Archive for the ‘Business Tools’ Category
Description of ‘Business Tools’ Category: Posts dealing with tools, either physical or software, to improve your productivity or IT health.
Friday, October 7th, 2011
Small businesses can often be overwhelmed with the amount of digital information that they have to retain for their business to operate correctly. Over time, the buildup of work documents, project files, client proposals, and employee information can often get out of hand. Which is why a few weeks back we wrote an article called “Organizing Your Office Equipment and Improving Your Work Environment”. This article proposed several solutions to maintain a file organization system for small businesses. However in the article we neglected to mention how digital data clutter can be just as hard on the stresses of our everyday job tasks. This is why to keep your office running proficiently it is important to perform routine digital housekeeping.
Digital housekeeping is the sorting, organizing, and discarding of old or unused electronic data. There are many elements to this type of cleaning. Although easy to do tasks like emptying your computers recycling bin are a good start there are many more layers that are often overlooked. Digital housekeeping isn’t only meant for your computer, it also covers mobile devices and other electronic office equipment. The following list is some suggestions to help you manage your office’s digital clutter.
Clearing Your Desktop:
- Remove unused shortcuts from your desktop and desktop toolbar.
- Keep only important and frequently used programs on your desktop or on the desktop toolbar.
- Put the programs that you use occasionally in a desktop folder.
- Empty the Recycling Bin.
Cleaning Your Hard Drive:
- Routinely perform the defragmentation process. (Start /Programs/ Accessories/ System Tools)
- Use Disk Cleanup to search out and remove unused files and folders. (Also in System Tools)
- Uninstall unused programs.
(To edit your programs enter the Control Panel, open the Add or Remove Programs function (Windows Vista and 7 “Programs and Features”). When the list of programs populates, select any program that you wish to amend. You can even sort by the last used date or installed date. Follow the uninstall procedures for each individual program and restart your computer if necessary.)
- Manager your Startup Folder.
(In order to fine-tune the startup folder you will need to access the system configuration folder. This can be done by expanding the Start menu, Clicking Run and then typing MSCONFIG. (Windows 7 uses the Search application instead of RUN.) Once the Configuration window appears click the Startup tab and carefully select the programs that you are positive that you do not need for startup.)
Updating and Using Malware:
- Use programs like McAfee Protection Software or Norton Security Essentials to identify and eliminate threats that can cause your equipment to run slower.
- Keep windows up-to-date using Windows Automatic Update.
Organizing Your Media Content:
- Delete duplicate file or files no longer being used.
- Keep the different types of media grouped together in separate folders.
- Create sub folders for extra organization and navigation.
Cleaning Your Internet Browser:
- Access your internet options to clear history and cache.
- Delete unused bookmarks.
- Add bookmark folders for easier navigation.
Organizing Email:
- Delete junk mail, outdated emails, sent mail, and old drafts.
- Create sub folders for emails so they don’t build up in your inbox.
- Establish rules in Microsoft Outlook so that emails are automatically delivered to the correct subfolder.
Managing Your Smartphone:
- Remove unused photos, movies, or music files.
- Delete unused applications.
- Clear out old notes in the text editor.
- Clear browsing history and map locations.
- Delete old and unneeded emails.
Cleaning and Disposing of Electronic Devices:
- Computers and external equipment should be cleaned routinely in order to prevent unnecessary problems caused by dust.
- Clean the area surrounding the device before cleaning it.
- Always spray the cleaning solutions on a rag first. Never apply directly to the electronic device.
- Avoid throwing out electronics with your everyday garbage.
- If you are getting an upgrade or newer model, donate or sell your old device.
- Shop with companies that use a “Take Back” program.
- Make it a priority to shop with companies with “Green Principals”
- Locate local e-waste recycling and disposal centers.
It is important to make a routine time to clean up your office’s digital clutter. Letting electronic data overwhelm your office will often only make it more difficult to focus, locate important information, and much more difficult clearing it away in the future.
Thanks for Reading!
Dustin
CDTek.com
Tags: digital, digital clutter, digital housekeeping, electronic clutter, electronic data, folder, program, Small Business
Posted in Business Tools, Computers, Productivity, Small Business Tips | No Comments »
Friday, September 30th, 2011
 from http://www.quora.com/, Oct 2011 In June 2009 a website known as Quora was founded by two former Facebook employees. This question and answer based social interaction site was initially launched as a private beta version in December 2009 and then later made public on June 21, 2010. Although it has only been two short years, since then Quora has quickly joined the ranks of the other social bookmarking and social networking websites like Reddit, Delicious, LinkedIn, Answers.com, and Stack Exchange.
Quora creates an interactive platform where users can ask questions and receive high quality answers from people with firsthand knowledge. Users can collaborate to create questions and identify the best answers. Although it works similar to a forum the information is regarded as more authoritative, knowledgeable, and respectable. The information on Quora is always improving and it is their goal to discover the highest quality answers to each of their question pages. Quora’s question pages can also be thought of as Wikipedia pages, only with more specific information straight from industry experts. Unlike Wikipedia, Quora answers can target the exact information that the user is seeking based on the initial question.
In order to access Quora’s vast knowledge base a user must first register and provide either their Twitter or Facebook user name. Quora is successful because it exhibits 5 major elements that consist of being Collaborative, Organized, Specific, Continually Improving, and most importantly it focuses on the people.
Besides being an informative resource, Quora can also be used as a marketing tool for your small business. The following are some suggestions for using Quora as a part of your small business strategy.
- Asking Questions – Find in-depth information or solve a specific problem.
- Content Mining – Find new business, blog, and website ideas.
- Cultivate Existing Relationships – Open new lines of communications with your audience.
- Expanding Your Audience – Use questions and answer to establish new professional contacts and develop potential customer relationships.
- Growing as a Professional – Improve your communication and professional writing skills.
- Self-Promotion – Establish a presence by appearing as an industry expert or leading authority.
- Market Research – Monitor your competitor’s reputation as well as strengthen your own by setting up Google alerts for company mentions.
- Strengthen Customer Experience – Monitor your audience and join in the conversations.
- Lead Generation – Target specific questions from other users and reach out to them.
- Stay Informed – Follow other leading industry experts to stay in tune with the latest trends.
- Evaluating Merchants – Investigate potential business vendors, business tools, and business partners.
- Link Building – Develop relationships with other users and reach out to them about a potential link exchange.
Why wait for your audience to find you when you can target your audience. Quora allows you to find the people who are seeking your knowledge. More than just a Q & A website, Quora is a blend between forums, Wikipedia, Answers.com, Facebook, and LinkedIn. This is a great option whether it is to lend your expertise or gain knowledge from another expert. Quora is a high quality resource that provides some of the best information on the web and cuts through much of the spam that users typically encounter when seeking information.
Thanks for Reading!
Dustin
CDTek.com
Tags: answers, Marketing, Question, Quora, Small Business, social media, Social Networking
Posted in Business Tools, Small Business Tips, Social Networking | No Comments »
Friday, September 2nd, 2011
Back in June Google announced that they would be making major changes across all of their products. The new changes all adhere to the key design principles of Google to be Focused, Elastic, and Effortless. The newest Google application to get the refresh is the Google Blog Service “Blogger”.
from http://www.blogger.com, September 2011
Blogger is a blog publishing service that simplifies the creation and maintenance of weblogs. Blogger was first launched in 1999 but was later purchased by Google in 2003. It has been years since Blogger has undergone any major updates however according to Google August 31, 2011 Blog Post Blogger was finally given a new look that presents a new streamlined experience.
What Does Blogger Have to Offer?
Blogger lets users create free blogs that can be used for a number of different reasons such as a personal journal, collaborative workspace, collection of memos, or for any other content the users wishes to share. Blogs have changed the way people share, discover, and digest information on the web. Blogs allow groups or individuals to find their online identify and provide an outlet for them to express their thoughts, share their knowledge, and connect with others. A blog provides a setting where the organization and sharing of personal commentary can reach and influence others all over the world.
A blog serves as more than just a microphone for bloggers, it is a thriving, evolving, and interactive environment. The interaction and communication that take place on a blog can be just as satisfying as having a face to face conversation. With Blogger Comments the readers can provide feedback of the blog post, offer their opinions and even seek clarification. The Blogger comment system also enables bloggers to have complete control over the commenting process. Users can choose to automatically allow all comments or choose to accept and decline comments individually. Blogger also provides access controls so you can determine who can read and write the blog. Blogger works great for multiple user blogs as well as for individual blog authors.
The Blogger profile is another major feature that allows users to create a personal profile to showcase their likes and dislikes. The Blogger profile helps users find other blogs that are relevant to their interests as well as helping others locate their blog. The Blogger’s template designer makes creating a unique blog a quick and simple process. Users can fully customize elements such as colors, fonts, layouts, backgrounds, and they can also even add custom CSS. Users have full ability to adjust the layout using the drag and drop feature. Blogger can also upload images or import them from existing web pages.
Blogger also comes with a mobile component, the “Mobile Blog Spot”. The Mobile Blog Spot optimizes your blog for mobile viewing and you can even update your blog by sending text, photos, and videos using email or SMS/MMS.
Getting back to the beginning of the article, it was mentioned that Blogger was recently given a fresh new look. “We’ve rewritten the entire editing and management experience from scratch so it’s faster and more efficient for you—and easier for us to update and improve over time”, says Google. The new streamlined blogging experience offers multiple locations to create or edit a blog from on the dashboard or on the settings page. There is also a new, larger draft editor which has more canvas space and a new overview section. The new overview section is used to gauge your blog visitors. This section has a graph that displays your number of blog visitors, comment activity, and the number of followers that your blog has. The new section also provides a list of helpful links, related blogs, and regular Blogger updates.
Whether you’re a current user or you are new to Blogger you can turn on the new user interface settings at your convenience. When logged in, users will soon notice a popup with instructions on how to get started.
For more information visit Blogger Support
Thanks for Reading have a Great Day!
Dustin
CDTek.com
Tags: blog, blog comments, blogger, blogger.com, blogs, Google
Posted in Blog, Business Tools, Google | No Comments »
Thursday, August 4th, 2011
Local businesses and local searches may have recently noticed that Google’s Place Pages have gone through a transformation. Back in July Google announced that they were going to be making ongoing adjustments to all their interfaces. Since then Google has made changes across their services including Google News, Google Maps, and Google. In line with their goals the new place pages attempt to make the user experience more focused, elastic and effortless.
from http://www.google.com/places/, August 2011
Like the previous renovated Google applications, Google Places is now cleaner and has more usability. It is now even easier to upload photos, submit reviews, and share great experiences with other users. Since the introduction of review on the place page last year, Google has realized the tremendous value and opportunity that they provide for its users. Google has now rearranged the page to have its own section for reviews and draws even more attention to the “write a review” actions. The new place page displays several bold and prominent write a review buttons in various locations. The main goal of this transformation was to increase user experience through reviews and generate a feeling of community amongst all Google users.
In addition to emphasizing the “write a review” call to action Google has also made the decision to remove third party reviews from the place pages. Google has expressed that these changes were made to reflect the current and future direction of the company but it has also been reported that it was to avoid a possible FTC investigation. According to Rand Fishkin at SEOMOZ, complaints from numerous third party review websites like Yelp, TripAdvisor, and Citysearch had compelled Google to remove their citations before a full blown investigation erupted. Google has showcased these reviews on their place pages for some time without ever having an issue but it seems that while Google was able to benefit the other sites were left out. Their frustration is to be expected since these websites were providing Google with a ton of reviews but weren’t receiving any form of compensation or website traffic.
Since these sites were never compensated for the reviews they claim that their content was being used unfairly. However even now that Google has removed the third party reviews those same companies argue that their websites are being unfairly pushed below Google’s own on the search engine results page.
To no surprise the number of available reviews for Google place pages are now severely limited. However Google is optimistic about their new focus on the Google only reviews and expect reviews to accumulate faster than ever. Although Google has removed the citations from the other review sites they will continue to provide links so that users can get a more comprehensive view of the place they are viewing.
In the future Google plans to continue its current direction of making the user experience more focused, elastic, and effortless. They also hope to find more ways to personalize results for local searches, integrate place page information into the web experience on all Google platforms, and as always find new ways to discover, rate, and share information and experiences with others.
Expect more changes to come and to learn more visit How to Research Local Citations After Google Removed them from Places!
Thanks for Reading have a Great Day!
Dustin
CDTek.com
Tags: citations, Google, google place page, Google Places, place page, place pages, places, review, reviews
Posted in Business Tools, Google | No Comments »
Thursday, July 7th, 2011
Following a week of promising reporters something awesome, Chief Executive and founder of Facebook Mark Zuckerberg held a live press conference Wednesday July 6, 2011. At the press conference Facebook delivered on its promise and announced a triad of features including a Chat Redesign, Group Chat options, and Video Calling with Skype. The new features began rolling out simultaneously as the announcement was broadcasted live.
from http://www.facebook.com/FacebookLive/ July 2011
During the week leading up to the announcement the internet had been buzzing with much speculation and it was rumored that Facebook would be announcing the new video chat feature. It was only a matter of time until video chat was available on Facebook especially since the May 2011 Purchase of Skype by Microsoft, a longtime investor of Facebook. “We have a very longstanding relationship with Microsoft,” said Zuckerberg. During the conference Zuckerberg mentioned that they had also been in talks with Skype even before their acquisition by Microsoft.
With the introduction Of Google’s new Google+ Social Network, Facebook had seemed to fall into the background lately. Even with Facebook’s new features the amount of hype and demand surrounding Google+ has made it a strong competitor. Could people be ready for a change or at least be ready to try something new? The announcement had promised something awesome and although the new features are awesome they seems to fall short. They fall short in the sense that just a week ago Google showcased the same feature with their new product. None the less the video chatting will add a new level to the social networking experience and it’s also available now unlike Google+.
Also present at the press conference was Tony Bates, CEO of Skype. Bates and Zuckerberg both emphasized that with Facebook Video Calling you can Call Your Friends Right from Facebook and connect with friends or family from around the world. Prior to the first video call all users will need to perform a simple plugin download that takes under 30 seconds to install. From there a video call can be initialized during a regular chat session by clicking “start a video call”. Once a user selects this option a prompt will appear and negotiate a connection between the two computers. When receiving a call a user will hear a ring and will have the option to accept or reject the call. During the demonstration it was stressed that the user’s webcam would not initiate until the request is accepted.
With the previous chat feature a user would have to access the small chat tab located at the lower right corner or click the user’s picture on the left sidebar. Users no longer have to hover over the pictures of other users to see their username which caused problems before because of the small size and the frequency that people change their profile picture. The new chat design uses the size of the user’s browser window to make it easier to locate a friend and initiate a conversation. The new full screen length friends list can list every one and displays their picture, name, and availability.
According to Facebook, since the introduction of Groups over 50% of their users are using the feature. The new group chat allows users to select a current group or select specific users to pull them into a group chat session. Users can even select a friend that is offline so that they receive a summary of the conversation. Social media is no longer just an online hangout for young kids. It has drastically changed the way people and businesses from all around the world interact. Social networking sites provide a tremendous benefit for businesses and these new features only continue to evolve the way companies and employees communicate. With the recent introduction of Groups and because users can share selectively with certain users it makes Facebook a great tool for workplace communication. The Group feature along with the newly introduced video calling and group chat has the potential to make work place communication extremely convenient and simple.
In addition to the new features the first moments of the live announcement were dedicated to displaying statistics on the growth and expected growth of social networking. Zuckerberg explained that we are on the curve of exponential growth for technology and social media. He points out that the future applications or features will all be built on the current infrastructure and will allow for an even quicker product production cycle. When asked about Google+, Mark went on to say that social networking is the way of the future and even the companies that weren’t traditionally social will all be eventually. He also encourages companies to move towards the way of social networking, improve it, and see where it takes us. “If we build the best service, there’s massive value there. If we don’t, somebody else will” -Zuckerberg
Although the Facebook’s new features aren’t exactly original, Facebook remains the original social network. Is that enough to keep you from switching to Google+ when it becomes available?
Thanks for Reading have a Great Day!
Dustin
CDTek.com
Tags: chat, Facebook, group chat, social, social network, Social Networking, video calling, video chat
Posted in Business Tools, Communication, Facebook | No Comments »
Thursday, June 30th, 2011
Microsoft has always been at the top when it comes to software development. Whether it’s the Windows OS or the applications like Microsoft Office, the company has built a successful reputation and has maintained its dominance throughout the years. The success of Microsoft hasn’t stopped competitors from trying to achieve the same public perception, for example Google Docs. Google Documents enable users to create documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and drawings from any location using cloud computing.
from http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/office365/, June 2011
The new direction in cloud based computing may have drawn in a few of Microsoft’s customers however that was before Microsoft released its own cloud based software. Tuesday June 28, 20111 CEO Steve Balmer announced the worldwide availability of Microsoft Office 365, a collection of the Office, SharePoint, Exchange, and Lync software all available on a cloud service.
Office 365 offers users the most recognized productivity and collaboration tools through the cloud for a monthly subscription. Microsoft may not have been the first to offer these cloud based services but given the fairly new trend of cloud computing and Microsoft’s strong reputation, they are likely to remain ahead of their competitors. Google Docs does however offer one advantage to their individual users, it’s free! When facing opposition from software that is offered for free the quality and extra features of Microsoft become the major selling point for many customers.
Beta testing for Microsoft Office 365 began over a year ago and has earned high praise from the businesses who had signed on to try it. The test included over 200,000 organizations, most of which reported a boost in productivity while reducing their IT expenses. If Microsoft’s reputation, customer service, and experience still aren’t enough to convince you to Try out Microsoft Office 365 the following list of features may help you decide.
Office 365 is designed for all types of businesses and comes in a variety of pricing plans. The professional/small business edition is perfect for organizations with less than 25 workers and limited IT needs. This Professional Plan is $6 per user per month and comes with 25GB storage, 25MB sharing using Exchange, Access to Office web apps, Mobile access, document sharing with SharePoint, Desktop sharing with Lync, and premium Anti-virus and spam filtering. For larger businesses that need more IT assistance there is the Enterprise Edition which is offered at $10, $16, $24, and $27 per user per month depending on what features are necessary for your business.
With Office 365 users can achieve a new level of connectivity by using instant messaging and video chat for virtual meetings. These features enable users to remain on the same page and work more productively. The cloud service now allows multiple users to work on files at the same time, share ideas, share calendar items, and work together with ease from any location. Using Microsoft exchange, SharePoint, and Lync will also enhance the communication and collaboration through document sharing and desktop sharing.
Microsoft Office 365 provides online access from any location to all the favorite software programs like Word, PowerPoint, Exchange, OneNote, and Outlook. The 365 software also helps maximize your current technology and avoid overspending on IT. The flexible per month subscription lets users increase or decrease their service needs and spend more efficiently.
The Office 365 has a huge online support community and comes with 24×7 phone and online IT support. The service is also hosted on the best of the best data centers and has strong security and privacy features. With the administrator console IT professionals can easily monitor and control all user accounts and their access rights. In addition the service is financially guaranteed to have a 99.9% uptime. Users can also visit the Office 365 Support page or the Microsoft Trust Center to learn more about the privacy and security settings for Office 365.
To learn more information about Microsoft’s online productivity suite check out more information at Microsoft Office 365 and the official Microsoft Office 365 Press Release.
Thanks for Reading have a Great Day!
Dustin
CDTek.com
Tags: Cloud, Cloud Computing, Cloud Service, Microsoft, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Office 365, Office 365, Word Processor
Posted in Business Software, Business Tools, Cloude Computing | 1 Comment »
Friday, June 24th, 2011
Usability testing is all about collecting feedback from your website’s visitors and using that information to further improve your website’s performance. Companies perform website usability testing to assess the level of functionality, design, and navigation. Once gathered, the information from the assessment is used to implement changes or enhancements that increase quality and user experience.
from http://www.4qsurvey.com/, June 2011
When it comes to testing, the developers or designers are often too close to the project to properly address usability. Usability testing should be conducted using people who only have basic knowledge about the site and are unfamiliar with the layout and navigation. Usually a company will hire a few individuals to test the website and an observer monitors them to see how intuitive the testers find the website. The individuals that are conducting the test will typically ask the tester task oriented questions like “if you wanted to make a purchase, where would you go? These types of questions address whether or not the website has its important pathways labeled.
In addition to performing a small task the tester will be asked to provide their opinion regarding design layout, style, colors, pictures and other elements found throughout the website. The company’s goal is to see if the users can quickly get a feel for the site, understand its purpose, navigate it easily, and find it visually enjoyable. Regardless of how much brainstorming takes place during the creation of the website there will always be something that someone misses or a better way to do something. This is why usability testing is so important, during these test designers get to take a step back and see what they missed. The site visitor or potential customer holds the final opinion and it’s the site’s level of usability that directly correlates with the number of visitors and the level of customer satisfaction.
These types of tests happen throughout several phases of website development. As problems are discovered and solutions are implemented the customer experience and usability of the website will greatly increase. The customer isn’t the only one benefiting from usability testing. For the business, usability testing works on guiding customers to the company’s end goal whether it’s selling a product, receiving customer data, or simply providing information.
Although an in person observation may be the most effective way to perform a usability test, there are also a number of online usability tools that can assist in similar functions. The following is 5 tools to help increase the usability of a website. These types of tools monitor and track user actions to determine if they can efficiently navigate the website.
ClickDensity helps identify and address website architecture errors. By producing heat maps, ClickDensity displays which areas and links on a website are most popular. The heat maps enable users to view where people like and don’t like to click to make it extremely quick and easy to design and optimize a website’s layout.
Concept Feedback enables users to optimize their usability based on the prospective of an outsider. With this tool a website can be uploaded and examined by a professional web design team. Following their testing the team of experts provides detailed solutions and recommendations within 48 hours
The 4Q Survey helps build customer engagement by asking four important questions. The questions are, based on today’s visit, how would you rate your site experience overall? Which of the following best describes the primary purpose of your visit? Were you able to complete the purpose of your visit today? (If yes) What do you value most about the [sitename] website? (If no) Please tell us why you were not able to fully complete the purpose of your visit today? The software provides an intuitive suite of online tools to review your customer feedback and create solutions.
The Five Second tests help users perfect their landing pages and call to actions. With this tool you can create a set of questions that you think testers should be able to answer quickly upon viewing your site. In order to see if your design is calling attention to the right elements, a screen shot of your website is displayed to a group of testers. However the screenshot is only displayed for five seconds and following the five seconds the testers are asked to answer the set questions. The Test then reports the answers graphically to show what areas drew the tester’s attention the most.
OpenHallway lets website owners conduct remote usability testing. Various scenarios or projects can be created to test and observe web visitors. Once a scenario is designed and the directions are uploaded a user will log in and begin testing. During the test the monitor and voice of the tester are recorded. They are encouraged to speak their thoughts throughout the test and share their final thoughts as they upload their recording. This tool allows you to get the same experience as traditional testing without requiring people to travel, or having to create an observation environment and purchasing observation equipment.
We chose to focus on these five tools because each of them performs usability testing in a different way. There a number of tools available however there functions often repeat. Some of the other usability testing tools include Clicktale, Userfly, User Testing, Google Website Optimiser, and Webnographer.
Website usability and customer experience are crucial when it comes to your business website and should never be overlooked. Don’t limit yourself to one tool, many of these programs offer free trials so try them out and find the one that works the best for you.
Thanks for Reading have a Great Day!
Dustin
CDTek.com
Tags: customer experience, test, tool, usability, usability testing, usability tools, user, user testing, website
Posted in Business Tools, Internet | No Comments »
Thursday, May 26th, 2011
Email campaigns may be a great way for a business to generate an increase in sales but they can also produce a negative effect on the business if poorly executed. Although email campaigns do not provide the same results as they once did due to social networking sites, if done correctly, an email campaign should not only increase company sales and exposure but should also provide value to the customers. Many companies employing email campaigns often fall short of accomplishing their goals because the emails appear too spammy, lack customer value, or fail to project any personality. The tips below serve as a rough outline to create better email campaign communication between customers and businesses. By using these outlined tips a company can improve their email campaign’s chances of appealing to their customers.
When it comes to email campaigns it is important to provide content that is actually helpful to your consumers. You don’t want to email them for the sake of emailing. Send out information that is promotional or newsworthy. Many companies use email to remind customers of their presence but tend to offer little to no true value with these reminders. The common response that most customers have when these types of emails are sent out is automatic deletion. Unless a customer feels like they will benefit from the contents of the email, it will probably remain unread and a wasted expense for the company.
When sending out emails try to give your customers something to care about and appreciate, rather than just bothering them with useless information. Only relevant and appropriate information should be included such as deals, promotions, events, product updates, business changes, and other information worthwhile for your consumers. Keep your email campaigns focused and remember that the purpose of your email campaigns is to attract customers not annoy them.
- Take Advantage of The Subject Line:
Do not overlook the power of the subject line, this part of the email provides the most influence towards the customers decision to read or delete the email. In the subject line it is important to create a short and sweet message that again appeals to the customer without trying too hard. Trying too hard will only appear as spam and will turn away readers. Find creative ways to capture the attention of email recipients while avoiding using all caps and word repetition to convey your message. The subject line should be used to emphasize why the customer should care and also provides an opportunity to add a touch of personalization.
- Don’t Blind Readers With Your Call to Action:
For email campaigns it is best to use a call to action that is subtle. Rather than forcing the reader’s attention to the call to action make it noticeable but natural. Customers are more likely to click on an appealing offer that seems more legitimate rather than one that dominates the page and is perceived as forceful.
- Remain focused on the Customer:
Avoid using words and phrases that are focused on your own business and instead use customer driven keywords. Convey your message without over inflating your sales pitch, express how the contents of the email will benefit the customers, be transparent, and authentic.
- Show That You Care, Personalize:
If you know the names of your customers take the opportunity to build a connection through the email. Customizing your email campaign with the names of your customers will show them that you put more effort into their future business and not just sending out generic emails. Along with the names of your customers you can also create quick messages that refer to previous experiences, products, or similarities. Birthdays are another great opportunity to build a customer relationship, for example sending out special messages or promotions on or around their birthday. Use an email format that is best suitable for your clients, do they like information in bullet form, pictures, and so on. These small differences might not seem like the most important details but knowing the likes of your customers is always a good start when it comes to business. No matter what, make your customers feel appreciated and take the time to customize their email, it will help them feel welcomed and more incline to use your business.
- Tryout Several Email Campaigns and Analyze the Results:
Try out various email campaigns and determine which of them was most beneficial to the increase in traffic or customer feedback. Test out newsletter frequency, personalization, email format, and find out what works best for your business and your customers. Analyze what was successful, what wasn’t, and learn from your mistakes. Continue to update and modify your campaign to get the best results.
- Provide An Option to Unsubscribe Not A Reason:
Don’t upset your customers by sending out unwanted emails, when performing commercial emails provide users with the option to unsubscribe. Not only can your emails be marked as spam by frustrated customers but it is also a law to provide an unsubscribe button. The CAN-SPAM Act: A Compliance Guide for Business details a set of regulations for commercial email. This law establishes all the rules for commercial messages and according to the CAN-SPAM Act email recipients must have the option to discontinue any future emails. Failure to comply with these standards can lead to fines, penalties and wasted email campaign efforts.
Hopefully these tips will help with your next email campaign, for more tips visit Exact Target Email Marketing Tips and Improve Email Newsletter Open Rate.
For assistance with your email marketing campaigns you can also check out professional services like Constant Contact, Active Campaign, ExactTarget and Benchmark Email.
Thanks for Reading have a Great Day!
Dustin
CDTek.com
Tags: business, customer, email, email campaign, email marketing, email subject line, mail, marketing campaign
Posted in Business Tools, Communication, Small Business Tips, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Friday, May 6th, 2011
The need to save money has always been present but in recent years that need has grown to be the primary concern for most businesses. There are a number of ways that a business can attempt to save money however the trick is to do so while avoiding a loss in company quality and customer connection. Living up to or developing the company brand should always be emphasized even while cutting costs. It can be tough for businesses to maintain their present status while making these adjustments which is why it might be a good idea to consider starting with smaller reductions like using free alternative software applications.
from http://www.openoffice.org/ May 2011
Free software or freeware probably won’t solve any major financial dilemmas that company may be facing but it could be a good place to start. Below is a list of free software that has the potential to save businesses a few dollars while maintaining the quality that their customers have come to expect from them.
Security Software:
Security is crucial for all businesses, whether it’s for Anti-virus or Data encryption it is one of the aspects that should never be neglected regardless of the financial standing of a company. Security programs can be pricy and even pricier when purchasing multiple licenses for an entire office. Most companies feel that in order to have effective security they need to purchase from a well known and expensive provider, which is always the case. Sure, it would be nice to have the best security program available but company funds don’t always allow that. Depending on the type of company and the data that they are responsible for, it’s not unreasonable to utilize free basic security programs. Some of the free security applications that provide basic protection include:
Easy to use security application that helps defend your computer against spyware, viruses, worms, Trojans, and other malicious software.
Free for users who already have a Comcast account. Helps protect your personal information, includes Norton Security Suite to protect against viruses and also has Secure Backup and Identity Guard.
Offers basic Anti-virus and Anti-spyware protection.
Offers basic Anti-virus and Anti-spyware protection.
Provides basic protection from viruses, spyware and offers a password protector.
Office Software:
Most businesses utilize some form of office or word processing software for their every day business activity. Most people are familiar with Microsoft Office however most of the features that Office provides aren’t exactly necessary for everyday use. Several alternative options for Microsoft Office that manage to provide the same primary functions include:
Lets users create documents, spreadsheets, drawings, presentations, and forms all online. Google Documents also provides the opportunity for multiple users to collaborate on the same document in real time.
Very similar to Microsoft Word without the price tag.
This software suite offers free word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, databases, and more. OpenOffice is probably the best known free alternative that is easy to use and completely free.
Storage Software:
Instead of buying extra hard drive space, offline backups or newer computers a good alternative for extra space is cloud storage. Although you can find good deals on cloud storage for multiple computers the free storage websites shouldn’t be overlooked. Some of the data backup sites that offer limited online storage for free include:
Offers a free 25 GB of online storage with the option to purchase more.
Offers a free 5 GB of online storage with the option to purchase more.
Offers a free 5 GB of online storage with the option to purchase more and saving plans for multiple users.
Free basic version online backup drive or one year trial for their professional version.
Operating Systems:
Free operating systems can save a company a lot of money. It is a common misconception that people are stuck with either Windows or the Mac operating systems but in reality there are many free alternatives available like Linux which is completely open source.
One of the most popular free operating systems, fast, secure, and easy to use alternative.
In addition to those mentioned there is a ton of other freeware applications on the internet that can be used for many purposes and provide financial benefits. Choosing a free alternative requires companies to devote some time to finding the appropriate replacement and be willing to utilize software that may not be as popular as the ones from Microsoft, Kaspersky, and Carbonite.
It is often faster and easier for businesses to spend money in order to get something done which makes it hard to break the cycle of spending. However once a business does get out of that routine they will begin to find more and more alternatives to save money. Again free software is a great place to start for any business trying to reduce some financial pressure. Starting with free software alternatives may seem small but can provide significant savings for most companies. With that being said it’s also very important that when considering free software that you do your research and download only from reputable websites.
Have any free software suggestion? Share them below.
Thanks for Reading have a Great Day!
Dustin
CDTek.com
Tags: business, company spending, free software alternatives, freeware, money, saving money, Security, software, Storage
Posted in Business Tools, Finance, Small Business Tips | No Comments »
Thursday, April 28th, 2011
As mentioned in some of our other blog articles, social media is a great resource that every business should be using in some form or another. Social media and networking sites offer unlimited opportunities for business and not only provide a communication outlet for consumers but help develop a stronger business presence as well.
Social media and networking sites assist millions of users in the production, contribution, and education of new ideas and concepts each and every day. Social media has the potential to play a huge role in any business, large or small. Companies that utilize social media outlets are often able to see an increase in brand recognition and web traffic. By providing simple easy to use communication platforms, social media assists companies with proactively monitoring and controlling their customer communication and perception. The following is a short list how using social media can potentially help your business.
- Share content, by sharing your content you can build your brand recognition and company’s reputation. The more thoughts, concepts, and ideas that you express while using social media the more your online presence will increase.
- Learn from your competition, keeping up with social media lets you see what other companies are doing, how they are doing it, and how you can benefit from similar concepts.
- Learn from your customers, not only can you learn from your competition but you can develop product ideas just from listening to the needs of your customers. Social media sites can provide insights into what the customers really want and allows you to develop products that are in demand
- Develop customer relationships, being in continuous contact with your customers enables you to solidify your presence and generate a positive customer perception.
- Provide quick customer support, providing a method of immediate feedback enables a business to quickly address the concerns of their customers.
- Self promotion, a business can express new concepts, promotions, and events with a global approach that is both free and effective.
- Acquire more customers, because your business gains more exposure using social media it can quickly lead to new clients.
- Allows you to save money, most importantly social media is free and can generate the same attention as a costly advertising campaign.
With all of these reasons to use social media it is not surprising how many businesses are beginning to or have been utilizing these types of sites. If not for these benefits it is still crucial for a business to use various types of social just to keep up with their competition. So, what social media sites should your company be using? The following are the top most influential social media outlets on the internet today.
“Millions of people use Facebook everyday to keep up with friends, upload an unlimited number of photos, share links and videos, and learn more about the people they meet.” (From Facebook.com April 28, 2011)
“Is a real-time information network that connects you to the latest information about what you find interesting. At the heart of Twitter are small bursts of information called Tweets. You can share a lot with a little space! You can tell your story within your Tweet, or you can think of a Tweet as the headline, and use the details pane to tell the rest with photos, videos and other media content.”(From Twitter.com April 28, 2011)
“Over 100 million professionals use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas and opportunities. Stay informed about your contacts and industry, find the people & knowledge you need to achieve your goals, and control your professional identity online.” (From LinkedIn.com April 28, 2011)
“Allows billions of people to discover, watch, and share originally-created videos. YouTube provides a forum for people to connect, inform, and inspire others across the globe and acts as a distribution platform for original content creators and advertisers large and small.” (From YouTube.com April 28, 2011)
“Digg is a place for people to discover, share, and promote content from anywhere on the web. From the biggest online destinations to the most obscure blog, Digg surfaces the best stuff as voted on by our community.” (From Digg.com April 28, 2011)
“Reddit is a source for what’s new and popular on the web. Users like you provide all of the content and decide, through voting, what’s good and what’s junk.” (From Reddit.com April 28, 2011)
“Delicious is a Social Bookmarking service, which means you can save all your bookmarks online, share them with other people, and see what other people are bookmarking” (From Delicious.com April 28, 2011)
”StumbleUpon helps you discover and share great websites. As you click Stumble! We deliver high-quality pages matched to your personal preferences. Rating these sites you like automatically shares them with like-minded people and helps you discover great sites your friends recommend.” (From StumbleUpon.com April 28, 2011)
“Squidoo is the popular publishing platform and community that makes it easy for you to create “lenses” online. Lenses are pages, kind of like flyers or signposts or overview articles, which gather everything you know about your topic of interest–and snap it all into focus.” (From Squidoo April 28, 2011)
“Tumblr lets you effortlessly share anything. Post text, photos, quotes, links, music, and videos, from your browser, phone, desktop, email, or wherever you happen to be. You can customize everything, from colors, to your theme’s HTML.” (From Tumblr April 28, 2011)
“Disqus is a comment platform that helps you build an active community from your website’s audience. It has awesome features, powerful tools, and it’s easy to install.” (From Disqus April 28, 2011)
These are just a few of the many social media and networking sites out there. You are probably missing out if you’re not already using them so, what are you waiting for?
Did your favorite social media site make our list? If not share it below!
Thanks for Reading have a Great Day!
Dustin
CDTek.com
Tags: business, Communication, content, customers, networking, share, social media, social media sites, Social Networking
Posted in Blog, Business Tools, Communication | No Comments »
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Getting started with a Faster and cleaner looking Blogger
Friday, September 2nd, 2011Back in June Google announced that they would be making major changes across all of their products. The new changes all adhere to the key design principles of Google to be Focused, Elastic, and Effortless. The newest Google application to get the refresh is the Google Blog Service “Blogger”.
from http://www.blogger.com, September 2011
Blogger is a blog publishing service that simplifies the creation and maintenance of weblogs. Blogger was first launched in 1999 but was later purchased by Google in 2003. It has been years since Blogger has undergone any major updates however according to Google August 31, 2011 Blog Post Blogger was finally given a new look that presents a new streamlined experience.
What Does Blogger Have to Offer?
Blogger lets users create free blogs that can be used for a number of different reasons such as a personal journal, collaborative workspace, collection of memos, or for any other content the users wishes to share. Blogs have changed the way people share, discover, and digest information on the web. Blogs allow groups or individuals to find their online identify and provide an outlet for them to express their thoughts, share their knowledge, and connect with others. A blog provides a setting where the organization and sharing of personal commentary can reach and influence others all over the world.
A blog serves as more than just a microphone for bloggers, it is a thriving, evolving, and interactive environment. The interaction and communication that take place on a blog can be just as satisfying as having a face to face conversation. With Blogger Comments the readers can provide feedback of the blog post, offer their opinions and even seek clarification. The Blogger comment system also enables bloggers to have complete control over the commenting process. Users can choose to automatically allow all comments or choose to accept and decline comments individually. Blogger also provides access controls so you can determine who can read and write the blog. Blogger works great for multiple user blogs as well as for individual blog authors.
The Blogger profile is another major feature that allows users to create a personal profile to showcase their likes and dislikes. The Blogger profile helps users find other blogs that are relevant to their interests as well as helping others locate their blog. The Blogger’s template designer makes creating a unique blog a quick and simple process. Users can fully customize elements such as colors, fonts, layouts, backgrounds, and they can also even add custom CSS. Users have full ability to adjust the layout using the drag and drop feature. Blogger can also upload images or import them from existing web pages.
Blogger also comes with a mobile component, the “Mobile Blog Spot”. The Mobile Blog Spot optimizes your blog for mobile viewing and you can even update your blog by sending text, photos, and videos using email or SMS/MMS.
Getting back to the beginning of the article, it was mentioned that Blogger was recently given a fresh new look. “We’ve rewritten the entire editing and management experience from scratch so it’s faster and more efficient for you—and easier for us to update and improve over time”, says Google. The new streamlined blogging experience offers multiple locations to create or edit a blog from on the dashboard or on the settings page. There is also a new, larger draft editor which has more canvas space and a new overview section. The new overview section is used to gauge your blog visitors. This section has a graph that displays your number of blog visitors, comment activity, and the number of followers that your blog has. The new section also provides a list of helpful links, related blogs, and regular Blogger updates.
Whether you’re a current user or you are new to Blogger you can turn on the new user interface settings at your convenience. When logged in, users will soon notice a popup with instructions on how to get started.
For more information visit Blogger Support
Thanks for Reading have a Great Day!
Dustin
CDTek.com
Tags: blog, blog comments, blogger, blogger.com, blogs, Google
Posted in Blog, Business Tools, Google | No Comments »