America’s SBDC Blog

A “Forbes 100 Best Websites for Entrepreneurs”

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which 90 percent of respondents said they would – or would consider – taking their business elsewhere if a company uses outdated technology.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over 12 years ago in 2001), are running their business on technology that definitely falls into the category of “outdated.”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…)

Spring Cleaning for Your Online Presence

April 4, 2014

Birds are chirping, cherry blossoms are blooming, and warmer weather has returned. That means one thing- spring is finally here! With the return of spring comes the opportunity for a little spring cleaning– and no, I’m not just talking about cleaning out your closet. In addition to cleaning up around the house, there are things should be doing now to tidy up your online presence. This will not only make you look more professional, but can also help you be discovered by your next great customer.

Here are 3 items you should include in your spring cleaning to-do list:

Develop a consistent brand.
Your brand starts with your website. This is your “home base” and where you should set the tone for all of your other marketing efforts. Use your logo, coordinating colors and fonts. The branding that you establish on your website should be consistent with and reflected in all of your other marketing channels—your email newsletter, social media presences, and anywhere else people are interacting with your business online.

Control your information.

In addition to the look and feel of your brand, you’ll also want to get a handle on the information people are finding online about your business. 75 percent of smartphone owners use their mobile device to get real-time location-based information. If the information that’s out there is inaccurate or out-of-date, you could be at risk to damage valuable relationships, or miss the chance to connect with a new customer. (more…)

3 Ways to Showcase Your Products for Better Online Sales

March 31, 2014

The online marketplace has become an increasingly competitive as more and more people turn to the Internet for its ease of use, convenience, and enormous selection of products. Sure, getting online and showcasing your products is an easy way to reach and attain new customers, but sabotaging your own sales is easy, too, if you don’t give your products the spotlight they deserve.

When a customer visits your website, you only have a few minutes to grab their attention. That’s why it’s so important to take the time to display and describe your products in a way that helps your site do its job – churning out sales like crazy. To get the most out of your online business, consider these three ways to showcase your products for better online sales:

1. Divide and Conquer
You might have the best products on the market, but if they aren’t organized properly, you could scare your customers away with choice overload. Imagine grocery shopping at a supermarket that doesn’t have aisles grouping like food items together. It would be an exhausting headache! Do your customers a favor and categorize your products so it’s easier for them to find what they’re looking for. (more…)

5 Things You Need to Do to Take Your Business Paperless

March 4, 2014

Have you ever noticed an airline pilot lugging a black briefcase on their way to the next flight?  Those briefcases aren’t filled with personal effects, but are 40-pound flight kits containing charts, maps, manuals and guides.

Delta Airlines recently made a move to replace those bulky flight kits for its 11,000 pilots by giving them each an electronic flight bag in the form of a Microsoft Surface 2 tablet. The cockpit will now be a paperless workspace for Delta pilots, with all Delta cockpits projected to be paperless by the end of 2014.

The concept of the paperless workspace – whether it’s a cockpit, a cubicle, a reception area or remote jobsite – is exciting for numerous reasons: reduced clutter, improved data security, cost savings and environmental benefits, to name a few. Here are 5 steps you need to take to begin creating your version of the paperless cockpit:

1. Clear out the clutter. Determine which of your documents are worth digitizing, and which are not, and discard what’s not necessary. (more…)

Technology means growth: Lessons from SMEs

February 24, 2014

It is widely known that small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) play an important role in the vitality of local economies around the globe. I was recently reminded just how important SMEs are as growth engines of our economies.

Microsoft commissioned The Boston Consulting Group to conduct an independent study, which surveyed more than 4,000 SMEs in five of the world’s largest and most diverse economies: the United States, Germany, China, India and Brazil. The objective was to look at the economic impact of IT on small businesses today.

The study found that tech-savvy SMEs outperformed SMEs using little technology in innovation, job growth and increased revenues over the last three years. SME leaders using technology have grown their businesses and reduced costs, and one important factor seems to be increased worker productivity. (more…)