Keys to Creating a Small Business Website
SmartBiz.com (04/09/07) ; Cartagena, Melissa

When developing company Web sites, one of the most important things small-business owners can do is offer sufficient content. The content should provide information about the company to prospective clients and include plenty of pertinent keywords to boost its search-engine ranking. Web sites should also provide user-friendly navigation so that visitors can easily locate information about the company's products and services. Companies that want their Web sites to generate leads and sales should make several considerations. They should ensure that the main objective of each page is obvious, meaning that visitors understand what action should be taken. The site should answer visitors' frequently-asked questions and offer personalization with the use of "you" and "your." Companies should keep in mind that numerous images and a vast number of options translate into distractions that could send visitors to the Web sites of their competitors.
http://www.smartbiz.com/article/articleview/2061/1/56

A Guide to VoIP--Just the FAQs
Small Business Computing (04/06/07) ; Moran, Joseph

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is attracting the attention of small businesses because the technology can dramatically lower their telephone bills and does not require them to pay extra for such features as Caller ID and three-way calling. VoIP also enables users to access their voice mail online. To achieve the best call quality, companies need broadband connections with upstream bandwidth of 128K or faster; and they would be wise to install a router that prioritizes voice traffic over data traffic. While some service providers require special VoIP phones, most offer VoIP gateways that permit the use of traditional telephones. Additionally, with battery backup, VoIP equipment can be used during power outages.
http://www.smallbusinesscomputing.com/buyersguide/article.php/367
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Tune Up Older PCs to Save Money
Terre Haute Tribune Star (IN) (04/09/07)

Small-business owners must maintain enough desktop computers for every employee, but it is cost-prohibitive and impractical to outfit each new worker with a new PC. However, there are several things they can do to revamp older machines to maximize efficiency and productivity and save money. Hard drives that have been used for extended periods of time are often cluttered, making it important to eliminate outdated programs and temporary files, clear the Internet browser's history and cookies, and empty the trash folder as a means of boosting performance. It is also necessary to defragment the hard drive, scan for viruses, and upgrade software. To ensure that crucial data is not lost, users should undertake frequent backups as well.
http://www.tribstar.com/business/local_story_099225108.html

Looking for VoIP Values
Processor (04/06/07) Vol. 29 , No. 14 , P. 10 ; Chickowski, Ericka

Small-business owners considering the purchase of VoIP telephony systems need to plan ahead to determine whether the technology is appropriate for their companies. Experts urge businesses to first inspect their infrastructure to ensure there is sufficient bandwidth. They also recommend selecting products that do not confine them to a single vendor, using caution with open-source systems because of the vendor's inability to control quality. OvisLink's James Ho suggests Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) products because they are compatible with the majority of equipment and service providers. Given that most companies purchase new phone systems every seven years, Niel Levonius of AltiGen Communications says they should take longevity and scalability into account. "You want to make sure that the device can be upgraded, that you don't have to do a forklift upgrade where you go in and you rip out the whole system and put in the next best thing," explains Levonius. While price is an important consideration, experts insist that they should not opt for the cheapest system if they want good quality.
http://www.processor.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles%2
Fp2914%2F22p14%2F22p14.asp&guid=&searchtype=&WordList=&bJumpTo=Tr
ue

Improving Client Service Through Online Payroll
Accounting Software 411 (04/07) ; Sanghvi, Anu

There is renewed interest in payroll management among accountants, who were hesitant to offer payroll services to clients in the past because they were unprofitable. Needham, Mass.-based CPA Martin Kofman says payroll is "as essential as providing accounting and tax services." Hosted payroll services have enabled accountants to broaden their client offerings without having to install software and other components. The service provider's servers securely store client information, and accountants need only a Web browser to input and access data. This translates into minimal upfront costs and enhanced profitability. These online services typically offer direct deposit and automatic tax payments and filings, among other features, at a fixed monthly price.
http://www.as411.com/Press/PressDocView.aspx?docid=8478

Look Smart
Entrepreneur (04/07) ; Kooser, Amanda C.

Smartphones have evolved into useful business tools in recent years, enabling mobile workers to reduce the number of devices they must carry with them. These pocket-sized gadgets may feature built-in GPS, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, keyboards, digital cameras, and email, depending on the model selected. RIM's BlackBerry Pearl supports as many as 10 email addresses and comes with a multimedia player and a SureType keyboard, among other features. Samsung's BlackJack, meanwhile, offers a qwerty keyboard and runs Windows Mobile. Mobile workers have access to a basic, economical smartphone with the Palm Treo 680; but they will pay nearly $700 for the Sony Ericsson P990i and such sophisticated features as a business-card scanner and both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities, to name a few. While smartphones require both voice and data services, many business users would rather pay extra for data subscriptions than lug their laptops everywhere.
http://www.entrepreneur.com/magazine/entrepreneur/2007/april/1757
96.html
 

Virtualization in the SMB Environment
Virtual Strategy (04/05/2007) ; Scott, Walter

Virtualization and the multicore processors, low-cost system memory, and huge disk drives that come with it are now available to small businesses in the form of virtual operating systems from Microsoft, VMware, and SWsoft, to name a few. Virtualization simplifies server deployment by allowing companies to create one system that can be deployed multiple times via transportable images. In regards to hardware and software, companies should aim for a system that supports 64-bit technology and permits movement from one virtual operating system to another. The ability to migrate specific files and folders from one system to another with drag-and-drop tools, as well as the ability to migrate both live and off-line data, is also useful. As for disaster recovery, companies should consider a disk imaging tool that maintains productivity by running in the background.
http://www.virtual-strategy.com/article/view/1945/

Archiving & Retaining Communications
Processor (03/30/07) Vol. 29 , No. 13 , P. 26 ; Bradley, Tony

Balancing the need to efficiently clear electronic storage spaces of old emails, instant messages, and other data and to remain in compliance with regulatory requirements regarding the proper storage and retention of these communications can be a major challenge for many companies. However, executives are more likely to fund extensive data-security initiatives if such security measures will aid regulatory compliance, especially considering that executives face severe fines and prison terms if they fail to adhere to archiving requirements. These requirements vary by industry, but most require that electronic correspondence be stored and easily retrieved in the event of litigation. While companies have the option to design their own data storage systems, there are numerous applications on the market to ensure both compliance and storage efficiency. These include Lighthouse Global Technologies' E-Trail Digital Archive and AXS-One's AXS-One Compliance Platform.
http://www.processor.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles/P2913/31
p13/31p13.asp&guid=