TIPS TO MANAGE EMAILS IN SMALL BUSINESSES

One of the most common challenges for small business owners is balancing the need to get a lot accomplished in what never seems like enough time. We are a frequently over-scheduled bunch, and most of us could benefit from some extra time, or at least more productive use of the time we have.

When it comes to time management, figuring out how to use time more productively is often a challenge. A good place to start is email management; this is one area that tops the list of time-killers for many small business owners.

Because email is an ongoing form of communication, and we don't have complete control over the incoming flow, we need to work on improving our productivity in how we receive, organize, reply to and even think about email. The tips below will help you create a system for managing your email in a way that supports productivity instead of eating away at it.

1. Turn off notifications. Email tends to come in at all times of the day and night, so it is vital that you control how the flow of incoming messages fits into your day. Turn off new message notifications on both your computer and smartphone to prevent constant distractions and disruptions to your schedule, and check for mail when it's convenient for you.

2. Decide how to use your inbox. There are many different philosophies when it comes to managing your email inbox. You can use your inbox as a catch all, limit it to only high-priority messages, or make it a working task list. The key is to pick one purpose for your inbox and stick with it.

3. Create email white lists and blacklists. Most email clients and email providers allow users to make lists of safe addresses to ensure those messages get through, while blacklisting, or blocking, what you consider spam addresses. Take time to update these lists frequently to keep your incoming email clean.

4. Set a timer and batch process. Some small business owners benefit from having pockets of time in their day just for email. If this works for you, set aside a specific amount of time during the day to respond to messages, move action items to your task list, delete junk and get an at-a-glance idea of what needs your attention next.

5. Use rules to automate the process. To streamline the email management process even further, use rules in your email client that sort, flag, move and organize your messages. While it will take some time to create rules that support the way you use email, once you have them created, you can cut down on a significant part of your email processing time.

6. Get a head start from your smartphone. Many small business owners have smartphones so they can stay in touch and on top of work, even when they're out of the office. If you frequently check email on your mobile device, you can save a significant
   
   amount of time by reading and starting to process messages while you're mobile. Even if you just make it a habit to delete junk and messages you don't need to save, you can benefit from having a streamlined inbox when you get back to the office
7. If you don't read it, unsubscribe! Email newsletters and other email marketing messages can be a great way to stay connected to clients, colleagues, partners and other businesses you are interested in, but these messages can quickly pile up. If you have not read a particular recurring mailing in several issues, stop your subscription. Limiting email newsletters and other automated messages to only those you regularly read can be an easy way to reduce the bulk in your inbox.

THE CENTRAL LIBRARY OF INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY, ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN

The central library of International Islamic University is located in H-10, Islamabad, Pakistan in university premises. The library consists of two floors. The ground floor of library has reserved room, reserve collection, new arrivals, limited collection of US books, Lincoln Corner, Thesis and PhD research center, Chief Librarian Seminar Hall, Gosha Iqbal, Circulation desk and Online Public Access Catalogue. On the first floor it has general collection of books, news papers and periodicals, computer lab and United Nation Resource Center.  Central library is well known for its digital library facility as well.

Along with above mentioned recourse facilities the library is equipped with 2 shops having Photostat and colored printing machines, stationary items etc. There is a prayers section in library to offer Salah’.

About The Books: The central library of International Islamic University has books in 4 major languages i.e. Arabic, English, Urdu and Persian. The reserved collection comprises of encyclopedia Britannica, Great Soviet Encyclopedia, Encyclopedia of Islam, dictionaries, thesauruses and much more. The library has more than 100,000 books, above 8000 journals and thesis and dissertations are more than 3400.

OPAC:

OPAC is the Online Public Access Catalogue. One can conveniently sit on the computer and search the location of the book in library in few clicks. The catalogue also facilitates thesis links.

Periodical Section:

There is a very rich collection of Periodicals and Newspapers.  These journals include, American journal of Islamic social sciences ,Asian Profile, Canadian journal of communications , Canadian journal of criminology and criminal justice, Economist ,Education Administration, ELT Journal English Language Teaching Journal ,Herald, Higher education ,Indian Journal of Applied Linguistics, International journal of innovative computing information and control, Journal of applied mechanics, Journal of Commonwealth Literature, Journal of dynamic system, measurement and control ,Journal of engineering for Gas turbines and power, Journal of manufacturing science & engineering , Journal of mechanical design, Journal of Quranic Studies, News week, Pakistan Gulf & Economist, Press Review , Readers Digest,Takbeer, The Fountain, Times , Urdu Digest.

The newspaper includes Nawa-e-Waqt, Khabrain, Jung,Jamarat, Pakistan,Ishraq-ul-wust  and Express in urdu language. The News, DAWN, The Nation, Daily Times and Business Recorders are newspapers in English.

Lincoln Corner:

The Lincoln Corner is Located in the central library of International Islamic University Islamabad inaugurated on Jun 5, 2006.It  promotes friendship between the United States and Pakistan through multimedia resources, English language materials, information about studying in the U.S., cultural activities, and lectures on topics of interest to the people of Islamabad. Books, magazines, access to computers, internet, web-cam and DVDs offer a “Window on America” and its people – History, society, geography, government, and popular culture. This corner is a place to read about America and to exchange views and opinions with Americans living in or visiting Pakistan. Lincoln Corner digital resources includes EBSCO Host Resources, Gale Resources, GREENR (Ref: official website)

Gosha-e-Iqbal:

In order to promote the work of Iqbal and make new generation aware about Iqbals’s scholarly poetry Gosh-e Iqbal has been designed in the central area of the ground floor.

Study Desks:

The students have been given facility to silently sit in isolation and study books. For this purpose individual desks have been placed at various places.

Discussion Corner:

If students want to study in group, there is a separate arrangement for that.       

         

Digital Library:

International Islamic University is one of the few universities of Pakistan which has provided its students the facility of Digital library in order to down load research papers from number of authentic journals. The digital library has various research engines like Science Direct, Jstor, Blackwell Synergy, Emerald, Muse etc. The digital library is not helpful for the students of International Islamic University but it has been observed that students from other universities also get facilitated from it.

New Arrivals:

The newly published and freshly arrived books are placed on separate racks, so that the students may get aware about new books.

Prayer Room:

The mission of International Islamic University is to promote the religion of Islam and provide Muslims ease. There is a reserved area where students can offer their prayers.

United Nations Resource Center:

If you are looking for the data, journals, proceedings, laws or any current or past issue which has been presented in United Nations, then the central library of International Islamic University is the right place. Monthly, quarterly, semi- annually and annual reports are also available over there regarding current issues and the statistical data can easily be gathered from UN recourse center.

WHILE YOU ARE GROWING YOUNG, YOUR PARENTS ARE GROWING OLD TOO

Too busy getting good grades? Wishing to have a bright future? Want job with good salary? Want your spouse, kids and boss to be happy at a same time? Watch out!! There is someone else who waited for so long to see you growing up and getting successful in life. Yes!!!  OUR PARENTS.

By the time we get busy growing young, many of us do not realize that at the same time our parents are getting old as well. Now this is our time to pay back for what they've done for us. Here are few things that we can practice in order to make them enjoy their old age.

·         Talk to them:

Try to spare few hours for them every day and carry a healthy discussion with them on the topic of their interest or tell them about something new going on around the world. If there is nothing else, discuss weather or share good old memories.

·         Listen to them:

When parents grow old, they need someone to listen to them. So make it a routine to sit with them and listen what they want to share. They might tell you stories of their past, or some problem they are facing these days. They might discuss any health issue with you too. If you will listen to them carefully, trust me, they will never get the feeling of loneliness.

 Surprise dinners:

Do you remember those days when your mother used to cook your favorite dish? Or your dad used to bring your favorite juice? Of course we all remember that. But how about reversing this idea? Living in same home, invite your parents to dinner. You may plan the dinner outside or cook it at home and serve them in a special way. This activity must be done at least once in a month. This will make them feel relaxed from their routine stressed out thoughts and give them a change.

·         Celebrate their Birthdays:

Go and see photographs of your first birthday. Your parents would have planned it by decorating whole house with Barbie theme or a Sailor theme. Pink or blue tapestries, cake with a Barbie’s wand or a Ship wheel, and you must have worn a pink frock or sailor’s clothes. Now its time to make them feel special. Plan their birthdays.  Decorate a portion of house for them. Make floral décor. Handmade cards induce more love along with their favorite flavored cake.

·         Celebrating other occasions:

Celebrate small occasions. This will not only please them but it will also develop a strong bond between you and your parents. Celebrate mother’s day, father’s day, family day, plan family holidays. Celebrate their recovery from illness as well. Now how you celebrate depends on how much you love them.

·         Presents:

Giving presents is a symbol of love and care. Do not wait for occasions to come to give presents to your parents. Plan it by saving money. You don’t even need to wrap it every time. Getting them shawls, sweaters, bags, wallets and even soothing lotions and massage creams for their feet will make them feel happy.

·         Facial and feet care:

This is something very important. Give your mother facial treatment and give Pedi-cure to both mom and dad. This will relax them. You don’t even need to take them to saloons. Do it by yourself.

·         Fresh food:

Serve them fresh juice and fruits at least one time a day. This is necessary for their health. Try to blend juice at home out of fruits. It would be more nutritious for them.

·         Plan Trips:

One day trips or family holiday of 3-4 days would also help them feel better. Your parents will feel fresher, physically and mentally by spending some time out of house, laughing with you and having fun.

Most of all:

Last but not least, never ever let your children avoid your parents. Remember! Your parents are your children's grand parents. Its in your duty to make them behave in a respectful manner with your parents. Encourage your children to great parents every morning, talk to them and play board games with them.

 These are very basic practices adding which will make your parents satisfied and relaxed. This will help them enjoy their old age. Such little things will also develop a strong bond of yours with your parents. So gear up!!! Its time to bring change in your parent’s life.

SUIT UP

LAWS OF DRESSING

1. You don’t have to spend a lot on clothes to look like you’ve spent a lot.
2. Dark color will always look more authoritative.
3. Classics are classics for a reason.
4. Dressing appropriately is like having good manners.
5. A tie should always be tied and in place, not worn half mast.
6. Nobody sees the label.
7. Quality is more important than quantity.
8. When in doubt, wear navy.
9. Or gray.
10. Clothes don’t make the man. (Though they can fake the man.)

TIPS OF SMART SHOPPING
1. Dress appropriately for the stores you will be shopping in.
2. Wear a white dress shirt, dress socks, and the shoes you would wear for the outfit.
3. Always try things on.
4. Always look in the mirror (preferably a there-way mirror)
5. If it doesn't look good in the store, it won’t look good at home.
6. There’s nothing with the lights in the store.
7. When something is on sale, don’t buy it unless you would have bought it at full price .
8. Something that’s a little big can be tailored to fit. Something that’s tight will only get tighter.
9. Shoes don’t stretch.
10. The salesperson is supposed to tell you it looks great on you.

DEADLY SINS
1. Jackets that are too tight in the shoulders, snug in the waist, and won’t button make you look like a trussed turkey.
2. Wear socks to the office, unless you work at the beach.
3. Just because it looked good on you ten years ago, doesn’t mean it still does (refer back to deadly sin one).
4. Until you see the animals lining up in twos, don’t have your pants tailored too short. They should have a break. Don’t let your jacket be too short (your bottom line should never be visible).
5. Belt are to hold up your pants not some sort of technology tool holder. Pagers, phones and other digital elements belong in jacket pockets.

6. Pants that are too baggy look silly and pants that are too tight just look uncomfortable.
7. Wearing suspenders and a belt is redundant…and redundant.
8. You will look like a squeezed tube of toothpaste if your shirt is too tight in the collar.
9. Hoods on overcoats.
10. If you have to ask if it goes together, it probably doesn’t.

Strategic Dressing

-Learning to Read the Landscape

WHO LOOKS PROFESSIONAL AND WHAT ARE THEY WEARING?
One of the basic rules of office attire is: Dress for the job you want to have, not the job you have. So look around. Who has that job now? And how does he dress for that job? Now, who does he work for? And so no. Every office or corporation has a dress code. Learning to read yours properly is a major step toward getting ahead.

ALL DRESSED UP AND SOMEWHERE TO GO
Once you have cracked the office dress code, you have to consider what to wear for different professional occasions and situations. What may be appropriate for a morning meeting might not work for a business lunch or for a presentation. Begin by asking yourself what message you want to send and then find the appropriate clothes in your closet. Here a few different scenarios:

Leading a meeting. Obviously what you’re after here is authority, and nothing says authority like a suit. (After all, there’s reason why when people refer to management they call them “suits”) Since, in many offices, men remove their jackets while working, pay attention to the shirt you’re wearing: Make sure it’s crisp and clean.

Giving a presentation. When giving a presentation, you clearly want to have authority and draw attention to yourself. The key here is not to draw so much attention that you take away from the presentation. 
Once again, a suit is called for with a shirt and tie. And here is how you draw attention to yourself: With the tie. Without being too presentations or visually distracting, the shirt-and-tie combination should reflect power. Perhaps a shirt with French cuffs and a woven tie?

Client lunch. It is, of course, most important to come across as professional, but you must also be able to read the culture of the culture of the person (or people) you are meeting. Do they wear suits? Sport jacket? What about ties? The goal here is to be yourself but, at the client by dressing more formally than they do; rather, show them the proper respect by dressing up more than you normally do if their corporate culture is more formal than yours.

Job review. This is just like a job interview so look your best. If you normally wear a suit to office, do so now. If you don’t usually wear one, doing so will only make you look stiff and feel uncomfortable. In that case, you should still dress up: Wear a sport jacket and tie. Show that you care, but don’t look at thought you’re trying too hard.

Boss wants to have lunch. First of all, relax. It’s only good. If you wear in trouble, you would go to boss, the boss, the boss wouldn’t come to you. That said, look sharp. Yes, it’s a social to show you’re personally. In other words, wear a tie that the boss might admire. Or a unique pair of cuff links that might spark a conversation.

10 WAYS TO REDUCE COST OF BUSINESS

Reducing costs in your small business and creating processes that will cost you less money over time doesn't have to take a lot of time or even a lot of effort. In many cases, it's about making smarter choices when deciding where to put your small business funds.

Here is a look at 10 ways you can reduce business costs and improve your bottom line.

1. Use Technology

Technology allows us to save money and advance our businesses in ways that weren't possible even five years ago. From teleconference services and online payment services, to open-source software and remote desktop applications, there are many ways you can reduce business costs with technology.

2. Ditch Your Land line

Traditional telephone lines can be an expensive and sometimes unnecessary business cost. Small business owners who opt to use cell phones, VoIP and virtual phone lines instead of a traditional land line can reduce their business costs.

3. Go Paperless

The cost of paper, ink, mailing supplies and postage may seem minimal at times, but it can add up to a large business expense. Going paperless by not printing unless absolutely necessary, transitioning to a digital invoice and bill payment system, and filing all important paperwork on your computer instead of a file cabinet can help you reduce some of the most common recurring business costs.

4. Start Marketing Your Business Online

If you have yet to jump on the Internet marketing bandwagon, you are missing the potential of fast-paced, high-result, low-cost marketing. You can start with a business blog, social media marketing, or other online advertising and have the potential to see a relatively quick response with very minimal business costs.

5. Reduce Credit Card Debt

You may be able to reduce your immediate business costs by charging business expenses to your business credit card, but with interest rates and possible fees, this is not an effective way to reduce your business costs long term. Reducing your credit card debt is not a quick and easy way to reduce your business costs, but it's a smart way to make your business more financially healthy over the long term.

6. Create and Stick to a Business Budget

Budgeting goes hand-in-hand with reduced business costs because it's impossible to make smart financial decisions without a clear idea of the money you have coming in and going out of your business every month. A business budget that you use daily can become a powerful tool for reducing your business costs effectively.

7. Explore an Alternative Place of Business

The expenses that come with having a physical place of business can be immense, and in many cases, this is unavoidable. If you are in a situation that can change, however, you may be able to reduce your business costs dramatically by downsizing your retail location, exploring a co-working arrangement, or even converting your business to a home-based business and having employees telecommute.

8. Cut Back on Software

How many applications do you use every day? There are probably a few applications you have on your computer right now that you have never used or very rarely use. You can reduce your business costs by only purchasing the software you really need and avoiding the cost of purchasing other apps, plus any upgrade fees necessary to keep the software current. Open-source software alternatives to brand name applications are also an effective way to reduce your business costs.

9. Buy Refurbished Equipment

Buying brand new, retail-priced equipment is a big business cost. You can reduce the expense by buying refurbished furniture and equipment that is often as good as the brand new variety but offered by manufacturers at a discounted price.

10.. Look Into Bartering

Bartering is an exchange of your good and services for good and services you need without any cash changing hands. When a successful bartering arrangement is reached, you can reduce your business costs by avoiding the initial outlay of funds in order to fill an immediate need.

Each of these 10 ways to reduce business costs focuses on making an alternate decision that can save you money. If you are able to adopt a "business cost friendly" mindset, many of these smart decisions will become second nature and eventually work their way into all of your business decisions, helping you reduce your business costs every day.