Biz Net - Business News » Business tools

This is the modern way to doodle

Alan — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:47:32 +0000

Signbox are the UK leaders in signs for the workplace, and they have just launched their brand new Doodleglass™, a brand new concept in dry wipe boards that have been sympathetically designed to blend perfectly into any contemporary office environment or modern meeting space.

This product has been produced using a specially toughened safety glass with radiused corners to give a clean and smooth effect. Aluminium project fixings that have been silver adonised are used to fix the board to the wall, complementing its smart appearance.

Available in a range of seven sizes (from 420mm to 970mm in width), Doodleglass™ is ideal for a variety of applications including meeting, training, function and smaller conference rooms or simply for use by individual staff to use for ‘to do’ lists or notes.

Doodleglass™ can be branded with company logos, supplied with pre-set grids or charts, and is available with either a clear, coloured or etched background to suit specific requirements.

Doodleglass™ is available now from Signbox’s online shop. For further information, or to view the full range of Signbox’s products, visit the website at www.signboxshop.co.uk.

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What Documents Should I Shred?

admin — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 17:32:14 +0000

An Advertising Feature

We are constantly being reminded of the dangers which we face from identity theft and fraud. These warnings often encourage us to use shredders to destroy our personal documentation and correspondence. But with so much paperwork at hand, how do we know what we should shred?

For many people, shredding can be rather monotonous and laborious. With such a high volume of paperwork being delivered to our homes and businesses everyday it can be difficult to determine what needs to be shredded and what does not, often leading to mistakes. These mistakes can cause breaches in data security, something which is detrimental to both homes and businesses.

When contemplating shredding documents or correspondence the first thing you should ask yourself is “do I need this document”? The main problem which people find when using shredders is that they accidentally destroy the wrong document – such as this year’s insurance policy rather than the one from last year. To prevent these simple mistakes it is important that individuals go through all of their documentation with a fine-tooth comb before committing it to the paper shredder.

For those unsure of exactly what it is they should be shredding, any correspondence or documentation that contains your name, address or other personal details should be shredded if no longer needed. If these details fall into the wrong hands they can be used to commit crimes such as identity theft and could even see you left out of pocket. It is therefore important that you shred any documents which could lead to these crimes, even junk mail.

This means that a high proportion of the paper correspondence you receive will end up in the shredder. For many people this is a tedious and laborious process and is therefore often neglected or delayed. The dangers of this are clear and should be avoided at all costs. The current ranges of shredder which are available are designed to make the process much easier to handle and will therefore offer minimal disruption to your daily routine.

Shredders are available for both homes and businesses, featuring different load capacities. Those who have a large volume of documents to shred could benefit from a large office shredder, which can take load capacities of as much as 650 sheets of paper. This will help to save time during the shredding process, causing less disruption to your daily lives. Modern shredders also have features, such as anti-jam technology, which are designed to reduce the number of problems encountered during the process.

Another common problem encountered by those who use shredders is what to do with the paper afterwards. Shredded paper can be put to a number of good uses, such as pet bedding and gift packaging and can even be used during celebrations. This is because a confetti cut shredder can turn your scrap paper and documentation into small confetti pieces instead of long strips of ribbon. This can then be used during parties and celebrations, helping you to protect your documents and save money.

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Discrete Ways To Promote Your Business

admin — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 16:17:30 +0000

Whatever your business, you will know that the key to success is getting your message out there, getting your name known and prompting people to give your products or services a try.

However, while marketing is a cornerstone of good business practice, in our increasingly advertising saturated lives, the best and most successful businesses are those that are able to raise the profile of their brand without bombarding their potential clients and customers with pushy promotions.

Being discrete in marketing can pay dividends, helping to imprint your brand and message into the consciousness of the consumer without the risk of offending or overloading them. There are a number of subtle marketing ploys available to the savvy business boss, which can help to improve awareness of what they have to offer without being counterproductive in terms of the way they are perceived by the customer.

Subtle Marketing Strategies

While it is perfectly fine to have a traditional advertising campaign, it can be a great idea for business bosses to back this up by using a selection of more discreet techniques, which will help to firm up the brand message in the mind of potential clients. Good strategies for entrepreneurs wishing to approach their public image from multiple angles include:

Social Media Marketing: So much of our consumer culture is now based in cyber space, so it makes sense for businesses to ensure that they have a credible and engaging online presence. It is important that brands create profiles for sites such as Twitter and Facebook, but these should be used in a subtle and sociable fashion, allowing consumer engagement and taking an active role in the online community by adding value to conversations. Businesses should be wary of using social media simply as a platform from which to push their product and should ensure they are offering additional information, advice and enticement to the customer beyond simply backing up their own brand.
Community Engagement: Businesses who want to be seen as a positive brand need to take the time to engage with the wider community. This can be on a local or a national level, depending on the company in question. Consider things like sports team sponsorship – this can start with a Sunday league club but helps to show a willingness to take part in local life, or ensure that employees become involved with charity and fundraising efforts – a practice that can demonstrate a benevolent attitude that will help to endear the brand to the paying public.
Brand Reinforcement and Product Placement: When you are presented with the opportunity to meet and mix with potential clients and customers, make sure that you capitalise on any possible leads by offering them something that will keep your brand in the forefront of their thoughts even after your face to face meeting is over. At trade shows and conferences, consider taking along branded gifts to offer to those who express an interest in your business – these can be anything from pens and notepads stamped with the company logo and tagline, to branded USB sticks preloaded with additional information on your products and services.

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Securely and Completely Delete Unwanted Programs from a PC with IObit Uninstaller 2.0:

Alan — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 05:55:07 +0000

Securely and Completely Delete Unwanted Programs from a PC with IObit Uninstaller 2.0

By using the Add and Remove Programs feature in the Windows control panel, you can leave behind traces of the files you have removed in the registry. IObit’s new Uninstaller 2 will remove all traces of your unwanted software to give you complete peace of mind, and your PC will also perform better.

SAN FRANCISCO, 6th September 2011 –Bits of left over files that belong to uninstalled programs system errors and even cause a PC to crash. IObits new version of

Uninstaller is very easy to use and free solution that will remove all traces of the software that you no longer want an prevent these system problems.

Uninstaller 2 is a massive upgrade to the original, and file deletion couldn’t be simpler, even for those who are novices on a PC.

New features include:

New user interface.
Search feature in “Forced Uninstall”: Now it’s possible to search for programs in “Forced Uninstall” and uninstall them directly from search results.
Improved Powerful Scan functionality. This now carries out a deeper and more secure scan, especially for any leftover items in the computer’s registry.
An option for not creating a restore point, making it possible to do this in the advanced uninstall mode.
Multi-language support – now available in 12 languages.
Enhanced program detection – Uninstaller 2.0 can detect a wide-ranging list of programs on a PC.

The new version of IObit Uninstaller is a Windows® utility that makes file deletion thorough, safe, secure and simple, for PC users of any ability.

Read more about the software here: http://www.iobit.com/advanceduninstaller.html

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IP Connection: How to Communicate Effectively in Business

admin — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 13:46:21 +0000

An Advertising Feature

In today’s time driven business world no company can afford downtime or an inability to communicate effectively with staff, suppliers and clients. Worried about communication within your business? Take a look at how good quality business broadband can assist communication objectives.

The internet is not just good for email; do you know that you can use it for phone communication, too? There are a number of different business phone packages available that work via VoIP.

What is VoIP?

VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol and relates to systems which transfer verbal communication via a computer’s IP (Internet Protocol) connection. These are designed to facilitate communications between offices that are situated in different locations.

The benefits to VoIP technology is that it offers quick and easy access that can be increased with minimal effort when necessary. One of the main advantages to VoIP systems are that they are perfect for businesses which have a high volume of staff who work from home. These systems often feature free office to office calls, meaning that communication with workers outside of your office can be cost effective and reliable. It is for this reason that many companies are choosing to go with business VoIP phone systems for their business needs.

This of course also applies to companies that have a number of physical locations at various locations, improving their connectivity.

How do I get the best out of my business phone package deals?

To get the most out of your business phone packages you should consider the following:

• Are you going to make national or international calls? Whichever of these you will use most frequently should be the prime focus when it comes to choosing your phone package. Always select one which will offer you the best deals and rates for your type of use.

• What sort of budget do you have? Finances rule the business world so you should consider your budget before looking at phone packages. There are always competitive rates on offer but make sure that you invest in a good quality phone system that will offer stability and reliability alongside affordability. With so many offers available it is easy to find great offers.

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The Pitfalls Computer Users Fall Into

admin — Tue, 24 May 2011 21:48:27 +0000

An Advertising Feature

Most homes across the country are likely to have a computer, as access to the internet is now viewed as an essential to life rather than simply a luxury.

With so many people online and using the internet to communicate with others, to find out information, to make purchases and make business, it is imperative more users understand how to surf online responsibly.

Personal details are at risk if you store passwords or bank details on your computer and a virus gets in to your machine, while social media sites pose a risk by allowing people to advertise their current location so burglars can make a calculated hit.

Take a look at these common pitfalls many people still fail to observe when online and using their computer.

Back-Up

Computers fail occasionally, people know this, however many still fail to back up their computers to protect the information they have stored on them.

Documents and images are sometimes irreplaceable, so should your computer or laptop get stolen or damaged you could risk losing these precious documents for good.

It is the same when you are writing an important document for work, and you fail to save it, once it is gone, it is gone for good. Computers and laptops are not infallible so make sure you save things to a CD, DVD or USB, or to an external hard drive so if your computer should fail you do not lose everything on it.

Antivirus Software

Without virus protection your computer could easily allow a virus to spread and steal sensitive documents stored on it.

Even if you use only safe software that you recognise, viruses are swarming the internet and can often trick even the cleverest of internet users. So it is best to play it safe and invest in antivirus.

Opening Rogue Emails

If you do not recognise the sender of an email, not matter how safe the email looks, do not open it. This is an easy way viruses spread in computers, and those who create them make them look as enticing as possible, offering prizes or job information – if you haven’t entered a competition then you will not have won something randomly, would you?

Make sure you delete the email straight away and block the sender from trying to contact you again. Again, if you open it by mistake then it is advised you complete a full computer scan afterwards to detect and delete any viruses.

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Companies Embracing Mobile Marketing, Survey Reveals

admin — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 10:56:45 +0000

Advertorial Feature

Mobile marketing campaigns are set to be utilised by increasing numbers of client-side marketers this year as strategists take advantage of the developments in mobile phone technology.

This is according to a survey from the Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) and the Association of National Advertisers (ANA), with 88 per cent of respondents announcing their intention to implement a mobile marketing strategy during 2011.

The poll also revealed that three-quarters of marketers intend to boost their mobile marketing budgets by 59 per cent when compared with last year’s expenditure. During 2010, 62 per cent of marketers used mobile marketing for brand awareness; a figure that’s expected to increase by 26 per cent over the course of this year.

Bob Liodice, the ANA’s president and chief executive officer, said the survey suggests that mobile is a “fast-growing platform” in the marketing industry, although admitted that it was a long way from realising its full potential.

“With the anticipated increase in adoption this year, we expect to see fresh, innovative approaches, increased brand-building success, and better accountability for this exciting channel,” he commented.

The growing number of smartphones has given rise to iPhone advertising strategies, with marketers encouraged by the fact that the release of the iPhone 4 last year was Apple’s most successful product launch. The smartphone, which has become something of a status symbol, has proven to be a marketer’s dream thanks to its large screen and incorporation of email and social media.

Respondents to the MMA and the ANA’s poll revealed that marketers were somewhat cautious about devising their own campaigns this year, suggesting that strategies are largely still in their infancy. While multi-national companies such as Coca-Cola and Target were widely praised for their mobile marketing proficiency, just 25 per cent of marketers rated their own mobile campaigns as “extremely” or “very” successful. A small majority, 53 per cent, said their mobile marketing campaigns had generated only “somewhat” successful results.

According to the MMA, this is largely because the potential of mobile marketing is yet to be realised. The campaign managers claiming a higher success rate tend to have used mobile marketing for longer, have made use of mobile’s individual platforms and have measured their mobile efforts by using a number of different metrics.

Mobile marketing covers a number of different platforms. According to the MMA and the ANA, the five most popular are mobile websites, mobile apps, mobile messaging and SMS, mobile display adverts and mobile search.

Greg Stuart, the MMA’s global chief executive officer, said the results of the research indicate that the marketing industry will continue to see “increased adoption and spending this year across all marketing platforms”.

“The MMA is committed to further establishing critical best practices and guidelines that create efficiencies and eliminate barriers for marketers to make mobile an indispensable part of their marketing mix,” he commented.

In the poll, marketers were asked to identify what they considered to be mobile marketing’s advantages. The most significant were portable, on-the-go access to the Internet, being able to deliver content and promotions while away from a desktop or laptop computer and the ability to sanction immediate consumer support.

Disadvantages were cited too; notably, a lack of mobile marketing understanding, a limited ability to boost return on investment and a dearth of metrics that allow mobile marketing to be allocated adequately within a far-reaching marketing mix.

There’s little doubt that mobile marketing can help a company to boost brand awareness. While marketing strategies on mobile platforms remain at a relatively early stage of development, it’s clear that the industry is going from strength to strength; which is testified by the MMA and the ANA’s survey results.

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Computers, Laptops, tablets, everything you need to know

admin — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 12:15:17 +0000

I still remember my first computer. It was an enormous elephant of a thing, cased in pale blue plastic, clumsy, cumbersome and ugly. The monitor was a horribly heavy square box, like an old TV from the 70s, the tower was roughly the size of an articulated lorry, and the whole thing was slower than a tortoise with a limp. Back then, just getting the thing going was an achievement: the idea of actually picking up your computer and taking it with you seemed utterly absurd – you’d need, at the very least, a fork lift truck and a very long extension cable.

It’s amazing to think that once upon a time mobile computer technology seemed like science fiction. Nowadays where would we be without a computer that we can carry around wherever we go, on to the bus, to the park or cafe, even on board an aeroplane. We’ve become used to writing, working, surfing, tweeting and generally organising our lives via laptops and netbooks, the laptops dinkier little sister. Just last week I bought a new tablet, a beautiful, sleek contraption with a 10 inch screen – no keys, mouse or wires, it has all the latest touch screen goodness and can slip into your pocket. Already I wouldn’t be without it. These little wonders have become almost an extension of ourselves.

The forward progress of portable computer technology never really ceases, but it’s great fun keeping up. It’s all a long way from the huge beast that used to be pinned on my table, that’s for sure.
An advertising feature for Dixons

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‘Twitter for business’ – United Planet launches microblog for the Intranet

Alan — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 12:35:51 +0000

140 is United Planet’s answer to businesses seeking to reduce the low priority messages that pollute email inboxes. 140 is a Business Application that gives a firm the tool their employees need to fire off short messages to each other, through the company’s Intrexx account, starting at 40.00 €.

This is the latest social media bandwagon and it may prove to be more valuable than the idea itself appears to be.

Chat rooms, forums, and blogs on companies’ intranets have gained increasing acceptance as a productive business practice, after a sharp and cold period of criticism.

United Planet will prove to businesses of all sizes the leverage of Web 2.0 for communications excellence.
Axel Wessendorf, Managing Director of United Planet, explains the idea behind ‘140’: “Most people use Twitter and Facebook privately for communication with friends and acquaintances to tell them what they are doing, instantaneously, but businesses can benefit from this capability too. Improved inter-departmental communication will not only ensure that employees can be kept informed without delay and without overloading email accounts unnecessarily. It will also make a big impact on team spirit.”

United Planet expects ‘140’ to support new business by providing immediate internal notification of contract wins which can be used by marketing to promote sales externally. Product development teams will be able to incorporate feedback from customers via the sales team in a more timely manner. The new App will also make it easier to share links to specialist articles on the internet or to provide ongoing updates about items of general interest to the entire company, for example about construction work on site.

United Planet’s ‘140’ App is available for only 40 Euros for an unlimited number of users via the Intrexx Application Store. To facilitate communication outside of the office, a free mobile App for iPhone, BlackBerry & other smart phones is included in the delivery

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Speeding up payment in your restaurant

admin — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 13:58:15 +0000

If you run a business restaurant you will know exactly how manic it can get and lunchtime and in the evening. The solution is hospitality point of sale systems.

With this system you can speed up the order flow between the waiting staff and the kitchen. It is a reliable and exceptional way of taking orders from customers which then sends the details direct to the kitchen, without fear of forgetting or order slips being lost or misplaced. They also allow the floor staff to spend more time with the customer, seeing to their needs and building up a relationship rather than running backwards and forwards to the kitchen.

Meanwhile, because all of the orders and pricing is loaded on to the electronic devise, it makes it so much easier to produce the bill with immense accuracy without the need for a calculator.

From a business owners perspective, you can monitor what each member of staff is doing, how many orders they are taking, the tips they receive and how long each customer is taking from being served to paying their bill. This will give an overall average of how many servings can be made within a specific amount of time.

Highstreeters.com is the perfect company to discuss integrating POS systems in to your restaurant or bar. They will look at each businesses individual need and evaluate the best way to bring that company up to speed.

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