Business, Marketing, and New Technology
Business Resources
“To the Cloud!”
May 3rd
“To the Cloud!”
We’ve all heard it. It sounds like a near miracle. You can access information, videos, movies, data, everything, “from the cloud”. Cloud computing is one of the best inventions to date.
Businesses are actively looking into cloud computing, and virtualization. There are so very many benefits from cloud computing. It reduces IT costs, and increases flexibility in the workplace. It also allows for scalability from small to the very large.
However, one main concern for all businesses is security. After all, if your information is “out there” somewhere, how do you know that it is safe? How on earth could it be possible to secure the cloud? What kind of cloud to you need or want- public? Or private? How can you even decide what kind of security you need, or what concerns you need to address? What sort of advantages could there be for cloud-based security?
And if you do have stolen data, who is responsible? What about being EC2PCI compliant? Whoa, lots of questions about cloud security.
One place to begin finding answers is on Trend Cloud Security Blog. There, you will find posts and comments about an extensive variety of topics. You can get answers to questions about the cloud, what it is, how you can use it, etc. There are posts on upcoming events, like the Cloud Security Symposium that just happened on April 26th.
Often there are really useful resources, like the Replay of the Privacy and Security Panel from Cloud Computing Conference at NAB 2012 . The audio of the entire panel discussion is there for you to gleen information from. There is information there about HIPAA issues, or even problems with data loss and Mobile Apps. You can even find info on where to store your cloud encryption keys.
One thing Trend Micro knows about is cloud security, so by going to Trend Micro Cloud Security Blog, you can get all the information that you need to make intelligent decisions about your business virtualization.
Networking is Good For Your Business
Feb 15th
Business networking is a good way to boost your business. I belong to a business networking group that meets once a week. We share our stories, and our challenges, and help each other out with resources. Most of the members are small business owners, trying to wear many different hats. The business owner has to know so much more than the employee, and the small business owner has to know everything himself. It is really a challenging situation and only the most hard-core entrepreneur is suited for it.
So being able to tap into the experience and knowledge of a group is essential for success. We share information on how to write a business plan, how to manage money, how to do market research, how to market via the internet, facebook, linked in, etc. We’ve had meetings on insurance, and principles. One of the members there recently told us about his credit card processing services. Credit card processing is something that we all need, and it can be a bit complicated. We were all interested, as each of us obviously has a product or service to sell, and everyone wants to use credit cards. So, learning more about POS systems (point of sale) was valuable for us.
If you do not belong to a business networking group, I highly recommend it.
Get Your Taxes Done Early
Feb 10th
Although taxes aren’t due just yet, it’s a good time to start thinking of them. I used to delay doing my taxes till nearly the end of the year, and as a result, I had the “tax” weight hanging over my head for most of the year. Now, I’ve switched it up a bit, and for the last 5 years or so, have been getting it done the first of February. What a relief! Yes, it’s a pain in the butt to get all the details together, but having it done is SUCH a different feeling from thinking about it with dismay day after day.
My system for filing receipts and such is not really that good, and although I am familiar with QuickBooks, I don’t use it. I do use TurboTax, which I have found to be really useful and easy to use. If you use TurboTax every year, it will remember what you did last year and automatically import all that information. That alone saves you a lot of time. You can also see what your deductions were for last year, and if there is a huge discrepancy, you might want to take a look and see if you have overlooked something. I like TurboTax, and will use it until my business gets so much bigger that I need a bookkeeper. Then I guess, it’s his problem. 
Digital vs Paper Security
Feb 4th
Do you make copies of your important documents digitally? Or do you print them out, and keep them hard-copy? I find this an interesting study in the confidence we have in our new world of technology. Recently I had the need to make sure one sheet of information was really safe. My solution was to make a copy, and leave that copy with a friend, so that if needed, I could retrieve it. He had other ideas. He insisted that I scan the document, and email him the digital copy, because that was much safer.
Safer? In what way? Computers do crash, although not with the frequency that they used to. I have had my computer totally wiped out by a stupid computer repairman! He was supposed to clear out viruses, and instead, he wiped the hard drive clean! How safe was my digital information then?
Anyway, I tend to print out important stuff. The problem here is that I tend to consider way too much stuff important. This lends itself to using up a lot of paper and ink. Paper is not a problem, getting a ream for $4.00 seems quite affordable. But the cost of ink was driving me crazy! For a while I tried refilling the original ink cartridges
but that was a mess. Then I tried buying refurbished ink cartridges from the local “ink” store, but they lasted about 1/4 as long as the genuine ink cartridges . So now, I just get a good deal online . I have both an ink jet, and a laser printer so I get genuine toner cartridges online too.
Although it doesn’t look like I’ll stop printing out my documents for safely, I am getting to trust the digital format more these days, so I guess I’ll be cutting back a bit. Progress comes slowly.
Storing Extra Data Efficiently
Jan 6th
OK, you have a business. You’re using the net. You’re growing fast, and doing your best to keep up with the information flow. Sooner or later you are going to need reliable, fast, efficient, data storage systems. Assureon®, a member of the Flexible Storage Platform™, is an archive storage system that is ideal for storage optimization, regulatory and corporate compliance, and long-term archive.
It will store your data for a day, or for a decade with total integrity, and perfect protection. Your data can be stored on the premise, or in the cloud, or both if you wish.
Of course the storage complies with all governmental regulatory requirements, so you can feel secure offloading your expensive primary storage, and make room for active data that needs to be accessed on a daily basis.
But for me, the very best thing is its ease of use. Individuals will not need to change their working systems, as the archiving is totally transparent, the all files and folders appear to be in the same familiar locations, even though they are offloaded. Once configured, there are shortcut links that access the needed data with a click. Its easy to search the entire archive, and restrictions can be put in place so that only the people who should get access to files are able to do so.
Yep. Sooner or later, you’ll need to deal with data storage issues, so let this be your heads-up!
Business Telephone Systems Miami
Dec 4th
I have friends who live in Miami, Fla, USA. They have a small business there, and in spite of the rough times that the economy is dealing with, they seem to be doing very well. Their business has been steady, and actually growing bit by bit. I guess you could say they are one of the lucky ones. Although, if you talked to them, you would get story after story of how hard they are working, and how careful they are to keep expenses down.
It is often the capital expenses that can make or break a company, and they were telling me how important it is to make sure that the regular monthly expenses are kept to a minimum. This only makes sense. If you let your profits get chewed up by high costs that hit you again and again, there just is no way to get ahead. (I’ve noticed this with my own budget, haven’t you?)
One of the ways that they have managed to cut their expenses is by getting a really good deal on their business telephone services. They switched from having their old service, to a VOIP service from Telephone Systems Miami . Now they are saving about 50% over what they used to be paying. That’s a great savings, each and every month.
Still, just saving money is no great deal if the service is no good, so it’s very important to get hooked up with a company that gives really great customer service as well as good phone service. Being good stewards of their business money, my friends made sure to check this out with Miami City Information before they actually made the switch. This way they were sure that they knew what they were getting.
So far, they are really happy with the deal, saving money on the phone bill each month, and getting quality phone service to keep the business running smoothly. Way to go guys!
Drafting on Steroids
Nov 18th
Back in the Jurassic Age when I went to college, I studied drafting. Of course, back then, everything was done on paper *gasp*, and the tools were entirely different. We recently cleaned out the attic, and my kids were fascinated by the drafting tools that were “unearthed”. I had “triangles” and a “T-square” and a brush made just for clearing away erasure dust. I even had a very special pencil sharpener that would sharpen a very special pencil lead to a very special point. It was kinda sad for me to know that the students today do not even know what these tools are for.
Still, it is progress. I also am a bit sad that I do not know how to work the new CAD programs on the computer. You know, the ones that all the design work is done on now. They make the work much, oh, so much faster, and more accurate. There is no guesswork as to “just how thick is that line there, anyway?” Everything is specific, and changeable. The engineering software that is available these days is nothing short of miraculous! The CAD/CAM programs can design houses, landscapes, new inventions, you name it. They can do everything from creating 2-D objects, to 3-D solid modeling, dimensioning, and everything in between. Amazing.
“Can I Have Time Off?”
Nov 11th
Keeping track of everything is one of the trials of having a business. Yes, tasks are delegated; they have to be, because no one can do it all. One of the hardest things to juggle is scheduling. If you have a business where the employees have different schedules, and even these are flexible and changing, it can be a nightmare to try to piece all the bits of the puzzle together. It’s bad enough trying to keep track of employees attendance, much less their absences. With people asking for time off here, and there, and then again, it can be maddening to stay on top of it.Often, an employee has a bit of flexibility with their own time off. They may have personal days that can be taken any time, or a certain amount of sick days, or even vacation days that fluctuate. It can be challenging for the employee to keep track of this, and even worse for the employer.
Fortunately, there is one helpful solution. Empire TIME OFF software is perfectly made for keeping track. Employees can quickly see how much time off they’ve already taken, and they can submit requests for time off online.
Employees can easily see how much time off has already been used, and be better able to make decisions about granting more. This time tracker software keeps it all organized, and simple to use. It works in any size company. So, if this is one of the issues your company is having, help is at hand.
Cyber Monday
Nov 6th
Thanks to Darwin Barton
I have been wanting to get a new and upgraded television package. My friends told me that I should wait and check out Cyber Monday direct tv deals. I had never even heard about “cyber Monday.” My friends had to explain it to me. I have always heard and gotten out on “Black Friday” to get some good deals and get Christmas gifts for family while everything is on sale. I think that I actually may do my shopping on Cyber Monday instead of getting out in the cold and risk being trampled. It is only October and it is already thirty degrees and freezing! We got our first snow of the season last week. I think that shopping curled up in my bed with my dog and husband sounds a lot better than having to get out at five o’clock in the morning and wait push and shove people trying to get into Target or Walmart. I love the internet, it is going to keep my anxiety about shopping this Christmas down and also keep me safe and warm at home.
Photos at Home
Oct 11th
Years ago, when my kids were younger, and changing so fast you just couldn’t keep up with them, I was into taking lots and lots of photos. With 4 kids, 4 birthdays, 4 school plays, 4 band concerts, 4 scout activities (every month!) there was ALWAYS something to take a picture of. That’s not even counting the holidays. And we did love to party! We had an exchange student come over from Sweden one year, and by Christmas, he’d made the comment that he’d never known anyone who liked to have so many parties for so many reasons. He probably thinks all of America is the partying-est place ever!
Anyway, I took lots of pictures, and often wanted to have them asap. So I bought a photo printer. It’s an HP PhotoSmart, and it’s still chugging along nearly a decade later. I love my photo printer. I do not especially like having to buy the photo ink, but I guess that just comes with the territory. I also have to buy photo paper. Now, there are many many different kinds of photo papers available. Did you know you can get glossy, matte, satin, semi-gloss, glossy, premium high gloss, and professional high gloss, just to name a few! You can even get glow-in-the-dark paper- wow! Well, I only know of one place to get that, and it’s where I get all my other inkjet photo paper, at http://www.geographics.com.
Glow in the dark pictures, what will they think of next?