Posts Tagged ‘Technology/Internet’

Book of the Month

By Donna Marrin

Crush It! Why Now Is the Time to Cash in on Your Passion, by Gary Vaynerchuk clip_image002

Online-marketing trailblazer, Gary Vaynerchuk, tells business owners what they need to do to boost their sales using the Internet, just as he has done to build his family’s wine store into a multimillion dollar business. Do you have a hobby you wish you could indulge in all day? An obsession that keeps you up at night? Now is the perfect time to take that passion and make a living doing what you love. In “Crush It! Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion,” Vaynerchuk shows you how to use the power of the Internet to turn your real interests into real businesses. Gary spent years building his family business from a local wine shop into a national industry leader.

Then one day, he turned on a video camera, and by using the secrets revealed here, transformed his entire life and earning potential by building his personal brand. By the end of this book, readers will have learned how to harness the power of the Internet to make their entrepreneurial dreams come true. Step by step, “Crush It!” is the ultimate driver’s manual for modern business.

Check out Gary Vaynerchuk’s informative and entertaining video clips.

Discovered any great business books you’d like to recommend?

 

Donna Marrin is a freelance Senior Writer/Editor specializing in corporate communications and advertising. She also founded and runs the Markham Village Writers. You can visit their website at www.markhamvillagewriters.com

Posted by Lynnette in Book of the Month on March 10th, 2010

, , , , ,
0 comments | Share

Tech Tuesdays: The power of the crowd.

Mention crowdsourcing to members of the pre-Internet generation and they’re liable to imagine scenes from old Frankenstein movies of angry mobs carrying torches and waving pitchforks. But the fact is – crowdsourcing can be a powerful and inexpensive collaborative tool to help your small business involve customers and experts at large with the successful development of your products or services.

First, let’s start with a definition from Jeff Howe, author of Crowdsourcing: Why the Power of the Crowd is Driving the Future of Business:

“Crowdsourcing is when a company takes a job that was once performed by employees and outsources it in the form of an open call to a large, undefined group of people generally using the Internet…. The cocktail version is very simple: Crowdsourcing is Wikipedia with everything.”

clip_image002

In essence, it’s a virtual focus group community of potentially millions, instead of 8 or 10 people in a small room, where no one needs to be intimidated or swayed by what that one loud guy across the table is saying.

Dell’s IdeaStorm website is a great example of the power of crowdsourcing. The Texas-based PC manufacturer has used the forum to solicit hundreds of new product ideas and suggestions from customers.

Apple’s iPhone apps are another great example. Once you buy an application, you have the ability to send messages to the developer offering suggestions or complaints if something is not quite right.

And perhaps the tool with the greatest and most immediate crowdsourcing potential is Twitter. If you have enough followers, it’s easy to tweet a question and wait for the replies to come in.

Here are a few ways you can start using crowdsourcing for your small business today:

1. Generate ideas for products – social media tools like blogs and Twitter are ideal for asking for suggestions and it costs nothing to ask.

2. If you don’t know, ask – You may have started your business because you were good at sales or design but know nothing about marketing. You can use sites like LinkedIn or Yahoo! Answers to solicit crowdsourcing advice.

3. Is the price right? – If you’ve developed a new product or you offer a service, crowdsourcing can be an effective way to gauge a fair price for it. Again, ask away and see what people are willing to pay.

Are you already using crowdsourcing tools to promote your business? Please send in your advice.

Posted by Lynnette in Tech Tuesdays on March 2nd, 2010

, , , , , , , ,
0 comments | Share

Virtually face-to-face.

For all our daily dependence on email and new social media tools, most people would agree there’s little that’s as effective as a face-to-face meeting to build relationships and close a sale.

 But, whether it’s flying or driving to a client meeting or assembling your far-flung team for a collaborative afternoon brainstorm jam, for many businesses – especially small ones – the time and expense required can be prohibitive.

clip_image002With travel budgets – and for that matter, all budgets – slashed, a growing number of vendors have made it their mission to design videoconferencing tools that offer real-time collaboration, file distribution, session recording and other features more accessible and affordable than ever.

Al Sacco at CIO.com has 7 quick tips for evaluating your videoconferencing system needs. While these tips are aimed at larger businesses, entrepreneurs can gain a lot by asking themselves these same questions:

1. Know how you’ll use a videoconferencing system: Who will use it? How many locations will you want to connect with? Will the system provide one-on-one communication or simultaneous multi-party communicating?

2. Know where you’ll use it: Will it be installed in a dedicated videoconference room or different meeting areas? Do you have a sound system? Will you need one?

3. Know how much you’re willing to invest: A videoconferencing system can be pricey. Estimate how much money you’ll save over the long term – in time, travel and other expenses. Is there a clear return on investment?

4. Create your list of vendors: Ask for a test-drive and make sure you evaluate the system’s reliability, audio/video quality, ease of use and how the system integrates with any system you currently have.

For web-based video conference software and application tools aimed at small businesses, Amarendra Bhushan offers an exhaustive list of applications that can help with online presentations or impromptu tête-à-têtes.

And David Byrd has put together 10 great tips to help you conduct video conferencing more smoothly and effectively.

How effective has videoconferencing been for you? What tips can you share?

Posted by Lynnette in Tech Tuesdays on February 16th, 2010

, , , , , ,
0 comments | Share

Security and the Small Business

By Jeff Williams

I get asked a lot about Security.  Every day we hear stories about viruses, stolen data and private info getting in the wrong hands. All this tech-talk can make our new world seem like a very unsafe place….and in fact it is.  Your security is a very big topic, but I broke some of it down to help simplify it and provide you with a quick overview.

Most people have an anti-virus program on their computer.  McAfee Antivirus or Symantec/Norton Antivirus are two popular options.  If you don’t have an antivirus program on your computer it is most likely already infected.  (A typical warning sign that you have a virus is if your computer suddenly becomes very slow, or starts interrupting your work with pleas to purchase software – this most surely means you are infected.) Don’t worry about it, just bring it in to be cleaned.  Staples Easy Tech services can help you. If you are tech savvy you can find free anti-virus software on the internet, but beware, because if you don’t know what you are doing you could download an infection by mistake. This leads me to an important point: if you are browsing on the internet, and are asked to download anything, be very, very careful. If you have any doubt, just play it safe and don’t do it.

Use a firewall.  A firewall is a program that stops bad software from interacting with your computer.  Most anti-virus programs (and later version of Windows) include one but make sure it is enabled.

Use a Spam filter and don’t click on links in Spam. Everyone gets Spam (80% of all e-mail on the internet is now Spam.) Asking to be removed from a Spammer’s distribution list only confirms that your e-mail address is valid, and you will get more Spam. If your e-mail reader doesn’t have a Spam filter built in then get one.  Spam filters are included with most commercial anti-virus packages.

If you have a laptop there is a good chance you may lose it, or someone will steal it. If you have any sensitive data on that laptop then encrypt it (I use PGP desktop with full-disk encryption. If you have any data that you can’t afford to lose then back it up. A great product to make this easy is called ClickFree.

If you use wireless at home, then encrypt your connection. It is unlikely that someone is going to hack into your network to try to steal your data (unless you are a very big company) but protecting your wireless connection will stop your neighbors from freeloading and slowing down your connection.

I hope these tips and advice help you ensure safe business and computing practices. Feel free to comment or ask me questions. I am happy to respond.

 

 Jeff Williams is VP of Information Systems at STAPLES Canada. Jeff has been with STAPLES for over 9 years and leads an IS team of over 50 people. From his history with Indigo, Nortel and IBM, Jeff brings STAPLES extensive experience in the high-tech field.

Posted by Lynnette in Getting Started on February 3rd, 2010

, , , , , ,
0 comments | Share

Am I ready for Windows 7? – Part Two

By: Mike Robinson

After only a few hours operating Windows 7, I was sold. Right from the get-go, the experience was startling. I performed a clean install of Windows 7 on my Core 2 Duo notebook and was shocked when it took only about 25 minutes to complete. On the same notebook, Vista took close to an hour to install.

When the installation was finished, every single device was recognized. Windows 7 found everything and installed the appropriate driver automatically. I didn’t have to spend hours scouring the Internet to try and find drivers for my printer or scanner either. (Who actually keeps driver CDs right?) With Vista, I would have spent hours trying to find drivers for everything.

The second thing I noticed was how little space on the hard drive Windows 7 consumed. It was less than half of what Vista had hogged on the same system.

When I first installed Windows 7 Professional on my PC, I was expecting a shiny new version of Windows Vista. What I discovered was an operating system that delivered on what Vista couldn’t. The computer seemed to run smoother on Windows 7 than Vista. Things seemed snappier and much more responsive. All of my drivers and devices worked.

I have been running 7 now for several months and so far, no crashes, no blue-screens. No issues whatsoever. So far, I have been extremely impressed.

As I said before, most businesses did not make the move to Vista because of the incompatibilities with legacy hardware and software. The biggest development with Windows 7, however, is its ability to run in “XP-Mode.” If you have software that can only run on an XP machine, Windows 7 has the ability to run any XP application in a virtual XP environment. You just need to make sure that your PC supports the feature. You also need Windows 7 Pro or Ultimate to take advantage of this feature. So, should you upgrade or not?

In the past, I would have recommended that most people wait for at least six to twelve months before making the switch. Wait for the first service pack so that any major bugs are ironed out. Stick with what is working for you.

That said, Windows 7 is truly impressive. On today’s newer hardware, it’s faster, more reliable and more secure than XP. I see no reason why anyone wouldn’t feel at ease making the move to Windows 7.

Have you tried Windows 7 yet? If so, tell us what you think.

 

Mike Robinson is a Purchasing Manager specializing in Computer Hardware for Staples Canada.

Posted by Lynnette in Tech Tuesdays on January 20th, 2010

, , , , , , ,
1 comment | Share

Am I ready for Windows 7? – Part One

By: Mike Robinson

BLOG_WIN7_450px

You still have Windows XP on your machine because you heard all the negative hype surrounding Windows Vista. From the software and hardware incompatibilities, to the overall clumsiness of Vista, many businesses continue to use XP today because it just plain works. You may have been one of the unfortunate people who tried Vista, only to revert back to XP, wasting hundreds of dollars in the process.

Enter Windows 7—It’s been a little over three months since the launch and you’ve been hearing so much positive hype around this new operating system from Microsoft. But you are still very skeptical. After all, Vista was supposed to be the next big thing. It promised a faster, safer, more secure experience and it caused you nothing but headaches. The last thing you want is to go through that again.

Windows 7, however, has changed the game.

When I first installed Windows 7 on my laptop, I, too, was skeptical. I mean, it’s only been two-and-a-half years, and now here’s another version of Windows? I had toyed with Vista on and off, trying to make a go of it, but always found myself going back to XP for its compatibility, familiarity, reliability and speed.

But after a few hours with Windows 7, I was sold.

(Stay tuned… Part Two continues tomorrow.)

What did you think of Windows Vista? Tell us about your experiences.

 

Mike Robinson is a Purchasing Manager specializing in Computer Hardware for Staples Canada.

Posted by Lynnette in Tech Tuesdays on January 19th, 2010

, , , , ,
1 comment | Share

Netbooks 101: Can a Netbook help my business? – Part 2

by: Mike Robinson

Most Netbooks today are powered by Intel’s Atom processor, which was specifically designed for use with these efficient little machines. They can easily handle the three main tasks that most computer users perform with their laptops: checking email, surfing the Web and working with Microsoft Office. With most models offering at least 160 GB of hard drive space, file storage is rarely an issue. Listening to music, browsing photos and watching videos can also be handled without any setbacks.

All models feature wireless G or N networking as standard, so getting connected wherever you are shouldn’t be a problem. Wireless Bluetooth is an option on many models as well, which can be used for “tethering” to a smart phone or Blackberry and utilizing the cell phone’s data capabilities. This way, no matter where you are, as long as you have cell coverage, you can get online if you need to.

The biggest difference among today’s models is battery life. Most entry-level models will offer battery life of up to three hours, which isn’t very long – especially if you are traveling. Some models, however, feature ADC technology (all-day computing), which will allow you to use your Netbook for up to eight or nine hours! This is ideal for anyone needing to work on the road without having to charge up every few hours. These models usually come at about a $100-$150 premium—well worth it if you need the extended battery life.

For business travelers, the small size and portability factor makes owning a netbook a definite must! If you depend on having portable access to email, Web surfing and Microsoft Office, why lug around a six or seven-pound notebook? Just make sure you evaluate your battery life needs and decide whether or not options like Bluetooth are of value and you should be well on your way to a buying decision made easy!

 

Mike Robinson is a Purchasing Manager specializing in Computer Hardware for Staples Canada.

 

Posted by Lynnette in Tech Tuesdays on January 6th, 2010

, , , , , , ,
0 comments | Share

Netbooks 101: Can a Netbook help my business? – Part 1

By: Mike Robinson

830101

The year is 2008 – Less than two years ago, nobody knew anything about this craze that would take the PC world by storm. Enter the Netbook. In spring of 2008, PC manufacturer, ASUS, launched what would turn out to be the world’s first look at the new class of small, laptop computers known as Netbooks.

By today’s standards, that early first-generation eeePC from Asus was underpowered and overpriced. Still, many consumers and small business users saw the advantages of owning an ultra-portable, fully functioning computer as small as most paperback novels.

Fast-forward to January 2010. Only two years later, sales of these ultra-portables have climbed to represent nearly 20% of all computers sold. Today, the market is flooded with a plethora of brands, models and price-points, leaving shoppers more confused than ever.

To simplify, most netbooks have essentially the same internal components – CPU, memory, and hard drive are consistent across most models. It’s the extra features and functionality, as well as the aesthetics that sets one model apart from another.

One of the biggest advantages of using a Netbook and why they have become so popular with the business traveler is their ultra-portability. Most Netbooks weigh less than 2 Kg, and can easily be stashed away in a tote or carry-on bag.

Stay tuned tomorrow for Part 2 of Netbooks 101: Can a Netbook help my business? 

 

Mike Robinson is a Purchasing Manager specializing in Computer Hardware for Staples Canada

Posted by Lynnette in Tech Tuesdays on January 5th, 2010

, , , , ,
2 comments | Share