First dates can be stressful. And coming up with first date questions without sounding like you are interrogating your date can be tough

I’ve written before about the business start-up distractions you need to avoid. So I thought it was about time I shared with you the tools I could not live without in my business. Tools I wish I had known about from the start.
As my own businesses primarily operate online, most of the tools I use are based on content creation and social media management. But given that everything in business now is being geared towards being internet friendly, it’s even more imperative that business owners master not just these these tools but the online digital world in general.
Another great tool is Social Jukebox. I use this primarily for Twitter and only for my own evergreen content. I load up my own blog posts and nice motivational quotes (with my own images, not the contrived rubbish some pre-programmed tools offer) and it tweets them out at the rate per day that I set it to. Just remember to turn off the setting that sends out auto thank you’s and how many people followed and unfollowed you tweets. It makes you look like an amateur and it’s a social faux pas you should avoid.
Using these tools means that my business content is taken care of and I can then deal with replies and tweet about the stuff I’m interested in, like what’s on the tv or football.
I’ve written before about SEO for your blog but essentially the same principles apply to your whole website. Using a tool like Yoast makes your SEO ten times easier and ensures you’re one step ahead of getting some search engine ranking. Even though there is a shift of traffic coming more and more from other sources, search engines can still be vital to getting your business found online. This also goes back to what I said about using WordPress when you’re starting out. Yoast is a plugin and guides you through so much of the vital SEO elements that you need.
With all this talk of pretty pictures and fancy websites, it’s easy to forget the important stuff. Money. You’ve got to keep accurate records and stay on top of your accounts. I know this sounds really, really boring, but it is an essential part of running a business. Quickbooks have loads of solutions that can really help you keep on track and knowing your vital numbers.
Something that I have found invaluable throughout my business start-up and freelance journey is support. And I don’t mean your Mum. Or even your cousin that lives 300 miles away that likes every single Facebook post and tweet. I’m talking about other people that are in the same boat as you. Those who understand that Facebook reach is a massive pain in the backside or that some clients are a nightmare (read about the red flags to avoid there) and that this whole business thing is just one great big emotional rollercoaster of a journey. Those who will dust you down when you have a setback (which you will) and tell you to keep on going rather than telling you to give up and get a job. Find those people because they will be the ones that will keep you sane and on the right track.
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First dates can be stressful. And coming up with first date questions without sounding like you are interrogating your date can be tough
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