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July 17, 2008

The Seven Pitfalls of Business Failure and How to Avoid Them

Expert opinions abound about what a business owner should and shouldn't do to keep a new business afloat in the perilous waters of the entrepreneurial sea. There are, however, key factors that -- if not avoided -- will be certain to weigh down a business and possibly sink it forevermore.

July 15, 2008

Windows Vista help

In response to continued criticism of Windows Vista Microsoft has opened two new websites to help consumer and businesses. The first, "Vista Compatibility Center", is focused on consumers with a second site for small and medium sized business. Ina Fried of CNet news recently wrote, "The Vista Compatibility Center is part of a broader effort on Microsoft's part to try to create positive attention for the operating system and demonstrate to both consumers and small businesses that it is ready for prime time. The company has also launched a separate effort specifically for small and mid-size businesses, offering free technical support for Vista."

July 14, 2008

What is a company blogger good for?

Having a company blog is a growing trend. ZdNet's Mitch Ratcliffe points out that many companies don't really think about what having a blog entails. This article outlines several ways that a blog can be used to benefit your company, the increasing levels of engagement with potential customers and the costs involved.

July 3, 2008

July 2, 2008

"Best Bluetooth Headsets"

Need constant access to your cell phone but also need to keep your hands free? Many people have turned to Bluetooth headsets. The downside is that the sets are often clunky looking. Here is a round up from bMighty.com of some of the latest phones. There is a variety of styles and prices to suit every type of user.

SLIDESHOW: Best Bluetooth Headsets

Link to article

June 25, 2008

10 Ways To Explain Things More Effectively
In the course of your work, you may sometimes need to explain technical concepts to your customers. Having them understand you is important not only for technical reasons, but also to ensure customer satisfaction. The ability to explain things clearly and effectively can help you in your career, as well. Here are a few tips to help make your explanations understandable and useful. This article comes from Global Knowledge, a leading provider of training. While the focus is on software the lessons apply to everything from training new employees to selling custom furniture.

June 18, 2008

"If you're not reading blogs, you should be."

From bMighty.com "If you're not reading blogs, you should. The best blogs inform, entertain, and offer tips, tools, and strategies for boosting smaller business productivity and profits. Blogs also create opportunities for networking and sharing information with other smaller businesses. To help you wade through the bounty of the blogosphere, we've compiled some of our favorite blogs for smaller businesses." Link to article

June 18, 2008

"The e-mail messages in your inbox are as pesky as gnats in the summer..."

From FCW.com "The e-mail messages in your inbox are as pesky as gnats in the summer. It seems like no matter how many you delete, more show up the next day or hour. And when you return from vacation, you might as well toss your computer out the window because messages will be clogging it and suffocating you." Link to article

June 10, 2008

"Management lessons from Google CEO."

Management lessons from Google CEO. A blog article from Harvard Professor Andrew McAfee shares a lesson from Google CEO Eric Schmidt. At a recent conference on the future of management McAfee asked “My executive education students always say that there’s nothing for them to learn from your company because it’s just too different from theirs— you’re very young, you’re in this strange online industry, and you’re full of people with 145 IQs.

I’ve been trying to push back against these arguments in the classroom, but as I listen to you here tonight I’m starting to think that my students might be right! As you’ve described it, Google seems to be a completely unique organization.

So what can other companies and managers really learn from you?"

His response was unequivocal, and fantastic. As best I can recall, he said: "They can learn to listen. Listening to each other is core to our culture, and we don’t listen to each other just because we’re all so smart. We listen because everyone has good ideas, and because it’s a great way to show respect. And any company, at any point in its history, can start listening more."

Excerpted from "The Impact of Information Technology (IT) on Businesses and their Leaders" by Andrew McAfee. The whole article is available online.

Cemetery Website Helps Locate Gravesites

Finding the gravesite of a friend or loved one has just become easier at Pierre’s Riverside Cemetery.

A new website, developed by BPro, Inc., allows people to find a particular gravesite at the cemetery. Cemetery Superintendent Jim Fahey, who has spent 31 of his 32 years with city government at the cemetery, has worked on the project since 1998. Fahey says the goal is to make it easier for people to find a gravesite.

Fahey says there are about 5,000 names in the data base with the earliest grave being recorded in 1887. Fahey says the names also include many buried in the Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church’s Calvary cemetery.

People can visit the website prior to their trip to the cemetery, and locate the gravesite of their friend or loved one. They simple search by first and / or last name, and the website will show them a map of what section, block and lot the gravesite is located at the cemetery.

The website features the same gravesite map as found at the cemetery. Fahey says he has received many calls from people who can’t find a gravesite. He hopes the website will make it easier for people.

To access the website, people can find the cemetery link at the city website at http://ci.pierre.sd.us under the City Departments menu heading.

June 2, 2008

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) - South Dakota Secretary of State Chris Nelson reminds registered voters to check the Voter Information Portal at www.sdsos.gov to determine the location of their polling places for the primary election tomorrow. He says the Web site also allows people to view the candidate slates on sample ballots. Two of the most frequent questions asked in the days immediately before an election are: "Where do I go to vote?" and 'What will be on my ballot?" Nelson says the Voter Information Portal answers both of those questions. On the Net: www.sdsos.gov.

June 2, 2008

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) - South Dakota Secretary Chris Nelson announces that his office, in cooperation with the 64 county auditors, will operate a new election-night results reporting system for the primary election. Nelson says results will be available at www.sdsos.gov  beginning at 8:00 p.m. Central Time on Tuesday. The Central Election Reporting System will have results for statewide, legislative, water development district, and county primary elections. Also provided will be results of county ballot questions and any municipal or school races held in conjunction with the statewide primary election.

BPro, Inc is a well established, growing, woman-owned consulting that has provided professional consulting services since 1985. BPro can help your business, association or organization by building software that works the way you do, designing and hosting an eye catching website; professionally managing and overseeing your events; providing quality, professional services for your association members. For more information about BPro, Inc. and how we can help your business or organization, contact Client Services Director, Kim Brakke at kim@bpro.com or (605) 222-7781.