ONLINE BUSINESS

WEBCAM SOFTWARE

2011-07-15T12:01:00.000-07:00

Broadcasting online video and sound from capture device
using web camera computer software

If you find yourself with a need to record security video with a webcamera over an area,

camera
server software

may be the right choice for you. Using this software, it is possible to set up a
camera to detect activity and begin recording once it does.

Depending on your needs, the sights and sounds that are picked up by the webcam may be stored on a hard drive, or if the captured video
needs to be accessible off-site, can be webcast using the server's broadcasting
feature to a webpage.

Depending on the quality of the webcam and the viewer's video card, the picture that is recorded may be as clear as a high-definition television signal.
Using a install like this, it is possible to provide a measure of protection for an area when
the economics of the situation do not justify hiring a security firm or setting up a professional monitoring system.

This

do-it-yourself approach

can save money while not compromising on security.

Web camera software senses activity, sounds
alarm, captures images, records video, and sends captured images by e-mail

Web cameras
are good for more than just making online communications
more realistic. They can in addition be
an awfully useful tool
for use in home or corporation security.

Application
is now available that can identify movement and use
it as a trigger for numerous procedures.

The way that
it works is to analyze the picture sent by a camera that is either connected by USB
or via a video capture device for motion. When it picks up
that movement, it can afterward acquire any number of events,
including triggering an alarm.

A more popular software, though, is to either
send live shots of what is happening in the picture that is covered by the camera
or to even broadcast through online streaming exactly what is
happening with both sound and image. If installed furtively,
this software could even be used for stealthy surveillance.

Given the
large number of systems that either have a webcamera attached
or can support one, this is an perfect way to inexpensively and easily guard
the zone across that computer
from intrusion or theft.

New professional protection application works with
any camera, Internet cameras, and major capture cards.

Security software

has become so difficult that the regular
businessman who has been busy minding his business instead of pouring over electronics and online
technology articles can be easily overwhelmed when it comes time to install or renew his security system.

Fortunately, there is new professional security software that simplifies much of the decision making.
You don't necessarily have to get rid of a working analog CCTV system in order to modernize to a streaming
video that can be watched from any ip connected workstation or 3G phone. Video capture cards can digitally convert the
pictures for webcast. Until recently, there had been no real attempts to standardize the new IP
cameras; every make and manufacturer functioned a little differently. And when you connect cameras into the
mix, finding one software to rule them all was unwieldy.

Professional security software

is now accessible that will work for any webcamera
or Internet webcam and for most capture cards as well. You can monitor whatever your motion
sensors are picking up at your residence or company while you can be half a globe away.
The software itself may not be simple, but it can make life simpler for you.

MASTER RESELL RIGHTS TO 200 PRODUCTS

2011-04-25T23:13:00.000-07:00

HI ALL,

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This is my way of saying thank you for being my
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selling and using those products.

Free Bonus Gift ($397 Value)

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This package includes 200 Products with Master Resell Rights.

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ONLINE BRANDING FOR SMALL BUSINESS

2011-04-12T21:41:00.000-07:00

An online business has a greater chance for success if those who buy its products and services recognize its brand. A recognizable brand also makes a business's site more attractive to potential advertisers and partners.

Remember: Recognizable doesn't necessarily mean universally known. This idea simply means that a business's brand will increase its chance to compete successfully for attention and market share in the appropriate space. It doesn't take an expensive global advertising campaign to brand your business. Branding can be accomplished through partnerships, direct marketing, a robust Web site, and a modicum of good public relations.

Fundamentally, branding online is pretty similar to branding offline. The palette is different because the medium is reduced to a screen instead of a billboard or a print advertisement, but the opportunity for messaging is the same.

When a brick-and-mortar company takes its business to the Web, an online brand usually serves as an extension of its offline presence. Think of FedEx, AT&T, or CNN. For these companies, their online brands reinforce or influence the preexisting ideas about the company.

On the other hand, Amazon and Yahoo have developed brands that, for the most part, only exist online. Dotcoms need to carefully execute their brands and remember that there are more restrictions due to the constraints of the Web.

Your logo is a visual cornerstone of a company's brand. Your company's identity is visually expressed through its logo, which, along your company's name, is one of the main things that makes your business memorable. Think of eBay, Google, and Yahoo. Each one of these companies has a distinctive logo that a large percentage of people would be able to describe without seeing.

Your domain name is also an essential part of your branding efforts. Unfortunately, it's becoming increasingly difficult for companies to find available domain names. While a URL certainly has to be unique and easy to remember, it doesn't necessarily have to relate to what you sell in order to be successful. How does the name "Amazon" relate to books and other products? Or "Google" to a search engine? These are successful names and brands, but it's a stretch to say they have anything to do with the companies' offerings.

Even if your business is an Internet-only venture, that doesn't mean you can't brand offline. You can get offline brand exposure through TV, radio, print advertisements, and public relations efforts. Remember, a brand constantly reinforces a business's identity, even that of dotcoms. Most likely, you already strengthen your brand in ways you don't even think about: distributing business cards at trade shows; sending invoices, letters, and holiday cards to your clients; wearing your company's logo on a T-shirt; and a variety of other activities.

Source

WHY WEB ANALYTICS IS ESSENTIAL

2011-04-12T01:55:00.000-07:00

Many businesses are discovering the importance of an online presence. But many managers do not understand how Web analytics can make that effort a true value.

A common definition of Web analytics is “the measurement, collection, analysis, and reporting of Internet data for purposes of understanding and optimizing Web usage.” However, its influence can extend beyond a website to include marketing research of customers and even the structure of a business model. Why? The operations of business-to-consumer and business-to-business firms are becoming more influenced by their website’s performance.

According to a 2010 Pew Research Project report, 44 percent of U.S. adults research small and medium-size businesses online. And Business.com reveals that 69 percent of B2B firms are monitoring competitors by seeking keywords and reviewing traffic through panel analytics sources.

A small business reviewing analytics data periodically can glean a number of tactics to strengthen itself. Here are five ways the measurement of the online experience can make a difference for business performance:

Web analytics visualizes the traffic performance of a business’s online channels: An analytics solution can identify worthwhile visitor traffic sources through visits, time on site, and page views per visits, among other metrics. Displaying these metrics through visual charts and graphs can help business owners know how well they are deploying blogs, social media, ads, and site features such as white paper downloads and embedded video plays.
Online channel management leads to improved budget management: Web analytics can help a business adjust resources and budget allocated to online campaigns. This is especially important for small businesses with limited time and resources. Setting a goal within an analytic tool and reviewing how the channel is having an impact on the site allows for faster decisions and actions.
Web analytics can infer improvements for online offerings to customers: Measuring only “hits” instead of kinds of visits is not real analysis. A view of Web analytics data trends should go beyond that to reveal what content catches the eye of website visitors. It can give you ideas for what offerings are interesting, or provide a starting point to survey visitors. If the source data reveals an increasing number of visitors arriving via mobile devices, for example, the response could be to develop an app to aid branding. The Web analyst reviewing the data can help to determine how the segment trends relate to the site objectives.
Web analytics provides a means to establish distinctive new services or new service delivery: Aggregate visitor statistics combined with review of how site content is consumed can yield an idea of how to enhance products and services. According to Google Analytics, public radio station WNYC shifted its fundraising to online after an analytics review; this freed up airtime, essentially its inventory, for more programming.
Web analytics can quickly confirm the validity of a business model: Deploying Web analytics won’t solve every flawed business model but it can help a business learn quickly if its efforts need to be revised. This can deter marketers from extending poor by-the-gut-only decisions and create consensus within the marketing team based on the data.

Many small business owners still believe they should measure website traffic only occasionally, or that traffic is a separate task from its operations. But a thorough Web analytics application can avoid strategic assumptions and actions that can leave revenue on the table.

Pierre DeBois is the founder of Zimana, a consultancy providing strategic analysis to small and midsize businesses that rely on Web analytics data.

EFFECTIVE OFFICE MANAGER

2011-04-12T01:32:00.000-07:00

Self-improvement can be costly and time consuming. As an office manager, however, becoming more effective can make your job easier and make you more valuable in the eyes of management.

Office managers are expert multitaskers. If you're doing more than four things at once, that's probably still not enough. Your knowledge of the office is incomparable — you know exactly whom to call and when. Plus, you have a sixth sense about office crises. In other words, you're practically indispensable. What's your secret? You're organized, understanding (to a point), a good communicator, and can always see the big picture. Still, like any key employee, office managers are often looking for ways to become even more effective. Here are a few key tips:

Hone Your Oral Communication Skills
Knowing how to talk to people is paramount for office managers. In many cases, you're the go-to person, so your ability to listen well is critical. You're also the one responsible for making sure things get done. Knowing how to ask questions and obtain clarification will also help you to become more effective. For example, if you don't understand how an assignment is to be completed, seek clarification. You don't necessarily have to admit that you don't understand something; simply ask for clarification. Likewise, if you're discovering that people don't understand your instructions, ask yourself if you need to be clearer in your communication. For some helpful tips on becoming a better communicator with your colleagues, read Ten Ways to Improve Your Interpersonal Skills.

Don't Neglect Your Email Skills
Just because e-mails often suffer from poor grammar and punctuation doesn't mean that your written communication should be anything less than professional. But knowing what to write and how to do it is just part of your mission; you also need to know about your reading audience. Do people tend to read your entire e-mail or will they stop reading after the first two lines? For the latter, you'll want to incorporate the most important information up front. Also, always remember that once you put anything in writing, it's there for the world to see. Be particularly sensitive in your e-mails and memos when informing staff about new equipment, a change of policy, or any report. You never want to patronize or insult anyone. Make sure your subject line has enough information to encourage reading further. Most important: Re-read your email before you hit the send button.

And don't ever underestimate the power of misinterpretation. Consider the confusion — and bad feelings — that could arise if you were to write "I resent that" meaning you sent a report again versus you were offended by something that might have been said earlier. Clearly, you want to know where to insert hyphens (re-sent) and when you should simply pick up the phone or stop by someone's desk for a face-to-face conversation. We cover this topic more in-depth in the article Communicating Effectively via E-Mail.

Consult Your Internal Customers
Remember always that your primary role is to ensure the efficient operation of the office. Engaging in regular communication with your coworkers can help you avoid troublesome issues and attack the ones that do arise more creatively.

Treat Your Vendors Like Best Friends
As the purveyor of office supplies, it's in your best interest to cultivate and sustain solid, mutually beneficial relationships with your suppliers. It makes good sense to build a pleasant rapport with the companies that help keep your organization running smoothly. Just as you expect loyalty from them, you also need to demonstrate a commitment to the relationship. On the other hand, it's also important to maintain high (but fair) expectations. Try to do both and you're likely to experience above-average to excellent service. But don't forget to compare the supplier landscape. As the person overseeing costs, it's your responsibility to ask suppliers what they can do for you and your organization. Their job is to keep you a happy customer.

Maintain a Positive Attitude
This one's pretty obvious. Still, we sometimes forget how a smile or a clever remark can diffuse a troubling situation. Using humor in the workplace, smiling, and exuding a positive attitude whenever possible are all good strategies for overcoming a variety of office situations. Read Making the Workplace Fun for some ideas on how to infuse a little laughter into the workday.

As the office manager, you have a tremendous opportunity to set the tone, and if people can rely on your professionalism, they'll be less worried and more committed to contributing to a positive work environment.

THE ROLE OF THE OFFICE MANAGER

2011-04-11T05:38:00.000-07:00

The importance of the office manager can be summed up in one word: efficiency. An office manager will free you from a whole range of time-consuming responsibilities, allowing you and everyone else in your company to concentrate on the fundamentals of running the business or just getting your jobs done.

The duties of an office manager vary from office to office. Have your office manager handle whatever it is that needs to be done to keep your company running efficiently.

In some firms, the office manager may be a secretary or receptionist. In others, the office manager may take on more responsibilities — acting as a bookkeeper or technology troubleshooter. Below are some of the tasks that often fall to an office manager:

Telephones. You can make it the office manager's job to answer all telephone calls and patch them through to the appropriate extensions. The office manager can also be in charge of ensuring that your phone system is operating smoothly and fulfilling your needs.
Reception. Office managers can sit at a desk directly inside the front door of the office and greet all visitors as they enter. Additional duties might include signing for deliveries, receiving and distributing mail, and keeping the reception area tidy (making sure magazines are current, watering plants, etc.).
Office supplies. Office managers can order all the supplies needed to run an efficient and professional office, keeping track of when supplies are running low, and making sure goods are ordered before they run out.
Office furniture. Office managers might select and purchase desks, chairs, filing cabinets, and the like.
Office equipment. Office managers can maintain equipment such as photocopiers, fax machines, and phone systems. They might be able to fix mechanical problems, or at least oversee their repair by a professional. Additional duties might include programming frequently used numbers into fax machines and telephone speed-dial systems.
Computers. Put your office manager in charge of overseeing office computers and troubleshooting when necessary. For example, the office manager should be familiar with basic computer problems, and be able to help employees when their computer or printer freezes. This duty is especially important if your company is too small to have a full-time technology support staffer.
Filing. A central task for office managers is to organize the mounds of paperwork. The manager should develop a comprehensive and easy-to-follow filing system for invoices, receipts, client information, and other important documents.
Bookkeeping. Typically, growing companies hire an accountant to handle high-level budgeting and rely on the office manager for bookkeeping. Duties might include keeping track of client billing, compiling employee hours, acting as a liaison between the company's accountant, or performing payroll service and handing out paychecks.
Meeting planning. Your office manager can take on the planning of on-site and off-site meeting arrangements.
HR management. At many growing firms, the office manager is the de facto human resources department, handling issues such as new employee paperwork and employee files.

Be prepared to pay good money for a top-flight office manager. The alternative is do all these tasks yourself.

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BASICS OF OFFICE MANAGEMENT

2011-04-11T05:34:00.000-07:00

In order to successfully manage an office, regardless of your company's product or even your customer base, you should adhere to some basic guidelines. Here are six areas that you should keep in mind:

Employment and human resources. It's critical to have an employment policy in place. A policy manual gives you a blueprint for the way the company approaches employment. It spells out rules in a way that can prevent later problems. (Imagine working for an organization that came to a standstill each time an employment issue arose.) In addition, you'll want to include a training and development program under this area. Even if your training and development program is modest, you still need to consider building this into your policy. Read Ten Employee Training Tips to learn how to implement an effective training program.
Project management. Keeping track of projects is critical to the successful completion of important tasks and represents an essential piece of documentation. Knowing when things have to be completed and by whom gives everyone a clear idea of what's ahead. Deadlines are less likely to be missed and people are more likely to know their roles. Plus, each project, through careful documentation, can become a useful case study for future assignments.
Equipment and furniture requirements. You don't need every piece of office equipment out there to run a smooth operation. But you do need certain products that are going to optimize people's performance. What you need and how much it will cost are simple but important considerations. Check out What Office Equipment Do I Need for My Business? for a good introduction. And what about software? Are you trying to achieve a paperless office? If not, do you know how you'll store certain documents? Answering these and other questions about equipment will help you to prepare for the growth of your office.
Inter- and intra-office communications. For many small businesses, the responsibility for communication falls upon the office manager. Knowing how and when to communicate key information is vital to successful office management. E-mail blasts, posted instructions at the copier, and weekly staff meetings are just a few of the types of communication that occur within a busy office. Having a communication plan that everyone can adhere to will increase an office's productivity and ensure that information is disseminated clearly and quickly.
Conflict resolution. Conflicts are inevitable. Knowing how to handle them properly, however, will make life easier. Whether you have a formal policy or rely on your own wits, you need to prepare yourself for a wide variety of disagreements. Even with an employment manual, such issues as equitable distribution of work, pay rates, and job descriptions often arise in a company. Ignoring a conflict or waiting for it to dissipate is never the right solution. Having a plan or a policy for conflict resolution will help everyone navigate through a disagreement in a professional manner.
The company and its people. Knowing how to run an office must include understanding the company and its people. Knowing the product line and how it fulfills a need is just as important as ordering more toner for the printer. If you don't understand your company's mission, you won't know how best to support its various functions. The same goes for people — knowing employees' roles, where they fit into the big picture, and how they operate will help you manage the office so that every function supports the people tasked with getting things done. The more you know about how the company works and what people are doing to build business, fulfill customer requests, meet deadlines, and otherwise perform their duties, the more successful you'll be in creating and sustaining an environment that fosters success.

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SUCCESSFULL OFFICE MANAGER

2011-04-11T05:28:00.000-07:00

On-point office managers prize efficiency, and are always on the lookout for methods and practices that can be improved on -- from stocking office supplies and equipment, to keeping a close eye on costs and staying under budget.

An office manager worth their salary has superb communication skills and remains in contact with each and every organizational member. While certain employees and departments may seldom interact with one another, a good office manager deals with all of them. For this reason, their ability to imagine others' standpoints and help to solve problems is a quality worthy of your praise.

An active interest in your company's well-being is another trait of a strong office manager. Their overall goal is to help the business be the best it can be; so they drill down to troubleshoot areas of office life that can be improved on. Their strong project management skills and analytical mind enhance their performance. This personality trait helps him or her examine a broad range of processes with an eye toward streamlining them, and to thereby help your organization meet its goals and prosper.

Technological savvy is another asset in a successful office manager. They have intimate knowledge of your business' trade tools, which makes them an enormous boon to your company. This person understands exactly what's needed to get the job done, which is why they're so often the one to find new methods, and to expedite and enhance the value of new software and hardware.

The successful office manager's knowledge of finance and money management is another one of their assets, not to mention their familiarity with staffing and hiring. They are content to leave the hiring to the human resources department, but are always ready if called upon to secure support staffing -- i.e., temps -- for seasonal or one-off projects. This means they're a proficient interviewer and are good at assessing people's aptitude for certain projects and roles. This often proves valuable when you decide to stay within the company to create a support team.

The successful office manager understands the responsibility that comes with being charged with an office's physical well-being. This entails managing all of the office's common areas to ensure they're sanitary and continually equipped with the necessary supplies and goods. They also govern safety precautions and mechanisms in the workplace, including the maintenance of first-aid kits and fire extinguishers, and the creation and dissemination of disaster plans, which can include fire evacuations, and shelter-in-place plans for hurricanes and earthquakes.

TIPS FOR SECURING WIRELESS NETWORK

2011-04-11T05:23:00.000-07:00

So you have joined the revolution and set up a wireless network in your office. Congratulations! But along with the freedom that wireless brings comes responsibility — protecting your wireless network against intrusion. Wireless networks are great because they let you connect from anywhere in your office. But that same principle is what makes them vulnerable; hackers do not need to be physically connected (wired) to your network to access it.

Unsecured wireless LANs are easy targets for hackers, both over the Internet and via "wardriving." Wardrivers are hackers armed with laptops and scanner programs who drive around until they detect an unsecured wireless Ethernet connection. They can then log on and do most anything an authorized user could do, just as if they were sitting at the computer. They can, quite literally, snatch your information out of thin air. Think it couldn't happen to your business? Think again.

So you have joined the revolution and set up a wireless network in your office. Congratulations! But along with the freedom that wireless brings comes responsibility — protecting your wireless network against intrusion. Wireless networks are great because they let you connect from anywhere in your office. But that same principle is what makes them vulnerable; hackers do not need to be physically connected (wired) to your network to access it.

Unsecured wireless LANs are easy targets for hackers, both over the Internet and via "wardriving." Wardrivers are hackers armed with laptops and scanner programs who drive around until they detect an unsecured wireless Ethernet connection. They can then log on and do most anything an authorized user could do, just as if they were sitting at the computer. They can, quite literally, snatch your information out of thin air. Think it couldn't happen to your business? Think again.

Snatching information is known as "packet sniffing," and can be used to devastating effect over wireless connections. If your wireless network is unsecured, determined hackers could have access to everything you send and receive over your network. Everything.

Sobering stuff, to be sure. To guarantee that you don't end up a victim, take these steps:

1. Change the default settings on your router. Routers come with usernames, passwords, and other information installed by the manufacturer. As soon as you install your router, change these values. If you don't, you may as well ask to be hacked.

2. Use the security measures your wireless devices already have. Wireless encryption protocol, or WEP, is an older security standard, and can be breached by determined hackers. Wifi protected access, or WPA, is newer and much stronger. No matter which encryption standard your devices have, use it. If your system has WPA and offers shared key encryption, enable it.

3. Install firewalls. Every computer connected to the Internet should be protected by a firewall, and that goes double — or triple — for computers on wireless networks. You can either install software firewalls on each computer, or install a hardware firewall on your entire network.

New wireless equipment and standards are being developed all the time, and each generation boasts improved speed and security features. But hackers are nothing if not resourceful, and wireless networks will always be a target. War driving, packet sniffing, and other related activities are crimes of opportunity. Your network does not need to be impenetrable; some security is better than none. Following these steps may be just enough for the hacker to keep driving in search of easier prey.

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TIPS FOR FOREIGN BUSINESS TRIPS

2011-04-11T02:05:00.000-07:00

Doing business overseas can be an exhilarating and inspiring experience that opens gateways to new cultures. It can also provide new ways of looking at your company's role in the worldwide marketplace and open up lucrative new business opportunities.
Traveling to foreign countries requires careful preparation. Specifically, you’ll need to obtain and take care of the following items:

Carry Proper Documentation
First off, you will need a passport, and you may also need a entry visa depending on the country you will be visiting. Each of these documents can take upwards of a month or more to obtain, so if you don't already have them, plan on applying for them far in advance of your trip. If you already have a passport, make sure it hasn't expired. (Some countries will not even accept a passport that is due to expire in a few months. Research the requirements of the specific country you will be visiting.)

Inquire About Vaccinations
Your primary care physician will be able to tell you which vaccinations, if any, you will need when traveling to a particular foreign country. There may also be medications you need to take in advance of your trip. Be aware that certain medications and vaccinations can cause nausea, and consider those side effects while physically traveling. If you're taking a certain medication for the first time, do so at least 24 hours before your departure.

Gain Familiarity with the Local Language
If necessary, study the basics of the language spoken in the country to which you're traveling. Invest in a pocket dictionary and carry it with you when heading to the office or to business meetings, when going out to eat, and even when going out for a stroll. If you have food allergies, it is especially important that you have a knowledge of the local language, since you'll want to ask the waiter about any problem ingredients in the dishes you order.

Use Street Smarts
Determine in advance whether the foreign cities and neighborhoods that you'll visit are safe or potentially dangerous. If pickpockets are a problem, carry an empty wallet in your back pocket and keep all your money in your front pocket. If you have a purse, tuck it under your arm instead of carrying it over your shoulder. Also avoid going down dark alleys or side streets late at night (alone or otherwise), and avoid being in the middle of large crowds.

Back Up Your Work
Make multiple backup copies of the work that you'll be bringing with you. Carry one set with you, and leave another set at the office that your co-workers can e-mail to you in a pinch. Also make multiple photocopies of your passport and leave one at home and another back in your hotel room in case something should happen to the original while you're out and about. Take as many precautions as necessary to ensure that you have what you need and as insurance for your safe travel.

Organize Your Health Information
Carry your medical insurance card with you when going overseas, as well as the names and phone numbers of your emergency contacts. Write these names and numbers on a small piece of paper and put it in your wallet. Also know what your blood type is and keep a list handy of all the prescription medications you're currently taking. Check in with your health insurance carrier to see if coverage applies outside the United States. If not, look into getting an adequate amount of travel insurance.

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MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

2011-04-11T01:20:00.000-07:00

Strategic management refers to the art of planning your business at the highest possible level. It is the duty of the company’s leader (or leaders). Strategic management focuses on building a solid underlying structure to your business that will subsequently be fleshed out through the combined efforts of every individual you employ.

Strategic management hinges upon answering three key questions:
What are my business’s objectives?
What are the best ways to achieve those objectives?
What resources are required to make that happen?

Answering the first question requires serious thought about what your ultimate goals are for the business. What are you trying to make happen? What are you attempting to facilitate or enable? What is the best possible outcome your company can aspire to?

Drilling down to uncover a company’s core objectives can have several phases:
Assessing the landscape within which the company will operate, and formulating how the company sees its role within that landscape. This is commonly known as a mission statement.
Establishing objectives to answer some of the unmet needs, taking both a long- and short-term view of what the company can offer. This is commonly known as a vision statement.
Stipulating the goals the company has for itself, both in terms of financial and strategic objectives.

Once these steps have been taken, a strategic plan should begin to emerge — effectively setting the stage for answering the second question above, or “How best can we reach our goals?” Phase two of successful strategic management is formulating a plan by which the company can accomplish what it sets out to do.

Within this phase, a chain of command should be put in place, pairing individuals with the right skills, knowledge, and experience with the business’s needs and objectives. From there, responsibilities for processes and tasks should be distributed across the full chain of command, delegating work to teams and individuals so that they company’s goals can be attained through the combined efforts of all employees. This includes communicating responsibilities and deliverables (what needs to be done, and how the results of those tasks will be measured).

Finally, strategic management entails allocating the right amount of resources to the different parts of your business so that those assigned to particular goals have what they need to meet their objectives. This ranges from providing your workers with the right supplies to enacting systems by which employees receive the necessary training, all work processes are tested, and all information and data generated is documented. To effectively manage your business strategically, every inch of your company must have its needs met in these ways, so all parts can work together as a seamless, highly functioning whole.

A critical but often overlooked aspect of strategic management is the need for it to be both planned and unplanned. Company leaders must take the initiative in setting out how the company should function and operate, but they must also be dynamic in responding to needs and requirements as they arise. Strategic management is not a static process that can be limited to a linear process. Often, unforeseen results ensue (which can be both positive and negative) and strategic managers must be able to respond to occurrences that cannot be predicted.

Effective strategic management is lithe and nimble, enabling companies to move quickly in response to new challenges, and replace outmoded ideas and practices with processes that can help meet new needs as they present themselves.

INTERNET BUSINESS MODEL IMPACT

2011-04-11T01:14:00.000-07:00

Amazon was once viewed askance by cynics. They licked their chops over the firm’s failure to make money. They thus missed the financial significance of its ‘business model’.

The convenience, speed and pricing advantages of selling Amazon’s books online easily outweighed the traditional methods of marketing. Founder-CEO Jeff Bezos was convinced that the negatives - the gap between Amazon’s costs and its revenues - would be gradually closed as the marketing proposition, delivering higher value at a lower price, won more and more converts.

For quite some time, as the online models gathered strength, I used to attack businesspeople with the warning that they faced the most deadly of enemies. The old, time-honoured marketing choice lay between three propositions. First, a premium price yielding higher profits at higher costs than the competition; second, me-too prices that exploited greater efficiencies on the supply side; third, at the bottom, a cut-price platform that relies on inferior production and supply for its viability, but which is inherently weak.

The key words were best, same and worse. But business listeners now had to learn a new word, the most powerful of all - FREE.

Internet users in the new world had quickly discovered that their needs in many markets could be served at zero cost. That way, the new suppliers could swiftly build customer acceptance based entirely on the relative success of a literally priceless marketing platform.

The first Big Bang was delivered by an unknown start-up named Netscape. The browser innovators whose non-paying users enjoyed their services for free never found the answer to the problem of Priceless Profit except what can be called a final solution: Netscape was sold to AOL for $4.2 billion in 1999. The pioneers had been defeated by Bill Gates of Microsoft, whose bundling of its browser with other ‘FREE’ necessities pulled the carpet away from beneath Netscape’s feet.

That was easy though costly to do, even for a Bill Gates, whose strengths lay more in the basics of business than in high technology. Those business strengths, however, were fundamental, and still are. The richest man in the world, however, stayed that way by fully recognising the force of the simple process that created his wealth.

Every Midas faces the same difficulty; the success of the new idea inevitably attracts competitors, some new in every respect, others established in other market sectors. But history shows clearly that all good things come to an end, unless you can identify, exploit and lead the next stage of market change. The negative question is clear: What changes must we make to the business model to sustain the company and serve its markets? The positive question is much harder: How can we build a new company that will be devoted to the new markets and their opportunities?

The flood of new devices has its risks - Apple’s tablet computer has attracted much criticism. Nobody seemed very clear over where the market lay. But Apple’s Steve Jobs has changed ‘the World As We Know It’ so radically already - not least with the brilliant iPhone - that he can be forgiven the odd false start. That sounds mildly patronising and somewhat careless, but remember - the world is no longer how we knew it.

ONLINE BUSINESS

WEBCAM SOFTWARE

Broadcasting online video and sound from capture device using web camera computer software

Web camera software senses activity, sounds alarm, captures images, records video, and sends captured images by e-mail

New professional protection application works with any camera, Internet cameras, and major capture cards.

MASTER RESELL RIGHTS TO 200 PRODUCTS

ONLINE BRANDING FOR SMALL BUSINESS

WHY WEB ANALYTICS IS ESSENTIAL

EFFECTIVE OFFICE MANAGER

THE ROLE OF THE OFFICE MANAGER

BASICS OF OFFICE MANAGEMENT

SUCCESSFULL OFFICE MANAGER

TIPS FOR SECURING WIRELESS NETWORK

TIPS FOR FOREIGN BUSINESS TRIPS

MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

INTERNET BUSINESS MODEL IMPACT

Broadcasting online video and sound from capture device
using web camera computer software

Web camera software senses activity, sounds
alarm, captures images, records video, and sends captured images by e-mail

New professional protection application works with
any camera, Internet cameras, and major capture cards.