Archive for Help
Storm Prep
Posted by: | CommentsSeems like a good time to post a brief answer to “What can I do to take care of my computers when there’s a storm coming?”
The weather here on Cape Cod doesn’t get too extreme too often, but even a thunderstorm can wipe out your investment in technology (and maybe all your data, too, if you don’t have backups offsite).
Here are a few simple storm preparation steps that can save you a lot of grief.
Preparation isn’t hard, and here’s my “short version,” which will be useful for the average home owner or very small business. This isn’t meant to cover all the possible scenarios, or a complicated business set up (I’m not a network guy), but you’ll find it covers the basics:
- Turn off your computer the regular way.
- Unplug it.
- If you also have a UPS of some sort, turn off and unplug that.
- Turn off and unplug any and all peripherals (monitor, printer, modem, router, etc.)
When the danger has passed, you can essentially reverse the order. In particular, plug in and boot up the modem or router before turning on your computer.
If you’d like to read a longer version (if, for example, you’re on a network), then please read this doc, titled How to Prepare for a Hurricane, from our friends at Secure Business Networks in Hyannis.
One of their simple suggestions is to move your expensive equipment away from windows.
7 Tips for Facebook Success
Posted by: | CommentsYou’re already too busy running your small business to take on another job, but knowing your competition is already using Facebook (and other social media) is a strong motivator. Granted, it will take a little time and disciple, but it won’t take much more than that. Here are some tips to help you to success.
Facebook Success Basics
- Always publish something that’s of interest to your market (not just to you). It doesn’t have to be long. In fact, shorter is often better for your busy readers.
- Get organized, #1 – make a list of topic categories for articles. For example:
- Tips (based on your expertise) your readers would find useful in their business
- Funny anecdotes from your business
- Notes and information about charitable organizations you support (not about you, about them – just briefly mention your involvement with them)
- Create a special promotion for your Facebook fans
- Write an article on your website, then link to it, with a short blurb
- Get organized, #2 – picking from your list of categories, make up a “posting calendar” as a guide for which type of content you’ll post on a particular day of the week. For example:
- Monday: Post a picture of -
- A cute kid brought in by a customer, or
- Some interesting item at work, or
- Anything else that would be interesting enough, or nice enough, or cute enough, for others to share
- Tuesday: Promote the business belonging to a valued customer
- Wednesday: Highlight a charity or benefit to which you contributed, or post a humorous item
- Thursday: Promote one of your services
- Friday: Special offer on one of your items, but just for Facebook fans…
- Figure out what time during the day you’ll be most likely to actually do the posting, and then schedule the time. Create a reminder for yourself, and don’t let yourself get distracted.
- Check for comments on your fan page twice each day, and respond to them.
- After your first week, review how it’s gone. What can you do to improve on the process, or make it easier or even fun?
- Promote your page! Tell people about it. Ask them to “Like” your page. I suggest you do this a little bit at a time, rather than hit all your friends, co-workers and associates all at once.
Keep at it: it will get easier. If you publish good content people will begin to read you regularly, and you’ll get good feedback. Plus, as you get used to it, ideas for articles will pop into your head with increasing frequency.
Here on Cape Cod, the Hot Chocolate Sparrow does a good job with their Facebook page.
And you can visit (and please Like) our Facebook page.
