Linux and Desktop specialist Xandros, Inc., a New York-based company, announced recently a new campaign to target the education sector. The Education Edition of its Xandros Desktop OS Linux operating system starts at $10 per seat for use by students.
Xandros already offers business and consumer versions of its Linux desktop product, but hopes that the recently-launched education edition will open up a brand new market for Linux in regards to the desktop computer. This package will introduce a new base of clients for the computer business to Linux.
Xandros Desktop OS Education Edition is compatible with Microsoft Corp’s Active Directory, the Firefox web browser, the OpenOffice.org productivity suite, the Ximian Evolution email client, and support for Microsoft's Office applications in the form of a trial of Codeweavers Inc's CrossOver Office.
Academic Institutions that qualify can receive the Xandros educational software package starting from $10 per station for both students and faculty. This deal also allows students and faculties to use the standard version of the software at home for personal use. Certain individual qualified students and staff can also get copies of Xandros Desktop OS Education Edition for less than $50.
Blogged By: Computer Consulting 101
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Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Computer Business: Software Groups Encourage Employees to Report Illegal Software Use
Software trade organizations are creating incentives to encourage discontented, recently fired or ethically charged employees to report company executives for illegal software use. Rewards for employees are reported to be as high as $200,000.
Laurie Atkinson of the Business Software Alliance states that many people are responding, either because they are unhappy at work or because they simply think reporting such activities is the right thing to do. The Alliance has paid for radio ads to promote this campaign and appeal to as many workers as possible.
The software industry is losing millions of dollars annually because of the epidemic of illegally copied software. Computer business giants from Microsoft to Adobe have called upon the help of organizations like the BSA and the Software and Information Industry Association to help spotlight companies that are using pirated packages.
Computer business trade associations are not going after small companies. But companies that have more than 500 work stations loaded with more than one illegal and expensive software programs are definitely targets.
In the past year, both the SIIA and the BSA – two of the country’s top copyright protection groups -- have started offering hard cash to reporting employees. Both are also offering online filing forms for employees to further ease the process. The SIIA alone gets approximately 200 reports per month and investigates about 50 of those. The penalty for each company determined to have pirated programs is three times the market rate for each illegal program it has.
The BSA and the SIIA offer very similar rewards to employees that report their companies. If a settlement or judgment ranges from $10,000 to $50,000, the tipster receives $500; from $50,000 to $100,000, the reward is $5,000, and so on, as long as it is under $200,000.The SIIA paid employees about $75,000 in reward money last year.
Posted By: Joshua Feinberg
Laurie Atkinson of the Business Software Alliance states that many people are responding, either because they are unhappy at work or because they simply think reporting such activities is the right thing to do. The Alliance has paid for radio ads to promote this campaign and appeal to as many workers as possible.
The software industry is losing millions of dollars annually because of the epidemic of illegally copied software. Computer business giants from Microsoft to Adobe have called upon the help of organizations like the BSA and the Software and Information Industry Association to help spotlight companies that are using pirated packages.
Computer business trade associations are not going after small companies. But companies that have more than 500 work stations loaded with more than one illegal and expensive software programs are definitely targets.
In the past year, both the SIIA and the BSA – two of the country’s top copyright protection groups -- have started offering hard cash to reporting employees. Both are also offering online filing forms for employees to further ease the process. The SIIA alone gets approximately 200 reports per month and investigates about 50 of those. The penalty for each company determined to have pirated programs is three times the market rate for each illegal program it has.
The BSA and the SIIA offer very similar rewards to employees that report their companies. If a settlement or judgment ranges from $10,000 to $50,000, the tipster receives $500; from $50,000 to $100,000, the reward is $5,000, and so on, as long as it is under $200,000.The SIIA paid employees about $75,000 in reward money last year.
Posted By: Joshua Feinberg
Monday, January 30, 2006
The IT Specialist and Information: A #1 Combination
As an IT specialist, in order to have a successful marketing campaign, you must reach your target client community. The best way to start this process is to pull together information about your chosen niche.
STUDY WHAT THEY STUDY
Every IT specialist should invest time studying what the customers in their niche do. If it’s your goal to reach small medical offices, you should get to know the issues that directly impact the people that make decisions. This process should include finding trade publications, email newsletters and any other industry publications that might help you gain insight. Regardless of whether it is a national or international publication, you should go where you know these clients will go for business tips and information within their own field.
FINDING SOLUTIONS
Once you get to intimately get to know the problems and concerns of the clients within your niche, you can start to determine what you, as an IT specialist, can do to provide technological solutions. Find out how these businesses currently use technology in their daily lives to change the way they do business, make scheduling more efficient, handle their own clients, and keep track of their own documents. Understanding the big picture is fine to start out with, but eventually these companies will want their ideal IT specialist to be experts on their problems and interests.
Finding solutions before you meet with prospective clients will give you an edge, and make you a true Virtual CIO, and not just someone going in to install LAN’s or fix software problems. You will be an IT specialist able to assess their specific business needs and come up with long-term strategies easily, on-budget and on-time.
BE A LIVING SPECIALIST
If you truly get to know your prospective clients and their community, you will become more than just a tech person. Because you are an IT specialist, you are expected to know the ins and outs of your customers’ business so you can come up with the best possible solutions to their specific and complex problems. Clients will want to know you have already done the groundwork necessary to understand their field, and that they will not need to train you just to get you started. Even if you are just starting out, it should feel to your clients as though you are a human being, not a product, and one who has worked with many others in their field and have an invested interest in their needs.
Blogged By: Computer Consulting 101 Professional Kit
STUDY WHAT THEY STUDY
Every IT specialist should invest time studying what the customers in their niche do. If it’s your goal to reach small medical offices, you should get to know the issues that directly impact the people that make decisions. This process should include finding trade publications, email newsletters and any other industry publications that might help you gain insight. Regardless of whether it is a national or international publication, you should go where you know these clients will go for business tips and information within their own field.
FINDING SOLUTIONS
Once you get to intimately get to know the problems and concerns of the clients within your niche, you can start to determine what you, as an IT specialist, can do to provide technological solutions. Find out how these businesses currently use technology in their daily lives to change the way they do business, make scheduling more efficient, handle their own clients, and keep track of their own documents. Understanding the big picture is fine to start out with, but eventually these companies will want their ideal IT specialist to be experts on their problems and interests.
Finding solutions before you meet with prospective clients will give you an edge, and make you a true Virtual CIO, and not just someone going in to install LAN’s or fix software problems. You will be an IT specialist able to assess their specific business needs and come up with long-term strategies easily, on-budget and on-time.
BE A LIVING SPECIALIST
If you truly get to know your prospective clients and their community, you will become more than just a tech person. Because you are an IT specialist, you are expected to know the ins and outs of your customers’ business so you can come up with the best possible solutions to their specific and complex problems. Clients will want to know you have already done the groundwork necessary to understand their field, and that they will not need to train you just to get you started. Even if you are just starting out, it should feel to your clients as though you are a human being, not a product, and one who has worked with many others in their field and have an invested interest in their needs.
Blogged By: Computer Consulting 101 Professional Kit
IT Marketing: The Importance of Trustworthy Business Advisors
Trusted business advisors can be a real asset to IT marketing campaigns. Since small businesses rely on these advisors for very important advice, their customers give their recommendations a great deal of weight. Therefore, as an IT specialist or firm, having their recommendation on your side can be worth a great deal.
Influencing a trusted business advisor can be as simple as finding your local lawyer, accountant or banker and assessing problems they might have to which you as an IT specialist have solutions. Appeal to an area accountant – he might even be your accountant – and see if he needs help with his technology. If he does, and you do a good job for him, this could be very helpful to your credibility and could provide a very influential testimonial to other businesses and clients that rely on the accountant for advice.
ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS
Even if you don’t end up fixing a problem for a local accountant, you should certainly have a discussion with him and other local professionals in respected positions in the community about they types of computer problems their clients typically have. Most accountants, lawyers and bankers will get questions from customers that revolve around financial, legal and computer needs. They will ask for advice on local small businesses that can provide them with specific services in these areas.
Accountants, lawyers and bankers are an excellent way for you to build your IT marketing efforts, and you should ask them questions that keep you in mind the next time they are dealing with clients that ask them “Who do you know?” and have problems you might be able to solve.
Added By: Joshua Feinberg
Influencing a trusted business advisor can be as simple as finding your local lawyer, accountant or banker and assessing problems they might have to which you as an IT specialist have solutions. Appeal to an area accountant – he might even be your accountant – and see if he needs help with his technology. If he does, and you do a good job for him, this could be very helpful to your credibility and could provide a very influential testimonial to other businesses and clients that rely on the accountant for advice.
ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS
Even if you don’t end up fixing a problem for a local accountant, you should certainly have a discussion with him and other local professionals in respected positions in the community about they types of computer problems their clients typically have. Most accountants, lawyers and bankers will get questions from customers that revolve around financial, legal and computer needs. They will ask for advice on local small businesses that can provide them with specific services in these areas.
Accountants, lawyers and bankers are an excellent way for you to build your IT marketing efforts, and you should ask them questions that keep you in mind the next time they are dealing with clients that ask them “Who do you know?” and have problems you might be able to solve.
Added By: Joshua Feinberg
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Computer Business: FSFE Declares New Windows Plan Flawed
The Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) announced recently that open source software developers should be careful of Microsoft Corp’s new plot to license its Windows source code. The organization claims that the availability of the code might make it significantly more difficult to create interoperability with Windows.
On Wednesday, January 25, Microsoft decided to license the Windows Server Operating System to developers and competitors in an attempt to try to counteract claims that its documentation was faulty. However, the Boston arm of the FSFE fears that this could victimize free software developers and make them vulnerable to copyright infringement if they use the code.
Spokespeople for the FSFE claim that Microsoft has worsened the situation with this release of information; because the source code is still under Microsoft copyright, anyone that sees the code and re-implements it in free software packages risks violating copyright law.
Microsoft opposes sharing its communications protocol specifications with open source software vendors, despite urgings of the European Commission attorneys assisting in the anti-trust lawsuits against the company.
Microsoft representative, the general counsel Brad Smith stated the company is comfortable with hybrids that will emerge as a result of the code release, but not comfortable with open source developers publishing the code to the world.
The issue of the code will be decided by the Court of First Instance through another appeal. However, the FSFE is concerned that even if open source software developers have access to the protocols, they will not be able to use them without referring to the code.
Blogged By: Joshua Feinberg
On Wednesday, January 25, Microsoft decided to license the Windows Server Operating System to developers and competitors in an attempt to try to counteract claims that its documentation was faulty. However, the Boston arm of the FSFE fears that this could victimize free software developers and make them vulnerable to copyright infringement if they use the code.
Spokespeople for the FSFE claim that Microsoft has worsened the situation with this release of information; because the source code is still under Microsoft copyright, anyone that sees the code and re-implements it in free software packages risks violating copyright law.
Microsoft opposes sharing its communications protocol specifications with open source software vendors, despite urgings of the European Commission attorneys assisting in the anti-trust lawsuits against the company.
Microsoft representative, the general counsel Brad Smith stated the company is comfortable with hybrids that will emerge as a result of the code release, but not comfortable with open source developers publishing the code to the world.
The issue of the code will be decided by the Court of First Instance through another appeal. However, the FSFE is concerned that even if open source software developers have access to the protocols, they will not be able to use them without referring to the code.
Blogged By: Joshua Feinberg
News for IT Consultants: MindTree Consulting Named “Leader in Human Capital”
On January 25, 2006, the international IT company MindTree Consulting earned a top spot among 100 leading service providers in international ranking from the new publication Global Services magazine. MindTree was also acclaimed as the leading service provider in the “Human Capital” category. The awards will be announced officially at the Global Services Conference on February 2, 2006 in New York.
Rusty Weston, editor in chief of the magazine, feels that MindTree produces some of the most inspiring IT consultants in the industry, and that it is because of comprehensive employee training that the company has a competitive advantage and is able to serve clients so well.
MindTree was formed six years ago in Bangalore, India and is now comprised of more than 3,000 employees, providing an array of IT and R & D solutions to Global 2000 companies. The company has development centers in India and in the U.S. MindTree has been labeled one of the best places to work by many organizations,including Hewitt Associates, Great Places to Work Institute and Mercer.
MindTree spokesperson Ashok Shoota feels that that what truly sets the company apart is its focus on its employees and the human element of IT consulting. He states that the IT consultants working there often refer to themselves as “MindTree Minds.” It is because of this focus on cultivating the very best workers that attracts the leading IT consultants in the industry to the firm and garnered the company the award.
MindTree has gained recognition with many awards since its inception. It has been named one of the fastest growing technology companies in India by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu in the "Deloitte Technology Fast 50 India" program. The company has also been ranked among the "Best Companies to Work for in 2005" in the Business Today-Mercer-TNS study.
Blogged by Computer Consulting Kit
Rusty Weston, editor in chief of the magazine, feels that MindTree produces some of the most inspiring IT consultants in the industry, and that it is because of comprehensive employee training that the company has a competitive advantage and is able to serve clients so well.
MindTree was formed six years ago in Bangalore, India and is now comprised of more than 3,000 employees, providing an array of IT and R & D solutions to Global 2000 companies. The company has development centers in India and in the U.S. MindTree has been labeled one of the best places to work by many organizations,including Hewitt Associates, Great Places to Work Institute and Mercer.
MindTree spokesperson Ashok Shoota feels that that what truly sets the company apart is its focus on its employees and the human element of IT consulting. He states that the IT consultants working there often refer to themselves as “MindTree Minds.” It is because of this focus on cultivating the very best workers that attracts the leading IT consultants in the industry to the firm and garnered the company the award.
MindTree has gained recognition with many awards since its inception. It has been named one of the fastest growing technology companies in India by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu in the "Deloitte Technology Fast 50 India" program. The company has also been ranked among the "Best Companies to Work for in 2005" in the Business Today-Mercer-TNS study.
Blogged by Computer Consulting Kit
Saturday, January 28, 2006
Network Support Contracts: Firewalls
The best way for any business to provide the best security for their networks is through network support contracts. Firewalls are the most obvious and one of the most critical means for specialists to secure a company’s infrastructure.
Even highly trained technicians who offer network support contracts use firewalls to protect themselves against elements that can compromise the safety and security of business computer systems. More experienced consultants unfamiliar with firewalls also could use back-up support occasionally, provided by network support contracts. Access to online computer help as a part of these contracts becomes invaluable to virtually any type of business or individual that deals with computers and computer networks.
WHAT IS A FIREWALL?
A firewall is software that blocks access to personal information or data. It can be installed in a one off operation and can be monitored easily by a network support contract. Anyone that has used the Internet has encountered a firewall at some point. Typically they are used to protect secure Internet transactions or to track online behavior or activity in the workplace.
IT’S ALL ABOUT SECURITY
Firewalls can also be installed to allow users off-site and in remote locations to use the network when out of the office. Often there are elements that can try to bring down a firewall so it can invade the infrastructure of a company or business network. In these situations, it helps to have network support contracts to monitor and protect you against these risks.
The combination of a firewall and a network support contract will act as a filter to screen all incoming data. There are many firewall and network support contract combinations that will help keep your company ahead of the curve, and can be introduced by a designated consultant. If your problem is very complex, you might need a technician to try multiple approaches to manage the problem successfully.
Submitted By: Computer Consulting Kit
Even highly trained technicians who offer network support contracts use firewalls to protect themselves against elements that can compromise the safety and security of business computer systems. More experienced consultants unfamiliar with firewalls also could use back-up support occasionally, provided by network support contracts. Access to online computer help as a part of these contracts becomes invaluable to virtually any type of business or individual that deals with computers and computer networks.
WHAT IS A FIREWALL?
A firewall is software that blocks access to personal information or data. It can be installed in a one off operation and can be monitored easily by a network support contract. Anyone that has used the Internet has encountered a firewall at some point. Typically they are used to protect secure Internet transactions or to track online behavior or activity in the workplace.
IT’S ALL ABOUT SECURITY
Firewalls can also be installed to allow users off-site and in remote locations to use the network when out of the office. Often there are elements that can try to bring down a firewall so it can invade the infrastructure of a company or business network. In these situations, it helps to have network support contracts to monitor and protect you against these risks.
The combination of a firewall and a network support contract will act as a filter to screen all incoming data. There are many firewall and network support contract combinations that will help keep your company ahead of the curve, and can be introduced by a designated consultant. If your problem is very complex, you might need a technician to try multiple approaches to manage the problem successfully.
Submitted By: Computer Consulting Kit
Organizations and IT Marketing: Be Active!
In the world of IT Marketing, the greatest prospects come from personal referrals. Clients that are referred personally are, for the most part, already pre-sold because they will immediately trust you. And in the IT services business, trust is paramount.
TRUST AND IT MARKETING
People in search of a good IT consultant look for one in the same way they would look for any other specialist, such as a doctor or a lawyer. While some might go to the yellow pages or another directory, most look first to their friends, family and colleagues for recommendations. When it comes to the important matter of personal health, well-being or business, personal word-of-mouth from those people trust will carry more weight than an ad on the back of a billboard.
MAKE YOURSELF VISIBLE IN THE COMMUNITY
As an IT consultant, the best way for you to reach the heads of companies that might need your services is to make yourself more personally and professionally visible within your local community, and specifically, within the target market you hope to serve. There are a few ways to do this, but all will take some time. One way to reach out is to network. This is a strategy that will be a true test for any solution provider because it is truly wrapped up in relationships. If you can do this successfully, you will prove your weight in the community. People will begin to trust you and believe in you, and you will establish relationships with potential clients and leaders in the community.
GETTING RECOMMENDATIONS
Knowing more people in the local community is really the only way to get more personal recommendations in IT marketing. As a consultant, you have to get active in your community by joining organizations and attending events that will get you noticed. You don’t necessarily have to go to absolutely everything offered in your community, but if you pick specific organizations and attend most of the events they offer, you will get to know a lot of people in a short amount of time. And after a little bit of practice, you will start to be able to identify the kinds of people that can lead you to knew opportunities.
Posted By: Computer Consulting Kit
TRUST AND IT MARKETING
People in search of a good IT consultant look for one in the same way they would look for any other specialist, such as a doctor or a lawyer. While some might go to the yellow pages or another directory, most look first to their friends, family and colleagues for recommendations. When it comes to the important matter of personal health, well-being or business, personal word-of-mouth from those people trust will carry more weight than an ad on the back of a billboard.
MAKE YOURSELF VISIBLE IN THE COMMUNITY
As an IT consultant, the best way for you to reach the heads of companies that might need your services is to make yourself more personally and professionally visible within your local community, and specifically, within the target market you hope to serve. There are a few ways to do this, but all will take some time. One way to reach out is to network. This is a strategy that will be a true test for any solution provider because it is truly wrapped up in relationships. If you can do this successfully, you will prove your weight in the community. People will begin to trust you and believe in you, and you will establish relationships with potential clients and leaders in the community.
GETTING RECOMMENDATIONS
Knowing more people in the local community is really the only way to get more personal recommendations in IT marketing. As a consultant, you have to get active in your community by joining organizations and attending events that will get you noticed. You don’t necessarily have to go to absolutely everything offered in your community, but if you pick specific organizations and attend most of the events they offer, you will get to know a lot of people in a short amount of time. And after a little bit of practice, you will start to be able to identify the kinds of people that can lead you to knew opportunities.
Posted By: Computer Consulting Kit
Friday, January 27, 2006
Small Business Summit 2006 Conference in NYC
Are you a small business technology provider in the greater New York City metro area?
Or do you own a small business in the greater New York City metro area and have a strong interest in small business technology adoption?
Either way, you should really go check out Ramon Ray’s Small Business Summit 2006. (URL linked to above)
The Small Business Summit 2006 is being held on Friday, February 10, 2006 at The Roosevelt Hotel, 45 East 45th St. in New York City.
Topics on agenda include:
- Business Strategy
- Communications
- Finance
- Marketing
- Sales
- Technology
Speakers include:
- Ramon Ray, Smallbiztechnology.com (it’s basically Ramon Ray’s event)
- Marian Banker, Prime Strategies
- Charles Hand, President, New York Metro Region, Verizon Wireless
- Scott Vaccaro, Regional VP New York City, Enterprise Rent-A-Car
- Lisa McCarthy, Founder, Accounting Resource, LLC (Intuit Professional Advisor)
- Harry Brelsford, President, SMBNation (Brelsford as the World’s leading independent guru on Microsoft Small Business Server should be very familiar to Computer Consulting Blog readers)
- Plus there are some additional roundtable panelists
If you’re local in the greater New York City metro area (NJ, CT, Long Island, etc.), the Small Business Summit 2006 should be a day well spent.
Computer Consulting Blog power tip: If you’re a small business technology provider that’s attending, you should be able to get triple mileage out of the networking experience:
- Network with other small business technology providers (potential partners)
- Network with small business owners interested in technology (potential clients)
- Network with the small business technology gurus speaking at the event (great industry contracts
Posted by Computer Consulting Blog
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
PC Maintenance Contracts: Personalizing Business with Phone Support
Every business today, from those that directly sell technology to those that sell actual merchandise, is dependent on technology to keep afloat. Because of this fact, any reliable, efficient and respected business needs PC maintenance contracts and technical phone support. If you own and operate a business, giving customers and clients the ability to contact you via telephone directly will positively affect their desire to purchase products and services, so it’s critical to provide them with easily accessible systems.
Since 1998, the cost of running help desk centers and support positions in-house have increased dramatically, an occurrence that can be directly attributed to the lightning speed pace of technological advancement. Because of growing technology, hardware and software prices have gone down significantly over the past 10 years. Unfortunately, because of this trend, the cost of the PC maintenance contracts necessary to run hardware and software packages has risen.
As a response to the expensive prices of PC maintenance contracts with major companies, many businesses and organizations are turning to PC maintenance contracts offered by consultants. Computer support, database management, website design and other services typically done in-house or offered by larger corporations are being outsourced to companies who offer PC maintenance contracts, and those that offer these along with personal service will have the upper hand in today’s market.
Blogged by Joshua Feinberg
Since 1998, the cost of running help desk centers and support positions in-house have increased dramatically, an occurrence that can be directly attributed to the lightning speed pace of technological advancement. Because of growing technology, hardware and software prices have gone down significantly over the past 10 years. Unfortunately, because of this trend, the cost of the PC maintenance contracts necessary to run hardware and software packages has risen.
As a response to the expensive prices of PC maintenance contracts with major companies, many businesses and organizations are turning to PC maintenance contracts offered by consultants. Computer support, database management, website design and other services typically done in-house or offered by larger corporations are being outsourced to companies who offer PC maintenance contracts, and those that offer these along with personal service will have the upper hand in today’s market.
Blogged by Joshua Feinberg
How to Put "You" in Your IT Marketing
Many IT specialists question how they can make themselves stand out, especially in their local marketplace that grows on a daily basis. One of the ideal, and simplest ways IT marketers can differentiate themselves is by getting a very clear idea of their special area of expertise. Since clients in search of you as a specialist are buying all the intricacies of a human being, and not just a “thing,” emphasizing the qualities that make you unique is the key to successful IT marketing.
ARE YOU PRODUCTIVE, OR A PRODUCT?
Commodities can be cheap, and all those looking for them tend to be price shopping. To avoid making yourself look like a mere product, focus on selling your unique expertise, your values and the special ideological trouble shooting skills you offer.
PUT THE "YOU" IN YOUR MARKETING MATERIALS
In the same vein as making your IT marketing campaign, and you, as “personal” as possible, you should never hide behind your own website. As tempting as it might be to try to make your company look larger than it is by shrouding it in anonymity. If you focus on selling the depth and strengths of your own background and of the staff you trust and work with, you will appear professional and polished.
The key to IT marketing is really making yourself and your marketing materials unique. If you establish a mission for you and your company that is based on your own ideals and background and follow it in everything you do and produce, you will undoubtedly stand out in the IT world. If you design your company around your unique mission, your clients will get the message.
Posted By: Computer Consulting Kit
ARE YOU PRODUCTIVE, OR A PRODUCT?
Commodities can be cheap, and all those looking for them tend to be price shopping. To avoid making yourself look like a mere product, focus on selling your unique expertise, your values and the special ideological trouble shooting skills you offer.
PUT THE "YOU" IN YOUR MARKETING MATERIALS
In the same vein as making your IT marketing campaign, and you, as “personal” as possible, you should never hide behind your own website. As tempting as it might be to try to make your company look larger than it is by shrouding it in anonymity. If you focus on selling the depth and strengths of your own background and of the staff you trust and work with, you will appear professional and polished.
The key to IT marketing is really making yourself and your marketing materials unique. If you establish a mission for you and your company that is based on your own ideals and background and follow it in everything you do and produce, you will undoubtedly stand out in the IT world. If you design your company around your unique mission, your clients will get the message.
Posted By: Computer Consulting Kit
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
News in IT Consulting: Dakini Chooses Port City
A highly acclaimed, full service eMarketing, eCommerce, website design, development and IT consulting firm, Port City Web, LLC proudly announced on January 18 that major client Dakini selected them for eMarketing and to host and maintain their eCommerce and business website.
Port City Web plans to improve online sales for Dakini as well as make their brand name more known in the business community through an aggressive upgrade in the efficiency of the Dakini corporate website. Port City will use a specially-designed version of ProductCart to modify the Dakini eCommerce website to better serve the company’s and its clients’ complex needs. Since the speed of particularly an eCommerce website makes it more accessible to customers and the company itself, these upgrades will be critical to the future success of Dakini.
Port City Web will also work with its new client to install an eMarketing program called Online Marketing. Because of the flexibility of this program, it will fit both within the marketing budget of Dakini now, but will also be able to expand or even decrease with the future budget movement of the business. With this new marketing and web optimization plan, the IT consulting firm hopes to increase traffic on the corporate website and boost sales and visibility within the market.
Founded in 1993, Dakini is an outdoor clothing company based in Bedford, MA that employs 20 people and affects countless others in its community by providing support for local businesses. Port City Web is an IT Consulting, web development and eMarketing and eCommerce company that has won awards for its work in its New Hampshire base and in the rest of the world.
Submitted By: Computer Consulting 101 Professional Kit
Port City Web plans to improve online sales for Dakini as well as make their brand name more known in the business community through an aggressive upgrade in the efficiency of the Dakini corporate website. Port City will use a specially-designed version of ProductCart to modify the Dakini eCommerce website to better serve the company’s and its clients’ complex needs. Since the speed of particularly an eCommerce website makes it more accessible to customers and the company itself, these upgrades will be critical to the future success of Dakini.
Port City Web will also work with its new client to install an eMarketing program called Online Marketing. Because of the flexibility of this program, it will fit both within the marketing budget of Dakini now, but will also be able to expand or even decrease with the future budget movement of the business. With this new marketing and web optimization plan, the IT consulting firm hopes to increase traffic on the corporate website and boost sales and visibility within the market.
Founded in 1993, Dakini is an outdoor clothing company based in Bedford, MA that employs 20 people and affects countless others in its community by providing support for local businesses. Port City Web is an IT Consulting, web development and eMarketing and eCommerce company that has won awards for its work in its New Hampshire base and in the rest of the world.
Submitted By: Computer Consulting 101 Professional Kit
Computer Consulting: Low Desktop Sales Wound Intel
Poor desktop computer sales for Intel caused very low fourth quarter sales results. Intel, the world’s largest manufacturer of microprocessors with clients ranging from small computer consulting firms to larger corporations reported revenue of $10.2 billion on January 17, which was just under the amount they had predicted in December 2005 and was an increase of nearly six percent from 2004. The company had hoped for revenue of $10.4-$10.6 billion.
The company also posted a net income of $2.45 billion, or 40 cents per share. While this amount was 16 percent beyond the profits for Intel in the same quarter in 2004, it was still three cents per share below what executives had expected and reported to analysts previously.
Spokespeople for Intel stated that the largest problem was desktop processors, which were difficult for the company to sell and their prices lower than anticipated. CFO Andy Bryant and Intel President and CEO Paul Otellini attributed the problem with processor sales to chipset shortages in 2005. Both are confident Intel will fix the problem by selling off the excess inventory and also by ensuring that in the future there is the right mixture of motherboards, chipsets and other computer hardware.
Added By: Computer Consulting 101
The company also posted a net income of $2.45 billion, or 40 cents per share. While this amount was 16 percent beyond the profits for Intel in the same quarter in 2004, it was still three cents per share below what executives had expected and reported to analysts previously.
Spokespeople for Intel stated that the largest problem was desktop processors, which were difficult for the company to sell and their prices lower than anticipated. CFO Andy Bryant and Intel President and CEO Paul Otellini attributed the problem with processor sales to chipset shortages in 2005. Both are confident Intel will fix the problem by selling off the excess inventory and also by ensuring that in the future there is the right mixture of motherboards, chipsets and other computer hardware.
Added By: Computer Consulting 101
Monday, January 23, 2006
Learning and Service Level Agreements
Because technology changes very quickly, everyone from new computer users to seasoned computer professionals needs service level agreements that cover and protect them in case they need basic computer help or on-going computer maintenance. In order to keep abreast of changes in the industry, every business that wants staying power in the future needs to employ reliable and knowledgeable consultants who can offer them the best and most comprehensive service level agreements.
Some professionals assume that just because they have used a computer on a regular or even semi-regular basis in either their business or their personal lives that they know all there is to know about how it works, when in actuality this is not necessarily the case. Computers are constantly evolving, and even the most diligent individual, particularly those not directly involved with the computer industry in their daily business lives, cannot hope to keep up with the influx of technological information. Chances are, anyone could benefit from a service agreement if only because it can bring the latest new computer software and other practices that can make a company more efficient to the attention of those working there without having to expend the valuable time on research. Even very basic service level agreements can give just the right information to boost the technological awareness of staff and provide easy help in case of an emergency.
Service level agreements are useful because they can be critical tools that will bring any business to the next level of efficiency. And because they are often inexpensive and not time-consuming, there is little risk involved. In the world of the internet, online computer help that includes tech support through service level agreements allow professionals to move forward at their own speed. Those looking for service level agreements can also shop various consultants before deciding to commit to a provider and make sure they are truly getting a valuable resource.
Blogged By: Computer Consulting 101 Kit
Some professionals assume that just because they have used a computer on a regular or even semi-regular basis in either their business or their personal lives that they know all there is to know about how it works, when in actuality this is not necessarily the case. Computers are constantly evolving, and even the most diligent individual, particularly those not directly involved with the computer industry in their daily business lives, cannot hope to keep up with the influx of technological information. Chances are, anyone could benefit from a service agreement if only because it can bring the latest new computer software and other practices that can make a company more efficient to the attention of those working there without having to expend the valuable time on research. Even very basic service level agreements can give just the right information to boost the technological awareness of staff and provide easy help in case of an emergency.
Service level agreements are useful because they can be critical tools that will bring any business to the next level of efficiency. And because they are often inexpensive and not time-consuming, there is little risk involved. In the world of the internet, online computer help that includes tech support through service level agreements allow professionals to move forward at their own speed. Those looking for service level agreements can also shop various consultants before deciding to commit to a provider and make sure they are truly getting a valuable resource.
Blogged By: Computer Consulting 101 Kit
Finding Your Niche as an IT Specialist
Just because you are an IT specialist doesn’t mean you should limit your pool of potential clients. Your marketing efforts should not be a process of elimination, rather an investigation of whether or not you have a large enough group of clients to woo. Rather than narrowing down the field of clients, as an IT specialist you can instead market to very specific niches and base the type of people to which to are marketing on an entire industry with which you’ve had great success in the past, such as small accounting offices or small medical practices. Then you can start your search by looking for all the accounting firms or medical practices within an hour of your location, or contact one of that industry’s trade groups or even a local mailing list broker.
Marketing to a niche, or a specific industry, is much simpler for you as an IT specialist because you know exactly where to advertise, whether in local trade publications or other journals geared towards the businesses you choose. You will not waste valuable time with very generic ads in newspapers, radio or your local phone book, and by working with clients in one niche you will develop expertise in both marketing for and working in an area that can bring you business for years to come, and your present and future clients will immediately trust and value your knowledge of the field. You will also have more time to create a marketing message geared towards each individual client, instead of one that tries to appeal to everyone, and each customer will immediately sense how valuable you can be do their specific company and will be more likely to truly value your specific involvement and services.
Once you find your niche as an IT specialist, make yourself visible! Take the time to find out if there is a special newsletter or magazine that attracts all potential clients in that particular field, and come up with a ad that clearly expresses your particular talents, or even write an article or become active in the organization by volunteering or presenting at an event. No matter what you do, make sure to reiterate how your company can provide excellent IT solutions for that exact industry. Most importantly, whatever you do as an IT specialist, above all else make sure before you even choose your niche that it is one you enjoy that will provide you with a large supply of future clients. The customers you work with will feel your enthusiasm and put their faith in you and perhaps even recommend you to other individuals and companies in their field.
Submitted By: Computer Consulting 101
Marketing to a niche, or a specific industry, is much simpler for you as an IT specialist because you know exactly where to advertise, whether in local trade publications or other journals geared towards the businesses you choose. You will not waste valuable time with very generic ads in newspapers, radio or your local phone book, and by working with clients in one niche you will develop expertise in both marketing for and working in an area that can bring you business for years to come, and your present and future clients will immediately trust and value your knowledge of the field. You will also have more time to create a marketing message geared towards each individual client, instead of one that tries to appeal to everyone, and each customer will immediately sense how valuable you can be do their specific company and will be more likely to truly value your specific involvement and services.
Once you find your niche as an IT specialist, make yourself visible! Take the time to find out if there is a special newsletter or magazine that attracts all potential clients in that particular field, and come up with a ad that clearly expresses your particular talents, or even write an article or become active in the organization by volunteering or presenting at an event. No matter what you do, make sure to reiterate how your company can provide excellent IT solutions for that exact industry. Most importantly, whatever you do as an IT specialist, above all else make sure before you even choose your niche that it is one you enjoy that will provide you with a large supply of future clients. The customers you work with will feel your enthusiasm and put their faith in you and perhaps even recommend you to other individuals and companies in their field.
Submitted By: Computer Consulting 101
Saturday, January 21, 2006
Buzzle Computers & Internet Chapter Page
Do you have an interest in computers and the Internet?
Since you’re reading the Computer Consulting Blog, the answer is probably YES!
In case you’re not familiar with the Buzzle Web portal, Buzzle has a really good Computers & Internet Chapter page. (URL linked to above)
On the Buzzle Computers & Internet Chapter page, you’ll find articles, reviews, new and hand-selected Web links to some really helpful Web sites.
The News and Comments section is updated almost every day.
And the Suggested Links introduces you to some really cool, useful Web sites, including:
- COLOTRAQ, which helps you buy telecommunications services like colocation, bandwidth, dark fiber, dedicated hosting & managed services.
- Computer Consultants Sales Secrets, which teaches computer consultants various tips and secrets on computer consulting sales, marketing, and business development topics.
- Mystik Media, which produces multimedia software for behind-the-scenes tasks like converting, editing, recording, and burning virtually all audio, video, and graphics formats.
- Small Business Computer Consulting Blog, which shows you proven small business computer consulting tactics to grow your computer consulting business.
Blogged by Computer Consulting 101
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
Joshua Feinberg Interviewed in CMP’s Small Biz Pipeline / Networking Pipeline
Joshua Feinberg, co-founder of Computer Consulting 101, was recently quoted in an article in CMP’s Small Business Pipeline and Networking Pipeline on “10 Ways To Juice Up Your Network”.
The article by freelancer Phil Britt offers expert tips on how to put your network in the fast lane in 2006.
Some of Joshua Feinberg’s top picks include:
- Investing in new LAN/WAN equipment
- Reevaluating both bandwidth availability and its pricing packages
- Adding on network available storage
- Ongoing hardening of networking security configurations
To read Joshua Feinberg’s network improvement suggestions for 2006, go read the full article at the above URL right now.
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