10:06 AM
ari sari
This is a neat site that includes "Weekend Projects" that are very interesting. Video lead students through the process. Looks like fun.
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Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Monday, November 27, 2006
What Follow-Up Can I Use for My Computer Services Business?
Follow-up is necessary to your marketing and contact management strategies, and it needs to be conscientious and persistent without being overly aggressive. Your follow-up techniques should exercise your creativity and be personalized to each lead or prospect. Follow-up is a way to appeal to people, not overwhelm them or drive them away from you.
Follow-Up Tips for Your Computer Services Business
1. Send a follow-up invitation letter about an event at which you’re speaking.
2. Tell prospects you’re going to be presenting at a trade show and give them a free pass to the show.
3. Ask for a referral through a follow-up call, e-mail, letter, etc.
4. Send a follow-up letter offering support after a natural disaster.
5. If you get word of a promotion the prospect had, an award he/she won, a new business obtained or positive media coverage, make a follow-up congratulatory call.
6. Discuss a joint venture opportunity like a trade show, seminar, or some other event, if appropriate.
7. Send a card to prospects on major holidays as a very personal follow-up device.
Follow-up gives a reason to stay in touch with prospects and can vary depending on the personality and business of the prospect. Keep your name in prospects’ minds without turning them off to the possibility of working with you.
Added By: Computer Consulting 101
Follow-Up Tips for Your Computer Services Business
1. Send a follow-up invitation letter about an event at which you’re speaking.
2. Tell prospects you’re going to be presenting at a trade show and give them a free pass to the show.
3. Ask for a referral through a follow-up call, e-mail, letter, etc.
4. Send a follow-up letter offering support after a natural disaster.
5. If you get word of a promotion the prospect had, an award he/she won, a new business obtained or positive media coverage, make a follow-up congratulatory call.
6. Discuss a joint venture opportunity like a trade show, seminar, or some other event, if appropriate.
7. Send a card to prospects on major holidays as a very personal follow-up device.
Follow-up gives a reason to stay in touch with prospects and can vary depending on the personality and business of the prospect. Keep your name in prospects’ minds without turning them off to the possibility of working with you.
Added By: Computer Consulting 101
[TIPS] How the History of the US has Changed
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6517854
I heard this story on the way to work one morning and I thought, "This sounds like something that our History teachers would like." Play this for your students now so that when they're 50 yrs old and reading about this History of our current conflicts that they can see if History is kinder or harsher on us with the passing of time.
See the related articles below this one, as well.
Saturday, November 25, 2006
Google Alerts
Google has so many services these days that it is hard to keep up with them all. However, one of their new services is called Google Alerts which allows you to create a customized search on a particular topic of your choice. Just go to www.google.com/alerts and register for the service. After you register you can create an alert and Google will then deliver to your email address a list of URL's that have your search keyword in it. You can determine how often you would like Google to deliver these alerts. This service is helpful if you are tracking companies, products or services on the web. Give it a try and let me know what you think about the service. I for one find it to be helpful to track different technologies and applications.
Posted in:
Do You Need to Have a Salesperson During Start-Up?
In computer consulting, you’d be better off not having a salesperson early in the life of your business. Your focus should be on figuring out the identity of your business and communicating it. If you have a salesperson, you can draw focus away from your main business in favor of human resource issues and business development.
Instead of figuring out account ownership and controlling accounts, you will be monitoring someone else, motivating someone else and training someone else as a salesperson when you should be training your prospects, clients and yourself instead.
The computer services industry is about you being your business, and an outside salesperson will not be able to fully capture your talents and abilities. Your clients are buying you rather than your products and services, and you need to get your uniqueness across.
Account Ownership and the Salesperson
The other problem with having a salesperson is account ownership. Even if you have all sorts of non-disclosure agreements, non-competes and others a salesperson could technically claim legal entitlement to your accounts, and a long battle could kill your business. If an outside salesperson recruits 90% of your client base the first year, this is a lot of ownership to give someone that is not you.
Hiring a Salesperson
You will have a lot of time to hire a salesperson as your business evolves. During the first three to six months, a salesperson can actually be a liability. Besides the time and energy spent on the salesperson, legal issues could crop up and stall or halt your business. Keep your initial roster of sweet spot clients to yourself and enjoy a more stable business in the long-run.
Added By: Joshua Feinberg
Instead of figuring out account ownership and controlling accounts, you will be monitoring someone else, motivating someone else and training someone else as a salesperson when you should be training your prospects, clients and yourself instead.
The computer services industry is about you being your business, and an outside salesperson will not be able to fully capture your talents and abilities. Your clients are buying you rather than your products and services, and you need to get your uniqueness across.
Account Ownership and the Salesperson
The other problem with having a salesperson is account ownership. Even if you have all sorts of non-disclosure agreements, non-competes and others a salesperson could technically claim legal entitlement to your accounts, and a long battle could kill your business. If an outside salesperson recruits 90% of your client base the first year, this is a lot of ownership to give someone that is not you.
Hiring a Salesperson
You will have a lot of time to hire a salesperson as your business evolves. During the first three to six months, a salesperson can actually be a liability. Besides the time and energy spent on the salesperson, legal issues could crop up and stall or halt your business. Keep your initial roster of sweet spot clients to yourself and enjoy a more stable business in the long-run.
Added By: Joshua Feinberg
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Visual Thesaurus 3
In my effort to find tools that are both fun and engaging to use, one that stands out is Visual Thesaurus. Visual Thesaurus is like no other thesaurus you have ever used. Just type a word into the text box and watch as an animated web is drawn with your word in the center with related words connected to it. Different colored links depict synonyms or antonyms and students can click on any word to see another whole set of related words. Just hover your mouse over the word and the definition appears. It is easy to drag the definition to Microsoft Word if you need to capture it for a written assignment. Students can try out Visual Thesaurus at ThinkMap. Give it a try on the web and let me know what you think!
[TIPS] eschool news videos
Once again Karl Fisch in his The Fischbowl blog pointed us to a great video, and by extension to some other excellent videos. The first is another in the line of "Flat World" videos in which the speaker makes a VERY interesting statement about SAT tests. I'm not going to quote it here; I'd rather you go out and listen for yourself.
This site is: http://www.eschoolnews.com/video/. One video starts when the page loads. Some interesting news bits in there. There are a couple other good videos on that page, but notice the tabs just above the videos? Click the Tech Conferences tab and check out some of the other speakers there. Very interesting. The Best Practices tab has some others you'll enjoy.
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
[TIPS] - Daily math word problems and writing prompts
How would you like to have a set of math questions - about 180 sets in all - for your 3rd graders? You print them out, one for each day as their daily math review. Word problems! Every day. Hmmm... I wonder if that would raise their math scores. Sound like a good idea? How about another set for your 4th graders or 5th?? Even your first and second graders?
http://elementarypgms.brevard.k12.fl.us/Math.htm
I think I picked this little gem up from the math tag at del.icio.us. These are from the Broward County Public Schools. On this same page are writing prompts, too. Looks like one per day. Gee... I wonder where they could write? Their blogs, you say? Great idea! I like the way you think. :-)
Cheers to the Broward County schools for posting these in the interest of better education for the children everywhere.
http://elementarypgms.brevard.k12.fl.us/Math.htm
I think I picked this little gem up from the math tag at del.icio.us. These are from the Broward County Public Schools. On this same page are writing prompts, too. Looks like one per day. Gee... I wonder where they could write? Their blogs, you say? Great idea! I like the way you think. :-)
Cheers to the Broward County schools for posting these in the interest of better education for the children everywhere.
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Mindjet MindManager 6
I have been using Mindjet MindManager 6 for the last 6 months and find it to be an indespensible tool for teaching and preparing my classes. Having information in a visual mind map is a great way to get an overview of what is being presented. Mindjet MindManager 6 seamlessley integrates with Microsoft Office and is wonderful tool as a repository of links, documents, spreadsheets, RSS feeds, Outlook task, and Outlook appointments. With so much going on it is nice to know that I can open one document and get a snapshot of all the material in one location. Mindjet MindManager 6 is a very powerful tool that you will find easy to use and is great as a presentation tool as well. If you are interested in taking mind maps to the next level then look no further than Mindjet MindManager 6.
Monday, November 20, 2006
What Type of Computer Business Software Should You Be Purchasing?
Deciding on the right computer business software can overwhelm even the most savvy network consultants. There are a lot of good products, and deciding which ones you want to spend time and money on can be a real challenge.
The main point with computer business software is that you want to expand capabilities without spending too much time or money on products, particularly before you know there is a market for them. Computer business software is a real investment, so you need to exercise care when selecting the right programs and packages for your clients.
Attract the Sweet Spot Clients
You want to think about whether the business computer software you purchase will be attractive to sweet spot clients. If you invest time learning this and a few hundred dollars on training, you want to know you will make this money back.
Recommended Computer Business Software Products
Microsoft Small Business Server (SBS) and Novell’s Small Business Suite are two highly recommended computer business software products that can add value to a business.
Why?
1. Both computer business software products are inexpensive to purchase.
2. You will not need to spend a great deal of money to get a not-for-resale copy or a demo model of these computer business software products to help you learn.
3. Both these products give you most of what you need for just a few hundred dollars.
4. Both types of computer business software will only take about eight to ten hours of installing, breaking and reinstalling in order to learn.
How to Choose Computer Business Software
Just pick one of these two products rather than trying to support both in the beginning. Unless you are really strong with Windows and Netware, you won’t want to attempt to support both right away. Whatever you choose, you can use the computer business software to run your own business until you feel comfortable enough to do start installing for clients.
Computer business software is an investment, so you need to know, whatever type you choose, that you will be able to recover and make a return on the time and money spent learning and implementing.
Blogged By: Computer Consulting 101
The main point with computer business software is that you want to expand capabilities without spending too much time or money on products, particularly before you know there is a market for them. Computer business software is a real investment, so you need to exercise care when selecting the right programs and packages for your clients.
Attract the Sweet Spot Clients
You want to think about whether the business computer software you purchase will be attractive to sweet spot clients. If you invest time learning this and a few hundred dollars on training, you want to know you will make this money back.
Recommended Computer Business Software Products
Microsoft Small Business Server (SBS) and Novell’s Small Business Suite are two highly recommended computer business software products that can add value to a business.
Why?
1. Both computer business software products are inexpensive to purchase.
2. You will not need to spend a great deal of money to get a not-for-resale copy or a demo model of these computer business software products to help you learn.
3. Both these products give you most of what you need for just a few hundred dollars.
4. Both types of computer business software will only take about eight to ten hours of installing, breaking and reinstalling in order to learn.
How to Choose Computer Business Software
Just pick one of these two products rather than trying to support both in the beginning. Unless you are really strong with Windows and Netware, you won’t want to attempt to support both right away. Whatever you choose, you can use the computer business software to run your own business until you feel comfortable enough to do start installing for clients.
Computer business software is an investment, so you need to know, whatever type you choose, that you will be able to recover and make a return on the time and money spent learning and implementing.
Blogged By: Computer Consulting 101
[TIPS] Pauls Online Math Notes and ThatQuiz
Thanks to Sue S for sharing this one. Wow - a BUNCH of math cheet sheets in pdf format.
And, math test activities for students and teachers of all grade levels here: http://www.thatquiz.com/ Free for educational use.
(Does anyone know what you'd even DO with this math stuff in real life?)
;-)
Saturday, November 18, 2006
IT Services Outsourcing: It's What You Need Most When You Don't Know It All
IT services outsourcing is what you will have to be prepared to do when prospects ask for products and services you can't provide. New business owners often try to do and know everything; but one of the benefits of being part of the computer industry is having access to a large pool of people to use for IT outsourcing.
When you first start your own company, you need to focus on getting business and spend significant time on networking and relationship marketing, which means you can't offer everything to everyone.
Rely on IT Services Outsourcing
IT services outsourcing will give you time to do marketing and networking activities essential to the future growth of your business. You don't have enough time to learn everything you may be asked to offer, but you don't want to lose relationships either.
So what do you do?
Two Choices With IT Services Outsourcing:
1. Referral relationships with other niche technology providers in your area;
2. Partnerships and subcontractor relationships.
The fastest way to set up your IT services outsourcing is to set up one of these two choices as part of your business. As you start to get a lot of requests for the same types of IT services you should probably think about learning the skills so you can offer them in-house. When there is a large enough demand, the time and financial investment will be worth it. Until then, use IT outsourcing to manage your time and get business done efficiently.
Added By: Joshua Feinberg
When you first start your own company, you need to focus on getting business and spend significant time on networking and relationship marketing, which means you can't offer everything to everyone.
Rely on IT Services Outsourcing
IT services outsourcing will give you time to do marketing and networking activities essential to the future growth of your business. You don't have enough time to learn everything you may be asked to offer, but you don't want to lose relationships either.
So what do you do?
Two Choices With IT Services Outsourcing:
1. Referral relationships with other niche technology providers in your area;
2. Partnerships and subcontractor relationships.
The fastest way to set up your IT services outsourcing is to set up one of these two choices as part of your business. As you start to get a lot of requests for the same types of IT services you should probably think about learning the skills so you can offer them in-house. When there is a large enough demand, the time and financial investment will be worth it. Until then, use IT outsourcing to manage your time and get business done efficiently.
Added By: Joshua Feinberg
Friday, November 17, 2006
[TIPS] Math cheat sheets and more
Looking for a nice, printable cheat sheet for your algebra or Calculus class? Here are a couple worth a look.
The first is a table of derivatives for your Calc class. Interestingly enough, it's a wikipedia entry. Uh-ohhhhh... better check it for accuracy, right? While you're there, though, check out the related links on the right side of the page. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_of_derivatives
The second is an Algebra formula cheat sheet. This pdf file is displayed much nicer than the above, but it was written for this format to begin with, and not as an article. Looks good. http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/pdf/Algebra_Cheat_Sheet_Reduced.pdf
And this one from edHelper.com. http://www.edhelper.com/middle_school_math.htm A nice collection of Middle School printables for Math and Pre-algebra, both in ready-made and build-your-own formats.
And for fun.. math isn't just about numbers, y' know. (It's not??) No, it's not, as this page will show. http://www.bugman123.com/Math/Math.html What a fun collection of colorful tessellations, fractals, hyperboloids, pseudospheres (as if I know what the heck I'm talking about here), and much more. Show this to your favorite physics teacher, too.
Thursday, November 16, 2006
[TIPS] Richard Baraniuk speaks about Connexions
Another great (and short) video with Richard Baraniuk talking about Rice University's notion of providing "a free, global online education system" in an Open Source manner. Their site, Connexions (http://cnx.org/), is growing and gaining speed.
Think about this... Nicholas Negroponte is building the $100 laptop (http://www.ted.com/tedtalks/tedtalksplayer.cfm?key=n_negroponte), built with open source software and Internet access. It's being given to children in the poorest countries. (Remember those "hungry" kids?) Connexions is the Open Content counterpart to this. Free education with the content protected under the Creative Commons license (http://creativecommons.org/) and by contributing authors coming from around the world.
Do you see the big picture here? Does that put your job as a teacher into a global perspective in terms of its importance? The common themes here are open source and providing education. Let there be NO mistake here, folks... the race is ON!
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
[TIPS] - An EXCELLENT Algebra site
This is an excellent Algebra resource site, but once again I can't recall where I read about it. It was likely by subscribing to a feed in del.icio.us, but I don't know which one.
Choose a Section, say "Basics of Algebra." In the next section just click on the topic you want. The topics are down the left and it talks you through the examples.
Send this one along to every math teacher you know.
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
[TIPS] Cornell Notes - 43FoldersWiki
I wish I could remember where I find this stuff. From now on I'll be including that information. I CAN tell you that I subscribe to a ton of different blogs and feeds of various kinds. My public feedroll is here: http://www.bloglines.com/public/jgates513, if you're interested.
Anyway, the top link is for a 43folders entry about Cornell Notes, a template for students to use when taking notes in class. (Tell both of your note-taking students about this!) :-) There is even a link at the bottom of the article to a pdf generator in which you supply your name (if desired) and class name and it creates the pdf file for you. Just print it - and make copies for your students.
See what you think of the template. Oh, and did you notice that the page is a wiki?
Monday, November 13, 2006
Seminar Topics: Focus on Business Instead of IT
You may sometimes be hard-pressed to think of good seminar topics. But hosting seminars can help you network and fully utilize relationship marketing. You just need to figure out how to use a seminar topic that will get to clients within the sweet spot.
Often IT professionals choose IT-based topics for their seminar topics. However, the people interested in tech seminars will be in the technology business, and you probably will just attract your competitors rather than potential clients. Offer seminar topics that focus on business problems, and most especially those you can solve and you will get the right response.
The best way to arrive at seminar topics is to be industry-specific. Figure out how you can help businesses within a certain industry and then let them come to you! Your seminar topics can be created for a general audience, but they need to be important specifically to business owners and not techies.
Suggested Seminar Topics:
1. Designing a more modern network;
2. Ways to shop for the best file server;
3. Improving IT security;
4. Increasing IT productivity;
5. Maximizing your return on investment in IT;
6. Computer virus protection;
7. Creating an effective firewall;
8. Protecting your wireless network.
Blogged By: Computer Consulting 101
Often IT professionals choose IT-based topics for their seminar topics. However, the people interested in tech seminars will be in the technology business, and you probably will just attract your competitors rather than potential clients. Offer seminar topics that focus on business problems, and most especially those you can solve and you will get the right response.
The best way to arrive at seminar topics is to be industry-specific. Figure out how you can help businesses within a certain industry and then let them come to you! Your seminar topics can be created for a general audience, but they need to be important specifically to business owners and not techies.
Suggested Seminar Topics:
1. Designing a more modern network;
2. Ways to shop for the best file server;
3. Improving IT security;
4. Increasing IT productivity;
5. Maximizing your return on investment in IT;
6. Computer virus protection;
7. Creating an effective firewall;
8. Protecting your wireless network.
Blogged By: Computer Consulting 101
[TIPS] Flash Earth ...satellite and aerial imagery of the Earth in Flash
School got your Google Earth blocked? (Y' know, if you never heard that commercial that sounds horrible, doesn't it? ) No problem. Here's a flash version that lets you zoom in have a look-see just like Google Earth. You can choose to use Microsoft VE, or Yahoo Maps, or even NASA's Terra server. Since it's flash based you don't need to worry about hogging up bandwidth, either.
Thanks to Kurt for sending that one my way. He shared it using the for:jgates513 tag in del.icio.us. Remember that?
Sunday, November 12, 2006
[TIPS] CX Now
http://www.businessobjects.com/jump/cxnow/
Do you know a business teacher who teaches a lot of excel? This program
offers a free version with limited features, as well as a purchased
full-featured program. Of course that one runs about $1500. YIKES!!
But, check out the freebie version. I'm told it's still pretty cool. It
turns your data into VERY cool charts, with sliders, dials, and more.
Do you know a business teacher who teaches a lot of excel? This program
offers a free version with limited features, as well as a purchased
full-featured program. Of course that one runs about $1500. YIKES!!
But, check out the freebie version. I'm told it's still pretty cool. It
turns your data into VERY cool charts, with sliders, dials, and more.
Friday, November 10, 2006
Business Start-Up: Get Your Name Out There
You have to be creative during new business start-up and think of ways to tempt people to give you a chance.
A lot of times, the earliest clients are friends of the family and other family members; but in reality, you should avoid this type of business during the business start-up phase. Without distance from people, you will have a hard time doing business; when things go sour or expectations are wrong, dealing with those close to you is very challenging.
Ideas For Getting Clients During Business Start-Up
1. Put together a “who knows that you are starting a new business” list. This list can help track all business contacts you make before, during and after business start-up.
2. Include people that SHOULD know you are starting a new business on the initial “who knows that you are starting a new business” list. Fill this in by asking each contact with whom you speak if he/she can refer someone. Referrals are key, so make sure to ask contacts to let you know when they hear someone complaining about technology.
3. When you talk to a contact during business start-up, come up with a way to keep your name in-mind. A tech support sticker is a great way to accomplish this goal. Ask contacts to put stickers on their computers and give each person three extra stickers to pass onto friends and colleagues.
4. The must-have item when you are in the business start-up phase is a good business card. Hand out business cards whenever you deem it appropriate to get your name out there and keep it on the tip of everyone’s tongue.
Getting new clients isn’t easy, but you can rely on your current contacts to bring in referrals. Train contacts to listen for people with tech problems and let them know you are engaged in business start-up.
Added By: Computer Consulting Kit
A lot of times, the earliest clients are friends of the family and other family members; but in reality, you should avoid this type of business during the business start-up phase. Without distance from people, you will have a hard time doing business; when things go sour or expectations are wrong, dealing with those close to you is very challenging.
Ideas For Getting Clients During Business Start-Up
1. Put together a “who knows that you are starting a new business” list. This list can help track all business contacts you make before, during and after business start-up.
2. Include people that SHOULD know you are starting a new business on the initial “who knows that you are starting a new business” list. Fill this in by asking each contact with whom you speak if he/she can refer someone. Referrals are key, so make sure to ask contacts to let you know when they hear someone complaining about technology.
3. When you talk to a contact during business start-up, come up with a way to keep your name in-mind. A tech support sticker is a great way to accomplish this goal. Ask contacts to put stickers on their computers and give each person three extra stickers to pass onto friends and colleagues.
4. The must-have item when you are in the business start-up phase is a good business card. Hand out business cards whenever you deem it appropriate to get your name out there and keep it on the tip of everyone’s tongue.
Getting new clients isn’t easy, but you can rely on your current contacts to bring in referrals. Train contacts to listen for people with tech problems and let them know you are engaged in business start-up.
Added By: Computer Consulting Kit
[TIPS] web 2.0 for the classroom teacher
Tip for Wednesday...
An interesting collection of links to web 2.0 applications, categorized
by type of application. See if you can find something cool in this list.
From blogs to podcasts and beyond.
http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/fil/pages/listweb20s.html
-----
Oh, and if you've got young ones at home, or if you're an elementary
teaher, check out this site to help kids learn to spell. Thanks to
Cheryl C for showing me this one: http://www.spinandspell.com/
[TIPS] Ed Burtynsky on TED Talks
If only blogs...
Imagine a class of seniors and/or juniors in a sociology or social studies class. Imagine showing them this video. http://www.ted.com/tedtalks/tedtalksplayer.cfm?key=e_burtynsky Then maybe the trailer found here: http://www.edwardburtynsky.com/ (Check out the Works sections, too) Then imagine having them blog about their thoughts. Or even just using a discussion thread. I HAVE to believe that this kind of discussion would not only be an eye opening experience, but it would get them writing about real world issues that THEY will be inheriting.
I HAVE to believe that this assignment would/could be a life-changing experience for some students.
(I used this man's works in a previous tip a few years ago. Now, however, with some of us allowing blogs I think this has the potential to be a much more motivating and motivational assignment.)
--- btw...
I'm not related to Bill OR Robert. :-)
Tuesday, November 7, 2006
[TIPS] online file conversion
Here's a handly little site. Suppose you've got, say a pdf file and you need it to be a .doc (Word) file. What do you do? Or you've got a .wav file and need it to be an mp3 format instead. Tricky, eh?
With this site you simply upload the file (up to 100 mb), tell it what format you want it converted to, then wait for it to arrive in your email in the new format.
Now, I wouldn't suggest that you use your work email for this - for several reasons. Suffice it to say that it's not a good idea. But, if you've got a gmail account or yahoo, etc, then I'd use that address and you should have no problem - other than being able to hit those accounts from work, of course. This is a utility to use at home.
Monday, November 6, 2006
Business Contact Information and Tracking Strategies
You need business contact information in order to qualify clients. During this pre-qualification process you need to be looking for very specific business contact information and track it.
Get Business Contact Information
Each prospect file needs to have a list of business contact information. No matter you get it, you need to get it. Phone calls and web site information request forms are two great ways to get the business contact information you need; forms such as these can be printed out and e-mailed or faxed to you. This information is necessary before you go on a sales call.
What Business Contact Information Do You Need?
1) Contact information; 2) URL of the web site; 3) the industry of the business; 4) the number of employees; 5) the number of locations; 6) number of computer users; 7) number of desktops; 8) number of laptops; 9) quantity of servers; 10) brand of PCs; 11) most used and most important software application; 12) which versions of Windows and Office are used; 13) whether the prospects use NetWare, Linux or Unix; 14) whether the system used is host-based; 15) a definition of their top 5 computer problems, listed in descending order; 16) current PC and tech support resources of the prospect; 17) how the prospect first heard about your business.
All this business contact information can help you get a good handle on prospect needs. You can then analyze whether or not the business is right for your sweet spot and make sure the size of the company is right and that it uses compatible hardware and software systems.
Blogged By: Joshua Feinberg
Get Business Contact Information
Each prospect file needs to have a list of business contact information. No matter you get it, you need to get it. Phone calls and web site information request forms are two great ways to get the business contact information you need; forms such as these can be printed out and e-mailed or faxed to you. This information is necessary before you go on a sales call.
What Business Contact Information Do You Need?
1) Contact information; 2) URL of the web site; 3) the industry of the business; 4) the number of employees; 5) the number of locations; 6) number of computer users; 7) number of desktops; 8) number of laptops; 9) quantity of servers; 10) brand of PCs; 11) most used and most important software application; 12) which versions of Windows and Office are used; 13) whether the prospects use NetWare, Linux or Unix; 14) whether the system used is host-based; 15) a definition of their top 5 computer problems, listed in descending order; 16) current PC and tech support resources of the prospect; 17) how the prospect first heard about your business.
All this business contact information can help you get a good handle on prospect needs. You can then analyze whether or not the business is right for your sweet spot and make sure the size of the company is right and that it uses compatible hardware and software systems.
Blogged By: Joshua Feinberg
[TIPS] Office Pro for $80?
How would you like to get Microsoft Office Pro (Windows or Mac) for just $79.98 plus shipping. It comes to about $95. Sound like a deal? Suggested retail price is $499.
Visit http://journeyed.com/select/ and choose k12 in the Select a Type dropdown. Next, choose your state. Not all states are participating, but PA is. Next click the PA K-12 link to find the products. Deep, deep discounts for education.
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Of course, you could always get Star Office (from sun.com) or Open Office (from openoffice.org) for free, but for those who must have MS Office, this is a great deal.
Saturday, November 4, 2006
Remind Me
With so much going on all the time it is nice to know that Rminder is there in a pinch to remind me of upcoming appointments and meetings. Rminder is a free Internet service that allows you to schedule Rminder to call your phone at a designated time to tell you about an upcoming appointment or an event. It is easy to use and set up and works as stated on the web site. Give it a try! Think of all your students who could use a little reminder every now and then.
Friday, November 3, 2006
IT Consulting Services and the Importance of Fulfilling Client Needs
Because there are many different IT consulting services, when you are first starting out you may have difficulty figuring out which to offer. You might wonder if you are supposed to sell what you know, what is trendy or what you think people might want.
The key to discovering which IT consulting services you should sell and which products you need in order to offer appropriate support is presenting prospects with the IT consulting services they absolutely need.
While this concept might seem obvious, usually start-ups make the mistake of offering what clients want rather than what they need. The IT consulting services a business owner would like to have are not always the ones they really need in order to function. You need to sell prospects the IT consulting services that are needed right now so they can keep running efficiently. Once you set up a basic framework, you can handle wants.
When you have non-technical business owners or managers, their needs might be simple. If they think they might need IT consulting services to fix basic performance problems, provide them. Once you prove you know your stuff, you can try to sell them the IT consulting services you know they need to get to the next level of performance. Take care of aches and pains first, then sell more sophisticated solutions.
When you think about the IT consulting services you want to offer, put yourself in prospects’ shoes. Separate needs from wants, and remember that surface needs, while seemingly simple to you, are important to prospects and must be addressed. Offer IT consulting services that are a mixture of basic and long-term and you can become an asset to a small business.
Blogged By: Joshua Feinberg
The key to discovering which IT consulting services you should sell and which products you need in order to offer appropriate support is presenting prospects with the IT consulting services they absolutely need.
While this concept might seem obvious, usually start-ups make the mistake of offering what clients want rather than what they need. The IT consulting services a business owner would like to have are not always the ones they really need in order to function. You need to sell prospects the IT consulting services that are needed right now so they can keep running efficiently. Once you set up a basic framework, you can handle wants.
When you have non-technical business owners or managers, their needs might be simple. If they think they might need IT consulting services to fix basic performance problems, provide them. Once you prove you know your stuff, you can try to sell them the IT consulting services you know they need to get to the next level of performance. Take care of aches and pains first, then sell more sophisticated solutions.
When you think about the IT consulting services you want to offer, put yourself in prospects’ shoes. Separate needs from wants, and remember that surface needs, while seemingly simple to you, are important to prospects and must be addressed. Offer IT consulting services that are a mixture of basic and long-term and you can become an asset to a small business.
Blogged By: Joshua Feinberg
Mark.... mark.... what "mark" thing? OH!!! You mean Marketing!
Well, friday night, and a lot of rain out there... I was looking for the last webcast replay (got the presentation but couldn't get the sound yet). It's still not available but something on the page side caught my attention: A link to some customer and partner success stories... Got curious and cliked. You can to the same, either directly or by checking the IBM Informix webcasts page.
I looked at the video, which is presented by Bernie Spang, the Director of Data Server Marketing, and contains some interviews with clients and partners about their experiences with IBM Informix. Not surprinsingly, they all talk about the features we all know and love about Informix (efficiency, simplicity, reliability, scalability etc.). So what is the real interest of this? What made me write this lines? Er... Step a few lines back... the begining of this paragraph... "Director, Data Server Marketing"... customer and partner interviews... On the IBM site...
Well, I still consider myself a young guy... But when was the last time we've seen something like this? Marketing and Informix together?
Oh... regarding the stability statements... I'm feeling bad for forgeting to congratulate the sysadmin team... I was doing some onstats recently and I noticed they have manage to run their servers for more than an year without stop! Onstat revealed an IBM Informix Dynamic Server uptime greater then 365 days!!! Just to show you all that I really understand those customers when they mention stability and reliability :)
I looked at the video, which is presented by Bernie Spang, the Director of Data Server Marketing, and contains some interviews with clients and partners about their experiences with IBM Informix. Not surprinsingly, they all talk about the features we all know and love about Informix (efficiency, simplicity, reliability, scalability etc.). So what is the real interest of this? What made me write this lines? Er... Step a few lines back... the begining of this paragraph... "Director, Data Server Marketing"... customer and partner interviews... On the IBM site...
Well, I still consider myself a young guy... But when was the last time we've seen something like this? Marketing and Informix together?
Oh... regarding the stability statements... I'm feeling bad for forgeting to congratulate the sysadmin team... I was doing some onstats recently and I noticed they have manage to run their servers for more than an year without stop! Onstat revealed an IBM Informix Dynamic Server uptime greater then 365 days!!! Just to show you all that I really understand those customers when they mention stability and reliability :)
[TIPS] idea for podcasts
I just heard of one elementary school that is creating "podcasts" in conjunction with their local historical society, making "walking tours" of their community. So, when people stop in the tourist center to get the ipod shuffle with the walking tours, they'll be listening to the KID'S podcasts!! Does that give YOU an idea?
- - http://k12onlineconference.org update - -
Today's topics include: "Selling Web 2.0 to Senior Management", "It's Elementary Kids; Working Web 2.0 with Grades 3-4", "Toward a System for Online Curriculum Sharing", and "Planning the 21st Century School" (from Philadelphia)
Have you been tuning in?
Thursday, November 2, 2006
Consumers Torn Between Good Health, Great Taste
Despite greater awareness of the benefits of eating healthy, consumers are increasingly weighing healthy, low-fat food choices against more indulgent fare. Restaurants have found that customers are rejecting healthy menu items in favor of those offering larger, higher-fat portions.
Burger King has seen success with its triple-decker "BK Stacker" burger, whereas Applebee's, Ruby Tuesday and Olive Garden have pulled "lite" items from their menus. One theory behind this demand is that people may eat healthy at home, then "treat themselves" to something they don't normally eat when they go out to restaurants.
This, however, doesn't mean that consumers aren't paying attention to their food. Restaurants are reporting an increase in vegetarian and organic selections -- though these aren't necessarily low-fat or low-calorie.
Source: Herman Group
Burger King has seen success with its triple-decker "BK Stacker" burger, whereas Applebee's, Ruby Tuesday and Olive Garden have pulled "lite" items from their menus. One theory behind this demand is that people may eat healthy at home, then "treat themselves" to something they don't normally eat when they go out to restaurants.
This, however, doesn't mean that consumers aren't paying attention to their food. Restaurants are reporting an increase in vegetarian and organic selections -- though these aren't necessarily low-fat or low-calorie.
Source: Herman Group
[TIPS] Online Etymology Dictionary
- - snip - -
This is a map of the wheel-ruts of modern English. Etymologies are not definitions; they're explanations of what our words meant and how they sounded 600 or 2,000 years ago.
- -
Share that with your English teachers and librarians.
- - - http://k12onlineconference.org update - - -
Today's topics include: "Trash to Treasures: Creating Your Own Computer Lab", "Mobile Learning Redefined", "The 21st Century Educator's toolbox: Developing a Professional Learning Environment", "Homegrown: Within/Without the District".
Check 'em out.
- - bonus - -
This article about hackers hitting close to home: http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2006/10/hackers_penetra.html
Wednesday, November 1, 2006
Transumerism
Trendwatching.com has identified a new consumer type: the transumer. This type of consumer is affluent and mobile, yet also highly style-conscious. They value convenience, demanding that services be fast and be located where they are, whether at work, at play or in between. They prefer to own things temporarily, either by renting or trading up via eBay or similar services. Telecommuting allows transumers to work where they please, freeing them from the need to live near an office. They even like their homes to be mobile, as witnessed by the surge in interest in RVs among retiring baby boomers.
[TIPS] Web 2.0 in action
Thanks to CS for pointing me to this site. We've been seeing a lot of
sites and hearing a lot of discussion about web 2.0 tools. THis site
gives you practical applications those tools in the classroom.
http://www.teachersfirst.com/content/edge.cfm Check it out.
- - http://k120nlineconference.org - - -
Today's topics include: "Around the world in 80 Minutes", "Cultivating
Digital Educators", "Interrnet Access with Minimal Filtering", and
"Social Boookmarking/; Using Del.icio.us",
I enjoyed two sessions from yesterday's group and I see at least that
many on today's list, too. I do hope you'll at least bookmark the site
so you can see them later. Or, check in and download the podcasts of the
presentations.
