March 2011
In this issue:► Software and the Taxman
► Social Media – Improve Sales
► Learning to Actively Listen
► Top Notch Password Security
► Business Continuity Tip
► Quote of the Month
► Just for Laughs
| | | Business Continuity Tip | It’s Not Me. It’s You.
Risk assessment is a critical element in any business continuity plan. When assessing risk, most companies instinctively think of the large scale disasters: Hurricanes, Floods, Terrorism, Ice Storms. But in most cases, the real risks surround us.Ask yourself, who else occupies your building? Is there an office above you? Who is below you? Is your office near a government building? Is your building secure, or can anyone walk in off the street?These seem like obvious questions, but in many cases, disasters that directly affect a fellow tenant can indirectly cripple your business.
| | Just for Laughs | | | Quote of the Month |
“A pessimist is one who
feels bad when he feels good
for fear he’ll feel worse
when he feels better.”
| | Software and the Taxman
By Jeffrey A. Levenstam, Partner, Ernst & Young LLP—International Tax Services
used with permission from the Microsoft Small Business websiteWhat do you consider when you’re buying new business software? How well the product addresses the needs of your organization? Naturally. The cost per seat? Sure. The ease of administration and maintenance? Of course. The tax implications of the purchase?If you’re not thinking about taxes, you should be. The green-eyeshade gang in your finance department will thank you for it, and heaven knows we could all use a friend or two in finance. So, sharpen your pencil and grab your abacus, and let’s take a look at some of the tax implications of software licensing. |
| 4 Ways Social Media Can Improve Sales Performance
used with permission from the Microsoft Small Business websiteEvery salesperson knows that information is power. The more you know about your prospect, the more insight you have into what makes them buy. The Internet has made researching your customers easier than ever. You can visit company websites to research products, read press releases, and get a feel for a prospect’s organization. Taking your research one step further, subscription-based research tools allow you to easily gather information on key executives, company size, number of employees and other quantifiable information. But if you’re limiting your pre-call sales prep to company websites and subscription-based research tools, you’re just scratching the surface. Here are four ways to expand your research with Web 2.0 tools. |
| Learning to Actively Listen Will Close The “Gap”
By Craig Kitch
www.craigkitch.comThere is nothing more fruitful for your business or career than the art of active listening. Unfortunately, most people would rather talk than listen and that’s why most people live lives of mediocrity. You learn nothing when your mouth is moving but you can acquire vast amounts of knowledge by simply listening attentively. How many sales people have you dealt with that put so much effort into telling you about their product or service that they never even asked what your needs were? Whether you are selling a product, managing people or simply trying to understand your coworkers, there is no skill more valuable to have in your bailiwick than that of being a good listener.Read on |
| 5 Tips for Top-notch Password Security
by Kim Komando
used with permission from the Microsoft Small Business websiteWhether it’s a few PCs or hundreds on your network, there’s one thing that can separate your system from being compromised: a great password. Why? Hackers want access to anything and everything. If they can guess your user name and password, you might as well have given them your wallet and the keys to your building. Before we talk about what makes a good password, let’s begin with the first of five things to know and practice in using passwords. |
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