Ease Your Customer’s Fear:

With most transactions there are associated risks. It is very important to address these risks because they may immediately deter your potential customers. Having a secure website, a customer privacy policy, and offering a money back guarantee is just a few ways that you can put your customer’s fears to rest.

Create Value and Offer Incentives:

One of the great things about the Internet is that it allows people to easily explore their options however this can also make it hard for a business to stand out amongst competitors. It will help if you offer additional value whether it is through better pricing, a higher level of quality, or better customer service.

Display Genuine Testimonials:

The past positive experiences of your current customers can help encourage new customers to choose your products or services. People love reviews because they help them to predict their level of satisfaction based on the experiences of others. A positive and genuine customer testimonial can often prove to be a major factor in a visitor’s decision to choose your company over one of your competitors.

Build a Relationship:

Be sure to express product or service recommendations based on the information that your customers provide. Making a one-time sale might be your initial goal but you should always strive to build a long term or an ongoing business to client relationship. Nurturing this type of relationship will not only influence future business with that particular customer but it will also increase your reputation and show your potential customers that you care. Follow up emails, subscriptions, memberships, loyalty programs, customer satisfaction surveys, and product recommendations are all great ways to continue positive communication with your customers.

Additional suggestions include:

• Allowing your customers to focus by limiting the number of products offered on each page.
• Creating an attention grabbing headline for your products page.
• Clearly expressing your products, how they work, and how it will benefit the customer.
• Focusing on your visitor by using terms like “you and your” while avoiding “we, me, and I”.
• Creating a sense of urgency without being pushy. For example use “limited time only” or “Available while supplies last”.
• Using various color schemes and text formatting to grab your visitor’s attention.
• Determining what methods, prices, or product features work best for your business and attracts more customers. (Split Testing)

These are just some basic suggestions that can be implemented to increase your online sales. I urge you not to stop here and continuously explore your own ideas to discover what works best for your business.

For additional tips please visit How to increase sales and 6 Sure Ways to Increase Sales!

Thanks for reading and Good Luck with increasing your business’s sales.

Dustin

CDTek.com

Dealing with Mental Distractions:

Have a Firm Stance-

Dealing with and overcoming distractions is no easy task which is why it is important for you to stand your ground. Know that your time crucial, understand that what you are working on is important, and recognize that it needs to get done.

Stop Procrastinating-

It is important that you break the habit of procrastination. Continuously pushing back work will only push it further from your mind and will make completing it even more stressful. People who say that procrastinating helps them because they work better under pressure are most likely just trying to justify a poor habit and would most likely work just as well if they were motivated to complete the task sooner.

Relax-

If you find that you are too stressed to work there is no point in stressing yourself out any worst. Find something that you like doing or and put your mind at ease for a little while. Try taking a few minutes for you by staying loose, listening to relaxing music, or reading un-work related material.

Be Well Rested-

Ensure that you get a good night’s sleep and that your body and mind is well rested, flexed, and ready for work. Exercising, reading the morning paper, and solving puzzles will help wake and keep your brain in gear.

Dress the Part-

What you wear often reflects how you feel. Wear the clothes that exude your confidence because it will most likely be shown though your work as well.

Reward Your Self-

Celebrate your accomplishments don’t just move immediately onto your next task. Have some kind of system that lets your brain relax and take a short break from work. Moving from task to task without any acknowledgement is a surefire way to burn out quickly. Going out to party every time you finish your work is a little much but perhaps you can do something small and personal like check out your favorite website, get coffee, take a walk, or call a friend.

Dealing with Physical Distractions:

Take on Bite Sized Chunks-

Start with the easiest assignments. Once they are completed feel good about your work and carry forward with that same momentum onto your next job at hand.

Watch out for Menial Activities-

Menial activities like washing out your coffee cup, opening mail, and sharpening your pencils can be used as a welcomed distraction from work but they can also unintentionally take up too much time. Reserve some time in your schedule to complete these activities or you could also use these tasks as breaks in between your other job assignments.

Be Prepared-

Make sure you have what you need before you get started so that there are no excuses to take any unnecessary break.

Eat, Drink, Sleep and Exercise-

Make sure your body has fuel and is well rested. Exercise is a great way to stimulate your mind and body as well as to stay energized throughout your day. Drinking too much coffee can often make it hard to focus so you may want to consider drinking tea.

Filter out the Noise-

Soft music, soothing sounds, and static noise can be helpful with relaxing because it helps to filter out the other noise distractions that you might encounter.

Minimize Interruptions from your Coworkers-

Use your email auto-responders to let others know that you are hard at work on something that requires your full attention. If a coworker does stop you from working avoid being rude, try saying something nice, then explain to them that you need to get back to work and maybe set up a time to catch up later.

Set aside your Own Time-

Schedule some time to take care of the stuff that would normally cause you to be distracted while working.

Organize and Prioritize-

Use a calendar or project management software that lets you create task reminders and set priorities to your specific assignments.

Complete Tasks as they Present-

Try to avoid picking up the same assignment twice. Make sure that when you receive something, that you complete it and then move on, don’t do part of it and then come back to it later because that can cause more distractions.

Dealing with Environmental Distractions:

Close the Door-

Close your office door, close the blind, and concentrate on your work. Cutting out visual distractions lets you keep the task at hand in sight at all times.

Turn off what you don’t Need-

The computer, the Internet, and your cell phone can all be a huge distraction. If they aren’t being used turn them off so that you can maintain your focus on your work.

Check the Temperature-

Maintain a decent temperature in your work environment. Too hot can put you to sleep where as too cold will make it so that you can… Read the rest

Rarely do customers seek out a business unless they are familiar with its background and brand reputation. If you need the customers, it is up to you to find them. It is your responsibility to target your audience and capture the attention of prospective customers. Advertising and marketing play a vital role in making your business appeal to a specific audience. Lately social media has provided companies with a tremendous, free, and effective marketing tool, however social networking sites are not the only tools available. There are plenty of offline marketing techniques, one of which is Cold Calling. Although cold calling doesn’t have the best reputation, if done correctly it can be a valuable sales tactic for your business.

Cold calling is the marketing technique of reaching out to possible future customers via the telephone. The term cold is used because the potential buyers are not expecting to be contacted nor have they had any prior communications about the product. Cold calling is the opposite of warm calling which is where the potential client directly expresses their interest in your services. Companies that warm call their customers typically gather information using post cards and website information surveys or subscriptions. Compared to warm calling, cold calling relies much more on guess work, calling the right person at the right time, having the right solution, and a little bit of luck.

Some might think that cold calling is only disliked by consumers however sales associates often dislike this technique just as much. For many companies cold calling customers can be one of their greatest weaknesses.

Why consumers dislike cold calling:

• The majority of the time you can easily discover that the cold caller is uninformed about what they are selling.
• These types of calls are often unwelcome interruptions and can distract from actual work.
• Most of the time we probably aren’t interested in the products being sold.
• Sometimes the callers can appear as being manipulative, too resilient by not taking no as an answer, and too chummy or fake in order to get the sale.

Why sales associates dislike cold calling”

• They have to call someone they don’t know.
• They have to call someone they that probably won’t be interested in their product or service.
• They are discouraged easily because the high number of people who reject their sales pitch.
• They have to perform a task that usually brings the worst out of people.
• Cold calling can feel uncomfortable and repetitive, and the cold caller is often lousy at it.

Companies that rely on cold calling as their primary source for generating sales are fighting an uphill battle. However this doesn’t technically mean that it doesn’t work, it just requires more effort and the right skill set. The following are some important tips to follow when you are using cold calling for your business.

Be educated, prepared, and sell the appointment:

Know what you are selling and how to properly sell it before you attempt a cold call. Research the company that you are cold calling and try to identify the decision maker prior to calling. Develop a proper opener and possibly a call outline of the topics and key items you want to emphasize during the conversation.

Always be courteous and display confidence:

Sales calls can often bring out the worst in people but it is extremely important for you to remain polite and respectful to all parties that you encounter when conducting a cold call.

Don’t underestimate the “Gatekeeper”:

The person situated between you and the decision maker is known as the gatekeeper. This person is usually a secretary or assistant that screen callers for the decision maker. When talking to this person don’t lie, or be rude, just be straight forward with them. In order to reach the decision make you must first produce a positive impression on the gatekeeper.

Respect the prospects schedule:

Ask them if it is a good time to talk with them about the opportunities that your organization or products can provide. If they are unable to talk with you at that moment then suggest a specific time to reach them, avoid general lines like “I will call you back at another time”. Instead ask “Would it be more convenient if I called back tomorrow morning at 10am”.

Carrying the conversation:

If you manage to make it through the gatekeeper and the prospect has the time to meet with you then it is extremely important to capture their attention early in the conversation as well as maintain it throughout. Try to utilize their name throughout the conversation to strengthen and develop the bond.

• Be professional but enjoyable

Don’t be afraid to make them laugh or deviate to the occasional small talk. Being honest about a sales call situation can also provide some levity and small talk can help establish a relationship with the prospective customer. For example a cold caller may introduce themselves by saying “Hi my name is Jane and this is a sales call, I know most people hate sales calls, so I’ll be brief but I feel that there are some important opportunities that our service can provide for your company.

• Project Emotion, Create Excitement, and provide value

Use past positive anecdotes and success stories to inspire positive feelings for the prospective client. For a physical product you can suggest a product demonstration and you can refer to past customer experiences.

• Discuss their problem

Try to ask what a common problem… Read the rest

The basic principle behind promoting your business is to express and convey the company’s goals, products, or ideas to the targeted audience. Businesses use marketing methods in order to maximize their brand recognition and customer awareness. With today’s technology it is fairly simple to market your business online with email, blogs, and social media sites. However, a well-designed marketing campaign should actually incorporate both online and offline promotional strategies. Due to the intense focus that has recently been directed to online marketing, some companies may have lost focus and have possibly missed out on attracting offline consumers. The following is the more widely used offline marketing strategies. Each of these methods can be used to increase your company’s brand and reputation.

• Place your website’s URL in emails, letterheads, and business cards.

• Give out complementary promotional items. For example you could give T-Shirts, fliers, bumper stickers, pens, and magnets all with your business logo or company website listed.

• Advertise your company and the website’s URL in newspaper or magazine press releases.

• Using QR codes so mobile users can access your website

• Create window or storefront signs that display your website’s URL for both customers and potential customers passing your store.

• Join local community groups to spread information about your company. (Business associations and Chamber of Commerce)

• Create and Send Business Post Cards that provide contact information about for your company.

• Contact your local business direct mailing advertiser. Design and create an advertisement for your local audience.

• Sponsor local Events, Fundraisers, and Charity Functions.

• Make sales calls or hire someone to perform “cold calling”.

• Attend Business Trade Shows or Seminars to network with other industry professionals.

• Use Word Of Mouth by reaching out to your contacts and spreading promotional information to friends, family, and acquaintances.

These are just a few tips for marketing your online business offline, for more examples visit 37 Original ways promote your Business . In conclusion, marketing should be a blend of online and offline techniques. The internet may offer a good environment to market your business but that doesn’t mean that you should limit your company’s reach to the internet and restrict your marketing potential. Almost every business on the Internet is performing online marketing which is why adding some offline promotional strategies can potentially help distinguish you from your competitions.

Thanks for Reading!

Dustin

CDTek.com

Facebook’s Like Icon

Benefits of a having a “Like-Gate”:

The main benefit of utilizing a “like-gate” on your business’s Facebook page is that it helps attract new visitors and gains your company page more fans. The fans that you acquire using this method can also later turn into valuable customers. A “Reveal-Gate” can also help with increasing your brand awareness and gives you the opportunity to build a better customer relationship with those who decide to like your page. Having a “like-gate” can also help you weed through the visitors and determine which of them will actually be customers. Most of the time the people who “like” your page are doing so in order to learn more about your company or the products that you offer. However this can also become a negative reason for having this type of barrier.

Negatives of having a “Like-Gate”:

As we mentioned, a like gate can filter out the customers from visitors but because the “Like” barrier often promises some kind of reward, customers may temporarily accept your conditions in an attempt to gain access to a one time deal. There is no way to guarantee a loyal customer using this technique unless you continue to offer them deals or create a positive and lasting first impression. Some feel that a “Fan-Gate” will devalue true fans of your company and that it also cheapens the notion of actually liking something. Customers are often quick to click the “Like” button when they know that they are going to receive some kind of benefit from this action. By offering an incentive it lessens the value of the customer instead of giving them the chance to experience and like you on their own terms. Another problem with a “Fan-Gate” is that it can be expensive, not necessarily to create but to maintain the promotions promised. If your page is able to offer an incentive as well as sustain the customers future business it could potentially be worth it, however the problem occurs when customers have no intention of being a returning customer without the promise of future discounts.

If You Choose To Use a “Like-Gate”:

If you find that is beneficial for your company to use this kind of customer generating device then you should try to follow some of the following tips.

• Let them know that liking the page will give them access to special offers, news, tips or other information your audience is interested
• Visually tell the visitor what to do when they land on the page. Some use arrows pointing at the “like” or you can also copy and paste a picture of the “Like” button on your page design.
• Avoid gimmicks and stay true to your brand.
• Strive for authenticity and exclusivity.
• Monitor your results and utilize the method that works best for you.
• Focus on quality over quantity and reward loyalty.
• Deliver a Strong Call-to-Action & Compelling Reason to “Like”
• Try to avoid begging or seeming desperate to have the user “like” your page.

Designing a “Like-Gate”:

• Decide what type of incentive you want to offer in order to attract fans.
• Design the look of your “Like-gate”. Design two web pages, one for “non-fans”, who haven’t yet clicked “Like” and one to show to those that have.
• Implement the “Like-gate” on your Facebook Page.

Some common “Like-Gates” offer things like having a First glimpse access to new content, Exclusive access to register for events, special coupon discounts, free shipping, and Giveaways.

How to Get a “Like-Gate”:

There are two different ways a company can employ a gate, they can either create one or purchase a pre-existing template. Creating one is more complicated and will require some coding knowledge. Creating a “Reveal Page” requires the use of an iFrame to pull in PHP code from a separate site. For business less computer savvy they can easily purchase a Facebook Building Application from a company like North Social. Customers can these applications on Facebook. The suite costs about $20 a month and comes with a 14 day free trial. Once purchased, there are over 15 different types of apps to choose from and each can be easily assigned to your company’s Facebook page. Some of the applications that North Social offers include the following.

Deal Share -Create and launch a viral deal on your Facebook Page where you can set the number of registrations required to unlock a group discount.

Exclusive – Visitors unlock a “fan exclusive” download by sharing a wall post (supports audio, video, documents, printable coupons, and more).

Fan Offer – Convert visitors into fans of your Facebook page by rewarding them with an exclusive coupon or invitation to a special event.

Sign Up – Create contact forms, online surveys, and invitations to capture valuable information directly from your Fan page.

Sweepstakes – Launch a sweepstakes on your Facebook Page in minutes with this all-in-one app.

This is just one of the many companies that create these types of applications. There are also plenty of other free alternatives that can be… Read the rest

The best topics to write about are the ones that the writer is passionate or knowledgeable about. Generally, topics that generate discussions or friendly debates can the most significant impact on the audience. Additionally, topics where your enthusiasm can be felt by the audience will spark the best interest and reactions from your readers. When writing a blog you should always remain focused on your audience as well as the purpose of the article. Your blog posts should have an appropriate tone and be consistent with the rest of your blog. Furthermore, be persistent with your blog entries and try to establish an inviting environment so that your readers are engaged.

Additional Blog Tips Include:

• Target Your Niche Audience.
• Plan and research your topics.
• Keep a memory bank of future blog topics.
• Separate larger blog topics in to a series of articles.
• Find and successful format and stick with it.
• Create eye catching titles.
• Use a photo to separate too much text.
• Engage your audience with questions and comment sections.
• Respond to user comments.
• Focus on your audience.
• Make it relevant and worthwhile.
• Proofread
• Use your keywords.
• Provide links.
• Keep your posts simple and relevant. (Readers like lists and infographics)

Blog topics are everywhere and to find them all you need is to keep your ears open throughout your day. If you are still fresh out of ideas you may want to consider some of the following sources.

• Read other industry related blogs:

Reading related blogs can influence your own blog topics, whether it’s an extension of their thoughts or an opposing argument. If you write for an Internet Marketing Blog then you might check out other blogs like Search Engine Land, SEOMoz, or SEObook)

• Read blog comments:

The comments that readers post on other blogs as well as your own can often spark a new idea. You will also be able to get a sense of how popular a subject is by judging how many people responded with comments.

• Watch the news, listen to the radio, and read the latest headline:

The topics that make the news are usually the latest trending topics and can be great source to contribute your own thoughts to the topic. (Google News, Huffingtonpost.com, and CNN)

• See what is popular on social media sites:

Most of the time when you visit a social media website like Digg, Twitter, and Stumbleupon you are instantly introduced to a full set of topics to choose from.

• Revisit past blog post:

The majority of topics that bloggers write articles about can often be revisited, updated, or re-written from a different point of view. Knowledge is always expanding and sometimes we may not have all the details during the initial post. It may be beneficial especially if you revisit one of your most popular blog topics.

• Survey your Audience:

Your audience may want to learn about a specific topic or have you expand on a previous article. Give them an opportunity to make article suggestions by asking them.

• Check out question and answer websites:

Visit websites like Quora and Yahoo Answers to find out what readers are asking about. Write a blog article providing that information and then provide a snippet along with a link to your blog in your answer.

• Read forums and discussion boards:

The communication that takes place here is usually informative, fast paced, popular, and perfect to help generate your own blog post.

• Read some recent interviews:

Interviews provide a lot of important information. Creating a blog with background information and interview details provide readers with another medium for that information.

• Seminars, Case Studies, and Experiments:

Your own personal ventures can be another great place to start for a blog topic. Something you tried, something that worked, something that didn’t, it’s all relative and could be beneficial for your audience.

• Create Google Alerts:

Google alerts will enable you to set alerts for industry key words. Read the headlines that it captures and see what is interesting.

• Ask the people around you:

You can always ask co-workers, family, and friends to suggest a blog topic for you to write about.

• Major company blogs:

Companies like Google, Microsoft, Apple, or any other major company that makes the news daily can be a great resource for blog topics.

If you are still unable to generate a blog topic from the previously mentioned sources then try tackling some of these generic blog suggestions.

• Write a post by examining the pros and cons of an issue.
• Write a tutorial.
• Make a top 10-100 list.
• Conduct an interview with a person from your industry.
• Posting about current events in your niche.
• Invite a guest author.
• Post an “advantages/disadvantages” post.
• Update an old post with new ideas or findings.
• Debunk a myth in your post.
• Make a post for beginners.
• Create a guide for your niche.
• Post about frequently asked questions in your niche.
• Post about what’s popular in your industry.
• Write about generally unknown secrets in your niche.
• Make a post that expands on another author’s post.
• Make a post about what not to do for your niche.

Still don’t have a blog? Check out Why having a blog helps your website.

Thanks for Reading!

Dustin

CDTek.com

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

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

For some, once a workspace reaches a level of disarray they are triggered to clean and organize. However for others it may be tempting to accept the new conditions and continue working in a jumbled and confusing work area. If you are struggling to keep an organized office or are looking to create a better and fresh work environment then you may want to consider some of the following suggestions. Along with these suggestions are reasons why you should establish positive organizational skills for yourself.

• Standardize a Process for Reviewing and Storing Documents

Establish a routine for identifying, reviewing, and archiving your documents. Start by identifying the task and assigning it a priority amongst your other work assignments. File and organize the documents in their designated location as you receive them in order to prevent a buildup of unsorted files. Perform a daily review of your action items and take inventory on what still needs to be addressed or the completed assignments that can now be archived or disposed of. You should also perform weekly and monthly reviews, this is where you can take the time to move completed projects to your archives as well as clean out the older items from your filing cabinet.

• Organize your mail and other documents.

Just like with email it is beneficial to keep your mail sorted in stackable letter trays or other types of document holders. A document holder can make it is easier to differentiate and prioritize incoming and outgoing mail items. Also try designating sections for current important action items and potential or on hold items. In addition create a file system using either a filing cabinet or an expandable portfolio folder. Create sections for the various needs of your work and label them clearly for easy retrieval.

• Discard old and irrelevant Documents.

Once you have identified items that you no longer need discard them in the trash, recycling, or use a shredder. Set up a trash can near your desk so you are not tempted to hang on to unneeded material. Allowing old documents to pile up will quickly consume important work space and can create unnecessary clutter at your work station. Be sure to keep all important material for the proper amount of time and only discard once no longer required, for example company financial and most employee records should be maintained for 7 years.

• Use a scanner to import documents.

Instead of maintaining the actual hard copy files use a scanner to import them on your computer. Storing your documents electronically will leave extra room on your desk and in your file cabinets.

• Use a desktop or virtual calendar.

Although post it notes and memo pads can help in certain situations it is better to utilize a calendar, software like Microsoft Outlook, or an agenda book to keep your thoughts, appointments, and to dos in one location.

• Make a label for it.

Whether it’s a folder, drawer, or computer cables use a label to clearly identify it and its contents.

• Manager Computer and other electronic cords.

Keep your cords neatly organized and labeled in case they get disconnected. There are several products on the market that can help with cord control and desktop storage. Some of these products include the Belkin mini surge protector and USB charger, Cable IDs, 2 Pod Charging Station, GearGripper, Desktop Workstation, Calendar Mouse pad, Oxo Good Grips Cord and Cable Clip, Cable Zipper, Case Logic Cable ties, and the Cable Yoyo.

• Try to minimize eating at your desk.

Eating at your desk can lead to crumbs and spills. If possible try to eat away from your desk so that your office equipment stays clean.

• Remove any books that you no longer need or use.

If you have a bookshelf or a pile of books in your office, group them in categories so you can easily access the one you are looking for. Take home any books that you no longer use or store them somewhere out of sight in your office.

• Personalize but don’t over personalize.

Personalizing your office space can be a great way to relax and feel comfortable at work, however adding too many family pictures or personal object can be distracting and look cluttered.

• Have a properly lit workspace.

Make sure your work environment is adequately lit. A brightly lit office will be easier to spot messes and keep clean.

• Establish Equipment proximity based on usage.

Place the most frequently used office equipment closest to you and the devices that you use the least the furthest. For example if you use your printer the most have it in a close proximity to your workspace.

• Use a Desk Organizer and limit the amount of office supplies.

Purchase an Office Supply Organizer to keep your office supplies organized. Limit the number of supplies to only what you… Read the rest

• 20% of small businesses don’t have a website, of that 16% do plan to have one in the future.
• 41% believes their websites bring exposure but 28% don’t know if the website helps.
• 40% report they need help with small business SEO on their website for better search rankings
• 37% say they need help using Facebook, Twitter and other social media.
• Nearly 35% need help with email marketing promotions.
• 33% need help building inbound links to their website.

Unless you are a big name brand just having a website will not bring in the amount of traffic that you want. It is very important that you not only have a website but that you also know how to market it as well. The following are 15 methods to market a small business online, we have covered many of these tips individually so be sure to visit the links provided to get a more in depth look at each.

• Build a Website

Although it is possible to have an online presence without a website it is always advised that the following methods are used to compliment your website rather than replace it. Creating a website yourself or paying someone to create one for your small business should be your first step. Your website will act as a central hub and connect with the rest of your online marketing efforts.

• Perform SEO

Search engine optimization or SEO is performing on page and off page methods to improve the visibility and rank of a website. SEO aims to generate greater traffic by increasing a website rank and authority in the search engines. If you are unfamiliar with Search engine optimization then you should hire an SEO expert.

• Start Blogging

Having a blog can help market your website tremendously. A blog is an excellent way to reach out to your existing clients and gain more along the way. A blog is extremely easy to set up and manage. Blogs offer a quick way to supply news, promotions, ideas, or other information to your audience. A blog can also establish you as a professional and offers an effective way to provide customer support. Additionally a blog will help earn your company respect, increase the traffic to your website, allow you to gain feedback, and may help you rank better because search engines like Google really like websites with blogs.

• Participate in Social Media

Social media has become a major influence in the world of Internet marketing. Using social media is easy to do and the reach is global. Social media is a great resource for any business because it has the ability to quickly spread your message and target your potential customers. Participating in social media establishes a communications platform that can assist companies with proactively monitoring and controlling their customer communication and perception.

• Use YouTube

Like most social media sites YouTube is a great resource for free marketing. Anyone with an account can upload a YouTube video but the real goal is to increase your presence and offer valuable entertainment to the other users. YouTube will generate more visibility for your website and will help it rank better in Google.

• Claim Local Listings

Businesses can increase their local presence with sites like Google Places , Bing Business Portal, Yelp, YellowPages, Superpages, InsiderPages, Localeze, CitySearch, or InfoUSA. These types of websites provide local citations or web references. Local citations are when another website mentions a business and its contact information, this can occur with or without a link to the business’s website.

• Read and Submit Reviews

Keep current with the reviews that your customers are leaving about you on review websites like Yelp. If you find a negative review take the necessary actions to correct the situation and if you find positive reviews find a way to work them into your website or sales pitch.

• Email Newsletters

Email campaigns can be a great way for a business to generate an increase in traffic and sales. Many companies employing email campaigns often fall short of accomplishing their goals because their emails appear too spammy, lack customer value, or fail to project any personality. 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 promotions, events, product updates, business changes, and other information worthwhile for your consumers

• Use QR Codes

A Fairly new method of internet marketing is using QR codes. These are two-dimensional icons that can be scanned by smartphone cameras to automatically pull up text, photos, videos, music, URLs, and even make phone calls or send emails. This form of brand marketing is on the rise and is providing businesses with many new, creative, and effective marketing opportunities.

• Read and Comment on Blogs

Commenting on blogs and participating in online discussions will build a credible reputation for you and your business. Online discussion will expand your network and open your website up to new… Read the rest

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

 

from http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_iphone/family/iphone, August 2011

Since the introduction of the iPhone the numbers of apps have grown exponentially. Start the new school year off right by trying out some of the following applications. The apps are broken down into several categories ranging from personal organizers to financial assistance however many of the applications perform across multiple categories. Many of selected apps are designed to assist students with note taking, time management, relaxation, and much more

Personal and Class Organizers

• iProscrastinate

IProscrastinate is a simple and intuitive task management application that lets you assign priority levels to your scheduled items.

• iStudiez Pro

This app helps you schedule classes, assignments, and important deadlines in a personal planner.

• iHomework

This application keeps your work organized and lets you assign upcoming tasks while monitoring your progress.

• myHomework

Like the other personal organizers this app keeps track of a student’s class schedule, teachers, and assignments.

• Cozi

The Cozi app is a simple list and calendar editor that lets you set alarm and reminders.

Note-Taking

• Penultimate

“The best-selling handwriting app for over a year. You’ll get the fast, tactile gratification of writing on paper, with digital power and flexibility. Take notes, keep sketches, or share your next breakthrough idea — in the office, on the go, or home on the sofa.” -Cocoa Box Design LLC

• SoundNote

“SoundNote is the best way to take notes in meetings, lectures, and interviews. It tracks what you type and draw while recording audio, so you’ll never worry about missing an important detail. During playback, just tap a word: SoundNote will jump right to the proper time in the audio.”- David Estes

• Notability

Notability is a note-taking application that supports web clipping and has the ability to draw on or type over images.

• Evernote

Evernote lets you create notes, snap photos, and record voice memos that you can then access at any time from your iPhone, computer, or the web.

• Bamboo Paper

Along with the Bamboo stylus for the iPad this app allows users to create notes and sketches that can be shared visually, easily stored and archived for later use. It features different paper types (blank, lined or graph) and several pen thickness selections.

• InClass

The InClass app lets you take written, audio, video, and photographic notes. You can also create schedules and alarms for due dates or homework assignments.

• Snoozerr Recordings

With this you can record lectures and take snap shot pictures. The snapshots are time stamped to coordinate with the sound recording letting the user navigate quickly through their notes.

Studying

• Cram

This app lets users study with flashcards on their iPhone or iPod Touch. Users can create multiple-choice questions for practice and when the test is over “Cram” grades your test performance so you can track your progress.

• Mental Case Flash Cards

This app lets you add text, record audio, and insert images from your photo library. Mental Case is a great memory bank for those things you come across each day that you want to remember. Mental Case also allows you to download flash cards from the World’s largest online repositories of study cards, FlashcardExchange.com and Quizlet.com. Choose from millions of flashcards, on topics ranging from Medicine to GRE and SAT exams.

• FlashCards

FlashCards makes it easy to create flashcards on the iPhone. You can use text, pictures, or even audio to make your flash cards.

• Flash Card Touch

Flashcard Touch is a simple and intuitive learning tool that helps you memorize vocabularies, foreign languages, or just about anything you can put on an index card.

• Study Aid

Study Aid helps users quickly create flashcards. Simply swipe left or right to go forwards or backwards in your list of cards, and swipe down for the answer and down again to go back.

Reference Guides

• Dictionary.com

Everything you love about Dictionary.com on the iPhone and the iPad!

• Vocabology

This easy to use iPhone application helps you build your vocabulary.

• Science Glossary

The Science Glossary application contains a glossary of scientific terms and short biographies. All definitions link to related terms and to a free detailed science learning module.

• Periodic Table of Elements

This app provides the standard periodic table of the elements which is helpful for anyone interested in or attending a chemistry course.

• Math Formulas

This application provides every possible math formula and calculations that a math student could ask for.

• Human Anatomy

This app contains information from fifteen different biological systems. It provides a quick and detailed reference for the human Anatomy. The app contains text and detailed sketches.

Productivity / Utilities

• Graphing Calculator

This application serves as a scientific graphing calculator which can plot 2D and 3D graphs. It is similar to Texas Instruments TI-83, TI-84 minus the expensive price tag.

• Wi-Fi Locator

This app uses the GPS function on your iPhone to locate and tell you exactly where the closest Wi-Fi hotspot is, and how to get there.

• eTextBooks

This free app is a perfect complement to the paid CourseSmart service.

• DropBox Mobile

Dropbox is a free service… Read the rest

Quick Response codes are still fairly new and because they are just getting started in the United States many people are still unaware of what they can do or how they work. Most of the Businesses that utilize Quick Response Coded promotional material also provide directions for first time users on how to use them. To produce the codes a company must use an online QR code generator and in order for the customer to access the information contained in the code they need to have a mobile QR scanner. Some of the popular QR generators include Kaywa Code Generator, iCandy, StickyBits, QR-Stuff, plus many other Mobile Barcode generators. Customers can download their free QR scanner from their smart phone app store.

According to a recent comScore Survey 14 million mobile users in the US have scanned a Quick Response Code but that’s only 6.2% of all mobile users. 60.5% of the code scanners were men that were mostly between ages 18-34 and had an income of over $100k. Around half of the participants said that they scanned the QR codes from a magazine or newspaper and roughly 35% scanned from product packaging. As consumer awareness for QR codes increases the number of uses for the codes also expands. The following are 10 creative places Quick Response Codes can be used to promote your business.

• Business Cards:

Business cards can only contain a small portion of information without looking too cluttered, with a QR code placed on your business card the contacts you meet can quickly access your all of your information and even store it on their mobile device. Business cards can accumulate and are often ignored which is why having the QR code automatically call or store the contact information will increase the chance of the new contact retaining your correct information.

• Mail advertisements or Postcards:

With mail advertisements or postcards your potential customers may be more inclined to check out your business. Most of the time people carry their mobile device on them and because it only takes a couple of seconds to scan and access your content the QR advertisements could prove to be very valuable. The majority of people discard mail newsletters but a QR code may peak their interest enough to discover more information.

• Magazine and Newspaper ads:

Magazine and newspaper ads also provide great space for Quick Response Code placement. Readers or skimmers will be able to see your advertisement and quickly acquire more details through the QR code. Sometimes readers don’t always own the newspaper or magazine that they see your advertisement in and having a QR code available would be a great way for readers to hold on to information. For example, the waiting room at a doctor’s or dentist office may have a magazine with an interesting business advertising that you want to learn more about. A Quick Response Code would enable you to scan, access, and store that information for later whether it is a phone number, website, or one of the many other possible uses of a QR code.

• Coupons or Receipts:

If you already run coupons in the newspaper you can add a QR code that provides users with more information such as store locations, directions, and additional promotions. Quick Response Codes can also be used to gain customer feedback. Companies can place a code on their customer receipts that provides their phone number and website or be used as a way to acquire customer feedback. For example the receipt code can offer a future discount in exchange for a few moments of the customer’s time.

• Store Displays:

Having a store display with a Quick Response code on it can allow a customer to access more information and reviews about a specific product. In addition QR codes can also be displayed in a window or on a company door for the people passing by. These codes can be especially helpful with providing store information during the hours that the business is closed.

• Product Packaging:

QR codes on product packaging are also a good way to reach new and existing customers. Customers who purchased the product can easily learn more about it, send feedback, or call customer service. Quick Response Codes can be extremely useful for food delivery services, for example Papa John’s includes QR codes on their pizza boxes so customers can easily visit their website, place an order, and leave reviews.

• Stickers, magnets and Commercials:

Stickers and magnets with your QR code can be placed anywhere you or your customers wish to stick them. Again food delivery services can greatly benefit from this because users can quickly scan their fridge magnet when they want to place an order. Television commercials and YouTube videos can also be used to showcase your company’s Quick Response Code. At the end of the video you can use this code to direct people to your company website or initiate a phone call.

… Read the rest

What Makes the Title Tag So Special?

Although every webpage is required to have a title tag most businesses neglect to optimize them. A company website isn’t complete without a fully optimized title tag. With an optimized title tag you can greatly increase the chances of customers coming to your website. Optimized title tags are extremely important for websites because they are visible in three distinct locations. These locations include the top of the browser window, the search engine results page (SERP), and the links from external websites.

Title tags draw a lot of attention to the top of the browser window. This position also enables a page visitor to know immediately where they are and if they are in the right place. Other websites and social media often use the title tag as the anchor text when linking to your site. When displayed on a search results page the title tag can also quickly grab the attention of a searcher and influence them to you visit your website. Since the title tag is a highly important search engine ranking factor it directly coordinates with what users are searching for and allows you to target a specific audience. Title tags also help target important keywords. This again helps with ranking better in search engines and finding potential customers. The title tag also appears when people bookmark your page and lets them know what your site is at a quick glance.

How Do You Optimize a Title Tag?

As you can see the benefits of having an effective title tag are tremendous. Most importantly an optimized title tag has the potential to attract valuable traffic to your website and business. The following are some of the best practices associated with creating title tags.

• Optimal Formats:

Primary Keyword – Secondary Keyword | Brand Name

(Leverages your keywords, products or services)

Brand Name | Primary Keyword and Secondary Keyword

(Leverages your brand name and is recommended for bigger or more reputable companies)

• Place important keywords closer to the front of the title tag.

• Use less than 70 characters, otherwise the search results will show ellipsis – “…” to indicate that a title tag has been cut off.

• Create a descriptive and relevant keyword-laden title tag. The title tag is thought to be the most important place to use keywords to achieve high rankings.

• Create a compelling title that encourages users to visit your site while maintaining your relevance and integrity.

The title tag is hands down one of the most important elements of a website other than its content. In order for a business to take full advantage of the opportunity that the title tag provides they must fully optimize it for their website and keywords. By following the best practices that were outlined in this article a website can be well on their way to gaining more relevant traffic and a higher conversion rate.

Thanks for Reading have a Great Day!

Dustin

CDTek.com

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

from http://www.onlinemarketing-trends.com/2011/02/top-3-best-practices-creating-landing.html, July 2011

A landing page is the webpage on which a visitor arrives on following the click action. Landing pages often target particular streams of traffic hence the highest importance to construct a targeted landing page. Email and social media marketing is a perfect opportunity to send visitors to a specific landing page with the best chance of conversion. Landing pages can drastically increase the opportunity to convert traffic into sales leads. Sending these individuals to a home page rather than a targeted conversion page could mean a huge missed opportunity.

A landing page can have various actions depending on the type of business. Such actions include signing up for newsletters, purchasing a product, getting a quote and so on. Although these actions will vary but the main goal will always be to attract, retain, and convert visiting users. The landing page is crucial to acquiring customers and guides visitors through the conversion process. Page visitors often have a limited tolerance for flaws in this process and even the smallest error can quickly turn them away. For example some people don’t like to fill out forms, some are afraid of being scammed when buying a product and others may not want to provide their information because they don’t want to be spammed. This process surely presents site owners with several difficulties which is why it is necessary to find creative methods to successful finalize the conversion.

It’s definitely important to view your landing page through the eyes of your customers. What does a potential customer contemplate before converting? Upon landing customers commonly consider if they are in the right place, the trust level they have for the site, the amount of time the process will take, and the potential benefit from the conversion. The landing page should first address these concerns and then proceed to display your introduction copy, any media content, product information, customer testimonials, as well as any other relevant information. Below are more elements that a landing page should contain.

How to Improve a Landing Page:

• Define your Conversion:

What is the purpose of your landing page? Once you have determined a clear goal for your landing page remain focused and try to limit navigation if possible. The purpose of the landing page is to obtain the conversion not direct users to other portions of your website.

• Research you Audience:

Understand what they are looking for when they land on your page and be sure to address the needs of that targeted traffic. Avoid generic landing pages and try to produce an emotional appeal to your visitors.

• Simple and Specific:

Don’t include unnecessary elements for the fun of it and keep it free of distractions. Try to keep your landing page clean, simple, and to the point. Emphasize your purpose and stick to it.

• Maintain a Visual Link:

It is a common mistake for landing pages not to match the advertisement or email that was used to link to the page. Visitors want to know that they have arrived at the correct location so provide visual cues to show customers that they are on the correct path. For instance use the same colors, keywords, and locations of action on the advertising and on the landing page.

• Keep the Call to action above the Fold:

The most important element on the landing page is the call to action. The call to action is the purpose behind the landing page and should be clearly visible. The call to action ties in directly with the conversion. A successful call to action is short, easy to understand, urgent, highly visible on the page, present throughout the landing page, and encourages people to convert. Like a regular newspaper a webpage has a virtual fold. Unfortunately anything that requires a user to scroll immediately loses some of its value and is sometimes ignored all together.

• User Friendly Forms:

Only ask for necessary information because most people don’t like to fill out forms. Make your forms character specific so that letters can be entered only into word fields and numbers only in number fields. Also make your forms simple to tab through or automatically move to the next field once the information is entered.

• Draw Attention:

Never lead viewers away from the focal point. Emphasize all important information with the use of typography, colors, and graphics. Without being obnoxious draw attention to and lead the viewer’s eyes to the conversion action. Be careful, adding too many colors, fonts, or pictures will create a distraction.

To optimize a landing page the best thing you can do is testing. Test various landing pages on different targeted groups and analyze the results to determine the best one. Following the testing process you should ask yourself the following questions. Is the page focused, does it provide quality to you and your visitors, does it maintain the same familiarity used in the original advertisement, is all the important information above the fold and highlighted, is the page enticing, and does it hold true… Read the rest

from http://www.google.com/adwords/awhelpcenter/, July 2011

Although the Google advertising credit card is a MasterCard that that is issued through the World Financial Capital Bank it can only be used to purchase search advertising from Google. The new card is designed to help businesses relieve some of the financial burden of advertising costs. When unable to purchase advertising a business can lose their connection to their customers and often experience a drop in traffic or sales. Without that outlet to reach their customers and showcase their products they miss out on that opportunity to generate revenue. Consequently, without this revenue the business lacks the resources to purchase additional advertising and propel future growth, which is where the new credit card could make a drastic difference.

Google credit card is able to lend some support and prevent a business that is short on funds from missing out on potential sales during the heavy upcoming sales seasons. With this credit card Google advertising customers are provided a line of credit with a locked in 8.99% interest rate with no annual fees. Google expressed that they realize that AdWords provides tremendous growth opportunities for small to medium sized businesses and the goal for the new card is to provide those businesses with a more supportive and attractive way to pay. The number of customers chosen to participate in the beta period is unknown and like most credit cards the minimum and maximum credit lines will vary per customers.

Although the card was created with the customer’s best interest in mind, Google also has an opportunity to capitalize on revenue from the credit card interest payments. Google makes 96% of its revenue from advertising and by offering a credit card they are not only offering their customers extra support but they can also collect extra income.

Brent Callinicos, Google’s Treasurer states “Obviously we have a robust balance sheet, so this is a way for us to use that balance sheet to help our customers, It isn’t a financial engineering project that we came up with and said this would be cool to do. It’s a customer need”.

Missing from the credit card is any type of rewards or bonus points. The company feels that given a choice their customers would rather utilize a card with a 9% interest rate over one that has an 18% interest rate and offers some sort of reward feature.

For more information visit:

Reuters- Google offers a credit card to advertisers

Sign Up For Google AdWords

Thanks for Reading have a Great Day!

Dustin

CDTek.com

from http://www.squidoo.com/, July 2011

Squidoo is completely free, easy to use, fast, and fun. The creation of Squidoo lenses can be a great way to showcase your area of expertise and reach new customers. Typically lenses compile information on a specific topic or business but they have also been known to be used for hobbies, passions, and personal profiles. Their original tagline “Everyone’s an Expert (on something)” explains Squidoo’s main principle, everyone has something to contribute and it’s their goal is to provide an outlet for that sharing.

Why Use Squidoo:

Besides the fact that it’s a free high quality social media platform, Squidoo offers users the chance to reach an expansive online community and potentially build a larger customer base. Squidoo lenses are niche focused and offer some of the best content and advice on the Internet. With the help of Squidoo a small business could effectively spread their message and company awareness to millions of users.

This free promotional resource can attract potential clients and may encourage them to visit your company’s website. Squidoo marketing allows you to provide users with a ton of useful information and provide unlimited links your website, blog, and products. The lens owners even have the chance to generate revenue using Squidoo Profit Modules and Widgets. Most importantly, Google likes Squidoo and your lenses have a good chance of being indexed. The bottom line is that like most social networks, Squidoo provides an opportunity to find more potential customers and offers many more paths to you website.

Getting Started With Squidoo:

When using Squidoo for the first time you will be required to create a username and password. After establishing an account you can begin filling in your main profile, this profile will be similar to your home page and will be connected to each of the lenses that you create. Also the profile is a great opportunity to earn link value by linking to your company website. Your profile consists of your name, username, bio, picture, feature lenses, links to external sites, and your account settings.

Once you are finished you can click on the Create a lens button on the Squidoo Dashboard to begin your first Squidoo lens. When building a lens keep in my mind that there are key elements that every lens needs to have to be an effective marketing tool. The following is a list of what users look for and appreciate when surfing Squidoo lenses.

• Great content

Make sure that your content is engaging and your enthusiasm for the subject is apparent.

• Easy to digest amounts of content

Be careful with the amount of text that you include. Try delivering small bite size amounts of information so visitors can easily scan your content. Most users do not want to read a book when searching for specific information so instead try to take the PowerPoint approach by adding bulleted information.

• Focus on a niche

In order to drive appropriate attention to your website stay focused on what your lens is about. Users who visit your site mostly arrive there by searching for your topic and probably don’t want to be presented with unrelated information.

• External Linking

The modules on Squidoo provide a great opportunity to link to external sites. Users can link their other social networking accounts like Twitter and Facebook directly on their lens. The Twitter module will allow a user to display their user name, amount of followers, and recent post. Additionally a user can link RSS feeds to their lens which provides a great way to link to their company blog. Squidoo also provides a number of other modules that allow users to link to any website on the Internet.

• Pictures

In addition to useful content eye candy is another major part of retaining visitors. Users want to be presented with exciting design and content not something that appears dull. Pictures are a great way to add to the user experience and provoke more positive reaction.

• Module Diversity

Again the purpose is to entice visitors and avoid being boring. Using the same module over and over again will tire quickly unless of course you have some amazing content. Change up your lens structure by alternating between the hundreds of available modules.

• Tags

Squidoo allows users to associate forty tags with their lens. It’s advised that you use all forty keywords because each one acts as another way for other users to locate your lens. It is important to use tags that are relevant to the topic to ensure that the correct audience is being targeted. In addition to the forty lens tags, users can also add tags in their pictures and other link modules.

• Visitor Interaction

Squidoo and other social network users like to be able to communicate and interact with other users. On a Squidoo lens, users can engage their visitors by can creating comment modules, polls, surveys, guest books, sharing modules, user spotlights, videos, pictures, and links to other social media websites.

How to Maintain Your Squidoo:

Although it only takes a short time to… Read the rest

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

 

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.

• Variety:

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.

• Collaboration:

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.

• Productivity:

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.

• Support:

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