​Zoom Organizing-Maybe the answer in getting you started on your organizing journey. Many folks are not comfortable having folks in their homes during this pandemic. I understand. I am trying to isolate myself as well. And have been trying to figure out how Zoom and organizing could merge.  I am a hands-on kind of professional organizer. I do the sorting and am in the trenches with my clients. 

But lately, I have had to pivot my business and see if there was a way to work from phone organizing with clients over Zoom. I will admit it is still a work in progress and making sure my clients are getting things done without me in their homes.

Over the last 20 years of organizing, I have had many clients who tell me,  "Karen, I know how to organize, what to do and how to get things done, but for one reason or another, I don't complete the task. The house is a mess, and I can't keep up. Can you come once a week drink TEA with me while I put things away"? So I knew Zoom organizing would work for this specific type of client. 

I am encouraging them, coaching them. We take breaks often so they can file something or put something away. I answer their questions just as if I was in their home. Over the last several weeks, piles are eliminated or becoming smaller; clean laundry is getting put away, and lots of catalogs have been recycled. Clients don't seem so overwhelmed. 

Does this seem like a good option for you? If so, contact me at Karen@organizingworks or give me a call, 781-275-8915. Maybe Zoom organizing can get you started. 

Today, I am writing to the small businesses out there. Many of you out there hire me to get your business organized. Set up filing systems so you can retrieve things, help you organize and manage your papers, and help with receipts and tax preparation and other paper management tasks to keep things going.

During the pandemic, many small businesses have closed, thrived, stayed on course while others have been trying to find ways to bring in new customers—tasks like getting new business cards or new headshots to redo your business cards. I updated my Quick books and started blogging on my website. Others I know have been updating their websites. Thus the "Website Wolves" show up. 

Over the last several months, I have gotten numerous calls from companies I don't know to redo my website. They promise to "do it all," and I will be getting 100 customers a day. The price they quote is my whole marketing budget for two years. 

In 2019 I was contacted by two companies that promised the MOON and undelivered. I got none of the benefits they promised. There was no flick of a switch and bringing on new leads. Some leads worked out; others were just ghosts-never to be heard from again. Something with scrolling the internet with a glass of wine, and they decide I want to get organized. They fill out a profile, send it over, and then when I would call-no answer. They never called me back. I find it weird and rude. Broken promises are costing hundreds. 

In a reading article from AARP Bulletin, Dec 2018, on Website Wolves talks about growing concerns of "web designers" that prey on seniors, moms who want to work from home while kids are in school (before Covid 19 obviously), or small businesses that want a new website.  They were all promised a job/website for little money down to bring in the customers. Some folks gave a lot of money only to receive a less than good website. In both instances, the websites did not deliver. They did not get their money back, and the companies are making millions.

This past summer, I contact Leaf Guard to install new gutters. They came with a 3-inch binder with all of their clients who were willing to speak on their behalf. I called 4 or 5 people. It made me feel - like they do a good job. Put my mind at ease.
I make my policy if you want to do business with me, I need three paying customers. People I can speak with and check out this company. Amazingly enough, many of these companies do not supply these names? Why? What are they hiding? 
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To protect my marketing dollars, my reputation and avoid being taken advantage of, I only work with companies that let me contact their customers. Just like the old saying, "If it seems too good to be true, it probably is."

Check out this article on AARP, see the millions of dollars costing all small businesses and consumers by these shysters. (If you can't find this article -reach out to me.)