Sacramento Media Unlimited

The opportunity for the business professional to increase productivity and revenue through the onslaught of  new computer applications can be daunting.  Below is part-1 of a series of listings of free apps for the business professional to use quickly with time-tested results.

Evernote

Similar to Microsoft’s One Note, Evernote is software application that allows users to capture information of various types, including text notes, mobile phone snapshots, printed and handwritten text within images, web clips, and digital ink. All data added to Evernote are run through a series of recognizers that make any text within the various note formats searchable.  Watch Video Here.

Demandbase

Demandbase is a leading provider of B2B customer acquisition solutions that enable sales and marketing professionals to better identify, reach, and convert new business. Delivered on demand through software as a service, Demandbase solutions combine the ability to identify Web site visitors from target businesses with an integrated database of high-quality, validated business contacts and a new breed of B2B Web analytics to improve marketing and sales performance. In use at more than 1,000 companies, Demandbase helps generate more sales opportunities and drive new business. Watch this quick demo.

Xobni

Outlook Add-on that helps organize and see your emails like no other app.  Even Bill Gates loves this app.
Watch the demo of Xobni here.

Windows Live Sync

A free-to-use application by Microsoft that is designed to allow files and folders between two or more computers be in sync with each other on Windows (XP and later) and Mac OS X based computers.

Delicious Bookmarking

Wish you had your bookmarks on whatever computer you were on?  Enter Delicious.  this online bookmarking service allows you to share your bookmarks or keep them to yourself.  No more writing down web addresses.

Logmein

Remote access and desktop control over any or all your PC’s

iDrive

2 gigs of free back up on multiple computers.  Back up your important files from work, and retrieve them anywhere.

TweetDeck

Still confused about Twitter.  No worry, TweetDeck places Twitter on a user-friendly app that lets you see the big picture of what is happening with all those tweets.

Ken Konecki Uncategorized business, desktop, review

Times are tough!

Good thing God created marketing. Check out this article from PC Magizine by Kathy Yakal on how to market for free or really,really cheap…and get great results.

Too good to sound true? Read 17 Cheap or Free Marketing Ideas

Ken Konecki marketing business, economy, email marketing, review

Let’s face it. Making a newsletter can be difficult.

I recently discovered a little gem called MailChimp. It is a complete email marketing solution that is easy to learn, fun to interact with, and best of all has great price options. For the average small business, it appears that $10 dollars a month would suffice most needs. However, there are many options to adjust for varying degrees of clients and marketing campaigns.

MailChimp is also easy on the eyes. The site was designed to be friendly, fun, and unintimidating. Underneath the beautiful and playful layout it is a high functional software program that gives subscribers fantastic reporting, spam filters, HTML template integration, tracking and reporting, and Google Analytics.

As with any new application, it does take a little time to fully understand the many dynamics of MailChimp. (Even though they advertise you can send a newsletter in 15 minutes) That being said, I have been fully satisfied with MailChimp thus far, and I am optimistically hoping to use this service for many years to come.

Mailchimp is totally free for lists below 100 subscribers, so give it a try.

Ken Konecki Uncategorized email marketing, mail chimp, review

As 2010 begins I want to wish my customers a Happy and prosperous New Year.   Many of you have asked me how to enhance your websites using marketing techniques and Search Engine Optimization (SEO) hoping to get a jump on what we all hope is a reviving of our economy.

The old adage, “Keeping up with the Jones’” is nearly impossible in today’s digital world.  There is always a new technology, new look, or a new method to network.  However, to be competitive you need to use what is most effective and popular at any given time.

Some web enhancement suggestions make us all “roll your eyes” and say “it is just a trend”, or “there will be something different soon.”   Well, you’re right.  Many of the concepts discussed below are hot today but might be obsolete in the future.  However, just like customers can come and go, we still find worth in each client and value what the relationship adds to our business.  The key in today’s digital media is to be fluid and able to adapt rapidly.

So, keep and open mind as you review the latest in web enhancements and don’t stress I am here to help you make informed decisions.  I am only an email or phone call away.

1. Twitter – Fastest and easiest way to get the word out about your business.
2. Blog – If you like to talk about what you do… there is an audience to be tapped into with a blog.  There is nothing better than Wordpress.
3. Share Widget – Want to have your users bookmark and share your site, use a widget.  Share This is my widget of choice.
4. Give Aways – Provide free newsletters and make information available to your users so they will want to come back again and again.
5. Linked In – “The” network for business professionals.
6. YouTube – Make a video of what you do or what you know and then share it.
7. Facebook – Not just for personal use.  Self promotion to paid advertising, Facebook is a great place to start your social networking.
8. Yahoo! Directory - $300 dollars a year gets an actual human at Yahoo to review and submit your site.
9. Advertising – Pay-per-click advertising continues to be the choice for those who need instant search engine results… but it is going to cost you.
10. Inbound Links – Get your link on other people’s websites.
11. Directory Listings – Make sure your site is on DMOZ, Yahoo, Google, Bing and other search engines.
12. Keyword modification – Experiment with the words you use in your text.  Use Google’s keyword tool to get started.

Great articles on SEO and Social Networking

The 10 Stages of Social Media Business Integration

Social Media and SEO: 5 Essential Steps to Success

Linked In Learning Center

Twitter – FAQ’s

Ken Konecki Uncategorized business, social networking, Web Marketing, web traffic

I would like to make a suggestion, if you not have already been forced to by a Windows Update, to install the new and greatly improved Internet Explorer 8 (IE8) from Microsoft.  You can install IE8 here.

Why should you upgrade to IE8? Read here why you should switch to IE8!

Millions of office computers are still using Internet Explorer 6 (two versions ago!) which is subject to various Internet threats, uses out of date web design standards, and offers limited customizable options.

To check which version you have installed on your computer:

Open internet explorer and then open help menu. And then select ‘About Internet Explorer’ then window should open showing which version you have.

If you are feeling adventurous, there are a few other great Internet Browsers available to download for free that I would like to suggest.

My personal favorite is Firefox. Download Firefox here. Firefox is an open-source browser, (basically a bunch of people collaborating programming knowledge) which allows one to highly customize how the browser works, looks, and operates through plug-ins and add-ons that you can download for free.

I also use Google Chrome. Download Google Chrome here. Google Chrome is a new browser, from you guessed it, the Google People.  It is fast….really fast; however, it does have some limitations with some web standards and applications. New versions are coming soon, but you might still give it a try.

Flock Browser, the ‘Social Browser’. Download Flock here. Is based on the Firefox code, and is a great way to keep track of your social networks while browsing the Internet at the same time.

You also might try the Opera Browser which is less popular, but quickly gaining popularity because of the fantastic mobile browser for pocket PC’s.  Download Opera here.

And finally, yes there is a PC version of the Apple’s Safari Browser. Download Safari here. Safari is a superior browser, and although I personally do not use it that much, I find it very fast and unique compared to most PC based browsers.

Good luck, and let me know if you have any questions!

Ken Konecki Uncategorized browsers, Internet

Below are some simple tips how I use Outlook 2007 to keep me organized.

(I have to give credit for the tips to my wife Heidi who is always showing me great ways to streamline my business.)

1.  I use multiple monitors.  Although this has little to do with Outlook specifically, using multiple monitors caused me to have a better relationship with Outlook.  Why?

Check this simple trick out:

Open your Outlook 2007.  Make sure your Mail tab is active on the left so you can see your Inbox messages as you normally do.

Now, let’s say you just got an email from a client that wants to meet with you multiple times in a few weeks, but you are not sure what would be the best dates and times.  Instead of flipping back and forth between the email message and you calender, (personally I cannot remember dates, let alone multiple dates)  simply “Right Click” the Calender Tab and choose “Open in new window”. Click and drag the the entire Calender window over to the other monitor!

Now you have one monitor showing your inbox, and the other monitor showing you calender.  Nice.

2. I organized my 2007 Outlook mailbox with sub-folders.  Then, for each sub-folder, I (sometimes) set a rule to make Outlook automatically send the inbound mail to the folder respectfully.

So for example, I subscribe to various newsletters but instead of crowding up my Inbox with newsletters, I make a “sub-folder” called Newsletters.  I then set a rule to let Outlook know that when one of my prescribed newsletters gets delivered to me, to place it in the Newsletters sub-folder. Nicely tucked away to read later, when or if I get time. 

This is how I do it:

To make a sub-folder:

a. Open Outlook 2007

b. Right click on your Inbox and choose “New Folder”.

c. On the pop up window Name your new folder, under the “Name” text box.

d. In the Drop Down window called “Contains” choose the appropriate content for your new folder. Click OK.

Your new folder should now be listed under you Inbox.  You can as many sub-folders and sub-sub-folders as your heart desires!

Watch out!!! – if you add too many sub-folders, you can get disorganized again!

To set a rule to make Outlook sort your mail automatically:

a. With your Outlook 2007 open, view your Inbox mail.

b. Right click on any inbound email that you would like to send to a folder or sub-folder.

c.  Choose, “Create Rule…”

d.  In the Create Rule window, under “When I get e-mail with all the selected conditions” choose the boxes that you want applied.  Under “Do the following”, click the box that says, “Move the item to folder: ” Then click the “Browse” button to find the respected folder.  Easy! 

Note – I do not set rules for all of my In-bound mail.  I will explain below.

3. As I read my email I either immediately Delete the mail I will absolutely never need again, or I Save and Sort it. Saving and sorting is very easy.  As explained above, I  create sub-folders with different subjects.   This time however, I make sub-folders with no rules attached, which means that I have to “Manually” place emails into the appropriate folder. But that is a good thing.

For example:

All my emails from my clients come into my main Inbox.  As I read an email, I determine that I need to do some design work on a website next week.  I look to my open calender (in the extra monitor) and make myself an appointment to work on the update.  I then go back to the main monitor,and click and drag the email to my “To Do” folder I created for my clients.

Now here is the best part, as I place the read email into the folder it could be easy to miss the contents of the folder.  However, you can change that problem by right clicking on the folder, and choosing “Properties”.  In the Properties window, under the General Tab, choose the option, “Show total number of items”.  Now, whether you have read the email or not, the total number of emails will be listed in the folder. So in the example used above, I would show an additional “To Do” item in my folders.  Nice.

4.  Lastly, I also use Xobni within my Outlook program. Xobni is a a free application that compliments and enhances many features of Outlook. (Heck even Bill Gates said he liked Xobni)

The best feature of Xobni, is it shows a detailed history of past conversations with each contact with pinpoint accuracy and cool statistics. At a glance, it lets me know how long ago I talked to the client , friend or family member, and how often we exchange emails.

Well, I hope some of this information helped you with your organizational needs!  If you have any questions let me know. Thank’s again Heidi!

If you have a tip, feel free to share it!

Visit the home page to Outlook for more information.

Ken Konecki microsoft, outlook desktop, microsoft, organize, outlook

I realized this morning that I have a new child to raise.  It’s name is ‘California Taxes’.

As reported by CNBC, the Governor signed a new budget that raises taxes.  Shame on you Governor.  Governor since you have been in office, there were many opportunities to stop spending and save the people of California from having to pay higher taxes.

Governor, your action to sign a bill to raise taxes in this economic environment, is appalling to not only the people of California, but to every American that believes that government is not the answer, but the problem.

Chris Reed, for the San Diego Union Tribune shows passion.

Governor, you used to have the same passion.  It was that passion for California that I voted for you.

With your signing of this new budget, I believe you have created a California that will be too expensive.  You lost your passion for California, and replaced it with a policy that will impregnate taxes on all of us.

Governor, we did not want this baby, we can not afford this baby, and there is no one who can take care of this baby.  Your new budget has created an illegitimate crisis that most Californians can not bring into their homes and raise as their own.  We can not adopt, foster, and even have this child over for dinner.  We cannot have him over for birthday parties, play with him at the park, or wave good morning to him at school.  Furthermore, we can not talk with him, listen to him, or even bear to look at his face.  Don’t mistake me, we do not hate him  for he did nothing wrong.  He was born from an irresponsible parent, who chose to the wrong thing by having an affair with bigger government.

However, as I would with any unwanted child that comes into this world,  I will help to raise him and feed him from human and moral decency, and in this case the law.

Your choice to agree to higher taxes in economic turmoil is irresponsible and disappointing.  Shame on you.

Ken Konecki economy, politics 2009 budget, Arnold, economy, Governor, taxes

As I was doing some research for Sacramento Media Unlimited, I discovered an article on how our economy has effected the news media in Northern California and Sacramento.

Steven Maviglio from The California Majority Report, stated more cutbacks are occurring in Sacramento Media. The article reports that the Sacramento press corps is getting smaller and that the LA Daily News is shutting down its Sacramento bureau.

Alvie Lindsa (editor) and Harrison Sheppard (writer) for the Sacramento bureau will be resigned to a new area.

As I sympathize with Alvie and Harrison, I must admit this story motivated me to continue to build and create this new site.

Sacramento Media Unlimited, (SMU) I realize, has an even more important role in the valley than I first envisioned.  Wow!

Please come back soon, as Sacramento Media Unlimited is definitely here to stay.

Ken Konecki Sacramento Media, economy cutbacks, economy, Sacramento Media

Welcome to Sacramento Media Unlimited. Sacramento Media Design and Development has started a blog to service professionals in Northern California. Please bookmark this site, and return soon. Thank you.

Ken Konecki Sacramento Media

New to Social Networking?

February 3rd, 2009

Ken Konecki Web Management, Website Marketing blogging, business, marketing, social networking, web traffic