11 Jun 2019

Turn Instagram followers into customers

2019-07-08T14:33:45-07:00

Instagram has gone from an app that shares puppy photos with vintage-themed filters, to a marketing tool that savvy businesses are taking advantage of. The photo-sharing giant has a billion monthly active users, making it an ideal online marketplace. If you know how to create and promote compelling content on Instagram, you can get more from it than just photogenic filters.

Ensure your posts are shoppable

This simply means providing a convenient path where your followers can buy the products posted on your page. With the right Instagram tool, you can direct users to your online shop where they can make an actual purchase. Instagram is, arguably, not the best eCommerce platform to use if you depend on clickable media, but if you know how to tweak the app to your advantage — and provide an attractive presentation of your products — you can turn likes into sales.

Give away discount codes or coupons

Encourage followers to engage […]

Turn Instagram followers into customers2019-07-08T14:33:45-07:00
10 Jun 2019

5 Tips for protecting corporate data

2019-07-08T14:35:16-07:00

A data breach can happen to anyone, even to the most secure businesses or financial institutions — and cybercriminals could even attack your company’s network. How can you be sure your network is completely hacker-safe? As a business owner, you can’t afford a data breach, as it could cost you your clients and reputation. Employing strict security measures can make any cybercriminal think twice about trying to break into your network. Here are some tips to protect your corporate data.

Use Two-Factor Authentication

Using a complicated password to secure your system is no longer an effective way to solve the issue of cybersecurity. We tend to use that same complex password in our email accounts or bank accounts, and if one of your logins is compromised, this can result in grave consequences.

Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of security for your systems and accounts. It can be biometric verification for devices that you own, or a time-sensitive auto-generated code that is sent to your […]

5 Tips for protecting corporate data2019-07-08T14:35:16-07:00
7 Jun 2019

Updates from Apple’s WWDC 2019

2019-06-07T08:00:00-07:00

Apple continues to push the frontiers of innovation with a slew of hardware and software releases. This year’s Apple Worldwide Developers Conference is expected to contribute to shaping the future of media production, digital processing, and home & office productivity. Here’s what you need to know about the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2019.

Privacy commitment

In Mr. Cook’s keynote speech, he hammered home Apple’s commitment to ensuring user privacy. According to him, Apple will be utilizing new privacy tools that will allow users to sign into third-party apps with their AppleID without giving away excessive user information the way conventional sign-in methods do.

iOS 13 launch

Another exciting update is the launch of iOS 13, Apple’s next-generation version of its famed mobile operating system. iOS 13 is projected to be the first iOS version to deploy dark mode, a new and improved sleep mode, app optimizations, Files app improvements, an updated CarPlay interface, a less obtrusive volume HUD, and a new WiFi-less tracking feature that connects using proximity with other devices.

iPadOS

Apple […]

Updates from Apple’s WWDC 20192019-06-07T08:00:00-07:00
6 Jun 2019

Save money with your data center

2019-07-08T14:38:42-07:00

Is your data center sucking you dry like a vampire? Many business owners would like to believe that the server room and data center don’t exist. But whether you acknowledge them or not, they could be eating up your resources every month. Here’s what to do to cut costs. 

Perform an energy audit

There’s a good chance your IT staff has never thought about how much energy your server room and data center are consuming. The first thing to do to rectify the problem is to identify how much power is being used. 

To get you started, here are a few questions to ask: 

  • How much of the data center’s power budget goes to support systems?
  • How much goes to IT systems?
  • How much IT output do you get for every kilowatt/hour of power used by your data center IT systems? 

Answering these questions will help you determine just how efficient, […]

Save money with your data center2019-07-08T14:38:42-07:00
5 Jun 2019

Android tablet pointers for the best sleep

2020-12-18T08:56:27-07:00

If you want to run your business effectively, you need enough rest. This lets you focus, make better educated business decisions, communicate well with vendors and colleagues, and get things done properly. While your Android tablet is a helpful tool to help you accomplish some work-related tasks, it may also be disrupting your sleep. Make sure this doesn’t happen with the following tips.

Don’t use it before bed

It’s been widely recognized that the blue light from screens and mobile devices can disrupt sleep, suppressing your body’s levels of melatonin (the hormone that induces sleep). Because of this and the distractions your tablet brings, it’s best to avoid using it a half hour before bed. However, if this isn’t possible, here are a few tips to prevent your device from causing sleep disruption.

Silence distractions with Google Chrome’s Reader Mode

Reading before bed can be an effective way to induce sleep. However, if you’re using your tablet to browse the Internet, you’re often exposed to ads that […]

Android tablet pointers for the best sleep2020-12-18T08:56:27-07:00
4 Jun 2019

Lower hospital readmissions through big data

2019-06-05T17:37:45-07:00

The medical industry is teeming with data. Patients that receive care, for example, have hundreds of data points associated with their medical history. But how is this data being handled? In most cases, not carefully enough. By adopting one of business’s more popular technology solutions, your medical facility could save money and improve patient care so much as to lower readmission rates. Let’s find out how.

At its core, business intelligence (BI) software is all about data analytics. BI software is able to accept overwhelming amounts of data in short periods of time and use advanced analysis algorithms to search for trends in the data that even the most experienced statistician cannot find. Because it can provide deep insights in short periods of time, businesses across industries have utilized different BI software to gain competitive advantages and streamline their workflows. For instance, businesses in the healthcare industry use BI to manage their readmission rates.

For the context of this article, readmission refers to when a patient returns for more […]

Lower hospital readmissions through big data2019-06-05T17:37:45-07:00
3 Jun 2019

4 Reasons for slow mobile internet speeds

2019-06-05T17:41:47-07:00

Have you ever gotten frustrated with your smartphone because the web browser took more than five minutes to load? Before you start blaming your old phone, check out these four reasons that might be the cause of your slow internet connection.

Router location

One simple yet overlooked reason why your Wi-Fi-connected phone may be experiencing internet lag is because of your router’s location. Although Wi-Fi has a range of up to 230 feet, the farther away you are from the router, the weaker the signal. Large objects like doors and walls situated in between you and the router can also weaken the transmission.

It’s recommended to place your router in a centralized location, preferably away from concrete and masonry walls or other big objects like a chimney. As the router signal radiates from all sides, blocking any side with big objects will impact your Wi-Fi’s signal quality and as a result, your phone’s internet speed is impeded.

Wi-Fi noise

Did you know that home electronic appliances emit wireless signals at a frequency […]

4 Reasons for slow mobile internet speeds2019-06-05T17:41:47-07:00
31 May 2019

The benefits of working from home with VoIP

2019-05-31T08:03:20-07:00

As a business owner, it’s important to raise your company’s morale to be more productive. But you can’t just keep throwing office parties every day of the year. Thanks to advancements in VoIP technologies, you can offer a better way to keep your employee’s spirits high by allowing them to work from home. Here are a few reasons why work-at-home strategies paired with VoIP systems is a good idea.

It’s good for business

Many businesses have misconceptions about their employees who choose to work from home. They assume that their employees will be less productive if they are not within the office environment, but this could not be farther from the truth. VoIP services can empower your small business and work-at-home employees in a number of ways:

VoIP technologies allow you to keep your employees on track with an array of management tools like barge, monitor, and whisper, which allow you to coach and micromanage your employees.
The cost of business resources, furniture, space and sick days are reduced when there […]

The benefits of working from home with VoIP2019-05-31T08:03:20-07:00
30 May 2019

Simplify calendar sharing with Office 365

2019-05-31T07:55:34-07:00

Calendar apps have done wonders for the business world. They’ve made it so much simpler to schedule meetings with colleagues, manage projects, and increase productivity. But things can get sticky when you want someone outside of your organization to see your calendar. Thankfully, Office 365 tackles this challenge.

Share an Office 365 calendar with specific people

Click the Share button from the Home menu along the top of your Office 365 calendar. This will open an email window where you can enter the addresses of people you want to see your calendar.

From that window, you can limit how much of your calendar they see by choosing from Availability Only, Limited Details, or Full Details. The latter two will show recipients the meeting names and participants of events on your calendar, whereas Availability Only will simply display scheduled events as Busy. After you’ve sent the invitation, recipients receive an email with a link to view your calendar in a web browser.

Make an Office 365 calendar public

If you’d prefer to have […]

Simplify calendar sharing with Office 3652019-05-31T07:55:34-07:00
29 May 2019

Disaster recovery during hurricane season

2021-02-17T10:24:46-07:00

There’s no telling when natural disasters will occur. When they do, certain regions in the country often bear the brunt of their impact, like when Hurricanes Harvey and Irma hit certain states in 2017. With a well-designed disaster recovery (DR) plan, your business can be spared from total devastation.

Determine recovery hierarchy

Certain parts of your IT are more mission-critical than others. Ask yourself which systems or data must be recovered in minutes, hours, or days to get your business back to running efficiently.

For example, you may find that recovering sensitive customer information and eCommerce systems take priority over recovering your email server. Whatever the case may be, prioritizing your systems ensures that the right ones are recovered quickly after a disaster.

Pay attention to location

First and foremost, your backup site should be in a hurricane-free zone. Ideally, your off-site facility should be located at least 100 miles away from your main location. If this isn’t possible, make sure it is built to withstand wind speeds of 160 mph (as fast […]

Disaster recovery during hurricane season2021-02-17T10:24:46-07:00
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