Archive for November, 2011

File Size Matters

By Richard Leo | Filed in Business, Technology

We have all been there: you spend hours crafting the perfect presentation, finish merely minutes before the important deadline, and then realize that your file is too big to fit into an email. Unless you have a teleporter and a readily-available portable hard drive, this is a situation you do not want to find yourself in.

These days, many businesses revolve around large electronic files which they need to access and share. Presentations, reports, and website media content are usually guilty of being too large for e-mails. When time is of the essence, an efficient business would highly benefit from a large file transfer service. The service is in the form of a website which allows users to upload the content to the website and which then becomes accessible to other users.

Choosing the right large file transfer service is very important. First, you do not want all of your important, confidential, and personal files floating around all loosey-goosey on a website made by a computer science intern in Russia. For this reason, you have to make sure that the website is reputable and secure. Reputation is harder to check than security but you can start by asking other business owners which service they use or by researching reviews for large file transfer services. Look out for far-fetched and too-good-to-be-true claims, as these tend to be written by the service themselves. For security, stick to websites that begin with https, have the padlock symbol, or have “secured by” logo on the bottom from a well-known company.

Second, consider the ease of use and accessibility of the website. If you are tech savvy, think about the other users of the website. Would all of your business partners and employees be comfortable with the interface? Sometimes websites get so “techy” that only a select few people in the office know how to use it. If you need a degree from MIT to use the site, then it is probably not the best choice. Also, think about the click count. How many clicks and operations do you need to transfer your files? If it takes you half of the day to successfully upload a file, then you might as well drive over the big presentation.

Your files are important to you and your business so make sure they get to their destinations properly and securely by choosing the right large file transfer service.

Be the first to comment

Small Business Consumer Information and Data Research

By Richard Leo | Filed in Business

As if there aren’t enough troubling factors with running your own business, managing your data can be one of the most frustrating. This is due not only to the various system issues, but also due to a lack of understanding how important quality data management really is. The demographic background information on your consumer base, activity levels and anticipation of future needs are just some of the areas in which quality data management tools are useful. And a basic example of this is scene in the smallest personal business structure, whether you sale Avon from your home or hot dogs on the street. Of course the following situations serve as a microcosmic example for larger and more complicated business structures, and the point here is to stress that data analysis and management applies to business tools for companies of all sizes and fields.

Mobile applications are an excellent resource for all businesses, whether you’re one of the technology partners , or a local start up. Major corporations have marketing tools and professional resources that most private business owners, frequently known as sole proprietorships, simply don’t have. And solid research into their consumer base and target customer areas are already in place well before the time they become the mega conglomerate that takes over a field. However, even the individual who invests in that hot dog cart considers where their largest potential customer base will be located. For instance, positioning themselves outside of the biggest arts and crafts fair in a city gives them a much better chance for success than setting up on the corner of the well-known vegan neighborhood. In addition, there are other zoning elements to consider, such as special licenses or permits that might be necessary for certain areas or events. The costs of these will interact with the difference in sales numbers. Sometimes a smaller area, such as a downtown street that is well known for its lunch our walking traffic, versus outside the local sports arena, is the better choice.

And while major mobile applications are not likely going to be a need for this small time hot dog vender, a general idea of the consumer base and local traffic flows is important. And a mobile application can come in handy here too. For instance, an application that displays daily specials, or reminds someone that you’re serving a particular place a particular time, and maybe even creating their ideal hot dog on their phone, can greatly increase your daily sales. Technology and its business aspects and tools is not just for major companies or corporations. Understanding your resources and using them to your advantage can maximize your profits and success potential regardless of your size, service or product offerings.

Be the first to comment
Tags:

The Importance of Information Technology in the Workplace

By Richard Leo | Filed in Business

Mastery in the field of information technology is something that requires your constant vigilance, because technological innovations are constant and unrelenting. Therefore, if you are going to work in the IT field, it is important to utilize continuing education even with an Online Bachelors Degree. If you stop following the path of technology with a critical eye, then you will surely fall behind. Take this from the guy who thought the world of the internet peaked with a dialup connection. He is still sitting at home waiting for his browser to finish loading.

IT employees are critical to the success of any workplace or office. Here is why: Lawyers need to spend all of their billable hours advising clients and filing motions and drafting cease and desist orders. Financial analysts need to follow economic trends and stock market dips without so much as batting an eye.  Therefore, the IT people are responsible for maintaining the functionality of the office, because if a hard drive crashes, the internet goes down, the printer falls off the network, or an email address stops working, then the IT guy is in charge of saving the day. After all, without a working internet connection, a functional means of web-based communication, or a means of printing wirelessly, most businesses would have a hard time staying afloat. In this sense, an IT employee is crucial to the day-to-day and long term success of any business.

Perhaps one of the most interesting aspects of continuing education in the IT field is that many degrees can be earned in an online setting. While an online degree might seem to carry less clout than a degree that requires your physical presence, it can actually be more beneficial to obtain an IT degree by means of an online classroom setting. After all, as an employee of the IT world, you will be working mostly with technological issues and innovations that come about under the umbrella of the World Wide Web. Therefore, an online degree couldn’t be more fitting for anyone interested in the IT field. Any technical issues that you might encounter during your online courses can simply act as extra training. So, be an IT guy; the guy that everyone else relies on to get things done.

Be the first to comment