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

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