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PolySpot Technology Makes Big Data Manageable

February 23rd, 2012 | Posted by admin in cloud computing | News | search | Strategy | Technology - (0 Comments)

A recent white paper by Beyond Search’s own analyst, Stephen Arnold, “Cutting Big Data Down to Size: The PolySpot Solution,” tackles the issue of high-volume data flow by taking an in-depth look into PolySpot’s Information at Work Solution.

Arnold gives much credit to the France-based company for creating a revolutionary system that offers an easy-to-use solution to Big Data, making data available and thus valuable to companies. Information from ArnoldIT’s investigation is summarized on PolySpot’s website:

“PolySpot has developed an innovative approach that makes it possible to deploy a robust frame-work over existing content repositories. The PolySpot technology allows licensees to access information from many different sources and deliver information that answers real-life business questions. Users access the content via applications or apps from mobile devices to desktop computers. The company delivers solutions+apps.”

Our team at Beyond Search is glad to see PolySpot offering business intelligence solutions that are much needed in the search enterprise world. This technology is necessary in ensuring that information of significant value is not lost in the petabytes of information that is growing daily.

Check out Apprapids for more insight from the ArnoldIT team or direct your browser to PolySpotto download a full-length copy of the analysis.

Andrea Hayden, February 23, 2012

Upcoming AppRapids Conference is Bound to Impress

February 22nd, 2012 | Posted by jasmine in Apps | blogs | Smartphone - (0 Comments)

Kentuckiana residents who are interested in learning more about how apps are transforming business and digital worlds, consider attending the upcoming AppRapids conference in Louisville, Kentucky.

According to the news release “Apps Are Where Its At: Register Now for AppRapids Conference,” this one day event will be held in at Workshop: the Creative Workplace in Louisville Kentucky on March 28, 2012.

The news release states:

“Apps have been integrated into every aspect of life on both personal and professional levels. However, a lack of knowledge, and consequently agency, exists among many app users and potential app creators. Apps have roots in the past, are impacting the present, and will construct the future. Conference sessions will range from planning and development to implementation and business implications. Speakers will provide details of real-life use cases, best practices and lessons learned.”

This is an excellent opportunity for both app users and potential app developers to come together and share their knowledge. It is bound to make a lasting impression.

Jasmine Ashton, February 22, 2012

Tips to Engage Your Customer With Online Marketing Efforts

February 22nd, 2012 | Posted by jasmine in Business strategy | content marketing | Social media | social technology - (0 Comments)

Today, many companies are utilizing content and digital marketing strategies to engage their customers and increase product and service awareness. Social media venues such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter have made online marketing easier than ever. If you are a business owner that is considering implementing an online marketing strategy or ramping up your presence on the Internet, it’s best to first learn how your customers access information and what strategies will work best for your business.

In the recent report, “Good Content Marketing vs. Great Content Marketing: Learn the Difference from Joe Pulizzi”  by Ashley Zechman on TopRankMarketing.com, Zechman shares her thoughts on a presentation on content marketing given by Joe Pulizzi of Content Marketing Institute (CMI).

As Zechman discusses:

“Pulizzi stressed that we must do what we can to make a difference for our audience….If you are trying to figure out why you aren’t having much interaction, it’s probably because you don’t have compelling stories. Online tactics including search engine optimization, lead generation, and social media should all be focused around telling a compelling story to engage your audience.”

Understanding how your customers access information is one thing, but if you can’t capture their attention with your content, then your efforts on digital and content marketing could be wasted. In the recent SBNOnline article, “How ‘Social’ Do You Need to Be?”, Kevin Hourigan, President and CEO of Bayshore Solutions discusses strategies for optimizing your use of social media platforms.

According to Hourigan:

“The key to realizing a specific business’s ‘reward’ from social media, is defining and understanding your realistic expectations, finding your strategic fit, implementing the tactics that align, and taking a disciplines approach to daily social media activity….Effective social media requires strategy, expertise and dedication.”

One key point to take away from these suggestions is that you cannot implement an effective content marketing or social media plan if you do not have the appropriate resources dedicated to maintaining it. If you are small business with already limited resources, you may want to wait until you have the ability to hire a dedicated social media and online content marketing specialist, or consider outsourcing this role so that you can continue to focusing the areas of business that need your attention the most.

Stacey Duwe, February 22, 2012

Sponsored by Smart Business Network, the authority for business and management information

Understanding the Interplay Between Sales and Marketing to Achieve Growth

February 21st, 2012 | Posted by jasmine in content marketing | Entrepreneur | Expert | Start ups - (0 Comments)

Small business owners often have to wear multiple hats to maximize profitability, especially in the early years. It is not uncommon that a small business owner performs all functions required to run the business at onset, including sales and marketing. Unfortunately, though business owners generally have an idea and the ambition to share that idea, they may have no experience in either marketing or sales, so how can they be successful?

Several key factors to success are learning and understanding the different aspects of marketing and sales, why they are essential to your business success, and how you can minimize sales and marketing efforts to maximize growth. The recent report “Ask Score: What’s the Difference Between Sales and Marketing?”  on naplesnews.com discusses the difference between sales and marketing and the important interplay between the two.

According to the report:

 “Once you have a marketing plan in place that addresses a real customer need, the next step is to convince them that you are the right person to provide the product or service….Marketing can do but so much, ultimately it is the sales person who makes the difference.”

Kelly Borth, CEO and Chief Strategy Officer at Greencrest, reiterates this point in the SBNOnline article “How to Manage Sales By Coordinating New Business Development Efforts and Marketing”.

According to Borth:

“Marketing works in tandem with new business development efforts. They both need to be performing at a high level….Research has proven that when the two work together, sales success is exponential.”

It is important to understand the interplay between sales and marketing and to develop a sound marketing plan and sales strategy to be successful. If sales and marketing are not a strong point for you, it may be best to seek the advice or assistance of a marketing or business development consultant or firm to help get you on the right path.

Stacey Duwe, February 21, 2012

Sponsored by Smart Business Network, the authority for business and management information

 

Hard factors: the Key to Successful Change Management

February 20th, 2012 | Posted by jasmine in Change Management | Leadership | Management - (0 Comments)

When it comes time to transform how a company does business, determining how to change can be the most difficult aspect of the entire process. In the Harvard Business Review article, “The Hard Side of Change Management” the writers note that managers use their own experiences to decide the optimal way to transform their programs. Since these differ from manager to manager, it is very difficult to report an approach that works for everyone. They state that hard factors are the most effective determiners of the efficacy of a change program. Hard factors are measurable, able to be communicated, and easily influenced by the businesses themselves.

The article states:

“Our research shows that change projects fail to get off the ground when companies neglect the hard factors. If companies don’t pay attention to the hard issues first, transformation programs will break down before the soft elements come into play.”

In the Smart Business article “Bob Funari’s Keys to Spurring Change Through Innovation,”  Bob Funari, CEO of Crescent Healthcare, advocates the use of soft factors, such as performance integrity, teamwork, professionalism, and other immeasurable factors.

Funari states:

“As a result, we have more than doubled sales, eliminated the significant operating losses, and achieved our profitability goals. We have financed all of our growth and investments from internally generated cash flow while reducing our bank debt by 80 percent.”

Hard factors are vital to successful change, however, it is important to remember that not all factors that contribute to success can be measured.

Jennifer Y. Johnson, February 20, 2012

Sponsored by Smart Business Network, the authority for business and management information

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