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Greetings!
 | This month we talk all about "moving to the cloud" for storage and important file management.
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Welcome to this month's (somewhat late) issue of the Internet Minute. This month I'm excited about kicking off my fundraising effort to help support the fight against childhood cancer. More information about how you can support is below.
I've got lots of stuff to share, so let's get going... I hope you enjoy this issue of the Internet Minute!
-Eric
Questions or comments...? eric@poweredbywsi.com
P.S. Sorry I "missed" April for this issue, but just pretend that you got this yesterday and I won't tell anyone if you don't. ;-)
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Get Your Head Into the Cloud(s) - Some Popular Remote File Storage Options
I'm often asked by clients (and friends) what all the "buzz" is surrounding the cloud and remote file storage. Speaking from personal experience, I know I could not run my business without taking many of my key activities to the "cloud" such as web-based e-mail, project management and file storage.
At a basic level, anything that is in the "cloud" means the resource does not live exclusively on your computer, and can be accessed via the web. Not only does this make information more accessible, but it also helps to create redundancy (ie. a backup) of your information should something happen to your computer.
Below are the key services that I rely on every day that may be of interest to you. The good news is these are programs that you know I'm using personally.
Dropbox  When you install Dropbox the service creates a "Dropbox" folder on your computer and anything you place in there is automatically synched up with their server and stored in the cloud. The best part about this if you are collaborating with others (either in your office or between computers in the home), you can install Dropbox on those computers as well and instantly create your own network file sharing service. This is great not only from a collaboration perspective, but it also gives you an instant backup of any document you put in the folder, since it stores a version in the Dropbox cloud, but also on any other computer that is part of your sharing strategy. Plus, they have an easy to use app for iPhone, iPad and Android devices that gives you quick access to all your files.
http://dropbox.com YouSendIt  If you've ever tried to send a large file via e-mail and got the dreaded "file size exceeds message delivery restrictions" you will come to love YouSendIt. The service gives you a way to upload large files (such as design, photos, video and multi-page PDFs) to their site and then provide a link for someone to click and download. So now instead of sending the file, you send a link and the person on the other end can easily access it. The system gives you the ability to set files to expire, require the recipient to log in to access it and even give others a way to upload documents directly to you.
http://yousendit.com Google Drive  While certainly not a newcomer to the concept of working in the "cloud", Google recently (just last week) announced the arrival of their Drive service that gives you one place to store not only your Google Docs, but any other document from your computer in their web-based storage service. I've started using the service (you get 5 GB of space to get started) and have to say that it's nice to organize my Google Docs alongside my "traditional" documents such as Word and Excel files. I suspect over time there will be increased features released by Google that will give the other players a run for their money (and even more choices for consumers).
http://drive.google.com Carbonite  If you've ever suffered a hard-drive crash and lost important data (such as documents, images, videos, etc.) you know first-hand how irreplaceable these items can be. For less than $60 per year you can install Carbonite on your computer and it quietly sits in the background backing up all your important documents and files securely over the Internet. They have recently expanded their services to offer packages for small businesses and even offer mobile apps for iPhone and Android that give you the ability to review (and even forward) documents that are backed up by the service.
http://carbonite.com A Note About Privacy and Security If you are someone who is concerned about privacy and security (and we all should be), I strongly encourage you to review the policy statements on all of these sites before jumping in. I think the common reaction to the concept of "in the cloud" is that you are putting your data at risk, but that just is not the case. In fact, companies like the ones mentioned above have way more money (and expertise) at keeping information safe and secure than what you could do on your own. Kick the Tires Before You Buy One great thing about all of the services above is they all offer a free trial of their services so you can see how they work before spending any of your money. For some, the free versions will be just fine and may serve the need since you may not want to use the service for "everything" and only a special selection of files. |
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Fighting Childhood Cancer One Pedal Stroke at a Time...
 | | Here's me with Christi, the reason I'm pedaling to fight childhood cancer. |
This year I'm excited about getting "back in the saddle" and racing to fight childhood cancer and supporting the Children's Neuroblastoma Cancer Foundation. Inspired by Christi Thomas who will remain "forever 9", I founded Pedaling With a Purpose in 2006, a site designed to help fellow cyclists raise money for worthy causes doing what they love - riding their bikes. It's been an honor to help support the CNCF over the years and help to keep Christi's spirit alive.
For my 2012 event, I'm racing the Cedar Point 70.3 mile triathlon in Sandusky, Ohio. I'm also excited that one of my very good friends (and ultra-distance athlete extraordinaire) will be joining me for the weekend, Kathy Roche-Wallace. My partner in fundraising this year, she's doing the 140.6 mile distance race and is quite an amazing story in her own right. In fact, you can watch the Free Webinar Wednesdays episode where she was my guest and shared her story about being an adventure athlete (and how what she's learned over the years actually can be applied in business).  | This year Kathy Roche-Wallace is joining me to help fight childhood cancer.
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If you're interested in learning more about the "back story" and what an amazing little girl Christi was, you can visit her website or the blog that continues to be updated by her mom. To support the CNCF and make a donation to support Kathy and me in our race this year, you can visit our fundraiser page. Any amount is appreciated and helps get one step closer to putting an end to this nasty form of childhood cancer. >> DONATE TODAY! << |
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REMINDER - Increase Your Social Media IQ - Register Today for the 2012 Social Media Success Summit (Starts May 1st)
 | | Reserve Your Spot Today! |
Having attended the past several "Summit" events from Michael Stelzner and the team at Social Media Examiner*, I can tell you first-hand these are worth every penny of your registration fee.
Michael has rounded up experts from around the "social globe" to present on a variety of topics at this year's Summit. Each session is delivered "webinar style", making them accessible from the comfort of your home or office. This year's Social Media Success Summit* is lining up to be another great, information-packed event, so mark your calendars today. It starts May 1 and goes through May 24.
Key Highlights:- Features 27 of the world's leading social media marketing experts
- Completely online, webinar-based training - no travel required
- Full download access to all recorded sessions (video and PDF format)
- Covers topics like Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, Blogs, Pinterest and more
- Learn how to build fans, create loyalty, track success and ask the experts questions live during the sessions
Whether you're just getting started or a seasoned veteran, you'll come away with loads of great ideas, so register today*. Then when you're done with the Summit, let's re-connect and see how we can put some of your new ideas to work for your business! |
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Thanks for taking the time to read this month's issue of the Internet Minute. Feel free to share it with friends and colleagues and if you have suggestions for future issues or questions, don't hesitate to let me know.
See you online...
Eric :-)
Web Development | Internet Marketing | Paid Search Management
SEO | Site Analytics | Conversion Strategies | E-Mail Marketing
Social Media | Online Document Management | Strategic Planning
*Full disclosure, this indicates this is an affiliate link. I may receive compensation should you decide to register for this online event. However, I've already registered for this event and would not promote this unless I believed it was of value to you.
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