Archive for the 'General Business Stuff' Category

Apple: Driving down the cost of software

Looking as I do frequently on the Mac App Store and iPhone/iPad App Store, I can’t help but notice how cheap software is now, compared with the old days before the App Stores existed and software was sold mainly on disc in big box packaging. Apple have led the way with their own apps. All the … Read more »

First week with the new iPad

Apple’s new iPad sold over 3 million units in the first 3 days. To put this into perspective, the first iPad took nearly 3 months to achieve the same figure, and even this was considered a massive success that had far exceeded all expectations. I got my hands on the new model unexpectedly in the first … Read more »

Don’t get caught out by the worst domain name companies

Why do some domain name sellers make it so difficult to transfer a domain name away from them? There are loads of domain name registrars, and most of them offer very cheap domain names and website hosting packages too. But there may come a time when your circumstances change or you find a better deal … Read more »

Does anyone actually use Yellow Pages any more? Or Yell.com?

It used to be simple. If you wanted a plumber or an electrician or even a bookshop, you just picked up the big yellow book and turned to the index. Who could forget those successful TV ad campaigns of the 1980s. Apart from a bit of minor competition from Thomson Local, they had it all … Read more »

Marketing VP reveals the four keys to Apple’s success

Apple’s Vice President iPhone Product Marketing, Greg Joswiak, gave an insight into the secrets of Apple’s success this week. He was speaking at a recent event in the UK called “Silicon Valley Comes to Cambridge.” None of this will come as a huge surprise to anyone who follows Apple, but it’s interesting to hear it … Read more »

Why a blog is good for your business

Do the experts keep telling you to get a blog? Are you unsure exactly what benefit your business will gain from it? Then read on. Many business owners think they should start a blog, perhaps with a vague idea that it might help their profile, but they don’t really know how or why. Or, more … Read more »

Fight the downturn and stay ahead… without spending a fortune

When the going gets tough, many businesses panic and start to cut back on the things that could actually keep them ahead of their competitors. It’s very easy to cut your advertising or cancel that new corporate brochure you promised yourself. Or you could let the company website stagnate for a while longer. A downturn … Read more »

A boring essay about backing up data that everyone should read!

The vast majority of people don’t ever give a single thought to backing up their computer. Why would they? That’s something for the IT guys at work to worry about. It’s their problem to make sure the network drives are protected against loss or failure, not yours. But whose job is it to look after … Read more »

The worst email mistakes amateurs keep making

Just like your website, email is one of the main faces of your business and often the first contact potential customers will experience. So you can’t afford not to do it properly. But ever since I started out in the business, people seem to have been making the same old mistakes over and over again. … Read more »

Get a good computer for your business. Get a Mac

When buying a computer for their business, most people don’t look beyond a Windows based PC. Microsoft’s operating system is pre-installed on every PC from low-end to top of the range, and therein lies the problem. Whatever machine you choose, the user experience is the same. You can buy the best PC in the shop … Read more »

Time wasters and how your business can avoid them

We all know running a business requires a certain amount of speculation. Dealing with enquiries that might not come to anything, quoting for jobs you might not get, and offering the benefit of your advice to prospects in the hope that they’ll become customers. It’s all part of the game. But you only need to … Read more »

Do your visitors trust your website?

Web site owners spend a lot of time optimising their content for search engines and promoting their site through Facebook and Twitter. But some are then disappointed when they find they aren”t converting as many visitors to customers as they”d like.

How to create the perfect company logo

Your logo is in many cases one of the first things people notice about your business. It speaks volumes about who you are, what your business does and what kind of an outfit you run. It is essential that you get it right. But as a small business owner, you probably aren’t in a position … Read more »

Top 10 Tips for start-ups and self employed

Many people find themselves leaving the world of nine to five drudgery as a paid employee for the exciting life as a business owner or self employed person. It may be through choice, or it may be due to redundancy, but whatever the reason, it can be a massive culture shock for anyone who has … Read more »