Last week I had the pleasure of speaking at a monthly meeting of SCORE councelors; If you are not familiar with this organization, they are a wonderful association that helps small businesses through counceling and workshops. Workshops that I am pleased to be a leader of several times a year. My presentation to the councelors was on the technologies that can help small businesses market and grow their companies over the Internet. The presentation ranged from Search Engine Optimization , Pay-Per-Click advertising , to Email Marketing , and Affiliate Programs and finished with Blogging and Podcasting. It was an hour packed full of information . When the session was all over , they were happy to be more aware of what is available out there. After the presentation I had lunch with one of the councelors who expressed his enjoyment over the presentation; however he reminded me that all this great information is difficult to retain. How do we remember it all?

This question comes up very frequently in my line of work. Whether I am expalining how to use Microsoft Outlook, or discussing all the details behind launching an eCommerce web site, people wonder how do I remember it all. It is not much different than many of my clients - it is my job, rather my passion to understand the technologies that help make me a better marketer and a more proficient worker. I am in awe of people who work in the financial industry, personally that is an area that baffles me at times, and if I don't stop and really concentrate on what my advisor is explaining I feel like a kid who was just introduced to algebra for the first time.

Real Estate is another industry so many details to understand. Lawyers, accountants, in every occupation there are so many things to understand. That's why we are taught as entreprenuers to Focus. So my focus is on technologies that help small to mid sized businesses market their company and stay efficient.

Now with that in mind - how do I remember all this information? I talk about the technologies I have learned about and of course I try them first hand. I find a project to work on to try out the technology and ask myself, "What do my clients want to know? How will they approach this new program?" Second I teach what I learn. That is my big secret. I have found teaching has made it easier to remember what I learn. When you teach other people about what you know , you repeat the information over and over and it increases the retention. Practice makes perfect - right! I am also known to make punch lists that have the main points I need to remember, training materials and of course speaking and writing about what I have learned. How do you remember the details of your industry? Take those tricks and skills and begin applying them to areas you're not as comfortable with and you will see your retention grow.

Teach co-workers and if you are a sole proprieter try to find opportunities to explain your knowledge to people you network with. Look for reciprical relationships with other sole proprieters therefore you can help each other. And remember if you are not an expert in a specific area try to reach out to those who are , you will find many times they have information or advice that will save you time and money.

I will have a new checklist for web sites for you soon thanks to my friends at SCORE who have inspired me to write out a few checklists on the technologies mentioned above. If you have any feedback or want to know about anything mentioned in this blog please leave a comment or contact me directly by emailing ask@technologytherapy.com