As some people know, online commenting has been one of the important practices to make a website popular. For hardcore SEOs, it’s safe to say, it has survived the updates Google is bringing into the search engine and internet marketing industry. Sadly, some people today don’t know the essence of commenting and just do it to spam. They don’t realize the real potential of online commenting.

No Empty Thoughts

Web business owners know that the comments that people make on website articles or blogs are very valuable. They are not only thoughts from unknown people but they are also considered as powerful lead generators and group builders that will advice web content evaluators regarding what to fund in the various web businesses that’s available.

More Readers More Engagement

There are media websites that cater to a lot of readers. Some of them are related to sports and daily national or international news. When a good story catches a reader’s attention, a web reader’s next move is to make a comment —- and look for an outlet. Coming up with live chat discussions, comment threads and options to put pictures from regular readers are ways and means to stir up engagement. Web publishers know that a healthy interaction between readers and writers, or readers and other readers help build a community on the discussion threads. People who place comments stay longer on the sites and there’s a high probability that click rates will increase. More page views from the community thread and new topics that arise from comments generate reader loyalty as they view the comments and replies that they get from their personal posts.

Comments Build Communities

The idea to stir up comment pages and generate income from it originates from the various exchanges that take place in social networking sites. People view their friends’ postings and they comment on them. In addition to this, some of their friends will react to their posts or “like,” them and eventually share the information on their personal pages. A single thought that will come from a single article that gets more comments will eventually come up with a new content as the community discussion builds up. Just like in a conversation, a single idea from an article doesn’t become one sided. There will be posts that will agree with the thought or someone will post a contrasting comment with a new angle on things. The topic on the original post evolves and becomes more interesting. Each new post is like a ring from a company phone that will lead to new sales from a happy customer.

More Comments More Profits

Interaction pages that motivate users to interact more maximize their returns. If all conversations on a topic are put in a single place, people who are following it will have the opportunity to interact with the other users and may lead to more sales results. Giving readers an easy access to join discussions helps readers identify themselves with others with whom they share similar interest. It helps them become part of a community that welcomes their idea. Sponsors of the topic gain the opportunity to get the actual pulse of their product’s target market.

Happiness Is End Result

The value that web publishers get from comments of readers may appear as unsolicited advice. They contribute to the improvement of goods and services. Readers like the idea that their freedom of speech isn’t curtailed. If advertisers know that a certain page attracts more readers, they’d definitely put their ads in it. Comments are actual proof of popularity. The longer a reader stays on the page means an increase in ad click rate. The reader benefits by gaining an intrinsic feeling that they are part of a group that has the same interest as they do. In the end everyone goes to bed happy.

Is it not that it is a rule that a nice opportunity should never be missed? But you do not have the funds. What can your brilliant idea do if you do not have the means to materialize such vision? It can be a thought that you will sell the idea to another person who might have the capacity to make it possible. Yet, if you will do so, then you might earn some funds for one time. However, if you consider the long term goal, you will realize that you will be at the losing end. It is because you will lose the opportunity to get hold of promising business that may bring in financial rewards. It would be a more practical option to get hold of business funding so as to make your plan a reality.

The Primary Source of Business Fundings

The greatest challenge you might be facing at this point in time is to get hold of the business funding. Considering all the consequences, such as that the business proposal is very feasible and would definitely bring in a positive result then getting hold of business funding will be favorable.

Personal funds. More than anything else, before you conclude that you do not have the resources to put up your proposed business, it would be advisable to evaluate things clearly first. Primarily, you have to weigh up things properly. Isn’t it that you have some funds safely deposited at the bank? This time you may contemplate if you are willing to risk your personal money for the said undertaking. Are there people who owe you money? Why not try to collect from them so as to attain the funding? In addition, are there properties or other assets in your possession that you can dispose to get hold of funding? For instance, are you willing to sell your car so as to finance your business? At the end of the day, you will notice that you actually have a considerable amount of personal funds that you can utilize. Ring Central phone system may help you raise some funds.

Funds from Other People. You may not think about it very soon but as you share your business proposal to your peers or family members, you will have financial aid coming to you. In this case, your little brother may volunteer to be the sales representative for the mean time. Your mother may offer to help in preparing for the goodies as well as to provide for the necessary merchandises. Perhaps one of your friends may volunteer to be your financier with the necessary arrangement on profit sharing. The truth is that funds may come from various sources and most frequently from people closest to us.

Other Possible Sources of Business Funding

Funds from the Bank. The bank can be considered as the most favorable lending institution because of providing for low interest loans. Since most a hosted phone system, it would be best to set a personal appointment with the loan officer of the bank for a clear transaction.

Funds from a Private Lender. Being determined on your business, you may prefer to borrow funds from a lender. However, you must remember that you have to consider the interest rates first as well as the other terms of the loan.

Are you really tired of going home each time with only a very little amount of money left from what they call a salary? Admit it. Whether you are an office clerk, a janitor, a sales representative or the managing director of a firm – we all complain for the same thing. Our salaries appear to be too small. Does your salary increase if you can finish the paper work two days ahead of a fellow worker? Were you able to receive a bonus for making the floor sparkling clean and the file cabinets dustless? Were you able to get a share for a billion worth project you successfully negotiated? A lot of us would rarely answer to the affirmative.

The reality is this. You may get a very little amount for successfully brining in billions to the company. You may get a promotion once every five years for being dedicated to your job. Your pay may increase for a few dollars because you are hard working and you do your job very well. But how can you attain financial independence if you entirely dependent on that paycheck the company or your boss is giving you? You can never free yourself from financial dependency if you will not go out from your shell and seek for greener pastures. Establish a company of your own and get hold of the rewards of your hard work, dedication and excellence. Be a boss! Get hold of all the proceeds. Work only for yourself, at your own timing and at your discretion.

However, there is one thing that you need to have. That is business capital.

Find for a Supplier of Business Capital

If you believe in yourself that you can become the boss then you can proceed to finding a supplier of business capital.

• Become the business personal financier. It would be great if you will be the one to finance the business. Thus, aside from owning the business idea, you should also own the funds that will keep the business growing. With this, you will not need to worry about giving someone else his share of the profits or consult him with the operations of the business. If at all possible, finance your business personally so that you will have no owing to anybody. You can call yourself the boss and the only boss.
• Find for interested stockholders. There can be a few reasons why a certain person who has the funds will agree to buy some shares of stock. One is that the business is profitable and return of investment can be expected. Second is that the person adores and trusts you that much that he is willing to give you the money regardless if the business succeeds or not. Whatever may be the reason, you can be assured that a stockholder will help you come out with the capital.
• Obtain a Loan. At this time, loans are known to be the fastest and the most reliable source of business capital. Once an entrepreneur lacks the funds, a lender may immediately lend him the money needed. You can always make use of the Ring Central internet phone service to discuss with lenders.

How to Handle Business Capital Properly

Whether it your own money, loaned or from an investor it is wise to handle the business capital properly.

• Identify the expenses. Identifying the expenses will allow you to plan and properly set a budget for the business capital. What are the things that you should pay for? Would the business capital suffice? If not then you can do two things. First is to increase the funding. You may start notifying your investors through phone that you need to have more funds. Second, you can cut down the expenses.
• Focus on the Primary Expenses. There can be major expenses of the company and see to it that the necessary expenses like payment of bills, rentals, equipments and provisions be secured. All other useful expenses like advertisement and promotions can be dealt later on.
• Evaluation. By evaluating the business standing, you will know whether you are earning or you are having the business capital flow to the drain.

Upholding business relations – How possible?

The possibility of upholding business relations can be rigid undertaking. Yet, there are certain ways wherein business relations can be upheld in the most efficient manner. Here are three important points that should be prioritized to facilitate the aim.

• Point Out Specifics. If you would want to uphold business relations, it is essential that you point out specifics. Thus, it would not be enough to tell everybody that your company is the best. Again, you should pin point on certain issues that you consider that you company is the strongest at. For instance, it would be favorable to specify that your restaurant specialize in delectable Chinese food. Thus, it would be the best place where they can find the tastiest ramen and other Chinese delicacies. With this, people will find you to be a primary choice. Although it can be good to offer for almost the best on everything but this can hardly be achievable. As they say, a jack of all trades is a master of none.
• Pick Your Audience. You have to realize that although it can be great to be able encourage everyone to buy your offerings but such would not be practicable. Experts would suggest that you should cleverly pick your audience. Say for instance, you manufacture clothes. You have to decide whether you will manufacture clothes for infants, for teens or for young executives. This way you can concentrate your forces and find those people who might probably buy your products. Thus, when you make use of the Ring Central phone system, you would not need to pointlessly dial for everybody’s number. You will also have to speak to your chosen audience.
• Satisfy your Clientele. After you have decided on your audience, it would be flattering to provide them with handpicked products. You have to know that convincing people to buy can be easily done with the use of obsequious words and descriptions. However, proving your words to be true can be a different story. With this, you have to make sure that your description will properly to your offering.

Additional Ways to Perk Up Trade Relations

Perking up your business trade relations does not need to be truncated with the three mentioned points beforehand. The reality remains that there can be several ways on how to perk up trade relations. Here is additional information which you can utilize.

• Give Gifts. Giving gifts to your clients can be one appreciated way to encourage your clients to stay with you. Do you recall how you were delighted when a bookstore presented you with a complimentary pen? Although you could have easily purchased such pen but having things for free will always be lovely.
• Create a friendly atmosphere. Clients will continue to patronize your company if you will help them realize that you are worthy of their loyalty. Do you offer them help each time they need something? Do you hear them out when they complain? Did you thank them for staying despite it all? Creating a friendly atmosphere will further your trade relations.

A blog is like your digital diary; it’s where you talk about your experiences, reviews and opinions about anything. These posts can be posted and shared online which means a lot of people can read your blog and comment about it. Blog commenting, on the other hand, is the process of leaving comments on someone else’s blog page. For some people, it is as simple as posting their thoughts and opinions. Bloggers can also comment back and interact with readers on that page. For businesses, it’s a marketing strategy, like social networks are. It is an SEO or search engine optimization tactic that allows you to post the links to your website, considering it’s relevant to the blog’s main idea. Here are some benefits of blog commenting:

• Blog commenters will be able to feel that they are relevant and valued by the blogger, especially when they respond back to their comments. With this, a good business relationship or partnership will sooner be built by both parties.

• For a blogger, these comments are priceless especially when done regularly. This shows that a lot of people are interested with the write-ups. If these blogs are for SEO purposes, the rankings of these blogs go up in the search engine results, which in turn, is always a good thing for the writer.

• Blogs help you build your reputation as a blogger, especially if you talk about things that are relevant to people’s lives. Blogs may discuss about reviews of a certain kind of service or product like phones systems or probably your overnight stay at London’s Marriott Hotel and everything else. Make sure to create attention-grabbing blogs to get more followers and comments from respected people. By sharing your opinion and ideas, you are sharing knowledge to help other people as well.

• Posting blog comments is also a way for you to meet new friends and fellow bloggers. It is similar with social networking sites like Facebook and Google Plus; anything is possible. Interacting with others will certainly assist you to have a well-liked blog and know more of a handful of bloggers who share the same interest as you.

• If you are a marketer of a certain company, blog commenting is a great marketing technique to make full use of. Let’s say you are a marketer for a company that manufactures and sells health and beauty products. By commenting on blogs that focus on makeup reviews, you can easily post a relatable comment. If the blog talks about a makeup product, you can include on your comment the link on your company’s website where your makeup products are showcased. Other blog commenters and marketers will be able to see your comments and eventually will click on your links. This will drive more traffic towards your website. There’s a possibility that those who read and click on your links will become a client. Who knows, you might even get a potential business partner in some of the blogs that you comment on!

The trouble with letting your employees deal with these things is that you’ll never be able to predict the outcome of the spat where employees’ egos and emotions are concerned.  Ergo, it would be best to diffuse the situation before things get from annoying to full-blown ridiculous.  However, it would do you well to wait for the opportune time.  If you jump in before the issue is serious enough to address, you’d be perceived as too much of a “mommy”. On the other hand, if you don’t jump in quick enough, things can quickly be blown out of proportion.

So before you go out and stop a spat between employees, here are a few things to take into consideration:

Is it personal?

There’s a really big difference between squabbling about one’s personality, and squabbling about one’s productivity, work choices, and work ethic.  Based on experience, most spats in the office tend to stem from work-related issues.  Although, there will be certain employees who you’d hear a lot of phrases like “He/she’s great, and I like him/her, but…” from.  Learn to differentiate spats like “That imbecile doesn’t know how to save money.  We’ve talked about this.  We’re supposed to switch to a virtual pbx because we need to save “x” amount within the next 6 months.  If we keep using the same phone system, we’ll never reach that target, and we won’t be able to purchase the projected need of x materials”, from spats like “You incompetent Neanderthal.  If you can’t give any useful input, then just shut your mouth.  It’s clear that you have no idea how to save money”.

Is it affecting productivity and professionalism?

Is your team behind schedule, or missing deadlines?  If conflict is hindering your team from performing well, then you should have been involved in the conflict yesterday.  The underlying issue should be addressed now.  However, it should also be treated with caution.

Are the involved parties in the same position/level in the company?

No matter how informal your company culture is, it is always going to be a big deal if conflicts are between people of authority and subordinates.  There are always two ugly sides to this coin.  In one hand, there can be the possibility of abuse of authority.  On the other hand, there is the possibility of a subordinate causing mayhem to get to the top.  Both are equally serious, and these issues should be handled with care.

Is anyone committing a corporate or federal offense?

This is something you always have to be on top of.  Some conflicts arise because of things such as unintentional as lapses in reporting sales, or as serious as harassment.  Either way, these are the kind of sticky situations that could easily blow up in your face.  By this I mean, lawsuits galore.

How to Deal

• Speak with both parties separately (and privately) before getting them together in a room.  This way, you can discuss the conflict without interruption.
• Supervise and place them in the same project to resolve the conflict and let them learn to work together.  Make a specific plan and rules for both parties to follow.
• Inform the HR about the situation and what you plan to do about it.  This is so they can prepare certain measures and, should things escalate, you can skip the entire ordeal and go straight to the formal complaints/disciplinary actions through the formal HR channels.
• Make it crystal clear that this kind of behavior will not be tolerated and that disciplinary actions will be taken against them, should it continue.
• Follow up on both parties after the meeting, and find out if the conflict has been resolved and there are no hard feelings harbored.
• Make it clear to them that you are open for communication, should they need to talk about the work-related conflict.  Remember, work-related, not personal.  You’re their boss, not their therapist.  Keep the communication lines open, but have respectable limitations.

The top social media channels have millions of users, and this is also the main reason why businesses are launching independent marketing campaigns on sites like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. According to a Wall Street Journal article by Emily Maltby and Shira Ovide, not all social media tools can help your company grow. Being at the top social networking food chain doesn’t necessarily mean that a certain social media could be beneficial for your business.

Not just a popularity contest

The article says that six out of 10 small business owners view social media as an important factor to boost company growth. However, not all of these social networking sites have gained the approval of small business honchos. While most of them are optimistic about their chances with the likes of LinkedIn, Pinterest, YouTube, and Facebook, a majority of the 835 business owners surveyed are not pleased with one: Twitter.

Currently, Facebook is still the number one social network with over a billion monthly active users and over 600 million mobile users. Twitter comes in second, with over 500 million registered users and 200 million active “tweeters.” YouTube, Google’s video service, has over a billion users and more than four billion views per day, but it is not really your typical social networking site. But according to the small business owners interviewed in the WSJ article, LinkedIn is their preferred social networking, garnering the approval of 41% of the respondents. LinkedIn, which has a paltry (by Facebook standards) 200 million user base, is a networking site focused on professionals and businesses worldwide. Compare that to Facebook’s “approval rating” which is just 14% of the respondents, and Twitter’s, at a shocking 3%.

Business owners who are not aware of these numbers could still go with Facebook and Twitter, solely because of their massive registered users. And if the approval of the small business owners is any indication of marketing success, those who went with the top social networking sites would have a hard time getting any return for their investment.

Finding one that works

Based on the figures, perhaps the most important consideration when choosing what social media tool should be used by a small business is its effectiveness in reflecting the interests of the company, products and services included. If you think your company is known for high quality products, then you should go with the social media that can showcase your merchandise to the fullest. Obviously, you’ll have a hard time doing this with Twitter and its 140-character limit. Social media sites that focuses more or images instead of words should do the job; Pinterest and Instagram are some of the options that you can explore. LinkedIn gained the most approval from business owners because of its focus on businesses and the people behind them. Once you log on to LinkedIn, you can search directly for the company you want and look for the product or service you need. The site is streamlined to facilitate interactions between professionals, so once you go there, it is understood that you mean business.

Marketing through social media has given small businesses the chance to compete with big name companies today. With good social networking profile for your company, you don’t have to sit in front of your business phone all day. With the help of the Internet and the right social networking platform, you’re making your business reachable for your clients, and something that you can easily do, even when you’re on a tight budget.

Nowadays, companies use YouTube as an alternative means to market their services and products knowing the amount of traffic the website gets each day. But before you start creating videos and posting them on your channel, take time to go over some guidelines that can be useful in promoting your video:

• When creating videos for your marketing campaign on YouTube, it helps if you think like a customer. Think what kind of video you would like to watch over and over again, and videos that can simply get your attention. This will help you come up with great ideas for your videos. The key is to make your videos exciting and informative so that people will watch your videos from start to finish.
• It also helps if you make an effort to promote your video. Keep in mind that there are over 2 billion videos on YouTube which means you have to push your video to compete with others. It is not enough that you upload a video and just let the users visit your channel and view it. You have to market your video for it to get a huge number of views. You have the option to share your YouTube videos on social networking sites like Facebook, Google Plus, Twitter and others. If you have accounts on these social media platforms, your video can easily gather more views and those who have viewed it can also share the video as well.
• Most probably, your competitors have their own YouTube channel as well and they have a lot of followers on their lists. What you can do is go to their channel and add those accounts under their followers list especially if they are clients. This will give the consumers more choices. If you have something good to offer that their current company does not have, you just might have a good chance to get yourself a new client.
• When posting videos on the channel, make sure that you use the correct tags and categories. Most of the time, people add random tags on their videos even if they are not related to their video. Tags are important so that the viewers will be able to easily identify what your video is about. This works similar to keywords. The same goes for choosing a category. If your business is a clothing and makeup company, you can post videos under the “Howto & Style” category, if it is a telephone or a computer company like Apple and RingCentral, there is the ”Gaming & Technology,” and the list continues.

YouTube is not only available in the United States. It is also available in the United Kingdom, Australia and other countries all over the world. Think of how much audience you can target in YouTube. These tips can help you market your business using this popular video sharing and hosting website. Make sure that you make the most out of your videos and YouTube channel.

Financial

Time and time again, I’ve told my family, friends, and clients “If you’re in business for anything but money: Quit now!”  The point is if you’re in business with a client whose demands outweigh the compensation by a longshot, say goodbye.

I know a few newbie business owners who made their first big boo-boos by entering into bad contracts.   And by that I mean, going into business which may be detrimental to your company financially.  Maybe somewhere along the way, someone made a mistake in the quotations.  If the contract is going to cost your company to collapse, get out.  Now, under these circumstances, the first course of action is to explain the situation and renegotiate the terms.  I had this client who was in the construction business who experienced just that.  Through the course of the contract, he realized that someone made a boo-boo in the quotations for the retaining walls they had to supply.  During construction they found that a part of the mountain needed more reinforcement, meriting a design change.  They realized that if they continued the project with the initial design, the wall’s integrity will fail.  If they enforced it, they would lose too much money.  Thankfully, Lady Fortune was on his side and his people found a new engineering plastic material that far exceeds the existing design and capacity of a retaining wall.  At the end of the day, renegotiations were made with the client.  On a happy note, they were able to resolve the problem through cheaper means (new plastic material), passing the cheaper costs to the main contractor, and eventually giving discounts to a client.  At the end of the day, everyone was happy.

Sadly, this isn’t always the case as certain clients may refuse a renegotiation.  In the event that this happens, you have two choices: 1) Find other avenues to make money to cover up for the losses, or 2) Sever ties.

Health and Family Life

If your client makes unreasonable demands and calls your business phone at ungodly hours and nonstop during weekends; if he keeps making disparaging remarks about your company, aesthetic, race, or gender; if he keeps throwing a hissy fit, stomps around, threatens you and becomes physically violent; it’s time you burn that bridge.  No job is worth your physical and mental health.  If you’re starting to notice that this client is taking away time for yourself and your family, cut him out.  If you don’t, you will end up resenting the client, resenting the job, and doing poorly in your tasks because you’re at wits end.

National Interest VS Existing Projects of Less Social and Economic Impact

Let’s say, after years of being a lawyer for politicians, you decided to do something different and start a small law firm which deal with civil cases.  Now, what do you do if by some strange circumstance the president asks you and your team to take over the case, represent him in court during his impeachment trial?  More than that, what would you do if your firm was working on its own civil cases then?  Would you send your client to another lawyer who is just as capable of handling a civil case, or would you respectfully decline the request of the president?  My belief here is: in a case where there will be a high impact on your nation, economy, and society; bidding a temporary farewell to your existing business is permissible.  I’m not saying you have to completely abandon them, but there are other options like referring them to other people who are equally as capable.  When you are faced with an opportunity to make the “case of a lifetime” or an opportunity to make a difference, you should grab it.  This isn’t just because it would do you well in business, but it’s also about you having the responsibility to make a change.  Of course, this circumstance may be farfetched, but what if?  Stranger things have happened.

Principles

This one is a no brainer.  If the activities that deal with your relationship affects your principles and the ethics of doing just and correct business practices, burn that bridge.

I have this friend who owned a company that manufactured integrated circuits.  Her client demanded that the production of the chip be made by manual labor, not machines.  The client explained that the labor will be much cheaper compared to the purchase and upkeep of the machines.  Furthermore, this will provide a lot of jobs for a lot of people.  As much as my friend wanted to help those without jobs, she refused.  This is because manual production of the chips leaves more room for human error and quality checking becomes more tedious.

The moral of the story is, if your client’s way is against your principles in business, burn that bridge.  If you truly know in your heart that the client’s way is not for you, and yet you continued to venture into business with him/her, you are going to end up miserable and/or in trouble.  It’s not just about your ways of working.  There are other things to consider.  If you discover that your client is using your goods and/or services, for illegal activity; burn that bridge.  If you realize that your client’s activities aim to oppress minorities, or go against social responsibility; burn that bridge.  Believe me when I say that if you continue to work with someone who is against your principles, it will not end well for either of you.

Just take a look at stuff like VoIP service and cloud-based technology – those are actually some very creative ideas and solutions that are generating a lot of profit for a lot of people.

Of course, “take up creative thinking to succeed” is easier said than done. It’s not that it’s something that only some people are born with (although that is what many people believe); it’s more like it’s something that requires regular practice. Even then, you need to take up the right kinds of practices in order to have truly useful creative ideas. In order to start practicing creative thinking for modern business, you need to remember the following:

Creativity needs some limitations

Didn’t expect that, did you? For many people, creativity means tapping into unlimited possibilities that can be explored. But you don’t really have to explore said possibilities, just because you think you can or you think you should (because you’re being creative). All you do when you try to apply unlimited possibilities to creative thinking is overwhelm yourself, which is actually DETRIMENTAL to one’s imagination. As such, you need to set up a few rules for every time you’re trying to come up with innovative ideas and solutions – even if you’re just practicing doing that.

Challenges can be found anywhere

If you want to just practice thinking creatively, then you can start with trying to come up with solutions to challenges that you already find bothersome.  Have an apartment wall that you aren’t happy with, but don’t have the authority to alter significantly? You can try thinking of lateral alternatives to painting it or covering it with wallpaper like hanging up posters or curtains, taping on some ark sketches, or sticking illustration boards on them that you can cover in any pattern or color you want. There are always small things in your life that you can use for practicing creative thinking.

Solutions can be found elsewhere

While you do need to set up limitations when it comes to creative thinking, it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t try to find some inspiration from completely unrelated situations. For example, you can challenge yourself to think of a great hang-out place for you and your friends by basing it on a place you already hang out in (say, a cafe) and thinking of your shared hobbies (comic books, for example). The idea of mashing up cafes and comic books may seem out there to some people, but it can have some creative and lucrative possibilities – like comic character-themed coffee blends.

Courage has its benefits

One of the major hindrances to creative thinking is fear. When we’re afraid that our ideas are wrong or ridiculous, we end up not trying to think of anything new or interesting anymore. Creativity takes some courage; you need to start being okay with thinking of ridiculous solutions and stop being worried about the judgment of other people. The braver you are with your thoughts, then the more creative ideas (and viable solutions) you can generate. You can start by allowing yourself to think of offbeat answers to silly questions that you ask yourself and sharing those thoughts with people you trust. It’s worth it.

But, while cost-effective, this growing trend presents a set of complex security and management risks that can hinder your business from having a smooth transition from a physical environment to a virtualized network. To help you make the shift, here are 5 trade secrets to successful virtualization:

image by: v12ntoday.com

Keep a close eye on all hardware and software adjustments.

Identify every element that needs to be changed to fit the virtualization model, however small they are. You are about to disrupt a deeply ingrained system status quo, so you have to know every detail and the possible impacts of altering each tiny configuration. Take your time in determining these structural changes, because one wrong move can destroy the foundations of your current ecosystem. Don’t rush your virtualization process, as the key to a smooth desktop virtualization is a carefully planned transition.

Ensure infrastructure compliance.

There are government rules and regulations for desktop virtualization and virtual offices that were crafted based on legal and industry standards. Generally, compliance to these is pricey; but they are worth every cent, for they guarantee the legitimacy of your company’s operations and may even boost your brand’s reputation. Get a hold of this set of policies and faithfully comply with them. Your business might face legal issues if you don’t.

Deploy a holistic security solution that caters to hybrid IT environments.
One of the challenges of virtualization is fighting the new threats and vulnerabilities springing from this new platform. Because of budget issues and lack of awareness, most companies protect themselves using old enterprise security systems that prove to be ineffective in resisting the advanced threats and sophisticated malware cybercriminals use today. New hazards need new solutions. Look for an advanced defense against these emerging risks, defense built for IT environments that are in the process of going virtual.

Educate and train your employees about the new system.
It’s not easy to understand the concept of virtualization, but you have to make your employees aware of its basic principles. At the very least, tell them how the new transformation will affect operations. Will the change add or remove steps in current processes? How big is the modification’s impact on the office workflow? How should your employees prepare for the threats this change brings? Ultimately, it’s best to share with them some best practices to help them walk their way through the new structure.

Consult with experts.
Unless your company provides virtualization services like VMware and Amazon Web Services (AWS), seek expert consultation from a pundit on the field. Working with an authority will give you the certainty that your new system will be functional and stable. There are actually some companies that prefer to hire specialists to do the work for them. However, since every company is unique, it’s still best to let your IT team craft the strategy because they are more familiar with the nature of your enterprise.

Virtualization becomes more complex and more important as we move toward 2014. Following the secrets divulged above will help you cut through the complexities and risks that can disrupt your company’s journey to virtualization.

image by: offthereservation.net

Considered as one of the best information hubs and content aggregator platforms ever created, Google Reader is now set to take its final bow and bid farewell to its loyal users. Early this month, Internet giant Google announced that it will shut down the once widely popular news platform permanently come July of this year. The announcement sent ripples of shock and disappointment across the World Wide Web, and social networking sites basically blew up with violent reactions from users who have come to love the highly useful content aggregator.

Plagued by privacy and compliance issues

Google Reader is just one of the many platforms the Internet giant is planning to axe as part of its “spring cleaning” process, a strategy that Google CEO Larry Page has implemented in order to eliminate less popular services and regain focus on major ones. While Google put the blame on the declining number of users as the primary reason for shutting down Reader, some reports claim that the real culprits behind the RSS platform’s sudden demise are compliance and privacy issues. Such concerns, particularly privacy, have continuously plagued the search-engine leader over the recent months.

Rather than come up with specific measures to protect its users and tighten the platform’s security, Google decided to take the easier route and kill the service instead in order to avoid dealing with the growing number of complaints. Though obviously the biggest spider on the World Wide Web, Google still doesn’t want to take the risk and invest in a team that would handle the compliance issues. Continuing the service meant adding more infrastructures and increasing the number of staff to address the concerns, and Google is just not willing to shell out resources in order to keep the Reader alive. Perhaps the only solution in Larry Page’s eyes is to kill the source of the problem; hence, avoiding privacy complaints while shifting focus on other money-making platforms. It’s like killing two birds with one stone.

The effect of the impending Google Reader shutdown on users

In an attempt to save the once-popular RSS platform from total annihilation and convince Google to retract its decision, avid users passed several petitions, with one of them garnering over 150,000 signatures. However, Google has been adamant in its decision to shutter Reader, and it even gave an exact date of the shutdown in order to provide users with enough time to manage their accounts and save important data.

Perhaps the root of all the violent reactions is that no other RSS platform can compare to Google Reader, so finding an alternative poses a problem for users. Despite its dwindling popularity, Google Reader is still the standard when it comes to aggregating news and content. From business owners running small virtual offices and CEOs managing large corporations to ordinary people maintaining blogs, Google Reader has definitely created a significant impact in the daily lives of its users. Fortunately, the impending shutdown is still a few months away, so there’s still plenty of time to search for an alternative. Who knows, maybe Google may surprise everyone yet again and come up with an improved, privacy-compliant version of the Reader come July. It’s a highly ambitious and farfetched idea, but anything’s possible with Google.

Backing Up Your Data

Backing up files is one of the most essential things that any business organization should do to ensure order and security and there are several benefits to having a reliable backup system. System crashes, for example, which are not uncommon in many business organizations, can result in you losing important data that are crucial to the operation of your company. Examples of these critical data include accounting files and customer databases. An available backup allows you to retrieve and restore copies of the lost files, saving you the trouble of losing your company’s records.

You can store backups in a second hard drive, recordable CDs and DVDs and USB flash drives but if you still do backups the traditional way, you may have already noticed how much time the process takes. Copying large files from the computer can take time so your staff would have to commit a considerable amount of time to getting files copied and backed up. With a cloud system, backup is done automatically. You simply have to assign a special folder or directory that gets automatically synced to your cloud service account.

Cost of Cloud Services

Many businesses are cautious about using cloud services to store data because of their perceived high cost. How much do you spend on disks, memory cards and hard drives to have multiple copies and backups of your company files and data? You might actually be spending more if you don’t use cloud services to back up your files. In addition to this, using disks, memory cards and hard drives is not very safe because these storage devices are prone to getting corrupted, damaged and even lost. How much does it cost to store your data in the clouds? There are cloud storage providers that can actually store and back up your data at no cost. Dropbox, for example, allows you to store 2GB worth of data for free. You can always upgrade to a premium business account starting at $7.95 per year if you need more storage. There are also a number of other cloud storage providers that can accommodate you should you need more flexibility and features. There is SugarSync, Google Drive and Bitcasa.

More Flexibility for Your Organization

Google Apps can store and keep backups of your files in the cloud as well as provide you with cloud computing tools that are essential for your business. These tools make it possible for your team to work on one single task regardless of their location. There are also cloud service providers that specialize in cloud based phone systems, such as RingCentral. Cloud services on internet phones can help boost the efficiency of your business communications.

Security

Storing your backups at your office can be risky. They may be stolen or accessed by an unauthorized person. CDs and hard drives can also get corrupted which is why you should consider storing your data in the clouds. Cloud service companies can secure your data in an encrypted network infrastructure so you do not have to worry about somebody getting their hands on your sensitive files.

If you are starting your own business, you too can benefit from giving your customers satisfactory assistance and service. So, how do you do this? The secret is being able to connect with your customers. Establishing a connection with your customers gives you an opportunity to personally relate with them and make them feel important. There are many ways you can do this. The following are some practical tips you can implement in your business establishment to help you improve your business’ customer service.

• Give them a warm welcome. There’s nothing like a friendly greeting that makes customers feel instantly comfortable as they enter your store. It makes them feel at ease, and before they even get the chance to explore your store, they will think to themselves, “This is a nice place.” Often, how customers are treated upon entering an establishment determines how long they will stay inside. Treat them with indifference and they will be gone as quickly as they came in; be friendly to them and they will stay a while, explore your store, and perhaps buy a few items. Even if your store visitors don’t buy anything, they will likely tell their friends about a “nice new store” they found, and all because you made them feel welcome. While first impressions do not always last, they certainly have a big impact, and creating a good first impression on your visitors will go a long way.

• Be flexible to their requests and needs. Flexibility is an important ingredient in customer service. When it comes to catering to your customers’ needs, never operate in a box. Be prepared to adjust your services to your customers’ preferences and try to meet their requests as long as these are within reason. Throwing in a little extra favor for them will put a smile on their faces for sure, and they will go home satisfied, not just with their purchase but also with your accommodating service.

• Answer those phones. Isn’t it frustrating when you call a business hotline and you end up having to endure several minutes of listening to the music on hold because your call can’t get through? Well, your customers feel the same way when they call your business phone numbers and no one is available to take their call. Be sure to install an efficient phone system for your business, and station a well-trained staff to attend to calls. Ideally, when someone calls your hotline, the call must be answered after the second ring, and the caller should not be put on hold longer than 30 seconds. Your staff must be as friendly and helpful over the phone as they are in person so that the company can keep a consistent reputation with its customers.

• Finally, respond to emails promptly. Sending a prompt reply to clients’ emails helps you establish a good connection with them. The best practice would be to send them a reply within the same hour. If you can’t do this, then at least send a reply within the day, during business hours if possible. Clients can tell if you are neglecting them, and sending a quick reply to their email is one way to let them know that they matter. Be sure to maintain excellent customer service by sending out emails that are free of grammatical and typographical errors.

Power-Tripping

What do I think of employers or universities asking for job seekers’ or students’ passwords to Facebook? They’re power-tripping and taking advantage of their positions, that’s what. Just because employers are at an advantage doesn’t mean they have the right to snoop around, especially if it involves something personal as social media accounts. Yes, they can try and do a name search and check out the stuff applicants are posting on Facebook as public. At least public information is volunteered. But asking for passwords is too much. It’s like being strip-searched because social networking accounts are meant to be private.

Maryland and California Say NO

It’s a good thing people are fighting back. As a matter of fact, the states of Maryland and California have already passed the social media privacy bill.

Last May 2012, Maryland became the first state in the country to sign a bill that bans employers from asking for social networking account passwords from job seekers as an employment condition or requirement.

After Maryland came California. As of January 1, 2013, the state of California started implementation of its social media privacy law. California Governor Jerry Brown took it to his Google+ page to make the announcement:

“Today I am signing Assembly Bill 1844 and Senate Bill 1349, which prohibit universities and employers from demanding your email and social media passwords. California pioneered the social media revolution. These laws protect Californians from unwarranted invasions of their social media accounts.”

Other States Soon to Follow

According to National Conference of State Legislatures, the social media privacy legislation has already been introduced and is currently pending in some 29 more states as of 2013. I personally think that this kind of legislation doesn’t need any form of debate. It should be passed and implemented right away to help the millions of unemployed Americans get jobs without having to put their security or privacy at risk.

Right to Privacy Should be Priority

Privacy should be a priority, especially now that the wide use of smartphones and tablets has even put a greater risk to privacy. To give away passwords is the exact antithesis of privacy protection. It’s like handing over the keys to your own home. I’m no privacy advocate, but I definitely know what my rights are. And if I don’t want give away my password for whatever reason – whether to protect my privacy or fear for my security – then you’re then not going to get it. It’s my right to say no and walk away.

Why sell online

There are several reasons why you should consider getting into the online retail industry. For one, startup costs for an online retail store is not as big as starting a brick and mortar shop. You do not have to pay for space rental and employees. You just need to find an IT professional who will create a good website for you. In some cases, you do not even have to buy a domain or setup a website since there are online shopping networks where you can sign up for a seller account. After signing up, you will be provided with a page which you can use to post photos of your merchandise, get orders and answer to queries online.

Your goods for sale

It will be much easier for you to set up an online retail shop if you already have an existing inventory of goods for sale. If you own a shop selling cameras and gadgets or bake beautiful cakes for your relatives and friends, an online shop will serve as another means for you to increase your customer base. Online retailing will open your doors to more opportunities since more people are able to get a glimpse of the products that you sell or the services that you offer regardless of location. Nonetheless, you can still start an online retail shop even without an existing inventory. Many suppliers are willing to accommodate alternative arrangements with online retailers.

Payment

How do you intend to receive payment from your customers? There are several popular means of receiving payments from them.  You can opt for bank transfers, money transfer services, PayPal and credit cards. You should be aware, however, that online customers opt for convenient modes of payment. Requiring them to send the payment via bank deposits, for example, can be particularly time consuming if your customer still need to go to the bank to deposit payments. Payment through debit cards, credit cards and PayPal are probably the most preferred modes of payment among online shoppers worldwide. You can easily set up a PayPal business account. You only need a credit card for verification. You may need to look for a credit card merchant account provider if you want to offer your customers an option to pay with a credit or debit card.

Customer support

There are times when customers send you inquiries regarding the products or services that you offer online. You may also be providing after sales support in case one of the products that you have sold online is defective. Providing your customers with the best support can help keep them coming back to you. Just like sites that use a feedback system such as EBay, you will be likely to get good feedback if you give your customers the best support. Therefore, you should set up a means for your customers to contact you. You can post your email or a toll free 1 800 number so your customers know how to reach you should they need to get in touch.

If you have dreamed  of becoming an entrepreneur but fear that your lack of entrepreneurial experience and capital are keeping you from becoming one, consider becoming an online retailer. Anyone with a dream and determination can easily start and succeed with an online retail shop.

Being on Facebook on your computer makes you better at using the device. Teens and pre-teens were found to navigate through their computers much better than those who did not play video games or go on Facebook often.

Facebook makes significant others jealous. Couples who are on Facebook and are friends, spend a lot of time stalking their boyfriend or girlfriend’s page, obsessing over comments, likes, and people they add to their friends list. Even their choice of profile photo is scrutinized, such as changing it to a solo when it was a photo of the couple just a day or so ago.

Facebook users in relationships tend to talk about their significant others more. Happy couples were found to post pictures, updates, and other posts that mirrored their relationship.

Humboldt University of Germany did a study that found that the site’s users may get jealous when looking at photos of other people’s momentous events, such as nights out or vacations. The respondents stressed that they were not actually jealous but knew that others might be.

It is making people fatter and deeper in debt. A study found that “greater social network use is associated with a higher body mass index, increased binge eating, a lower credit score, and higher levels of credit card debt for individuals with strong ties to their social network.” (Wilcox and Stephen, 2012)

It makes you love talking about yourself even more. It may seem stressful to share details about yourself when confronted with a room full of people but on cyberspace, it is made much easier. Researchers from Harvard have found that people get the same pleasure sensation in the brain when posting information as the one we get when eating good food and other pleasant things.

It makes you treat strangers like friends, or at the very least, acquaintances. A study by Professor Christopher Sibona from the University of Colorado has found that 40% of Facebook users were surveyed to say that they would avoid people who unfriended them on the site when confronted in real life. This may due to the fact that unfriending someone is now the latest form of rejection and may cause psychological effects.

The site is making you sadder and more likely to post depressing statuses. A study conducted in 2011 found that there was a possible correlation between children who use Facebook regularly and depression. This study was disputed by another, saying that “the survey participants were on Facebook for over half of the total time online. When Jelenchick and Moreno evaluated the data including the depression-screening results, they found no significant associations between social-media use and the probability of depression.’” (Science Daily) This issue has been disputed over and over again but it bears mentioning since there are so many people who are clamoring over it.

The site makes you feel guilty for any behavior that may seem offensive to others. There was a study conducted by the University of Edinburgh that found people with more Facebook friends have more of an opportunity to offend them through the things they post.

The site stops you from being in the doldrums. A study by Madison-Wisconsin suggested that one of the drivers of the site was our collective need for self-affirmation. Most users tend to log into the site to air out a grievance or a particularly upsetting event so that others can console them.

Learn

While starting an online shop is relatively easier than starting a brick and mortar business, you still need to familiarize yourself with the different aspects of online retail. Do your research on how online shops work, how to keep yourself safe from scammers, and how to keep your prices competitive. Try to read forums on the internet about online selling to get an idea how the system works and how to get people to buy from you. It is also best if you know someone who is experienced in online retail who can help you with your baby steps regarding online selling.

Determine your niche and target market

A general goods online store may be possible but most successful online sellers select a niche for their online shop. This allows you to specialize in a specific product. You should consider selling products that you are interested in. If you enjoy collecting toys, you can start an online shop specializing in collector’s toys. There are several benefits to this. The first is that since you are interested in the products that you sell, you can easily answer questions from customers who are interested in buying toys from you. Similarly, it is not a wise idea to engage in selling digital cameras and DSLRs if you do not even have an idea what a megapixel is. Make sure that you also know who your target market is. Your target market for your online toy store is toy collectors like you. Knowing your target market will make it much easier for you to come up with marketing plans that will effectively promote your shop and your products.

Gain people’s trust

One of the things that potential customers often look for when shopping online is the reputation of a seller. It will not be easy for you to find customers regardless of your products if your website does not look credible. Scammers do not often post working contact details in their website. Because of this, you should consider posting your business address and business phone number so your potential clients know where to reach you. Word of mouth can help you, as well as testimonies of previous customers who can attest to your legitimacy and excellent customer service. Get help from friends who can aid you to spread the word about your products. Many online shopping networks and auction sites also provide buyers and sellers with a means to gain people’s trust through the feedback system. Work on getting positive feedback from your buyers every time you have a sale as this can help new potential customers feel confident in dealing with you and purchasing goods from your online store. Most sellers with established reputations find it much easier to find new clients.

First, it was Yahoo that surprised many as the company decided to end its work-from-home privileges for employees and ask remote workers to report to the office or quit. I see two reasons why this decision from Yahoo came as a shock for many. One is that when Marissa Mayer was hired as Yahoo’s new chief executive, many thought she would be championing telecommuting and work-life balance as that she was pregnant at the time. I guess they think the memo proves their initial perceptions wrong. Second, telecommuting has grown tremendously popular over the years, especially in today’s age of smartphones and tablets, and to cut telecommuting privileges for employees seem like a ridiculous idea. Or is it?

Best Buy Follows Yahoo’s Lead

Apparently, Best Buy doesn’t think so. In fact, the retailing giant has followed Yahoo’s lead when the company also reduced its telecommuting privileges a week after Yahoo cascaded its now famous memo. Just last Monday, March 4, Best Buy announced that it got rid of its flexible work program. The program called Results Only Work Environment (ROWE) started in 2005. It allowed corporate employees to work wherever and whenever they choose to as long as they did quality work. But with the elimination of the said program, Best Buy employees are now required to render a 40-hour work week and, as much as possible, report to the office.

Reasons for Ditching Telecommuting

When Yahoo cascaded its no-telecommuting policy, it explained the reason behind the decision.

“We need to be one Yahoo!, and that starts with physically being together.” It also added that, “Speed and quality are often sacrificed when we work from home.”
Although Best Buy is only reducing its employees’ work from home privileges and not completely getting rid of it, the company was gracious enough to sort of admit that with sluggish sales as just one of the challenges it faces, telecommuting just isn’t in line with their resolutions.

Matt Furman, spokesman for Best Buy, said that “When you’re in a turnaround situation, it truly is all hands on deck.” He also added that “It is critical to have employees in the office to collaborate and communicate.”

No Telecommuting Means Cost-Cutting?

It’s no secret that Yahoo and Best Buy have been struggling financially. And when both decided to ditch telecommuting, it’s as if both companies were somehow telling that allowing employees to work in a virtual office, despite the availability of technology, isn’t entirely helpful during times of financial woes.

Others, however, are saying that implementing such policy, wherein remote workers are either forced to comply or quit, comes across as ploy to lay people off without having to fire them. In short, Best Buy and Yahoo are said to be cost-cutting by implementing a strategy that would eventually force remote workers to just resign.

Maybe such presumptions are right; maybe they aren’t. The bottom line is that there will always be collateral damage in trying to save a struggling company. If such drastic measures aren’t taken, more people will suffer. So even if the decision to reduce remote work privileges may cause some frustration or even uproar in employees, Best Buy and Yahoo must still think of the “bigger picture”. And everyone will have no choice but to tighten his or her belt.

Unlike in actual reality (real life), your thoughts, photos, and certain information about you are accessible to the millions of people on the Internet.  It’s simple, really; more people equals more haters.  Some would criticize your writing style, the overall aesthetic of your blog, your opinions, your topics, your industry, and/or even you as a person.  You’re probably there thinking to yourself “Who are these people, and what did I ever do to them?”  Do not fret, dear.  Here are a few things to keep in mind for when the attacks come.

Not sure if constructive criticism or trolling

Before you go out screaming at the computer screen “Screw you, hater”, read and try to understand where this person is coming from.  Maybe this person misunderstood you.  Or maybe this person actually has a valid point, but just didn’t know how to keep his or her comments tactful.

Filter before publishing

Most blogs have features which allow you to moderate and filter comments before they are published.  Do so.  After you’ve read the response and toyed with the decision of allowing the attack to be published or not, decide whether or not you wish to respond.  If it’s all a misunderstanding and you have the patience and energy to explain your point to this person, by all means go ahead.  However, if you do not, just opt to delete it.  Your loyal readers aren’t going to see it, so you can avoid the unnecessary drama in the comment space in your blog.

Block and ban

Again, if you have the patience and energy to keep defending yourself, your content, or your readers, go for it.  Otherwise, block or ban this person from posting content on your blog.  If it’s too much, use it as evidence and file a case.  In the same way, if someone has been harassing me through my personal line or leaves hateful messages on my voicemail, I’ll turn it in to the proper authorities then have the number blocked from my phone.  Remember, it is YOUR blog, you get to choose who’s in or out, and this is not a democracy.

Chuckle and remember, haters share

If you don’t want to filter the comments or block these people from your site, no worries; there’s still reason to smile.  If there’s one thing I know about haters, and if there’s one thing they’re good for, they tend to share what they hate.  Surprisingly, there are times when haters will get you more traffic than some of your fans.  These malicious people will post about it in their own respective social media accounts, which can intrigue other people.  The people whose attentions are piqued check out your site to see what all the fuss is about, and there’s a chance that you’ll prove the haters wrong and acquire a reader or ten from the friends list of your haters.  Yay!  More fans for you.

Keep calm and carry on

This phrase is originally from the British government during World War II; it was as a propaganda message to comfort people during the Nazi invasion.  As old as this phrase is, it still holds true today.  The truth is that you will never be able to please everyone.  Trying to do so is a lost cause.  If you’re good at what you do, you’re bound to get some hating.  Focus on your message, your loyal readers, and on ways to improve yourself as a blogger.  Keep calm and carry on!

They are fast enough, but still not warm enough even with emoticons and avatars. You could imagine a very lonely and sad person with thousands of Facebook friends but none of them could physically be there in that critical moment. But with video calls, like Google HangOuts and Skype, people can speak to each other as if they are face to face. People can see if the person they are talking to is already crying or jumping with joy or smirking. That’s a lot more real than emoticons.

People were fulfilling their basic communication needs through emails and chat so why do they still need to see whom they are talking to? For me video calls just have this warmth and makes it better talking to a device or a gadget.

The Samsung Galaxy X III’s first advertisement says that it is ‘designed for humans’. For me, it brought a sigh of relief. Finally, someone thought that up. It’s the devices and machines that are supposed to be more human not humans becoming more like machines.

Accordingly, the reason why Samsung’s Galaxy X III is designed for humans is because it ‘recognizes who you are’, ‘it follows your every move, sees your best side’ with the face detection feature and camera. Finally, ‘it waits ‘till you’re asleep’ with the camera keeping track if your eyes are closed.

But I believe that the first ever acknowledgment of customer’s humanness is with the touch screen technology. I tried punching on typewriters, then on keyboards and then on tiny cell phone keypads and they are as inhuman as metal hospital beds.

Businesses should now also have a human face. After all, its humans that run them and clients or customers are humans too. Businesses can be more human by maximizing the warmth of video calls. Just imagine talking to your customer as if you are face to face. You can smile; you can show your office in the background, you can show your products without the hassle of having to describe or you can do demonstrations.  Showing your face to customers also help build up your credibility. A business person who doesn’t have anything to hide is not afraid to show his or her face.

How? Service providers abound online. Somehow, everything is already connected. Your smart phone can be connected to your desktop computer or even directly to the office printer. You can meet your partners even without travelling through video conferencing.

There are business establishments that offer services which allow you to do a video conference in style like they give you the feel that you are just in the same room with life size monitors, quality sound and uniform backgrounds.

If you prefer, there are service providers that will bring video conferencing technology right at your office or even at your home.

Lesson #1: Dancing is for everyone
Being a 90’s kid, I grew up watching my cousins dancing to the tune of “Macarena,” “Barbie Girl,” “The Ketchup Song,” and most recently, “Gangnam Style.” These songs were not difficult to dance to, but they still require some gracefulness and a bit of mental skill in order to memorize the dance steps and patterns. I was a very bad dancer, and saying that I was bad is an understatement. That’s why I mentioned that I only watched my cousins dance and make their parents proud during family reunions.

A few months after Gangnam Style became viral, a follow up entered in the form of the Harlem Shake.. The original electronica song is actually three minutes long, but dance videos of it are usually just 30 seconds in length. The dance  step involves shaking your body in any direction you want, and just… shaking it. And that’s what really made it popular. The dance craze purely relies on jump cuts (on the videos) and surprising random shake steps from people who do it. It’s very easy to imitate, and only requires pure craziness on your part to be able to dance to the song.

So there. A 30-second song with almost no lyrics and random dancing routines can probably convince you now to join the fad and make your own Harlem Shake video. As for me, I finally danced on the floor with my cousins when they played the song at a relative’s birthday party. It made me feel that I am given the right to dance.

Lesson #2: The steps shouldn’t always be followed
It doesn’t mean that you should not organize your goals anymore and stop answering your business phone—what I mean is for you to learn to unwind and let go of yourmasterfully planned life and career path. You can dance those pretty random dance steps and still look like you’re having fun in your company’s own Harlem Shake video. And you can apply that in your life. If your life plans make you feel as if there’s too much pressure, then try to set a day to do random things that you think will make you happy. You don’t have to keep memorizing the steps in your life to have fun—all you have to do is think that you WILL have fun, whether the steps go according to your plans or not.

With all these applications penetrating the marketplace, how would a small entrepreneur find the best business applications that will help them simplify and get things done?

Identify the choke point

If you’re a small business owner, you need to know exactly what prevents you from getting tasks done or what limits you from getting more tasks done. Is it the delivery process? Does it have something to do with your supply chain? Identify the choke point and find certain software or a solution that will address the situation and meet your needs. Find applications such as invoicing apps that can help you streamline your accounting process or consider a mobile-optimized VoIP service to keep your business running wherever you go.

Do a lot of research

A lot of businesspeople fall into the trap of acquiring the services of the most popular provider that they find. You can’t just visit the Apple App Store or the Google Play store and take the most downloaded app or the one with the most reviews right away. You can’t do a search on the string “phone service provider” and sign up with whatever comes on top of the Google search results. You need to do your homework and see if a certain app would really suit your business. Stay away from apps that require painstaking setup or those that require complicated contracts and hidden charges. They’ll most likely give you headaches in the long run.

Turn to brands you trust

When it comes to technology and SMB solutions, there are already a number of trusted providers you can turn to. For instance, if you’re tied to one web hosting provider, it’s better to tap their services for domain name hosting, too, because they’re most likely designed to work seamlessly together. Besides, if you choose another service from a brand you already trust, it’s highly possible that you’ll get discounts or added perks of some sort as a way of saying thanks to your loyalty. Of course, the “all-in-one” approach doesn’t work seamlessly in all situations, but it’s always worth a try.

Educate your colleagues

Once you’ve chosen an app (or several of them) for your business, you need to educate your employees and/or partners to ensure that they also know how your business applications work. Devote time to create demonstrations and so that you’ll be able to entertain whatever questions they may have regarding the product. Even when an app is user friendly or intuitive, it doesn’t mean that everybody will understand it and know what it does automatically.

Do you have other suggestions in overcoming this common business dilemma of choosing only the best apps for your enterprise? Share your thoughts by hitting the comments section below.

Can You Spell S-T-R-E-S-S?

The Stress Interview – a tactic used by certain interviewers that can make many applicants visibly quiver in fear.  Usually, it starts with making you wait a long time before the interview proper begins.  Then, you are met with hostility and arrogance by the interviewer.  If you’re lucky, it’s more of disinterest than irk.  Maybe, on occasion, the interviewer would interrupt your answers, stare blankly at you (for a while), then ask demanding, rude, and/or controversial questions.  Perhaps even, (just like the stereotypical good cop – bad cop movies, except there’s no good cop in sight) if the interviewer (or interrogator) is having a ball, you will be met with technical questions like “You know that we are among the top VoIP service providers; explain to me how different our product is from the competition’s.” or condescending and sarcastic remarks such as “That’s all?  Are you completely sure about that?” I can already imagine Batman in his bad cop routine asking “Where is the trigger?!”

Why Do It?

Have you ever seen the Stanford Marshmallow Experiment?  It was a study conducted in 1972 by Walter Mischel, a psychologist in Stanford University.  A marshmallow was offered to 600 children, and each child was promised that if he or she can resist eating the marshmallow, he or she would receive another one as a reward.  It was a test of self-control; and it showed that waiting longer was correlated with more life success.  You can only imagine the anxiety those children experienced when the marshmallow was placed in front of them and they had to wait a while to eat it.

Of course, the experiment is much milder compared to the stress interview.  However, they follow the same principle.  The idea behind these “experiments” is to see how much control you have and how you will handle certain conditions.  Apart from that, the assumption is that if you succeed in this “test”, you are more likely to succeed in the work (even with possibility of stressful situations).  Much like the children who were desperately trying to contain themselves in the presence of the delicious marshmallow, you as an interviewee try so desperately to not lash out or physically harm the royal pain of an interviewer.  Thus, a stress interview is a perfect way for Human Resources to eliminate candidates who are overly sensitive, who cannot think critically in unexpected situations, and who have low stress tolerance.

The Downside

My partner and I have had an extensive discussion about this.  While I am all for stress interviews, he is completely against it.  “The interviewer is a reflection of the kind of people and culture the company has.  As an applicant, why would I want to work for a company in which the culture is treating employees with anything less than respect?” were his words that, quite honestly, got me thinking.  As much as stress interviewing is a valid way of assessing behavior (given that it is properly used); it creates an unnecessarily pressured, insulting, humiliating, frustrating, and demotivating environment for the applicant.  According to Dilip Satpute, a Human Resources Senior Manager from Shivalik Ventures Private Limited, both the company and the applicants are each other’s customers these days.  So, in effect, a hostile environment (created by the interviewer) may be cause for a potentially exemplar employee to turn away or reject the offer.  Furthermore, it may cause the applicant to have a negatively biased perception of the company – and we all know how people talk.  This could lead to possibly reducing the good reputation of the company.

Do or Don’t?

With all this talk of the pros and cons of conducting a stress interview, there is one aspect of it that has not yet been tackled – for what position is the interview?  Now, it probably will not be such a good idea to give a stress interview to someone who is applying for a clerical position.  I believe most, if not all, will agree that a clerical position does not require a highly stressful environment; whereas a field reporter or an undercover operative probably will require more examination with regards to behavior in stressful situations.  Jobs like these involve high tension situations as a normal part of the job.  Obviously, the first step to assessing whether or not they would crack under a high pressure environment would be to test them in a much tamer and non-life-threatening situation like a stress interview.

Now that we’ve established that there are good and bad points to being the terror interviewer let me ask you right now: in an interview, which would you prefer – the good cop or the bad cop?

However, using a toll free number is not the only thing that can help your small business boost your sales this year. Consumer preferences and marketing trends change annually. This 2013, you have to pull up a new marketing gig to remain in the game. There have been forecasts that the three trends discussed below will positively affect small businesses. Read on and catch the most fish in the sea.

First thing you can do is to say good bye to your static and boring business website. Most small businesses set up a website to tell consumers how great an enterprise is. Well, that does not work much nowadays because nobody has the patience to read a 2-page website that says “X company is so great blah blah blah excellent blah blah”. The Internet has taught this generation how to put all things in one glance. That is exactly what your business should do. Stop telling people how great your business is. Instead, make your website a tool to inform them about who you are and what help you can give your consumers. Add more graphics to your website. People love graphics and diagrams that can give them a glimpse about your business yet does not take much of their time. Be sure to add a contact us page to your website. Give them some way to connect to you in order to create and maintain business-client relationship. In relation to maintaining websites, invest a bit to have a responsive website. With everyone having a mobile phone or gadget that can connect to the Internet, it becomes a need for small businesses to have webpages which resize itself depending on the size of the device used. If your budget permits, you can even have a mobile support for your clients.

Second, you must put fresh content to your marketing websites like new articles, graphics, and videos. Create a roadmap for the month to know what aspects of your business you can emphasize on every week. Create as many blog sites as possible and maintain them. Also, establish your SEO or Search Engine Optimization to maximize your presence on the web. Learn as much as you can about SEO especially the dos and don’ts. With everyone on the Internet, increasing the online presence of your business becomes necessary.

Electronic mail has been a long time tool in business communications. Surely, any small business has a repository of emails from consumers in various part of the states or the world. If you do not have a list of emails, you can include a ‘Sign up’ link in your website. Be sure, though, that there will be some freebie from your business that your consumers can enjoy once they sign up to your email list. Sending your promos and discounts to this list can help increase the presence of your small business online.