As of the end of December, My Organized Biz will be closing as b5media discontinues Bizzia and the business blogs.  I’ve been writing this blog for several months and hope I’ve brought you helpful information about organizing your business, your office, and your marketing. 

 It has been enjoyable blogging here and getting to know so many of my readers.  As with  many opportunities in life, there comes a time to go on to something else.

I shall be activating two business blogs I established at Blogger some time ago and will publish future business and organizational tips there so that my readers will have information to refer to.  These are Baby Boomer Biz Notes and Blogging and Business.  Come join me there!

As one year comes to an end and another begins, it’s time to take stock and see where you might make changes.  Also, you’ll want to do some organizing for 2010.

Consider practices and products that weren’t so successful this past year.  It might not be your fault at all but is due to the changes in the economy and spending power of your customers.

What can you do this year to minimize losses and even drive up profits?

• Discontinue unprofitable products
• Brainstorm for new products/services that meet people’s needs in a changing economy.
• Assess what promotional practices worked. 
• Discontinue those that didn’t meet with success over the long term.
• Look for inexpensive or free promotional programs.
• Collaborate with other businesses and develop some joint promotional ventures.
• See if you need to take a parttime job outside your business to meet family and business expenses temporarily.
• Consider what other business people, online and off, are doing.
• Learn how to use social media to your advantage in promoting your business and products.

What techniques are working for you?

This is a good time to get one’s office organized and start a new year with a clean slate…clean desk and ordered file cabinets. 

Getting organized image: sxc.hu

 I’ve been organizing throughout the year, but haven’t reached the ultimate solution.

I’ve resolved over the coming week, when one of my outside-the-home jobs (substitute teaching) is on vacation, to take that time and finish my clean up and organizational tasks.  Then I need to make sure I’ve developed, or am at least in the process of developing, organizational strategies that will be easy to follow throughout 2010.

• Some files I won’t be able to box up for storage until the taxes are done, but I can deal with those that don’t involve income and expense figures. 
• Close my eyes and throw out stuff I haven’t used for years and has no bearing on anything I’m doing now. 
• Although as a writer, some of my research comes in handy years later.  So I need to put this in our storage area where I can get at it readily. 
• Check out new organizational items that will make it easier for me to keep my desk, shelves and files in better order.
• Utilize computer storage of records more.  But I can’t rely on this entirely because the files can be lost…permanently.

How are you organizing for 2010?

Winter image: sxc.hu

At the end of each month, I present a round-up of five posts that have been popular or have generated interest at My Organized Biz. 

Here are 5 for December:

Organizing Your Packaging for “Green” Products

Organizing a Studio in a Loft

Pearl Harbor Day – December 7

More Organizational Tips from a Reader

Reader’s Response to Internet Disfunction Post

Did you have a favorite post?

Green image: sxc.hu

With so much emphasis on being “green” and environmentally conscious, you might want to consider how you can comply for 2010 without being excessively neurotic.  Some people get carried to the extreme with being “green,” that they’re not practical at all.

However, there are some things you can do.  Such as:

• Separate trash in office and home, especially if your city or town has separated collection containers or bins.
• Take separated materials to recycling areas.  Some of these even give you money for what you’ve collected, particularly in states where you must pay deposits on cans and containers.
• Reuse paper…for instance, we use the blank side of paper for making copies when we can.
• Purchase recycled materials, if it’s practical.  Sometimes recycled material isn’t as good for some projects.
• See if you can find ways to use items so they won’t go to waste.
• Take this as your slogan – Condense, conserve, and recirculate.

(Ask grandma or great grandma about reusing  and conserving materials.  They were good at this because there often wasn’t money for buying new.  The older generations didn’t grow up in the “throw-away” society.)

What are your “green” plans for 2010?

Developing a brand or recognition of your name and/or business has become a hot topic nowadays.  Focusing your interests under a related “umbrella” enables you to brand a wider group of activities.

I’ve written about a number of branding strategists at Home Biz Notes.  Perhaps none of them started out deciding to develop a brand, but slowly it has evolved for them and is worthwhile building upon now.

Susan Gunelius on Branding Your Business – The Playboy Way

Branding – The Elm Creek Way

Kyra E. Hicks Discovers Her Writing Niche or Brand

How Do I Brand My Home Business?

Can I Brand – The Trails End Quilters Way?

Have you begun branding your business?

Thank you image: sxc.hu

Do you take time to write “thank you” notes to customers, friends, potential customers, your suppliers and the occasional person who’s done you a favor?   In today’s fast paced world, notes of appreciation seem to have gone by the wayside.

There are many ways to say “thank you” and to show your appreciation.  Take time to utilize one of them and organize this gesture into your schedule.

• A sticky note attached to an invoice, a product, or something you’ve borrowed and are returning.
• A note specifically designed for the occasion.
• A note you’ve designed with your computer program.
• A note you’ve made by hand
• An e-mail
• A phone call
• A text message

No matter how quickly it’s done or how it’s done, the fact that you’ve taken time to thank someone for a gift, a favor, their time will have special meaning.

How do you say “thank you?”

Christmas image: sxc.hu

May you have a very Merry Christmas Day with health, happiness and success in 2010.  (And may you find your way to greater organizing accomplishments!)

From My Organized Biz

Making a List image: sxc.hu

Organization of time, work, goals and work space often seem challenging.  Even when we have good intentions, we sometimes go astray.

From Business Know How, we have Getting Organized: 5 Secrets to Help You Get Started by Maria Garcia.  Here Maria gives you five organizational tips, but breaks them down even further for ease in getting yourself started.  This could be a good way to start the New Year in your business.

How are you organizing for the New Year?

Before you can organize an office or studio, you must have one to organize. 

Home office image: sxc.hu

 What shall you use for an office?  There are many options. 

• Use a loft area as my daughter is doing for her fabric art studio.  One corner does have a bed, dresser and bookshelves for her daughter when home from college.
• Convert one corner or end of a bedroom, as I’ve often had to do.
• Use one section of a living room or dining room.  I’ve had to do this, too.  My daughter had her fabric art area at one end of our living room until the loft area became available.
• Convert a garage or storage building into a studio, work area or office.  My husband uses part of the garage for his workshop.
• Build a separate small building for this use.
• Convert a large closet into an office or writing area.
• Do you have dead space at the end of a hallway that can be used for an office.
• Use an extra room in your home.
• Finish an area of the basement.
• Share an office with another family member, as I’m doing now with my husband.

What are you doing for an office or studio?