Posted by Angela | 4 Comments
New Year’s Resolutions for Your Small Busine...
Now that Christmas has come and gone, the New Year is just around the corner. Starting a new diet, budgeting money better, and kicking bad habits are some usual New Year’s resolutions – but we’ve compiled a list of computer-related resolutions that you should consider for your business.
1. Start a Blog
A blog is a very important companion to a Website. A Website should be concrete and informative while the blog should update the reader and provide some personality. WordPress says, “Many business owners have wised up to the use of [blogs] to deliver their business message – in a personal voice – through the power of blogs.” Maintaining a blog allows you to get closer to customers and even build relationships because you are simulating a conversation. And it’s not even hard to do. Blogging requires no previous experience and has no rules. But be careful; grammatical errors or any other errors can detract from your intended message.
Blogging also helps a Website’s chances of being seen on major search engines like Google or Yahoo. This is called search engine optimization and is very important for your Website. What’s the point of having a Website if no one can find it? Moving up the search results’ list is a great way to get more hits on your Website and adding a blog will help do just that.
2. Take Data Backups Seriously
Backing up your data “can mean the difference between a slight computer setback and living through your own electronic apocalypse” (TopTenReviews Contributor). There is no reason not to do it. You can’t afford to risk all that information! Computers are not perfect; they can crash, they can get viruses, and they can even be stolen. The unexpected happens sometimes so back up your data!
Microsoft provides a list of what you should back up, how to back it up, and where to store the backed up information.
3. Filtering: Spam, Malware, & the Web
Keystone’s Senior Technology Consultant, Adam Arnold, believes this is the most important resolution anyone can make for their business. He says,
“The perception of web filtering has previously been to keep employees from wasting time on the Internet. Now, web filtering is the new Anti-virus. Most malware infections come from Internet traffic and account for a large percentage of support costs. A solid web filtering solution can not only make the workforce more productive but decrease your risk levels and support costs at the same time.”
To save money in the long run and to keep work going smoothly, it is important to invest in real malware protection. And by real malware protection, I don’t mean AVG. Shop around and choose the best malware protection out there. It could mean the difference between a successful workplace and a crumbling one.
Spam filtering is also a major concern when talking about your work environment. A real spam filter, like Postini e-mail filtering service, will allow you to select what senders you wish to receive emails from and which you do not, while also catching threatening emails.
4. Create a Facebook Business Page
If you’re really serious about expanding your business online and need another outlet to find possible customers, creating a Facebook Page is a great solution. A Facebook page can reach a different demographic than what your Website or blog may be attracting. Also, a Facebook page will provide search engine optimization (like what I said about adding a blog in #1). It can also allow you to update customers frequently with short messages with the “status update.” You can use this to direct your Facebook fans to a new article on your blog or a new page on your Website. The page can provide all these advantages and creating one is free, which is definitely a plus.
5. Use Your Own Domain Name for Business Email
Instead of using Yahoo or Hotmail for your business email activity, creating your own domain will really legitimize your business’s account. You have to admit, “help@keystone.net” seems much more reliable than “bearsfan4evr@hotmail.com” (neither of those are real, by the way). Image is a huge deal in the business world. You wouldn’t go to meet a potential customer wearing sweatpants and a t-shirt. So don’t send them an email from the same account you’ve been using since high school.
Another reason to have your own domain: your own domain can lessen the chances of your emails getting caught in spam filters.
6. Embrace Email Marketing
Email Marketing is an alternative way to advertise and update customers about your business with the click of a button, sending one email to every customer you have. Email marketing can get your name out to potential customers while saving on paper and printing costs. Keystone provides an email marketing service called Keymail which allows you to send a customized email to every customer without it being caught by a spam filter. Instead of sending the message to your entire address book at once, Keymail sends the email to each customer, one at a time. This makes the email look and feel more personal while also saving you time.
7. Make Technology Decisions Based on Long Term Goals Instead of Short Term Savings
When you go to your computer tech guy and ask about some cheap product that promises spam filtering for your network and he says, “Yes, We have seen that before. Yes, it may save you money today. No, it is not a good idea,” you need to listen! Not just limited to spam filtering, cheap products are exactly what they cost… cheap! Keep in mind the value of the product and the fact that your computers and computer network are the backbone running your business.
8. Ditch that Crap Hardware and Get a Real Computer
We’ve touched on this subject before but we cannot stress how important it is to have functioning equipment in the office. Slow, old computers can have a major effect on the productivity of your employees. That means wasted time and money.
Our Senior Technology Consultant chimed in on this topic as well. He says, “Follow 4 rules to buying a new computer: (1) Make sure it has a warranty, (2) make sure it has the professional or business version of the operating system, (3) make sure it has Microsoft office of some kind, and (4) make sure it is a brand name computer (Dell, HP, Sony, Lenovo). Don’t really care which one; just make sure it is manufactured and not custom built.”
9. Build a Real Website
Roping in more business usually comes from the connections you make and the people you know. But meeting people has its limitations, the Internet does not. That’s why a website is so important in any kind of business.
Websites from a free hosting service like Weebly are fine for casual bloggers or a personal website, but when we’re talking about your business, you need something a little- no a lot more professional. Yes, this means you will have to pay for the domain name and hosting, but it will also keep you from looking like an Internet fool. This is what potential customers are going to identify your business with. It needs to be sleek and professional with absolutely no flashing or scrolling text. The focus is your business and your message. Nothing else.
Hope these resolutions make 2010 a successful year for your business!
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Posted by Angela | 0 Comments
Just Born – New ‘The First American So...
We just recently launched a new Website for Jamie Clary’s book The First American Soccer Trivia Book. Created by our design team, the site is sharp and updated so to focus all a reader’s attention on the book itself. The site provides facts about soccer, outside resources, and even a soccer quiz.
Check out the finished product by clicking the picture below or you can find it at SoccerProfessor.Com.
Windows 7’s Release to Manufacturing!
Windows 7, Microsoft’s latest version of their operating system (OS), has passed its final tests on the road to release for manufacturing. The OS has gone through rigorous testing and quality assurance to be ready for the manufacturing stage, and the release to manufacturing (RTM) announcement was made yesterday on the Windows 7 blog. There is also video of the announcement made in Atlanta at the sales kick off celebration.
After being on Amazon UK for only eight hours, Windows 7 pre-orders had already overshot Windows Vista’s pre-order tally at 17 weeks. Microsoft says, “When you can get RTM depends on who you are.” Meaning the general public won’t get their hands on the OS until October 22 but that any partners or independent hardware and software venders will get to see the finished product as early as August 6th. They are trying to encourage anyone who has been testing Windows 7 to try out the real deal as soon as it is available.
The journey to the RTM stage has been a long one. The first developer build of Windows 7 was released last year in October, a year before the predicted release of general availability. The beta version followed with its release in January and then the release candidate in May. Now the RTM status has been achieved and the code has been sent to start working on new products for the OS to be ready by October 22nd as well. The Microsoft Windows 7 Team blog says they will be featuring many of the new products as they are released.
Read MorePosted by Angela | 0 Comments
Dell Takes First Place For Being Green
Computers are one of the leading causes of toxic wastes piling up in Third World countries. When you throw away an old computer, do you know where the parts go? If the parts cannot be recycled, they end up in huge piles in small countries around the world, such as India (Slumdog Millionaire anyone?). The problem is that most of these parts contain mercury, lead, and all kinds of heavy metals that are very unsafe for humans.
Dell has been working toward bettering this situation by using more parts that are biodegradable and recyclable and by establishing a successful recycling program. Last Thursday, they were named first place among 40 of the biggest IT companies in Technology Business Research’s first Corporate Sustainability Index Benchmark Report. Dell excelled in the areas of recycling, which they have been recognized for before, renewable energy, and their sustainability strategy giving them the score of 317.9. Just behind Dell came British Telecom with a score of 265.2, followed by IBM, and Hewlett-Packard. Not only did Dell come in number one overall, but they also took the top spot among the Computing Sector vendors.
Note: Keystone is a Dell Value added reseller and we have always recommended their products. Therefore, we reserve the right to retain some of the credit for Dell’s accreditation. True, they could have done it without us, but let’s be honest they couldn’t have.
Posted by Eric Jackson | 0 Comments
Meet Anna
If you’ve called Keystone (615-826-3500) in the last few days, you’ve already met our new automated attendant. No, Mike hasn’t changed his name to Anna; his voice is the first one you hear. After that, you’ll be introduced to Anna.
Anna is the voice of Microsoft Response Point. Says Microsoft’s website:
Microsoft Response Point advanced phone system, provides small businesses with up to 50 employees a competitive advantage against bigger rivals, by improving customer contact. Users no longer need complicated textbooks to use advanced call features because Microsoft’s award winning voice recognition software makes it easy to access and use with just one button.
Getting connected to the Keystone specialist you need has never been easier. The voice-activation system works anytime during your call. If you want to talk to Adam (and really, who wouldn’t want to?) call and just say “Adam” as soon as the auto-attendant picks up. Want to talk to Eric? Call and ask for Eric… or “Mad Dog,” one of his many Mexican prison aliases, and you’ll get him. Don’t know who you want to talk to or you just don’t like robot-like women named Anna? Press zero (0) and you’ll get to talk to whomever grabs the phone first.
We recognize that an auto-attendant carries some historical baggage with it. Customers have been trained to be wary of them, mostly due to years of clunky interfaces and overly complicated structures. But the Response Point voice-activation system actually means you get to the person you need faster, without having to explain your problem twice before finally getting the help you need. We’d love to hear feedback from you about our new system. So email me, Eric: ejackson@kbsweb.com. Or just call and ask for Mad Dog and talk to me directly.
Read MorePosted by Jeremy Scott | 1 Comment
Major Internet Explorer Vulnerability Remains Unpa...
Internet security experts are warning computer users of a vulnerability with Internet Explorer that is still not fixed. The hole allows malware on infected sites to infiltrate your machine–and the websites containing the infected code might not even know they have it. This bug affects all versions of Internet Explorer, meaning that it affects over 70% of Internet users worldwide.
Obviously Microsoft is surely working overtime to try and patch this hole, and it appears there will be a Windows update soon. Until then, we thought you’d want to know.
An easy solution is to temporarily switch to a different browser until a fix is ready. But not all users have more than one browser installed.
Thankfully, most of the infected sites, for now, are Chinese sites.
Also, there is a fix out there… and by editing your registry data you can block access to the one local file that the malware targets. Now, we don’t for a second suggest you go editing your registry data–well meaning people can cause serious and irreparable harm to their computer by tinkering around in there. (Keystone Networking Specialists, however, might be able to help you).
You can also use a firewall, or a web filter such as Websense, which will warn you before you visit a site that has malicious code on it.
Also… it’s a good time to remind everyone to keep their Windows Update turned on–regularly checking for Microsoft updates is one of the best ways a user can help keep their system as safe as possible.
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