SMALL BUSINESS LEADER February 2006

ISSUE #79
February 2006

in this issue
FEATURE ARTICLE
Calendar of Events
Small Business Marketplace

Note from Marian:

February is Tech Month for me. The Small Business Summit 2006, "Technology & Business: The Perfect Marriage", is happening on Friday, Feb. 10th.

Preparing for the Summit has been a good part of my focus for the past several months. I had no idea how much time would be involved, but I've loved working on it. And it's going to be a block-buster.

I've been so fortunate to have a wonderful working partner, Ramon Ray, small business technology evangelist. We have complementary knowledge and skills and each has a different perspective. Just as in any good partnership, we had to listen to each other, be open to compromise and yet stand firm when we felt it was important.

He has so much to offer, I've asked him to contribute the Feature Article, "Make Technology an Asset in Your Business". His perspective comes through loud and clear. And you'll get several good ideas for making your technology a real asset. This is what the Summit is all about.

Please join us at the Summit if you can. All the details are at http://smallbizt echsummit.com. Hope to see you there.

More wonderful stuff on the horizon. Stick around.

To your success,

Marian Banker
Publisher
Small Business Leader
NOTE: We have had to disguise some words in order to keep them from getting caught in the sp^m filters. Please bear with us.

Calendar of Events

This all day event, sponsored by Intel, brings together small business owners and solution providers for a powerful exchange of ideas and insights. You'll learn from those in the trenches and be part of an open dialog on marrying business and technology.

If you want to grow your business in 2006, start he.re. Make sure you attend the Small Business Summit 2006. If you haven't already registered, go to http://smallbiztechsummit.com, for full details and registration.

FEATURE ARTICLE

Make Technology an Asset In Your Business
By Ramon Ray, Technology Evangelist,
Smallbiztechnology.com

For many businesses, the word processor is simply a must-have glorious typewriter. It's a tool they must use to write letters and produce invoices. For some businesses their telephone is simply a piece of plastic they answer when it rings.

However, if you are going to maximize the technologies you use on a daily basis you must begin to think of your technology as powerful assets that can help you do more, in less time, with less m0ney - to grow your business. Growing your business does not necessarily mean it has to "grow" from a 5 person public relations firm to a 50 person one. Growing your business simply means your business is exceeding customer expectations, maintaining a healthy c^sh flow and THRIVING not just surviving.

As competition for a limited pool of customer dollars increases from local competitors, national competitors and international competitors those companies who leverage technology as an asset and tool will not only survive, but thrive.

As you buy new technology - ask your local technology consultant or s^les person, "how can I get the MOST out of this investment?". For your existing technology ask yourself, "am I getting all I can out of this tool".

For example, for many of us a copy machine is simply a tool that we use to make copies. Right/ But did you know that with many copy machines, for only a few more dollars per month (for the many who lease), you can use your copier as a printer. This will speed large print jobs and save on the cost of printing supplies and maintenance of your printer. Did you know that with many copy machines, you can also use their hard drive to store commonly needed documents. Instead of printing and storing a 10 page company brochure, that changes from time to time, you can store the document on your copier's hard disk and print only what you need, when you need and be sure of printing the latest version!

What about your web site? You might have created your web site many years ago, and it's n0w a dusty, "digital business card" that you refer to in passing for customers to know your prices, your telephone number, address, who your executives are and other important pieces of information. However, instead of using your web site as simply a digital brochure, breathe life into it and upgrade it to be a dynamic communication tool between you and your customers. When customers or prospective customers visit your web site, why not showcase profiles of your recent customers? Why not enable your existing customers to track the products they've ordered from s^les order to delivery? Is your web site an underused business asset?

What would you do if an employee was not producing results commiserate with their salary and expectations? You'd get an employee that could produce the results excepted of them and hopefully do even more than was expected of them.

Your technology is no different. Technology is a tool that you can use to grow your business!

See you at the Small Business Summit 2006!

Small Business Marketplace

Introduce your product or service he.re.

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"The Power of Networking" - - The Rights, the Wrongs, the Reasons & the Results. Hear how to maximize the benefits of a networking event. Everyone needs to network: entrepreneurs, small business owners, job seekers. Learn from two networking pros, Biba Pedron and Steve J. Willett. Details at http://www.biba4network.com/busin esscorner.html

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