Social Networking
Riding the social media wave
Monday 17 August 2009, 9:59 PM
Twitter Tools For Listening In On Customers
Most of us company owners are now tapping into the potential of Twitter, but how many of you know that there are third-party tools for monitoring conversations related to your brand? Don’t worry, it’s a first for me too. Mashable has published an insightful article on the best of these applications, so there really is no excuse for not using Twitter as a listening post. There is a bevy of great tools out there for corporate tweeters that let you respond to customers, measure the effectiveness of Twitter campaigns, and a lot more.
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Christian Harris
Harris Marketing Communications
http://www.harrismarketing.net/
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Christian Harris
Harris Marketing Communications
http://www.harrismarketing.net/
Thursday 19 March 2009, 2:46 PM
Internet The Most Important Tool For Small Business Survival
It seems the Web is the ‘critical difference’ between early 90s and current recession. It had barely been invented when the UK was last in recession, but less than 20 years later, the Internet is providing a life line to small businesses fighting the recession; 45% of small businesses surveyed by Easynet Connect believe the Internet will be an important tool in helping them survive and prosper during the recession with one in five believing it will be the most important tool in helping small businesses beat the recession.
Part of an upcoming report into SME survival, the survey of 255 IT Managers from companies with 10-250 employees, shows how small businesses see the Internet as key to boosting their profiles and unlocking new revenue opportunities. For example, 74% of small businesses will use the Web to grow their company profile with 52% claiming that the Web would put them on a level playing field with bigger companies. When it comes to creating new opportunities, 46% are looking to create new products and services on the Web and over 58% are looking to use the Web to expand into new markets at home and overseas.
SMEs are also keen on using the Internet to power modern working practices and cost-cutting technologies. A considerable 75% of companies are looking to use the Internet to enable remote working, 33% are considering using VoIP to reduce telephone bills and over half (52%) are looking to use video conferencing to reduce business travel. Notably, a growing number of companies (23%) are considering adopting SaaS applications to help save on the cost of traditional software licenses.
The Internet is one of the most powerful tools for companies of all shapes and sizes. For companies of all sizes it is critical that you have a fast, low-latency Internet connection, to ensure you receive split-second updates, and so maintain a competitive edge. The Internet enables you to trade the world's markets and expand your services as and when you see opportunities in the markets you operate in.
The critical difference between now and the recession of the early 90s is the Internet, which could easily be the most important tool in helping small businesses through the current down turn. The Internet has meant that businesses are much better equipped this time around. In the early 90s we were a world away from e-commerce, online marketing, or having a mobile workforce, let alone using cloud computing or holding video conferences with customers on the other side of the world. Previous Easynet Connect research has shown that 71% of UK SMEs could not survive for more than a day without the Internet. With SMEs using the technology in more and more innovative ways to help them out of the recession, it will be interesting to see how this figure changes in the coming years.
Part of an upcoming report into SME survival, the survey of 255 IT Managers from companies with 10-250 employees, shows how small businesses see the Internet as key to boosting their profiles and unlocking new revenue opportunities. For example, 74% of small businesses will use the Web to grow their company profile with 52% claiming that the Web would put them on a level playing field with bigger companies. When it comes to creating new opportunities, 46% are looking to create new products and services on the Web and over 58% are looking to use the Web to expand into new markets at home and overseas.
SMEs are also keen on using the Internet to power modern working practices and cost-cutting technologies. A considerable 75% of companies are looking to use the Internet to enable remote working, 33% are considering using VoIP to reduce telephone bills and over half (52%) are looking to use video conferencing to reduce business travel. Notably, a growing number of companies (23%) are considering adopting SaaS applications to help save on the cost of traditional software licenses.
The Internet is one of the most powerful tools for companies of all shapes and sizes. For companies of all sizes it is critical that you have a fast, low-latency Internet connection, to ensure you receive split-second updates, and so maintain a competitive edge. The Internet enables you to trade the world's markets and expand your services as and when you see opportunities in the markets you operate in.
The critical difference between now and the recession of the early 90s is the Internet, which could easily be the most important tool in helping small businesses through the current down turn. The Internet has meant that businesses are much better equipped this time around. In the early 90s we were a world away from e-commerce, online marketing, or having a mobile workforce, let alone using cloud computing or holding video conferences with customers on the other side of the world. Previous Easynet Connect research has shown that 71% of UK SMEs could not survive for more than a day without the Internet. With SMEs using the technology in more and more innovative ways to help them out of the recession, it will be interesting to see how this figure changes in the coming years.
Tuesday 17 March 2009, 6:55 PM
Getting 'Close & Personal' Is Key To Online Retail
Research released today by Hybris, a commerce & communication software vendor, claims that taking a ‘one size fits all’ approach to retailing is no longer relevant in a highly competitive environment where the mass market has been replaced by increased fragmentation amongst consumers. It seems that providing a standardised retail offering to large numbers of people is no longer appropriate for consumers who are increasingly demanding a more tailored and individualised service.
According to the research, this is particularly true in the management of large product ranges where consumers only want to be offered products and services that are relevant and appropriate to them, as an ‘edited choice’, in order to benefit from a more personalised online shopping experience.
In its report, ‘Personalisation and Range Management’, Hybris points out that while online retailers are not exempt from this trend, Internet retailing has one major advantage over its physical retailing counterpart. As a virtual experience, it is far more capable of responding and changing to suit the individual needs of consumers. To harness this power, online retailers will need to understand the different groups of customers they serve and what they want from the online experience. They must be able to identify these customers when they log into a site and then present them with an experience tailored to their needs. Tailoring does not mean providing as many variations of the site as there are customers. It means building sites that are able to adapt slightly to the taste preferences of groups of consumers.
Internet retailing removes any restrictions on selling-space and logistics experienced in physical retailing, which means that it is much easier to carry an extensive range, but the report stresses that only a very small number of consumers choose websites simply because of the quantity of products for sale. Convenience, ease and speed of purchase are far more important features, as is separating product into ‘departments’ or ‘brands’. Online retailers do not necessarily have to stock less but they do need to be more careful about how those ranges are managed and how they are presented to the consumer.
Personalisation has a key part to play in online success, retailers should aim to highlight products that are most relevant to consumers as soon as they enter the site. The right product selection can be made by analysing demographics, understanding customer segmentation and by a thorough examination of purchasing history. Successful online range management does not necessarily mean limited choice, but it should absolutely be the most relevant. Less really is more.
Successful online retailing is all about delivering an excellent customer experience. Providing a personal service is possible for online retailers, but interactive Web sites that use the latest Web 2.0 technology and sophisticated ecommerce platforms that make it possible to offer an ‘edited choice’ for each customer, will be critical going forward.
Hybris has identified six key challenges that retailers must address if they are to get it right online and emerge from the current downturn primed for growth:
• Robustness
• Speed to market
• Personalisation
• Range management
• Communications
• Integration
According to the research, this is particularly true in the management of large product ranges where consumers only want to be offered products and services that are relevant and appropriate to them, as an ‘edited choice’, in order to benefit from a more personalised online shopping experience.
In its report, ‘Personalisation and Range Management’, Hybris points out that while online retailers are not exempt from this trend, Internet retailing has one major advantage over its physical retailing counterpart. As a virtual experience, it is far more capable of responding and changing to suit the individual needs of consumers. To harness this power, online retailers will need to understand the different groups of customers they serve and what they want from the online experience. They must be able to identify these customers when they log into a site and then present them with an experience tailored to their needs. Tailoring does not mean providing as many variations of the site as there are customers. It means building sites that are able to adapt slightly to the taste preferences of groups of consumers.
Internet retailing removes any restrictions on selling-space and logistics experienced in physical retailing, which means that it is much easier to carry an extensive range, but the report stresses that only a very small number of consumers choose websites simply because of the quantity of products for sale. Convenience, ease and speed of purchase are far more important features, as is separating product into ‘departments’ or ‘brands’. Online retailers do not necessarily have to stock less but they do need to be more careful about how those ranges are managed and how they are presented to the consumer.
Personalisation has a key part to play in online success, retailers should aim to highlight products that are most relevant to consumers as soon as they enter the site. The right product selection can be made by analysing demographics, understanding customer segmentation and by a thorough examination of purchasing history. Successful online range management does not necessarily mean limited choice, but it should absolutely be the most relevant. Less really is more.
Successful online retailing is all about delivering an excellent customer experience. Providing a personal service is possible for online retailers, but interactive Web sites that use the latest Web 2.0 technology and sophisticated ecommerce platforms that make it possible to offer an ‘edited choice’ for each customer, will be critical going forward.
Hybris has identified six key challenges that retailers must address if they are to get it right online and emerge from the current downturn primed for growth:
• Robustness
• Speed to market
• Personalisation
• Range management
• Communications
• Integration
Tuesday 17 March 2009, 6:49 PM
Helping SMEs Halve Soaring Energy Bills
UK desktop management company Modus Interactive is doing its best to help UK businesses increase profitability, responsibility and drive down carbon emissions with its enhanced version of Powerwise technology.
Powerwise is a natty power saving solution which manages PC usage and reduces carbon emissions, helping your business to reduce its energy costs. Figures from the Carbon Trust indicate that UK businesses foot an annual energy bill of an estimated £3.5 billion; however, they can waste as much as 30% of their energy unnecessarily, which amounts to losses of £1.1 billion per year, or £7000 per business.
For as little as £7.50 per PC, Powerwise can potentially save your business over £30 per year, per PC. With 500 PCs, a business could be cutting up to £15,000 off their electricity costs annually, while reducing their emissions by up to 75,000Kg CO2 per year.
The figures from the Carbon Trust demonstrate an alarming trend amongst UK businesses which can result in huge profit losses and significantly affect the bottom line of organisations. Modus Interactive said it has invested considerable time and resource in understanding how businesses can successfully and cost effectively utilise an intelligent energy saving solution without compromising end user productivity.
The latest version of Powerwise boasts a number of innovative features including Adaptive Wakeup. Adaptive Wakeup is an innovative intelligent power on characteristic. With the growing number of businesses offering flexible working procedures with flexi and part time hours, the software learns the pattern of times of when the computer is switched on, and automatically adjusts the wakeup to occur at the right time ongoing for the specific PC, switching on a computer system just minutes ahead of the employees arrival at their desk.
The Powerwise Management Console can be run from anywhere on the network. It provides both the configuration for the power saving settings (Powerwise Profiles), as well as allowing the administrator to see in real-time the power state of any computer and its devices. The Carbon Trust campaign’s target is to help save the UK economy £1 billion over the next three years and reduce the UK’s carbon emissions by at least 17m tonnes CO2 - the equivalent to annual emissions from heating nearly 5.5 million average UK homes.
Powerwise is a natty power saving solution which manages PC usage and reduces carbon emissions, helping your business to reduce its energy costs. Figures from the Carbon Trust indicate that UK businesses foot an annual energy bill of an estimated £3.5 billion; however, they can waste as much as 30% of their energy unnecessarily, which amounts to losses of £1.1 billion per year, or £7000 per business.
For as little as £7.50 per PC, Powerwise can potentially save your business over £30 per year, per PC. With 500 PCs, a business could be cutting up to £15,000 off their electricity costs annually, while reducing their emissions by up to 75,000Kg CO2 per year.
The figures from the Carbon Trust demonstrate an alarming trend amongst UK businesses which can result in huge profit losses and significantly affect the bottom line of organisations. Modus Interactive said it has invested considerable time and resource in understanding how businesses can successfully and cost effectively utilise an intelligent energy saving solution without compromising end user productivity.
The latest version of Powerwise boasts a number of innovative features including Adaptive Wakeup. Adaptive Wakeup is an innovative intelligent power on characteristic. With the growing number of businesses offering flexible working procedures with flexi and part time hours, the software learns the pattern of times of when the computer is switched on, and automatically adjusts the wakeup to occur at the right time ongoing for the specific PC, switching on a computer system just minutes ahead of the employees arrival at their desk.
The Powerwise Management Console can be run from anywhere on the network. It provides both the configuration for the power saving settings (Powerwise Profiles), as well as allowing the administrator to see in real-time the power state of any computer and its devices. The Carbon Trust campaign’s target is to help save the UK economy £1 billion over the next three years and reduce the UK’s carbon emissions by at least 17m tonnes CO2 - the equivalent to annual emissions from heating nearly 5.5 million average UK homes.
Thursday 12 March 2009, 2:45 PM
Businesses In Dark Over Climate Threat
While many corporate giants have woken up to the risks climate change poses for their business, many of those further down the supply change are blissfully unaware of how it may harm their trade.
This is the key finding of a study undertaken by the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), an initiative set up to encourage big business to be open about its emissions.
The CDP asked hundreds of suppliers working for major companies for their views on regulatory and physical risks and of the 634 who responded, a full third said they did not believe they faced any threat at all.
Only 58% considered climate change posed a risk to their operations.
Interestingly, the report showed that Asian suppliers expressed the highest level of concern over climate change and many are using governance and employee incentives to drive positive action.
Of the 77 responding suppliers based in Asia, 66% cite board level responsibility for climate change issues, well above the 54% global average.
In addition 39% of responding Asian companies reported the use of employee incentives, which can be a key lever for change.
As well as providing companies with a system for tracking and reporting their own emissions, the CDP also offers advice on helping them influence their suppliers in this area.
34 big name companies including Cadbury, Vodafone and Unilever use the system, requiring their major suppliers to report on their carbon footprint.
For most companies, 40% to 60% of their total carbon emissions are beyond their direct control and come from their supply chain, but by requesting those further down the chain to report - and address - their share of the impact, large businesses can have a significant impact.
This is the key finding of a study undertaken by the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), an initiative set up to encourage big business to be open about its emissions.
The CDP asked hundreds of suppliers working for major companies for their views on regulatory and physical risks and of the 634 who responded, a full third said they did not believe they faced any threat at all.
Only 58% considered climate change posed a risk to their operations.
Interestingly, the report showed that Asian suppliers expressed the highest level of concern over climate change and many are using governance and employee incentives to drive positive action.
Of the 77 responding suppliers based in Asia, 66% cite board level responsibility for climate change issues, well above the 54% global average.
In addition 39% of responding Asian companies reported the use of employee incentives, which can be a key lever for change.
As well as providing companies with a system for tracking and reporting their own emissions, the CDP also offers advice on helping them influence their suppliers in this area.
34 big name companies including Cadbury, Vodafone and Unilever use the system, requiring their major suppliers to report on their carbon footprint.
For most companies, 40% to 60% of their total carbon emissions are beyond their direct control and come from their supply chain, but by requesting those further down the chain to report - and address - their share of the impact, large businesses can have a significant impact.
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