communication Archives - Smallbiztechnology.com https://www.smallbiztechnology.com/archive/tag/communication-2/ Small Business Technology Fri, 23 Feb 2024 02:13:12 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2.5 https://www.smallbiztechnology.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/cropped-smallbiz-technology-1-32x32.png communication Archives - Smallbiztechnology.com https://www.smallbiztechnology.com/archive/tag/communication-2/ 32 32 47051669 6 Ways to Help Your Team Improve on Their Customer Service https://www.smallbiztechnology.com/archive/2022/05/customer-service-tips.html/ Thu, 12 May 2022 12:00:50 +0000 https://www.smallbiztechnology.com/?p=62207 What is the most critical thing you can do to improve client relations? The answer is simple and obvious: improve customer service. These customer service tips will help you do that. No matter how good your product or how good your team is, your customers are going to remember your direct relationship with them. Therefore, […]

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What is the most critical thing you can do to improve client relations? The answer is simple and obvious: improve customer service. These customer service tips will help you do that. No matter how good your product or how good your team is, your customers are going to remember your direct relationship with them. Therefore, it pays to train your employees to have a positive impact on each customer.

In the end, your customer service personnel is the face of your organization, and their skills and quality will define their experiences. A powerful company already has amazing customers. Good customer service is about being attentive to your clients’  needs and wants. Furthermore, your connections will stagnate if you don’t always look for ways to improve customer service.

Here are some customer service tips to help your team improve:

Tip #1. Improve customer service abilities.

First, make sure your customer care crew has the capabilities to handle consumer requests. No amount of CRM software can make up for this. But what abilities should a customer service rep have?

  • A sense of humor. Customers may be enraged. Others will be perplexed. Others will simply chatter. Your team must be able to handle them all and deliver the same level of service.
  • Adaptability. Every consumer is unique, and some appear to change from week to week. Therefore, you should be able to handle the unexpected and adjust to the customer’s mood. Good customer service requires a constant learning process.
  • Excellent Communication Skills Make sure you say exactly what you mean. No one wants to think they’re getting 50% off when they’re actually getting 50% more merchandise. Furthermore, never finish a conversation without confirming that the customer is satisfied.
  • Work Ethic. Customers appreciate a rep that will follow up on their issue. At the same time, you must be able to manage your time well and not waste it on one customer while others wait. Therefore, focus is necessary in order to strike the correct balance.
  • Knowledge. In the end, your customers rely on your product knowledge. Therefore, know enough to answer most questions and know where to go if the questions are too difficult or technical. However, don’t be afraid to say that you don’t know. Your customers will appreciate both your diligence and your candor.
  • Thick Skin. Accepting blame or negative feedback is vital. Customer satisfaction is paramount, whether your team interacts directly with clients or solicits input via social media.

2. Examine each touchpoint.

A poor customer experience at any point in the lifecycle of your relationship can be damaging. Therefore, you must have the right skills available at the right time. In addition, focus on critical touchpoints. However, also ensure that you have a complete picture of the client experience in order to avoid costly service gaps.

3. Improve customer interactions.

It helps if your personnel has the right skills. However, they must still relate to your customers. Here are some customer service tips for providing the best service:

  • Ask salespeople to find common ground with the people they assist. This knowledge helps resolve conflicts by humanizing the relationship and endears clients to your rep and ultimately to your company.
  • Actively listen to your customers. Ask questions to clarify and restate what customers say. Encourage them by saying things such as, “I understand how you feel” or “I understand your frustration.”
  • Admit your faults, even if you find them first. This restores confidence and trust.
    It also allows you to regain control of the situation and fix the issue.
  • After-problem follow-up. Make sure there is resolution and that your consumers are happy. Sending a follow-up email or feedback survey shows the customer you are still on their side.

4. Expand your customer service strategy.

Your employees may be able to interact with your clients. However, how do you please customers as an organization? Therefore, make your customers happy with you before they have a chance to complain. How do you do this?

  • Be Persuasive. Your customers want to talk to real people, not bots or FAQs.
    Therefore, make use of social media and make comments to your consumers’ posts. In addition, publish images and bios online. This demonstrates to your clients that you are human.
  • Show up. Providing a personal touch includes being accessible. Always be flexible, especially if your clients are in different time zones.
  • Cater to your clients. Ensure you thoroughly satisfy your customers. Therefore, consider assigning salespeople to individual clients to foster relationships. In addition, show your appreciation by giving your finest customers VIP treatment.
  • Form groups. Treat your consumers like valuable members of a community. You can connect customers via webinars, social media, interactive websites, trade exhibits, or conferences.

5. Reps who are engaged are more effective.

The best customer service skills and training in the world won’t matter if your reps are less than enthusiastic. Improving employee engagement also benefits customers. Employees that are unhappy are unlikely to speak up. Therefore, consider an anonymous tip box or an employee engagement survey.

A supportive staff is one of the best customer service tips. Sometimes that means huddling up and encouraging yourselves before a long day of work.

6. Allow customers to submit feedback.

No matter how proactive you are, you can never anticipate every client’s concerns. Therefore, create an easy mechanism for customers to provide feedback. That way, you can learn about their experiences.

Furthermore, having a way for customers to provide feedback makes it easier to learn what needs improving. Additionally, it keeps angry consumers from venting on public forums like your social media platforms. Your customers will always notice your commitment to offering top-notch, proactive customer service.

Image Credit: Andrea Piacquadio; Pexels; Thank you!

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How to Foster Meaningful Connection Among Your Hybrid Workforce https://www.smallbiztechnology.com/archive/2022/02/meaningful-connection-hybrid-workforce.html/ Fri, 25 Feb 2022 20:05:07 +0000 https://www.smallbiztechnology.com/?p=61519 COVID-19 has helped create a new hybrid work environment that allows employees to rotate between in-office and remote work. While it has given 70% of the workforce much-needed schedule flexibility during the pandemic, it also impedes their ability to connect with co-workers and form human relationships. Help is on the way! Here’s how you can […]

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COVID-19 has helped create a new hybrid work environment that allows employees to rotate between in-office and remote work. While it has given 70% of the workforce much-needed schedule flexibility during the pandemic, it also impedes their ability to connect with co-workers and form human relationships.

Help is on the way! Here’s how you can foster a meaningful connection among your hybrid workforce.

How Connections Define a Workforce

The world might get more digital by the day, but the human connection will always be a fundamental part of the business.

Solid relationships between employees, both in-office and remote, can improve a business’s daily productivity and help build a winning culture.

Remote and hybrid schedules can interfere with productivity. A reported 54% of remote employees have difficulty connecting with their co-workers because their work setting leaves them physically and socially isolated. As a result, they don’t get the same engagement, and the quality of their work can slip.

Aside from productivity and quality, inconsistent engagement among your workforce can bring down other facets of your business, including:

  • employee retention;
  • career advancement; and
  • creation of employee networks.

How to Foster Connections in Your Hybrid Workforce

Leaders in human resources say a tightly knit group of employees contributes more to productivity than education, experience, cognitive ability, and personality.

With that in mind, you must find innovative ways to keep your hybrid workforce included and connected. Though you might not see their faces as often, they’re every bit as important to your company’s operations as full-time office employees.

1. Emphasize purpose.

Keep your hybrid employees focused by emphasizing purpose. People who find purpose or meaning in their jobs are more engaged and likely to stay with their organizations. You can instill purpose in the following ways.

  • Structure your onboarding program with chapters, checkpoints, and measurable goals.
  • Encourage them to share winning stories and the progress they’ve made.
  • Let them try new things and tackle new projects as they improve.
  • Provide frequent feedback.
  • Constantly remind them of the bigger picture (how their job makes a difference).

Since hybrid employees often work alone, they might have to interpret instructions on their own. You should establish clear responsibilities and expectations to help them understand the scope of their position.

The tips above will keep hybrid workers engaged from day one and make them feel like an integral part of the team.

2. Keep your communication lines open.

A major factor contributing to the hybrid workforce’s sense of isolation is the lack of communication with peers and superiors. If you’re not careful, your company can become siloed and develop an informal hierarchy…with hybrid employees at the bottom.

To prevent this from happening, you must keep your ears open and reach out to all employees, so they feel heard.

Check your email inbox, give them your cell phone number, and hold periodic check-ins to see how things are going. You don’t even have to talk about work. Just provide them with the opportunity to speak their minds.

When hybrid workers can confidently communicate with their co-workers, they feel more in-tune with the rest of the office and can establish a network to help them advance their careers.

3. Use collaboration tools.

Communication goes far beyond emails and phone calls these days. You must also include collaborative communication methods so your employees can see each other’s faces and engage in group discussions. The following tools can help.

  • Instant Messaging Apps: Apps such as Slack and GroupMe allow your entire team to stay on the same page and give different departments their own group chats.
  • Video Meeting Rooms: Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom are platforms where your workforce can socialize remotely. They should hold a video conference bi-weekly or on another regular schedule.
  • Cloud-Based Storage: Use Google Drive or Microsoft Office to store all of your business’s work and relevant documents in one place. Your employees can create, edit, and share their work with ease, establishing chemistry and camaraderie.

Connecting hybrid workers through group messaging, video conferences, and easily accessible documents makes them feel less like a separate group and more like part of the team.

4. Establish rituals and traditions.

From inside jokes to holiday parties, company traditions play an important role in creating a vibrant office culture. Since hybrid employees can’t always participate, you need to create alternatives for them. Some examples might include:

  • shoutouts in emails and video meetings;
  • personalized birthday and holiday messages;
  • food deliveries to remote workers’ locations; and
  • online multiplayer games.

You should also invite hybrid workers to events outside the office, such as fundraisers and happy hours. Make them feel welcome.

5. Create a mentor program.

Assign every new remote/hybrid hire with an in-office supervisor to guide them through the first few months of the job.

It’s difficult for hybrid employees to mesh with the company culture and day-to-day operations because they constantly change environments. A mentor establishes continuity with their schedules and acts as a helpful resource for them.

The hierarchy of employees can be unclear for hybrid workers, but a mentor solves this problem.

Instead of wondering who they need to report to, they can always look to their mentor for assistance. The mentor can also help them set goals, track progress, and potentially advance within the company.

One close working relationship can make all the difference. Set your hybrid workers up for success with an experienced coach.

Keeping Your Hybrid Workforce in the Loop

Isolation and lack of engagement are the main factors that contribute to a hybrid employee’s lack of productivity.

You can alleviate these problems by instilling a sense of purpose, using various lines of communication, and allowing them to collaborate with other workers seamlessly.

You can also make them feel welcome by including them in company rituals and traditions and giving them a mentor. Make them a part of the office loop, and they will be able to establish meaningful connections.

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How To Keep Your Project Pipeline Flowing https://www.smallbiztechnology.com/archive/2022/02/keep-project-pipeline-flowing.html/ Tue, 15 Feb 2022 10:25:47 +0000 https://www.smallbiztechnology.com/?p=60950 It’s that time of year when businesses look ahead to the future. In many businesses, such as construction, there are more projects than ever. The project pipeline is flowing freely in many industries. So, if you’re noticing that some people are getting more work than you are, now is a good time to take charge. […]

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It’s that time of year when businesses look ahead to the future. In many businesses, such as construction, there are more projects than ever. The project pipeline is flowing freely in many industries. So, if you’re noticing that some people are getting more work than you are, now is a good time to take charge.

The top priorities for 2022 are to use new technology, automate drudgery, communicate clearly, stay organized, find your best project match for your pipeline, and actively build your network. Sounds like a great plan, right? Let’s jump in.

Adopt New Technologies

What’s your favorite way to communicate with prospects, clients, subcontractors, and suppliers? In the last year, we’ve all had a crash course in using Zoom, GoToMeeting, or Microsoft Teams to keep in touch.

Technology has evolved and so have expectations. More businesses are now looking at ways to adapt systems, build skills, and increase comfort with using new technology. Technology is a key growth trend that is poised to only increase.

Automate to Thrive

Speaking of stuff you hate, avoid, or procrastinate doing…take a look at automating your workflows. Consider ways to automate tracking construction project leads, invoicing, payroll, insurance, and state-specific requirements.

There’s no need to spend extra hours slaving over the forms, or losing a valuable weekend with your family because you’re stuck at the office doing paperwork.

Communicate to Succeed

Using technology and automating your workflow are key components to success in the New Year. Whether your company is a tiny one-person shop or a multi-state operation, effective communication is key to your success.

As you look for ways to boost communication skills, practice thinking about the person who is receiving the information. Many communication experts suggest that the key is simplicity. Speak in short sentences. Write clear and concise emails. Take the time to ensure that you don’t leave any room for error or misinterpretation.

Whether you are communicating within your office, sharing information with your team, or submitting a proposal, your efforts in communication can make you stand out above the competition.

Stay Organized With Project Pipeline Leads

As demand increases, so do the requirements to stay organized. After all, if you’re managing multiple projects in multiple states, you need to have all your projects, contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers in an up-to-date database.

But what if organization isn’t your thing? The fact is that a lot of business owners need to have the support of administrators, data managers, and analysts to thrive. If you know you are not the right person for the job, hire staff who love to do the stuff you hate.

Find Projects In Your Area

There’s always a toss-up between finding projects and doing projects — especially if you are a solo entrepreneur. Many small business owners find that when business is booming, it’s challenging to actively seek out new projects. You can keep your calendar full of exciting projects by balancing your current workflow with a rigorous approach to finding new projects.

While you’re looking for projects, define your criteria. Start with location, so you can book projects that will support your health, shorten commuting, and enable you to nurture your relationships. Target your main projects to be local within a comfortable commuting distance, so you can maintain a good work-life balance.

Naturally, as you look for projects, consider ones that you are uniquely suited for with your specific expertise and training. Using construction software will help you review project documents online, instead of driving all over the county to talk to construction managers.

Search for the projects that match your specific criteria, such as construction type, project type, and timeline. By focusing your search, you’ll build confidence and strength in finding the opportunities that are genuinely best for you.

As you work to find local projects, use software to stay in touch with other contractors. Streamline your bidding process so you can submit unlimited bids and fill out your calendar with the jobs you want.

Build Your Nationwide Network

As projects become available in diverse areas of the country, it’s essential to build your national network. Many construction managers and subcontractors have relied on a personal network of trusted and vetted peers for out-of-state projects. This may have worked in the past.

However, there are ways to reduce barriers and increase your national network that can help your business grow. For instance, you can consider using computer software built for the construction industry. This technology can help you make important connections, share project opportunities, and stay in touch with the workforce in different locations.

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10 Tips for Communicating with Your Colleagues https://www.smallbiztechnology.com/archive/2018/10/10-tips-for-communicating-colleagues.html/ Wed, 31 Oct 2018 16:32:58 +0000 https://www.smallbiztechnology.com/?p=51793 Sure, you can email one another anytime. But is this really the best way to communicate with colleagues? Why does communication matter, and what’s the best way to approach others? This quick guide to workplace communication includes useful resources that you’ll find helpful, no matter what your business specialty. 1. Understand the Why Why do […]

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Sure, you can email one another anytime. But is this really the best way to communicate with colleagues? Why does communication matter, and what’s the best way to approach others? This quick guide to workplace communication includes useful resources that you’ll find helpful, no matter what your business specialty.

1. Understand the Why

Why do you need to communicate right now? What’s your purpose in having that conversation or meeting? Simon Sinek does an exceptional job of explaining exactly what makes the “Why” so important. Knowing the purpose of each communication can help you get your point across quickly, concisely, and in a way that will inspire others to get on board and take action.

2. Choose a Platform

Decide how best to communicate. Email might be best, or perhaps you need to have a face-to-face conversation. If you need to communicate with an entire team, ensure that you leverage the power of technology to streamline your employee communication and avoid confusion. Software such as Sapho makes it simple to send essential information, deliver insights, and so much more.

3. Cultivate an Optimistic Outlook

Optimism can boost performance and make every aspect of your workday better. We’re not suggesting that you see the world with rose-colored glasses – instead, we’d like to recommend that you seek a positive approach and use positive words when communicating with others. Inc.com offers sound advice for cultivating a workplace where optimism is more than just a buzzword.

4. Don’t be Afraid to Use Humor

Humor makes us seem friendly and approachable. It encourages others to open up, relax, and communicate freely. Of course, it’s important to use the right approach to  humor in the workplace.

5. Know Your Audience

Who is involved? What communication style will they best respond to? Forbes notes that by demonstrating that you know your audience, you’ll earn respect, in turn making every aspect of your work life smoother.

6. Keep Criticism Private

Although there’s a school of thought that says the old adage “Praise in public, criticize privately” is wrong, Kim Scott of Radical Candor does an excellent job of outlining the importance of keeping criticism private. This post also explains how private criticism can lead to greater clarity.

7. Abstain from Gossip

Sure, it’s tempting to join the crowd and chat about others when they’re absent. Unfortunately, it’s pretty easy for the shoe to end up on the other foot – and when that happens, you’re suddenly the target of workplace gossip. Check out The Muse for some quick, easy tactics for avoiding workplace gossip. Not only will you seem more professional, avoiding gossip is a great way to be more trustworthy.

8. Demonstrate Empathy

It takes very little effort to care for others as individuals, but a little bit of empathy goes a long way. Discussing empathy in the workplace, Forbes mentions that empathy drives motivation while enhancing productivity.

9. Don’t Overdo It

When people are bombarded with a steady stream of information, they tend to feel numb, and this means that critical elements can be lost in the shuffle. Have a goal for every message and conversation. It may seem difficult to be both personable and succinct, but with a little effort, you can master the art of getting to the point.

10. Listen

Really – listen to your colleagues. Active listening can help with clients, too; for example, it’s a well-known tactic for boosting sales. Everyone wants to be heard and when you listen, you’ll gain incredible insight and build rapport with others.

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Using Technology to Keep Employees Connected and Productive through the Winter https://www.smallbiztechnology.com/archive/2016/12/using-technology-to-keep-employees-connected-and-productive-through-the-winter.html/ Thu, 22 Dec 2016 14:25:27 +0000 https://www.smallbiztechnology.com/?p=49245 During winter, employees might be finding it difficult to stay plugged in at work. Kicking off the cold weather with the holidays, then entering the new year with the flu season and an inevitable slew of snow and ice storms, business owners are turning to cloud-based technology to maintain employee productivity. Cloud-based services, including cloud unified communication (UC) […]

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During winter, employees might be finding it difficult to stay plugged in at work. Kicking off the cold weather with the holidays, then entering the new year with the flu season and an inevitable slew of snow and ice storms, business owners are turning to cloud-based technology to maintain employee productivity. Cloud-based services, including cloud unified communication (UC) systems, allow companies to effectively manage remote and traveling workers and keep lines of communication open during vacations and closures.

By leveraging cloud UC, employees can be kept in the loop no matter their location or device they choose through advanced features of some of the best systems. This winter, businesses can ensure productivity with the following cloud UC advantages:

No Reliance on Equipment

While employees may not necessarily want to answer the phone while skiing down a mountain or gathered around a warm fireplace with family, they can still be accessible should there be a dire emergency at the office. All employee business communications can be accessed easily no matter the location through cloud-based UC systems, where the entire platform is available on desk phones, PCs, smartphones and tablets. A system that is operated 100 percent in the cloud has the unique ability to store all individual user profile information in the cloud, including their designated phone number, extension, contacts, voicemail and speed dials, eliminating any reliance on equipment on-site, and empowering businesses with true mobility. This means that all calls, messages, emails, chats, voicemail, presence and even video conferences can be hosted, scheduled or started from virtually any device and from any location an employee travels to. Additionally, mobile access to UC features like soft phones, empower employees to make and receive calls on their mobile device using their business number to remain professional.

Seamless Communication & Collaboration
With winter creating an influx of employees traveling, working remotely or home sick, collaborative mobility tools are essential for businesses to function at their highest levels. The most sophisticated video conferencing solutions allow employees to securely connect and collaborate with colleagues, customers and partners from anywhere in the world at a second’s notice. For example, start a video conference on an iMac in the office, pick it up on a smartphone while on the plane headed towards a vacation destination and share the recording with the team once settled at a hotel. The best platforms allow users to host online meetings, HD video conferences and audio conferences for as many as 100 people, enabling employees to jointly review and edit files, share screens, run webinars and interact seamlessly, all with end-to-end encryption for full security.

With a cloud UC system in place, business owners don’t have to worry about how the next big ice storm will impact productivity because employees can take their desk wherever they go. To work more efficiently and effectively, employees can take advantage of company-wide chat to send a brief message and provide a quick and easy method for others to response. There are plenty of chat apps on the market to choose from, but it’s important that the platform chosen meets all of the organization’s needs and works across all platforms, anything less is sub-standard. In addition, some UC systems can also integrate with existing productivity apps like Google apps, Skype, Microsoft Office365 or Salesforce, which further allows for unification across departments, no matter which device being used.

 Prevent Security Threats
This winter and beyond, it is imperative that mission-critical communications are safeguarded. The best cloud UC systems are designed to store critical data in a place that is secure, monitored and backed-up 24/7 X 365. Ensuring the highest level of security, a 100 percent cloud-based UC system prevents any information or data to be stored on local servers or phones on-site where they can be vulnerable to security threats. Having a good managed security service means that databases are also stored on secure servers in a protected cloud infrastructure. When moving a business’s infrastructure to the cloud, the chosen service provider should be able to provide a written guarantee called a service level agreement (SLA) that details its reliability. Having all business apps – not just some – supported and secured reduces the amount of time it would take for a business to recover from a potential security threat, as well as the amount of time essential and confidential data is exposed to any risk.

Businesses that make the move from traditional phone systems to cloud-based UC systems can rest at ease while the workforce is on the move, as they will be better equipped to overcome lower attendance and barriers to productivity – not only this winter, but throughout the year.

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Smart Hustle Recap: Small Business Community Launched, Peter Shankman Joins the Team & More! https://www.smallbiztechnology.com/archive/2016/04/smart-hustle-recap-small-business-community-launched-peter-shankman-joins-the-team-more.html/ Mon, 18 Apr 2016 15:46:28 +0000 https://www.smallbiztechnology.com/?p=48257 Last week was a busy week for the Smart Hustle team, so there is plenty to share in this Smart Hustle recap! As you know, we typically feature 3-4 of the hottest stories in our recap. This week, we also have some exciting news to share with you. Smart Hustle has welcomed Peter Shankman as […]

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Smart Hustle Recap: Small Business Community Launched, Peter Shankman Joins the Team & More!Last week was a busy week for the Smart Hustle team, so there is plenty to share in this Smart Hustle recap! As you know, we typically feature 3-4 of the hottest stories in our recap. This week, we also have some exciting news to share with you. Smart Hustle has welcomed Peter Shankman as a contributing editor and advisor, plus we launched a small business community on Facebook! Read about these new developments plus our top stories below.

Smart Hustle Small Business Community Launched

Smart Hustle is proud to serve the small business community by providing informational articles and inspiring stories. Earlier this year, we conducted a survey to find out what other things our readers would like to see, and an overwhelming majority relayed their interest in more community activities. This week, Smart Hustle answered the call by launching a small business community on Facebook. Everyone is invited to join this group, where you can ask questions, give advice, discuss small business topics, participate in live video chats, and even win prizes!

Click here to join Smart Hustle’s Small Business Community

Peter Shankman Joins Smart Hustle

Peter Shankman is the epitome of a smart hustler. As a successful entrepreneur, Peter created HARO (Help a Reporter Out), a service that helps journalists connect with small business owners (who can then benefit from free marketing). He is also an author, speaker, consultant, and an entrepreneurial investor whose projects include SCOTTeVEST.  This week, Smart Hustle announced that Peter will be joining the Smart Hustle team as an advisor and contributing expert. Stay tuned for great things – Peter Shankman and Smart Hustle will be an unbeatable team!

Click to read Celebrity Author & Entrepreneur Peter Shankman Joins Smart Hustle Magazine as Contributing Editor & Advisor

The Little Steps that Lead to Success

Have you ever given up on a dream because you were intimidated by the journey you would have to take to reach that dream? It’s true: our biggest goals are the hardest to reach, taking countless days, months and even years of our blood, sweat, and tears. That shouldn’t stop you, though. In this interview with Chris Capehart, you’ll learn about his new book that breaks down the ‘proverbial mile’ to your goal into smaller, achievable steps. As Chris explains, if you focus on the small steps instead of the long journey, you can reach any goal you have.

Click to read Pursuing Your Dreams One Small Step at a Time – An Interview with Chris Capehart

Team Collaboration with Intraboom

Today’s technology has made it easier than ever to collaborate with your small business team members. The problem is that there are so many collaboration tools to choose from that it can be difficult to know which will work best for your business. In this article (and video interview) we learn about a new collaboration tool called Intraboom which offers features such as messaging, calendars, file sharing, a main dashboard and more.

Click to read SXSW 2016 Interview: How Intraboom Is Changing the Way Teams Communicate

As I mentioned, it was a very busy week for the Smart Hustle team! In addition to the articles and announcements listed here, there were several other articles and interviews, including what you need to know before starting a business, how to create a positive work environment, Kevin O’Leary’s 3 rules for giving a perfect business pitch, and so much more! Check out the Smart Hustle website to catch up on these and other stories.

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14 File Sharing Tools Perfect for Growing Teams https://www.smallbiztechnology.com/archive/2016/03/14-file-sharing-tools-perfect-growing-teams.html/ Wed, 30 Mar 2016 14:00:58 +0000 https://www.smallbiztechnology.com/?p=47611 What is your favorite (low cost) file sharing service that can be used easily by an entire team? The Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) is an invite-only organization comprised of the world’s most promising young entrepreneurs. In partnership with Citi, YEC recently launched BusinessCollective, a free virtual mentorship program that helps millions of entrepreneurs start and grow businesses. 1. […]

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file sharingWhat is your favorite (low cost) file sharing service that can be used easily by an entire team?

The Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) is an invite-only organization comprised of the world’s most promising young entrepreneurs. In partnership with Citi, YEC recently launched BusinessCollective, a free virtual mentorship program that helps millions of entrepreneurs start and grow businesses.

1. Box

Jonathan LongBox is a UK-based file sharing service that has both personal and business options. It offers unlimited storage on business accounts and it integrates with Microsoft Office 365. It’s simple to use, secure and affordable.

– Jonathan LongMarket Domination Media

2. Google Drive

Piyush JainWe use Google Drive for file sharing among our team and also clients. It is free till 15 GB for each user and get 100 GB is only $2 a month. We can share any type of file and also create Google office files and share. It comes with apps for desktops and smartphones that we can download and synch from there. It maintains the versions. Also, many people have Google accounts, so we can share easily.

– Piyush JainSIMpalm

3. BitTorrent Sync

James SimpsonBitTorrent Sync is the best file sharing solution we’ve used by a mile. For most use cases, it is completely free no matter how many users you have via a torrent. It has higher security because it never gets stored in the “cloud.” It’s also fast, especially within a local network, precisely because it goes directly between the users rather than uploading and then downloading on other cloud services.

– James SimpsonGoldFire Studios

4. Slack

Brennan WhitePeople think of Slack as a chat, but it’s a lot more than that. It’s a perfect solution for a remote-working and mobile-friendly team to search, share and store files that need to be ready at a moment’s notice.

– Brennan WhiteCortex

5. Copy

john ramptonCopy is a great service that I’ve used over the past couple of years. It works basically the same as Dropbox, but you get a few more bells and whistles while spending around half the yearly price as most other services like it.

– John RamptonDue

6. A Shared Server

Andrew Namminga (1)All of our computers are connected and have a shared folder via Wi-Fi. This method is very low-cost and secure.

– Andrew NammingaAndesign

7. Hightail

Micah JohnsonWe have a unique Hightail upload link that makes it easy for employees and clients to send bulk files all at once, without dealing with multiple emails. Since our business heavily relies on receiving photo and video content from clients, Hightail has made our lives much easier.

– Micah JohnsonGoFanbase, Inc.

8. Dropbox

Jayna CookeI find Dropbox relatively inexpensive for what you get, and with the new functionality of being able to comment on files, it makes my life much easier. If I were to pick a negative, it would be purchasing more storage for your account, which can get pricey for multiple users.

– Jayna CookeEVENTup

9. WeTransfer

Josh SpragueI love Google Drive for many things, but for sharing it doesn’t always work right. Wetransfer.com is my go-to solution for quick, free and painless sharing for anything up to 2 GB. You don’t even need an account to send anything, and I’ve used it at least 200 times over the years.

– Josh SpragueOrange Mud

10. OwnCloud

Vik PatelThe available SaaS filesharing services aren’t always a great fit: they have limited features, aren’t easily customized and security is a coin toss. OwnCloud is a self-hosted filesharing and collaboration solution with great encryption. It’s hosted on your own servers, in a data center or in the cloud. The major benefit is that your IT department has full control over where and how data is stored.

– Vik PatelFuture Hosting

11. Chatter

David CiccarelliIf you’re already a Salesforce customer then you may be familiar with Chatter, what we describe as our internal social network. We communicate in department groups and often share relevant information — such as training material or marketing collateral — by posting it directly to the group. Chatter shows a PDF preview of uploaded files and allows people to like, comment and download a copy.

– David CiccarelliVoices.com

12. MediaFire

Miles JenningsIf you have a lot of files to share but not a huge budget, MediaFire is a great choice for you and your company. There is no limit on storage space and the interface is extremely easy to work with and show to your teams. There is no limit on how many users can dial in to this tool, and it is a great space for team members to communicate, share files, bounce ideas back and forth and more.

– Miles JenningsRecruiter.com

13. Streamfile

Andrew SchrageWith Streamfile, you can send and share files up to 300 MB for free. No registration is required, and your files are encrypted. You also get 1 GB of bandwidth each month, and premium accounts are available starting at only $79 per month.

– Andrew SchrageMoney Crashers Personal Finance

14. Seafile and OwnCloud

Kevin ConnerSeafile and OwnCloud have seen some some good success, are actively supported and offer community editions that are free. They also have paid versions that are reasonable and low-cost compared to more mainstream big tech companies.

– Kevin Conner, Vast Bridges

The post 14 File Sharing Tools Perfect for Growing Teams appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

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Intel Small Business Advantage: A One-Stop Solution to Boost Productivity and Security (Interview with Intel’s Chad Constant) https://www.smallbiztechnology.com/archive/2016/03/intel-small-business-advantage-a-one-stop-solution-to-boost-productivity-and-security-interview-with-intels-chad-constant.html/ Mon, 21 Mar 2016 22:40:09 +0000 https://www.smallbiztechnology.com/?p=48116 In today’s world, there is an abundance of technology for small businesses, a fact that can sometimes be a blessing and sometimes a curse. On the one hand, nearly any problem you have has a technological solution. On the other hand, many small business owners find themselves gathering so many different programs and apps that […]

The post Intel Small Business Advantage: A One-Stop Solution to Boost Productivity and Security (Interview with Intel’s Chad Constant) appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

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Intel Small Business Advantage: A One-Stop Solution to Boost Productivity and Security (Interview with Intel's Chad Constant)In today’s world, there is an abundance of technology for small businesses, a fact that can sometimes be a blessing and sometimes a curse. On the one hand, nearly any problem you have has a technological solution. On the other hand, many small business owners find themselves gathering so many different programs and apps that it is hard to manage them all. If you are sick of juggling technology in your small business, I think you will love this recent development from Intel – Intel Small Business Advantage, a one-stop solution for all your most commonly used tech applications.

Intel Small Business Advantage Features

To learn more about Intel Small Business Advantage, I recently interviewed Chad Constant, Director of Business Client Marketing at Intel Corporation. With over 17 years’ experience working at Intel, Chad is particularly excited about this latest offering for small business owners.

According to Chad, Intel Small Business Advantage has been developed to help small businesses better connect with their employees while better understanding the security and health of their computers and devices. It includes:

  • A built-in chat feature for inter-office communications.
  • File sharing and screen sharing to assist with employee collaboration.
  • An array of security features including data backup, a PC health center and a software monitor.

As you can see, some of these features will help you boost the productivity of your business by simplifying collaboration and communication through a single platform. Other features will boost your business security. For example, there is a feature that allows you to turn off the USB access ports throughout the business, and a central backup system that will protect your files if something happens to an employee’s computer or device.

An added benefit is that Intel Small Business Advantage is designed to work on any device that you are carrying. It is mobile compatible, so you can download the companion apps for Android, Apple and Google devices to access the system.

Want to learn more about Intel Small Business Advantage? Grab a cup of coffee and sit back while listening to my short 8-minute interview where Chad Constant explains more about the new software.

Many small business owners love the technological solutions that are available today, but they are sick of having to go to different applications for all their main business functions, like chatting, file sharing, and data security. If you are looking for a simple solution that just sits on your desktop and helps you run your business more productively, Intel Small Business Advantage may be the solution for you.

The post Intel Small Business Advantage: A One-Stop Solution to Boost Productivity and Security (Interview with Intel’s Chad Constant) appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

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