When you join a gym you join with intent: to lose weight, get healthier, tone up for bathing suit weather, etc. If you participate regularly, over time you reach your goal. Just joining the gym won't make you thinner - you need to participate. It's no different with social media. You join with a purpose: to make friends, expand your network, attract clients, etc. But, just putting up a profile doesn't mean you're participating. You need to contribute in a positive way. If you are a member of any gym or social media community you know there are a lot of different people there with different reasons for being there.
Chatty-Cathy: She joins to socialize. Maybe she is an old friend from college or high school. Her contributions are gossipy, trivial and though fun at times, are a complete time-vampire. Don't be overly engaged by her witty remarks. Sometimes, she will jump into your business conversations without knowing that she is making you look bad. Get back on topic (or elliptical) and focus on your goals.
Pushy-Pete: He is only there to sell. Sure he looks casual and might walk around with a weight in his hand, but his pockets always have business cards. Online he always suggests you, "Check this out. It's really awesome," with a link to his product sales page. He has absolutely no interest in you, asks how you're doing without waiting for your answer, and if you engage him he will never let up. Well, not until Facebook shuts him down for spamming or you change the time you workout.
Multitask-Mary: She works out with a book, headphones and her smart phone. She is trying to do it all and is getting nowhere. Online, she connects all her platforms together to form an endless stream of consciousness that most can't follow. You see lots of conversations that have RT @so-in-so, LOL! This is relevant to me how?
80/20 Rule: Whether you are working out or participating in a social community, you need to give 80% of the time. At the gym it means you can chat and socialize 20% of the time, but you better be working out the other 80% or you will not get results. Online you should be engaging others, offering information and building relationships 80% of the time. If you do that, 20% of your participation can warrant invitations to your events or to check out your new offer. If you have it the other way around you will not reach your goal in business or at the gym. And remember, you need to stick to it. There is no way to lose weight or build a solid relationship fast that will last.
Credit for the above goes to Paula Pollock. Paula Pollock is Director of the Pollock Marketing Group, further assisting good companies in becoming great through outsourced marketing services with her team of professionals. PMG supports business marketing at all levels from DIY, short-term projects and campaign corrections. You can sign up to receive her bi-monthly Bite-Sized Marketing Tips newsletter at www.paulapollock.com
Monday, November 22, 2010
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Microsoft's "launch" of Lync
Was it just me, or did this supposed "launch" seem more like a skit by Penn & Teller?! It all looks like window-dressing on top of the old "Office Communicator". It doesn't really matter if you stick a cute/curioous "Label" on the product, the fact remains that it is still bloated and resource-intensive software that attempts to do everything - too much, really - for an enterprise environment.
All the prestidigitation in the world won't get small business excited about needing to purchase a server dedicated to this one "platform"... and the specs indicate a requirement for a 64-bit OS running on dual quad-core processors with 16 GB of RAM.
Yet another attempt at "Unified Messaging" - isn't that just so 1995?
Microsoft - are you COMPLETELY out of touch with the needs of Small Business? Aren't there already a number of cloud-based services that are filling this need quite nicely, without the need for internal servers (and staff to support them)?
Okay - so everybody was impressed to see an "HD video chat" with Bill Gates - but really!? Do we need to see this on a 40-foot screen? It's just a "talking head" - not an action-adventure by James Cameron!
Time for a REALITY CHECK guys - get out of the ivory tower and visit the offices where we are facing continuing economic cutbacks and the IT budgets are still shrinking... Just where do you think this stuff is going to sell?
All the prestidigitation in the world won't get small business excited about needing to purchase a server dedicated to this one "platform"... and the specs indicate a requirement for a 64-bit OS running on dual quad-core processors with 16 GB of RAM.Yet another attempt at "Unified Messaging" - isn't that just so 1995?
Microsoft - are you COMPLETELY out of touch with the needs of Small Business? Aren't there already a number of cloud-based services that are filling this need quite nicely, without the need for internal servers (and staff to support them)?
Okay - so everybody was impressed to see an "HD video chat" with Bill Gates - but really!? Do we need to see this on a 40-foot screen? It's just a "talking head" - not an action-adventure by James Cameron!
Time for a REALITY CHECK guys - get out of the ivory tower and visit the offices where we are facing continuing economic cutbacks and the IT budgets are still shrinking... Just where do you think this stuff is going to sell?
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Speed Up Windows 7...
Home Computing Tip-of-the-Month:
Speed Up Windows 7 by Disabling the Search Index Feature
Windows 7 is designed for speed. The Windows 7 team has placed special attention on making Windows 7 faster than Windows XP, and Windows Vista.
As we continue to progress in the information age, home users are increasingly expecting higher speeds from their computers. With that in mind, we've put together a quick tip to help you speed up Windows 7. This short tip will allow you to get more out of your operating system than what is provided "out of the box."
Disable the Search Indexing Feature:
For more tips, feel free to post your questions here...
Call 847-348-3489 for a Free "performance evaluation".
Speed Up Windows 7 by Disabling the Search Index Feature
Windows 7 is designed for speed. The Windows 7 team has placed special attention on making Windows 7 faster than Windows XP, and Windows Vista.
As we continue to progress in the information age, home users are increasingly expecting higher speeds from their computers. With that in mind, we've put together a quick tip to help you speed up Windows 7. This short tip will allow you to get more out of your operating system than what is provided "out of the box."
Disable the Search Indexing Feature:
- Right click on the "Computer" icon in the desktop and select "Manage."
- Click "Services and Applications" in the "Computer Management" window.
- Click on "Services."
- You can see a lot of services listed there. Look for "Windows Search" in this list.
- Right Click on "Windows Search" from the list and choose "Properties."
- The "Windows Search Properties Window" will open up. From "Startup type," click on the drop down menu and choose "Disabled."
- Click "Apply" then "OK" and that's it. The Windows 7 Search Indexing Feature is now disabled.
For more tips, feel free to post your questions here...
Call 847-348-3489 for a Free "performance evaluation".
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Paradigm Shift: 6 Emerging Marketing Trends Worth Noting
The following article is an important one to read, especially if you are creating a Social Media Marketing Strategy.
Paradigm Shift: 6 Emerging Marketing Trends Worth Noting
Paradigm Shift: 6 Emerging Marketing Trends Worth Noting
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Binary Math... musings about 10-10-10
As clients get to know me during the second or third visit, the question usually comes up "... so when did you get started working with computers?" That always makes me chuckle, as I reminisce back to the days of 3rd grade (in 1964) - while my fellow students were working on multiplication and division, I was already converting between Binary, Hex, and Decimal number systems while doing the calculations. You see, my older brother (thank you, Bob!) gave me a unique gift for my 9th birthday - a Digi-Comp1 - billed as the "...first real operating digital computer in plastic."
While the Binary Readout was only 3 digits, the mechanical marvel opened my mind to digital logic; complete with an understanding of accumulators and gates, etc. that has served me well over the past 46 years. You can read more about this set of plastic tabs and metal rods at the following blog site: www.oldcomputermuseum.com/digicomp_1.html. That little thing cost my brother about $5.95, but I've seen them selling on eBay for over $100!
And now I've just learned that there are sufficient other "fans" of this little device that they have actually started producing it again. If you'd like to make a gift of something wondrous for a child in your family, you can order the Digi-Comp1 v2.0 at the following site: www.mindsontoys.com/dc1_main.htm
And when it arrives, if you need some help assembling it - give me a call - I'll be over in a jiffy!
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Should I Upgrade My Computer Hardware?
Business Computing Tip
Computer consulting firms, such as MAX Communications, dedicate our careers to advising business owners on when to upgrade their hardware. As with all business decisions, the answer boils down to a comparison of cost vs. benefit. While this may be true, quantifying the costs and benefits of hardware is not always an easy task.
There are 3 factors you should consider when deciding if upgrading your hardware is the smartest choice:
- The Secret Cost of Upgrading
In addition to the price tag you are looking at with a new system, you must also consider the time, energy and money it takes to migrate your information to your new equipment. You must plan on worst case scenarios. Can you put a price tag on your company's data if migration goes wrong? In this instance, you will want to rely on a professional to protect your coveted information.
You never want to upgrade unless you have a solid business case to do so. If you are just looking for the "latest and greatest," you should stop now and look to invest your money in other areas.
- Compromise Solutions
If it's "bells and whistles" you are after, your system may not need to be replaced entirely. It's quite possible that an upgrade in your RAM will have a significant impact on your system's performance. If you are inexperienced with installing RAM, consider hiring a professional to perform the work for you.
- The Right Time to Upgrade
Here's the most important advice we can give you on upgrading: Always upgrade when the cost of NOT upgrading exceeds the cost of upgrading. Consider the benefits of new hardware--it helps you work faster and more efficiently. Also, consider the software you are running.Does it require more robust hardware to run itself? If this is the case, than upgrading is the smartest choice.
Other situations that require upgrading are broken PCs and system crashes. Clearly, in each of these cases, the consequences of NOT upgrading will cost you more in the long run. In business, it's always better to be proactive.
- Will you need a full-featured database program in the future?
- Will you run memory-hogging graphics programs or other special applications?
- Will your new machine integrate with your current network?
Call 847-348-3489 to schedule a free evaluation
Virus Removal Prevention TIps
You can fight back with the free prevention tips listed below. These tips will help you get rid of viruses and keep them from coming back.
Call 847-348-3489 if you have questions.
Free Virus Prevention Tips
(courtesy of About.com):
- How to Repair a Boot Sector Virus - Though boot sector viruses are rare in the U.S. and most European countries, they are still prevalent in other parts of the world.
- Eight Ways to Stop Virus Infection - Prevention. Prevention. Prevention. These are the essential steps.
- How to Make Sure Your Antivirus is Working - Viruses, worms, and trojans often disable your antivirus software when they infect your system. Here's how to check to ensure it's working.
- How to Avoid Macro Viruses - From the SANS Institute, tips on avoiding macro viruses.
- How To Prevent Email Worms - Security configuration changes you need to make to your favorite email client software.
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