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Testimonials
"We are going onto our 6th year of using TimeFox, and we depend on it so much now we don't know how we lived without it."
Ken Jurina
Top Draw Inc.
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"I think it is good to get into the habit of tracking time now, as it so integral to how you bill in the future. I don't do any projects now without tracking it - it allows me to see how I have improved and figure out ways to streamline my process so it is more efficient."
Erynn Lyster
Urban Motif Design Inc
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"We've added an employee to our small agency and the personnel tracking is a time-saver. I just give the weekly hours report to our accountant and she has everything she needs."
Chris Ehlinger
THINK! Creative Advertising, Inc.
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FunctionFox is committed to helping small creative companies improve their business. TimeFox, our simple time and project tracking system, helps small advertising, design, marketing, and public relations firms manage their business and do more with their valuable time.
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Feature Article: Return on Investment
FunctionFox Webinar Series: Grill the Expert! and Advice to Young Creative Professionals
Creative Resources
FunctionFox Student Program
Contact FunctionFox
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Return on Investment
In today's economy many business people are looking at all kinds of ways to improve profitability. A wise man once told me that business is simple... make more than you spend!
But many translate this to mean they should cut as many expenses as possible — everything that is not an absolute survival necessity. WRONG! This is the worse strategy during an economic slowdown. My advice is to focus on getting a better return on your investment.
Here are some powerful, yet simple, ideas to help you improve your return on investment, increase volume, and sell more of what you have.
Increase sales per customer
It takes a lot of effort and expense to find new customers. In fact, if your advertising yields a response rate of just 2%, you're doing well. Once someone becomes your customer, though, you know them and can target them directly. Think about offering your existing customers more products or services. See what happens to profit if you increase volume by 5%.
Increase the number of customers
Increase capacity so you can handle more customers. If you have a big backlog of orders, are short of space or staff, or simply can't handle any more work, you may need to increase capacity. One of my favorite low-risk ways to do this is to subcontract, especially when I believe the increase in volume may not be on-going. Of course you must ensure that your subcontractors' work is satisfactory, that they can deliver on time and that they will not solicit your customer directly. Your costs maybe higher, but the increase you see in sales will more than compensate for it.
Increase Prices
Are you charging all you can for your products or services? If your products and services have competition, your prices cannot be significantly different than your competitor's. Price is generally inversely proportionate to volume. The
more...
This article has been written by Mark Deo and reprinted with permission from SBANetwork. For more information, please visit their website at
http://www.markdeo.com/
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Grill The Expert!
An Interactive Panel Discussion Featuring Design Industry Experts from Around the Globe Including; Deborah Dawton, Mary-Lynn Bellamy-Willms and Emily Ruth Cohen
Thursday May 21, 2009
1PM Eastern | 10AM Pacific
(what time is that in my time zone?)
Who should attend: Creative professionals with tough questions on the business of design and creative service.
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Advice to Young Creative Professionals
Presented By David C. Baker,
ReCourses
Thursday July 16, 2009
2 PM Eastern | 11AM Pacific
(what time is that in my time zone?)
Who should attend: Creative professionals looking to grow their careers within an agency or organization.
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HOW Designer's Good Business Guide
Get the best business advice from HOW's experts in this 180+ page PDF. Everything you need to know about starting and running a successful design business, right on your desktop. You'll also find out how to get the perfect client balance, self-promotion, pricing your work, tips to working with Corporate America and more.
Get more details >>
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Drip Dot Swirl
Most designers don't have the time or money to commission original photography or illustration, so they turn to stock. You'll find 80 original illustrated patterns for use in all kinds of design work. This book/DVD set provides you with pattern files your can incorporate into your work as well as helpful examples of real design projects that use the patterns.
Get more details >>
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Savvy Designer's Guide to Success
Trying to navigate a successful design career can feel like running a marathon without directions: It's time to stop running and start planning! The Savvy Designer's Guide to Success will keep you moving toward the career track you want. It's a practical yet daring guide - turning your creative talent into a flourishing career in the competitive, ever-changing world of design.
Get more details >>
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Designer's Guide to Marketing and Pricing
Find answers to all of the common questions on pricing and marketing asked by creatives every day. This nuts and bolts guide to running a creative services business teaches you how to create a smart marketing plan--along with small actionable steps to take to reach your financial goals.
Get more details >>
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FunctionFox dedicated to improving the business of design and creative service for new designers.
The FunctionFox Student Program offers a unique and easy way for design educators to add a level of real world design experience to their curriculum. When you incorporate project management and accountability into existing assignments, and have students track their work with TimeFox, you provide invaluable lessons in the 'business' of design.
With the FunctionFox Student Program, your students have access to TimeFox online software, so they can learn to manage and track their time, create estimates, record project details — and deliver projects in the way they will be required to when they enter the workforce. TimeFox software is free to students throughout their education, plus a full six months following graduation, to help jumpstart their careers. If you incorporate TimeFox into your programming, a representative is available to introduce the software and explain it's relevance in the design business, and to present or assist in leading classroom sessions on professional practice and project management).
Get more details >>
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For a TimeFox Demo, go to:
www.functionfox.com/demo
To arrange a guided tour of TimeFox, please send your request to:
info@functionfox.com
To order a TimeFox subscription, go to:
www.functionfox.com/purchase
If you would like your company to be featured in a TimeFox
newsletter, on our website or in our promotional package,
please send your request to:
info@functionfox.com
You can opt out of the About Time Newsletter at:
www.functionfox.com/newsletter/no_thanks.asp
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