Technology Marketing and Business Process Management for SMB

iPhone Users Vulnerable to Data Theft

wordmaverick — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:06:54 +0000

While the iPhone is the undeniable king of smartphones, security flaws in the operating system create vulnerabilities hackers can exploit to steal email, contact and personal data. Surprisingly, smartphone users are seemingly unaware of data security issues with their cellular phones. According to a recent Trend Micro report, respondents (44%) feel surfing the internet on their smartphone is just as safe as surfing the web on their computer, despite the fact that most smartphones offer no internet surfing security. What can you do to protect your iPhone? Use these tips: click here to read more

Look to India, China for Next Internet Innovation

wordmaverick — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 15:57:57 +0000

The United States invented the internet and has driven the majority of its development and innovation over the past 20 years, but India and China are likely candidates to drive the next generation of innovation given their rising internet user base.

World’s Most Popular Web Sites

The world’s most popular internet sites have a decidedly American slant to them – sites like Google, Yahoo, YouTube, Facebook and Wikipedia all began in the States. These sites appeal to an American audience, with English text, and nuances that thrive on American culture. But as countries like China and India increase their online population the world’s most popular sites will quickly become ones based in the Eastern hemisphere, appealing to Eastern audiences, that may or may not appeal to Western audiences.

As of 2008, China has the world’s largest online population with 298 million internet users. India has the fourth largest online population with 52 million internet users and is predicted to have the third highest population by 2013 according to Forrester Research. When you combine both countries’ online populations they currently have 60% more internet users than the United States.

Can Google Compete with Baidu?

Baidu.com, a China-based site, is the 9th most popular web site in the world and is China’s most popular search engine. It competes with Google and Yahoo but more importantly it provides the best search results for Asian specific sites. Baidu is considered an internet portal similar to Yahoo and provides many different applications and solutions (57 different tools in all), but Baidu actually began as a

Read this article in its entirety at http://KellyRShort.com (http://kellyrshort.com/2009/07/india_china_internet_users_innovationhtml.html)

5 Steps (one for each day of the week) For… Protecting Company Data

wordmaverick — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 17:52:27 +0000

1. Disable removable media (thumb drives, etc)

2. Control network access to sensitive files

3. Setup firewall protection against outside intrusions

4. Backup data weekly and store offsite

5. Remove access to online file sharing sites

Posted by Kelly R. Short

This article distributed with permission from KellyRShort.com at: http://kellyrshort.com/

3 Simple but Critical Steps for Project Management

wordmaverick — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 17:43:55 +0000

The concept of project management can be intimidating to many small companies but it needn’t be. By focusing on a few simple concepts your ability to manage projects to successful completion can be greatly enhanced.
This article distributed with persmission and is available at http://kellyrshort.com/2009/07/3_simple_but_critical_steps_fo.html

Define the Project

Defining the project can spell success or failure from the very start. Projects that have unrealistic goals, are poorly conceived in the first place, and don’t have bounded timeframes are common mistakes during project definition. Consider the following elements of a project during your company’s next project.

A project is defined as a temporary endeavor, having a defined beginning and end, undertaken to meet particular goals and objectives.

· A temporary endeavor – projects are an activity performed to achieve a specific goal. Activities that support on-going production and operations of the business are not projects. Ensure your project is a temporary work effort and not an effort likely to never end.

· A defined beginning and end – projects must be time bound with a beginning and end date that realistically allows enough time to perform the work effort required of the project but not too long so as to lose focus, funding, and control. The duration of a project is obviously impacted by the size of the project effort – but keep in mind that the longer a project lasts the more likely it is to miss its target date and run over on budget. Also, projects lasting many months or even years often no longer meet the needs and goals of the business they were designed to achieve in the first place.

· Meet particular goals and objectives – a project must have a goal or objective and while some projects can be loosely defined (e.g. lower operating costs) the most successful projects clearly articulate the project goal (e.g. lower operating costs by 10% in 12 months). A clear project goal or objective reduces ambiguity and holds project team members accountable for their actions.

Keeping these three concepts in mind will help you define your project in a way that helps everyone understand the timeframe and goals of the project.

Assign Project Tasks

Once you have defined the timeframe and goals for your project begin breaking down the tasks required to accomplish the project. Rarely is a project made up of one task (if it is it’s probably not a project) so analyze the work effort required for the multiple steps along the project lifespan. For example, to transition to a new accounting system you must first analyze the click to read more…

2 Reasons Why You Should Be Using Email Marketing Right Now

wordmaverick — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 13:43:27 +0000

There are two major reasons why in today’s down economy you should use email marketing. First, use email marketing to steal customers away from your competitors because if you don’t, they will. Secondly, use email marketing to unlock the goldmine that resides in your existing customer base waiting for a reason to do more business with you.

This article used with permission from http://KellyRShort.com and can be found at: http://kellyrshort.com/2009/07/2_reasons_why_you_should_be_us.html

Email marketing is a proven technique for reaching existing and new customers in an efficient and cost-effective manner. Email marketing can also be an effective tool in conjunction with traditional advertising and marketing campaigns. Long term studies show this marketing technique drives tangible results that impact the bottom line. Consider the following:

66% of those surveyed said they had made a purchase because of a marketing message received through email. – ExactTarget, “2008 Channel Preference Survey” (2008)
44% of email users said email inspired at least one online purchase and 41% said it prompted at least one offline purchase. – JupiterResearch’s The Social and Portable Inbox (2008)
63% of respondents admit clicking a link in a marketing email to learn more. – Epsilon (Oct 2008)

So how do you start using email marketing? Use the following guide to get started.

Generate leads from magazines, newspapers, newsletters, non-profits, etc.

A little known secret of the marketing industry is that just about every email address given to a newspaper, newsletter, magazine, retailer, or social networking site is available for click here fore more

KellyRShort.com – July 2009 Newsletter

wordmaverick — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:47:12 +0000

The best of KellyRShort.com from July 2009 – see what you’ve been missing!
Here’s what you missed this month if you aren’t reading KellyRShort.com:

· RFID Technology Keeps Your 4th of July Hot Dogs Safe
· Your Next Sales Person Should be Your Web Site
· 6 Tips for Selecting an IT Company
· Internet in Vehicles is Already Here – Why You Should Care
· How to Accept Mobile Payments
· How to Run Your Web Site on Free Software

Tainted Hot Dogs this 4th of July? RFID protects your health.

wordmaverick — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:00:47 +0000

When you bite into a hot dog this 4th of July weekend are you sure that dog is safe? Did the package of dogs from the supplier remain frozen until you purchased it? Was it left out on the dock just long enough for E. coli to form? Are you endangering your family instead of providing holiday fun? With RFID technology consumers can rest easy knowing grocers have sophisticated tools to protect consumers against bad food.

RFID, or radio frequency identification, is technology embedded in small, thin tags applied to shipping containers, pallets and even individual product packages. They contain a unique serial number and transmit data to special antennae while in shipment. Companies use this data to click here for more - KellyRShort.com (Fort Worth)

Keywords
rfid
rfid reader tag
rfid
rfid chip
rfid tags
rfid technology
rfid
rfid system
rfid tracking
rfid active
rfid antenna
rfid chips
rfid frequency
radio frequency identification
rfid identification
rfid pdf
rfid security
rfid software
rfid barcode
rfid passive
rfid ppt
rfid readers
rfid transponder
security
tag
tracking
labels
logistics
tags
inventory
barcode
supply chain
epc
access control
barcode scanner
supply chain management
transponder
radio frequency
intermec
barcodes

Integrating Technology, Sales and Marketing Keys to Success McKinsey Survey Shows

wordmaverick — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:43:03 +0000

The consultancy at McKinsey published in the McKinsey Quarterly the top online marketing trends affecting business today. Of note, more than half of respondents stated that by 2010 they will generate more than 10% of their sales from online channels. Considering online sales channels often generate more bottom-line revenue when compared to offline channels, this shift in sales generation represents a tremendous paradigm shift for companies of all sizes. click here for more - KellyRShort.com

72% of Customer Lead Calls Mishandled – Learn From Auto Dealers’ Mistakes

wordmaverick — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:39:37 +0000

According to a recent Dealix survey of 3,000 phone calls to auto dealerships 72% of inquiry calls received were mishandled. The study notes that most mishandled calls fall into three areas: click here for more - KellyRShort.com

Facebook, Twitter and MySpace Generate Leads and Extend Brand – How To Leverage Social Networking Sites

wordmaverick — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:36:58 +0000

Summary: Used properly, social networking tools like Facebook, Twitter and MySpace can generate leads, create community with existing customers, and provide information on products and services.

You might think Twitter, Facebook and MySpace are only for your fifteen year old tween texting wildly on her cell phone, but these social networking sites have become important tools for large, respectable companies in generating business leads and extending their brand. click here for more - KellyRShort.com