Cloud Computing for Small Businesses: Tips & Tricks

Cloud computing is a whole new computing technology and philosophy that has changed the way small businesses  are conducted online. What was once seen as a dream has been integrated into mainstream IT resource. A research  conducted by Portio Research in 2010 found that 56% small business segments are still unfamiliar with concept. 

If you are one of them, here are some tips as to why you should consider cloud computing for your small business. 
 
Better Business Productivity
With cloud computing at your disposal, you can run your business ‘on the go.’ Your business employees can access  emails and documents from anywhere on the planet. It gives you and your staff flexibility to set up working station  anywhere. Moreover, you can employ people globally without letting it affect business productivity. 

In fact, with several great minds working on a small business project from the remotest corner of the world, you get  to enhance small business operation. 

Improved Security
As compared to traditional IT resources, cloud computing is more secure for data storage and management. Cloud  service providers employ leading security experts and invest considerable amount of money to develop security  technology to protect small business establishments. 

When you use cloud computing, you reduce dependence on storing confidential data on laptops or USB devices  because every piece of information is saved on the private cloud and/or public cloud, or in a hybrid cloud. 

Better Cultural Adjustment and Collaboration
Cloud computing is user-centered technology which has made business and professional workig environment easily  accessible. These days’ small businesses hire employees from different countries and seeing the current pattern of  working, a large section of employees recruited by small businesses work from home. 

The only connecting tool between employer and employee are cloud applications like Google Apps or Skype. Even  with the geographical barrier, there is a more collaborative way of working which has undoubtedly improved  knowledge sharing, creativity and communication channels. 

24 Hours Business Information Availability
In contrast to traditional IT models, cloud computing improves business resiliency by making information available  24-7. The cloud service providers offer 24 hours support and 99.9% uptime guarantee. Rate of redundancy is  reduced and data centers ensure that your business information is available all the time. 

In other words, there is less downtime and even if some problem arise; it is sorted out in a matter of minutes.  According to estimates by IDC, small businesses with cloud computing enjoy 97% greater reliability. Moreover, if  you are dissatisfied with cloud service providers, you have the flexibility to change service providers anytime you  want.

Increased Cost Savings
In earlier days, starting a business on a small scale involved setting aside at least $5000 plus for IT infrastructure.  Return to 2011, and your cost savings will be higher than you can anticipate. It helps business to save on IT software  and hardware expenditure by almost 54%; the saved amount can be put to use for other business infrastructure  development. 

Cloud computing is an essential aspect of small business establishment in terms of cost and efficiency. Almost every  business today runs on the cloud model because it has made information sharing possible on a wider level. 

Source:  A  BusinessPundit.com is an online collection of blogs and articles featuring business and  technology insight from authors around the globe. These tips were from the January 26, 2011 feature  Cloud Computing for Small Businesses: Tips & Tricks.

Cloud Computing for Small Businesses: Tips & Tricks

Outdoor Signs Help to Grow Your Business

By Jim Braun 

Custom outdoor signs are important marketing tools for growing your business. An effective sign  will not only alert potential customers about your business, it will generate interest in your  products and services. Quality outdoor signage is essential to generating traffic and boosting  sales. 

Public awareness and advertising are essential to the success of your business. In order to make  money, you need to entice customers to come inside and spend money. There are a variety of  methods you can use to inform the public about your service or products and let them know  where you are located. One of the most cost-effective ways to reach hundreds of potential  customers each day is through the use of outdoor signage. 

Outdoor signage is one of the most important investments a business owner can make in  marketing and advertising the company. Many times, this may be the first interaction your  potential customers have with your business. Keep in mind the following characteristics as you  design and plan an effective outdoor sign for your business. 

Clear Message:
The message on your sign needs to be concise enough that people passing by in cars or by foot  can read it. Keep your words and phrases short and the meaning clear. Use your sign to direct or  inform customers. Ideally, your message should spark the interest of your target audience and  entice them to stop in. 

Use Images:
Images can be used to easily communicate what services or products your business offers. For  example, a toy store may have an image of a stuffed animal or toy train to inform people passing  by that they can buy toys at that store. 

Make it Simple:
Do not crowd your sign with numerous images and lengthy phrases. Use just enough text and  images to effectively communicate your message. Keep in mind that it needs to be understood  quickly as people do not generally stop to look at signs. 

Entice Shoppers:
Your sign is like a silent salesperson luring potential buyers into your business. It can be used to  highlight sales and promotions that generate interest and draw crowds.

Capture Attention:
Choose contrasting colors that will stand out and be readily seen by people passing by. A sign  will do you no good if it is not readable. Lighting can be used to illuminate the sign for better  visibility. 

Quality Materials:
Making sure that your custom sign looks good year after year is essential. Using high-quality  materials that will not fade or disintegrate over time is crucial to the life of your investment. Be  sure to choose materials that are easily maintained, able to withstand high winds, and radical  temperatures. 

If you have had the same sign for some years, consider updating it. A brand new sign with  modern images and a concise message aimed at your target market can attract new customers  and generate a renewed interest in your business. 

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6209177
Attracting new customers to your business is easy with a well-designed sign. Let the  professional design team at SIGNARAMA, design a custom-made sign for your business. Give  us a call today for more information.

Outdoor Signs Help to Grow Your Business

INSPIRATION VERSUS MOTIVATION--WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT

by Rick Melero

My life is thriving in balance with purpose. Is yours? Do you find yourself fighting to stay  motivated? Are you putting things off . . . wasting time . . . lost without a purpose? If you  said yes to any of these, there is still hope. But first, you must understand the difference  between motivation and inspiration.  

How would you like to be that person that is always motivated . . . always getting things  done . . . always enjoying life . . . always fulfilled? If so, here are some time-tested  principles that, if you apply them, will take you to that next level.  

Motivation vs. Inspiration
Many people believe that motivation is the "engine" that drives  you to success. Most people seeking motivation attend seminars to hear others as they  share success stories and strategies. These events cause us to feel good and challenge us to  get moving. However, when you face the real world, it often seems as if motivation just  burns out on the extra mile. Have you ever felt that way too?  

That is because "motivation," as Napoleon Hill says "is like fuel to a vehicle." So what  exactly is the "engine" that drives you to success? If motivation is just an external portion  that helps build momentum, where does the power lie?  

Now inspiration, on the other hand, is internal and comes from realizing your purpose. The  problem with most people is that their purpose is unclear and much smaller than was  intended. Inspiration is truly the motor itself.  

The reason many people lose motivation and quit before ever reaching the next level is  because their purpose is smaller than themselves. However, what would happen if your  purpose were bigger than you? I'm glad you asked . . .  

Imagine you want to build a home. Just the thought of all the work involved makes you lose  your motivation, but as you begin to think, you realize that in this "home" you will live with  your spouse, raise your children, and have your grandchildren visit. You are now inspired  and compelled to fulfill the vision of building your "home" no matter what the cost. This is  your inspiration. Don't you deserve a life of inspiration?  

Define Your Purpose
"Why?" is the first question you must ask yourself on both a  personal and business level. If your "home" wanted to discover why it was built, who would  it ask: the neighbor, the mailman, or its builder? I think you get the picture. So visualize  your purpose by writing it down. Once your "why" is bigger than your "how," you will get  inspired and the "hows" will automatically begin aligning themselves.  

Break Through
You can't fight what you don't know exists. Answer this question: "What is  holding me back from fulfilling my purpose?" The most popular answer is fear. Whatever  your answer is, realize that you must conquer your obstacles or they will conquer you. If,  while building your "home," you find there are problems with the foundation, you must do  what it takes to strengthen what holds it all together. When you get weary, don't worry--it's  normal. Remember that the foundation is the reason "why" you are paying the price. 

Assemble Your Team As you press toward the next level you will find that you can't do it  on your own. Take the time to pick the right people who will empower you to keep moving  forward in your journey. For example, a few things you might need to build your "home" are  a developer, an architect, and a construction crew. What kind of team do you need to build  your vision? How about a team that balances out all your weaknesses? That way, when you  run across problems that seem impossible, you can seek answers from those who have  them.  

Grow in Balance
True success can be measured by how balanced your life is. Balance can  be like the fence that protects your "home." It is vital to grow in every area of your life to  experience the type of fulfillment that comes to those who grow in discipline. Decide to live  balanced today and reap the benefits.  

Enjoy the Journey
When you are taking action, every day takes you one step closer to  fulfilling your purpose. Just like you would get excited about your "home" taking shape with  each new day, so too should you enjoy traveling your path to success. So get excited! Every  day you are one step closer to fulfilling your vision.  

Remember . . . Even though your "home" that took so much work is very valuable, nothing  compares to the lives that will be shaped by and in it. So empower others to do the same by  passing on these tools that enabled you to build your own.  

Source: http://www.ideamarketers.com

INSPIRATION VERSUS MOTIVATION--WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT

Better Than Neon?

Neon signs play an important role in the sign industry and they remain a great way to differentiate your business and attract customers. If you prefer a more eco-friendly product, you may want to consider the Flashing LED Board, the latest commercial device you can use to promote your business in various ways, including sign board, light signs, illuminated signs during the day and night, and inside and outside signs. Your customized content can be easily revised as updates occur and these signs are available in many formats, including flashing boards, lighted boards, illuminated boards, acrylic signs, LED outdoor signs, and LED marker boards. 

The uses for the Flashing LED Board are endless. You can feature specials and sale items that change frequently and highlight special occasions and promotions without needing new signage, but merely changing copy. These signs are also great to use at trade shows as portable sign displays, countertop table displays, or exhibition stands, as they’ll definitely draw people to your booth.  

Is it time for you to investigate the Flashing LED Board as a flexible, cost-effective and “green” way to get potential customers’ attention?

Better Than Neon?

Seven Signs of Visionary Leaders

By Kamran Akbarzadeh Article
Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5716847

If there are a bunch of people in a room and you are asked to identify those who are visionary  what would you do? Would you talk to each person individually to find out who is visionary and  who is not? Would you assign them some tasks in order to watch them and identify the visionary  ones? Would you divide them in groups and observe which ones act as visionary leaders?  Visionary leaders have some signs that make them stand out from the rest of the crowd.  Following are 7 signs of visionaries.

They are imaginative
Visionary people can visualize things easily. When you talk to visionary leaders you can  recognize them from the rest of the crowd because of their imagination. Visionaries can imagine  future possibilities in their minds and then explain what they have imagined clearly. They  imagine things that others cannot imagine. Through their imagination they can draw future  possibilities for their organization.

They are big-picture oriented
You can recognize visionaries by their ability to see the big picture. In a group of people,  visionary ones talk about the big picture and how various factors link together to create that  picture. They see the whole process and not a single step.  Since visionary leaders are big-picture oriented, they are not attached. They are not worried  about why this happened and why that did not happen. They enjoy the whole process. They are  patient. They see all the links in the big picture and therefore they do not blame others.

They are focused and present
When you are in presence of a true visionary, you can feel their power. Visionaries are powerful  because they are focused and present. In other words, focus and presence create power. Since visionaries are present and focused, you can connect with them when they talk about what  they have in mind, when they teach you something, or when they perform a task. People are  more drawn to those who are focused and present. That is why visionaries have more followers.

They are open minded and fan of new ideas 
Visionaries have open minds. They do not limit themselves to their own thoughts and ideas.  When you talk to a visionary leader, he or she is open to what you talk about and listens to your  ideas and thoughts attentively.One thing that differentiates visionary leaders from other open minded people is that visionaries  tell you their expectations upfront. They give you a big picture of what they have in mind. Then  they let you be creative and come up with new ideas and thoughts on how to achieve that vision.  They encourage you to be as creative as possible and never afraid of presenting your so called  silly ideas.

They are positive energizers
Another sign of true visionaries is their positive attitude. Since visionaries are passionate about  and connected with their vision, their positive energy level is typically high. As such, they act as  positive energizers; that is, they recharge people with positive energy. Due to their positive attitude, true visionaries are surrounded by positive people who are willing  to help them achieve a common vision.

They are never afraid of failures
As mentioned earlier, true visionaries see what others cannot see. They see the big picture. They  see the links among different events. They see possible obstacles. They know there would be  challenges along the way. They know they might have temporary setbacks. But they also know  the great value of fulfilling the vision. Therefore, true visionaries never give up. They are not  afraid of failures because they know that failures are part of the process as well. In a group of leaders, true visionaries can be recognized with their tendency towards taking risks  and transforming those risks to opportunities. Their positive approach and their focus on the  vision help them not be afraid of failures. Such leaders are willing to discover new paths and  become searchlights for others. This is the secret of their success.

They share and communicate the dream/vision
One of the big signs of visionaries is their willingness for sharing their vision with the world.  They don't keep it to themselves because they know that they cannot get to the destination alone.  They need others for filling the gaps and that is why they communicate their vision and dreams  with others to attract the right people. If you have these signs, I congratulate you for being a visionary leader. If you don't have some of  these signs, you can take the lead and improve your skills toward becoming a fully visionary  leader.

www.sdsar.com

Seven Signs of Visionary Leaders

What Your Sign Should Say: Creating Your Message

By Kara Klein
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5738849

One of the most obviously important parts of your custom outdoor sign is what is says. But the  message you choose to put on your sign is vital for more reasons than you think. The words you  put on your signage are more than just words; they're an important design element. The curvy  shapes and lines of each letter create word forms which utilize valuable space within the design.  You don't want your sign to be ignored by passing cars or left unread by those who wander by.  One of the biggest design mistakes we see is bad wording, and an ineffective sign could very  well lose you business. Once you choose the right message to put on your new outdoor sign,  you'll be on the right track!

Be obvious
Sure, it seems obvious. Your store is called Tina's, so that's what you're putting on your business  sign. But wait. Anyone who has never been to Tina's before won't feel a spark of interest when  they read your sign because they don't know what Tina's is. Is it a bakery? A jewelry store? A  carpentry shop specializing in wooden gnomes? There's no way of knowing. Your sign needs to  convey exactly what type of business you run because it may not be as obvious as you think.  Tina's Fine Clothing is a more appropriate message for the sign. Perhaps Tina's will be in big  block letters on top and Fine Clothing will be in smaller letters underneath. This way, your  marketing is effective and the name of your shop has not been changed.

Be clear
Being too joke-y or subtle with the message on your outdoor business sign can make it  confusing. Remember that wooden gnome carpentry shop? What if the sign read "Tina's Gnomes  - You Gnow It!" Believe it or not, some people might find that funny and clever! But if your  passing driver is not one of those people - or can't decipher the joke, you've probably just lost a  customer. Clear and simple is the best way to go

3 ½ Seconds
No, this isn't the title of a new action movie. 3 ½ seconds is about how long a passing motorist  looks at your outdoor sign. That doesn't give you much time. They key is to make your sign  easily readable in that small window of time. Overcrowding your sign with too many lines of  text will make it difficult to read. Using colors that blend together will make for a frustrated  reader so make sure your text is in a color that contrasts with the background so reading your  message is easy on the eyes.


Less is More
You now know that your custom outdoor signage shouldn't have too much text burying your  message. But how much is too much? Try to use as few words as possible. The magic number is  seven; so don't use more words than that. Remember, outdoor signs are meant to attract  customers and spark an interest in them. You don't need to explain everything about your  business up front - there's plenty of room for more signs once your target audience is interested  enough to pull in and walk inside. Because of this, you want your message to be as pithy as  possible. Don't say anything that isn't absolutely necessary. Tina's Bakery: Pastries and Baked  Goods is not an efficient message. The name of the shop, Tina's Bakery, tells us that there will be  pastries and baked goods inside, so the second line is unnecessary. For that matter, pastries are baked goods so the second line itself is redundant. A message such as Tina's Bakery: Always  Organic is much more effective. Nothing is repeated and the most important feature of the  business is stated.

You know the message on your outdoor business sign is important, and now you know just how  much. Keep it simple, clear and obvious and your sign will bring in the target audience you're  after.


www.sdsar.com

What Your Sign Should Say: Creating Your Message

Less is Usually More

There are many different components to signs, including size, color, design and verbiage. Since every sign serves a unique purpose, these elements need to be researched on a case-by-case basis; there’s no cookie-cutter right or wrong, but there are some general guidelines with respect to the words that appear on your signs.

In most cases, it’s best to get your message across in as few words as possible. Depending on the location of your sign, people may only have a moment to glance at it, so including a bunch of copy, even if it’s large, is usually a mistake.

Think about the power of a sign you see every day that has only one word on it: STOP. While you’ll likely need a bit more copy than that, always err on the side of brevity.

You also need to choose your words wisely. Go for simple rather than complex and short rather than long, and don’t use “word play” unless you’re totally certain anyone who looks at your sign will get it. The last thing you want to do is over-complicate things by being so cute with words that you lose much of your audience.

You may think you know what you want to say on your sign, but don’t discount the value of working with a sign professional to ensure your message is clear, concise and easily read.

Less is Usually More