These days everything is about the “feeling” you get when working with a company. This weekend I shopped at Ann Taylor Loft. When I was checking out, the clerk folded my clothes neatly, wrapped them in tissue paper, and then sealed the tissue paper with a custom label. While I have come to expect this service from this store, I still love coming home to unwrap my bundle of joy. There are so many easy ways to give your customers the same feeling; one simple way is using a custom signature make your note a little more personal. I’ll show you the two easiest ways to create your custom signature.

Use A Font:
In the past, we have discussed websites where you can download artistic fonts for free. The easiest way to create a custom signature is to type your name in a handwritten font. Once you find the perfect font, export the font as a jpg, then simply import the signature into your document or email.

(Fonts Used Above: PhontPhreak’s Font – Scriptina Font – Jellyka Font)

Use A Scanner:
Another easy way to create a custom signature is by using a scanner. Simply write your name on a white piece of paper using black ink, then transfer your signature to the computer by simply scanning the image.

Tips:

1. Graphic software programs such as Studio are easy ways to create digital font signatures.
2. Pick a font that matches your personality. For example, men may want to choose a font with a more masculine feel such as PhontPhreak’s Handwriting.
3. Remember, since the background will not be transparent, I don’t recommend adding your signature to a document with a colored background. When the document has a colored background, a large white block will encompass the signature. Of course, the white block around the image takes away from the personalized feel you are trying to create.
4. Sometimes you can use a photo editing software to remove the white block. However, I have not found this to be an easy task. Since the signature has very thin lines, it is difficult to remove the background without removing lines in the signature.
5. Make sure your signature is scaled to the appropriate size. If the jpg imports large, be sure to resize the image in the same proportion as the other text in the document.
6. Create a file folder named “Signatures” under My Documents to make it easier to locate your signature whenever needed.
7. IMPORTANT: You must insert a .jpg signature when emailing. When you use a unique font, it’s possible the person receiving the email will not have that font installed. Therefore, the signature will not appear correctly for the recipient. However, anyone can view a .jpg so the signature will look great!

As far back as I can remember I have always been fascinated with successful people. I made it my mission to find out what it was about them that allowed them to achieve their goals while others tried and failed. Later in life, as I developed my business and entered into new and challenging areas of my career, I made a conscious effort to surround myself with suppliers, manufacturers, and colleagues who were considered outstanding leaders in their professions. By watching them closely and paying attention to how they presented themselves and how they ran their businesses I was able to make significant improvements to my own image and business. What I had not anticipated was that, because of the associations I had formed along the years with these professionals, I had achieved a certain credibility of my own within the industry and with people and potential clients I had never met. The mere fact that I was associated with leaders in my industry imparted to myself, and my business, a certain cache and reputation that would have been very difficult to build on my own. By choosing my suppliers, manufacturers, contractors and associations carefully I was able to capitalize on their reputation and success. When I made the decision to affiliate myself and my book, The Design Directory of Window Treatments, with a digital design software provider I took a close look at both companies that provided this service. It was clear that Minutes Matter Studio was the only choice for me. The quality and character of the people that you allow into your life and business speak volumes about you as a person and a professional. Just as you can be accused of “guilt by association” with shady or untrustworthy individuals you can build “success by association” with upstanding, reliable, industry professionals. Any person or company who is perceived as having an association with your business will leave a lasting impression with your clients. It is important to your success to manage those perceptions by discussing what your expectations are of your suppliers and contractors. For example, I provide my independent installers with booties which they wear over their shoes when entering a client’s home. They lay down a clean white drop cloth in their assembly area and lay another drop cloth beneath ladders or scaffolding. They are aware that they should not take smoke breaks or eat on the job. They know that I expect them to behave in a professional manner when they are working for me because I have had a detailed conversation with them to lay out my rules. Your associates cannot meet your expectations unless you have clearly communicated to them what those expectations are! Conduct an analysis of your associations at the end of every year to see who is affecting your business in a positive way and who may be detracting from it negatively and take quick action to make the necessary adjustments to maintain the image you want to present to your clients. Building beneficial relationships is an ongoing process that takes planning and hard work, but the payoff is well worth the effort.

Get out there and build some positive associations today!

The future technology that has begun to transform the way we communicate has now arrived. Instead of using telephone sets that transmit analog signals, VoIP converts these signals to digital chunks or packets. These are reconverted to audio data when it reaches the recipient. The entire transmission happens over the Internet. With the major developments in VoIP services and broadband Internet access, you now have this technology available to you!

Minutes Matter Innovative Solution:As you know Minutes Matter takes pride in growing and adapting through our innovative solutions. We are delighted to announce that we have upgraded our webinar service to include Voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP) which allows you communicate in our presentations, webinars, and courses attended via your computer. If you previously incurred long distance toll call charges while attending a webinar, you can now free up your phone and get free audio connection via the Internet! You must have Broadband Internet access such as cable or DSL, and all you need to add is an Internet headset! We recommend logging on about ten minutes ahead of time to ensure your place and allow the software to download to your computer. The VoIP connection happens once you enter the meeting site.

Headset Recommendations:After much research, here are my recommendations on how to get the most out of this free service! Look for an Internet headset that can be plugged into the front of your desktop tower, or your laptop, in the USB ports. They may be hidden behind a door on the tower. The headset needs to have both speakers (earpieces) and an attached microphone, otherwise you will be able to listen to a webinar but not be able to ask questions or talk. The following Internet-ready headsets under $50 can be purchased at office supply, discount, electronic and camera stores, or on line:

Logitech – ClearChat Style Premium Behind-the-Head PC Headset Model: 981-000018 $27.99 at Best Buy, $24.98 at StaplesPlantronics MX500i 3-in-1 VoIP Headset $49.99 at Office MaxGigaware Wrap-Around USB Headset/Microphone-Skype/VOIP Model: 43-203 $24.99 at Radio ShackLogitech ClearChat Comfort USB Headphones Model: 981-000014 $39.99 at Radio ShackLogitech Internet Clear Chat Headset Model: 981-000018 $24.99 at Radio Shack Jasco GE Deluxe Headset with Detachable Microphone and Desktop Stand$14.99 at Circuit CityCreative Microphone HeadsetModel #: CL MZ0120$39.99 at Circuit CityGN Netcom GN-2010ST Monaural Over-The-Head Phone Headset, Silver (Item # 628670) $38.99 at Office DepotPlantronics M214i 3-in-1 VolP Headset$31.55 at Amazon.com

Logitech Premium Stereo Headset with Noise-Canceling Microphone $14.99 at Amazon.com Philips SHM3300/37 Lightweight Multimedia Headset $14.99 at Amazon.comI bought this one, and found it to be comfortable with excellent sound quality, GE Internet Headset 95701 for $19.99 at TargetCamera stores such as Ritz, Wolf, or Camera World all sell headsets.

VoIP Services:The beauty of having this headset is you can then use it for business or personal calls by setting up your own VoIP account with a company such as Skype or Google or Buddy Talk. You can make free calls to contacts with the same service; there is usually a charge for making calls to “traditional” phones. Here are some links to their sites with more information:http://www.skype.com/http://www.google.com/talk/ http://www.buddytalk.com/ We hope you’ll be able to join us on line for one or more of our information-packed learning opportunities. Check the listings on our website under Support for our QuickBooks & Quoting and Studio webinar and course schedules.

Hi, it’s Debbie Green with Minutes Matter this week I wanted to share with you some of my thoughts on a very important topic. I always take time to read organizational and time management books and articles. They all have one thing in common – written lists. Everyone recommends that you create a written daily list, a written master list, and written long term goals. Every millionaire is goal oriented; it has been proven that the most successful people take time to physically make lists. When you actually write down your tasks and goals you are 90% more apt to achieve them. So what am I saying? I am saying if you want to have less stress and get more done, start making lists.

Your daily list should have no more than ten tasks listed, including personal tasks. Your master list can have as many as 100 tasks. The master list includes tasks that need to be done next week, next month or sometime in the future. Written goals should include long term plans for your personal and business life. What does goal setting do for you – it gives you focus!

When you consistently rely on lists to govern your day, you can expect to get 25% more done in a day. When you don’t have a list, little tasks slip through the cracks and then turn into tomorrow’s crisis. For example, have you ever put off ordering trim or custom hardware because it was going to take too much time? Well, I did and one day I said “enough!” Now when a client signs the contract and gives me a deposit, I place orders with my vendors within three to four days. I go down the estimate line by line and create a purchase order for each item. It does not matter if you get your hardware list together today or one month from now it takes the same amount of time, the only difference in waiting is you may incur Second Day Air or Overnight charges as well as rush charges from the vendor.

Be sure to schedule quiet time on your daily list. Quiet time is the time when there are no interruptions and the phone is turned off or not ringing. This time should be scheduled during the time of day that you are most productive; my most productive time is the morning. Use this time to do planning for your business, create proposals, research fabrics, bookwork etc. Remember, planning prevents crisis. Use a calendarto schedule and plan personal, as well as, business tasks, activities, appointments and don’t forget the quiet time. Don’t over schedule – leave some extra time. Be sure to schedule your quiet time; if you don’t, it will always be eaten up by someone or something. We all have the same amount of time; the only difference is what we do with it. The one thing you can control is your time; once we waste it – it’s gone forever.

Here are a few tips on planning & making lists:

• Use only one calendar. (I recommend Microsoft Outlook & a PDA Phone and sync daily)
• Group appointments with errands.

  Control the phone. (Turn off the phone during your quiet time; don’t let curiosity get the best of you.)

• Handle a piece of paper once. (Act on it, file it, delegate it, toss it – those should be your only choices)
• Stay with a task until it is done. (Jumping back and forth to a task is a huge time waster.)
• Turn off email notification. (When you are working on a proposal and you hear that “You’ve got mail” or a ding, it is an instant distraction and it takes several minutes to refocus. I confess this is a weakness for me, but now I have my computer check messages hourly. This was a big step for me!)

• Do those unpleasant tasks first. (You will be encouraged to move to the next task.)

• Break large tasks into several small tasks. (A proposal for a whole house could be broken into several entries on your daily list. This helps those large proposals not seem so overwhelming.)

• Commit time every day to read – it’s educational & relaxing. (Read trade magazines, newsletters, Minutes Matter Ezine of course, self-help books, etc.)
• Create your daily list during your quiet time. (If your quiet time is in the morning, create your daily list in the morning. If your quiet time is at the end of the day, create tomorrow’s daily list at the end of each day.)

• Be flexible. (Some days just won’t go as expected – tomorrow is always another day.)

• Remember bad things happen to good lists – just don’t give up!

He who every morning plans the transactions of the day and follows out that plan, carries a thread that will guide him through the maze of the most busy life. But where no plan is laid, where the disposal of time is surrendered merely to the chance of incidence, chaos will soon reign.”

Victor Hugo

Minutes Matter exhibits at the May 13-16, 2009 Vision International Window Covering Expo.

Window Fashion Vision

Minutes Matter is preparing for our biggest release ever! Join us for a sneak peek of Studio 3.0 and Jackie Von Tobel’s first window treatment module. Here are a few exciting features and functions we will be revealing.

~ Exclusive Jackie Von Tobel Module (optional purchase)
~ All Pate Meadows & M’Fay Patterns FREE!!
~ All New Re-Illustrated Designs
~ One-Click Trim
~ Sleek New Look
~ Photograph Scale Tool
~ Break Apart Designs
~ Customizable Index
~ Larger Icon Preview
~ Automatic Backup
. . . Just To Name A Few!!!

View this LIVE Webinar to see all the new features of Studio 3.0 and preview Jackie’s first module.

We are SOOOO excited to be releasing the first of four Jackie Von Tobel Window Treatment Modules. Here is a sampling of the renderings included in this first release . . .

As we discussed last week, when you to set up a Blogger account you must first set up a Google account and once this account is set up Google will automatically set up a Picasa Web Albums account for you. Picasa Web Albums stores all the images you post on your blog.

Once your blog is created you will sign into the Google Dashboard; notice the options below. You can click New Posts to create a new blog, or select Edit Posts to edit an existing blog, select Settings or Layout to change how your blog looks and functions or you can click View Blog.

Settings tab (consists of several sub-categories; very easy to fill out)

The Basic tab asks questions like:

Add your blog to our listings? Of course, you would select “Yes.”

1. Let Search engines find your blog? Again, of course you would select “Yes.”
2. Show Quick Editing on your blog? This displays edits tools visible to only owners and authors; select “Yes.”
3. Show Compose Mode for all your blogs? Select “Yes.”

Leave the Publishing tab as is.

On the Formatting tab set the Show option to 7 posts.

The Comments tab determines how reader comments, if allowed, are displayed.

The Permissions tab allows you to add additional Authors and then manage their status.

Layout tab (allows you to customize your blog)

On the Page Elements tab; You can add a custom heading to your blog if you have selected a template with a customizable heading.

To further customize your blog you will want to add Gadgets; click “Add a Gadget” text and you will see many choices that you can add to your blog sidebar. One of the Gadgets is a “Link List” add this Gadget when you want to give your readers direct links to articles or other websites. You can add as many links as you like. You will also need to add a title for this Gadget. We added several “Link List” sections to our Dandelion Interiors blog sidebar (i.e. Upcoming Events, Our Recommendations, Favorite Finds & Press.) You can also add a Slideshow Gadget.

There is also a Fonts & Colors tab that allows you to change font styles and colors for headings, text color, link color etc. (This was one of the features we really liked in Blogger.)

Plan on posting once a week to keep content fresh and to entice readers to keep coming back. Posts can be short, one or two paragraphs are sufficient. Both websites www.minutesmatter.com and www.dandelioninteriors.com each contain a link to its blog. Make it easy for people to find your blog. There’s no better way than to add a link from your website! This week on our Dandelion Interiors blog I posted an article about making a room look larger. I used Minutes Matter Studio 3.0, our graphic design software to effectively illustrate mounting alternatives as well as style choices. Studio can be your best marketing tool. I will be using Studio frequently in my Dandelion blogs to help me illustrate my design tips and to show off my graphic rendering skills.