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Greetings!
Bob here. It's March. The snow is essentially gone (while I'm writing this, anyway). So are jobs, apparently. Jobless claims were last this high back in October 1982. To put that in geek perspective, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn was released in 1982. Since then we've had either 26 years or 8 additional Star Trek movies, depending on your point of view.
But we're not letting that slow us down. There's definitely a challenge to it all. We hear our customers loud and clear. We're all looking to do more with less. That's why we're Lunchinaring, Twittering, Blogging, LinkedIn...um...-ing. We want to share our knowledge and experience with everyone interested.
That's why we're sharing information about programs such as Microsoft's " Big Easy 3.0," which is a pretty decent program that puts money back in your hands when you purchase software.
Plus we're getting some new interest in Microsoft's ResponsePoint phone system. It's a low cost way for companies with less than 50 extensions to get a top notch phone system for an extremely reasonable cost.
Elsewhere in this issue you'll see where Simplex-IT is going to be at the Hudson Business Expo on the 14th. Drop on by and say howdy!
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| Marketing 101 - Sending your Company to Peoples' In-boxes |
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| Simplex-IT's Monthly Lunchinar Series Continues...
And it's better than ever! A guest at our last lunchinar commented;
"It was a pleasure to see you yesterday! What a great idea and concept. I learned a lot and enjoyed meeting all of your associates".
So, why not join us this month for free pizza, tech talk and more on Wednesday, March 18th, at 11:30am. It's not a sales pitch!
This time we'll discuss:
In a day and age where resources must be quick to access combined with easy to afford, marketing has taken an interesting turn. Companies are trying to do more with less yet still grow their business and reach out to prospects.
Email marketing is proving to be a key way of sharing news of your company, in an easy, not-too-time-consuming and comfortable format.
Learn how to create your own marketing campaign using this online tool!
Space is limited (10) so be sure to RSVP by contacting Julie at 234-380-1277.
We hope to see you there! Oh, and bring a business card to put into our door prize drawing. Given that we limit attendance to only 10 folks, your chances for winning are pretty good! |
| Thinking 'Outside of the Box' |
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Sam here...
I know that I normally write geared toward the more technically savvy reader. Today, I am writing more on the business-productivity side, with a little story.
Once upon a time, I worked for a company that had to print a General Ledger once per month. The accounting application was a few versions back and not all that printer-friendly, the Ledger about 1400 pages. When I say the software wasn't printer-friendly, I mean that one could not print a page range; rather one had to resubmit the entire job. So, for each VP or Business Analyst who wanted a copy, another 1400 pages (and 6 or 7 hours) had to be printed (from a crusty old dot matrix printer).
I decided that this situation was an exercise in wasted time and resources, and not only from Accounting's standpoint, but also for IT due to things such as paper jams, printer issues, etc. It was a burden for me and my staff.
Here's the thing. A lot of times, situations like the one I described above continue to happen simply because that's the way "It's always been done". This is an unacceptable way to look at things. Without folks looking for faster/better/more efficient ways to make things happen, we'd still be cave-people.
So, what's the solution? Well, there are a lot of them, but in this case I decided to go with a free "Print to PDF" tool (Bullzip Free PDF Printer). This is kind of how the project went: I installed the BullZIP PDF Printer on one of the Accounting workstations and printed the General Ledger. It took 6 minutes (from an original 6-7 hours) and created a 5MB PDF file. From that file, I could print certain pages (to yet another PDF if I was so inclined) and give those to the VPs/BAs that needed them. I could also print that PDF file to a laser printer or email it, or stick it on a CD and archive it (the General Ledger was a 20lb 18"x11" (or so) behemoth of a printed document when printed 'the old way'). Of course, what this solution really gave everyone was the ability to review the General Ledger on their computer screen and print only certain sections if it was necessary.
I did not do a cost analysis of the project (as I was staff) or an ROI investigation. But I can tell you that:
a) The printers were no longer monopolized for a couple of days when the GL was printed
b) It took 1/100th the time to print (to file)
c) The ledger could be emailed to VPs
d) The ledger could be split up into smaller sections for particular parties such as departments
e) Once in PDF format, a dot matrix printer was no longer required for it to look right
f) It cost me, roughly, 8 hours of time from start of research to end-of-project
Not too bad. Again, I'd say that's a pretty high ROI for introducing just a 'new way to do something'.
Sam |
| Julie's approach on Marketing in a Tough Economy |
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As I continue to network and meet folks in different industries, I am finding that we are all struggling with the same thing - getting our company name and information out to potential clients on a stream-lined budget, using limited resources while trying to make the most impact. I have attended conferences, Chamber events, networking forums and the like in our company's quest to put together a marketing program that will generate results while not straining our budget or our time.
Recently, I was asked to take on the revamping and editorial duties of the Streetsboro Chamber of Commerce newsletter. Their original piece was not up to their standards, wasn't getting the exposure and results they had hoped, involved physically printing and mailing the piece and had a lot of people scurrying around to make things happen. When I met with the Chamber to create a new process and look of the newsletter, we had an open door attitude as to the forward motion we would take.
In fact, you're reading Simplex-IT's e-Newsletter now. Constant Contact is, in a nutshell, an email marketing tool and it has been growing in popularity by leaps and bounds. Simplex-IT has been using Constant Contact as a source for their newsletter for a few months and we have been very pleased with it, on both a usability and functionality side combined with ease of distribution and a tailored visual effect. You begin with a template (there are a number from which to choose), add article blocks, a table of contents and some photographs and you've got something that others will have a chance browse and use as a source of information, complete with your logo and your business presence.
On the tracking and reporting side, Constant Contact allows you to see how many newsletters were viewed, and which subsequent website links were clicked. You can see new subscribers as well as those who passed it along for another to enjoy. For a very reasonable monthly fee (it varies based upon how many email addresses you have) and with a little creativity (it really can bring office members together on a collaborative front), you can get the word out about your business and industry with the click of a mouse. And, someone can opt out very easily if they chose to, so there is no concern about sending the information to someone who might be less-than-receptive.
For those of you interested in learning more, our Lunchinar on March 18th will dive into the creation of an online newsletter, providing tips and tricks and ways to begin your email marketing campaign. You can also check out Constant Contact directly to determine if this approach is a viable tool for you. As always, don't hesitate to email me if I can be of help. And most importantly, in these crazy economic times, be sure to keep things productive...and fun!
Stay well,
234-380-1277
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| LinkedIn Networking Event |
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March 4th
Bob here. Yeah, it's last minute (but we did mention it in our Blog, you know). LinkedIn is quasi-sponsoring a free Business Networking event tonight (Wednesday March 4th) that so far has 408 people signed up for it. It will be down at the Rock Bottom Bar and Brewery. If you're interested, click here for more information. |
| Do you have enough RAM? |
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Adding more is easy to do...
I've been asked by many people over the years how they can add more RAM to their computer so that it runs a bit faster. Many times people feel that they need to take their computer to a computer shop, when in reality it's not very difficult to add more RAM to a computer. For those that may not know, RAM is the stuff (memory) in your computer that allows a user to have many programs open at once. The more RAM you have, the more programs (Internet Explorer, Word, Excel, Outlook, etc...) that can be running without slowing down the computer's performance. If you notice that when you have many programs open at the same your computer starts to slow down, or if it takes a long time to switch between programs, it might just mean that you could use more memory.
If you would like to see how much memory you have, simply right click on the "My Computer" icon and click "Properties". This takes you to a screen that shows information about your computer. Look at the RAM (memory) and see how much you have. If you have less than 1 GB I would suggest that you add more. It's not very expensive to do, and it will enhance your computing experience.
If you decide that you would like to add more RAM, you must first realize that not all RAM is the same. If you were to buy the wrong type of RAM and add it to your PC you might damage the motherboard and break your computer.
Don't worry; you don't need to be a computer GURU in today's world to find out what kind of RAM your computer takes. There are websites like http://www.crucial.com/ that will scan your computer and tell you EXACTLY what type of RAM you need. You can either print that information and take it to a computer store or order it right online!!
Once you have your RAM, it is very important that you discharge any static electricity from your body before trying to install it. (Touch the metal on the computer case before you touch anything connected to the motherboard to ensure that all static electricity is released.)
Installing the RAM is simple. Remove the case cover, and locate the existing RAM on your motherboard. RAM installs simply by lining-up the chip to the slot, and pressing the RAM into the slot until it "snaps" into place. As always, if you have any questions regarding this, please feel free to email me. Cary |
| Simplex-IT at Hudson Biz Event in March |
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Hudson Business Expo
Not to pass up an opportunity to be seen in public, Simplex-IT will be one of the exhibitors at the upcoming Hudson Business Expo on Saturday, March 14th from 10am-4pm.
We'll be there, along with Simplex-IT's "Wheel of Death." In fairness, after some market research we replaced the whole death thing with prizes, including Glitter Rockets!
"Explore Hudson," is a biennial community expo sponsored by the Hudson Chamber of Commerce. Over 90 exhibitors from virtually every sort of business in Hudson will be on hand to introduce themselves and their products to visitors from Hudson and the surrounding communities. Representatives from the schools, city departments, clubs, non-profit organizations and civic groups will also be there. The event will take place at East Woods School in Hudson. There will entertainment, demonstrations, free samples, drawings and all sorts of give-aways. Admission and parking are free, making it a family and wallet-friendly event. |
| Want to find out about this stuff quicker? |
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| Blog updates from Simplex-IT
Here are some Blog updates we've made over the past month:
A thought about passwords
A problem and a solution - 0x80070017
Security Lunchinar Wrapup
It's all about the Community...
Akron and Cleveland LinkedIn Events...
LinkedIn...Marketing (fools?) Gold
Sophos is #1!
New eNewsletter from Simplex-IT to focus on local UGs
(and more!)
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| Big Easy...Third time's a charm! |
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 Buy Microsoft software through us, get a check!
Microsoft has brought the Big Easy back. Simply put, if you buy your Microsoft Software through a Microsoft Partner (think...well, think about Simplex-IT!), not only will you get a good price, but in addition you'll get a check from Microsoft made out to us. You can use that check to pay for additional services! Check here for more about this program and others that Microsoft has. |
| Plain Funny #5 |
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Institute for BackupTrauma
Bob here. Ok, this is an oldie but a goodie. Yeah, we've heard about offsite backups being a good idea, but leave it to John Cleese (of Monty Python) and LiveVault to bring it home. Click here to see how and why.
And yeah, with the exception of one bleeped word, it's safe for work.
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Simplex-IT Customer Spotlight
Patio Enclosures, Inc. |
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A familiar commercial theme that many of us might remember, even from years back, is that catchy 'Patio Enclosures' slogan. Founded by Leon Shon and Albert Schneider, Patio Enclosures has been providing sunrooms, solariums, awnings and more for 40 years and has served over 200,000 customers. Started in Independence with just about 2500 square feet of space, they now encompass over 310,000 square feet of buildings across the country, with their main headquarters situated locally here in Macedonia, Ohio. Patio Enclosures is the largest builder and supplier of its kind in the U.S. and Canada.
Customers can plan their sunroom design by choosing from patented features, allowing them to customize their addition and maximize their experience. From there, a state-of-the-art computerized manufacturing facility handles the manufacturing process. Patio Enclosures has been advancing their technologies over the years and they now offer an 'Earth Smart' approach to their products. This focuses on minimizing the impacts of heat and cold, to maximize energy as well as providing methods to allow for fresh air ventilation. They have Design Consultants on board who are always ready to assist with the planning and designing phase.
Patio Enclosures and Simplex-IT joined forces about a year and a half ago. Mike Kolias, their Director of Information Technology explains; "During this relationship, Simplex-IT has afforded Patio Enclosures the knowledge base that has helped the company transition through a crucial employee replacement. Simplex-IT continues to be a source of networking knowledge and a vital tool used by the infrastructure team. From Hyper V to Storage Craft Shadow Protect, Simplex-IT has demonstrated valuable software and hardware solutions that Patio Enclosures plans to implement in the coming year."
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| DeVore to Provide Free Computer Training to Unemployed |
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DeVore Technologies, Inc. today announced a program to provide free hands-on computer training to Northeast Ohio's unemployed. The program will run from February thru April at DeVore's corporate headquarters located in Bedford, Ohio. DeVore will offer a modified schedule of courses specifically aimed at enhancing core business computing skills of the end-user. The number of people seeking unemployment benefits is at a 26-year high, and those recently laid off are finding they need broader and stronger skills in order to secure new jobs. Jennifer Hughes, Training Manager with DeVore, says "We view unexpected downtime resulting from layoffs as the opportunity to invest in professional development, enhance your basic technology skills and build your resume." She continues "Here in northeast Ohio we have a strong Healthcare and IT presence, two industries that continue to hire despite a downturn in the economy, and both require strong computer skills." The modified schedule is available for viewing online and classes will begin immediately based on class enrollment. DeVore is committed to supporting the Northeast Ohio business community during these challenging economic times. | |
We'd love to hear feedback about this! Send comments to Bob@Simplex-IT.com, or call us at 234.380.1277!
Sincerely,
Bob Coppedge
Simplex-IT LLC |
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