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7

Dec

How I Use Evernote for… Clients

Posted by Terrica  Published in Programs, Websites

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Everyone knows that I simply adore Evernote.  In addition to using it personally, it has been beyond beneficial for me professionally.  I will share with you a few ways I use Evernote and would love to hear how you use it, too.  I will discuss my uses of it in phases—with this particular post focusing on the Client/Service aspect. 

 

For those that are new to Evernote, allow me to give you a brief refresher:  It is very similar to MS OneNote or Google Notebook, in that it allows you to store information– pictures, documents, pieces of the web, diagrams, pictures, audio, etc. in “notebooks”.  Think of your trusty Trapper Keeper from school.

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Each notebook has its own subject and in this instance, we are talking about our fictional Client notebook. (Don’t worry—we’ll talk about others later).  Since Evernote has  web, desktop, iPhone, and blackberry versions, it is very easy to keep your notebooks in sync all of the time.

Storing important information—Sometimes, you just need pertinent information about your wedding and event clients at a glance (names, contact info, event dates, times, locations, etc.).  Create a notebook named for each client and make the first page their important information page.  Each Evernote account is given its own email address, which makes it very easy to email more detailed information like client questionnaires or forward emails with changes, or more descriptive explanations.  With Evernote’s annotations, it is very easy to make things stand out for quick reference.

Research and meetings—With the “Clip to Evernote” feature on Firefox, surfing the web has never been easier when you are researching theme inspiration, invitation wording, signature cocktail recipes, and more.  At meetings with clients, you can take pictures of information from their wedding planner books or contracts.  Evernote magically makes printed and handwritten text inside your images searchable, too.

Stay on track with assignments—Evernote can create to do lists so that you know what you need to do for each client and when.   Keep all your lists organized and tags according to category (i.e., vendor research, catering, etc.).

Design and other fabulousness—Again, storing your color concepts, inspirations, ideas, sketches, images, and more in Evernote keeps everything in an easily accessible location that is always with you, no matter where you go.  This is great when you are out scouting locations, design props, fabrics, etc.  You can take a quick picture with your mobile phone and store it in Evernote immediately with a quick note about what inspired you at the time.  If you come up with an idea off the cuff, you can also record a voice note to your notebook, as well.

Preliminary event info—timelines, maps, layouts, shoot lists, vendor information, etc. that is specific to each client can be stored in their notebooks.  Evernote’s accessibility makes it easy to edit the information from anywhere:  your desk in your office or while waiting in line on your mobile phone.

These are just a few ways you can use Evernote for your wedding clients.  If you are an Evernote user, how do you use it for your clients?

Tags: clients, evernote, notes, research, wedding planning

7 comments

28

Oct

Coming Soon: Kindle for PC and Mac for Free

Posted by Terrica  Published in Chic Gadgets, Programs

 

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If you have not yet purchased a Kindle or any eReader for that matter, but enjoy apps like Kindle for iPhone, you will be happy to know that Amazon will soon debut its Kindle for PC and and Kindle for Mac.  The free reader will allow you access to over 360,000 books available in the Amazon Kindle bookstore.  What’s even better is that if you have purchased samples or full length books on your Kindle for iPhone app (or if you have a Kindle), with Whispersync, you can access all of your favorite books, notes and marks.

Last week, Kindle introduced its International Kindle Wireless Reading Device that allows users to download books, magazines, and blogs wirelessly in the U.S. and internationally dropping it from its original $279 price to the U.S. Kindle’s $259.  Could this be to compete with Barnes & Noble’s new eReader, Nook which is set to debut in late November for the same price?

Happy reading!

Tags: amazon, barnes and noble, ereader, kindle, kindle for mac, kindle for pc, nook

no comment

15

Sep

Staying on Track with Time Tracking

Posted by Terrica  Published in Programs

 

When a client retains you, your work process could (or should) work similarly as an attorney who is paid in escrow and then submits an invoice for the hours worked.  Even if you do not submit that invoice to the client, tracking your hours is a good way to make sure that you are fees are in direct correlation with the amount of work you are putting in to each account.  These apps will help you track your hours in a consistent manner, which is great for hourly and flat rate work.  These are also great options for your staff if you pay your employees hourly.

The first is Compuccino.  It is an Adobe AIR app (simply means it can run on a variety of platforms—Windows, OS X, Linux) that tracks tasks, time and projects.  It also works with Basecamp if you use that as your virtual office/project management resource for your clients.  It’s sleek interface rests on your desktop as you work, allowing you to keep track along the way.

 

Toggl is another program, and although not an AIR app, it can be embedded into code into the website of you choice along with the a downloadable desktop dashboard.  There are free and paid versions and will also boast a new design in the upcoming weeks. It also works with “one-click tracking”, which means you can switch from task to task easily while working.

 

Coming Soon….

Dukt Time Tracking is another Adobe AIR app that also allows you to track your time working on projects.  It is not released yet, but be sure to sign up so that you can be notified when it is ready for release.  With an OS X like interface, projects can be grouped and expanded in folders. 

Let me know what you love and what works for you!

Tags: billable hours, compuccino, dukt, time tracking, toggl, work hours

6 comments

19

Aug

Turn Your Blog into an iPhone App

Posted by Terrica  Published in Programs

After all of the work you (or your web designer) put into your blog design, sometimes viewing it on a mobile device just doesn’t quite do it justice.  It could take a long time to load, become distorted or any other variable that exists between a computer and a smart phone.  Even though a majority of blog subscribers use sites like Google Reader or Bloglines to access their favorite feeds, making potential first time visits on mobile devices fun and easy to use is a surefire way to keep a reader (in addition to killer content).

 

I have been using WPTouch theme for my wedding planning blog Cocktails & Details for a few months now.  When you go to the website on your laptop or desktop, you will see this:

 

But if you access it via the popular iPhone or iPod Touch you will see a regenerated version of the blog that works like an iPhone/iPod Touch App:

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You can customize your colors and icons to be more reflective of your brand, as well as the way that the posts appear.  Your tags are easily accessible and visible to generate further exploration into your blog.  If a reader stumbles across a link to your blog on Twitterfon, Twitteriffic or Tweetie, they can continue to your blog with an iPhone like interface that is fast, but stays true to your content.  Simply install the plugin for your WordPress blog, set your preferences, and you are done!

Tags: blog, iphone, ipod touch, theme, wordpress, wp touch

1 comment

6

Aug

Cure Your Mac Envy (a little) with Rocket Dock

Posted by Terrica  Published in Programs

While away at Engage!09, of course I was surrounded by Macs.  Everyone I know has been telling me to get a Mac, but I can’t for one very good reason…I have WAY too much software that I use everyday that I would have to purchase all over again or be forced to run Windows on a Mac (which seems a bit superfluous) in order to run them.

That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.

At any rate, i was quite envious of the cute docks that  Macs use, similar to Window’s task bar (a little). I stumbled upon something for Windows that gave me what I wanted.  Rocket Dock.  Rocket Dock allows you to put your most frequently used programs, files, etc. in an animated dock, just like Macs.  Take a look:

Features:
  • Minimize windows to the dock
  • Real-time window previews in Vista
  • Running application indicators
  • Simple drag-n-drop interface
  • Multi-monitor support
  • Supports alpha-blended PNG and ICO icons
  • Icons zoom and transition smoothly
  • Auto-hide and Popup on mouse over
  • Positioning and layering options
  • Fully customizable
  • Completely Portable
  • ObjectDock Docklet support
  • Compatible with MobyDock, ObjectDock, RK Launcher, and Y’z Dock skins
  • Runs great on slower computers
  • Unicode compliant
  • Supports many languages and can easily be translated
  • A friendly user base :)
  • And best of all… its FREE!!!

I love that I don’t have to go to my taskbar, menu or desktop to access what I want when I need it.

Tags: applications, mac, Programs, rocket dock, vista, windows

1 comment

25

May

Intuit QuickBooks Simple Start Free Edition 2009

Posted by Terrica  Published in Programs

Features from the Intuit website:

The FREE bookkeeping software solution for small businesses that want the basics. It’s so easy to use, it will give you back your time so you can easily stay on top of your business. You’ll spend more time growing your business and making money, not bookkeeping.

  • Track sales & expenses for up to 20 customers
  • Instantly create invoices, pay bills, & print checks
  • Organize your finances in one place, tax ready

Get your free copy of Quickbooks Simple Start Edition 2009 today!

Tags: intuit, invoice, quickbooks, simple start free edition, software

no comment

11

May

Making Blogging Easier with Windows Live Writer

Posted by Terrica  Published in How To?, Programs

I’ve been using Windows Live Writer for a long time, and I love it.  I’m  a proud WordPress user– but I only log in to my admin area to check my dashboard or make updates to a theme or plugins for my blog.  It’s very easy when using a new blogging platform to become overwhelmed (read: frustrated and ready to throw your computer out of a window)with blogging.

Windows Live  Writer 2009 allows you to focus on what you should when in blogging mode:  blogging. What was once a time consuming process– adding pictures, links, etc.  Windows Live Writer does in a few simple clicks.  WLW, as it is known in the blogosphere, also pulls your blog’s current theme into the program so that you can see how your blog post will look as you type/edit it.  This is a life saver for when you want to make sure your content works with your theme and not against it.  Since it is a program that is on your computer you can free yourself from internet distractions and/or use it when you do not have an internet connection to keep up with your blogging.   If you write for multiple blogs, you can still access them all through WLW.

Here is why I love it, and as a blogging wedding planner you will, too:

  • WLW can resize pictures and add effects on the spot.  No more using photo editing software for blog posts.
  • The Autolink glossary is a Godsend.  If you talk about a certain product, vendor, or website a lot, WLW will memorize the link and automatically link to it when you write it in your posts.
  • Server side tagging, if your blog supports it, allows you tag all of your posts as you write them and will even keep a database of your tags to help you access and use them quickly.
  • Twitter, Digg and Flickr plugins that can update your twitter status with your new blog post, submit a post to Digg or pull from your Flickr album for pictures– all without ever logging in to those sites.
  • Save drafts and edit posts quickly.  Sometimes, I will have an idea for a blog post and will type in the title (if I have one) and a few ideas that come to me.  Then I’ll save it and come back to it later when I can write about it in depth.
  • Post scheduling.  Enough said.

There are so many other features that I could list, but you really have to try it yourself and see what works for you.  I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

Let me know how it works out for you or if you have any questions  in the comments section.  I’ll be here every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Tip your waitress.

3 comments

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