10 Tips for Women Entrepreneurs to Stay on Track

After women joined the employed, they had two choices - to stay at home and manage their families or to become part of the workforce and manage their jobs. Things have undergone a significant change and nowadays, women are increasingly choosing the third path - staying at home and managing their work independently.

Women entrepreneurs - the concept is nothing new. Eliza Lucas Pinckney, the first woman to be inducted into South Carolina’s Business Hall of Fame, took over the management of her father’s plantations as early as 1739, where she developed indigo as one of its most important cash crops. And today, there are a dearth of women led businesses.

What prompts a woman to take up the challenge of becoming a successful entrepreneur? The main reason is the flexibility that being your own boss offers. Below I have shared a few tips for today’s women entrepreneurs.

Take Up Something You Have a Passion For

Even the best idea cannot translate into a successful business if you are not passionate about it. You need to focus on the area of work you love as only then will you put in the required effort to build a business based on it. If you do not have an interest in designer wear, it is a bad idea to start a haute couture business.

Trust Your Instincts

Facts and stats may help you prepare the groundwork. But they may not work at every step. It is a good idea to rely on your instincts at times and many successful entrepreneurs, male and female, can vouch for this. This does not mean that you ignore all of the feedback you receive. Remain open-minded to positive opinions as well as the negative ones.

Prepare a Business Plan

A sailor is lost without a map. Similarly, an entrepreneur is lost without a business plan. If you do not have a business plan yet, it is high time to create one. It will set the steps you need to follow to succeed. It will also convince investors that you are serious about your endeavor.

Hoard the Cash

Life is not a bed of roses and neither is business. Keep in mind, there will be ups and downs from day one. It is important to accumulate as much cash as possible before you take the first step. You will need it to keep you and your business afloat for a while once you enter the world of the self-employed.

Learn as Much as Possible About Finances

It is always best to hire an accountant to work with you when you first start a business, man or woman. It is also important to learn about taxes and related matters to ensure that they do not become a problem for you later on down the line.

Know Your Target Customers

Who do you target to sell to? For example, if you are into haute couture, you need to focus on the modern day fashion conscious female. Create contacts and conduct surveys to know all that you need to know about your customers. This will help you learn to address their needs/wants and provide suitable products/services.

Build Relationships with Outsourcing Partners

For a majority of new entrepreneurs, it may be best to outsource the tasks that take up too much time and effort and yet, are not related to your core business area. Keep in mind that the providers are your partners; they work with you, not for you.

Set Realistic Goals

If you think that you are going to earn profits within a week of starting a business, you are not on track. Many times, new businesses take months or even years to get back the cash originally invested. Take one step at a time and set achievable goals. Nothing beats hard work.

Be Helpful

The best and easiest way to get help from others is to help them first. A business is as much about value creation as it is about profits. Contribute in any way you can. Introduce people to each other, create write-ups, suggest important events and do everything to extend help.

Most Importantly - Believe in Yourself

There is no secret to success for the self-employed. The only thing that works is a good combination of planning and hard work. Whatever you do, don’t give up. A business can experience highs and lows. Just don’t let them discourage you into quitting.

A woman has the best chances of success as an entrepreneur if she knows how to create the right balance. It is necessary to plan well and involve people who will be honest and supportive throughout the ups and downs of your new business.

Track Photo via Shutterstock

10 Tips for Women Entrepreneurs to Stay on Track

After women joined the employed, they had two choices - to stay at home and manage their families or to become part of the workforce and manage their jobs. Things have undergone a significant change and nowadays, women are increasingly choosing the third path - staying at home and managing their work independently.

Women entrepreneurs - the concept is nothing new. Eliza Lucas Pinckney, the first woman to be inducted into South Carolina’s Business Hall of Fame, took over the management of her father’s plantations as early as 1739, where she developed indigo as one of its most important cash crops. And today, there are a dearth of women led businesses.

What prompts a woman to take up the challenge of becoming a successful entrepreneur? The main reason is the flexibility that being your own boss offers. Below I have shared a few tips for today’s women entrepreneurs.

Take Up Something You Have a Passion For

Even the best idea cannot translate into a successful business if you are not passionate about it. You need to focus on the area of work you love as only then will you put in the required effort to build a business based on it. If you do not have an interest in designer wear, it is a bad idea to start a haute couture business.

Trust Your Instincts

Facts and stats may help you prepare the groundwork. But they may not work at every step. It is a good idea to rely on your instincts at times and many successful entrepreneurs, male and female, can vouch for this. This does not mean that you ignore all of the feedback you receive. Remain open-minded to positive opinions as well as the negative ones.

Prepare a Business Plan

A sailor is lost without a map. Similarly, an entrepreneur is lost without a business plan. If you do not have a business plan yet, it is high time to create one. It will set the steps you need to follow to succeed. It will also convince investors that you are serious about your endeavor.

Hoard the Cash

Life is not a bed of roses and neither is business. Keep in mind, there will be ups and downs from day one. It is important to accumulate as much cash as possible before you take the first step. You will need it to keep you and your business afloat for a while once you enter the world of the self-employed.

Learn as Much as Possible About Finances

It is always best to hire an accountant to work with you when you first start a business, man or woman. It is also important to learn about taxes and related matters to ensure that they do not become a problem for you later on down the line.

Know Your Target Customers

Who do you target to sell to? For example, if you are into haute couture, you need to focus on the modern day fashion conscious female. Create contacts and conduct surveys to know all that you need to know about your customers. This will help you learn to address their needs/wants and provide suitable products/services.

Build Relationships with Outsourcing Partners

For a majority of new entrepreneurs, it may be best to outsource the tasks that take up too much time and effort and yet, are not related to your core business area. Keep in mind that the providers are your partners; they work with you, not for you.

Set Realistic Goals

If you think that you are going to earn profits within a week of starting a business, you are not on track. Many times, new businesses take months or even years to get back the cash originally invested. Take one step at a time and set achievable goals. Nothing beats hard work.

Be Helpful

The best and easiest way to get help from others is to help them first. A business is as much about value creation as it is about profits. Contribute in any way you can. Introduce people to each other, create write-ups, suggest important events and do everything to extend help.

Most Importantly - Believe in Yourself

There is no secret to success for the self-employed. The only thing that works is a good combination of planning and hard work. Whatever you do, don’t give up. A business can experience highs and lows. Just don’t let them discourage you into quitting.

A woman has the best chances of success as an entrepreneur if she knows how to create the right balance. It is necessary to plan well and involve people who will be honest and supportive throughout the ups and downs of your new business.

Track Photo via Shutterstock

SalesForce.com Bolsters Portfolio with Acquisition of ExactTarget

First it was Radian6, then Buddy Media. Now ExactTarget is in the crosshairs of Salesforce.com and, as announced earlier today, is the newest acquisition at a price tag of $2.5 billion.

Salesforce.com is a leading enterprise computing service that offers social and mobile cloud technologies focused primarily on sales, digital marketing and customer relationship management (CRM) applications. The addition of ExactTarget - a cloud-based marketing platform that offers data-driven digital marketing solutions with emphasis on email, social media and mobile devices -will bolster SalesForce.com’s marketing solutions offering and put them in a strong position for companies that seek an affordable, yet fully featured package of online marketing tools.

According to Mark Benioff, Chairman and CEO of Salesforce.com, “The addition of ExactTarget makes Salesforce the starting place for every company and puts Salesforce.com in the pole position to capture this opportunity.” This may explain why they paid a hefty $33.75 a share, nearly 53 percent above ExactTarget’s closing price on Monday.

IBM also announced a key acquisition in this space today, purchasing privately-held cloud computing company Softlayer Technologies at a price tag of $2 billion. We believe this shows a clear trend in the increasing importance, and expected growth, of cloud based technologies, particularly those that provide comprehensive digital marketing solutions.

The Salesforce.com acquisition also reveals a shift in spending among businesses, regardless of size. According to a recent survey by Gartner, Inc., there has been a significant increase in marketing dollars spent on digital offerings and they estimate that consumer technology companies will switch at least one-third of their ad spending to online efforts within two years. Furthermore, they predict that by 2017, CMO’s (chief marketing officers) will have larger technology budgets than most CIOs (chief information officers), in order to implement their increasingly sophisticated and more data driven marketing efforts.

A solid, comprehensive CRM platform can help a business of any size nurture prospects and convert sales. Combined with strong online marketing solutions such as email marketing, lead pages and social media strategies, companies have an ever-growing arsenal of weapons available to reach both current and prospective customers at a minimal cost. With companies like Salesforce.com making key strategic acquisitions in this area, they are positioning themselves to offer the “full package” to their customers, giving themselves a significant leg up on their smaller competitors.

As with any technology, however, it is important to remember that the biggest is not necessarily the best. Technologies are not a “one size fits all.” That’s why there is such fierce competition in the market. It is crucial for business owners to understand the different offerings and find a solution that best meets their specific needs.  Our editor, Ramon Ray, recently published a CRM 101 guide to help small business owners better understand the often confusing choices among CRM, email marketing, social media marketing and the like, with an aim toward helping you find the solution that works best for you and fully fits your needs.

One thing is clear: As the “big guys” continue to fight over market share of cloud-based technology solutions, small business owners are offered a silver lining in the form of more comprehensive digital marketing and social media solutions choices that allow highly effective targeting of current and prospective customers, while paying less to do so.

SalesForce.com Bolsters Portfolio with Acquisition of ExactTarget

First it was Radian6, then Buddy Media. Now ExactTarget is in the crosshairs of Salesforce.com and, as announced earlier today, is the newest acquisition at a price tag of $2.5 billion.

Salesforce.com is a leading enterprise computing service that offers social and mobile cloud technologies focused primarily on sales, digital marketing and customer relationship management (CRM) applications. The addition of ExactTarget - a cloud-based marketing platform that offers data-driven digital marketing solutions with emphasis on email, social media and mobile devices -will bolster SalesForce.com’s marketing solutions offering and put them in a strong position for companies that seek an affordable, yet fully featured package of online marketing tools.

According to Mark Benioff, Chairman and CEO of Salesforce.com, “The addition of ExactTarget makes Salesforce the starting place for every company and puts Salesforce.com in the pole position to capture this opportunity.” This may explain why they paid a hefty $33.75 a share, nearly 53 percent above ExactTarget’s closing price on Monday.

IBM also announced a key acquisition in this space today, purchasing privately-held cloud computing company Softlayer Technologies at a price tag of $2 billion. We believe this shows a clear trend in the increasing importance, and expected growth, of cloud based technologies, particularly those that provide comprehensive digital marketing solutions.

The Salesforce.com acquisition also reveals a shift in spending among businesses, regardless of size. According to a recent survey by Gartner, Inc., there has been a significant increase in marketing dollars spent on digital offerings and they estimate that consumer technology companies will switch at least one-third of their ad spending to online efforts within two years. Furthermore, they predict that by 2017, CMO’s (chief marketing officers) will have larger technology budgets than most CIOs (chief information officers), in order to implement their increasingly sophisticated and more data driven marketing efforts.

A solid, comprehensive CRM platform can help a business of any size nurture prospects and convert sales. Combined with strong online marketing solutions such as email marketing, lead pages and social media strategies, companies have an ever-growing arsenal of weapons available to reach both current and prospective customers at a minimal cost. With companies like Salesforce.com making key strategic acquisitions in this area, they are positioning themselves to offer the “full package” to their customers, giving themselves a significant leg up on their smaller competitors.

As with any technology, however, it is important to remember that the biggest is not necessarily the best. Technologies are not a “one size fits all.” That’s why there is such fierce competition in the market. It is crucial for business owners to understand the different offerings and find a solution that best meets their specific needs.  Our editor, Ramon Ray, recently published a CRM 101 guide to help small business owners better understand the often confusing choices among CRM, email marketing, social media marketing and the like, with an aim toward helping you find the solution that works best for you and fully fits your needs.

One thing is clear: As the “big guys” continue to fight over market share of cloud-based technology solutions, small business owners are offered a silver lining in the form of more comprehensive digital marketing and social media solutions choices that allow highly effective targeting of current and prospective customers, while paying less to do so.

The Teleworker Debate Continues! Should They Come Back To The Office?

Yahoo’s new CEO Marissa Mayer, who daringly banned working from home in the corporation, has started a debate that has  people all fired up: Should Teleworkers Return To the Office?

I recently looked at this topic and both sides of the debate and published an article for Dun and Bradstreet. There are certainly good reasons why small businesses may want to encourage the teleworker model and many reasons why they may want to consider going back to the traditional workplace, with all seats filled and all hands on deck.

On one side of the debate, there is a clear benefit and savings by allowing employees to work from home. This includes reduced electrical, smaller lease space / office space and increased work productivity as employees reduce time commuting and hanging around the water cooler.

On the other side of the debate, having all your employees in one space lends itself to easier collaboration, face to face meetings, control over workforce and an overall sense of community within your business.

You can read my full article here with more details on what some of the benefits and pitfalls are of allowing teleworkers in your business.

What’s your position in this debate? Do see allowing teleworkers as a benefit or a pitfall in your business?  Let me know!

The Teleworker Debate Continues! Should They Come Back To The Office?

Yahoo’s new CEO Marissa Mayer, who daringly banned working from home in the corporation, has started a debate that has  people all fired up: Should Teleworkers Return To the Office?

I recently looked at this topic and both sides of the debate and published an article for Dun and Bradstreet. There are certainly good reasons why small businesses may want to encourage the teleworker model and many reasons why they may want to consider going back to the traditional workplace, with all seats filled and all hands on deck.

On one side of the debate, there is a clear benefit and savings by allowing employees to work from home. This includes reduced electrical, smaller lease space / office space and increased work productivity as employees reduce time commuting and hanging around the water cooler.

On the other side of the debate, having all your employees in one space lends itself to easier collaboration, face to face meetings, control over workforce and an overall sense of community within your business.

You can read my full article here with more details on what some of the benefits and pitfalls are of allowing teleworkers in your business.

What’s your position in this debate? Do see allowing teleworkers as a benefit or a pitfall in your business?  Let me know!

Tech startup bought by Canadian IT firm

A small Christchurch start-up has been scooped up by a Canadian software company.

Appsecute, founded in 2012 by Christchurch's Mark Cox and Tyler Power, builds tools for a branch of cloud computing known as "platform as a service".

In a press release issued this morning Vancouver-based software firm ActiveState said they had acquired the Christchurch company, which employs four people.

The terms of the sale were not disclosed.

The Appsecute team, although now part of a larger organisation, will not need to set up shop and head to Canada, as their Christchurch headquarters will now become ActiveState's New Zealand office.

ActiveState, founded in 1997, makes solutions that allow companies to develop and manage software applications.

Ninety-seven per cent of Fortune 1000 used ActiveState's products and its customers include financial services firms including Credit Suisse and Bank of America, according to the company's website.

"This deal gets ActiveState some great technology. But just as important, it comes with some great people. ActiveState chief executive Bart Copeland said in a blog post today.

"When Mark Cox and Tyler Power founded Appsecute, they aimed to provide the next generation of cloud application management tools, and they've more than achieved that," he wrote.

An investor and advisor to Appsecute, Ben Kepes, said this morning:

It's news that is exciting for me on a number of levels - as an early backer of Appsecute I get to see their initial vision taken to a higher level with the addition of resource and market traction that ActiveState has. As an advocate for technology companies in New Zealand I see a local startup make good - and the local ecosystem benefit from the creation of what will become ActiveState's New Zealand operation. Most of all though I'm excited that Cox and Tyler will be able to continue developing and growing the Appsecute community under the umbrella of the broader ActiveState organisation, Kepes said.

By Hamish Fletcher Email Hamish

Internet Explorer Remains Dominant Browser

Internet Explorer remains the dominant Internet browser among its competitors like Firefox, Chrome and Safari â€" at least according to one measure.  And IE’s market share continues to grow.

In May, Internet Explorer (IE) gained slightly, and now has almost 56 percent of market share, according to the latest data from Net Applications, which tracks page views on Web browsers worldwide.

By comparison, Firefox and Google Chrome released new versions in the last month, but each still lags far behind Internet Explorer. Firefox was able to chip away somewhat at IE’s market dominance and at the same time, distance itself from Chrome.

Firefox is the second choice, with about 21 percent of all users. Chrome comes in third at nearly 16 percent. Safari is the leading Mac browser at just under 6 percent of the overall market.

However, not everyone agrees with the Net Application numbers.

One major service, StatCounter, lists Chrome as the most popular browser. StatCounter’s breakdown of browser market share is: Chrome at 41  percent, IE at about 28  percent, Firefox at about 20 percent and Safari at around 8 percent.

The difference is in where the two services get their data, and how they count it.  As The Next Web notes, Net Applications counts unique users,  whereas StatCounter counts page views, for determining browser share:

“Net Applications uses data captured from 160 million unique visitors each month. The service monitors some 40,000 Web sites for its clients.  StatCounter is another popular service for watching market share moves; the company looks at 15 billion page views. To us, it makes more sense to keep track of users than page views.”

Wikipedia has more on competing browser market share numbers, for those who need a statistics fix.

So what can you do with this information?  Keep it in mind for purposes of your website design.  Validate that your website or Web application is properly viewable in the most popular browsers, especially recent versions.

Cross check  against your own website analytics, too.  Individual audiences may vary.  If the vast majority of your Web visitors use Chrome, for instance, it would be foolish not to have an optimized experience for them in Chrome.

Internet Photo via Shutterstock

Save Your Employees From Burnout! New Study Shows Workers Check E-Mail Too Much!

Most people imagine workers sitting at their desks, imagining lounging on an exotic beach somewhere. We don’t really imagine the opposite-vacationers dreaming of being in the office. As small businesses put in longer hours, the need to occasionally get away is greater than ever. But a new study shows that no matter where we go, our work e-mails follow.

The report, commissioned by GFI Software, found that most small business employees surveyed check e-mail on weekends, late at night, and while on vacation. Six in ten employees admitted they check e-mail twice a day outside of work hours. A few employees admitted to checking e-mail during major events, like child’s school events, funerals, and while either they or their spouse was in labor.

The problem is even worse among larger companies, where 75 percent of respondents report checking e-mail outside of work hours. Being constantly connected comes at a price. Employees are never allowed to relax and recharge, leading to burnout and a risk of damage to personal relationships. In her book, Sleeping with Your Smartphone: How to Break the 24/7 Habit and Change the Way You Work, Harvard Business School professor Leslie Perlow recommends a digital disconnect, citing its power to make workers more productive and happier. The book is based on research Perlow did at a Boston consulting firm, where she used shifts in attitude and behavior to gradually help workers learn to disconnect.

To help your employees learn to enjoy personal time sometimes, here are a few tips:

• Encourage workers to disconnect. Perlow found that the reason many people were anxious to stay connected when not at work was perception. Employees felt that if they responded quickly to each e-mail,  no matter the time of day, they’d be more successful. For this reason, Perlow recommends business owners provide Predictable Time Off (PTO). With PTO, your workplace requires workers to disconnect from voicemail, phone contact, and voicemail on a regular basis. The study found that workplaces with PTO were no less productive than those with employees tethered to electronic devices.
• Honor employee’s personal time. This includes not only providing occasional personal days and reasonable vacation time each year, but also letting your workers enjoy that time off. When an employee is on vacation, encourage him or her to leave an “away” message on e-mail and voicemail, letting clients and colleagues know they are on vacation and will have limited access to e-mail. Only contact an employee on vacation when absolutely necessary.
• Keep night and weekend work at a minimum. While no one expects to always “punch out” at five p.m. on the dot, try to make night and weekend work an emergency situation. If your employees are regularly burning the midnight oil, ask yourself if perhaps you might need to add to your staff or outsource some of the work. Burned-out employees are more likely to leave when another opportunity comes along.

Small businesses have some of the hardest-working, most dedicated employees on the planet. But a worker can only work at 150 percent for so long before suffering from severe exhaustion. To ensure your top employees stay around for years to come, take a look at your team’s job requirements and ask yourself if they should change.

Save Your Employees From Burnout! New Study Shows Workers Check E-Mail Too Much!

Most people imagine workers sitting at their desks, imagining lounging on an exotic beach somewhere. We don’t really imagine the opposite-vacationers dreaming of being in the office. As small businesses put in longer hours, the need to occasionally get away is greater than ever. But a new study shows that no matter where we go, our work e-mails follow.

The report, commissioned by GFI Software, found that most small business employees surveyed check e-mail on weekends, late at night, and while on vacation. Six in ten employees admitted they check e-mail twice a day outside of work hours. A few employees admitted to checking e-mail during major events, like child’s school events, funerals, and while either they or their spouse was in labor.

The problem is even worse among larger companies, where 75 percent of respondents report checking e-mail outside of work hours. Being constantly connected comes at a price. Employees are never allowed to relax and recharge, leading to burnout and a risk of damage to personal relationships. In her book, Sleeping with Your Smartphone: How to Break the 24/7 Habit and Change the Way You Work, Harvard Business School professor Leslie Perlow recommends a digital disconnect, citing its power to make workers more productive and happier. The book is based on research Perlow did at a Boston consulting firm, where she used shifts in attitude and behavior to gradually help workers learn to disconnect.

To help your employees learn to enjoy personal time sometimes, here are a few tips:

• Encourage workers to disconnect. Perlow found that the reason many people were anxious to stay connected when not at work was perception. Employees felt that if they responded quickly to each e-mail,  no matter the time of day, they’d be more successful. For this reason, Perlow recommends business owners provide Predictable Time Off (PTO). With PTO, your workplace requires workers to disconnect from voicemail, phone contact, and voicemail on a regular basis. The study found that workplaces with PTO were no less productive than those with employees tethered to electronic devices.
• Honor employee’s personal time. This includes not only providing occasional personal days and reasonable vacation time each year, but also letting your workers enjoy that time off. When an employee is on vacation, encourage him or her to leave an “away” message on e-mail and voicemail, letting clients and colleagues know they are on vacation and will have limited access to e-mail. Only contact an employee on vacation when absolutely necessary.
• Keep night and weekend work at a minimum. While no one expects to always “punch out” at five p.m. on the dot, try to make night and weekend work an emergency situation. If your employees are regularly burning the midnight oil, ask yourself if perhaps you might need to add to your staff or outsource some of the work. Burned-out employees are more likely to leave when another opportunity comes along.

Small businesses have some of the hardest-working, most dedicated employees on the planet. But a worker can only work at 150 percent for so long before suffering from severe exhaustion. To ensure your top employees stay around for years to come, take a look at your team’s job requirements and ask yourself if they should change.

3 Reasons To Love Windows 8 Smartphone (Nokia Lumia 928)

Windows 8 Smartphone Nokia 928 Lumia

Tim Ray (intern, Smallbiztechnology.com) discussed why he loves his Windows 8 Nokia Lumia 920 Smartphone. He loves the email integration, the camera, the tiles and overall how simple it is to use.

Check out the video below or here.

7 Free Tools to Find Twitter Influencers Who Interact with You

Twitter was the first social media network that made influencers more reachable. It has never been easier to pitch to someone who can make an impact (and thus become influential as well). Knowing who influences your potential customers and winning their trust is gold… yet it’s not easy.

The first step in influencer marketing is identifying those influential people who are already interacting with you: Those are your most effective targets because you have already managed to get their attention.

Below are 7 free tools I am using to interact with influencers who know me or are familiar with what I do.

Find Twitter Influencers Interacting with Your Content

1. Who Tweeted Me

Influence measure: Number of followers

Who Tweeted Me is a new tool from Hubspot that finds all people who tweeted your pages and sorts them by number of followers. You can thank them with one click as well:

2. Topsy

Influence measure: Topsy influence

Topsy is another good tool to try here especially since its browser bookmarklet has made it so easy to get the data: Topsy Trackbacks (to install, simply drag it to your browser bookmarks toolbar) - simply click it when you are reading the page you want to analyze and you’ll be taken to Topsy results. Now scroll through results until you see “Influential” or “Highly Influential” flags:

Find Twitter Influencers Interacting with You

3. Commun.it

Influence measure: Ratio of followers / following

Commun.it is an absolutely awesome tool for keeping track of Twitter users who have recently interacted with you:

• You will see the list of *recent* interactions with Twitter influencers.
• You will be able to see if you interacted back (track “unreplied status”).
• You will see if you follow that Twitter influencer.
• You will be able to load more information on each Twitter influencer in the next column.
• You can rate results by “Highest rating” to see MOST influential users who have ever interacted with you.
• You will be able to see how much impact each of the influencer’s tweets made (number “interactions” of the tweet = replies + retweets).

That’s one of the most robust influencer-management Twitter tools I have ever used.

4. Klout

Influence measure: Klout score

New Klout “Moments” feature is another interactions manager you need to look into. You can control which “Klout” score users who have recently interacted with you have.

You can interact with your influencer’s interactions (I know that sounds funny, by the way) by replying (e.g. to thank) and retweeting right from the Klout page:

5. Kred

Influence measure: Kred score

Kred is another free tool that will list your recent interactions and sort them by its own score called “Kred.” To thank users you can “Kred” them:

Find Twitter Influencers Following You

6. Friend or Follow

Influence measure: Number of followers

Friend or Follow is an interesting tool that, among other features, grabs all your “fans” (people who follow you but who you are not following back) and sorts by the number of followers. You can follow them back right from that page as well:

I like it that it shows “verified icon” overlaying the Twitter avatar which makes it easier to find “real” influencers following you.

7. Fruji

Influence measure: Number of followers

Fruji is another great option here. What I like most about this tool is that it breaks your followers into groups by the number of followers. Another cool thing is the YAS Factor (You Are Special), indicating a higher chance of that person noticing your tweets.

What other free tools are you using to interact with Twitter influencers in your network?

7 Free Tools to Find Twitter Influencers Who Interact with You

Twitter was the first social media network that made influencers more reachable. It has never been easier to pitch to someone who can make an impact (and thus become influential as well). Knowing who influences your potential customers and winning their trust is gold… yet it’s not easy.

The first step in influencer marketing is identifying those influential people who are already interacting with you: Those are your most effective targets because you have already managed to get their attention.

Below are 7 free tools I am using to interact with influencers who know me or are familiar with what I do.

Find Twitter Influencers Interacting with Your Content

1. Who Tweeted Me

Influence measure: Number of followers

Who Tweeted Me is a new tool from Hubspot that finds all people who tweeted your pages and sorts them by number of followers. You can thank them with one click as well:

2. Topsy

Influence measure: Topsy influence

Topsy is another good tool to try here especially since its browser bookmarklet has made it so easy to get the data: Topsy Trackbacks (to install, simply drag it to your browser bookmarks toolbar) - simply click it when you are reading the page you want to analyze and you’ll be taken to Topsy results. Now scroll through results until you see “Influential” or “Highly Influential” flags:

Find Twitter Influencers Interacting with You

3. Commun.it

Influence measure: Ratio of followers / following

Commun.it is an absolutely awesome tool for keeping track of Twitter users who have recently interacted with you:

• You will see the list of *recent* interactions with Twitter influencers.
• You will be able to see if you interacted back (track “unreplied status”).
• You will see if you follow that Twitter influencer.
• You will be able to load more information on each Twitter influencer in the next column.
• You can rate results by “Highest rating” to see MOST influential users who have ever interacted with you.
• You will be able to see how much impact each of the influencer’s tweets made (number “interactions” of the tweet = replies + retweets).

That’s one of the most robust influencer-management Twitter tools I have ever used.

4. Klout

Influence measure: Klout score

New Klout “Moments” feature is another interactions manager you need to look into. You can control which “Klout” score users who have recently interacted with you have.

You can interact with your influencer’s interactions (I know that sounds funny, by the way) by replying (e.g. to thank) and retweeting right from the Klout page:

5. Kred

Influence measure: Kred score

Kred is another free tool that will list your recent interactions and sort them by its own score called “Kred.” To thank users you can “Kred” them:

Find Twitter Influencers Following You

6. Friend or Follow

Influence measure: Number of followers

Friend or Follow is an interesting tool that, among other features, grabs all your “fans” (people who follow you but who you are not following back) and sorts by the number of followers. You can follow them back right from that page as well:

I like it that it shows “verified icon” overlaying the Twitter avatar which makes it easier to find “real” influencers following you.

7. Fruji

Influence measure: Number of followers

Fruji is another great option here. What I like most about this tool is that it breaks your followers into groups by the number of followers. Another cool thing is the YAS Factor (You Are Special), indicating a higher chance of that person noticing your tweets.

What other free tools are you using to interact with Twitter influencers in your network?

Samsung Goes Smaller, With the Galaxy S4 Mini

Samsung, which is known for its large smartphones, is now going smaller.  Samsung is expected to launch a lower end — and smaller — version of its Galaxy S4 smartphone in June.

Aptly called the Galaxy S4 Mini, the new phone is also expected to be cheaper than the $649.99 retail price.

Details have emerged about the new Galaxy S4 Mini phone in recent days.  BGR India reports on some of the technical specs of the new phone.  CNET providesRead More

The post Samsung Goes Smaller, With the Galaxy S4 Mini appeared first on Small Business Trends.

Yahoo Mail Classic Users Forced to Update, Accept Content Scans

Yahoo Mail Classic users who’ve been clinging to the Classic interface now need to conform to a recent update in order to access their email.

Yahoo Mail’s Help Center informed users of the Classic or non-updated interface Sunday that they would need to update their mail platform to a new version introduced late last year as of the beginning of this week. Along with adopting the new interface, Mail users will also have to agree to the site’s new Communications Read More

The post Yahoo Mail Classic Users Forced to Update, Accept Content Scans appeared first on Small Business Trends.

3 Reasons To Love Windows 8 Smartphone (Nokia Lumia 928)

Windows 8 Smartphone Nokia 928 Lumia

Tim Ray (intern, Smallbiztechnology.com) discussed why he loves his Windows 8 Nokia Lumia 920 Smartphone. He loves the email integration, the camera, the tiles and overall how simple it is to use.

Check out the video below or here.

To App Or Not To App? The Question All Small Businesses Face

Here at SmallBizTechnology, we’ve covered apps to death! I’ve told you some reasons why you should create an app. Nikola has told you not to give up on creating apps, and has also contributed some solutions you could use to create them in addition to these. But what we haven’t really told you is what kind of app youshould develop.

You see, today’s app market is completely saturated. A saturated market is always highly competitive, meaning that customers are very distracted. To succeed in a saturated market, you need to capture the attention of your customers.

There are a lot of apps out there (in the order of over a hundred thousand), but many of them provide very little use for their users. Here’s where you can get an edge. If you develop an app that somehow provides plenty of use to a prospective customer, your conversion rates will be very high and your return on investment (ROI) will meet very impressive milestones. But what makes an app useful? And should you even build an app?

I’m of the opinion that if you own a small business, there’s a successful app model out there for your particular sector. It’s inevitable. If your business provides a useful service, you can make an equally useful app for customers. I’m now going to give you a few examples of how certain businesses can make a useful app:

• Restaurants - I consider this one of the easiest types of businesses to come up with app ideas for. You can create an app with an interface that shows customers what your “dish of the day” is and any special promotions you’re having. With location-based features, you can tell your customers how to get to your restaurant from their current location. Added to that, you can also introduce the ability for customers to reserve a seat from the app. To prevent people from abusing the system, their mobile device can only reserve a table for a maximum of five patrons. They can schedule their reservations for a certain hour. Half an hour after the reserved time, the reservation can be automatically canceled.
• Retail - If you have an online store, put it in an app. Allow customers to make mobile purchases of items through the interface. Don’t forget to put your best foot forward and design the app in a way that shows your most unbeatable promotions! Other than this, there’s really not a lot to do with mobile apps. The idea is to get something similar to the Amazon Android app. Once you get that, you’ll have customers frantically opening their wallets in your face, saying, “Take my money!”
• Hospitality - Besides the reservation system in the restaurant model described earlier, there are a lot of things you can do with your resort, hotel, motel, or inn. For example, once the guest has checked in, the app should register that and open new options to the guest (i.e. pushing a button for room service). The app should also welcome the guest and provide him/her with phone numbers for local food delivery services (in case he/she’s in the mood for pizza or Chinese cuisine). This is just one more step to reaching a five-star rating.

It’s all a question of how much you are willing to do. These kinds of apps are very difficult to create and require a premium investment. Any lucid person would tell you to ponder a little more before diving into such a project. But if you’re serious about providing the best services possible for your customers, you’re eventually going to have to get around to doing this. A question pops up: “To app or not to app? That is the question.” Here is the answer: You will have to create an app eventually. The real question is “When?” It’s up to you. Every business has its boom and bust cycle, and apps factor into this.

However, as you might have gathered, creating an app is an “all or nothing” deal. When the average smartphone user has 40 or more apps installed, you have to push ahead and make your app one of the most noticeable among those 40.

To App Or Not To App? The Question All Small Businesses Face

Here at SmallBizTechnology, we’ve covered apps to death! I’ve told you some reasons why you should create an app. Nikola has told you not to give up on creating apps, and has also contributed some solutions you could use to create them in addition to these. But what we haven’t really told you is what kind of app youshould develop.

You see, today’s app market is completely saturated. A saturated market is always highly competitive, meaning that customers are very distracted. To succeed in a saturated market, you need to capture the attention of your customers.

There are a lot of apps out there (in the order of over a hundred thousand), but many of them provide very little use for their users. Here’s where you can get an edge. If you develop an app that somehow provides plenty of use to a prospective customer, your conversion rates will be very high and your return on investment (ROI) will meet very impressive milestones. But what makes an app useful? And should you even build an app?

I’m of the opinion that if you own a small business, there’s a successful app model out there for your particular sector. It’s inevitable. If your business provides a useful service, you can make an equally useful app for customers. I’m now going to give you a few examples of how certain businesses can make a useful app:

• Restaurants - I consider this one of the easiest types of businesses to come up with app ideas for. You can create an app with an interface that shows customers what your “dish of the day” is and any special promotions you’re having. With location-based features, you can tell your customers how to get to your restaurant from their current location. Added to that, you can also introduce the ability for customers to reserve a seat from the app. To prevent people from abusing the system, their mobile device can only reserve a table for a maximum of five patrons. They can schedule their reservations for a certain hour. Half an hour after the reserved time, the reservation can be automatically canceled.
• Retail - If you have an online store, put it in an app. Allow customers to make mobile purchases of items through the interface. Don’t forget to put your best foot forward and design the app in a way that shows your most unbeatable promotions! Other than this, there’s really not a lot to do with mobile apps. The idea is to get something similar to the Amazon Android app. Once you get that, you’ll have customers frantically opening their wallets in your face, saying, “Take my money!”
• Hospitality - Besides the reservation system in the restaurant model described earlier, there are a lot of things you can do with your resort, hotel, motel, or inn. For example, once the guest has checked in, the app should register that and open new options to the guest (i.e. pushing a button for room service). The app should also welcome the guest and provide him/her with phone numbers for local food delivery services (in case he/she’s in the mood for pizza or Chinese cuisine). This is just one more step to reaching a five-star rating.

It’s all a question of how much you are willing to do. These kinds of apps are very difficult to create and require a premium investment. Any lucid person would tell you to ponder a little more before diving into such a project. But if you’re serious about providing the best services possible for your customers, you’re eventually going to have to get around to doing this. A question pops up: “To app or not to app? That is the question.” Here is the answer: You will have to create an app eventually. The real question is “When?” It’s up to you. Every business has its boom and bust cycle, and apps factor into this.

However, as you might have gathered, creating an app is an “all or nothing” deal. When the average smartphone user has 40 or more apps installed, you have to push ahead and make your app one of the most noticeable among those 40.

Deloitte completes acquisition of Vigilant

Consultancy Deloitte has acquired the security monitoring and cyber threat intelligence services provider Vigilant.

To be operated under the brand ‘Vigilant by Deloitte', the deal sees Deloitte strengthen its cyber security capabilities to offer security consulting, managed services and information services that help organisations detect and respond to emerging cyber threats.

The brand will be led by Ed Powers, principal and national leader of Deloitte & Touche's security and privacy practice. He said: “The severity of cyber threats has elevated the profile of security and has increased the complexity of protecting information and critical infrastructure.

“The complementary nature of Deloitte's and Vigilant's businesses will expand our capability to deliver world-class, customised cyber threat management services to our clients.”

Mark Nicholson, Vigilant chief operating officer and co-founder, said: “This is an important opportunity for both organisations. Cyber defence is quickly becoming a top board level and C-suite concern. The breadth and depth of Deloitte's risk advisory services, combined with Vigilant's focus on emerging threats, enables us to better protect our clients' critical business assets.”

Zscaler announces new mobile security solution

Zscaler has launched a security solution to extend its threat protection capabilities to mobile devices.

According to the company, the Zscaler Mobile Security solution enables centrally managed advanced threat protection, real-time visibility and granular policy controls for mobile devices deployed in bring your own device (BYOD) environments.

Features include: access to global data analytics across the enterprise to deliver insight into mobile application traffic on the corporate network; protection from web-based threats and rogue applications; and the ability for IT administrators to enforce the corporate policies.

Jay Chaudhry, founder and CEO of Zscaler, said: “Security appliances have become irrelevant in securing mobile users since mobile traffic and cloud applications often bypass appliances completely.

“Mobile device management solutions have been the first step to manage and configure mobile devices; Zscaler is the natural step forward to provide security by inspecting all mobile content, enforcing policy and ensuring visibility.”

Zscaler has also announced partnerships with mobile device management vendors AirWatch and MobileIron to integrate Zscaler Mobile Security with mobile device management across device platforms for both corporate-issued and employee-owned devices.

Boost Your Revenue With Online Scheduling Software

Do you run a service business? You might be losing money if you aren’t utilizing an online scheduling software for your customers to use! Customers want to be able to book an appointment online. They’re used to OpenTable for restaurants and Travelocity for their travel needs. What can you offer them that’s comparable?

There are a few different online scheduling tools for small businesses.

PCWorld says Acuity is a good one to start with. “Acuity offers a freebie account for a single user (you) and unlimited clients and appointments. If you bump up to a Professional account for $10 monthly, you’ll get credit-card processing, an optional online store, embedded scheduling for your web site, reminder emails, and other goodies.”

On a LinkedIn forum, one user says, “I have a private practice as well and love the low cost, flexibility, and simplicity of Acuity Scheduling. $10/month and I can customize everything I need to, integrate it into my website, receive email or text notices, and even accept payment through Paypal if I want.”

Meanwhile, Schedulicity says they’re becoming the leader in online scheduling for service-based small businesses across the US. The service allows users to book on their phones, or through your Facebook fan page, or through a website. You can give it a shot for free, but after your trial it’s $20 for a solo user per month and $40 for multiple users.

On the same LinkedIn forum mentioned above, one user says, “I’m a sole proprietor and I use Schedulicity. My clients love it. They like booking their own (appointment) rather than playing phone or email tag all day. I like it too because I don’t have a receptionist or secretary to help me.”

Of course, there is also Appointment-plus, which helped Body by John triple it’s revenue, a story that we recently covered on Smallbiztechnology.

For more about online scheduling services, check out our archives!

Do you use an online scheduler? Which you like best? Let us know in the comments!

Boost Your Revenue With Online Scheduling Software

Do you run a service business? You might be losing money if you aren’t utilizing an online scheduling software for your customers to use! Customers want to be able to book an appointment online. They’re used to OpenTable for restaurants and Travelocity for their travel needs. What can you offer them that’s comparable?

There are a few different online scheduling tools for small businesses.

PCWorld says Acuity is a good one to start with. “Acuity offers a freebie account for a single user (you) and unlimited clients and appointments. If you bump up to a Professional account for $10 monthly, you’ll get credit-card processing, an optional online store, embedded scheduling for your web site, reminder emails, and other goodies.”

On a LinkedIn forum, one user says, “I have a private practice as well and love the low cost, flexibility, and simplicity of Acuity Scheduling. $10/month and I can customize everything I need to, integrate it into my website, receive email or text notices, and even accept payment through Paypal if I want.”

Meanwhile, Schedulicity says they’re becoming the leader in online scheduling for service-based small businesses across the US. The service allows users to book on their phones, or through your Facebook fan page, or through a website. You can give it a shot for free, but after your trial it’s $20 for a solo user per month and $40 for multiple users.

On the same LinkedIn forum mentioned above, one user says, “I’m a sole proprietor and I use Schedulicity. My clients love it. They like booking their own (appointment) rather than playing phone or email tag all day. I like it too because I don’t have a receptionist or secretary to help me.”

Of course, there is also Appointment-plus, which helped Body by John triple it’s revenue, a story that we recently covered on Smallbiztechnology.

For more about online scheduling services, check out our archives!

Do you use an online scheduler? Which you like best? Let us know in the comments!

Are You Being Too Nice for Your Own Good?

I was looking back at the topics I’ve covered here on Small Business Trends recently and had to laugh. Based on what I’ve written about management issues, you might think I’m a total softy. Well, that’s kind of because I am. But I also recognize that being too nice as a business owner or manager can backfire on your company.

Are you in danger of being too nice?

There are many reasons behind “nice girl/nice guy” syndrome. Maybe you’re too nice because you want everyone to like you. (I have a feeling women business owners are more likely to fall prey to this syndrome than men are.) Maybe you felt faceless as an employee at a big corporation and part of wanting to start your own business was creating a place where everyone had close personal relationships. Maybe you hated how your last boss treated you and vowed that your employees would feel “like family.” Or maybe you just aren’t confrontational, so you give in with a smile, rather than face up to problematic employees.

Unfortunately, being too nice can have many negative consequences for your business.

Some employees will take advantage of you and stop pulling their weight or doing their jobs. That means your business isn’t as profitable and productive as it can be. Worse, when employees see others getting away with things, it snowballs and leads to either poor behavior (as everyone starts flaking off) or poor attitudes (as the employees picking up the slack resent the others who they see as getting special treatment).

Ultimately, you could end up facing a lawsuit. Not to mention, if you’re the one picking up the slack, you’ll start feeling resentful yourself and eventually burn outâ€"and that’s not good for anyone.

So how can you stop being Mr./Ms. Nice Guy?

Assess

Take a step back and assess whether your policies, decisions and attitudes are negatively affecting your business. You might need to enlist an outside party, like your significant other or an advisor, or another manager in your business to give you their unvarnished opinion.

If your customer service manager says something like, “Yeah, you always give people time off when they ask without checking the schedule first and it really messes us up,” then you might have a problem.

Put the Business First

It’s great to let employees have flexibility and it also helps attract and retain new employees. But be sure you know where to draw the line so that business doesn’t suffer.

If you’re struggling to make this shift, remind yourself that keeping your business healthy and thriving is what pays your employee’s salaries. So ultimately, you’re doing them no favors when you weaken the company by being overly nice.

Set New Rules

I know many of you chafe at “rules,” and I’m not saying employees need to fill out a form in triplicate to go to a doctor’s appointment. It’s just that there needs to be some type of system other than, “Go ask the boss who always says yes.”

Maybe only X number of people can work at home on any given day (rotate days among the staff so everyone gets a fair shot). Or maybe people need to ask a few days ahead if they can leave work early to see their kid’s school play (rather than informing you as they run out the door).

Know What Really Matters

There’s a difference between the employee asking to take a long lunch to go to an exercise class and the one asking to work at home so she can take care of her dying mother.

Know when to bend the rules, even if it puts your business in a bind. Employees will never forget it.

Doormat Photo via Shutterstock

Palo Alto Networks launches private cloud appliance for better detection of APTs

Palo Alto Networks has announced the launch of the WildFire WF-500 appliance that it aims will deliver a private cloud solution for timely and thorough detection, analysis and prevention of advanced persistent threats (APTs).

It said that this allows users to detect, analyse and eradicate suspected threats in a private cloud under their control.

According to the company, when deployed with a Palo Alto Networks next-generation firewall, the WF-500 appliance also offers full prevention capabilities for APTs, as well as an option for a WildFire subscription on a customer-owned platform.

Used by more than 1,700 customers globally, the WildFire service aggregates suspicious files flagged by Palo Alto Networks next-generation firewalls that are uploaded for analysis by the company's systems and experts and a signature generated if a file is determined to be malware or an APT.

Lee Klarich, senior vice president of product management at Palo Alto Networks, said: “Quickly identifying and eliminating previously unknown threats across all applications is key to protecting an organisation from today's advanced threats; only Palo Alto Networks offers its customers a public or private cloud deployment choice and the closed loop capabilities to most efficiently and effectively stop APTs.”

Palo Alto Networks launches private cloud appliance for better detection of APTs

Palo Alto Networks has announced the launch of the WildFire WF-500 appliance that it aims will deliver a private cloud solution for timely and thorough detection, analysis and prevention of advanced persistent threats (APTs).

It said that this allows users to detect, analyse and eradicate suspected threats in a private cloud under their control.

According to the company, when deployed with a Palo Alto Networks next-generation firewall, the WF-500 appliance also offers full prevention capabilities for APTs, as well as an option for a WildFire subscription on a customer-owned platform.

Used by more than 1,700 customers globally, the WildFire service aggregates suspicious files flagged by Palo Alto Networks next-generation firewalls that are uploaded for analysis by the company's systems and experts and a signature generated if a file is determined to be malware or an APT.

Lee Klarich, senior vice president of product management at Palo Alto Networks, said: “Quickly identifying and eliminating previously unknown threats across all applications is key to protecting an organisation from today's advanced threats; only Palo Alto Networks offers its customers a public or private cloud deployment choice and the closed loop capabilities to most efficiently and effectively stop APTs.”

Oracle makes plans for Java security

Oracle has said that making Java more secure is a priority, as it lines up regular patch updates.

Oracle has released four security patches so far this year, and according to a blog post by Nandini Ramani from the software development team for the Java platform, Java will now issue four annual security releases, as well as retain the ability to issue emergency ‘out of band' security fixes.

Ramani said: “Oracle's additional investments have provided the organisation with the ability to more quickly respond to reports of zero-days and other particularly severe vulnerabilities. Java development has gained the ability to produce and test individual security fixes more quickly as evidenced by the quick releases of the most recent Java Security Alerts.

“In other words, the procedural and technical changes implemented throughout Java development have enabled the organisation to make improvements affecting both the critical patch update program (scheduled release of a greater number of security fixes) and the security alert program (faster release of unscheduled security fixes in response to zero-days or particularly severe vulnerabilities).”

Ramini said that Oracle is also addressing the limitations of the existing Java in browser trust/privileges model with product enhancements to default security settings to provide more user control over security.

These include enhanced security warnings before executing applets with an old Java runtime and a security slider configuration option in JDK 7 Update 10 for automatic security expiration of older Java versions. Other changes include establishing the identity of the signer in applets in JDK 7 Update 21 so signed applets can be run outside the sandbox and allowing users can prevent the execution of any applets if they are not signed.

Default plug-in security settings were changed to further discourage the execution of unsigned or self-signed applets.

Ramini also said that while the security problems affecting Java in browsers have generally not impacted Java running on servers, Oracle has found that the public coverage of the recently published vulnerabilities impacting Java in the browser has caused concern to organisations committed to Java applications running on servers.

“As a result, Oracle is taking steps to address the security implications of the wide Java distribution model, by further dissociating client/browser use of Java (e.g. affecting home users) and server use (e.g. affecting enterprise deployments),” Ramini said.

Soon to be added will be local security policy features to allow system administrators to gain additional control over security policy settings during Java installation and deployment, and allow system administrators to restrict execution of Java applets to those found on specific hosts. Stronger measures have been proposed to further reduce attack surface, including the removal of certain libraries typically unnecessary for server operation.

Ramini said that such significant measures cannot be implemented in current versions of Java as they would violate current Java specifications.

“It is our belief that as a result of this ongoing security effort, we will decrease the exploitability and severity of potential Java vulnerabilities in the desktop environment and provide additional security protections for Java operating in the server environment,” Ramini said.

“Oracle's effort has already enabled the Java development team to deliver security fixes more quickly, resulting in fewer outstanding security bugs in Java.”

Oracle makes plans for Java security

Oracle has said that making Java more secure is a priority, as it lines up regular patch updates.

Oracle has released four security patches so far this year, and according to a blog post by Nandini Ramani from the software development team for the Java platform, Java will now issue four annual security releases, as well as retain the ability to issue emergency ‘out of band' security fixes.

Ramani said: “Oracle's additional investments have provided the organisation with the ability to more quickly respond to reports of zero-days and other particularly severe vulnerabilities. Java development has gained the ability to produce and test individual security fixes more quickly as evidenced by the quick releases of the most recent Java Security Alerts.

“In other words, the procedural and technical changes implemented throughout Java development have enabled the organisation to make improvements affecting both the critical patch update program (scheduled release of a greater number of security fixes) and the security alert program (faster release of unscheduled security fixes in response to zero-days or particularly severe vulnerabilities).”

Ramini said that Oracle is also addressing the limitations of the existing Java in browser trust/privileges model with product enhancements to default security settings to provide more user control over security.

These include enhanced security warnings before executing applets with an old Java runtime and a security slider configuration option in JDK 7 Update 10 for automatic security expiration of older Java versions. Other changes include establishing the identity of the signer in applets in JDK 7 Update 21 so signed applets can be run outside the sandbox and allowing users can prevent the execution of any applets if they are not signed.

Default plug-in security settings were changed to further discourage the execution of unsigned or self-signed applets.

Ramini also said that while the security problems affecting Java in browsers have generally not impacted Java running on servers, Oracle has found that the public coverage of the recently published vulnerabilities impacting Java in the browser has caused concern to organisations committed to Java applications running on servers.

“As a result, Oracle is taking steps to address the security implications of the wide Java distribution model, by further dissociating client/browser use of Java (e.g. affecting home users) and server use (e.g. affecting enterprise deployments),” Ramini said.

Soon to be added will be local security policy features to allow system administrators to gain additional control over security policy settings during Java installation and deployment, and allow system administrators to restrict execution of Java applets to those found on specific hosts. Stronger measures have been proposed to further reduce attack surface, including the removal of certain libraries typically unnecessary for server operation.

Ramini said that such significant measures cannot be implemented in current versions of Java as they would violate current Java specifications.

“It is our belief that as a result of this ongoing security effort, we will decrease the exploitability and severity of potential Java vulnerabilities in the desktop environment and provide additional security protections for Java operating in the server environment,” Ramini said.

“Oracle's effort has already enabled the Java development team to deliver security fixes more quickly, resulting in fewer outstanding security bugs in Java.”

10 Reasons Social Media Isn’t Working for You

A recent survey shows 39 percent of small businesses are now seeing a return on investment from their social media use. The survey also shows that almost half (49 percent) of the more than 1,200 businesses surveyed by Manta increased their time spent with social media in the first quarter of 2013.

Despite this, the mainstream media continues to focus on the 61 percent of businesses that have seen no return on their social media activities.

If you’re in this second group, experts and social media marketers say there could be many reasons why. Below are 10 possibilities.

You’ve Got Other Problems in Your Business - Inc.com

Some companies complain because many of their social media comments are negative. But Carrie Kerpen, co-founder and CEO of Likeable Media, argues there may be a good reason for that. Social media acts like a mirror reflecting back your company’s image as customers see you. If you don’t like what you see, change the things your business does that create that image.

You’re Not Using Social Sites Effectively - Socialized Communications

For example, Shane Gibson insists LinkedIn alone includes over 200 million professional listings, including every Fortune 500 company and government organization. You should be using this social network to grow your business through increased sales and customer retention. If you aren’t doing so yet, Gibson and his team have put together a step-by-step video to show you how.

You’re Not Using Social Media to Forge Connections - Blondish.net

Web designer Nile Flores of Centralia, Illinois, argues social media is not always just about making sales. Sometimes it is about forging connections with others who have an interest in what you do. For example, building a relationship with others online who find you trustworthy can boost your reputation. And connecting with other business owners who offer services that compliment yours can lead to profitable partnerships.

You’re Ignoring the Facebook 80/20 Rule - Small Business Trends

One of the most popular social media networks online is also one of the most misunderstood, at least by small businesses. Mari Smith, often called the “Queen of Facebook” has this simple advice - always use the 80/20 rule when engaging with your audience. This means 80 percent of the time sharing a mix of other people’s and your own content with no sales agenda. Then spend just 20 percent of your time asking for the sale or lead.

You’re Not Measuring ROI to Find Out What Works - Urooj Kazi

Even though you may not use social media primarily for sales, it’s true some businesses do. If you want to figure out the return on a sponsored Facebook post, for example, there are some easy ways to do it. Business writer Kazi has some simple suggestions to measure and gauge response.

You’re Getting Distracted by the Metrics - Easy M6

Social media sites from Facebook to Twitter provide huge amounts of metrics that can prove quite helpful when measuring response to your social media efforts. But Lithuanian blogger Liudas Butkus recommends avoiding too much preoccupation with these metrics. The real question is whether your social media sites are driving traffic to your website, resulting in sales.

You’re Not Answering the Right Questions - SteamFeed

If you’re new to social media marketing, there’s no need to go it alone. There’s plenty of experience out there to draw from, so start by looking at what’s worked for others. DJ Thistle shares this post with responses from top social media marketers in his community to some of the most often asked questions. Check out the post and see if yours are answered here.

You’re Not Being Consistent Enough - Jenn’s Trends

If content is king, consistency is queen, says marketing expert Jenn Herman. Consistency will increase the effectiveness of your social media efforts. But how do you develop that consistency with so many other things that need doing in your business? It may be a challenge, but Herman suggests five tips for becoming more consistent in your social media efforts.

You’re Not Focusing on the Right Tools - Idea Sprouts

Not all social media platforms are created equal. Some will provide better results for your business than others. In this post, social media marketer Allison Semancik makes the case for Pinterest. Semancik insists the social site known for its highly visual content is responsible for 28 percent of the leads she has received through social media. Take a look at the overall breakdown.

You’re Not Tailoring Your Message for Your Audience - SearchBlogger

It may make sense to broadcast the same content over all the social platforms where you have a presence. Sharing the same content over multiple channels assures it is seen by all, builds momentum on all your channels and maximizes the use of content it may have taken you time and effort to create. The downside, says blogger Jamie Fairbairn, is that you annoy your followers and aren’t really tailoring your message to the very different audiences of each community.

Social Media Photo via Shutterstock

10 Reasons Social Media Isn’t Working for You

A recent survey shows 39 percent of small businesses are now seeing a return on investment from their social media use. The survey also shows that almost half (49 percent) of the more than 1,200 businesses surveyed by Manta increased their time spent with social media in the first quarter of 2013.

Despite this, the mainstream media continues to focus on the 61 percent of businesses that have seen no return on their social media activities.

If you’re in this second group, experts and social media marketers say there could be many reasons why. Below are 10 possibilities.

You’ve Got Other Problems in Your Business - Inc.com

Some companies complain because many of their social media comments are negative. But Carrie Kerpen, co-founder and CEO of Likeable Media, argues there may be a good reason for that. Social media acts like a mirror reflecting back your company’s image as customers see you. If you don’t like what you see, change the things your business does that create that image.

You’re Not Using Social Sites Effectively - Socialized Communications

For example, Shane Gibson insists LinkedIn alone includes over 200 million professional listings, including every Fortune 500 company and government organization. You should be using this social network to grow your business through increased sales and customer retention. If you aren’t doing so yet, Gibson and his team have put together a step-by-step video to show you how.

You’re Not Using Social Media to Forge Connections - Blondish.net

Web designer Nile Flores of Centralia, Illinois, argues social media is not always just about making sales. Sometimes it is about forging connections with others who have an interest in what you do. For example, building a relationship with others online who find you trustworthy can boost your reputation. And connecting with other business owners who offer services that compliment yours can lead to profitable partnerships.

You’re Ignoring the Facebook 80/20 Rule - Small Business Trends

One of the most popular social media networks online is also one of the most misunderstood, at least by small businesses. Mari Smith, often called the “Queen of Facebook” has this simple advice - always use the 80/20 rule when engaging with your audience. This means 80 percent of the time sharing a mix of other people’s and your own content with no sales agenda. Then spend just 20 percent of your time asking for the sale or lead.

You’re Not Measuring ROI to Find Out What Works - Urooj Kazi

Even though you may not use social media primarily for sales, it’s true some businesses do. If you want to figure out the return on a sponsored Facebook post, for example, there are some easy ways to do it. Business writer Kazi has some simple suggestions to measure and gauge response.

You’re Getting Distracted by the Metrics - Easy M6

Social media sites from Facebook to Twitter provide huge amounts of metrics that can prove quite helpful when measuring response to your social media efforts. But Lithuanian blogger Liudas Butkus recommends avoiding too much preoccupation with these metrics. The real question is whether your social media sites are driving traffic to your website, resulting in sales.

You’re Not Answering the Right Questions - SteamFeed

If you’re new to social media marketing, there’s no need to go it alone. There’s plenty of experience out there to draw from, so start by looking at what’s worked for others. DJ Thistle shares this post with responses from top social media marketers in his community to some of the most often asked questions. Check out the post and see if yours are answered here.

You’re Not Being Consistent Enough - Jenn’s Trends

If content is king, consistency is queen, says marketing expert Jenn Herman. Consistency will increase the effectiveness of your social media efforts. But how do you develop that consistency with so many other things that need doing in your business? It may be a challenge, but Herman suggests five tips for becoming more consistent in your social media efforts.

You’re Not Focusing on the Right Tools - Idea Sprouts

Not all social media platforms are created equal. Some will provide better results for your business than others. In this post, social media marketer Allison Semancik makes the case for Pinterest. Semancik insists the social site known for its highly visual content is responsible for 28 percent of the leads she has received through social media. Take a look at the overall breakdown.

You’re Not Tailoring Your Message for Your Audience - SearchBlogger

It may make sense to broadcast the same content over all the social platforms where you have a presence. Sharing the same content over multiple channels assures it is seen by all, builds momentum on all your channels and maximizes the use of content it may have taken you time and effort to create. The downside, says blogger Jamie Fairbairn, is that you annoy your followers and aren’t really tailoring your message to the very different audiences of each community.

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