Protecting Your Online or IT Business from External Threats

With the news that UK economic growth forecasts have been revised up to 2.3% for the remainder of 2014, businesses nationwide are making confident plans for their short and long-term future. It is important that entrepreneurs do not become too confident or complacent, however, as this can cause significant issues that ultimately underline even the most carefully laid growth and development plans. There are threats that lurk around every corner for business owners, especially those that work exclusively in the Information Technology or online sectors.

Protection

How to Protect Your Online or IT Business

Remote, online businesses are unique in the modern age, and there multiple risks that entrepreneurs need to be aware of.…

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5 Gadgets Your Employees Will Love

In the 21st century, a connected workforce is almost expected. Every industry seems to have found ways to incorporate some types of gadgets to make the job being done more efficient. From fast food workers to the mailman, employees are equipped with technology designed specifically with their jobs in mind. How is a small business to decide what gadgets your company should be equipped with? Check out these suggestions to see if one of these hot new tech tools would be a fit to your company.

Beam

Beam robot

Beam is one of the coolest gadgets to hit the market over the last few years, and will make your Skype meetings seem like a thing of the past.…

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How ERP can Help my Business

It’s a tough job running a business – many outsiders simply don’t realize how time consuming it can be. What can come as a shock to many business owners, however, is just how much of that time is spent on small repetitive tasks such as employee coordination and data management. It’s so easy to get into the habit of dealing with these on a day-to-day basis that managers lose track of how ridiculous it is – after all, most of them don’t require a great deal of skill, and it’s amazing to think about what might be accomplished if that time were spent on something else instead.…

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Help to Make a Decision on Creating a Mobile App

Creating a mobile app can be of great benefit to a business, both in terms of attracting consumers and increasing productivity, but there are a few things for you to consider before jumping in and developing your own; namely how much it will cost in both time and money, how the app will relate to your customers, and how it would be used internally, as well as the logistical elements involved.

Mobile apps

Mobile apps can help businesses relate to their consumers; display content, products and services; provide sales support and promote themselves, as well as being used by employees. However, it may be costly and time-consuming to develop and maintain your own app, for example, or you may find that the market is already saturated with similar ideas.…

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Innovation in Marketing Creates Impact That Lasts

Marketing has taken a new turn in the recent years. Innovation and creativity should not only reflect in the advert being showcased but also through the media being used.

“Nobody remembers the number of ads you run, they just remember the impression you make,” said Bill Bernbach, founder of the world-renowned Doyne Dale Bernbach Advertising Agency.

Pepsi augmented reality ad

Integration of marketing with technology has become a must in today’s world where everything has become digital. More and more people are using mobile phones in India. 23% of this population is hooked on to smart phones, and this number is increasing as we speak.…

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What is The Best Online Address Book? A Debate Revisited

Let’s get clear up front – we’re talking about ‘online address books’, which for the purposes of this article means an address-book, a place where you hold information on how to get in touch with people, that is online. No, I promise this will not be the most patronizing article ever written, but it is important to clear up a potentially misleading set of terms.

Online address book

Let’s also be clear on is what we’re not talking about: phone books, like those you may still receive from your landline provider. We’re not talking about those.

Now we’re all singing from the same song-sheet, let’s get down to the business of looking at the market for online address books, and where we seem to be heading, what is now about 10 years since Facebook entered the mix.…

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Don’t Let Pirated Software Sink Your Business

If you download pirated software from Pirate Bay or another torrent website on a computer you use in the workplace, then you’re placing your entire business network at risk. A person downloading pirated software has a one-in-three chance of encountering malware. However, the risk isn’t just in downloading the latest version of “Modern Warfare” before it comes to the U.S. Businesses that purchase refurbished computers containing pirated software have a 61-percent chance of encountering malware.

Pirate girl

Recent research released by IDC and the National University of Singapore predicts that pirated software will costs businesses approximately $491 billion in 2014. The majority of the cost, $364 billion, comes from lost data, damage repair and identity theft expenses.…

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How Much Internet Does Your Business Need?

No matter how many apps and tools you have to help you run your business, the key to a successful business is making sure that you have enough internet for your needs. The last thing you need is to be in the middle of a video conference, or just trying to upload a send a large file to a client, and discover that your current speeds aren’t enough to handle the task. On the other hand, if all you do is occasionally access the internet and check email, you don’t want to spend a lot of money on bandwidth you don’t need.…

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Dear SMB Owner: Think You Don’t Need CRM Software to Maximize Sales?

This post isn’t a promotional for any single type or brand of “Customer Relationship Management” software. I just want to outline some of the benefits of using one for those of you who’re starting a business soon, or who may be on track to expand your new or established SMB in the near future.

Zoho CRM

I’m not going to recommend any specific software in this post. If you’ve tried CRM’s that are great – or ones that are garbage for that matter – please leave a comment after this article so everyone can benefit from your knowledge.

Benefits of Using a CRM for Your SMB:

Team compliance

How often do you find yourself in a situation where a team member is giving you the “I forgot excuse” when it comes to your sales or customer service process?…

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Can’t Afford Mobile? 5 Tips to Help You Survive Without It

Customers expect to have information about your business – and your competitors – at their fingertips. If you’re not on mobile, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity to gain customers.

Online store

Four out of five consumers use smartphones to shop, and 70 percent of mobile searches lead to online action within an hour.

Despite these staggering statistics, many CEOs are still hesitant to jump on the mobile bandwagon. But mobile is the future of business, and it won’t wait for you to catch up before it sweeps your competition right past you on a digital wave of connected clients.

Mobile Boosts Business

In nearly every area of commerce, a mobile presence can boost your business by providing:

  • More leads.
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