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Awesome cloud tools your office must considerAs the end of the year nears, it’s a good time to reevaluate your IT priorities. And if cloud technology isn’t one of them, that needs to change. There are at least six types of apps and platforms every business should have. Let’s take a look at each. Email Every business needs email. And while […]

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Awesome cloud tools your office must consider

As the end of the year nears, it’s a good time to reevaluate your IT priorities. And if cloud technology isn’t one of them, that needs to change. There are at least six types of apps and platforms every business should have. Let’s take a look at each.

Email

Every business needs email. And while there are plenty of non-cloud options to choose from, they require a lot of maintenance. Opting for cloud-based email means you pay for the service without worrying about hardware requirements or software updates. These issues, among others, will be handled by the provider and backed by service level guarantees.

File storage

Storing company files in the cloud is a great way to give employees more mobility and flexibility. Everyone can access information from almost any internet-enabled device without compromising security, since providers include things like encryption and multifactor authentication as part of the monthly service fee.

You can opt for either DIY cloud storage such as Microsoft’s OneDrive and Dropbox or a slightly more expensive managed solution that will provide customization opportunities and regulatory compliance management.

Document creation and collaboration

It’s easy to confuse apps like Office 365 and Google Docs with cloud file storage but they’re not the same. What sets them apart is whether or not you can edit documents stored on these platforms. In most cases, multiple users can alter the same document simultaneously and see mirror images on their screens even if they’re hundreds of miles apart.

Between faster document turnaround times and fewer separate versions of files, there’s no reason to keep everything offline. Business owners used to worry about security but vendors today invest 100 times more resources in protecting client info than a small operation could ever match.

Server hosting

Whether your business requires a single low-scale server or several high-powered ones, it’s becoming harder to justify maintaining those at your physical location. They’re too finicky and expensive compared to their cloud alternatives.

Server hosting enables you to accomplish via an app all that you could with in-house hardware. The costs are also spread out month to month rather than all at once during the setup phase.

Backup and recovery

The entire basis of cloud technology is that you have total access to hardware and software that’s located far from your office. That makes things like cloud file storage and server hosting perfect for recovering from a disaster. If a natural disaster or cyberattack renders your office inoperable, all you need to do is log in to your cloud platform from somewhere else.

If you are looking to move your business into the cloud, we have a broad range of products tailored to small businesses. Contact us today to learn more.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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Benefits of CRM for businessesAt the end of the day, the success of any business comes down to whether it’s making a profit. That’s why building and maintaining relationships with your customers — your primary source of revenue — is extremely crucial. To respond to this need, savvy business owners are implementing customer relationship management (CRM) systems as a […]

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Benefits of CRM for businesses

At the end of the day, the success of any business comes down to whether it’s making a profit. That’s why building and maintaining relationships with your customers — your primary source of revenue — is extremely crucial. To respond to this need, savvy business owners are implementing customer relationship management (CRM) systems as a part of their business operations.

What is a CRM system?

CRM is a system that allows businesses to manage, record, and evaluate their customer interactions to provide better services and boost sales. You can use CRM to store customers’ contact details, accounts, leads, and sales opportunities all in one place.

What are the features of a CRM system?

  • Data management – When customer data is recorded, the CRM system centralizes the data into one file, called a master file. Everyone within the company then has access to this data source, preventing confusion from inaccurate or duplicated data.
  • Collaboration – Nowadays, clients demand quick and efficient customer service, so all involved departments must work together to quickly resolve client concerns. CRM systems enable collaboration by enabling the sharing of customer information among departments. This way, everyone is on the same page on clients’ circumstances and requirements.
  • Customer segmentation – A CRM system arranges your customers into groups based on criteria such as age, gender, location, and even their likes and dislikes. This allows you to target marketing messages to your customers more accurately, potentially increasing your sales numbers.
  • Task tracking – CRM systems have task tracking features that enable your employees to stay on top of important tasks, such as contacting customers via email or phone and following up on leads. CRM systems also send reminders to employees about their assigned tasks so that nothing falls through the cracks.
  • In-depth reporting – CRM systems provide a thorough analysis of your customer base. Its reports give details including an overview of product sales numbers, marketing strategy performance, most successful products or services to date, and even a prediction of whether your sales target will be met at the end of the month.

If you’re looking to improve customer service and increase sales conversion using a CRM system, contact us today!

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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Revitalize your slow Windows PCTwo of the first things you should do if your Windows desktop is running slow is to clean up the hard drive and free up some disk space. One of the best ways to do this is to use the Disk Cleanup tool.

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Revitalize your slow Windows PC

Two of the first things you should do if your Windows desktop is running slow is to clean up the hard drive and free up some disk space. One of the best ways to do this is to use the Disk Cleanup tool. It’s a program for conveniently weeding out old files that are no longer needed but are likely hindering your hard disk from performing optimally. Disk Cleanup also has the innovative capability of determining which files can be removed safely from your hard disk.

How to operate the Disk Cleanup tool

Disk Cleanup can easily be accessed through the start menu or by searching Disk Cleanup. Once opened, this tool automatically selects Drive C (though you can switch to other drives) and shows a list of file locations containing files that can be removed. Next to each file location is information about how much space it is taking up in your hard disk.

Each file location has a corresponding checkbox that needs to be selected in order to delete the unnecessary files it contains. Upon clicking a file location, a description of the files it contains will appear at the bottom of the window so that you’ll know exactly the types of files you’ll be removing.

When Disk Cleanup is finished, you’ll need to restart your system to remove unnecessary Windows Update files. Remember, the Disk Cleanup tool only removes those Update files that are no longer needed, hence usually very few are deleted.

The benefits of Disk Cleanup

  • Maximizes your drive’s memory – The ultimate benefits of cleaning up your disk are maximized computer storage space, increased speed, and improved functionality. These enable you to use your device to run at peak performance levels.
  • Makes your computer more reliable – Some programs that are downloaded through the internet are often infected with viruses that can decrease your computer’s reliability. The Disk Cleanup tool can clean your computer and rid it of unwanted programs as well.
  • Saves time and increases efficiency – The traditional way of opening folders to find old files to delete may be enough for some, but not for those who prioritize productivity. Although files can be deleted manually, Disk Cleanup is simply much faster at it.

The Disk Cleanup tool is as handy to launch and operate as any basic program. If you are looking to further improve the speed of your systems, contact us today to learn more about our IT services.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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How to use Twitter to grow your businessTwitter is one of the most popular social media platforms for businesses because it enables them to focus on public conversation and exposure. Businesses use Twitter to engage their customers and update them on various business activities and news. Follow these tips on how to make the most out of Twitter for your business. Build […]

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How to use Twitter to grow your business

Twitter is one of the most popular social media platforms for businesses because it enables them to focus on public conversation and exposure. Businesses use Twitter to engage their customers and update them on various business activities and news. Follow these tips on how to make the most out of Twitter for your business.

Build a profile that stands out

If you’re just starting out on Twitter, you want to make your Twitter handle relevant to your company. If your brand name is already used by somebody else, you can add a CTA or an attractive description at the beginning of your company name.

For example, your company name is “LuckyABC”, but another company has the same name and is already using it as their Twitter handle, all you need to do is get creative and pick a handle like “ChooseLuckyABC” or “GetLuckyABC”. Don’t forget to refine your description, website link, and location so that your followers will get an immediate idea of what your business is.

Build your Twitter followers

You can do this by carefully selecting keywords to target. If your Twitter followers are well-defined, increasing their numbers by engaging them will benefit your business. Additionally, if your followers increase, you’ll also get more engagement and clicks through your website.

Tweet regularly

Consistent tweeting indicates an active, healthy profile. If you tweet only once a week, or worse, once a month, most of your followers will forget about you. You’ve worked hard to get them to follow you, so make an effort to keep them engaged by interacting with them on a regular basis. Make sure you tweet relevant, useful, and interesting information — content your followers will read, retweet, and like. Come up with a tweet schedule and refer to it when you’re running out of ideas.

Follow influencers and trends

It pays to stay on top of the latest happenings in your industry. Try to put your business in the light by following relevant influencers, hashtags, and trending topics. This way you’ll always have something new to share with your followers.

Following industry leaders gives your audience another perspective of your brand. It gives soul to your profile, so that you don’t appear like a cold, lifeless company to your audience. Also consider adding trending hashtags to your tweets in order to reach new users that have similar interests.

Use visuals

People tend to understand visual content more than text. Try to create a dynamic experience for your Twitter audience by adding different types of media to your tweets, such as images and videos, which are proven to gain more views, clicks, and shares than plain text tweets.

Retweet great content

Don’t be afraid to retweet when you see something worth sharing with your followers. Retweeting somebody else’s Twitter content has its own benefits — you create a good relationship with other influencers on Twitter, and it shows your followers that you’re an active member of your online community.

Track mentions

Know what’s being said about you by tracking brand mentions and keywords. This is a great way to provide distinctive customer service or to reach out to new customers. For instance, when someone is tweeting feedback on your products or services, take the opportunity to respond politely. When you see someone tweet about their needs for a specific service, you can jump into the conversation and introduce your company.

Integrate with other marketing efforts

Twitter is much more effective when integrated with your other marketing activities, such as email subscriptions. For example, if you’re running a promotion or contest via Twitter, let your email subscribers know about it. Since they signed up, they expect to receive notifications and the latest news about your business.

If you want to integrate Twitter into your business’s social media marketing campaigns, get in touch with us today.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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