N F I N I T Y I SPECIAL EDITION: TECHNOLOGY
Summer issue 2015
BUSINESS MAGAZINE
TECH & BUSINESS Learn The Benefits The Pitfalls And How To Stay Safe
MICROSOFT From Technology to Training
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Letter from Publisher Columnists Publisher: Tony Ferriera Managing Editor: Dawn Ferriera
VENDORS CORNER Jerry Zimmerle jerry.w.zimmerle@gmail.com
BUSINESS COACHING Rodney Rich rodney@rodneyrich.com
Editorial Assistant: Chelsea Ferriera Advertising Sales: Tony Ferriera Jill Branson Photographer: David Cherkis Photography
MARKETING COPY & CONTENT Julie Ewald
HEALTH & BUSINESS Dee Ennis oxyonenv@mgci.com
julie@impressasolutions.com
Contributing Writers
Design Team: A&D Designs Inc.
Patty Kreamer Michael Harris Kevin Sinclair Dale Krause
Leo Harten Scot Moran Marco A. Serrano Michael Johnson
AD &
DESIGNS
INC.
Welcome to our Tech & Business summer issue featuring the Microsoft store in the Fashion Show Mall. Technology has changed the way we do business and is changing and revolving every day, making it even more important to follow up with clients because of the ease of communication. The days of a phone call seems so distant as today it is email, text message, video chat, and now a days you Tony Ferriera, Publisher don't even have to show up for a meeting with Skype. Technology is great, but has it added an extra work load on our everyday business responsibilities, you bet it has. From social media, emails, text messages, mobile campaigns, computer software upgrades, cell phones, note pads, I Pads, blue tooth, Apple watch, not to mention all your other day to day responsibilities you have on your plate. Don't get me wrong technology is a great thing not only for our businesses but for our Country as well. I myself enjoy staying connected and interacting with my clientele, but at the same time you need to know when enough is enough and just shut it all down and take some time to relax. Remember life is short, so the next time you get that TEXT MESSAGE while driving down the freeway, please wait until you get to your destination before answering it, I am sure they will understand.
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Contents BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY 7
TECH & BUSINESS STRESS
8
BEING ORGANIZED EQUALS SMALL BUSINESS SUCCESS
11
IS USING YOUR HOME ADDRESS A GOOD IDEA FOR YOUR BUSINESS?
13
TOOLS, TIPS, AND TRICKS
14
WHY YOUR CUSTOMER SERVICE SHOULD BE AN ATTITUDE AND NOT A DEPARTMENT
17
SAFE EMAIL PRACTICES
22
SECRETS FROM A TECHNOLOGY EXPERT
23
MICROSOFT - FROM TECHNOLOGY TO TRAINING
25
BE SMART - LEARN FROM YOUR BUSINESS MISTAKES
32
THE BEST WAY TO GET IN YOUR CUSTOMERS POCKET
35
VENDOR’S VOICE
37
SMALL BUSINESS VOIP SERVICES
42
TECHNOLOGY IN YOUR BUSINESS; HELPFUL OR HARMFUL?
46
TIPS TO GET YOUR BUSINESS OFF AND RUNNING
50
CHOOSING THE RIGHT BUSINESS NAME
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Page 5
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By: Dee Ennis
In the 2014 Summer Issue of Infinity Business Magazine I wrote a story on SMALL BUSINESS ENEMY NO: 1–STRESS! Here it is, Summer of 2015 and the theme of this issue is “TECH & BUSINESS.” Do you think much has changed? Not really. You’re still constantly under pressure. Technological advances were supposed to make life easier and less stressful…guess what, your employees are still burned out, and the demands just keep mounting for you. How can you keep stress from damaging you business? Yes, stress can and will have a negative impact on your business, but an even greater of an impact on your health and the health of your employees. According to AARP Magazine, stress puts your body under pressure and can damage your health more than you realize. Stress affects every cell in your body. Here is a list of organs in your body that are easily damaged by stress: Your eyes–Your ears–Your esophagus–Your liver–Your adrenal glands–Your bowels-Your muscles–Your brain–Your heart–Your lungs–Your stomach–Your groin–Your skin–Your blood vessels…..scary, isn’t it? Especially Your Brain– Emotional health issues like depression, anxiety, rapid mood swings, irritability and feelings of isolation are suffered by those who are under constant stress.
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The AARP article goes on to give great suggestions on how to minimize stress. Such as meditation, give someone a bear hug (hold the hug for 20 seconds..you will be amazed!), watch a funny YouTube video (laughter is a great stress reliever), take a walk in a quiet place and practice breathing exercises. But what if all this isn’t possible and you are still overwhelmed with constant stressors? What can you do to stop the damage that has been done and is still constantly doing to your health? Do what I do and thousands of others do daily. Provide yourself with a certified effective, daily nutritional supplement called Life Shotz, which will allow your body to protect itself from the damage caused by stress. Not only that, but allow you to deal with the stress as it is occurring. For instance, according to the American Academy of Family physicians, if you have a near accident while driving, or worse yet, you are involved in an accident. You may not know it but you are going to have a significant stress disorder with symptoms of PTSD and will be hyper-sensitive for weeks, especially when driving again. When you take Life Shotz once a day, every day, you protect yourself from life’s daily stressors. You will give yourself all-natural energy, enhance your mental clarity and focus, while building your immune system to allow your body to protect you from not only chronic, daily stress but also from nutritional deficiency diseases.
Page 7
Being Organized Equals Small
SUCCESS
Page 8
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By: Patty Kreamer
You started your own business because you have a burning passion for what you do. You are also - we hope -- good at what you do and have a desire to help others. Little do you know that running a business includes, well...running a business. This little bombshell can throw many a new business owners for a loop. I receive numerous phone calls every week asking me how to start a business as a professional organizer. The first thing I say is that the organizing part is easy because it is a natural gift (sometimes a curse); it's running the business that can trap you. This is not to scare a potential entrepreneur away, but to help them realize that it's not all fun and games doing what you do best. You have to: Ÿ Find an accountant Ÿ Buy insurance Ÿ Get legal advice on how to set up
I firmly believe that the healthiest small business is the one that visits and reviews their organizational systems every six to twelve months. The small business that keeps doing the "same old, same old" is losing money. So where do you stand? Something that has really hit home in the past year or so is that you don't GET organized and have long lasting success. You have to BE organized. Getting organized is a quick fix of cleaning up and putting things away usually a Band-aid (r) approach - that doesn't last for more than a few days. Being organized is recognizing that organization is an ongoing journey. Life doesn't stop happening the minute you GET organized. You have to have systems in place that will help the daily flow; a lack of systems will cause clogs. These clogs come in many forms:
your business Ÿ File for the company name with the Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ
state Find working capital if necessary File all the proper tax forms Open up a checking account Get office supplies Market the business Build a network And the list goes on and on...
In the initial start-up stage, entrepreneurs are often so excited about starting a new business that they pay little or no attention to what is happening with all the paperwork and electronic data you are generating. That is typical and expected. However, around the six to twelve month mark, entrepreneurs start calling people like me - a professional organizer - begging for help in setting up a system to help them be organized. I envision a hand protruding from mounds of papers reaching for help. The sad news is that many small businesses have never taken the time to set up systems once they've built up paper and electronic backlogs. They just keep generating documents without stopping to assess what is being created.
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Ÿ Piles of papers Ÿ Lost documents Ÿ Misplaced items - glasses, phone,
pens, keys Ÿ Running late Ÿ Stress and frustration...
You get the picture. When it becomes clear to you that you are running through your day feeling like you've accomplished nothing, you may need to reassess your organizational skills and systems. Your small business must overcome many hurdles to be successful. Fortunately, being organized is one hurdle that you can learn to overcome. Or you can work with a professional organizer to set up customized systems that make you functional, productive, and more pleasant to be around. I challenge you take a deep look at the state of your small business' organization. If you see your passion being overrun by disorganization, it's time to take some action. Here's to simplifying your life!
Page 9
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Is Using Your Home Address A Good Idea For Your Business? LEARN ABOUT Mail forwarding solutions for home businesses
By: Michael Harris
When many businesses start out they are often based at home. This is understandable for several reasons. Many business ideas stem from hobbies or interests and develop into commercial opportunities. Most new businesses start from home to keep costs down during the businesses infancy. Some businesses continue to operate from home as e-commerce, drop shipping and online shops has removed the need for an actual presence on the high street. Most home based businesses choose to operate as a limited company or sole trader. Either way the owners of the business have to consider whether or not they want to declare their home address as their main business address. While some people may not have any problems with this there are a few points that should be considered. If you choose to use your home address for your business, this will be declared to the tax authorities, company registry, and other government organizations. All of your letter heads, adverts and other correspondence will need to show your home address. If your business is web based then most clients expect to see an address provided in the contact details. Your address is then freely available for everyone to access. You may decide that you do not want to declare your address to the entire world. This provides
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you with a couple of options. First, you could use a post office box commonly referred to as a PO Box. These are easy to set up with a local post office or similar service provider. They are relatively inexpensive and provide a cheap alternative to using your own address. Mail can either be collected or forwarded for an additional fee. However, they are not always the right solution. Organizations like banks, international couriers and many suppliers of goods will not accept a PO Box as a business address. It may be difficult to order supplies and deliveries if you only provide a PO Box as your contact. In addition to this, what will your clients and customers think? You may find that a PO Box deters people from using your services. Consider what a prospective customer may be thinking if your contact details online only show a PO Box and not a standard address. It may not fill them with confidence. The second alternative is to use a mail forwarding company. Instead of using a PO Box you may prefer to use a company that specializes in forwarding mail for businesses. This removes the PO Box section from your address. Some service providers may use suite numbers instead to identify your mail. Many of the professional mail forwarding companies however, simply let you use their address. The mail is then sorted by dedicated staff and forwarded on to you the day it
is received. While this may not be as cheap as the first option it avoids any stigma attached to using PO Boxes and means that even international couriers will deliver to your address. This type of mail forwarding service allows you to display your business address on your website, promotional material and business correspondence. Your customers need never know that your mail is processed through an alternative address. Your personal address is not disclosed to your clients providing you with piece of mind. Junk mail is avoided and you will never get a dissatisfied customer turn up at your family home. A further point to consider is the urgency of your mail. If your business mail is not urgent then collecting from a PO Box can be done at your leisure. Mail forwarding service providers will delay your mail by one day. Therefore if you regularly need business correspondence the next day then neither service may be suitable to your business. When operating your business from home consider the implications of using your own address, a post office box or a mail forwarding service provider. There are advantages and disadvantages to all solutions. It is important to remember that whatever decision you make you should minimize the impact on your customers.
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You cannot fail when you give more than 100 percent. In whatever endeavour you are doing, always give more than one hundred percent. You will find that whenever you do this, your rewards will always be far greater than the extra effort you expended. Some people refer to this success concept as going the extra mile. What it means is that you need to give people more than they expect. If you are working in your business and want to see it grow, the surest way to achieve it is by giving more. Customers are impressed when they discover a business that is innovative and gives them more than what they expected. Look for better and more efficient ways to do things. For example, make it easy to order from your site. Reduce the number of clicks to get to relevant information about your product or the order form.
WHY
Your Customer Service Should Be An Attitude
NOT a Department By: Kevin Sinclair
Don't be afraid of giving information for free. This is a crucial step in the online world to building credibility and trust. A free report or a sample (or extract) from your information product will enable your potential customer to determine whether what you are offering is what they are looking for. Always include some free (but valuable) bonuses with every product ordered. This also promotes the perception of getting more than what was paid for. In some cases, I have purchased products on the net because the free bonuses interested me more than the main product. Ensure that your product delivery is quick and efficient. If you sell an information product, ensure that the customer can download it as soon as they have paid for it. Provide alternative download formats and locations so that all needs are catered for. Follow up a couple of days later to ensure they received their products without problems. If they had problems, resolve them right away and provide an additional bonus to compensate for their inconvenience. If your product needs to be shipped, provide your customer with alternative shipping methods. Your customer can then choose how quickly their order is to be delivered and they can pay for the faster alternatives. Again, follow up to ensure they received their order on
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time and without problems. Go the extra mile with customer complaints. This is an excellent opportunity to turn a disgruntled buyer into a life long supporter of your business. Acknowledge problems and resolve them quickly. Thank the customer for making you aware of them. You can be sure that if one customer has had a problem, then others have also had the same problem too. For those working directly with customers, always give them more than they expect and you will generate more sales. Sometimes just giving a big, warm smile and courteous attention to the customers' requirements are all that is required. In the online world, prompt attention to email and courteous responses will boost your reputation and your sales. Spend the time to determine the customers' need and then you will be in a position to satisfy it. I stress to you be sure to concentrate on satisfying the customers need. Have you ever been into a store and everyone is glum and does not want to serve you? Do you feel inclined to buy from them? No. But go into a store where they seem glad to see you and willing to help you and you feel far more like buying their products. The same applies to the online world. A well-designed web site with easy access to information will yield greater results. Make your web site user friendly! Don't sit around waiting for people to buy. Ensure that your marketing communications ask for the order! Encourage responses through offering a strong guarantee. When someone makes a claim under your guarantee, honor it. This is part of the trust building process. Make the effort to develop additional skills in your spare time. Studying about leadership or how to motivate people will always be of help in building your business. There is always something new to be learned when it comes to dealing with people and influencing them to buy. However, never lose sight of your most important task right now - keeping your existing customers satisfied. Page 17
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E
Safe Email Practices By: Leo Harten
You just got an email from a friend of yours, and it has an attachment. Most people will happily click on the attachment, believing that it must be safe to open it from a trusted friend or colleague. But I won't do that. I check the email sender to see if it really is the email address I was expecting. If the only contents is a link or attachment, without some explanation, that would raise more suspicion. To increase the chances that it is legitimate, arrange a phrase that should appear in the subject line when they send something to you. Keep browsers and add-in/extensions up to date. They were updated because of known security flaws in the older version. Current versions in turn will be found to have new flaws. A web page that asks you to update something? Go to the official web site and download it there, not through a link. A file that appears to be labeled "hawaii.jpg" which you expect to be a picture from Hawaii could actually be "hawaai.jpg.exe" which is an executable file that could infect your computer. You can look at the Control Panel ? Folder Options ? View and look for "Hide extensions for known file types" and leave it unchecked so that you see the actual file type and not rely on the icon.
unless you pay a ransom. If your backup drive is attached when you get hit, the backup copy is also encrypted and worthless. Attach your backup drive while doing a backup, then detach it before you do more work. If your data files won't open normally, seek assistance before connecting the backup drive, in case you have an active infection which will then damage your last backup copy. Better to have 2 backups if the data is important, one on-site USB for speed, and another off-site backup with 30 days' retention to increase the chances for recovery of a valid copy. When you do a backup, make sure that your email data files are included. This may require some advanced effort but will be well worthwhile if you get contracts by email. Be cautious of emails with many recipients at generic domains such as hotmail or gmail - it is likely a spam email or is phishing for information. If someone asks you to call an 800 number and you call it, would you give them your social security number or bank account number? If you can't confirm the number on your bank website, I would recommend calling the bank number on the back of a credit card and then get transferred. Similarly, I won't respond to email requests for such information. Be safe online and don't click unexpected links or attachments.
One of the worst items you can get is a cryptolocker, which encrypts your office files and renders their data inaccessible
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Page 19
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Secrets From a Technology Expert Finally Revealed… By: Dale Krause
A near death experience caused me to have an epiphany about the way I was living my life and the way that I was running my business. A mishap in stage 3 cancer surgery almost cost me my life, and caused me to gain a great perspective about the way I wanted to live out the rest of it. I became obsessed with new ideas and writing my bucket list, my mind was flooded with nonstop thoughts of things I wanted to experience and accomplish before I expire. One of these ideas would change the way people think and feel about technology.
protect their computers. Unless you have a fully managed information technology (IT) service taking care of your business computers, this is the information I need to share. There are all kinds of attacks including: Viruses, spyware, malware, adware, trojans, hijackers, toolbars, worms, trolls, ransomware and pop-ups. The list continues as the bad guys invent new ways to attack. This is why education is the answer. Knowing the threat will prevent you from being attacked.
I am passionate about technology and have spent the last 10 years as a student of computers learning everything that I could about them. Learning all the cool tricks, secret little shortcuts, and mastering the Windows systems. Now I am getting this information out, I am telling the world everything I learned. I am taking this super technical information and breaking it down into little easily understandable chunks. What you don't know will cost you. The price of computers has come way down. Everywhere you look there are deals & super-cheap computers. I have personally gone to offices where they have purchased new Personal Computers (PC's) and they tell me what a great deal they got for $299.00; However, Is it a good deal? Let us look at this deal for $299. The new computers were so slow at processing right out of the box that it took an experienced technician an extra hour per computer to set it up correctly. Slow processing speed means lots of buffering. You know what buffering is, Right? (You know when you watch that little circle spin in a video as your life ticks away.) Then you have to load each computer with the software you use to run your business. Connect it to your network and printers, possibly even load the old pc's data. You pay for each hour the technician sits waiting on this deal pc to crawl along. This savings of a few hundred dollars per computer really will cost you more since you have had to spend so much to get it working correctly. It doesn't even take in the cost of loss productivity and down time. Give yourself and business a wise investment and purchase a quality pc. Although needs may vary, your basic quality pc should at minimum include an Intel I5 or I7 processor, 8 gigs of ram or more, 1 Terabyte hard drive and a decent video card. Microsoft and I share the same belief about education being the #1 most important weapon a person/business can posses to
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Ÿ The bad guys install viruses that mimic anti-viruses - Be
Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ
sure you know which anti-virus you are running and keep it updated. Make sure your Malware protection is running, updating and scanning - Malwarebytes is best. Spyware protection is removing trojans and hijackers & pop-ups - Spybot search and destroy is the best. Worms can only enter if your Windows is not updated Keep Microsoft updates current. Trolls will attack all your social media sites - Being proactive is key here. Build a defense Ransomware will hold your data captive - Be very careful when opening email from shipping companies!
One final thought, most professionals need to re-certify, or have some form of continuing education for their profession. As a business owner you should also have some form of continuing computer education that will train you for continued success. Staying informed is the only solution for continued safety and security.
Page 23
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Before & After
MICROSOFT FROM TECHNOLOGY TO TRAINING
Microsoft Store Fashion Show Mall: Managers Ashley Wendtland & David Schmall
By: Dawn Ferriera
Q: We all know the name Microsoft as a leader in the technology development industry. When did Microsoft transition from product & software development to opening the first retail store? Microsoft opened its first store in Scottsdale, Arizona in 2009. To date, we've opened 111 stores across the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico, which includes 71 full line retail stores and 40 specialty stores. We're committed to delivering outstanding choice, value and service for each customer. Whether its in-store or online at microsoftstore.com, we allow customers to discover, learn about, download and buy a range of cutting edge products and services. Q: Have you found the customers receptive to coming into your retail store vs going to the local big box store? And what are the primary benefits that you offer instore? Since inception in 2009, Microsoft has welcomed more than 800 million customers to our full line, specialty and online Microsoft store properties in 189 countries worldwide. Our associates are truly the face of the Microsoft stores and their ability to deliver great service is a top priority. We aspire to engage each customer, help Page 26
them learn and get them excited about what technology can do in their lives. Each Microsoft store has an extensive menu of technical support and learning services. Customers can schedule an Answer Desk appointment to receive one-on-one time with a technician for diagnostics on any device, software repair or support, virus and malware removal, PC tune-ups all for free as well as dedicated personal training to allow customers to learn at their own pace. We also have theater spaces in the back of our stores where customers can drop-in to learn about some of our latest products, like Surface 3 or find out how to do specific things with products like working with Formulas in Excel. In addition, customers can schedule complimentary, obligation-free personal shopping sessions in which they have uninterrupted time with a store associate to find the best technology solution to meet their needs. Q: Your Las Vegas retail store offers training. What classes do you offer and how can they be valuable to business owners. Microsoft stores are designed to support the needs of business customers, providing resources from tech trainings with our Business Sales Specialists, device Infinity Business Magazine | INBLV.COM
customization, in-store events, business-ready PCs and phones. Locally, Microsoft at Fashion Show in Las Vegas offers an array of in-store events and workshops on a regular basis, including PC Tune Up in a Snap, a workshop to learn quick and easy maintenance techniques, from backing up valuable data to removing harmful viruses. Customers should visit the Microsoft at Fashion Show events page for the latest schedule: h t t p : / / w w w. m i c r o s o f t . c o m / e n us/store/locations/ Q: A large percentage of our readers are startups and small to mid-sized businesses. They know technology is an important part of running their business. What Microsoft products do you think would be valuable to them to help efficiently run their business? Microsoft stores offer an assortment of best-inclass products, including Windows 8.1 PCs, Surface devices, Windows Phones and Microsoft Office. Products that may be helpful to small and midsized businesses include desktops, laptops, the new Surface 3 and All-in-One PCs running Windows 8.1, Windows Phones, computing accessories and a wide array of first-and thirdparty software titles. Q: Technology is always changing and new products are always being developed. What new products or technology is Microsoft working on now? On May 5, we expanded the Surface portfolio with Surface 3, Surface 3 (4G LTE) and new Surface accessories to give people more choice when selecting a device to help them do more. The sleek, portable Surface 3 packs the full power of Windows and Office into the thinnest, lightest Surface yet starting at just $499. Q: Where do you see the future of Microsoft stores going in the next few years? On April 20, we announced that we will be opening a flagship in Sydney, Australia in addition to the flagship store that will open in New York City later this year. Our focus remains on delivering outstanding choice, value and service for our customers, and providing an engaging way to experience the best of Microsoft's products and services.
Photographer: Dave Cherkis Infinity Business Magazine | INBLV.COM
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Be Smart - Learn From Your Business Mistakes By: Kevin Sinclair
We all make mistakes in business. The important issue is that we learn from them and apply the lessons in both our online and off-line business activities. One of my most costly mistakes happened about twelve years ago in the off-line business world. However, the lessons I learned are just as applicable online as they are off-line. Having established a small mail order business part-time, I decided to expand the business using direct mail techniques. I had read all the books and attended a course and it seemed like the best approach to achieve my goals. After approaching various mailing list providers, I decided I had found the perfect list to reach my target market. Pricing was obtained from the list owner and he was happy to provide me with small quantities of names initially so that I could test his list. These tests were successful enough for me to decide to undertake two large mail campaigns one after the other. I was very confident that I would be receiving countless orders and soon leaving my full-time job. Disaster struck with the first mailing and the second mailing was too far progressed to stop. The initial sign was a significant increase in the dead letter rate. Then the quantity of orders was less than half what I expected. The second mailing had similar results. I was significantly out of pocket and I had to stay in my full-time job to repay the debts I had created. Shortly thereafter, I began to read reports that the list owner was being investigated for fraud and other criminal charges.
Infinity Business Magazine | INBLV.COM
The key lessons I learned from this experience were:
Many factors can influence such a result.
a) Always check the integrity of who you are doing business with especially if you have not had previous dealings with them.
While you should receive a far better response from solo ads than classified ads, it still pays to test wherever you can. If a classified ad in the newsletter did not result in responses, I would not advertise using the solo ads. However, I might test a few different classified ads to see if the initial results were correct before moving on to other possibilities.
b) Never assume that limited test results will be duplicated in larger scale tests. c) Never over-commit to promotional activity - it is better to grow slower than to lose your hard earned money. d) The stated size and quality of a mailing list should be regarded with caution. e) Ensure you have sufficient profit margin in your product to be able to survive should your response be very poor - especially in direct marketing activities. Today, the lessons I learned are applied to my online business activities in the following ways. Solo mailings to lists of newsletter subscribers are done with caution. Some list owners will inflate their subscriber numbers to encourage advertisers to use their services. The first thing I do is subscribe to the newsletter to see the quality of content and what others are advertising via solo ads. Then I run a classified ad in the newsletter to test the responsiveness of the subscribers. This also gives me an indication of whether the stated size of the list is true or not. I have had better response from a list of 20,000 than what I received from a list of over 200,000.
It is worthwhile to "do the numbers" before spending on advertising. While many marketing experts talk about the 'lifetime value of a customer' concept, those whose business activities centre on promoting the products of affiliate programs should regard this with caution. Instead, determine how many must be sold so that the commission you receive will cover the cost of your advertising. The higher the percentage response to your offer you need to cover your advertising cost, the greater the chance you will make a loss. Do not rely on industry statistics or averages to make your decisions. Keep careful records of your activities so you know what works, what is to be avoided and what to expect from future promotional activities. Finally, exercise caution when considering safe-lists and any type of email address lists that can be purchased. My experience is that there are NO truly safe-lists available other than having your own opt-in list. Any form of bulk email to people who have not agreed to receive your message will damage your business reputation and your prospects of making a decent living on the Internet. Page 29
T
he "BEST" Way to Get In Your Customers Pocket! By: Scot Moran
Your prospective customers are now mobile and their ability to purchase your products or services directly from their mobile devices is the new benchmark for converting prospects into paying customers. Social media is now "focus" media! If you want to get into the pockets of your prospective customers, your brand must stand out from the millions of social dribble and marketing blur. Here is the "BEST" strategy for getting you directly into the pockets of your prospective customers and converting them into paying customers that continue purchase again and again.
B
= BRANDING
E
= ENGAGING
Many businesses fail to properly classify their brand page as a "local" business. This critical misstep in branding is responsible for blurring the lines between "real" businesses and fictional (or scam) businesses. You want your prospective customers to clearly see you as a "real" business, with "real" products or services. You want them to know they can trust you with their purchases.
Relevant content, videos, pictures and links are critical to engaging your fans. Many businesses blur the line between "end-user" activity and "business" activity. Your brand message must continually reinforce the trust and credibility of your brand. You want your prospective customers to clearly see you as a business they can trust with their purchases and not simply another end user.
S
= STIMULATING
Many businesses fail to stimulate the buying signals of their prospective customers. Proper use of "squeeze pages", funnel technology" and "gamification" applications will stimulate the buying needs of your prospective customers until they feel comfortable spending their money with you. You want your prospective customers to clearly see your brand can satisfy their buying needs.
T
= TRACKING
Many businesses fail to track their marketing efforts to know what is working (and what is not). You need to keep your prospective customers reaching for their mobile devices to see what's going on with your brand. You need a social marketing strategy with clearly defined objectives and measurable results.
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V
endors VOICE Technology Blog by: Jerry Zimmerle
Is Cyber Terrorism
a great reason to shun the use of technology?
Tech and Business. Our lives are so intertwined with these subjects. Business cannot happen without technology can it? Can you operate your business or even communicate without it? In 1948 there were 30 million phones in use. Did businesses ever operate without them? I am sure there were hold outs but by and large the answer is no. Today we can access almost anything from our technological devices and it is changing the way we do everything. We can get mail in seconds, not days. There are hundreds of reasons to "be connected" in the virtual world and we are engaging in record numbers. There are more social network accounts (10 Billion) than there are people in the world (7 Billion) and if you don't join the technology revolution you will certainly be left behind. However, are the risks worth the rewards? Let's discuss the story about the young man who was accepted into ASU. He had the grades, had the talent until they ran his credit check. It turns out his credit was atrocious and they denied him admission. His credit report indicated he had been married three times, had 3 cars repo'd and apparently hasn't paid any of his financial responsibility for many, many years‌ and he is ONLY19!
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As it turns out, his identity was stolen when he was merely 3 years of age and he bought his first car at age four! Because of this he will not start school this semester and will have a frustrating credit debacle and stolen identity to sort out. Do you have a cyber terrorism story in your family? The problem with Cyber Security is you don't typically act before you need it. I have been working with Mack Jackson, a Cyber Security Expert from MJ Computer Concepts, and the information I learned is scary at best. The story above is one of many tragic stories and the horror ranges from personal identity theft to mass data robbery where the damages are in the millions. Small business is not exempt and identity theft is happening in record numbers. What exactly is identity theft and what can we do about it? Identity theft is when someone wrongfully obtains and uses another person's personal identifiable information in some way that involves fraud or deception, typically for financial gain. Identity Theft crimes include Financial, Criminal, Medical, and child identity theft.
Infinity Business Magazine | INBLV.COM
A Federal Trade Commission (FTC) study found that in 2014 identity theft complaints caused the average victim to lose more than $2,200 and that the highest reported age group for identity theft is 20 years old to 29 years old with 20% of complaints. These victims could have had their Personal Identifiable Information compromised as a child. This year the IRS paid out over $50 million dollars in known fraudulent refunds to identity thieves, according to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA).
and if you have recently lost loved ones you are financially responsible for, check those as well 2.
When using Wi-Fi Hotspots at coffee shops, restaurants, hotels or anywhere in fact you are entering a hackers dream and a lot of identity is stolen there. Use a Virtual Private Network Application to protect yourself. Hotspot Shield is one that is recommended.
3.
Review your statement from your financial institutions using your smartphone apps. Check for suspicious transactions like micro charge of .05 or so. Review your personal and business bank statements in depth for suspicious activity at least monthly up to weekly. Online shopping: make sure to look in the address box to check for https:\\ preceding the address. When you are getting ready to pay or tender transactions, check to ensure you are still on the website you intend to purchase from. Update your antivirus software and updates on all electronic devices including your smartphones. Hello… your smartphone is a computer and can be infected with malware.
Identity theft is a top-of-mind crime for 66% of Americans, according to the Gallup survey, far more concerning to them than the typical violent crimes. One reason for the high level of worry about identity theft may be the spotlight that the media, lawmakers and identity-protection companies have brought to the attention of Americans. Although most victims can quickly undo the damage by canceling their credit cards, victims of Identity Theft have spent months or years trying to restore their credit and good name. Why are cyber crimes on the rise? One reason is that technology and the Internet has bred individuals who are globally organized. Law enforcement officials are constantly being challenged by criminal activities of cyber criminals. The major effect of an increase in cybercrime is that individuals using the Internet feel less safe using this medium for electronic commerce. Consumers fear that hackers will intercept their personal information and commit fraud crimes. Uncertainty in consumer confidence in the electronic market would affect global commerce and consumer privacy. According to the Justice Department other criminal acts are on the decrease, while Identity Theft is on the rise.
4.
The direct and indirect losses from identity theft totaled $24.7 billion in 2012.
5.
Here are 5 Ways Identity Theft can cause harm to individuals. 1 2. 3.
4.
5.
Leave you with a criminal record. Get you the wrong treatment at a hospital, because of contradictory medical records Keep you and your kids from getting into college and work… sometimes organizations will not even say why you are being rejected, they are simply trying to protect themselves from discrimination lawsuits Financial issues, including financial collapse, sometimes victims don't have the resources to repair their credit and simply live with destroyed credit and collector harassment. The emotional distress is devastating and cause physical illness
Here are 6 ways to protect your identity 1.
6.
Andrew Whalen These are a few of the tips that can protect yourself, your CEO family and your business from Identity Theft and fraud. We also plan to have Mack Jackson speak at one of the Infinity Lunch and Learn Events soon. In the meantime to learn more about cyber crime mitigation contact Mack Jackson Jr at 702-868-0808. Do not wait until you are a victim… put the reminders on your calendar today to check credit reports… download VPN apps… tell a friend about cyber security… start protecting yourself today!
Check your credit report from the 3 credit reporting agencies every 4 months within the year. Check your minor children's credit as well
Infinity Business Magazine | INBLV.COM
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Small Business VoIP Services: Solution For Business Owners by: Marco A. Serrano
Small businesses have the tendency to lag behind in their competition with their big-time counterparts. And those that do usually fail to meet their expectations of growing their business. Aside from their larger competitors, they also tend to lag behind other smaller businesses. One of the causes why small businesses often result to failure is because they do not make use of modern technology. New technology plays a very essential role in determining how a company will end up. No one would disagree with the fact that technology is a big factor in the growth of a company, may it be small or large. Even a single network of a small business VoIP services can provide companies a competitive advantage. The Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, offers wide solutions to businesses. With a small business VoIP service it can save money and boost their communications competence. One of the basic solutions VoIP provides is the reduction of phone bills. VoIP does not just target to dramatically solve the phone expenses of the company concerned, but also those of their customers. If you are a subscriber of VoIP, you can choose any area code you want to use. And for example, the majority of your customers are based in Los Angeles; your business can provide the customers calls charged at local rates, even when your business is situated in New York.
including laptops, PC, PDAs, palm computers, Bluetooth as well as other technologies that can handle packetized internet reception and transfer. So businessmen who are traveling only have to carry VoIP hard-phone with an Internet access to get in touch. Or they may also choose to use VoIP softphone installed in their PC and connect to the internet. The technology of small business VoIP services allows businesses to finally contend with corporate companies in flexibility and speed of communication. With just simple clicks of a button, VoIP allows the set-up of web conference calls. Unlike the traditional web conferences, small business VoIP service web conference features the technologies of web-based video, sound, animation, and digital voice presentations. At a small business price, this corporate technology can have customers impressed. With an adapted small business VoIP service, businesses are not just provided with competitive advantages over their larger counterparts. Businesses of any size are given the opportunity to develop further over their peers when it comes to communications proficiency, rate of response to customers' enquiries and requests, and image. Get in to Voice over Internet Protocol. Whatever your business is, and no matter what size it is, small business VoIP services will help your company save money. Also, it will provide you additional features and control which may not be available in current phone systems.
This kind of small business VoIP services developed to reduce communication costs can even allow you to offer your most valuable consumers toll free numbers. Up to now, this service may only be economically practical to large companies. But with VoIP, you can have that competitive edge. Small business VoIP services give you this solution so that your business can compete in line with the big boys. However, VoIP is not just limited to this small business solution. VoIP telephone also gives the sales personnel the benefit of making calls to the head office for free, irrespective of the location and distance. The same advantage can be enjoyed by the other employees of the company who are provided with a VoIP handset. VoIP applications require communication through the internet. As such, VoIP solution to communications can be accessed with the use of hardware and software appropriate for IP use
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T
echnology in Your Business: Helpful or Harmful?
By: Rodney Rich
The world as we know it today is surrounded by technology. It has permeated our lives in every space: office, car, home, hobbies and has changed the channels of communication.
It would be a shame if we ignored the many facets of technology in our business and its growth. I see many entrepreneurs embrace technology and in some cases almost to a fault. Webster's defines technology as: a manner of accomplishing a task especially using technical processes, methods, or knowledge. The question we need to ask as business owners is: how will either my businesses or my customers and clients benefit from technology. We need to know that the technology we are looking to embrace is a real benefit to what goals we are trying to accomplish. Having technology just for the sake of having it will not bring any tangible or intangible ROI to our business. Only technology that helps us in some form is worth investigating. Will it make things easier, faster, simpler, more efficient, a better customer experience, or bring more sales and revenue? Let's also examine what technology is not. It should never be a replacement for normal human interaction. It can aid this interaction, however when it replaces it you will lose all connection with your customers. When this happens you will be forced into playing the price game. What I mean is your goods and services will become solely a commodity and you will be forced Infinity Business Magazine | INBLV.COM
to sell at the lowest price. This is a place where communicating value becomes almost unreachable. How can your business benefit from technology? There are many places where technology can benefit your business and reduce your personal stress, if used correctly. Remember technology is a tool, just like a hammer. A hammer has many benefits when used for its intended purpose and it can also cause harm if used incorrectly. You will need to manage the technology you employ in order for you to reap the rewards, if not technology will run you. You don't want to find yourself in a situation where you are working harder because of technology. Here are some great places to look for technology to assist you in your business: Mobile- The ability to communicate and conduct business outside of the office can be both a time saver as well as provide you with more personal freedom. Cloud- The availability and safety of clouds bring several benefits. You can back up critical files in case of computer mishaps. You can also access this information virtually anywhere you can gain internet access. It also allows several people to share files and information instantaneously. Apps- The smart phone and the apps it brings to our lives and business is truly amazing. Using apps for time tracking, productivity, social media etc. the
list is endless and new beneficial apps hit the market daily. Marketing- Internet marketing is typically the easiest and least expensive way to communicate broadcast marketing to your prospects and customers. From newsletters to special sales promotions email marketing and PPC marketing can help your business gain much needed exposure. This is great for testing new products or services and testing in new markets. CRM-is the acronym for Customer Relationship Management. Effective CRM software will simplify your storage of contact information for both prospects and customers. Much CRM software has great functionality to help you track touch points and create your sales funnel and systems as well. With a CRM you won't have to worry about losing a business card. You can access the information from your computer, share with others in your office and your mobile devices. In my business we use every type of technology listed here. There may be technology that is specific to your industry and you should definitely explore those options as well. Remember that the key to technology in your business is that it solves a problem for you or your customers. Don't get bogged down spending countless hours learning a new technology solution that will only save you minutes in the long run. Focus on the ROI, not only the dollars but the time investment as well.
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Tips to get your Entrepreneurship off and running By: Michael Johnson
While the ideal way of starting a small business would be to free yourself up from every other venture, problem, time consuming effort and obligation and throw yourself into starting a small business every waking moment, this isn't an ideal world. Few of us can afford the luxury of setting everything else aside to devote all our time and efforts, as well as capital - to starting a small business.
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Some of us have the itch to become an entrepreneur but have to "keep our day jobs" while we give this starting a small business idea a go. It may well be, in fact, that starting a small business part time is the most common entrepreneurial process. Part of succeeding at starting a small business, if you have to do so part time, is to know your schedule and your time
limitations and choose a business concept that you enjoy, have some training or expertise in, and can be accomplished around your work schedule. The other alternative is to change your work schedule either with your current employer or choose an alternative employer. Starting a small business takes effort and focus as well as time.
Infinity Business Magazine Winter issue | INBLV.COM
It may be that your current job is not only time consuming but also the type of work that requires a great deal of energy, a great deal of concentration, a very regimented schedule and perhaps the responsibility that tends to have you taking your work home with you either actually or mentally. This sort of work style doesn't lend itself well to starting a small business part time. Let's look at an example of a journalist who has a successful writing and editing business from her home office. When she decided she was interested in starting a small business she had been working for many years in newspaper management. Her executive responsibilities required 70 and 80 hour work-weeks and even then she took Infinity Business Magazine | INBLV.COM
work home. After many years of this she began to think more and more about her dream of starting a small writing business. It called to her more and more urgently. But how was she to even think of starting a small business when she had little time, energy or focus left in her busy work week? Besides, she had to work to keep the roof over her head. What she did to determine if starting a small business was even possible, was to sit down and write out a budget, deciding where she could eliminate some nonessential expenses in her life, and what she absolutely had to have to live on. She then looked for, and found, a job that not only brought in enough money to live on but freed up a lot of her daytime work week hours as well as her mental focus.
She took a customer service job in a call center. Starting a small business was going to be possible with this job where it had not been with her newspaper career for a number of reasons. It required considerably less mental acumen, it didn't require that she take her work home with her, it was easy, the hours were flexible (she worked 3pmmidnight Thursday through Sunday) and the dress code was highly casual. She could work all day starting her small business and then don her jeans and go into the call center in the evening. Now she's quit that call center job and her dream of starting a small business has been fulfilled. Her business is thriving and she works at it full time.
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Choosing
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The Right Business Name By: Michael Harris
When forming a new company the name of the company can be an important decision. Some people may choose the first name that they think of and others may select a ready-made company for speed or because they like a particular name. However, many businesses may prefer to select a company name that either clearly distinguishes itself from its competitors or contains something unique or personal. Company names can be chosen for different reasons. One of the most common ways of selecting a company name is to use something personal. A quick look through your local newspaper will probably introduce you to many personalized business names. Johnson Consulting LLC, T Smith & Son LTD, Stephens & Barley Inc. are some fictional examples of what may be found. This may instantly make a company recognizable locally and it can be deemed as more personal by its customers, and often works well within geographical areas. However, it does little to tell new customers what your company does. A popular choice for a small business is to choose a name that is 'descriptive'. This tells prospective clients exactly what your company does. Examples of this may be to call your business The Window Company, City IT Consultants or The Advertising Agency. While this does serve to reinforce your primary business it offers little differentiation and may easily be adapted by competitors. A less personal option is to use a company name that is 'associative'. This type of company name helps to create an image or connection to your business activity. It is less direct than using a descriptive name but helps to position your company's name within the market through peoples understanding of what words mean. For example a flick through the Yellow Pages will offer plenty of examples of this. A hairdresser called Classic Cuts or a printer called Select-a-print are examples of what may be found. These names offer some differentiation but may not ultimately set your company aside from its competitors. An alternative is to choose a company name that is 'freestanding'. These names are completely abstract and not related to the company's business activities. A fictional example may be to call your catering company Zedoc Limited. There are many popular brand names that illustrate this point. Consider, Kodak, Gillette, or Mars, these names will probably be instantly recognizable to you and conjure up a particular product or business. This is a good way of setting your company aside from the competition but it is important to consider the market that you operate in. Will your prospective clients know what your business is offering?
John’s Body Shop
Fix-A-Dent The Body Shop
JABS Auto Repair
Choosing a company name may be a simple process, but it is not uncommon for people to deliberate over names for quite some time. While company names can, and often are, changed during the life of the company most people like to choose a name that they like from the outset. Therefore, consider your market, how much you want to differentiate from your competitors and what your company name should say about your organization. Once the decision is made focus on the important business of making your company a success.
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