I love to use social media and mobile apps as much as the next guy, but recently I have been having some issues with many of the app updates on some of my mobile devices. One recent update that has me rather concerned is the Google+ (or Google Plus is you say it that way) for iOS devices. Google's apps typically work very well on iOS devices, but for me (and many people leaving review on iTunes) the new Google+ is causing a headache.
Check out my Google+ woes here:
The Tech Accountant
Showing posts with label Marketing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Marketing. Show all posts
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Let Technology Wear Some of Your Hats
Small business owners and entrepreneurs all know that starting and operating your own business is a rewarding but tough experience. Typically when a small business is in the start-up or growth stage, the owners will attempt to wear all the hats from being the sales manager to the bookkeeper. Although this will give a small business owner a wealth of experience in operations and processes, could their time be better spent doing what they do best?
Many small business owners want to know how they can break away from doing the back office functions and most times the solution is to hire someone to do the work or outsource. Sometimes when this solution is implemented, the costs are more than the benefit and the small business owner is back at square one.
The new way to get operational tasks done is to use technology in conjunction with and employee or contractor. This way a small business owner can continue to the be the backbone of the economy and cut their operational and overhead costs considerably.
Let's take marketing and public relations for example. In the past small business owners could not compete with their larger counterparts due to the high cost of websites, customer relationship management and public relations companies, tv, and radio, etc. Nowadays a small business owner can build their own website (or outsource) with WordPress, use social media sites and apps like Facebook and Twitter for public relations and CRM, broadcast themselves on YouTube, and podcasts, and get paid instantly with PayPal, Google Checkout and others.
These are just a few ways technology can help a small business owner cut costs and focus on what they do best. Feel free to post your ideas too.
The Tech Accountant
Many small business owners want to know how they can break away from doing the back office functions and most times the solution is to hire someone to do the work or outsource. Sometimes when this solution is implemented, the costs are more than the benefit and the small business owner is back at square one.
The new way to get operational tasks done is to use technology in conjunction with and employee or contractor. This way a small business owner can continue to the be the backbone of the economy and cut their operational and overhead costs considerably.
Let's take marketing and public relations for example. In the past small business owners could not compete with their larger counterparts due to the high cost of websites, customer relationship management and public relations companies, tv, and radio, etc. Nowadays a small business owner can build their own website (or outsource) with WordPress, use social media sites and apps like Facebook and Twitter for public relations and CRM, broadcast themselves on YouTube, and podcasts, and get paid instantly with PayPal, Google Checkout and others.
These are just a few ways technology can help a small business owner cut costs and focus on what they do best. Feel free to post your ideas too.
The Tech Accountant
Saturday, June 11, 2011
15 Tech Factors to Watch For
Small biz owners and consumers both will like this quick (about 7mins or so) video that provides 15 tech factors to watch for and a look into the future of the internet and how we all will use it. Much of the video confirms the information that I heard recently at a social media seminar regarding the growth of social networks and how consumers use the internet.
Watch the video here
What does this mean for a small biz owner? Technology will be an important and integral part of your marketing, operational, and long term strategy. Small biz's will look more to social networks for customers and clients, using cloud services can keep the small biz owner connected and by embracing technology your small biz will be better positioned for growth.
So what do you think small biz owner's? Are you currently using technology (social media, smart phones, cloud computing) in your small business?
Look forward to hearing from you.
The Tech Accountant
Watch the video here
What does this mean for a small biz owner? Technology will be an important and integral part of your marketing, operational, and long term strategy. Small biz's will look more to social networks for customers and clients, using cloud services can keep the small biz owner connected and by embracing technology your small biz will be better positioned for growth.
So what do you think small biz owner's? Are you currently using technology (social media, smart phones, cloud computing) in your small business?
Look forward to hearing from you.
The Tech Accountant
Sunday, April 03, 2011
More Business or More Work
Do you want more work or more business?
Recently I was reading some comments in one of the LinkedIn groups I belong to regarding building your business and controlling the growth and one of the comments came from a husband and wife outfit (he handles the marketing and she handles operations). The husband stated that his wife wanted more business and not more work and the comment got me thinking “Do small business owners know the difference?”
I personally get asked similar questions by all kinds of people and organizations. Whether it is the survey from a vendor catering to small businesses, or a new person I just met at a networking function, the question always arises if my firm is seeking more work. Let’s take a closer look at the difference between more business and more work.
More Work
More work refers to a small business operation that the owner completes all or a majority of the tasks themselves. This type of business operation is okay for a start-up business. However, if and when a small business owner wants to take their business to the next level, the business owner must duplicate themselves and train other people to do part of the tasks or complete everything so that the business owner’s own efforts are used elsewhere.
More Business
Typically a small business can only take on more business once they have duplicated themselves efficiently and effectively and the majority of their efforts are focused on bringing in more “work” for others to do. If a small business owner is focused on completing the work, there is little time left to cultivate relationships and bring in more business. Hiring employees or outsourcing part of your business operations will allow the small business owner more time to grow their business.
So if you are a small business owner that wears all the hats in your operation, there’s a likely chance that you are taking on more work than business and once you reach your own personal capacity to do work, your business will have difficulty growing.
Let me know your thoughts on work versus business and feel free to post your comments.
The Tech Accountant
Recently I was reading some comments in one of the LinkedIn groups I belong to regarding building your business and controlling the growth and one of the comments came from a husband and wife outfit (he handles the marketing and she handles operations). The husband stated that his wife wanted more business and not more work and the comment got me thinking “Do small business owners know the difference?”
I personally get asked similar questions by all kinds of people and organizations. Whether it is the survey from a vendor catering to small businesses, or a new person I just met at a networking function, the question always arises if my firm is seeking more work. Let’s take a closer look at the difference between more business and more work.
More Work
More work refers to a small business operation that the owner completes all or a majority of the tasks themselves. This type of business operation is okay for a start-up business. However, if and when a small business owner wants to take their business to the next level, the business owner must duplicate themselves and train other people to do part of the tasks or complete everything so that the business owner’s own efforts are used elsewhere.
More Business
Typically a small business can only take on more business once they have duplicated themselves efficiently and effectively and the majority of their efforts are focused on bringing in more “work” for others to do. If a small business owner is focused on completing the work, there is little time left to cultivate relationships and bring in more business. Hiring employees or outsourcing part of your business operations will allow the small business owner more time to grow their business.
So if you are a small business owner that wears all the hats in your operation, there’s a likely chance that you are taking on more work than business and once you reach your own personal capacity to do work, your business will have difficulty growing.
Let me know your thoughts on work versus business and feel free to post your comments.
The Tech Accountant
Monday, November 01, 2010
Using Logic and Love in Your Small Business
While going thru my e-mails recently, I came across one of those chain e-mails that everyone sends…you know the one’s that always ends with send this to….and instead of simply deleting this one I figured what the heck let’s see what this one is all about.
Well the e-mail was initially sent to provide the reader with a new outlook on living their lives knowing when to use logic or love. It described in detail what logic and love were and how they are used in our interactions and relationships every day. Logic was described as being aggressive, argumentative, detailed oriented and sparking debate. Love was described as being compassionate, empathetic, building relationships and communion.
The descriptions got me to thinking “How can one use logic and love in their small business operations” since many of the terms used to describe logic and love are needed by entrepreneurs to run their own business. I came up with two major areas where an entrepreneur can use logic and love to effectively manage and grow their business.
Business Operations – Logic Rules the Day
Entrepreneurs need to use logic when they are focusing on business operations. Since logic sparks debate and is argumentative, those skills will come in handy say when dealing with bill disputes or improving daily operational procedures that may need reviewing. Logic is also detailed oriented and attention to detail is always great for productivity and efficiency. Logic will also assist an entrepreneur with ethical issues since when one is using logic there is typically no grey area.
Start-Up/Marketing – Love What you Do
Entrepreneurs must initially use love when they start their business. One of the most important aspects of starting a business is finding something you love to do and offer that product or service to the public. I love to help people save money, time and grow their business that’s why I’m in accounting. An entrepreneur should find what they are passionate about before starting a business. The passion will then carry over in your dealings with clients/customers. Marketing is simply about building relationships, and being compassionate about your clients needs. By using love to build relationships, a small business owner has a better chance of growing their business.
These are just a few of the ways I see that an entrepreneur can use logic and love to assist them in growing their business and becoming great at what they do. Feel free to post your comments below.
The Tech Accountant
Well the e-mail was initially sent to provide the reader with a new outlook on living their lives knowing when to use logic or love. It described in detail what logic and love were and how they are used in our interactions and relationships every day. Logic was described as being aggressive, argumentative, detailed oriented and sparking debate. Love was described as being compassionate, empathetic, building relationships and communion.
The descriptions got me to thinking “How can one use logic and love in their small business operations” since many of the terms used to describe logic and love are needed by entrepreneurs to run their own business. I came up with two major areas where an entrepreneur can use logic and love to effectively manage and grow their business.
Business Operations – Logic Rules the Day
Entrepreneurs need to use logic when they are focusing on business operations. Since logic sparks debate and is argumentative, those skills will come in handy say when dealing with bill disputes or improving daily operational procedures that may need reviewing. Logic is also detailed oriented and attention to detail is always great for productivity and efficiency. Logic will also assist an entrepreneur with ethical issues since when one is using logic there is typically no grey area.
Start-Up/Marketing – Love What you Do
Entrepreneurs must initially use love when they start their business. One of the most important aspects of starting a business is finding something you love to do and offer that product or service to the public. I love to help people save money, time and grow their business that’s why I’m in accounting. An entrepreneur should find what they are passionate about before starting a business. The passion will then carry over in your dealings with clients/customers. Marketing is simply about building relationships, and being compassionate about your clients needs. By using love to build relationships, a small business owner has a better chance of growing their business.
These are just a few of the ways I see that an entrepreneur can use logic and love to assist them in growing their business and becoming great at what they do. Feel free to post your comments below.
The Tech Accountant
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Business Development Workshops
Last evening I had the pleasure to sit-in (and contribute) to a business development workshop aimed at helping those interested in starting their own businesses get the tools they need to start off on the right track. The workshops are being put on by John C Riley of The E-mail Specialist/Atlanta Professional Business Network and Marc Parham of Partec Consulting Group, Inc. The 2-hour workshop last night was a first in a three part series that will take place every Wednesday at the East Point Library for the next few weeks. Last night’s workshop dealt with the legal aspects of starting a business, business plan development, and marketing your business. Next week we will dive deeper into the business planning aspect of start-up and help aspiring entrepreneurs write their business plans. Following are a few pictures from last night’s workshop and we would like to assist more individuals that want to start their own businesses. The next workshops are as follows:
Business Development Workshop Part II – Wednesday May 5th 2010 6-8pm
Business Development Workshop Part III – Wednesday May 12th 2010 6-8pm
For more information regarding these free workshops feel free to contact John, Marc, Michael, or myself via the website links listed in this post.
The Tech Accountant
.jpg)
.jpg)
Business Development Workshop Part II – Wednesday May 5th 2010 6-8pm
Business Development Workshop Part III – Wednesday May 12th 2010 6-8pm
For more information regarding these free workshops feel free to contact John, Marc, Michael, or myself via the website links listed in this post.
The Tech Accountant
.jpg)
Marc and John
John discusses marketing
Q&A session
.jpg)
Michael Hickman talks about library resources
Sunday, January 17, 2010
PowerPoint on Smartphone
After being in a conference all weekend (that was wonderful) to add another dimension to my business I wanted to find a way to make business presentations with Microsoft Powerpoint from my iPhone. After doing a bit of searching (and reading some bad reviews for iPhone apps at the ITunes store), I came across a site by Chris Pirillo that walked me through how to do it and more. Be sure to read the article and watch the video below. Enjoy
Chris | Live Tech Support | Video Help | Add to iTunes
The Tech Accountant
Chris | Live Tech Support | Video Help | Add to iTunes
The Tech Accountant
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
You Can’t Say That
This morning a friend and business associate of mine sent me an e-mail asking me “have I heard about this”. There was a link attached and it took me to a blog that contained information that many internet marketers really need to know about. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), there are some new guidelines that will be going into affect beginning December 1st that will shake up how advertisers use testimonials, blogs, and celebrity endorsements for the advertising efforts. I did get a chance to do a little research on the FTC site and I read the blog about the switch, and it appears that the new guidelines will make it tough for most advertisers to use any kind of testimonials (or anything else) in their marketing efforts without doing statistical research. Research will be cost intensive for the small business marketer thus many ads will have to pull the testimonials. I am really interested to see how the FTC will enforce the new guidelines and there were already comments on the blog I read of ways to get around the new guidelines.
I would really like to hear some of your thoughts out there in blog land, so be sure to read the new FTC guidelines, and the blog and come to your own conclusions.
B. N. S.
I would really like to hear some of your thoughts out there in blog land, so be sure to read the new FTC guidelines, and the blog and come to your own conclusions.
B. N. S.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)