office. Here’s a few ways to fend off those pesky productivity killers. (P.S. This post made the front page of Yahoo.com!)

Keeping Track of Receipts: Again I say, keep it simple. Receipts can be kept under control, and not losing your mind is a plus. (Also, be sure to read my review of the Neat Receipts Scanner. It’s how I keep track of my receipts! Also, I have been told that the IRS will accept scanned copies of receipts, but be sure to check with your accountant or tax preparer.)

Tasks & Getting Them Done: How to keep track of them? Here’s a tip for the “dailies” that need to get done.

Keeping Your Sanity: We’ve been there, nausea & stress sets in. How do you keep from getting completely overwhelmed? This post also contains a tip from a high profile “reporter helper”.

One Size Fits All. Yeah, right. There’s so many things out there that promise the world in getting your stuff done. Like a good fitting pair of jeans, you want it to fit your curves and not induce mid-section constricting nausea. Before jumping into any new system, think about how you work, and check out the links in this post.

Link Building 101 - Free Web Directories

Ask any webmaster for SEO tips nowadays and they'll jump right into a conversation about meta data and keyword density. While it's true keywords are a major part of search engine optimization, link building is just as (if not more,) important. By leveraging the power of free web directories and link exchanges, you can increase site traffic and site relevancy.

Search engines serve one purpose - to help users find pages with information that is relevant to the keywords used in the search. The search engines determine whether or not your page is relevant by checking a number of factors (in no particular order):

1. The meta data on your page, including the page title and keywords.
2. The content of your page, and the number of time the keywords appear in the content.
3. The presence or absence of the keywords in the URL pointing to the page.
4. The number of links from related pages on reputable sites linking back to that page.
5. The number of links pointing from your site to related pages on reputable sites.

Each search engine places a different value on the above factors, but all of them place a very high value on the number of links pointing to the page.

You'll want to pay careful attention to these free SEO tips! Link building is the single most important thing you can do to get your site ranked highly by the search engines. With enough quality links pointing back to your site, you can easily get your site ranked in the top 20 results for many common keywords.

First, you'll want to identify free web directories that will allow you to submit your URL. You can start by checking out the "Directories" category on the Links page of the Easy Ways to Earn Money Online blog (see the link at the end of this post). It includes several of the best free website directories. It's worth noting that most of the free link directories are actually link exchange networks, in the sense that they typically require a reciprocal link on your website pointing back to the directory. Why? Because they know that the more links they have pointing back to their site, the better their page ranking will be.

Once you've identified a list of free web directories and link exchanges, you'll need to go to each site and review their submission guidelines. DO NOT use a directory submission service. You have no control over how these tools will handle your submission (or if they submit anything at all). What's worse, you may be labeled a spammer if the service ignores the URL submission guidelines of the site in question, and you could get blacklisted from many of the most popular website directories.

Also, some search engines (including Google) have been rumored to penalize you for being associated with pages located in so-called "bad neighborhoods" (sites known to engage in practices meant to abuse search engine logic or promote illegal activity). It's far better to check out these these free web directories one by one, follow their guidelines to the letter, and read their privacy policies before submitting your information.

The process of link building takes time, since most reputable web directories will want to review your site before listing it. As a result, many will take anywhere from several days to several months to add your URL to their link exchanges. Though some SEO tips I've come across place a great deal of emphasis on the page rank of the link exchanges or web directories, you don't have the luxury of being too picky when you're launching a new site. You may have to wait for several months for a well established site with a page rank of 6 or above to approve your site.

In the meantime, you're website will have little or no traffic and you'll be largely invisible to the major search engines. A better strategy would be to get your site listed with as many website directories and link exchanges as possible--regardless of page rank. This way, you'll get a small boost from the sites with a low page rank while waiting for the big boost from the sites with the high page ranks.

Finally, you can substantially increase the number of outbound links on your website by creating your own link directory on your site. Create a form that allows your visitors to submit their URL (or the URL of other sites they like). Just be sure to check out the sites for signs of illegal activity before including them on your site. You can even use your web directory to post all your reciprocal links in one place.