Business -

What Does the Sale of Skype To Microsoft Mean For Your Windows Devices

Tue, 10 May 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Most of you have probably heard about Skype planning to have an app for your beautiful Windows Phone 7 devices when the Mango update comes around, but now that Microsoft owns Skype are we going to have to wait for Mango? I don't know about you but I certainly hope not. With Microsoft buying Skype I want my Samsung Focus to get an update in the next couple of months with Skype fully integrated. Granted we can't always get what we want. And even when we do get what we want we often can't get it when we want it.... Which is usually now.

Obvious Advantages For Microsoft Buying Skype

For me personally the biggest advantage I see is the integration with WP7. My Samsung Focus is always with me no matter what and having Skype integrated natively is way more exciting than even Skype coming out with an app for it. Imagine having your messaging hub on your WP7 with text messages, Skype messages, and hopefully your email accounts eventually.

Another obvious plus for Microsoft buying Skype is the integration with Windows 7 (and beyond) Desktop. Skype is one of the first things that I install and one of the few things that I have on startup. If Skype was completely integrated and built in with the operating system that could insure more rich features and compatibility. Perhaps they will even tie it in with some Active Directory or other server side services. If they did active directory then maybe there could automatically be a department chat for each department. And if you have Skype as a department chat then anything collaborated in the chat is automatically logged and easy to ctrl+f to go back and reference conversations.

Some Possible Downsides To Microsoft Buying Skype

Hopefully this is not the case but Microsoft could raise prices associated with Skype. One of the best parts of Skype is that it is free. Obviously, I have no clue whether or not it might change but you never know. Also, and other that I hope/doubt will happen, decrease in Skype's cross platform support. I use Skype on Windows and Linux alike so I hope that Microsoft owning Skype will not hinder it's development on any other platforms. I think that Microsoft is smart enough to make sure that this does not happen and I assume that Microsoft has even more resources at it's disposal than Skype alone did so maybe this sale will actually boost development. Only time will tell.

Conclusion to Microsoft Buying Skype

In short, I personally think that Microsoft's recent purchase of Skype will be a great thing. I hope to see full integration of Skype into WP7 and Windows 7 Desktop alike. As well as better development of Skype across all platforms. Microsoft obviously has plenty of resources to make this a great plus for Windows and Skype users alike (and especially for those that use both).

Blogging Business: Blog your website SEO to the top

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Increasing Page rank, user traffic, and SEO are arguably some of the hardest parts of operating a website. If your site is lacking in these areas, a weekly blog may be just the remedy to get you back on the right track.

Build an Audience

Every site needs visitors; after all, that’s how you define success in the web industry. What better way to create foot traffic to your site than some stimulating content? A blog creates the opportunity to attract new visitors to your site and provides a reason for people to return again.
Interesting content and an open discussion will also help to create a sense of community and identity surrounding your company.
If you’re having trouble coming up with captivating material for your blog, read through 50 Blog Post Ideas for Business Blogging.

Boosts organic search traffic

Because blogs are a constantly changing entity and cover a wide spectrum of topics, blog posts make your website more appealing to the Google and Yahoo search engines. Traffic flow will increase substantially with simple keyword density and linking strategies in your blog that will aid in earning a higher ranking in search engine results. A blog that is constantly kept up to date with interesting content has the opportunity to earn a higher ranking for among search engines, which means more traffic.
To learn more about page ranking and how its calculated check out Google’s page ranks explained.

SEO keyword density & Frequency

One major aspect that Google checks for when it ranks and catalogs for ranking is pages are keyword/key phrase frequency and density. The more often a keyword phrase appears within the blog, the better off you are. There are however a few important places that you must address to increase your blogs SEO. The page title, title of the content, and the first line of your body content should all contain specifically chosen key words or phrases that may be queried in search engines. It’s best to treat these like newspaper headlines. Keep them short and to the point, but be sure to include key words or phrases that might be searched. Beware of over saturation of keywords though. A good rule of thumb is to keep your title below 80 characters, and avoid using your keyword/phrase more than 3 times.

Links for SEO

Blogs are notorious for their linking power in Search Engine Optimization. They gain this power because of the variety of links featured on blogs. Each type of link provides a different boost in rank that in the end, adds up to your blog being ranked higher in the search engines.
The most powerful type of link is when a user links to one of your posts. Often times, they actually double link to the home page of your site as well. Links to your blog home page have some relevance, but not as much as you think. Lack of relevance of homepage links is due to the fact that the home page is divided among many different blogs, so the pieces must be divided up evenly. Lastly, links gain value from arriving from other blogs sharing similar topics. Interlinked blogs aid your SEO more than blogs that cover a wide range of topics.

Connecting With Your Visitors

More and more consumers are turning to the web for their research and purchase of products. A blog can be your company’s voice. A blog will also allow you to establish expertise and manage the reputation of your company. Blogging about new products, upcoming events, and even some issues your site is having can give visitors a more personal feeling with your site Educated visitors become loyal customers. Allowing comments on your blog will give your visitors and potential customers a voice in the process as well.

Five Tools to Organize your Small Business

Wed, 02 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0500

As a small business owner, organization can be the difference between success and putting you in the nut house. If you are properly organized, running your small business can be a breeze -- and will ultimately be shown in your profits. Organization starts at the top and will trickle down to benefit everyone from employees to customers. Your organization lets you better track your business from your initial client meeting to the sale of a product. These five tools are guaranteed to make you and your business more efficient and successful.

#1 Pen and Paper

It sounds simple and at first keeping pens and paper seems like a mess. However, in reality it will help you keep your mind organized. Like most small business owners, the wheels are constantly spinning and you are always trying to think of ways to improve and streamline your business. Keeping pens and paper around will allow you to write down anything you think of, so you don’t waste that million dollar idea. The best way to go about this is to have pen and paper available anywhere you spend any substantial amount of time (desk, nightstand, etc.). During the week, consolidate your notes into one permanent storage place. The placement of pen and paper in your car, desk, and coffee table may be what keep the good ideas flowing and keep you ahead of your competition.

#2 Business Card Holder

Since not all contacts come in an electronic form it’s good to have a place to put your hard copies of business and information cards you receive. To do this a leather business card holder from your local office supply store is perfect. These holders start at $10 and can be a life saver when you’re trying to track down an old client or associate. Most people have stacks of business cards lying around their house from years of networking. The business card holder is the perfect solution for organizing your contacts.

#3 PDA

With thousands of cell phones on the market it’s important to get one that fits your personality. Phones are normally the one thing we try not to leave home without. Each PDA offers a few unique features that will help keep your schedule inline. The great thing about PDA’s is they combine your whole life and allow you to keep it in the palm of your hand -- a phone that fits you is crucial. The ability to combine multiple email accounts, notes, and calendars in addition to the thousands of applications built for business are sure to make life easy.

#4 Messenger: Skype

Sitting behind your computer has likely become a second home to you, as it has too many of us. One of the great things about the world of technology is that it allows you the freedom to work whenever and where ever. Skype is a must have messaging service that allows you stay in touch without being on site. Skype is a great way to keep in touch with clients and employees alike, as well as family when you’re on the road. There are a variety of features that allow users to: instant messaging, video conference, call cell phones and land lines, all from a Wi-Fi connection. One of the great hidden treasures of Skype is the ability to log your conversations. Conversation logging will allow you to refer to previous conversations and conferences with clients so nothing is lost in translation. Further, ,Skype has recently gone, mobile allowing users to log in from their mobile devices and applications to chat and conference on the go.

#5 Ecommerce Website

An ecommerce website for your small business is the biggest key to keeping yourself and your business in working order. One of the great features of an ecommerce site is that most of them all are all inclusive; they give you the ability to organize orders, send invoices, collect payments, and more. Watching your customer’s orders from the warehouse to their front door all with the click of a mouse is sure to free up some time and allow you to focus on other aspects of your business. In addition to the great back end features ecommerce sites can provide, some ecommerce sites also include a vast amount of front end user intuition. Amazon.com and Dell are frequently ranked as some of the best ecommerce sites on the web because of their unique user features like coupons, shopping or buying suggestions, and spur of the moment sales and discounts.

In the small business world a lot of our sanity relies on us staying focused and on track. These five tools are sure to make life a little easier in the future. From your brainstorming process to selling products, there is always a way to modernize and simplify your business. Staying organized will help you stay more consistent throughout your business and be reflected in the number of satisfied repeat customers.