VoIP in Plain English
Just imagine… You can get your voicemails in your email box, you can make a small office operate like a large office (at least from a telephony perspective), you can implement and utilize virtual employees and service providers all like they are in your physical office, and so much more.
And so we are introduced to Anita Campbell’s Small Business Trends Radio latest podcast - Voice over IP (VoIP) in Plain English.
Topics covered in the 60 minute podcast include…
- How can using VOIP technology be a competitive advantage for you?
- VOIP, exactly what does that mean?
- How big do you have to be to benefit from it?
- What is the difference between Vonage and a Managed Network? (hint: quality of the connection)
- What are the key features and benefits that a small business should consider?
- What does this all cost and how do I get started?
Download the 12.7 Mb (60 minute) podcast…
Storage for Nothing, Backup for Free
Storage technology can be a daunting and complex subject, especially for very small businesses with the basic need to safely store and backup files. Hard drives and backup gear can be expensive … But there are much simpler options available that can greatly reduce or even eliminate the cost of basic storage and backup functions
And so goes SmallBusinessComputing.com on to discuss storage and backup solutions for small business.
A favorite is Mozy.com, who provide 2GB for free (for more space the fees are quite reasonable).
They go through a few providers - even GMail, Google’s free email service, which offers nearly 3GB of free online storage. Also on Google’s agenda seems to be Gdrive. One to watch out for.
Read Storage for Nothing, Backup for Free over at SmallbusinessComputing.com
Getting people to visit your site
Traffic. Every website needs/wants it … for who wants a website speaking to an empty room?
And as for a small business website, well … it’s quite obvious. Traffic means potential customers. So how do you go about getting traffic.
Andrew Johnson’s Web Publishing Blog has a quick read - Getting people to visit your site. His five ways are…
1. The Search Engines.
2. Links from other sites.
3. Pay per click advertising
4. Print advertising
5. Word of Mouth
He goes on to give the pros and cons on each.
Read the full post over at Web Publishing Blog - Getting people to visit your site.
Marketing - Finding Your Market
Marketing is about offering the right product, to the right people, at the right price, at the right time, and ensuring they understand the benefits of buying from you.
So says bytestart.co.uk, a UK small busines portal, who discuss the following points…
- Find out about prospective customers
- Understand their needs
- Understand their perceptions of you
- Develop your strategy
- Generating sales leads
- Converting leads to sales
Read the full article at bytestart.co.uk - Marketing - Finding Your Market.
Can Young Entrepreneurs Get Funding?
All entrepreneurs have to overcome hurdles when it comes to finding capital for their new business. When customers are few, earnings are scarce and business assets are immaterial, it takes energy and creativity to locate the necessary funds. And these challenges are heightened for entrepreneurs in their 20s, who are often involved with their first formal business venture or just out of school with limited work experience.
So says an article at Entrepreneur.com - and they follow this up with some useful advice, including…
My advice for these entrepreneurs? Open your mind and expand your circle; think about all the different people you know, including friends of friends, who could help fund your business. Many of the country’s most well known businesses, including Atlantic Records, Walmart and Subway, were funded after the entrepreneur expanded his financing circle beyond his parents. The founder of Atlantic Records, for instance, landed a loan from his family dentist!
Read the full article at Entrepreneur.com - Can Young Entrepreneurs Get Funding?