Mr. Microsoft is Not Anti-Social After All
March 27, 2008
As it turns out – Mr. Microsoft is not as anti-social as I claimed in one of my previous blog posts as it has collaborated with Facebook, Bebo, Hi5, LinkedIn and Tagged to enable its users to access their contacts from more web portals. The collaboration includes an exchange of application programming interfaces that will allow users to move their contacts and relationships between Windows Live services and social networks more safely and securely.
Well, maybe Mr. Microsoft has found his new role as a security policeman of social networks?
The Internet might eventually turn into a web of user-controlled web networks that focus on the interests of the individuals, compared to the community-run platforms. As data is freely transferable over the Web, users can easily recognize information of interest. User-oriented content is replacing writer-oriented content. Just like blogs are starting to replace home pages. Security issues can’t be overlooked, however.
Best “Out of Office” Automatic Email Replies
March 20, 2008
My friend who is thinking of his upcoming vacation, sent me the “Automatic Email Replies” below asking for my help in choosing the best one. I am so glad I don’t have to create one of these “Out Of Office” replies in a corporate cubicle. I can come up with my own creative replies…..
1. I am currently out of the office at a job interview and will reply to you
if I fail to get the position.
2. You are receiving this automatic notification because I am out of the
office. If I was in, chances are you wouldn’t have received anything at all.
3. Sorry to have missed you, but I’m at the doctor’s office having my brain
and heart removed so I can be promoted to our management team.
4. I will be unable to delete all the emails you send me until I return from
vacation. Please be patient, and your email will be deleted in the order it
was received.
5. Thank you for your email. Your credit card has been charged $5.99 for the
first 10 words and $1.99 for each additional word in your message.
6. The email server is unable to verify your server connection. Your message
has not been delivered. Please restart your computer and try sending again.
(The beauty of this is that when you return, you can see who did this over
and over and over…)
7. Thank you for your message, which has been added to a queuing system. You
are currently in 352nd place, and can expect to receive a reply in approximately 19 weeks.
8. Hi, I’m thinking about what you’ve just sent me. Please wait by your PC
for my response.
9. I’ve run away to join a different circus.
10. I will be out of the office for the next two weeks for medical reasons.
When I return, please refer to me as ‘Lucille’ instead of Steve.
The 8 Rules of E-mail Marketing
March 17, 2008
YahooSoft and FaceGoogle?
March 5, 2008
As I wrote in one of my earlier posts – Mr. Microsoft did not like the rejection by Ms. Yahoo, who is playing hard to get.
I still believe that these two could make their partnership work. Search has been hard for Ms. Yahoo to master, but she attracts more socialites than Mr. Google who is being bullied by Mr. Microsoft right now. Mr. Microsoft has been resistant to join Mr. Google and others in web-based online workspace application development, but is making a belated step to keep up with the Jones’s. Unfortunately Office Live Workspace does not come with enough features for me as I have tested Wrike, BlueTie, HyperOffice, WebEx Office, Basecamp and Google Apps. Mr. Microsoft could win Ms. Yahoo’s heart by showing enthusiasm towards mobile applications. Ms. Yahoo has demonstrated her smart side and already unveiled a cell phone tool, OnePlace, which will allow users to keep up with their favorite topics via dynamic bookmarks.
Mr. Google at the same time may face a mild identity crisis – will FaceGoogle be the next big thing?
Disposable Blog Post
February 22, 2008
We live in a society where our disposable income supports our addiction for disposable cameras and diapers. We bake using disposable dishes, drink out of disposable cups and put on disposable underwear and socks when travelling. We can see this world through disposable lenses if we choose to. We create disposable relationships leading to disposable careers and watch TV after work in our disposable slippers.
I just discovered that we can even have disposable email addresses which expire after 15 Minutes. Check out Guerilla Mail. You can read and reply to e-mails that are sent to the temporary e-mail address within the given time frame. Yahoo offers another option you may find helpful.
Well, I have used all my disposable time for today.
Free Google Marketing Tools for Small Business
February 20, 2008
Let’s face it. Google has become part of our daily routine. We can decide how much of it we will let into our lives, but why not take advantage of free tools that have been created by this innovative company? Small businesses can definitely utilize some of the web-based marketing tools that Google offers.
Blogger
It takes just 10 minutes to set up a blog on blogger.com. It is time well spent as a company blog can become a powerful marketing tool for any small business. It can also be used as a platform for cross-promoting your products and services with other companies. Google keeps adding new features as well – embedding a YouTube video to your blog is a breeze now.
Google Analytics
You don’t need to keep guessing how visitors arrive at your website, how much time they spend on it, and whether they ever come back. Add Google Analytics to your website code to keep an eye on your web traffic. Discover whether the majority of your web traffic comes from search engines or referring sites. Find out what search keywords are being used to get to your site.
Google Alerts
Would you like to keep an eye on your competitors or specific small business topics you would like to write about? Set up Google Alerts, indicate which topic, person or company you would like to be alerted about and how often. Alerts will come straight to your Inbox.
Google Groups
Can’t get enough of social networking? Google Groups enable users to start their own email discussion groups as well as message boards. Browse archives of Usenet groups and gain new knowledge or find a group that matches your interests.
Google Maps
To help your customers and prospects find you, create a profile for your small business on Google Maps. Your business listing requires verification, therefore it will take a couple of weeks for your listing to appear. You can embed a Google Map with your company location to your website or blog.
Google Calendar
Keep your marketing projects on track with Google Calendar or create a marketing calendar for your business. You can publish your Google Calendar on your website or share it with your associates, family and customers. Planning events? Keep track of RSVPs with the easy web-based interface.
Google Talk
Provide information about your products and services immediately by utilizing Google Talk, a Google approach to instant communications. Just cut and paste a block of code into your own webpage or blog to embed the Google Talk gadget. You can chat with all of your Google Talk and Gmail contacts in real time.
Google AdWords
Start your own online marketing campaign by signing up for Google AdWords. You will need $5.00 to get started, but the use of the Google keyword tool is free and it can give you valuable insights into the minds of customers who are looking for products or services that you offer. The keyword tool enables you to find the right keywords and estimate the cost of your campaigns displaying text ads that you create. Campaigns can be turned on and off any time you desire. Master Google AdWords before you get started by studying free online tutorials.
Google AdSense
Google AdSense will create/match ads to your site’s content, and your company will earn money whenever your visitors click on them. You must have a launched website with acceptable content and valid URL as well as a valid payee name and mailing address to apply. All ads are reviewed and approved by the Google team, ensuring that inappropriate ads don’t appear on your pages.
In general, a GMail (Google) account is required for all web-based products described above. Sign up by going to Google.com.
Small Business Owners and Social Networking
February 14, 2008
Salesconx, a growing online business referral company, recently surveyed 700 small business owners across North America in an effort to understand how they value new client relationships, approach lead generation and how they utilize the Internet’s networking features.
Survey findings indicated that word-of mouth and client referrals are the main source of new client acquisition for small businesses. Most small businesses are slow at implementing new marketplace techniques. Why?
Small business owners are concerned about the expense and they mistrust unfamiliar marketing methods. While Facebook has 50 million users and LinkedIn has 14 million users, only 11% of survey respondents noted that they belong to either of these communities. 79% of the participants do not belong to social or professional network.
Referral and word of mouth account for nearly 50% of all new business for surveyed small business owners, however, only 9% are using online lead generation. I could not find any data about the age of the small business owners who were surveyed, but I know several small business owners who are 45 or older and need help understanding or learning Web 2.0. They state they don’t have time for social networking. They view social networks as popularity contests as well as question the importance of online networking . Many of them still don’t have websites.
I keep learning and teaching them in the process….
When Did You “Yahoo” Someone?
February 12, 2008
Well, Mr. Microsoft was rejected by Ms. Yahoo, how sad……It could have been a marriage of convenience for different reasons. Microsoft fell asleep behind the wheel while developing Windows software and finds itself now playing catch-up with companies successfully reaping the profits of web advertising. Yahoo has tried a little bit of everything to compete against Google. I think that Mr. Microsoft is too calculating and systematic for Ms.Yahoo who has major mood swings. Ms. Yahoo is very social, trying to flirt with everyone while Mr. Microsoft is more of a nerd who likes to stay at his computer.
The two of them could mesh their software resources and come up with new services, for example in the emerging market for video and mobile. It would be a challenge to mesh their corporate cultures. Can you imagine a nerd with a hoola hoop? What will future bring?
Free Online Office in Less Than A Day
January 30, 2008
If you are like many other busy small business owners, you wear many hats and may easily find yourself in a situation where you need to leave your primary place of business during a busy season to attend a weeklong training in another state or help out a sick family member who lives 500 miles away. Small business owners often don’t have corporate Intranets set up, but they need access to certain files from remote locations in order to finish a project or collaborate with other team members while travelling. It can be complicated to call the home office and stay on top of all projects. It is often a hassle to keep sending large files back and forth. What alternatives do busy professionals have?
Anyone can set up a free online workspace for ongoing projects at BlueTie . You can customize your workplace, upload your files, contacts, calendar, and create to-do lists. A free account lets you have 20 users and as an administrator you can grant access and deny access if necessary. And you can access your online workspace from any place with an Internet connection. Don’t like the interface of BlueTie? There are other free options out there, such as Basecamp. With a free account, you can work on one project and give access to team members and clients. Customization is limited, but isn’t a workspace mainly for getting the job done? Still not satisfied? Try Wrike. It is built with the understanding that e-mail collaboration is crucial to completion of most projects. All members of your team get e-mail notifications about changes posted to your projects. I like their Timeline feature, it is easy to track the progress of any project. In need of more features? You can test drive WebEx Office by signing up for a free trial.
HyperOffice offers a Pay As You Go option that you can choose after your free trial expires. HyperOffice may also be an affordable alternative to Microsoft Exchange and SharePoint.
Google Docs (formerly Google Docs & Spreadsheets) makes it possible for several users to view or edit a presentation online. Users can create a presentation from scratch or import and share an existing PowerPoint presentation. During a web-based presentation, participants have a chat room to the right side of the presentation slides. Participants need a Google account. Streaming audio or video and screen sharing features are not available.
Some of us like to travel everywhere with our laptops and wireless cards. It is possible to send and receive faxes as well as make phone calls from your laptop when you sign up for RingCentral. A free trial is available.
Need to schedule a conference call with several participants while travelling? Try freeconference.com. Their “Web-Scheduled Standard” and “Reservationless Standard” conferencing services are free, but Toll-Free (800) Dial-in Numbers are not provided. Most callers should expect to dial a long distance number to access conference bridges therefore should expect to pay domestic long distance rates charged by each caller’s long distance carrier for the length of time they are on the call.
Don’t let technology enslave you, let it free you up to work wherever you would like.
Best Assistant Ever – BlackBerry.
January 27, 2008
My customers ask often – how are you able to respond to my emails so quickly?
How do you stay on top of things? After all, you have your business, 3 children and plenty of errands to run. The answer is simple – my BlackBerry. I can use the idle time while waiting in line or sitting at the airport to respond to my emails. I can browse the Internet and get answers to any questions that require research. I may be cooking my breakfast, but I know when my customer needs my help because my BlackBerry is buzzing. I can also log on to my online office and get the files I need to forward to my customer. I can even do some bookkeeping online with my BlackBerry. And my nimble assistant Ms. BlackBerry does not ask for much: I pay my monthly bill to Verizon Wireless and keep her charged, that’s all. No office space, paychecks or training required.
