Tweak Your Biz » Technology

If you are an owner today of a merchant-based business, whether online or run from a brick-and-mortar establishment, it is difficult to make sense of the ongoing rage over mobile payments and how they will change the way that basic commerce, as we know it, is conducted in the future. Yes, smartphone technology will have a dramatic impact on merchant activities, but hold on, we have heard similar predictions before. The internet did change merchant commerce, as we knew it, but those changes did…

Bruce Hopkins and Tirrell Payton were both consultants who shared a love of mobile technology and audio information. Together they created Kaliki, the new spoken word platform that allows consumers to access their favorite audio news and information content on-demand, anytime – in-car, online, and on the go. They are partnering with North America’s leading publishers, broadcasters, and producers to bring their content to the dashboards of millions of daily in-vehicle consumers.…

Facebook is a great platform for running a contest because it can expand your audience, raise awareness about a product or service, boost audience engagement and increase your fans. However, Facebook states that if you are running a competition of any sort, then the following rules MUST be adhered to or you run the risk of getting your page removed. Facebook clearly state that “We reserve the right to reject or remove Pages for any reason. These terms are subject to change at any time.” To…

In the first part of this three part series (I feel like a director now!), I talked about some basic apps and software that really improve the overall Mac experience and create a unified approach to productivity across your mobile and laptop. This post continues on that theme but as promised it focuses on business productivity and browsing. # 1. Xmind I simply can’t take notes at a meeting or present a plan for ANYTHING without Xmind. This is what it is: mind-mapping (spider diagrams if you…

As 2013 approaches, marketing professionals turn their attention to the next year’s strategies. Because of the recent growth in the number of smartphone users browsing the Internet on their mobile devices, it’s likely that many 2013 marketing efforts will focus on the phenomenon of mobile marketing. Below are three key technologies likely to take mobile marketing by storm next year. # 1. Location Technology Almost every mobile device is already equipped with a GPS transmitter capable…

For the ones who are not familiar with the term, BYOD stands for “bring your own devices”. Both the employee and the company can benefit from a properly enforced BYOD policy. Some studies have shown that it increases the productivity of an employee. But there are some who doubt the accuracy of these studies. It could be a simple thing like replying to a mail before going to bed. Adding finishing touches to a presentation or something a bit challenging like delivering your final…

I was skeptical. My loyalty to the PC over the years had wrongly copper-fastened a harsh perception of Apple’s alternative: “It’s only for graphic designers and the brand conscious.” Unlike the iPhone or iPod, in my mind the advantages of going Mac over the competition just weren’t as clear. That is until the operating system Mac OS X ‘Mountain Lion’ was released. I have been converted. This is not a post on why you should go Mac but in fact more a post for those who already have…

“We become what we behold. We shape our tools, and thereafter our tools shape us.” – Marshall McLuhan. Having the right website tools is especially important online, where we have access to a myriad of tools and what others think about them. You’ll only be as effective as the tools you use. Even tasks that take a lot of time and effort will be effectively simplified if you have the right tools. Here are 5 website tools to help you effectively run your online business under a budget: #…

Relying on username-password combinations seems so last decade (last century?) these days. With smartphones able to do facial recognition and thumb readers as options on laptops, passwords feel like they should be phasing out. In the meantime, the passwords we’re choosing aren’t very secure. A recent SplashData report shows the top-three most popular are password, 123456, and 12345678. One has to wonder why there aren’t more security breaches with that kind of non-security. Just how…

The dream for some founders is to exit their multi-million dollar technology business within five years. The reality for many is that they run out of cash long before that, and the company dies. There are no hard and fast rules about converting dreams to reality. Yes, you need to dream ‘big’ , that is your vision. If you think small, well, small is what you will remain.  We look for at the essentials of a successful exit sale in this interview with Ian Shearer,  Director of Mergers and…