Is your SMB seeking greater productivity? Consider the cloud

In our strained economy, it’s essential for small business owners to be able to do more with less, while maximizing productivity as much as possible. The advent of cloud computing has ushered in a host of ways small and midsized businesses (SMBs) can maintain and even increase productivity among workers. Here are a few areas in which cloud computing can help: 

· Collaboration and communication – It can be challenging to build a team of employees that work seamlessly together, with trust, transparency and teamwork as the foundation. Add to that the need to invest in and maintain technologies that facilitate effective collaboration - and you’ve got an even bigger hurdle.

Fortunately, the cloud makes it easy for SMBs to provide workers with integrated, intuitive ways to collaborate and remain productive in the process. Cloud productivity solutions that combine programs employees use the most – e-mail, document creation, messaging, conferencing, etc. – deliver enterprise-class capabilities at prices smaller organizations can afford, such as Office 365, which starts at just $6 per user per month.

· Mobility – Cloud computing solutions are available anywhere employees have secure Internet connections helping keep workers productive in and out of the office. This bodes well for companies with field workers who work primarily from mobile devices as well as companies that wish to offer remote work opportunities.

According to a survey commissioned by Microsoft, many of the main reasons information workers at SMBs preferred to work remotely had to do with productivity – no commute, fewer distractions and the ability to complete unfinished work at home.

· Security – Remaining abreast of the latest security threats and measures for protection requires a significant amount of time and energy, especially for SMBs that lack trained in-house IT staff.

When leveraging cloud computing solutions, SMBs can reduce some of the stress that comes from trying to independently maintain rigorous security standards. A qualified cloud services vendor should be able to provide users with enterprise-class security protocols founded on an ongoing understanding of the latest threats and how to address them. Choosing a vendor with high standards when it comes to security will free workers up to focus more on adding value to the business, and also will reduce the risk of security breaches that inevitably hamper employee productivity.

While there’s no silver bullet for increased productivity in the workplace, certain technologies like cloud computing solutions can go a long way toward helping businesses operate more efficiently and see significant improvements in how employees spend their time.

Click here for a free guide to learn more about cloud computing and if it is right for your business. For more tips and information on how the cloud can boost productivity, follow me on Twitter (@Cindy_Bates) or follow Microsoft SMB on Twitter (@MicrosoftSMB) and Faceb

Evaluating the new virtual tools for start-ups and small business management, financing and communications.

Launching a new business in a 21st century digital world requires using a lot of new and innovative financial tools, not only to plan, but to be able to keep track of the growth and financial success of your business. Almost every day we are introduced yet another great tool that streamlines complicated processes and procedures that just a few years ago would have taken weeks or months to complete or achieve. Millions of U.S. small-business owners are spending a lot of time reviewing and screening the digital bazaar of these new tools.

As technology gets cheaper and easier to use, small firms and Startups take advantage of financial tools more than ever before to run and track their small businesses. And today’s proliferating selection of smartphone and Tablet app's are providing advantages and conveniences that wouldn't’ have been imagined only a few years ago.

This year, we’ll introduce you to some of the exciting and innovative new cloud-based financial, project management and communications tools, and offer advice on how to determine which ones would best help you get your business either up and running, or set for further growth and efficiency.

Before considering a new digital tool, you should:

1. Take time to read the fine print. Determine there is no fine print clauses that make canceling a subscription difficult.

2. Do an online search about the product you are considering subscribing to and see if there are lots of bad reviews on that company and its product.

3. On the other hand, see if you can find good press and positive, verifiable testimonials for that company.

4. Consider and compare how long it might take to get your company integrated into different systems and what the actual costs would be over the long run.

5. Look for systems that are compatible with other platforms you have already invested lots of time and money in if possible.

6. On the other hand, don't overlook the long-term benefits of switching if a system is far superior and has the potential to completely streamline a process. Short term inconvenience might pay off in the long term.

7. The world is moving onto the cloud and financial tools need to be collaborative and available anytime from anywhere, so make sure you’re looking at companies who have virtual solutions.

8. Find products that are easy to understand and that you and your team can use even if you don't have access to an accountant or other professionals.

9. Make sure the annual cost is in line with your overall cash flow and fits into a budget you have established for yearly technology, work-flow or accounting expenses.

According to American Express “76% of consumers say they have better control of their finances as a result of using online financial tools."

In the comments section, readers are invited to recommend new solutions that they are pleased with or curious about, and to further critique any products that might be discussed.

We couldn't’ have imagined that the online launch of the Funding Roadmap TMwould coincide with the most profound economic crisis of our lifetime, but here we are, and as a world full of investors and lenders look to reboot, we’re here to provide an innovative, networked business planning and due diligence reporting system for funding professionals and entrepreneurs alike.
It also includes a video pitching platform, a document repository and deal flow marketplace so entrepreneurs will have an online medium to brilliantly communicate all the essential data – along with their personal passion and commitment.”

Ruth. E. Hedges is the creator and CEO of Fundingroadmap.com. and Starups Across America. She has been featured in the New York Times, on ABC’s Home Show, and the Financial News Network did a two-part series on her for their show entitled ‘American Entrepreneur’.
For more information please visit http://fundingroadmap.com and http://www.startupsacrossamerica.com/SAA/

3 Easy Fixes to Triple Your Website Leads

If you’ve heard me speak before, you know that I feel strongly that a website should never be just a virtual pamphlet or online billboard. It must DO something. In more than 90% of the cases, that “do” can be defined as “generating leads.”

But how do you get a website to drive leads, or more importantly, qualified leads to your business? The key is to understand online user behavior and build your site to not only accommodate your site visitors, but prompt them to action!

I’ve noticed three big mistakes most websites make when trying to meet the goal of lead generation:

Hiding Phone Numbers
When needing a phone number, very few people pull out their phonebooks. In fact, today, the number one use of the yellow pages is to prop up computer monitors! Most people simply “google” a business to find a number.

How many times have you searched for a business just so you can find their phone number only to have to “hunt” through numerous pages? It’s almost as if they don’t want you to contact them! I know the telephone may seem low-tech, but if someone wants to contact me, I want them to be able to use whatever method they prefer. So, put your phone number on EVERY page.

Weak Contact Incentives
Most websites have a “Contact Us” page, a simple form, that if filled out, will email the contents to the site owner. How many of those type forms have you ever filled out? Yeah, me neither.

Remember this: You have no way of knowing who is visiting your site unless you convince them to contact you. And, in the case of lead generation, that is the whole goal! The secret to lead generation is to remember that a person’s personal information has a value associated with it. They will not just give it to you because you asked. BUT, they will trade for it.

In other words, if you offer them something of greater value than the privacy of their information, they will happily give it to you. This concept is not new. It has been implemented at tradeshows for years every time you put your business card in a fish bowl to enter a drawing.

In a future post, I’ll share the secret giveaway that guarantees a lead and costs you NOTHING.

Asking For Too Much Information
Once you have a proper incentive, make sure you are only asking for the most important information. Here’s the rule: Only collect enough information to make an initial contact with the prospect. The more data you ask for, the fewer people will fill it out. My rule is to only ask for Name, Email, Phone, and then give them a space to ask questions or write comments. I ask for email AND phone only as a backup precaution, in case they mistype one.

I welcome your comments below!

Eric Spellmann continues to be one of the highest rated speakers at our national ASBDC conferences. His unique view that small business websites should “do” something pushes against the standard “online pamphlet” view of most web design companies. He believes your customer’s websites should be driving qualified leads and sales on a weekly basis. Eric speaks at a number of other national and state conferences nationwide, but enjoys running one of the most successful web design companies in the country. He truly believes in the SBDC mission as it helped him start his own company many years ago. To contact him, visit his website at EricSpellmann.com.

5 Simple Ways Your Nonprofit Can Use LinkedIn to Find More Donors

With all the social networking sites available today, you may wonder which is best for your nonprofit organization. More importantly, you may be wondering which site is best for your organization in terms of finding more donors. The answer may surprise you: It's LinkedIn. 

Why LinkedIn? Well, according to the site's own statistics, LinkedIn boasts more than 120 million affluent, influential professionals from over 200 countries and territories.

In 2010, HubSpot and LinkedIn teamed up to create an infographic that showed members are highly educated (more than 70% have a bachelor's or graduate degree), affluent (close to 50% of users have an income of more than $100,000 per year), and they hold influential positions -- more than 30% are senior-level executives and managers, while 50% are decision makers in the companies/organizations.

LinkedIn’s power comes from getting connected with the right people. How do you get your nonprofit connected with these potential donors? Here are 5 simple tips to build these connections fast:

1. Get your team connected. Make sure every employee, board member, and volunteer has a profile that links to your website and references that they work for your organization. These profiles will then get linked to your organization’s LinkedIn page, helping you build your LinkedIn presence.

2. Search for similar organizations. Find out who is affiliated with what organizations and who those people are connected to. When you find relevant people, see if you’re connected somehow through existing relationships. Then you can ask for a LinkedIn introduction to get connected yourself.

3. Find and join relevant groups. Once you’re a member of a group you’ll be able to connect with the other members with the click of a button.

4. Join relevant discussions. Add to discussions whenever possible. Share your organization’s story where appropriate and let people know about the work your organization is doing. This will help you build interest for your organization and its cause.

5. Promote your LinkedIn page. Extend your network by making sure people know about your LinkedIn presence. Send an email to your email subscribers and post links to your organization’s page on your website.

Want to find out more ways that your organization can use LinkedIn to connect with potential donors? Visit Constant Contact’s blog, Constant Commentary: http://conta.cc/rR18su.
 

Gina Watkins is a leading expert on e-marketing for small business – and has a real passion for helping businesses to succeed. Her ongoing series of dynamic lectures are filled with real-world examples, humor and results-driven wisdom garnered from more than two decades of sales, business development and marketing experience. In addition to owning her own business, she is an award-winning direct marketer, has been featured on WUSA Channel 9's Mind Over Money show, Dr. Gayle Carson’s Women In Business radio show, Morgan State’s Briefcase Radio program, and in numerous other media. In her role as Constant Contact Regional Development Director, she’s presented to more than ten thousand seminar attendees about the keys to success with easy, affordable, highly effective technology tools that grow trusted business relationships.

Three Opportunities for Veterans Eager To Start, Run or Grow a Small Business

For those actively serving, returning home from duty or looking to leverage skills gained as veterans from different service eras, we’d like to thank you for your service—and help you on your tour of duty in the private sector. 

You’re likely already familiar with the 100,000 Jobs Mission, a military-private sector initiative to place veterans and military personnel into full-time employment. In addition, the VOW to Hire Heroes Act offers tax credits for employers that hire unemployed and service-disabled veterans. So finding a job in corporate America is, hopefully, becoming less difficult for former military personnel.

But what if you have that insatiable itch to strike out on your own? If you’re a burgeoning entrepreneur, check out these three opportunities unique to veterans, all designed to help you start your new business or grow its operations.

1. SBA loans guaranteed by the VA

Before you can open shop, you’ll need financing to get your business running. Even if you’ve saved a considerable amount, keeping those funds as a cash reserve and securing financing to start your business may be a wise option.

Through the SBAExpress and Patriot Express programs, you can secure loans at lower interest rates than offered by most banks and credit unions. In some instances, you will even receive a response to your application within 36 hours.

The Patriot Express program is available to all veterans, active-duty service members eligible for the Transition Assistance Program, reservists, National Guard members. . . and even current spouses. It can help with financing startup or expansion costs.

2. Preferred contracting with the government

Previous employers can be your best customers. They already know your talents and appreciate your knowledge of their operations. Be sure to check out your local Procurement Technical Assistance Center for more information on how to effectively compete for government contracts. Many PTACs offer access to special veterans’ services.

To explore contracting opportunities available through the Veterans Administration (VA), visit the VA Forecast of Contracting Opportunities Website.

Even better than working for your old boss, you can obtain seed money from Uncle Sam. The Department of Labor may be able to help through its VETS’ Guide to Competitive and Discretionary Grants (PDF). Although this guide clocks in at nearly 150 pages, as your drill instructor might have said, “No pain, no gain.”

3. Exclusive franchising discounts

Many entrepreneurs choose franchises for the brand stability and support for the day-to-day and administrative operations offered by the larger organization.

VetFran has located more than 400 International Franchise Association (IFA) franchisors offering discounts, trainings and more to veterans who want start their own franchises. For example, 7-Eleven cuts 10 percent off its franchise fee for honorably discharged veterans, in addition to providing up to 65 percent of the financing for startup.

According to VetFran’s statistics, over 2,100 veterans have used this service to become franchisees.

With these programs and your unique talents obtained during your military tenure, you can make your mark as a battle leader-turned-business leader.

About Business Owner’s Toolkit
With an emphasis on problem-solving dating back to 1995, Business Owner’s Toolkit™ (www.toolkit.com) offers more than 5,000 pages of free cost-cutting tips, step-by-step checklists, real-life case studies, startup advice, and business templates to small business owners and entrepreneurs. The site also offers a monthly newsletter, up-to-date news topics, and Ask Alice!, a column that closely follows industry trends and provides trusted advice to inquiring site visitors.

Why Social Media Engagement and Customer Intelligence Go Hand In Hand

I know you get social media (or at least you’re trying). You try to post on a regular basis to Twitter. You try your best to create a great Facebook page. On the other hand, you know that you’ve got to be very focused on your customers. What you might not know is why it’s important to blend your customer service tools with social media intelligence.

Maybe you sell carpet. Before your sales teams calls upon your dental client, Dr. Marvin Drillman, wouldn’t it be great to know that he just Tweeted something about his wife’s upcoming birth day and you could suggest he re-carpet their den for her birthday. This is “social crm”.

As your business grows it’s critical that you not only invest the time and resources to build a database of your customers and know about their past sales trends and purchase preference, but that you and your team also know what your customers are saying in social media.

If you are deaf to your customer, they’ll be deaf to you as well.

You’ll be marketing to them but the response won’t be as great as it could be or it will be simply a miserable failure. Building LONG term customer relationships is beyond a CPC campaign or TV commercial – it’s being in TUNE with each and other customer. The only way to do that is by leveraging social crm and executing on a content production strategic.

Part of this social crm is also analyzing your keywords, your analytics – gaining as much intelligence about your customer – aggregately and individually as you can.

Still don’t believe me:

· The competition today is stronger than it was 10 or 20 or 50 years ago
· Your customer has access to more information about the products you sell
· Your customers can easily speak to other customers about they’re good or bad experiences with you
· Customers want to feel special (social CRM is the new mint on the pillow)
· Face to face customer lunches are great, but MUST be complimented with social media listening – 24/7
· Issuing press releases and getting media attention is not enough. You must create your own content, that is found by customers and others and be your own media.

If you’re curious how social crm looks check out BatchBlue and Nimble – two simple and low cost tools where you can manage your customer contacts and also see what they’re saying on social media.

Ramon is a journalist, technology evangelist, speaker, editor of Smallbiztechnology.com and author of “Technology Solutions for Growing Businesses” (Amacom) and most recently “Technology Resources for Growing Businesses“. Ramon has written thousands of technology articles and news items for Smallbiztechnology.com and other media including: Open Forum, Inc. Magazine, New York Enterprise Report, Black Enterprise Magazine, CNet, Var Business, TechTarget, Entrepreneur.com, Small Business Resources and others. He has also written for technology vendors including Microsoft, FileMaker, and Everest. He is often quoted in the media, including the New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Entrepreneur Magazine, Inc. Magazine, WCBS Radio, Crains New York, National Federal of Independent Business, Small Business Advocate Radio Show, Wells Fargo Small Business Roundup, Tech Talk with Craig Peterson and Smart Money.

5 Simple Ways to Get More Engagement on Your Facebook Page

It's a question almost as old as Facebook itself: Once people have "Liked" your Page, how do you keep them engaged? One of the best ways is to use the right kind of content -- the kind that will elicit a response and get your fans to take action.

Ready to engage some more on Facebook? Here are five simple ways:

1. Use photos. According to a recent report from digital marketing agency Web Liquid, Facebook posts with photos are the most likely to engage users. These posts showed a .37% engagement rate, compared to a .27% rate for text-only posts and a .15% rate for just links. If you think about it, this shouldn’t really come as a surprise. Photos, obviously, grab attention visually and people must click them to get a closer look. So use an intriguing photo to get people’s attention. Be sure to say something about the photo, too. We’ve seen people using this space to write more without having to link off Facebook.

2. Use video. Use video. Video can be richly engaging, allowing viewers to see and hear the speaker or view the action far more richly than words alone. Like photos, people must click to get a closer look. Videos also take up more real estate in a newsfeed, making them easier to notice. In fact, in the Web Liquid study, video posts had the second-highest engagement rate (.31%). Remember to make them short & sweet, 30-90 seconds, for the greatest impact.

3. Ask questions to increase comments. Ask questions to increase comments. Encourage people to engage with you - and each other - by regularly asking questions. Readers will know you value their opinions, and while not everyone will comment, questions will encourage many more to participate than statements alone. Just be sure to ask your fans explicitly for a comment (see the next tip).

4. Use clear calls to action. Would you like someone to comment, share, or “Like” your update? All you have to do is ask. Another recent report, this time from Momentus Media, showed that posts asking users to “like” them had an engagement rate of .38%, compared to an .11% rate for posts without that call to action.

5. Write longer updates. You may think short and sweet is the way to go, but you shouldn’t be afraid to share longer stories with your fans. Longer Facebook status updates show higher interaction than shorter ones. So when you need to, elaborate! This may give readers a better chance to connect with your update.


What have you seen in regards to engagement on your Facebook Page? Share your thoughts with us on our Facebook Page at http://www.facebook.com/constantcontact.

Gina Watkins is a leading expert on e-marketing for small business – and has a real passion for helping businesses to succeed. Her ongoing series of dynamic lectures are filled with real-world examples, humor and results-driven wisdom garnered from more than two decades of sales, business development and marketing experience. In addition to owning her own business, she is an award-winning direct marketer, has been featured on WUSA Channel 9's Mind Over Money show, Dr. Gayle Carson’s Women In Business radio show, Morgan State’s Briefcase Radio program, and in numerous other media. In her role as Constant Contact Regional Development Director, she’s presented to more than ten thousand seminar attendees about the keys to success with easy, affordable, highly effective technology tools that grow trusted business relationships.

Business plans…for better for worse, for richer for poorer

One of the debates I hear most often revolves around the need for a Business Plan. Love them or hate them…everyone has an opinion. I’ve heard VC’s say they never do anything without one, and I’ve heard them say they are a waste of time.

My opinion? Yes. No. Absolutely. No way. Without a doubt. Maybe.

I think it all depends on what you are going to use it for. I’ve seen hundreds (and written dozens) of business plans over the years and I can’t think of one where everything went according to the plan that was so carefully written. So why bother with them? Simple. I think the highest value to be gained from putting thoughts to paper lies in helping the writer think through their models.

Top 5 Reasons to Write Them

1. Make mistakes on paper before you make them with dollars. It’s a really good exercise to really think through your business model.

2. Prove to potential investors, and to yourself, that you’ve really thought this through.

3. Ability to forecast multiple “what if” scenarios, that you are realistic in your anticipations and goals.

4. A road map to see if you are staying on task with your goals.

5. Benchmarks for investors and stakeholders.

Top 5 Reasons Not to Write Them

1. Very time consuming. A good model can take weeks or months to do the research and document properly. How will this impact your launch?

2. It could box you into only thinking one way. Starting and building a business demands you to be nimble and fast on your feet.

3. Could prevent you from taking advantage of an unforeseen opportunity. Business takes odd twists and turns and the right path for your business could be around one of them.

4. Don’t rely on it to keep you from making mistakes…perhaps the plan was not right.

5. They are an absolute pain in the neck to write.

The real answer is…there is no one clear path to building your business successfully. The right path for you will be driven by a combination of luck, timing, opportunity and expertise. Do what is right for you….what your heart tells you is the right path. At the end of the day…it’s your business to succeed or fail. And that level of control of our own destiny is what makes us entrepreneurs.

Peter Justen is the Founder of FivePlus, a cloud based financial dashboard for small businesses (www.fiveplus.co) He is considered a subject matter expert in small business, and has been interviewed by leading publications including Forbes.com, WSJ, INC, Entrepreneur, PC Magazine, PC World, and FOX News Radio. Peter was profiled by Smart CEO Magazine as one of the “20 Leaders We Admire in Washington, D.C.”, and was singled out by the Government of Finland in their study on innovation as a “Shining example of US Innovation”.

Starting a business is not an easy decision.

The risk and stress involved can be overwhelming and can take it’s toll on the entrepreneur. At the end of the day, if all goes well it will be the most rewarding decision an entrepreneur will ever make.

Giving up a comfortable corporate job with excellent benefits and perks is truly a tough decision. A decision not to be lightly.

Transitioning out of the military and not having a job lined up can be extremely stressful. For many Veterans this is the reality. Especially for an Army Reserve or National Guard soldier that has just returned from a long deployment.

Many of the soldiers today find it hard to maintain long term employment because they don’t know if/when their next deployment is going to happen. A lot of young soldiers have taken on the role of a part time Active Duty soldier bouncing from deployment to deployment. Eventually they tire of the life or the deployments dry up and they are forced to seek full time employment.

When they reach that point, it is time to consider becoming an entrepreneur.

Military Veterans embody many of the characteristics of entrepreneurs simply from the background, training, experience and risk taking lifestyle they have become accustomed to.

One of the biggest reasons people DO NOT start a business is FEAR. I think that is one of the primary reasons that Veterans make incredible business owners. We have been trained to overcome fear and accept the challenge. Fear is not an obstacle to most Veterans and they realize they have no one to blame for failure but them self. They are willing to take that risk.

Fear is an inhibitor in everybody. It makes us cautious and it makes adverse to taking risks. Fear of failure, fear of loss of financial stability, fear of criticism, fear of success in some instances.

Courage is the ability to recognize the fear and confront it head on. Overcome the fear and triumph. Veterans are extremely good at showing courage and poise in times of stress and strife. Veterans know they can plan for and push through the bad times, suck it up and still emerge victorious. 

Blue Pen Success is an Entrepreneur training program based on the tried and true My Own Business Inc. (MOBI) training. MOBI allows certified graduates to teach the course. I decided to "teach it by creating an online video series of the courses for FREE!!www.bluepensuccess.com

Why young entrepreneurs don’t have to start with BIG loans

In a recent study published by the Kauffman Foundation http://www.kauffman.org/uploadedfiles/millennials_study.pdf, young people listed two main challenges in becoming entrepreneurs: access to entrepreneurial training and access to capital.

There are many resources for young entrepreneurs to gain knowledge about starting their own business. The idea of funding your enterprise through sales is “The Lemonade Stand” approach. This idea can also be applied to funding entrepreneurial learning. Here are seven ways to get affordable entrepreneurial enlightenment without risking it all.

1.      Work for another entrepreneur to learn the ropes. 

2. Read as many books and publications about entrepreneurship, start-ups and business as possible. 

3. Volunteer for a company that needs extra assistance. See if there is a problem you can solve in a unique way, and take action. 

4. Leverage the entrepreneurial organizations that provide free thought leadership papers online. Subscribe to their newsletters and updates. 

5. Identify people in your family and network of friends that are entrepreneurs. Ask them if you can interview them about the lessons they have learned. 

6. Visit your local Small Business Development Center. 

7. Get a PhD. Be “poor, hungry and driven” during the first years. It makes entrepreneurs even more creative and resourceful.

Another resource produced recently from the Kauffman Foundation through their Sketchbook tool talks about the entrepreneurial “Money Game”. The video details the different ways that entrepreneurs find money to support their vision. It does not advocate large loans to get started as well.

Many young people think they have to borrow tons of cash to fund their education and their first business. It is just not smart, and most of all, it is just not true.

Amy P. Kelly is an entrepreneur that specializes in ways that businesses can support causes that improve communities and lives. She is Vice President of ClearPath where her team helps entrepreneurs achieve their goals. Amy started her first business at nine selling hair barrettes and is currently working on several new ventures while leading The Lemonhead Movement www.lemonheadsrule.com.  Some of her projects include: BodyRejoice, The MomVest, Strategies for Life and YipDeals www.yipdeals.com.  Amy has a particular affinity for youth entrepreneurship and is a wife and mother of four. Contact her at amypkelly@live.com.

Tech Tools with Ramon's Taste of Tech