Business: What Not to Cut when Budget Cutting...

If you have a small business and are looking for ways to cut costs, there are certain areas you should avoid giving the axe.  According to an article by Entrepreneur.com, "Trim spending in the wrong places and you can end up hurting your business in the long run, says business strategist Carol Roth, a former investment banker and the best-selling author of The Entrepreneur Equation. Here are three of most common cost-cutter mistakes:

1. Cut back on customer service. When small business owners start to get panicky about their spending, one of the first things to go is often the perks and services that you lavish on your customers. That's the last place to trim, says Roth. For example, if you own a restaurant, it may be tempting to decrease the number of servers, therefore asking the remaining servers to handle additional tables. Don't do it.

"If you are cutting back in areas where your customer is going to notice, that is a mistake," says Roth. "Your best opportunity is to maintain or beef up in the areas that are going to impact the customer."

2. Chop the marketing budget. Another common knee-jerk reaction of an anxious entrepreneur is to slash the funding designated for marketing. That won't affect your core business, right? Wrong. Eventually the economy will recover more robustly and customers will be willing to spend more freely. If you cut back on your marketing spending now, you are cutting yourself off from the new customers that will grow your business, says Roth.

Also, down periods in the economy are ripe for expanding because the rival business down the street has probably had the same impulsive reaction and reined in its marketing budget. "You don't want to pull back in an area like that, especially when your competitors are doing that, because that gives you an opportunity to poach" customers", says Roth."

Read more here: http://www.entrepreneur.com/blog/224259

At CompuTime, we understand what it takes to run a business and are here to help you save money as well as help your business run efficiently and smoothly. With IT Networking Services and the latest in communications and infrastructure technologies, we offer specialized training for your employees with new systems and software so that your company doesn't miss a beat when transitioning to the latest technology available.

We also offer wonderful printers like our Savin All-in-One Savin C230 Color Digital Imaging System that saves space and does it all! Other great cost cutting options for businesses is our compatible/remanufactured ink cartridges that perform as well as the manufacturer's and EasyKrypt, which offers data encryption for small businesses, is cost effective, and provides security.

Come see what we can do to optimize your business and cut costs where it makes sense!

For more information on any of our products or services, call us at 928-445-0700, come into our CompuTime store in Prescott, or email us!

Got Ink? Compatible/Remanufactured Printer Cartridges Can Save You Money!

CompuTime

Replacing ink and toner cartridges for your printer is expensive if you buy the ones made by your printer's manufacturer.  A less expensive option is to use cartridges that are compatible and remanufactured for your printer by a third party reputable manufacturer but many people are nervous about trying this option.  Here are some common myths about buying compatibile/remanufactured cartridges:

Myth 1: Lack of quality

This is probably the most common belief about compatible/remanufactured cartridges.  While there are some bad ones in the bunch, there are many more that perform as well or even better than the ones from the manufacturer and adhere to the same high quality standards.  

Myth 2: Less page yields

When buying printers or cartridges, page yields are used by manufacturers to give consumers an idea of how much output they will receive.  Many of the compatible/remanufactured cartridges have the same amount of page yields as that of the manufacturer's.  It is important to check and compare the amount of page yields before you buy any cartridge.

Myth 3: Damage to printer

The compatible/remanufactured cartridge should not damage your printer since it is manufactured to be compatible with your printer.  Even a defective cartridge, which can happen from either source, should not cause damage. Although a leak from any cartridge can be a mess to clean up!

Myth 4: Limited warranty

Nowadays, many of the reputable compatible/remanufactured cartridge manufacturers are offering 100% guarantees and up to a year warranty which is as good and sometimes better than the original manufacturer.  They want customers to keep buying their products and are standing behind them.

At CompuTime, we have done the research for you and feel so good about the compatibile/remanufactured cartridge replacements we sell that we put our name on them!  We have the best of the best when it comes to less expensive ink and toner options for your printer. Come in or call us and see what we can save you!

 Order toner or for more information call us at 928-445-0700

Kids Today Vs 1980's Technology!

Remember cassette players and Atari games? Check out this funny video of today's kids and what they think of 1980's technology:

Technology is always evolving!  CompuTime makes technology easy so your business can be more productive and profitable. From one computer to multiple work stations, custom computers, and networks, CompuTime is ready with the highest quality custom built computer products. We also specialize in networking, digital copiers, printers, telephone systems, repair services, maintenance and support in Northern Arizona since 1995!

Encryption and Data Protection for Your Small Business

Small businesses should be concerned about data protection because a breach can be extremely detrimental and recovery very expensive.  This small business video segment from Fox Business News discusses encryption and other important data protection safeguards for small businesses:

Locking and securing sensitive customer, patient or employee data 

Restricting employee access to sensitive data

Shredding and securely disposing of customer, patient or employee data

Using password protection and data encryption

Having a privacy policy

Updating systems and software on a regular basis

Using firewalls to control access and lock out hackers

Ensuring that remote access to their company’s network is secure

Read more: http://smallbusiness.foxbusiness.com/technology-web/2012/06/11/eight-ways-to-prevent-data-breach/#ixzz2354iZNKB

EasyKrypt

Encryption is an extremely important part of protecting your data.  Encryption, according to Wikipedia, "is the process of transforming information (referred to as plaintext) using an algorithm (called a cipher) to make it unreadable to anyone except those possessing special knowledge, usually referred to as a key." An affordable and easy option for small businesses is EasyKrypt.  EasyKrypt is "next-generation data encryption that protects data even after it has been lost or stolen. Combining desktop encryption with secure cloud-based storage, EasyKrypt allows companies with up to 50 employees to easily share protected files." Check out EasyKrypt here: EasyKrypt.com

Hopefully this will not happen to your small business, but if you do have a breach or loss of data, CompuTime can help.  We offer disaster recovery and business continuity specialists, and can outline and implement a plan which will ensure that you are protected with back-up recovery, tolerances for outage duration, data loss, notification and recovery process, hot-spot planning, and logistics protocol. CompuTime can consult with you on the best suited disaster recovery plan for your company.

 Request a quote or for more information call us at 928-445-0700

From CPR to Medical Alerts: Your Smartphone Can Help Save Lives

Turn Your Smartphone Into An Emergency Kit

Many of us rely on our smartphones daily to make our lives easier and there is an app for just about everything.  However, some of the most life changing apps are the ones that can actually help save lives.  From CPR to medical alerts, apps can make a huge difference in the outcome of an emergency.

Mashable.com lists nine apps that could be literally life saving. "Emergency preparedness isn’t just about extra batteries and jugs of drinking water. It’s about making sure you have access to the right information when you need it most.
The following apps allow you to prepare for emergencies before they occur.

pMonitor: pMonitor lets parents use location alerts to, for example, know when a child arrives at school or is headed home. Users can create alerts for potentially dangerous situations as well. So if you have an elderly parent, you can set an alert that will ping you if that person happens to fall. In other words, this app will let you know whenever a loved one is in a bad situation so that you can respond.

Pocket First Aid and CPR: This app is useful to keep in your phone as a CPR tutorial. It can’t replace a certification, but it does offer best-practice reminders on how to properly administer this live-saving technique. It can be particularly useful to have a mobile app to walk you through the steps during a crisis when it’s easy to seize up.

Safety NET: This app is great for an elderly parent or a disabled loved one, as it monitors for things like falls or collisions. It then automatically alerts a previously selected emergency contact to call for help.

Silent Bodyguard: This app serves as a silent panic button that calls the police without setting off any alarms. The panic message can also send a text to a loved one or a post to your social accounts. It will also use your phone to share your coordinates with, say, police officials.

Poison Center Help: The free Poison Center Help app allows users dealing with someone who has ingested poison or been exposed to a dangerous substance to quickly connect to the poison control center to find out what side effects to expect, and how to address them.

KidsDoc: Your pediatrician may be on speed dial, but this app could save you a few middle-of-the-night phone calls. KidsDoc allows you to input symptoms to find out what common ailment might be bugging your child. It also offers simple treatments.

Neighborhood Watch Official Mobile App: The Neighborhood Watch has gone digital. With this app, you can access training videos and best practices for keeping your neighborhood safe. You can also submit details about local crimes and make sure things get reported.

SaferBus: This free app monitors performance of public transit and allows you to report unsafe driving, improper conditions, rowdiness, and other issues on public transportation systems.

iWitness Now you’re covered anywhere you go. This app allows users to report what they see while auto-tracking their position for easy reporting."

Source: http://mashable.com/2012/08/01/smartphone-app-emergency/

At CompuTime, we care about how technology can make your life better...and even save it!  We have been serving Northern Arizona since 1995 and are here for you!

Ready to Upgrade? Apple OS X Mountain Lion Pros and Cons

Apple OS X Mountain Lion

First there was Tiger, then Leopard, and Snow Leopard, and then Lion and now, as of yesterday, Mountain Lion.  If you are tempted to take the leap but are still wondering if it's worth the time and money, 'Apple OS X Mountain Lion: The Good, The Awesome, and the Could-Do-Better Review' by Chris Taylor,  posted today by Mashable.com,  gives some good insight to the new cat on the Mac block.

"As of the second we published this story, Mountain Lion — more prosaically known as OS X 10.8 — became available in the Mac app store. So long as you already have Snow Leopard or Lion in your cat collection, Mountain Lion is yours for the bargain basement price of $19.99." This is even is less than when Lion debuted at 30 dollars and yet, according to Chris Taylor "some 60% of Mac owners skipped Lion altogether, your humble reviewer included. So first of all, kudos to Apple for letting us prodigal Snow Leopard lovers return to the fold — without forcing us to buy Lion first." 

That is good news for those still using Snow Leopard or Lion but still, is it worth upgrading to Mountain Lion?

"If you own an iPhone, an iPad or both, you’re going to love how much more connected all your devices are. If you’re a frequent tweeter, this is pretty much Twitter OS.  It doesn’t quite live up to all of Apple’s pre-launch hype, however. The integration of iCloud isn’t as intuitive as we would like. Using Messages, which is iChat combined with iMessages on the iPhone, can be an exercise in frustration; that should be smoothed out once Apple launches iOS 6 in the fall.  Another odd omission: Facebook integration. That is coming as an update in the fall."

Coming up under the 'Awesome' improvements, Taylor writes "Ever wanted a To Do List that followed you on every screen you use? That’s Reminders, an app that showed promise on the iPhone and iPad and now appears for the first time on your Mac. Because Siri uses Reminders, you can in theory dictate a day’s worth of doings to your phone while commuting, and have them automatically waiting on your desktop before you arrive. Siri doesn’t appear in Mountain Lion itself, but Apple has done the next best thing and included its dictation engine. Tap the Function key twice (or tap once and hold) in any app and speak-write your way to success; it will learn the nuance of your voice. It’s like having Dragon Dictate without spending a hundred bucks for it."

Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/07/25/mountain-lion-review/

If your run into any problems upgrading to Mountain Lion, our Mac professionals at CompuTime can help!  We specialize in both Macs and PCs! We also offer remote support for home users and businesses which is safe, secure, efficient and firewall friendly, requiring no port mapping or need to modify your network infrastructure. This service is 100% client permission based. As long as you have a working connection to the Internet, we can provide remote support, in real-time, without ever coming to your home or office. CompuTime has repaired thousands of computers remotely; and look forward to helping to solve your computer issues.

Request a quote or for more information call us at 928-445-0700

Flashback to 1994: Introducing the Internet

Check out this tv segment from 1994 introducing the internet as a hi-tech Father's Day gift.  Amazing how it has become a part of daily life....