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Cloud Productivity

July 2, 2014

Have you ever had one of those days when life just decided to come crashing down all at once? You know, one of those days when the alarm clock died (or maybe you just hit the snooze button one too many times), there was absolutely NO food in the fridge, your kids got up early and decorated your briefcase with flower stickers (in an attempt to make it pretty, of course), the dog tracked mud in from the backyard, and when you finally made it out to your car, you discovered you’re out of gas? So much for getting to work on time.

When life decides it’s time for a hectic day, it’s easy to forget some of the most important things — like that PowerPoint® presentation that lays out the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The presentation you’ve been tirelessly working on so you can impress your boss at today’s meeting. The presentation that is currently saved on your home computer.

So, what do you do?

You can’t turn around and go back to the war zone that is currently your house — after all, it’s likely that your creative kids decided to decorate the handouts that were supposed to accompany that presentation, and while unicorns and Dora the Explorer stickers make them giggle, your boss might have a different reaction. How are you going to save what’s turned into a rather cloudy day?  (more…)

Webmaster Tools 101

June 17, 2014

There are many different factors that determine which websites appear in Google’s search results. The first step, however, is making sure Google knows your site exists and is able to correctly interpret the information on your web pages.

To help with those first steps, meet Webmaster Tools, a free tool to help you understand more about your website’s position on search results pages. The information you can learn in Webmaster Tools can help you develop a strategy  to improve your chances of appearing, appearing higher, and appearing more often in searches.

Read on to learn more from our 3-part series on Webmaster Tools.

♦ Lesson Highlight: Use free Webmaster Tools for a search-friendly site

Webmaster Tools can help you understand how Google “sees” your website. Once the tool is connected to your site, you can access free reports, and learn answers to important questions like:  (more…)

Improve Your Website With Clear Text and Compelling Images

May 8, 2014

It’s spring cleaning time and not just for your home. This month, let’s freshen up your website, focusing on web page content. Adding great text and pictures to your site can help humans and search engines better appreciate and understand what your business has to offer.

With 97% of consumers researching products online before making a purchase*, it’s important to spruce up your website from time to time. So swing open those windows, do a little dusting, and use these lessons to get your website ready for spring.

Lesson Highlight: Tell customers about your business with great website text

Potential customers will often start by visiting your business’ website to learn about your products and services. If this is their first contact with your business, it’s important to make a positive first impression. The words on your website must clearly communicate what your business is about, and why a customer should choose you.

You don’t need to write a lot, but your website should clearly answer these questions:

Who owns and works for the business?

What products do you sell or services do you provide? (more…)

5 Tips for Winning the New Internet Name Game

May 5, 2014

If your website is the online home for your business, your domain name is the unique street address that helps visitors find you online. It’s a critical part of building a strong presence on the Web. Unfortunately, many of the short, easy-to-remember .com’s and .net’s are no longer available. And who wants a domain name with so many characters that you need a ph.D to remember it, or, even worse, a domain that really doesn’t describe what your business has to offer?

Luckily, the online naming game is changing.

With new generic top-level domains (gTLDs) hitting the market all the time, there’s never been a better time to choose a memorable online identity for your business. The hundreds of descriptive new domain extensions—such as .shop, .lawyer, .photography and .guru, just to name a few—give business owners an unprecedented opportunity to register domains that perfectly represent their products or services.

Here are five tips to help you pick a kick-ass domain name for your business’s online identity:

Tip No. 1: Choose a Domain That Describes Your BusinessSure, you want your domain to stand out like a flashy commercial among the gazillions of other domains on the Web, but you also want to be clear about what you do and who you are. (more…)

What the technology you’re using says about your business

April 8, 2014
By Cindy Bates, VP, Microsoft U.S. Small and Medium Business

Did you know the technology you use has an impact on what current and potential customers think of your business? Those are the findings of a survey we recently conducted, in which 90 percent of respondents said they would – or would consider – taking their business elsewhere if a company uses outdated technology.

About 60% of respondents said they consider a 5-10 year old operating system or desktop computer to be “outdated.” That means the estimated 30% of small businesses that are still using the Windows XP operating system (introduced over 12 years ago in 2001), are running their business on technology that definitely falls into the category of “outdated.” On April 8, 2014, businesses running Windows XP will no longer receive security updates or technical support, leaving them vulnerable to potential security threats. (more…)