Alpha Computer Training Blog

Welcome to Jeff Brown's Alpha Computer Training Blog. Here I post computer training tips as well as my thoughts on computer technology. One of my passions is helping business use technology better. You will find this blog leaning in that direction. I hope you enjoy it.

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May 7, 2010: Backing Up Your Computer Files

You know that it is going to happen to somebody today; they are going to lose all their files because of a computer crash. If you are a business, this is even more devastating. As a many of fact, many businesses have a hard time recovering after losing all their data; for some it's fatal.

So let's make sure we back up all our files some where safe off of our computers. If you use a compression backup, make use you test the backup to make sure it is not corrupt. If you can, take your backup off site.

April 9,2010: New Blog For Alpha Computer

It's here and ready to go. The brand new Alpha Computer Training Blog at http://alphacomputer.ca/wpactc/ . This is where you can comment and learn more in a Word Press formatted page. I have included more videos for business and more thoughts on technology. So join me there as we learn together in a quickly changing world. Thanks for connecting with me. Don't forget to spread the word. Thanks, Jeff.

April 1, 2010: Business to Business Social Media and Business Tips

Alpha Computer is starting a brand new Business to Business promotional and training video training series where businesses will talk about what they do and provide a business tip that you can use. Alpha Computer will also provide a social media tip as well to help you business. Take a look at the video and let me know what you think. Thanks.

Watch video live on Vpype Live Broadcaster

March 8, 2010: What Do I Say On Social Networks

One of the questions I get asked on a regular basis on social media is this… “What do I say?” It seems like a pretty simple question, but when business is involved, a simple question just became more complicated. If you have ever said the wrong thing, or you have put your foot in your mouth, then you will know what I mean.

One very important point I always bring to people’s attention is this fact: “What ever you say, it will remain on the Internet forever”. Your words will be found in search engine results. Many people do not realize this fact and just say whatever they want. When you are a business, you do not have this luxury. Your good business reputation depends on others hearing and seeing good things about your business. So let’s look at it from the back end: “What should we not say?” One of the things I tell businesses never to do is to get caught in a spitting match with some one online. I saw this happen on Twitter when a business owner went ballistic because a customer cancelled a PayPal transaction; just after they downloaded a complete training course moments before. What the customer did was wrong. The business owner had the right to be upset. But this outburst did not need to happen on a social networking service for all to see. The equilivant in a real world setting would be this: you take a customer to the front door of your business and you start tearing them apart in front of all your customers in the parking lot. This is not how you win the hearts and minds of your customers or anyone else. So do not get caught saying negative things about your customers or others online, period. Always take the high road. I also saw this happen on a Facebook Fan page recently and it was not pretty.

So what do you say then? About one third of what you should do on social media is to involve yourself in everyday “chit chat”. Get to know your customers and develop better relationships with them through simple every day conversations. Just be yourself and remember to be kind. Also make your conversations interesting.

The second third of what you should include is “interesting and helpful links” you have found that you want to share with others. We know that information is important for people and for business. You can be part of the process of helping others by providing good information to them. People will remember you when you have helped them find great information.

The last third of the things you will put on social media services is “links to your business web site or blog”. You want to direct traffic to the place that’s going to make you money. The bottom line in this last section is determined by the goal you have set.

Remember this above all: whatever you do or say on social networking services such as Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn; make sure you keep your comments “positive and uplifting”. That’s what you want to be remembered for. You do not want to be remembered as the jerk who kept tearing people apart or the guy who went ballistic because something happened. Always take the high road because people are watching you and your comments will be recorded for all time for everyone to see.

February 4, 2010: The Why Of Social Media

After delivering several “Lunch & Learns”, speaking engagements, workshops and consulting with different businesses dealing with social media, I have noticed that many still do not understand the full potential of social networking services for helping their businesses. One of the greatest things I can do for business owners is to help them understand why social media matters for them today.

One thing I want to point out right away is that social media is not a silver bullet that will instantly cure all their marketing woes. As a matter of fact, social media is but one of the tools a business owner should be using from their business tool box. I want to make this point very clear: businesses should keep using the marketing tools that are producing results for them. But they should also investigate the possibility that social network services such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn might be a good addition to their marketing efforts.

So why should a business look at social media? Firstly, if they have a web site, social media is an excellent way to direct traffic to the web site. Secondly, social media is a great way to engage your customers. People like to do business with people they like. So why not make your business more likeable by positively engaging new customers as well as customers you already have. Thirdly, social media is an excellent way to find information. We all, I hope, have used Google to search for important information for our businesses; but what if you could communicate with the author of the information directly. That would be better. Fourthly, social media can be used for customer service. Imagine fewer calls to the office because some of those calls are now being handled online.

Another great benefit of using social media services is that information and stats can be easily retrieved to give you an accurate understanding of how you are impacting people on the Internet with your message. I often look at stats to see how far I am reaching out on Twitter. I can also see what is working and what I need to change. Try that with radio, TV, newspapers and mail outs. These marketing tools are much harder to get accurate results of how you are doing.

Many of your customers and competitors are already using these social networking services. One of the stats that I saw several months ago was that 59% of all Americans are on these services. Canadians tend to use them more. Twitter, for example, has 15 million accounts and it is growing by 5 million accounts every month. Facebook is also growing as well. This is where many of your customers are going. The only question that remains is…”Are you in?”

One word of caution about social networking service results, it takes time and consistency to see a return on your investment. Sure these services are free, but it will cost you your time. If this bothers you, think about all the money you spend on advertising before. I know of one business that spent $1000.00 for advertising and did not see one customer added. Since the world is getting smaller every day, it’s time to start seriously look at social media for your business.

January 26:2010: Joining Facebook and LinkedIn to Twitter

Did you know that you could join Facebook and LinkedIn to Twitter? You sure can. This gives you the ability to add content to Facebook and LinkedIn from Twitter almost instantly. Why? It's a giant time saver. Imagine using a Twitter application like "Tweetdeck" or "Hootsuite" to easily send one message to Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter in one step.

Check out this video:

January 23:2010: Who Will Tweet For You?

If you are a small business and you are going to use Twitter, then the task will probably go to you. But if you have employees, then you are going to be looking to have someone do your messages (tweets) for you. But who is the right person for the job?

The wrong guy to pick, in most cases, is your tech person. Even though they are great with computers, this does not mean that they will be great with people. I know I am making a generally, but in many cases this is true. So who do you get to tweet for you? The answer is simple. You need to choose the person who is the most passionate about your business. This person will be a people person as well. Twitter is not all about directing traffic to the web site. A big part of Twitter is engaging with others through conversations. This person needs to be interesting.

So when you get someone to speak/tweet on your behalf, make sure they have your best interest in mind. Make sure they are passionate about your business. After all, you want people on Twitter to look favorably towards your business. The wrong person tweeting for you can do your business harm. If you have more questions about Twitter, contact me on Twitter @Alpha_Computer .

January 8, 2010: Outback And Doing Fine

I remember talking with Jim MacKay, one of the owners of Nova Enterprises Limited, many years ago. We talked about the three most important things for successful business operation. Jim said they were: “Location, location and location”. He could say this because he ran a successful business that was located right by the highway with easy access for tractor trailers. For many businesses, this was also true. Being right in front of the public in a heavily trafficked area was important for success. In a local based economy this was true.

I also remember when the Trans Canada Highway shifted streams of traffic away from local businesses which quickly vanished. A local highway that ran rich with vehicle traffic and customers dried up. Location did play a major role in doing business or not doing business.

Today the Internet is changing where business happens. It is leveling the playing field for businesses in many places. On the Internet, a business can be located anywhere. In many cases, customers do not need to go to the business location at all. Products are being shipped off site and services are happening over the Internet. As an example of a service offered over the Internet, just think of web site design and accounting services that can be performed cheaply overseas in countries like India.

Sellers are using the Internet to market their products and services like never before. All you have to do is look at Kijiji. You can buy and sell pretty much anything on this web site these days. People are using the Internet to buy more and more of the things they consume. On the other side of the coin, people in the tourism industry are also using the Internet to make visitors aware of what their local area has to offer. This also brings business.

This is a golden opportunity for businesses in rural areas. They can do business inside and outside of their local area. Grandma can make quilts in her home in Tatamagouche and sell them to anyone who can view her ad on a service like Kijiji, for example. I know of several local rural businesses that are selling their products globally, and doing well. Their business location may not be impressive, but their sales surely are.

So what needs to happen for more rural businesses to take advantage of these new opportunities? First of all, they need to be connected to the Internet with a high speed connection. Then they should get the training they need to help them reach these new customers.

As a business owner, I know that time is limited. There is a lot to know to do business online. Sometimes I wish I could just push a book in one of my ears and instantly know what I need to know right then. I have tried this and it has not happened yet.

It would be great to have an expert come in and bring me quickly up to speed on what I need to know. This is where training will help you. Customized training is even better; I pick and choose what training elements I need for my business.

With proper training comes the ability to buy and sell online in a global market. Yes Grandma, there are a few things you need to learn. The Department of Labour and Workforce Development is offering workplace education for business. There are also many other ways to get the training you need. Will training guarantee success? No. But it will help you if you are willing to work your business. Training will make your business more effective and hopefully productive.

So Grandma can be outback and doing fine with her quilts in this global based economy, regardless of where she lives.

December: 12, 2009: "The Times, They are a Changing"

I remember a time when our competition in business was either down the street or across town. Those were simpler times in business. We were a local economy.

Today, countries and economic regions have dramatically changed the way they are conducting business. We have become deeply connected with other world economies. When something happens in one part of the world, it definitely affects us.

We are now moving into a world knowledge based economy. What you know now is very important for your future success. Technology is changing the very fabric of business. It allows information to be shared quickly worldwide.

Here is an example to how technology has changed things. A message on the Twitter social media service went out saying “Steve Jobs was rushed to ER after severe heart attack”. Steve Jobs is the founder and CEO of Apple Inc. Once this news was reported, the stock market responds; AAPL tanks from 105 to 97 in minutes. Later that day, the correct information was released. The original message from Twitter was false. Steve Jobs was not rushed to the hospital at all. Apple stock recovered. One Twitter message had the power to affect the stock market.

Technology is invading the workplace as more equipment becomes computerized. More and more jobs are requiring computer skills as each day goes by. As a result, competition in the market place is increasing everywhere. Products can be made anywhere in the world. Many services can also be provided anywhere in the world. It’s coming down to dollars and cents in many cases. Businesses that can be competitive in the world market are going to be the ones who get to do business more often than naught. Thankfully business opportunities do not always come down to the cheapest price. Value for dollar paid is also an important consideration. Just remember when you tried to buy the cheaper product and it was poor quality. You wished you had bought the more expensive item in the first place. What about that cheap toy with the lead paint? Cheap is not always the best buy.

So how can we compete in the knowledge based economy? One of the ways for our region to compete is to increase the level of employee literacy in the workplace. If we give our employees the skills they need to succeed, and help them be more productive, we will see a return on our investment. For example, the Department of Labour and Workforce Development is working hard to see that employees get the essential skills they need. They are partnering with businesses to see that affordable training is made available. This is an important opportunity for business. As a business owner or group of owners, you should look into this opportunity to see what benefits are there for you. Just in case you are wondering, our contact person is Colleen O’Connor. You can reach her at 902-896-2215.

Another way to compete in the knowledge based economy as a business owner is to get the training you need. It is important to stay abreast of all the technology trends that will impact your business, such as social media. As a business, you need to continually add to your customer base. It does not matter where the customer lives, you need them as a customer. You need to make life long learning a key part of your business success. So as a region, it’s time that we united as businesses and got serious about being a world force in business. We are a bright and ingenious bunch. Now it’s time for us to be brave and believe that we can do it. Our region has great potential and it’s time for us to tap into that potential before some one else comes and takes advantage of us. Technology is but one part of the big picture for our success. It’s time to equip our employees and ourselves with the skills we need to be competitive in this knowledge based economy.

November 24, 2009: Organizing your computer files

Imagine a tool shed where the owner just throws all the tools in and does not put them away in any organized fashion. When it comes time to get a specific tool, chances are that many of the other tools will have to be taken out or moved away to get at the needed tool. This would be a great waste of time. Yet many of us run our computers this way. So what do you do to fix this problem.

The answer is to make different folders in the Windows Explorer (My Documents or Documents) to contain different types of files. Just think of the kitchen cabinet where all the dishes are separated out for easy access and use. Your computer should be this way. You could make a folder for work documents, for bills, for letters sent, and so on. When you need to separate a group of files from the rest of the files, you should create a folder to house them. I have created a video to see how to create a folder in Windows XP. If you will stay organized, you will find files faster.

November 12, 2009: Facebook Can Help Your Business Grow

It’s always been a great idea to go out and met people to grow your customer base. After all, the only thing sitting on your butt in business does is make it sore. Businesses must advertise and get their information in front of customer’s faces. Networking and going out to meet potential customers is a must to keep many a business healthy. Even if you are a store owner and people are coming to you, you still need to connect with them somehow. This hopefully will build loyal customers.

What if you could also work on building those relationships using social media and the Internet? What if social media could help you promote your business with something that your customers are probably already using? Facebook is one of the social media tools you should consider using for growing your business.

There will always be the necessity for that face to face interaction with your customers. Nothing will replace this. This is simply the best way to build strong customer relationships. Social media is also providing a way to build stronger customer relationships. 51% of all Americans are using social media, and it’s probably a higher number in Canada. This is a huge segment that you could and should be doing business with. It makes good business sense to at least take a look to see how social media could affect your business. Facebook is one of those social media tools.

So what does Facebook allow a business to do? A business can create a Facebook Fan page which will allow comments, news, links and other media to be displayed on a Facebook user’s page. It’s like having a free web page, where customers can interact with that business. Imagine creating an event and pressing a few buttons, and there; that event is displayed on several Facebook users’ pages. In this case, the only thing it cost you is your time. Remember thought that your time is not free.

Businesses can comment on Facebook user pages as well. This will help a business develop a good relationship with Facebook users. Businesses can build a trust factor which can transcend into a like factor. After all, people like to do business with people they like. It never hurts to increase your like factor. Facebook can do this for you.

If you are thinking that you are going to use Facebook only as a shouting platform for your business, think again. Social media is about conversation. Imagine walking into a room and staring to run at the mouth about your business without any regard for those around you. A smart business networker listens to those around him and finds needs. He can then fill those needs and create business opportunities. Facebook can help business do the same way. So listen to those who are showing interest in your business. You may learn some interesting ideas that could improve your business as well. Make sure you get some good advice and do some research to make the best of this new opportunity. You can see the Alpha Computer Training Fan page for business at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Truro-NS/Alpha-Computer-Training-and-Consulting/138748438676 to see what you can do.

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