Tag: Technology
Avaya’s Small Biz Communications Makeover
Want to win a communications makeover and new IP office system? Then, enter Avaya’s Small Business Communications Makeover Contest. Submit a short video or written entry online. The topic should be about communications “disconnects” that cost your businesses pain, time and money.
Avaya will be visiting 20 small businesses—organizations with 10 to 50 employees—and giving them FREE communications makeovers. They’ll help design and install solutions specially tailored to each company’s specific needs.
Click here to enter the contest.
Deadline is October 15, 2009.
SCORE Association
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October 12, 2009
Recover Your Hardware and Software After Theft
A fellow business owner had the misfortune of a home break-in. The thieves made off with three of his laptops. Like so many others, he’s taking extra precautions after the fact.
I, on the other hand, am proactive.
I take special care with my laptop because I run my entire business on it. I’m fanatical about backing up all my important data online, my laptop is never out of my sight when I travel, it’s password-protected, and I have a subscription to Computrace® LoJack® for Laptops by Absolute® Software.
This software “tracks, locates, and recovers stolen computers while providing you with the ability to protect your personal information from identify theft,” as stated on their Website. If my laptop is ever stolen, I’ll let Absolute know, and the software goes to work tracking its location. I will also be able to remotely delete all of my personal and sensitive files from the hard drive.
To password-protect a PC or laptop, click Start, Control Panel, double-click User Accounts. You should see where to create a password (make it memorable but hard for others to guess).
I hope I never need this protection, but I sleep better at night knowing it’s in place.
Peggy Duncan, SCORE Atlanta
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August 11, 2009
In Work as in Life, I Live by Four Simple Principles.
These principles keep me on course and facilitate every business and social interaction I have. They free me to be creative and productive. They enable me to see and take advantage of opportunities. They are the first thing I share with my management team in every company I manage and form the basis of our working relationship. When the team follows these practical principles, the flow of communication is smooth; productivity and morale are high.
These four simple principles are the most powerful, readily adoptable tool I’ve used in my career and in my life. I want to share them with you over the course of the next month. Check back every Friday to learn more about each guiding principle.
Principle 1: Tell the Truth All the Time
It’s less confusing. You don’t have to remember what you said and to whom. And you won’t trip over conflicting remarks. This one is very basic and also very hard to do at times. Oftentimes, we say what we think others want to hear to keep them happy. When the truth comes out later, everyone is unhappy. More importantly, there is less time to fix whatever you were afraid to say in the first place.
Telling the truth all the time keeps your mind clear of the clutter and reduces the stress of having to remember the various versions of the “truth.” Whatever problem you’re trying to avoid will be resolved much sooner if you tell the truth and deal with it immediately. Letting the skeletons multiply in the closet only makes things worse.
The reach of technology today means that sooner or later, whether it is deleted computer files or missed financial payments, the truth will come out. Deal with the issue when it appears and you’ll not only sleep better, but you’ll learn more quickly and ensure that you keep moving forward.
Marilyn Tam, Guest Blogger
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June 12, 2009
Jump Start Your Biz: $50,000 in Dell Products!
Dell has teamed up with Endeavor, ICSB and NFIB to launch the Small Business Excellence Awards. Applications are due by April 3, 2009. For more info on rules and eligibility, visit www.dell.com/CEAward. To get help with your application, contact a SCORE mentor in your area (Find SCORE) or online (Ask SCORE).
Nine National Finalists Receive:
Dell business-class notebook
One-year NFIB membership
One National Winner Receives:
A day at Dell, including time with Michael Dell
$25,000 in Dell products and services
A lifetime membership to NFIB
One Global Award Winner Receives:
$50,000 in Dell products and services
An entrepreneur’s summit hosted by Dell Chairman and CEO Michael Dell
A lifetime membership to ICSB
Access to Endeavor’s network of biz leaders and high-impact entrepreneurs
Get Deals and Special Offers via Twitter
Fellow blogger, Peg Corwin, recently wrote a post on the benefits of Twitter for small business. Dell has also recognized the potential of Twitter and has created a special account, Twitter.com/DellSmBizOffers, to provide deals and promotions to small biz owners. If you’re in the market for new computer equipment, it’s worth following.
Have you heard of any new contests, special offers or interesting sites for small biz? Leave a comment below and share with the rest of us.
-Jacalyn Barnes, SCORE
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February 16, 2009
Owners of new and growing small businesses today know that the conditions of a business can change, as we have seen with the current economy. The technology that was cutting edge last year is now outdated, or worse, obsolete. Buyer moods can swing dramatically and marketing strategies are constantly changing as we need to think of ways to save money. Anticipating trends can be extremely valuable in keeping you current on everything from sales strategies and customer needs to technology tools and the general economy. Business is not growing and the challenge is what can be done to sustain, change will be inevitable and small business owners should constantly look ahead and think about ways to change the way they do things. The more you test the winds of change, the better your chances of success down the road.
- Always try to set your business apart by doing things that the customer may not expect.
- What do your customers need now in this economy as everyone struggles to make it?
- Add value to your service, what can you offer that is recession proof?
- Think about something that your customer needs that is essential to their business growth. Try to think about the next new trend.
Not all customers are created equal. Some are more valuable and loyal than others, and those are the ones you should pay the most attention to with special savings and service offers. And don’t expect loyalty from employees. As American society becomes ever more mobile and labor shortages worsen, studies have shown that workers will not stay on a job for more than three years. People are always looking for their next opportunity. Advances in technology will continue to radically change how small companies do business.
You will need to keep up. Small business owners who know how to acquire and manage information will achieve the most success. Capturing and analyzing data about customer needs, wants, behavior and how they use your product or service will become increasingly critical. Always ask customers what they want and always exceed your customers expectations. Let me know if there are other things that have worked for you?
Julie Brander, New Haven SCORE
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January 8, 2009
With presidential candidates nominated, it’s time to reflect. What lessons can we draw for business from what we have seen? Here’s my take: three “political” lessons for small business owners.
1. Be passionate about your vision. Taking about hope and the future inspired voters. Your vision for your business, and your passionate commitment to it, can inspire your staff too. Click here to make mission and vision part of your business.
2. Use the power of web marketing and technology. In the election process as in the rest of life, communications technology and the Internet have altered our reality. Those who master these changes pull out ahead. You too need to take advantage of this new technology to maximize your business success. Click here to learn more about technology for your business.
3. Build a strong and trusted team. The candidates have powerful field operations and good advisers. You too need strong people in the field, selling and delivering your product or service to customers. You too want people around you who can analyze, plan and execute. Click here for advice on how to build a cohesive business team.
How do you rate yourself in these three dimensions? Why not apply these political lessons in your small business? What other lessons can we draw? Please talk to me in a comment.
Peg Corwin, SCORE Chicago
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September 2, 2008
To Podcast or Not to Podcast – What is a Podcast Anyway?
What do you think about podcasts as a way to market my business? As the CEO of an online media company, I get asked that question a lot. First, let me explain what a podcast is. A podcast is a recorded audio file in an mp3 format which contains your content. Your listeners can listen to on demand from your web site or download for future listening at their convenience.
Generally, podcasts can be a powerful and affordable means of communicating your message; however, as with any marketing strategy you need to create a plan with measureable goals and objectives. In order to be effective with podcasts as a marketing tool, you need to commit to a consistent schedule. Decide whether you want to produce a weekly, monthly or quarterly program and then stick with it. You can’t be sporadic, consistency is critical.
Like any other form of communication in your business, podcasts need to be done professionally. Make sure your audio is of good quality and your content is valuable. Your podcast should never be a commercial, but rather it should contain information that establishes you and your business as an expert resource for information. Each program must be well-organized and compelling to create a loyal audience.
A podcast should be short. Keep your programs to between 5 and 10 minutes. If you want to cover a number of issues within a particular topic, turn it into a series with various parts.
Using technology for the sake of technology alone is never the right answer. But taking advantage of technology as part of an integrated marketing plan can create a competitive advantage for your business.
-Susan Wilson Solovic, guest blogger
August 15, 2008
Does a toll-free number add value?
If you’re running a small business or nonprofit and are trying to cut costs, let the toll-free number go (or get a new number and limit its use…keep it off the Web!). And unless you have to send or receive tons of faxes, get rid of the dedicated line for that too.
Money spent on every incoming call on your toll-free line (or on funds for a dedicated fax line) could be redirected to activities that add better value to your organization. Are you still hanging on to these thinking you’ll get more business by making it more convenient to call you? Do you think this is helping you appear bigger than you are?
Here is why you should consider using that money for something else (such as a top-notch Web presence). (more…)
August 7, 2008
You probably already have a powerful tool that will save you a lot of time, but it’s sitting around collecting dust. What is it? An old monitor. Dust it off and put it to work by using it as an extension of your desktop. Simply connect it to your laptop or computer.
Here are some things you’ll be able to do:
It's easy to set up your second monitor and it will save you so much time.
- Research the Net on one and drag the information to the other.
- View your Outlook calendar on one and email on the other.
- Read instructions on one and perform the steps on the other.
- And so much more!
Note: Under the instruction “to move items between monitors” add the following:
- Double-click the top of a display screen (your blue bar) to resize your screen (Restore).
- Then drag an item on your desktop across your screen until it appears on the other monitor. (more…)
July 31, 2008
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Julie Brander
Peg Corwin
Peggy Duncan
Vernita Naylor
Betty Otte
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Joyce Bone
