B2B Insights Blog http://www.b2binsights.com One-stop-shop for B2B strategy, marketing, sales, and operational insight.CUSTOM RSS Thu, 23 May 2013 15:50:42 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 b2binsights/gSWIhttp://feedburner.google.com 8 Content and Blogging Tips from Kurt Vonnegut http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/b2binsights/gSWI/~3/V3We7ckuK2g/ http://www.b2binsights.com/8-content-and-blogging-tips-from-kurt-vonnegut/#comments Thu, 23 May 2013 15:35:36 +0000 Amie Marse http://www.b2binsights.com/?p=1560 Kurt Vonnegut is the mastermind of seamlessly weaving satire, science fiction, and snappy lines into his writing. His brilliant use of language and ideas made him one of the most celebrated modern authors. In fact, aspiring authors everywhere use Vonnegut’s eight tips for creative writing as their creative bible. Okay, so you’re probably thinking, how in the world do science fiction and satire fit into my business? Simple: Place them I between the lines of your online content. By following Vonnegut’s eight tips for creative writing in your content creation, your brand will become an online presence that users actually want to read. (If you prefer a visual, be sure to read the infographic!) To write content and blog effectively:
  1. Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted. Time in the online world is much different than in the physical world. Within 10 seconds, a visitor will decide whether or not to stay on your site. How effectively can you get your brand and content across in 10 seconds?
  2. Give the reader at least one character he or she can root for. You want readers to bond emotionally with your brand. This is what drives them to return to read future posts or even do business with you! Keep in mind that the “character” doesn’t have to be your business. Try championing a cause, person, place, or idea!
  3. Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water. Similar to a novel, your online content should have some sort of underlying “plot” that drives it forward. Desire is what makes a call-to-action or persuasive article more effective.
  4. Every sentence must do one of two things – character or advance the action. This rule is more important than ever, especially with the rise of online short-form content. In today’s increasingly mobile world, word economy is everything!
  5. Start as close to the end as possible. Are you finding it difficult to keep your content concise and eliminate “fluff?” Then consider starting as close to the end as possible! This allows you to get to the point quickly, which is great for an audience with short attention spans.
  6. Be a sadist. No matter how sweet and innocent your leading character is, make awful things happen to them – in order that the reader may see what they are made of. When awful things happen to consumers (such as a product not working) and you can fix them with stellar customer service, then be sure to take advantage and brag about how much your company rocks! Negative situations put great things into even better perspective.
  7. Write to please just one person. If you open a window and make love to the world so to speak, your story will get pneumonia. You can’t target everyone with a single article or blog posts. It’s impossible, so don’t try. The more specific your content is, the more effective it is as well (and easier to accomplish great word economy). Avoid “pneumonia” by writing content with a specific purpose and audience in mind.
  8. Give your readers as much information as possible as soon as possible. To heck with suspense. Readers should have complete understanding of what is going on, where and why, that they could finish the story themselves, should cockroaches eat the last few pages. It’s all about word economy and convenience, remember? In fact, consider front-loading your content with information. That way, even if someone doesn’t read to the end, they remember your content as useful and informative and are more likely to return to your content in the future!
When you keep these writing tips in mind, you’ll find it easier to captivate your audience. While it might be tempting to focus on SEO and other techniques, it’s ultimately the value of your content that drives subscriptions and repeat readers.  ]]> http://www.b2binsights.com/8-content-and-blogging-tips-from-kurt-vonnegut/feed/ 0 http://www.b2binsights.com/8-content-and-blogging-tips-from-kurt-vonnegut/ Track Your Truck GPS Logistics System Recovers Stolen Vehicle http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/b2binsights/gSWI/~3/AZvnDlf8nuI/ http://www.b2binsights.com/track-your-truck-gps-logistics-system-recovers-stolen-vehicle/#comments Tue, 21 May 2013 17:01:28 +0000 Robert J. Hall http://www.b2binsights.com/?p=1769 Editor's Note: Here's an interesting case study in logistics from one of our regular contributors.

GPS Recovers Stolen Truck

Recently the Track Your Truck GPS fleet tracking system paid for itself in an unusual way when a truck was stolen from the DMZ Trucking fleet yard in Mokena, IL. owned by Dean Zolner. “We’d only had our GPS Trackers in my Mack trucks for 5 weeks when one of my drivers called and reported that one of our trucks was stolen. Another had its locks punched out. I ran to my computer and pinged up truck #300. It gave me the exact coordinates for the truck, where the truck thieves had taken it. So I jumped in my pickup and followed the coordinates to an old building surrounded by barbed wire in the downtown Gary, Indiana, about 35 miles from Mokena.” Zolner tracked and found the location of his stolen truck in just 50 minutes and worked in collaboration with the Gary, Indiana police to recover his Mack truck from behind an old warehouse. Upon recovery, Zolner got the truck to a driver who made his scheduled appointment for a pickup at 11:30 am that day.

Truck Theft on the Rise

Theft of trucks in the greater Chicago area is an increasing problem. “Most of these stolen trucks are taken to scrapyards,” Zolner commented. “They chop them up to make money from the raw materials.  Problem is, the scrap yards don’t ask for titles on these trucks or anything, so these guys just pull up the trucks and the yards cut them up right there on the spot for the metal, especially aluminum.” In Chicago this spring a group of five school buses was stolen and taken to a scrapyard, but GPS trackers on the buses had already led the owners to the scrap yard where remains of the yellow buses were visible among pieces of trucks and other vehicles GPS tracking systems are one of the only frontline defenses available to truck owners and fleet managers because police are often too busy to chase down scrap thieves unless specific information on the whereabouts of the stolen vehicle can be provided. The costs of installing a GPS unit in each truck or bus is not prohibitive, and the monthly fees are manageable even for smaller operators with 1-10 trucks in their fleet. The dual value of a GPS tracking system to manage fleet logistics and prevent theft is becoming an investment many trucking companies cannot afford to be without. (Image Credit: © alma_sacra - Fotolia.com)]]> http://www.b2binsights.com/track-your-truck-gps-logistics-system-recovers-stolen-vehicle/feed/ 0 http://www.b2binsights.com/track-your-truck-gps-logistics-system-recovers-stolen-vehicle/ Top 10 Grammar Tips for Every Business http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/b2binsights/gSWI/~3/M_c4DIyoRcw/ http://www.b2binsights.com/top-10-grammar-tips-for-every-business/#comments Thu, 16 May 2013 11:00:29 +0000 Amie Marse http://www.b2binsights.com/?p=1557 We’ve all gone through those boring English classes in school. While some grammar lessons stick with us and others don’t, it’s important for businesses to remember that all it takes is one wrong letter or word to step into a public relations gaffe. Consider the two following statements.
  1. Our business is proud to lend an enormous helping hand to community service efforts.
  2. Our business is proud of the enormity of our community service efforts.
Did you catch the mistake? The word “enormity” in the second sentence is in no way related to the word “enormous” despite the syllabic similarities. Instead, “enormity” refers to “extreme evil.” In other words, the second sentence reads: Our business is proud of the extreme evil of our community service efforts. Ouch. Innocent mistake? Yes, but it’s still a public relations gaffe nonetheless. To avoid both internal and external embarrassment with your business, keep these grammar tips in mind:
  1. Continual vs. continuous. “Continual” means always occurring whereas “continuously” means never-ending. You definitely wouldn’t want to mix these up in a business email or contract, or that awful business deal you signed might never end!
  2. I.E. vs. E.G. “I.E” translates into “that is” while “E.G.” means “for example.”
  3. Elicit vs. illicit. “Elicit” means that you’re evoking some sort of response. You want to elicit positive reactions with your advertising. On the other hand, “illicit” means “illegal.”
  4. Alternately vs. alternatively. “Alternately” means that you will take turns – or alternate. “Alternatively” presents one or more options.
  5. Refute vs. rebut. Whether you’re in a business meeting or exchanging emails, you’ll want to keep these two verbs in check! To “refute” something is to disprove it with evidence while to “rebut” is to disagree.
  6. Farther vs. further. “Farther” is used in reference to a physical distance point whereas “further” refers to a greater degree of something. Do you want to move farther or further with your business plans?
  7. Alright vs. all right. “Alright,” we know everyone uses this word, but did you know it’s actually not a legitimate word? Use “all right.”
  8. Uninterested vs. disinterested. To determine whether your business is uninterested or disinterested with a potential deal, remember that “uninterested” means that you have no interest where as “disinterested” means that your party is removed or neutral to a situation.
  9. Who’s vs. whose. “Who’s” is a contraction for “who is.” If it doesn’t make sense to use “who is” in the sentence, then use “whose!”
  10. Than vs. then. In business, we love to be competitive. When comparing your business to your competitors, use “than.” In all other instances, use “then.”
If you follow these 10 Grammar Commandments for businesses, you’ll find that your communications and public relations efforts flow more smoothly!  ]]> http://www.b2binsights.com/top-10-grammar-tips-for-every-business/feed/ 0 http://www.b2binsights.com/top-10-grammar-tips-for-every-business/ The Future of Lean Manufacturing http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/b2binsights/gSWI/~3/iLv-FlXIKF4/ http://www.b2binsights.com/the-future-of-lean-manufacturing/#comments Mon, 13 May 2013 10:59:28 +0000 B2B Insights Contributor http://www.b2binsights.com/?p=1746 It’s fun to imagine the industrial world in the next century. Will we take our cues from the environmental world and focus on sustainability? Or will we look inward for future best practices? Larry Pederson from the Oregon Manufacturing Extension Partnership offered his cautionary view on the future of lean manufacturing. "Lean manufacturing doesn’t really get off the ground until sustainable systems are embraced at the leadership level. While we’ve made tremendous gains teaching teams about 5S, value-added analysis, and stream analysis, all that knowledge seems to go by the wayside unless managers are willing to process these skills and serves as mentors to future generations,” said Pederson. Generation Y lean manufacturing engineers -- those born in the years 1985 to 2004 -- will have much on their plates:
  • Establishing robust and repeatable processes that impact training, zero defects and continuous improvement
  • Selecting, implementing and maintaining efficient equipment and procedures
  • Mentoring team members
  • Reporting to management
  • Applying statistical methods to establish future manufacturing requirements
“Generation Y is flooding the workplace and will supply U.S. manufacturers with the best, brightest and most computer savvy labor in history. Look for efficiencies, cost savings, innovations and breakthroughs that will recreate industry,” said Ken Grobach, KGC Direct, LLC, Haddam, Connecticut. Grobach is the author of “The Age Curve, How to Profit from the Coming Demographic Storm.” Let’s take a closer look at Generation Y. This generation grew up with collaborative tools, technologies and teams. Working across cultural, physical and demographic borders is natural. Setting the stage for these new players in the lean manufacturing theater are rapidly changing tools and technologies. New mobile industrial labeling systems support 5S communications and help individuals adhere to lean manufacturing standards. Visual controls alter and control behavior and contribute toward a more intuitive workplace. “Touch screen and white board technologies will have a big impact on lean growth because visual management is needed in lean implementation. I believe this will be impactful on lean service, manufacturing and healthcare,” said Dakhia Toufik, Senior Lean Six Sigma Consultant, HTTS SA Luxembourg. Regarding infrared cameras or thermography, for example, a fresh new way of thinking is emerging. FLIR is transforming infrared diagnostics by leveraging a number of leading-edge technologies to accelerate and improve the efficiency of diagnostic/repair/approval workflows and processes into what is a true "diagnostic ecosystem." In addition to touchscreens that emulate today’s personal electronics, FLIR uses Wi-Fi technology and mobile apps to connect to a user’s tablet, smartphone or other device. This key capability dramatically expedites informed decision-making and repair approvals, helping to cut downtime, reduce lost revenues, and minimize potential workplace hazards from failing equipment or dangerous conditions. Think of the diagnostic ecosystem as a sort of social network for plant maintenance. Workers, equipped with better tools to collect, analyze and document findings, can communicate higher quality information more efficiently to managers, and other internal or external customers to expedite decision-making. With less isolation and more collaboration, this new way of working helps accelerate critical tasks while reducing cost and hazard exposures. Information systems, combined with technologies such as GPS, barcodes and RFID improve processes and reduce waste. Lean requires information, and better automated information collection, analysis and distribution helps get needed information into the right hands. This is important for Kanban, logistics tracking and cross docking – all of which impact the supply chain. “We’re taking more of a holistic look at supply chain issues,” added Pederson. “We’re working toward collaborative supply chain partnerships and relationships in which all participants add value by sharing information, communication needs and processes and schedules, and development efforts and costs.” Handheld devices such as smart phones and tablets are a key technology – especially when combined with QR codes so team members can indicate physical locations. They improve communication and put needed information in the hands of whoever needs it, no matter where they are. Robotics, too, are helping SMED based improvements. Shigeo Shingo’s Single Minute Exchange of Die or SMED is the technique within lean manufacturing to reduce the setup or changeover times for processes. As the name suggests, the aim is to literally reduce this time to single minutes. Another technology that will impact lean manufacturing will be the 3D printer. Traditional manufacturing starts with blocks of material, sculpts them to shape and puts them together – drilling, cutting, forming, milling – with all the associated material waste. The 3D printer builds an item from scratch – virtually no waste,” said Kurt Kessler, Variance Reduction International. While a mash-up of young, smart people and technology will likely produce great results, we can’t lose sight of the ultimate beneficiary in this 22nd century lean manufacturing transformation – the customer. “We spend a lot of time determining if the things we are measuring truly benefit the customer. For one brewery concerned with breakage, complex algorithms reflecting potential financial losses just didn’t resonate. Ultimately, they chose a much simpler measurement of progress: less broken glass in the pail than the day before,” said Pederson. Take a closer look at these technologies. Consult the experts. Explore the lessons of industries other than your own. But don’t wait to get started. The future is already here and it’s a fast-moving target. About the Author Industrial copywriter Jack Rubinger, Graphic Products, has more than 20 years of experience contributing to trade and business publications. Graphic Products supplies industrial labeling systems and lean manufacturing expertise to companies worldwide. For more information, contact jarubinger@graphicproducts.com, visit www.GraphicProducts.com or call 503-469-3024.]]> http://www.b2binsights.com/the-future-of-lean-manufacturing/feed/ 2 http://www.b2binsights.com/the-future-of-lean-manufacturing/ The Digital Age: Allowing More People to Work from Home http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/b2binsights/gSWI/~3/jWzz0fxWUC0/ http://www.b2binsights.com/the-digital-age-allowing-more-people-to-work-from-home/#comments Tue, 07 May 2013 09:54:09 +0000 B2B Insights Contributor http://www.b2binsights.com/?p=1708 [caption id="attachment_1712" align="alignright" width="300"] Work from here.[/caption]Because of the advanced state of technology, more people can work from home than ever before. All of the tools a person would need in an office to work and communicate effectively with customers are actually now readily available at one's fingertips in a home office environment. Here, we'll cite a number of those tools. High-speed internet makes it more efficient. Historically, much of the world has dealt with dial-up and other slow internet speeds that made working from home less productive. Today, wireless access from home is more the rule than the exception for those who work there. This allows home business owners to keep pace with that of their customers who might be in an office environment. Business calls feel as though they are in person with video. With technology like Skype and FaceTime, those who work from home can now feel as though they are in person with their customer because of the ability to both be able to see and hear one another. Talking to a customer in another country feels all the more high-touch and personal with the advent of video conferencing. Online meetings make presentations and troubleshooting easier. With technologies like GoToMeeting, sharing your desktop with a customer is made far easier. Instead of sending large presentations over email, share your desktop and run through the presentation that way. Provide product demos that ensure your prospective customer is following right along with you. And even help your existing customer to troubleshoot by being able to see his desktop in order to diagnose technology issues as though you were looking over his shoulder. Off-site document management systems. Technologies like Dropbox and Box.net allow businesses to share documents with one another remotely. These file locations are hosted in the cloud, allowing anyone who is invited, whether it be from Paris or Hong Kong, to access the files. Click here to find out how to best choose the right document management system for your business needs. [caption id="attachment_1714" align="alignright" width="300"] No need for this anymore![/caption]There's an app for your fax machine. Heard of TurboScan? No longer do you have to be at work in order to take care of those few faxes that do need to be handled at times. Turboscan allows one to simply take a high-resolution photograph of each page of a fax, and voilaóthe document is ready to be emailed to whoever the recipient is in a PDF format. CRM. Customer Relationship Management software like that of Salesforce and MethodIntegration allows salespeople who work from home to manage and share information on their current sales progress without ever setting foot in the office. Tracking things like open leads and activities, and the progress that the team is making on the whole is made so much easier with this software. The benefits of having all of this great technology are plentiful when it comes to working from home. Technology has taken us to a place where communicating remotely with customers can actually feel as though it is very much an in-person experience even though it is in fact not. This makes the prospect of working from home a 'virtual' no-brainer for small businesses! Have a great application or technology that makes working at home easier for you? We want to hear about it! About the Author Cara Aley is a freelance writer who covers a wide variety of topics from digital marketing strategy to business reputation management.]]> http://www.b2binsights.com/the-digital-age-allowing-more-people-to-work-from-home/feed/ 0 http://www.b2binsights.com/the-digital-age-allowing-more-people-to-work-from-home/ Top Computer Security Programs with the Best Reputation http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/b2binsights/gSWI/~3/DZSiodb-DUE/ http://www.b2binsights.com/top-computer-security-programs-with-the-best-reputation-2/#comments Tue, 30 Apr 2013 10:02:48 +0000 B2B Insights Contributor http://www.b2binsights.com/?p=1718 [caption id="attachment_1723" align="alignright" width="288"] Use multiple layers of protection against identity theft.[/caption]Keeping your computer and website safe and secure is part of keeping your clients safe and protected. It also helps protect your business reputation. There are lots of reasons to monitor your computer's security. Nowadays there is cause to be concerned about such things as identity theft, hacking attacks, and computer viruses and malware. Just as you need protection from a variety of issues, there are numerous types of computer security programs on the market. Learning about these computer security programs makes it easier to determine which ones are best-suited to your particular needs. Protecting your business is actually a great way to build a better business reputation. Online Identity Theft The good news about online security programs is that they provide protection for multiple problems ñ including identity theft. Protecting the identities of members, employees, and customers is vital to the success of any business. Identity Theft 911 is an excellent option for B2B solutions. This company offers scalable solutions that can meet the needs of almost any business. Hacking Attacks Hackers work to find sites' vulnerabilities in an effort to inject malicious content of some type. Sophisticated tools and technology has made it possible for hackers to automate these attacks. Not only does the site owner have to deal with the damage itself, in addition, the owner is considered responsible for the problems that may result from the attack. Site owners are expected to ensure their websites are protected against such vulnerabilities. With that in mind, every webmaster must make it a priority to ensure the website is a safe place to visit. Besides leading to legal ramifications, when a site is hacked the companyís reputation can be damaged. Ranking with search engines will drop, which means SEO (search engine optimization) work is temporarily rendered useless. As the site's traffic is drastically decreased, the website also gains a less than favorable reputation. Working with a company that specializes in repairing damaged reputations may be the only way to re-build a positive online status in a timely manner. The good news is, you can protect your website and your customers from hackers. Sucuri Security is a great protection option. Visit their site to scan your website free of charge. Viruses and Malware [caption id="attachment_1724" align="alignright" width="288"] Protect your computer, website and reputation![/caption]Some sites are always reliable. They are recognized for offering quality content, and they can be visited confidently. That is the way you want your site to be. Unfortunately, some unscrupulous people would like to hack into your sites and infect them with viruses and malware. That, of course, can make the site a dangerous place to visit. With that in mind, it is definitely wise to use a reputable tool such as one of those listed below. These tools help protect the website, your clients, and your business reputation. Keep in mind that the programs offer plans and options for the home as well as for businesses. Learning more about these quality products will help you make a wise decision about the security program that is right for your particular needs. Norton Internet Security Norton Internet Security is highly recommended for malware prevention and removal. The program also includes phishing protection, a personal firewall, and email spam filtering. The product is available as a boxed product and a download. Kaspersky Internet Security Kaspersky is designed to be one of the most comprehensive Internet security products available. It includes Facebook tools, parental controls, firewall, identity theft protection, and safe surfing. Bitdefender Internet Security This advanced technology offers combined protection and security for everything from cloud and client security to ideal protection and privacy for the home. Bitdefender 2013 was also named "Best Antivirus For 2013" by PC MAG. G Data Internet Security G Data security products target both home and business markets. The system's scanning engines are highly effective at detecting malware. There's no doubt that you should be using a computer security program of some sort. Whether you choose one of the options listed or you decide to use a free download, the most important thing is to ensure that your computer is protected against the various types of attacks and problems mentioned. If you have experience with these or other Internet security programs, please share your story with us. About the Author Debbie Allen is a professional writer and blogger who often writes about security system protection issues. Pic 1 courtesy of Victor Habbick at FreeDigitalPhotos.net Pic 2 courtesy of Victor Habbick at FreeDigitalPhotos.net]]> http://www.b2binsights.com/top-computer-security-programs-with-the-best-reputation-2/feed/ 0 http://www.b2binsights.com/top-computer-security-programs-with-the-best-reputation-2/ The Realities of Decision-Making with Big Data http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/b2binsights/gSWI/~3/bx98KKa3aLM/ http://www.b2binsights.com/the-realities-of-decision-making-with-big-data/#comments Mon, 29 Apr 2013 10:06:24 +0000 B2B Insights Contributor http://www.b2binsights.com/?p=1726 A survey by the SAS Institute found that 67% of companies are now using big data in order to gain an edge over their competitors. Their use of analytics has enabled 46% to streamline operations, 36% to identify target customers, and 29% to evaluate employees. Your business’s software systems already collect vast amounts of data, and these tools are fully capable of parsing this data into meaningful, useful, and actionable information. Are you utilizing all the information you have at your fingertips in order to make better decisions? Using Big Data in Sales Your business’s POS software system is a natural repository for big data. Think of all the numbers you can pull from your system: what you’re selling, how much you’re selling it for, who you’re selling it to, and when you sell the most. You can pull sales information for the past year, the past month, or the past three days. The things you can do with this information include:
  • Determining optimal production volumes of your business’s products. Knowing the rate at which your inventory is being sold – and how that compares to your sales forecasts – enables you to immediately ramp up production on an item that is performing better than expected, thus decreasing out-of-stock periods. Or, you may find you need to cease producing an item that is filling your shelves and storage room with overstocks.
  • Adjusting prices and promotions to result in the highest possible sales and profit. Your sales metrics can compare product prices versus purchase volumes, identify slowly-moving inventory, and predict the success of future promotions based on past results.
Managing Employees with Big Data From scheduling to hiring, your employee management decisions can be positively impacted with the inclusion of big data. For example: your POS software can forecast sales volumes by the day and hour. With this information, you can more efficiently schedule your employees to handle peak periods effectively without overstaffing slow periods. You can also determine which employees produce the greatest number of sales, the highest revenues, the fastest checkout times, and more.
  • This data indicates who your highest and lowest performers are – giving you leeway to reward your best employees and provide extra training to those who need it.
Are you hiring? Even your recruitment or applicant tracking software has analytics capabilities that inform your hiring decisions. The software orders applicants based on objective measures – level of education, previous work experience, or results of a pre-application questionnaire.
  • Since 46% of employees fail within 18 months, utilizing objective measures of applicant compatibility can drastically reduce your rate of negligent hires (Leadership IQ).
Marketing with Big Data The best marketing strategies utilize customer data in order to create a campaign that will successfully appeal to your target demographic. You can access customer data through your CRM system, social media analytics, website traffic, and ecommerce data. The more sources you use to acquire customer data and create your customer profiles, the better you will able to market to those customers effectively.
  • Fine-tune your marketing campaigns to appeal to the demographic that is most likely to respond positively to your appeal. Identify which segment of your target market is the most valuable, and find new markets that are as-yet unexplored.
Using big data to guide your business decisions can help you streamline your processes, make better predictions for future sales volumes, and more effectively market to segments of your customer base. No matter where you source your data, make sure that you use it appropriately and effectively. About the Author Megan Webb-Morgan is a business blogger who writes on topics ranging from startups to enterprise business solutions. She writes for online lead generation source Resource Nation. You can follow Resource Nation on Twitter and Facebook!]]> http://www.b2binsights.com/the-realities-of-decision-making-with-big-data/feed/ 0 http://www.b2binsights.com/the-realities-of-decision-making-with-big-data/ 5 Questions to Ask a Potential Cloud Computing Outsource http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/b2binsights/gSWI/~3/REGdiCcRS3g/ http://www.b2binsights.com/5-questions-to-ask-a-potential-cloud-computing-outsource/#comments Wed, 24 Apr 2013 11:36:12 +0000 Timothy Wightman http://www.b2binsights.com/?p=1690 Many businesses have evaluated their current IT infrastructure and determined that outsourcing data to the cloud is more efficient and cost-effective, since the cloud allows data to be accessed from anywhere in the world. Third-party cloud servers provide businesses efficiency and flexibility since companies use as much or as little storage capacity as they need. Before you outsource important company data to a third-party cloud provider, here are 5 questions to ask:

1) What is your data encryption policy?

Your vendor should have a policy of encryption for all data--in transit, at rest, or in mobile devices. Pay particular attention to the vendor’s data decryption process. By failing to encrypt all data, you risk information compromise or serious regulatory compliance issues. The highest standards for encryption are 256-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) SSL for transit, and 256-bit AES for data at rest—approved by the National Security Agency and used by global companies. A note about decryption: This is the process of decoding data that have been encrypted into a secret format. Decryption requires a secret key or password. Pay particular attention to the vendor’s data decryption process. It needs to be easy to use but also totally secure. It’s just as important as the vendor’s encryption policy. If you can encode messages (or information) in such a way that hackers cannot read it, but others who are allowed to decode it cannot read it, there could be a problem.

2) How do you manage encryption keys?

Many security breaches occur because of lax management regarding the encryption keys. When evaluating third-party vendors, make sure the company provides separation between the encryption data and the encryption keys. You should expect candidates to have separate data sets centers; this provides enhanced security by eliminating a single point of failure. Examine the vendor’s business process to determine the extent of access to data systems by its employees, which should be strictly limited. The process should have safeguards to ensure that encrypted file data and the correct file version encryption key are brought together only as needed.

3) What data protection certifications do you have?

Vendors earn certifications for a broad range of tasks, ranging from information handling at a particular data center to business practices for protecting information.  If you want the very best in data security, select a company whose data centers passed a SOC 1 audit under SSAE-16 guidelines (formerly called SAS70 Type II) and were tested by outside auditors. Data centers that pass the SSAE-16 audit have completed meticulous requirements related to physical security, physical access, and internal business controls. Also question the provider about the process for destroying data. The company should answer that it follows and complies with Department of Defense 5220.22-M or NIST 800-88—the standard for disk erasure.

4) What is your standard for data durability?

It is mission-critical to have your data available 24/7, 365 days a year, and without corruption. For this service to be considered excellent was 99.999% (“five nines”); however, some vendors today now offer 10 or 11 “nines.”  Your cloud storage provider should back up all data in triplicate at various data centers. This protects against connectivity issues or if a data center goes down unexpectedly. The backup data should synchronize automatically and immediately.

5) How much control do I have over data stored in the cloud?

You may want to maintain control over data for its entire lifecycle. This includes when and how your data streams, how it is physically stored, and how you manage creating data or capturing files, documents, or messages. Make sure the vendor has policies that complement your need to upload content and manage users’ accounts or devices that have the ability to access or make changes to the system. Evaluate the vendor’s plan for unexpected incidents, such as sending data to the wrong location because of errors, configuration problems, or malicious intent. These 5 questions to ask a potential cloud computing outsource are by no means comprehensive, but should help in your search to find the right partner.]]> http://www.b2binsights.com/5-questions-to-ask-a-potential-cloud-computing-outsource/feed/ 0 http://www.b2binsights.com/5-questions-to-ask-a-potential-cloud-computing-outsource/ Get Wild with Your Content with Oscar Wilde http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/b2binsights/gSWI/~3/x5J_KwE22i0/ http://www.b2binsights.com/get-wild-with-your-content-with-oscar-wilde/#comments Tue, 23 Apr 2013 12:31:21 +0000 Amie Marse http://www.b2binsights.com/?p=1566 If you’ve ever written online content, you know that there are some days when it’s just flat out difficult to “get in the zone” or “mood” to write. However, one of the hallmarks of a good content creator is the ability to pump out content no matter what the circumstance. To do this, you might have to get a little wild with your content creation. Don’t worry, though, wild content is a good thing – it’s what made Oscar Wilde an icon. If you’ve ever read Wilde’s writings, you’ve probably wondered how it is he never ran out of interesting and witty things to say. Simply integrate Wilde’s tactics for writing into your content creation, and you’ll find it easier than ever to consistently produce effective and useful content!

Wilde Was Wild

First, it’s okay to literally get wild with your writing. Oscar once said, “Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative.” Unimaginative – I’d hate for anyone to use that word to describe my brand, and I’m sure you would say the same. So how do we avoid unimaginative? Get wild! Spice up the way that you organize content. Think of a new approach to your voice or the ideas that you present. Take risks! As a result, your readers will be more entertained, which improves search engine results and makes clients happier!

It’s Impossible to Fully Know Your Audience

In content marketing, we hear all the time about how important it is to “know your audience.” However, it’s impossible to completely know how they’ll react. A brilliant blog or article that took you weeks to polish could be rejected by a client or trashed by readers in the comments section. Rest assured, however, that this is a common experience for all writers. Even someone as prolific as Oscar Wilde has experienced this. On audience reaction, he said, “The play was a great success, but the audience was a disaster.”

Sharing is Caring

Oscar Wilde championed this timeless and universal truth. He was a firm believer that the best lessons were un-teachable – that only experience writing could teach us about our voice and the deepest secrets of the craft. However, Wilde also said that it was important to share information. Whether you share your writing secrets or useful information through your content, share through whatever means possible. Aside from creating useful content by sharing your knowledge, you’re creating good karma for yourself! It’s a win-win for everyone! ]]> http://www.b2binsights.com/get-wild-with-your-content-with-oscar-wilde/feed/ 0 http://www.b2binsights.com/get-wild-with-your-content-with-oscar-wilde/ Content Marketing: The Best Strategy For Winning Over Woman-Owned Businesses http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/b2binsights/gSWI/~3/l--94e5CSLQ/ http://www.b2binsights.com/content-marketing-the-best-strategy-for-winning-over-woman-owned-businesses/#comments Mon, 22 Apr 2013 13:26:48 +0000 Amie Marse http://www.b2binsights.com/?p=1337 Woman-focused marketing is typically associated with B2C transactions – it’s likely familiar to you from “pinkified” yogurt commercials and gaffes like the recent BIC pens for women debacle. But figuring out how to effectively market to women is hugely important for B2B companies as well. Let’s take a look at why this should be a consideration for your marketing team, and how they can avoid some of the common pitfalls of marketing to women with a solid content strategy.

Why It Matters

According to the National Association of Women Business Owners, there are over ten million businesses in the United States that are either owned outright by women, or have at least 50% female ownership when multiple owners are involved. This accounts for over 40% of all firms that are privately owned. When it comes to companies that generate over $1 million in revenue? One in five of them is majority owned by a woman. So B2B companies are no longer just marketing to the old boys’ club of male CEOs and buyers. Women own more businesses each year. In fact, 85% of woman business owners surveyed by NAWBO said that they believed that 2013 will see the largest growth in numbers of women entrepreneurs yet.

Throw Out That Color Scheme

If your first thought when I said “woman-focused marketing” was switching your white papers to pink papers, you may want to rethink your strategy. In general, 9 in 10 women feel like marketing teams don’t have a firm grasp on their needs, and do a poor job of marketing to women. In large part, this is because marketers tend to forego informative content when marketing to women in exchange for a “pinkified” color scheme and appeals to fashion, social life, and appearance. But in reality, those things don’t often affect women’s decisions to use a product or service in the least! The truly important factors in women’s purchasing decisions include things like information about multiple functionality, features, and pricing. Since risk is an even bigger factor in B2B purchases than B2C purchases, it’s doubly important to make sure that any steps you take to market to female clients and partners stays away from stereotype-fueled content.

Content is Key

If “informative content” sounds familiar, it’s probably because you’re well aware of the benefits of content marketing. It turns out that this is the absolute best strategy for generating woman-owned leads. Jack Morton, a brand experience agency, recently compiled a guide regarding marketing towards women. They suggested that providing education and information, and building relationships are the two best ways to grab the attention of any female prospective buyer. The Outdoor Foundation produced a similar guide about woman-focused marketing that added transparency to the list of ways to appeal to female clients and customers. Again, content marketing offers the perfect solution: could there possibly be a better way to supply more insight into the workings of your business than writing about it (or working with a content creation firm to write it for you)?

 The Bottom Line

There are tons of woman-owned businesses out there, you need to market to them, and you need to do so in a way that is actually useful. While “pink and frilly” is not the way to go, content marketing absolutely is. Guides, white papers, blogs, and eBooks are a  perfect option for supplying female business owners the information that they want when they’re choosing another business to contract with.]]> http://www.b2binsights.com/content-marketing-the-best-strategy-for-winning-over-woman-owned-businesses/feed/ 0 http://www.b2binsights.com/content-marketing-the-best-strategy-for-winning-over-woman-owned-businesses/