Home: Message List - Event: Use technology to appear BIG

Event: Use technology to appear BIG

SBOCTeam — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:15:38 GMT

Do you want to gain a competitive edge "without breaking the bank?" Learn how leveraging available technology in your small business can help you do that. With competition locally and even globally, small businesses need to put their best foot forward without spending more than they should to attract customers. Technology that was only available to large businesses a few years ago is now geared towards smaller businesses which mean acting big, even when you're not! Matt Makowicz, of Ambition Consulting is an expert and published author on the subjects of growing a small business and leveraging technology. He will answer questions such as:

How can technology help a one person company working from home?
How does my use of technology (or lack thereof) influence my potential customers?
Can a small business really afford the latest and best technology out there?

About Matt:

Matt is a Small Business Specialist for Microsoft. He is a principle at Ambition Consulting whose core focus is to help other businesses become successful by leveraging the experience of running award winning IT consulting practices that services small and medium business clients. Matt has also achieved numerous technical certifications and awards throughout his 15+ years of business experience.

You can learn more about Matt and Microsoft Small Business Specialists at:
http://www.ambitionmission.com/
http://www.microsoft.com/smallbusiness

The SBOC Team is taking questions in advance. Post your question here today and check back between 1:00-2:30 PM EST for the answer. You may ask a question at any point during the event. Remember, you must be a member to participate.

Matt will be posting as SMBexpert. So what's your question?!

Re: Live Event Now: Use technology to appear BIG

SBOCTeam — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 18:33:33 GMT

Matt,

On behalf of the SBOC Team and the members of the Small Business Online Community, we wanted to say we truly appreciated your time today and your professional responses to user questions.

Community members, while our session with Matt has now concluded, please feel free to discuss today's session and the questions answered. Again, if you'd like more information about Matt and Microsoft Small Business Specialist, visit:

http://www.microsoft.com/smallbusiness

Thanks again,

The SBOC Team

Re: Live Event Now: Use technology to appear BIG

SMBexpert — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 18:29:37 GMT

Let's use the ever so popular "car analogy."

Small business owners sometimes feel that when they invest in technology (which in their minds is hardware and software only) that once it is set up, they're done. They point to thier cars and say, "I could spend $20,000 or $50,000 on a car and my maintenance cost is only a few hundred dollars a year BECUASE it is a good car."

Unfortunately, technology doesn't work that way. There are too many "moving parts" and the world is a more technology active place that it was in years past. Maintenance on a technology infrastructure is NOT akin to getting an oil change on a car - it is like putting gas in the car! Sooner or later, it will stop working without it...

Seek out a provider who understands this and is willing to offer a simple or flat fee for the maintenance of technology. Better still, seek out a provider who offers maintenance AND support as a flat fee. That is the best way to ensure both proper maintenance AND continuity of the technology and of course your business!

Re: Live Event Now: Use technology to appear BIG

SBOCTeam — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 18:23:34 GMT

Matt,

Once a small business owner purchases software, there are concerns around ongoing costs such as servicing and maintenancing. What's reasonable to expect?

The SBOC Team

Re: Live Event Now: Use technology to appear BIG

SMBexpert — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 18:15:01 GMT

The need for "high availability of data" seems to have been increasing over recent years for numerous small businesses. Here are a few relevant tips & suggestions on that front:

1) even if there is no "dedicated server" at the home office, use a Network Attached Storage (NAS) device to store ALL valuable data. This way all machines on the network (PCs, laptops, replacement machines, etc...) can access the same data the same way.

Using "Offline file synchronization" available in Windows 2000/XP/Vista, all this data can be "sync'd" in real time to each machine and changes from any PC/laptop can be propagated for all to see/use.

2) consider an offsite backup solution in case of a disaster or failure

3) Look for web interfaces & mobile device interfaces for your business applications to ensure that data can be accessed from anywhere.

Re: Live Event Now: Use technology to appear BIG

SBOCTeam — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 18:12:01 GMT

Community,

Remember to refresh your browsers often to view Matt's latest responses.

The SBOC Team

Re: Live Event Now: Use technology to appear BIG

SBOCTeam — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 17:32:56 GMT

Matt,

To piggyback on your response to Landuse regarding mobile technologies, what can a small business owners do in the event that they left vital documents on their home office pc and need it when they're on the road/in the field.

The SBOC Team

Re: Live Event Now: Use technology to appear BIG

SMBexpert — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 18:03:18 GMT

Dear Bernoulli,

I have a good news/bad news answer for you. First, consider that all technology solutions have 3 main components - hardware, software, & services.

From a hardware perspective the options best available to your firm would be machine rental which can get pricey if done too often or for extended periods, or financing/leasing to spread costs over a longer period of time.

that's the bad news.

The good news is that with software and services, you have the option as a small business of paying for what you need, when you need it. For example, One of the Microsoft licensing programs is called SPLA (Service Provider License Agreement). This agreement allows an IT provider to pay for and thus charge you for the amount of licenses currently in use and can be adjusted on a monthly basis.

The better news is that such a provider will also likely offer a similar fluctuation option for their support and maintenance related services.

While, your firm will have to incur some sunken or recurring costs for the broader organization, alleviating extra software licensing and/or services costs can be the "magic ticket" you are looking for!

Re: Live Event Now: Use technology to appear BIG

Bernoulli — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 17:46:32 GMT

Hi,

I am a small business owner and engineering consultant. Our company's computing needs can vary dramatically from project to project. Can you recommend options for obtaining temporary computing power for when our needs are high. We would like to avoid spending a ton of money on computers only to have them sit idle for many projects.

Thanks!

Re: Live Event Now: Use technology to appear BIG

SBOCTeam — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 17:41:55 GMT

Matt,

Great responses!

We have another 45 minutes left in the event. Get those questions in while there's time.

The SBOC Team