Archive for the ‘Technology’ Category

Business Apps 101: What’s Right for You?

Written By Alerus Small Business Connect, January 26, 2012

121358143Software as a Service (SaaS) offerings are becoming more and more popular. One of the top SaaS offerings is Google Apps for Business. Formerly known as the Google Apps Premier office product suite, it offers specific apps for small businesses. What changed from the free Google service (Google Apps Premier) to the new paid service (Google Apps for Business)? Find out here.

And what about Microsoft Office 365, which also has apps specifically for small businesses? Learn more here. If you’re looking to move to the cloud of SaaS, ensure that you do your homework first. And then make the decision that’s best for you and your business.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Technology | No Comments »

 

New Year, New Passwords

Written By Alerus Small Business Connect, December 21, 2011

Sure “password” is incredibly easy to remember as your password. But is it safe or smart? Not at all. How about “123abc”? Once again it’s certainly easy. And once again, it’s neither safe nor smart.

SplashData, a leading provider of several apps, including both consumer and business applications that manage passwords, compiled a list of “the 25 worst passwords of 2011.” Here are the top seven:104648046

  1. password
  2. 123456
  3. 12345678
  4. Qwerty
  5. abc123
  6. monkey
  7. 1234567

Did your password make the list? Let’s hope not!

Hacking happens, and it’s something you and your business need to take seriously. A survey taken in the summer of 2011 found that one-third of social networking users have never changed their passwords for their accounts, and another 15 percent say it’s been more than a year since they’ve done so. Yikes. Are they treating other passwords – say to financial information, bank accounts, work computers, and so on – the same way? Never changing them or changing them once every 18 months? Yikes again.

Check out this helpful info on creating strong passwords. And then change them!

Curious about the other passwords that made the 2011 worst list? Check them out here.

Tags: ,
Posted in Getting Started, Technology | No Comments »

 

Business apps—what role do they play in your organization?

Written By Alerus Small Business Connect, November 18, 2011

Just how important are mobile apps when it comes to operating your small business?  Business News Daily, recently dug into a survey from the Pew Research Center and found that fully half of U.S. adult cell phone users now have apps on their mobile devices.

Topping the list of most downloaded apps are categories such as news, weather and stock information. (Angry Birds may well have topped the list, but gaming apps weren’t measured in this survey.)  With the popularity of apps skyrocketing, two questions emerge:

1314048601. What are the best apps for operating my small business?

Inc. runs through some of its favorites, specifically for iPhone. And for Android users, Sprout gives its recommendations. Many banks are also offering applications much like—Alerus Mobile Access, our own free download for 24/7 access to your accounts.

2. Should I have an app for my customers?

That depends. App developer Adam McNamara advises, “Apps should help you build revenue or they should build user engagement.” If not, he recommends you skip it. If you think an app might be right for you, Fox Business offers more insight.

The Pew research also shows that 46 percent of app downloaders are willing to pay for their apps, but not much. More than half said their top price for an app was $5 or less.  What apps do you find helpful?  Are you willing to pay for them?

Information was compiled from an article that first appeared in Business News Daily and other online sources.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Technology | No Comments »

 

Cybersecurity: Take it Seriously!

Written By Alerus Small Business Connect, November 10, 2011

New research indicates that small business owners seem to think that their companies are safe from hackers, viruses, malware and more.

According to a survey of more than 1,000 U.S. small businesses by Symantec and the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA), a large majority of small business owners believe their company isn’t at risk.

Yikes.

securityDive into the study a bit more, and it’s reveled that most small businesses lack sufficient cybersecurity policies and training. Nearly 80 percent of those surveyed said they lack a formal written Internet security policy for employees; among them, half said they don’t even have an informal policy.

Still think that hackers don’t go after small businesses? Think again.

Previous Symantec research found that 40 percent of all targeted cyberattacks are directed at companies with fewer than 500 employees.

In 2010, the average annual cost of cyberattacks to small and medium-sized businesses was just under $190,000. What can a cyberattack do to a small business? Statistics suggest that roughly 60 percent of small businesses close within six months of a cyberattack.

So what do you do? Take cyberattacks seriously. Very seriously. Adopt strong protection of passwords and wireless networks; use multifactor authentication that requires more than a password and login to access any of your networks. Check out this list of the 2011 Best Small Business Antivirus Software Comparisons and Reviews. If you don’t already have a reputable antivirus software, get one. Pronto!

Information compiled from an article that first appeared in Business News Daily

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Getting Started, Technology | No Comments »

 

Is an All-In-One Computer For You?

Written By Alerus Small Business Connect, November 3, 2011

All-in-one computers: what once seemed like the latest and greatest thing in technology are now commonplace. They have, of course, improved with time: touch screens, cheaper, better designed and more powerful. Lots of common names make them: HP, Dell and Acer, for a few.

Is an all-in-one computer right for your business? Consider this:

1. They’re space savers. Many small businesses are tight on space. With an all-in-one computer, there’s no separate tower, which can be a bulky space hog. Notebook and laptop computers are great for mobile staff, yet if you’re at your desk for hours at a time, you’ll most likely want a bigger monitor and a full-powered computer.

2. Their touch screens can improve communication. Most all-in-ones have touch screens built to impress, and their functionality can help improve interactions between you, the computer and your customers, partners, vendors and more. For example, a touch screen is much more inviting than a mouse or keyboard when it comes to a product demo or a training session.

Beyond running traditional Windows programs (like watching a video or your accounting program), custom software can be created for your specific industry. Imagine this: your bakeshop wants to enable walk-in customers to choose a cake and its decorations through the touch screen of your all-in-one computer. That’s cool.

3. They’re good looking. Today’s all-in-one computers are skinny and svelte. With many industries – think hotels, banking, medical clinics or hospitals – you might need to have a computer in a public place. Instead of a system with multiple components, a one-piece, touchscreen computer can help make your lobby, reception desk or other public place look much, much better.

The all-in-one is a competitively priced option for business owners who want a great-looking computer (that may or may not include a touch screen). Regardless of what sort of computer you purchase, adequate memory and hard-disk space are paramount. Monitor size can make or break the deal as well.   When the time comes to replace or upgrade your computer, what make and model will you choose?

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Technology | No Comments »

 

Do you manage IT professionals?

Written By Alerus Small Business Connect, August 16, 2011

Check out this free webinar from Focus Events tomorrow!

Register here

Motivating Geeks: How to Motivate Technical Staff without Breaking the Bank

Wednesday, August 17, 2011
10:00AM PDT / 1:00PM EDT

When budgets are tight, it’s more important than ever to get the best performance from the people who deliver, support and deploy technology. But over the past decade, managers have fallen into the trap of believing that motivation requires ever larger bags of money.

Join Paul Glen, author of Leading Geeks, as he discusses the most effective and surprisingly inexpensive ways to motivate geeks. Getting the best from your people requires clearly understanding what really drives them.

Attend this interactive webinar to learn:

  • How geeks are different from other employees
  • Immediately applicable approaches to geek motivation
  • Why traditional approaches to motivation don’t work with geeks
  • And more…

Featured Speakers:

Paul Glen, Author, Leading Geeks, Paul has spent more than 20 years working on technical projects, leading technical organizations, and helping technical leaders. Since 1999, he has poured his energy into improving the quality of technical leadership as a consultant, author and presenter.

Since 2003, Paul has written a column for Computerworld for which he was awarded a 2007 National Silver Medal for Editorial Excellence by the American Society of Business Publication Editors.  He has written two books.  “Leading Geeks: How to Lead and Manage People Who Deliver Technology” won several book awards including the 2003 Financial Times Germany International Book Prize naming it the best new book published worldwide on the subject of leadership.  His first book, “Healing Client Relationships: A Professional’s Guide to Managing Client Conflict” was published in 2001.

He received an MBA from the J. L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University and BA from Cornell University. He has also taught as an adjunct faculty member in the MBA programs at the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California and Loyola Marymount University.

Michael Dortch, Principal Analyst and Managing Editor at DortchOnIT.com, “an independent voice for technology-dependent people.”

As Director of Research at Focus.com, Michael helped to grow the site into a community of more than 850,000 people and a Top 10 Media Web Site according to Crain’s “B2B Magazine.” Michael has also been a senior analyst at Aberdeen Group, Robert Frances Group (RFG), and Yankee Group. In 1990, he wrote “The ABCs of Local-Area Networks”, a book published internationally in three languages.

Register here

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Human Resources, Technology | No Comments »

 

How to make sense of Facebook search results

Written By Alerus Small Business Connect, August 4, 2011

Searching for your business on Facebook can be confusing – why are there so many results? Who created these pages? What can I do about them? Here’s a breakdown of the different types of results likely to appear when you search for your business on Facebook.

First, you need to search for your business. Typing your search query into the top toolbar only gives you a limited preview of results, so get started by visiting Facebook Search. Then, type your business name into the search bar and hit enter. You’ll want to select “Pages” in the left menu so that you see only pages.

Pages2

Most likely you will see multiple listings for your business. The most common types of search results are:

  • Official page that a representative of your business created and maintains. This is the page that you maintain by posting status updates, links, photos and videos for your fans to see and interact with. This search result will have your profile picture next to it. This is also the page that has your customized URL (if you have set your page’s username).

Alerus FB pg 4

  • Community page. Another type of result you may see is a Community Page, which is a page automatically generated by Facebook. These pages are often created based on Wikipedia entries:

Description 4

Sometimes they are created when a Facebook user adds a company to his or her profile as an employer:

AF Company 5

Currently there is no way to claim Community Pages. Generally these pages shouldn’t be considered a threat to your official Facebook presence, since they are not updated or controlled by a third party. We do recommend  checking these pages every few months, as Facebook changes frequently and claiming pages may one day be possible.

  • Place page. If your business has one or more physical locations, most likely place pages will appear in the search results. These are usually automatically generated by Facebook based on Bing Maps, but they may have been created by people who have checked into your business using Facebook Places on their phone. A place page may have a “Friend activity” tab in the left menu, and the Facebook Places icon as its profile picture. It will also have a map in the Info area.

AF Places Map 6

Although place pages are not owned or controlled by anyone else, they can pose a threat to your official presence on Facebook if people check into them, thinking they are your official page. Because of this, we recommend that you claim your Place pages.

  • Page created by a fan. You may see that another page with the name of your business has been set up. These pages do not have a “Source” area at the bottom of the Info section the way a Community Page does. Unlike a Community Page, a page created by a fan may have status updates, photo albums and other content that has been added over time. This is an indication that an employee, a fan or someone else has created a page to represent your business, even though they are not affiliated with your company. If you see this type of page, you may need to contact Facebook to transfer ownership to an official representative of your company.

By knowing the different types of page results, you will have a better understanding of how to manage your Facebook presence. You’ll also realize the importance of sending people directly to your customized Facebook URL rather than directing them to search for you on Facebook, since the results can be confusing.

Are there any other search results we didn’t identify? Ask your questions in the comments.

Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Sales & Marketing, Technology | No Comments »

 

Hook, line, and sinker? I don’t think so. Tough luck, phisherman.

Written By Kate Mund, April 22, 2010

phishingOver the last couple months, it seems like my inbox has had more than its fair share of junk and spam mail. You know the type of messages I’m talking about: certain prescriptions available for ridiculously low prices; highly successful businessmen from far-away lands telling me they have a lucrative business deal just for me.

Please, people. Do I look like I just fell off the turnip truck yesterday? Besides, if I have any free time to peruse messages, I’d much rather read the “I’m so busy I can hardly stand it” status updates on Facebook, just for the sheer irony. If these people are so busy, how do they have so much time to constantly update their Facebook status? I digress; that’s a topic for another time.

Anyway, I was just about to zap a message the other day when I realized it was from my bank—or was it. It looked legit, but something just didn’t seem right. And so I did a little digging. Since someone actually answers the phone when I call my bank, I dialed the digits. Nope; they hadn’t sent out any messages regarding “confirm your account information” like the email in question instructed.

Hmmmm. What was going on here? Turns out, I learned, I had received a phishing email.

A what? A phishing email. The hacksters behind the messages “phish” for sensitive info (think passwords, account numbers, credit card numbers, etc.) via email messages or social networking messages. Then they take that info to steal your identity.

Now that’s nasty. I did a little more homework. (There’s an Anti-Phishing Working Group…who knew?) Unfortunately these “phishermen” know what they’re doing, and they know who to target: small business owners (that’s me!) suffer identify fraud at one and a half times the rate of other adults. Why? Well, typically many small business owners use personal accounts when making business transactions and make more transactions than typical adults (yikes…that’s me, too!).

Okay, so I need to stop using my personal account when making business purchases. Check. I knew there must be more I could do to protect myself—and my business and my clients—from phishing, so I continued to dig. And then I hit the jackpot and found this Phishing Protection Checklist. Take the time to check it out. It’s got great tips on how to avoid getting hooked by phishers.

To view a webinar on Phishing click here.

Kate Mund is the lead writer for Lucy Communications in DeLamere, North Dakota (located a relaxing one-hour drive from Fargo, North Dakota). Lucy Communications specializes in advertising, marketing and business communications.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Technology | No Comments »

 

Web Content: It’s Not About You

Written By Phil Hunt, November 25, 2009

The web changes everything!

The most shocking thing about this idea is that it shocks at all. People in general are comfortable on the web. Interacting online is ordinary. Buying online isn’t new or unusual.

It’s the sellers among us who can’t seem to move on. We’re spending a lot of time and energy talking about the challenges of the web. But the way to effectively communicate online is actually very basic.

Stop selling and think like a buyer.

Buyer’s perspective and good communication

As a seller, your tendency is to talk about your needs: selling products or services. A customer cares about something entirely different: his or her needs.

A customer’s point of view is essential.

That’s another idea that isn’t shocking. It makes sense anywhere, not just on the web. But it’s more relevant now. Online attention spans won’t tolerate content that doesn’t speak to customer objectives. It’s easy to jump somewhere else for help.

Check out this interesting video with renowned copywriter* Herschell Gordon Lewis. He understands buyers, and the strategic value of thinking like one, better than anyone. Jump ahead to about 3:55, and watch until about 5:20, if you want to save some time.]

* Interesting trivia regarding the“Godfather of Gore” title: Herschell Gordon Lewis was once a low-budget film producer and director who essentially invented the modern horror movie.

Creating content from a customer’s point of view.

As Lewis mentions in the video, an ad agency, freelance copywriter or a marketing consultant is uniquely equipped to think about a customer’s point of view and create content around it. Like the customer, outside marketing experts can’t know as much as internal staff. The strength of a good writer is his or her ability to absorb your information, and distill it down to things that the customer cares about right now.

If you don’t have a marketing expert to turn to, you can keep the following things in mind to ensure your content achieves customer objectives as well as your own:

  • What is the business objective?
    Develop your strategy and write the content to match a specific goal.
  • What are the customer’s objectives?
    What does the customer want to achieve online? Ensure your content helps them.
  • What do I have to offer the customer?
    Cut down on product education and industry jargon. Instead, think about what your customers will do with your products or services. How will they benefit?

Most importantly, seek an outsider’s point of view:

  • Use research.
    Ask your target audience about their online habits.
  • Find someone on the outside.
    Ask anyone from outside the company to read your content. How do they react?
  • Try role playing.
    Sit down at the computer and act like a potential customer!
  • Use social media.
    Social media is a great opportunity to communicate on a customer’s level, because they are actually telling you what they’re thinking. Look for people to help and help them.

Tags:
Posted in Sales & Marketing, Technology | No Comments »