Free your mind for free

This is more about mapping processes, but I found this great free down , go to this site http://freemind.en.softonic.com/ and download free application.

This is a good way to start anaylising your business from beginning to end.

If you start with your business name and then decide on 3 or 4 main headings like:

1. Operational processes

2 Management processes

3. Marketing & Sales

4. Admin

Then expand on each accordingly, this will allow your mind to flow

If you get stuck or go blank , move on to another string, come back to that one later.

You will find lots of ideas will be popping into your head - don't hold on to them, put them down straight away, so your mind can flow again!

It's probably a good idea to get your team managers together or find another important business relation - doing it with other people always helps

Book 1/2 a day or a few hour to do all together, avoid interruptions and phone calls.

Well worth time spent

Why Intranet for your business?

What is an intranet site anyway?

Intranet sites are 'websites' that are used mainly by internal staff members or anyone else to whom you give access to - so they are not public for all to see!

It also has restricted access rights to view and read only, edit rights or no access at all on private material.

So how does an Intranet help your business?
It allows you to do the following

• Share information between team members


• One place for all information (no more files on other peoples desktops you can't find)


• Information available 24/7 in real time


• Live events Calender


• News and updates


• Document storage


• Document Version control


• Teams can have their own sites


• Defines your processes and procedures


• Help desk


• search engine


• and more..........

Its a hub of information and at the same time ensure good business practice. It saves you hours and hours of wasted time and limits unnecessary meetings and long distance phone calls.

What type of business will benefit from an Intranet?

The quick answer is this: Any business, doesn't matter what you do - every business has information.

When is it time to get an Intranet if you are a small business?

Small businesses should consider Intranet

• If you have staff members in various locations on site or working from home


• If you are finding in difficult to maintain correct procedures and protocols


• To improve your business processes


• Your business is loosing money


• You need to save money


• You have many projects on the go at once


• If you have a full time admin assistant - it is time!

If this has interested you and you are now seriously thinking about an Intranet, why not check out Microsoft Sharepoint services 3.0 it is now FREE to downlaod.