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November 2008
In this issue
√
Empower Mobile
Workers
√
Messaging Rules
√
Presenting with
PowerPoint
√
Cut Prices
√ Employee Spotlight
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Cut Prices in
a Sluggish Economy?
No Way
by Rieva
Lesonsky
reprinted with
permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center
Q: This economy is really starting to affect my business.
Business is down. People around here seem to be staying at home
and not shopping. I'm thinking of cutting prices to bring people
in. What do you think?
A: Don't do
it. Seriously, cutting prices seems to be the first thing
entrepreneurs think about when the economy heads into a
downturn. The reasoning is that this is the only way to combat
the fact that consumers, clients and businesses are spending
less.
Generally, however,
this is not a smart strategy. It sends a bad message to your
customers-they'll likely think you've been overcharging them all
along. Or that you're desperate, which will make them wonder if
your business is about to go under and if they should start
doing business elsewhere.
Read more |
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Empower Mobile Workers, Improve Collaboration with Exchange Server
2007
Most businesses today rely extensively on e-mail to empower
employees and drive productivity. But the communication landscape is
changing. Mobile workers expect to work from anywhere with full
access to e-mail, calendars, attachments, contacts and more. As
individuals, we juggle e-mail, voice and messaging, tracking
information between them. Balancing access with cost and security
can be a challenge. Viruses and spam threaten the effectiveness and
security of electronic communications, while government regulations
require that companies track and secure e-mail. And as businesses
and online communications grow, businesses have to operate ever more
efficiently and flawlessly to keep operations running smoothly.
As a Microsoft® Gold
Certified partner and authorized HP reseller, IT Solutions can help
you face these challenges with confidence. By upgrading to Microsoft
Exchange Server 2007 using HP servers and storage, companies of all
sizes can get the most reliable, easy-to-manage and powerful
business e-mail environment available today.
Read more |
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Instant Messaging
Rules for the Workplace
Reprinted with
permission from the HP Small and Medium Business Website
 Because
of its efficiency and speed, instant messaging, or IM for short,
has become a valuable interoffice tool for employees to exchange
information and collaborate in real time.
The advantages of
IM are clear. But there are drawbacks too. IM can be
distracting; employees can waste time using it for personal
conversations; and IM technology is often not secure, leaving
corporate networks more vulnerable to viruses and attacks. And
because of the informal nature of IM, it can sometimes lead to
embarrassing or serious mistakes.
By following
these seven rules for appropriate IM use, you can avoid
common pitfalls and make the most out of this effective and
convenient communications tool. |
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Presenting with PowerPoint:
10 Dos and Don'ts
by
Jeff Wuorio
reprinted with permission from Microsoft Small Business
Center
 Cherie
Kerr knows how PowerPoint can be both provocative and
persuasive in a business meeting.
She's also
aware that precisely the opposite can occur.
"It can be
the very best friend you have," says the Santa Ana,
Calif., public relations consultant. "But you have to
use it right."
Kerr's
two-sided view of Microsoft's popular presentation and
graphics program mirrors a debate coursing through
business and academia. While many embrace the values of
PowerPoint as a potent business tool, there are others
who contend that it's a drag on effective interaction -
that it confuses, distorts and even strangles
communication.
But, as
Kerr points out, any discussion of PowerPoint's merits
and miscues merely illustrates the importance of using
the program to best advantage.
Here are
10 ways to use PowerPoint to help make your business
look brilliant, not brainless. |
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Employee
Spotlight
Nancy Wilkins
Name: Nancy
Wilkins
Title: Office Manager
Education: Some college courses
Home: Philadelphia
First job: Retail clerk - don’t know if I should say where.
Little known fact about you: I started the college courses
when I was 50.
Super-power I want and why: Time travel. I would like to see
people, places, and events from the past.
Word that best describes you: Practical
Like best about your job: The opportunity to learn new
things.
The most important lesson you’ve learned: Life is too short.
Life motto: Take one day at a time.
Person most interested in meeting: God
Most influential book: The DaVinci Code
Favorite movie: It’s A Wonderful Life
Favorite restaurant: La Buca, Center City, Philadelphia
Favorite vacation spot: North Wildwood, NJ
Favorite way to spend free time: With my children and
grandchildren, family and friends.
Please forward this newsletter to
anyone else in your organization who
might be interested!
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