Genbook: Great Online Appointment Manager

I have to say that the one thing about being a consultant that can get tricky for me is booking appointments. At one time, I had someone do this for me, and it became a bit of a nightmare.

So, I am here to let you know about a FABULOUS online appointment manager: Genbook. You can sign up for a free version or if you want to gain access to your customers’ information and profile (which I recommend,) the service is only $15.00 per month. I have to say that I have already saved about 3 hours this past week just in appointment scheduling.

3 Free Downloads to Jumpstart Your Biz in 2009

Natural Readers Voice to Text Tool

Jabber Instant Messaging Tool

Free MP3 Converter

Great MP3 Streaming Software: MP3 Sound Stream: Listen In Below

I am a big fan of adding audio to websites, blogs and even articles, because the voice is such an intimate tool. So, I am always looking for tools that can help me make audio easier to download and can draw attention at the same time.

I am in love with MP3 Sound Stream. The tool is super easy to use. You simply load an audio into the software, choose the color and style of button you want, and you then tell the system to “go.” Once you are finished, you will have a little piece of code to add to your blog or website that looks similar to the one you are playing right now.

I also used Audacity Audio Recording Software to create this video…so in about 5 minutes, I am able to stream audio directly onto this blog page. I also recommend the Podpress plug-in for podcasting, but I am using MP3 Sound Stream for most of my streaming. I know you will enjoy the tool as much as I do!

Open Office: Looks and Acts Just Like Microsoft Office…But It’s Free!

OpenOffice.org is both an open-source product and a project. The product is a multiplatform office productivity suite very similar to Microsoft Office. It includes desktop applications such as a word processor, a spreadsheet program, a presentation manager, and a drawing program, with a user interface and feature set similar to those of other office suites. OpenOffice.org also works transparently with a variety of file formats, including those of Microsoft Office. And…the best part about the software, is that it’s free!

JotForm: Create Quick Forms for Your Website

JotForm is a free, super easy tool to create all sorts for forms for your website (subscription forms, surveys, time sheets, etc.)

Super easy to use, and of course, we love anything free!

Great Voice to Text Software: Dragon Naturally Speaking

If you are short on time and love to talk, I highly recommend Dragon Naturally Speaking. The tool has been refined, and it now has about a 97% accuracy rate. This voice to text software is easy to use and is great for blogging, article writing and e-book creation.

They have a $50.00 rebate right now going on right now with Amazon, and I highly recommend the product…really cool!

Want to Do a Little Direct Marketing? Let Jigsaw Help You

Ryan Coleman gave me the BEST list of business websites a few weeks ago. I just spent some time on Jigsaw. The site includes millions of companies, websites and addresses. You can buy points if you want names, but here is how I am using it: I go to the site, download the companies I am interested in talking with, and I then perform a search on the actual website for the person or people I want to approach. If they are not listed on the website, you can perform a Google search such as “Executives for XYZ Company.”

Great resource, and some direct mail does work. I would recommend that you wait until January 1 so that your mail does not get covered up in holiday mail, send out a letter of introduction and then follow that letter up with a phone call. If you are a bit skiddish on making phone calls, contact Donna Senge of Jump Start Revenue, Inc., and she can break the ice for you on a first phone call.

Host a Free Web Conference for 20 People with DimDim

DimDim is a free web conferencing service where you can share your desktop, show slides, collaborate, chat, talk and broadcast via webcam with absolutely no download required for attendees. Very user friendly, so check it out!

And…while you are checking out DimDim, check out our recent post about Animoto...easy way to create a music video quickly.  Enter the Animoto site below.

Carol Dickson-Carr to be Interviewed on Entrepreneurial Overwhelm on Nov. 18

Carol Dickson-Carr will being interviewed at 5pm ET on Tuesday 11/18 on entrepreneurial overwhelm with a technology focus.  Details/sign-up page can be found here: http://is.gd/7nKi

Cool Music Video for Your Business Using Animoto

My friend and colleague, Ryan Coleman, told me earlier this week about Animoto. It is a free and very easy tool you can use to create a quick music video. I literally did this quick video in 5 minutes. I just grabbed the images from EDGE! A Leadership Story and uploaded them to Animoto, added music and five minutes later I had this video (be kind…this was definitely a quickie.)

You can play around with the tool to improve the quality over this. But…this is a nice addition to other marketing tools you may be using.

Watch the video here.

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