2010-02-23 We are not really old dogs. But we must learn new tricks if we are to stay viable in todays market. After watching the explosion from the sidelines, I finally got it and am becoming an active participant in FaceBook. I recommend others do the same.
If you haven't gotten it yet, just think of it as an after work get together, where everyone stands around and chit chats. Not a lot of work is done but great relationships are built.
FaceBook (and business) is all about relationships. The more and better your relationships, the more and better people are talking about you, the products and services you sell. It is time to get off the sidelines and become part of the explosion.
If you need help, we are here.
Bark.
- Alan Arons
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2010-01-04 Happy New Year. As we come out of the Holiday Ho-Hums, things are looking better. Indications are the economy is stablizing (I am not ready to say it is improving) and people and business are starting to spend money again.
Confidence in the future is what will get rid on the economic blues. Confidence and Jobs.
There is no question that in the short term, dollars can be saved by going overseas for product, work or support. Every time we do, however, jobs at home are lost. Disposable income is no longer available for the little things, our standard of living suffers and soon, we all suffer.
Don't expect that you will be able to balance your budget on the backs of your employees. Soon, there won't be anyone left to buy what you sell. Unless, of course, you are selling to India. Think about it.
- Alan Arons
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2009-11-17 You are right, I missed a month. It has been a rough few weeks. Today, however, a shining star appeared to make my day. I received a notification that Web and Data Services was recognized for "exceptional marketing success" and awarded a "Best of Cleveland 2009" award.
My first thought was that this was a scam. It is easy to be paranoid. Then I thought about the successes I have achieved such as being in business for 10 years, certified programmer, college professor.
I also thought about the work I do. I am proud of it. I help businesses accomplish their goals and make them more profitable. I have always recognized that businesses are unique. Even when they are doing the same thing as their neighbor, everyone approaches problems differently. I recognize that and provide tools to allow each business to explore their uniqueness.
Is the award a scam? Definitely not since I think I deserve it. Is Web and Data Services the Best of Cleveland? That decision is up to you. Think about it.
- Alan Arons
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2009-09-17 As hard for me as it is to believe, Web and Data Services is 10 years old next month. We will be celebrating this occasion with discounts, a change of logo and the general hoopla that goes with this amazing milestone.
It also is an opportunity to step back and reflect on where we were and speculate on where we are going. When I started Web and Data, it was with the expectation of doing general programming, web sites, and data migrations. Although I had been working with TeleMagic for over 10 years, I didn't see it as a major part of my business.
That all changed when XYZ Corporation (that was really the name) was forced out of business leaving all their TeleMagic customers unsupported. I was able to aquire this block of business and build upon it. Since this was a major time commitment, other parts of the business were not promoted.
10 years later, however, many things have changed including the dominance of the internet. The largest part of my business is now internet related and I think it is a good place to be.
There are many advantages to using the internet for regular business operations. Using SaaS (Software as a Service), small business can minimize their overall IT costs and have the latest and greatest products and services.
Web and Data Services is in the final stages of the development of a product similar to TeleMagic. It is an internet based service where we will host your data, manage your screens and support your employees, all for a low monthly fee. In addition, migration from TeleMagic is a planned part of the software so you get to keep the look and feel you have so much invested in.
Business have to change. They have to evolve. I like to think we have actively practiced what we preach and at 10 years old, have reason to celebrate. Think about it.
- Alan Arons
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2009-08-10 "Relevance or Death". I saw these words recently and they struck home. Are the things we do relevant in TODAYS market or are we still thinking like it was 20 years ago. Are we stuck in an old defination of ourselves or have we evolved with the times.
100 years ago trains dominated the transportation industry. When automobiles became common, trains still had a significant market since cars were not as desirable for intercity and interstate movement. The first signs of trouble were visible, but no one took the time to see them. People still needed trains, and always would, right? Wrong.
When airplanes joined the transportation industry, trains ceased to be the primary mode of transportation. Large companies died because they could not adapt to the new thinking. They were no longer relevant in a faster moving society.
The way we have done business in the past will never be the way we do it in the future. Our business must change. It must be relevant to todays market. It must be relevant to the people who are making purchasing decisions. Has your business changed with the times or are you still selling the same products and services using the same techniques that you used 20 years ago. Even if you don't understand them, Twitter, Facebook and other social marketing tools are what todays buyers use and you need to be a part of that world if you are going to be reach out to the buyers in it.
If you are not relevant to the buyers, you will die. It is time to reinvent the way you do business. It is time to once again become relevant to the next generation of buyer. If you don't know how, ask your children and follow what they tell you. If you don't you may become like the railroads. Think about it.
- Alan Arons
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2009-07-20 "If you are not moving you are standing still". An obvious truth, right. But in business we often ignore the truth while we "wait and see". While we wait and see, the world moves around us and opportunity and money is lost through our own inaction.
Rather than watching the world go by and miss out on the opportunity, perhaps we should be leaders. If an action looks good, it probably is. Waiting won't make it a better action only a safer one. Safer, because we can now point to all the others who are doing it and making(or saving) money by it. But, by being safe, we have missed out on all the profit while we were "waiting and seeing".
If, on the other hand, we act quickly and become leaders instead of followers, we are the first to profit and will therefore reap the greatest profits of anyone. But trends change, and we have to be ready to end an action when we see that happening. By reacting quickly in the beginning and at the end, we maximize the profits and minimize the costs.
Being a leader doesn't mean doing things differently, only steping out and doing it first. While you are standing still, others are moving around you. Think about it.
- Alan Arons
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2009-06-24 "Every Day is the Final Exam". Do you remember how it was in school? A test would be coming up and we scrambled to study and do well. The Final Exam generally counted for a large portion of the grade we received.
When we work with other people or businesses, we are continually being graded on the work we do, and how we interact with those we are working with. How we perform absolutely determines whether or not our customer will continue being our customer. If we don't make the grade, the relationship is often over.
With this in mind, it is important to always be ready for the "Final Exam". Technically, we must always be ready with the latest advances. Our customers look to us for this information. They trust us and our opinions and when they ask, we are scored on how well be respond. On the softer side, when we take the time to answer questions we further the relationship with the customer and cement all ready good feelings.
Conversely, if we don't know about a subject or are short or rude with the customer, it won't take long for the customer to go elsewhere. As with the Final Exam in school, there are no second chances. Think about it.
- Alan Arons
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2009-05-16 "Staying Close to the People You Do Business With." describes the goal of everything we do at Web and Data Services and identifies the things I consider most important. First, is People. The relationships we develop are always with people and never Companies. How we respond to them and treat them is what they remember.
Second, is Business because Business is what we are all here for. Things we say and do will have a direct impact on the Business we exact from a relationship. This is not to say that our relationships must result in immediate business, because they won't. Ultimately, however, they will and that is what we are here for.
Finally, we must Stay Close. It is alway easier to maintain a relationship than develop a new one. An occasional call or email goes a long way toward keeping your name on the minds of your customers and prospects. We all like to be remembered and respond well when we are.
How we Stay Close to People, will have a direct impact on the Business we do. Think about it.
- Alan Arons
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2009-04-24 This won't be a surprise to anyone, but these are difficult times. But in spite of the horrific news that we are faced with every day, most of us are working and business continues. Since times are difficult, however, almost everyone is closely examining the expenses that they are faced with and cutting wherever possible. One of the areas that frequently gets cut is the area of Customer Service.
While reducing staff makes sense, the damage caused by reduction in service can outweigh the long term benefits.
Before cutting staff, take the time to become more efficient. Utilize technology to reduce the time necessary for your existing staff to do their job. This will allow staff reduction without a loss in service.
Fast and inexpensive things you can do to improve efficiency include: Adding FAQs to your website; Creating a knowlege base that authorized customers can access online; Encourage your customers and prospects to email rather than call in their questions; and develop a plan to allow employees to work remotely.
Each of these items (and others) will make your current operation more efficient, saving you money. Think about it.
- Alan Arons
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2009-04-17 Welcome to the first entry in our Blog. We chose to publish a blog after we realized that a high number (sometimes
reported as high as 85%) of business decision makers go to the internet to learn about the products they are purchasing.
In addition to the sales company's information, they also seek out unsolicited comments and statements found in blogs and
chat rooms. This is significant and makes sense. We all look to others opinions before making our own decisions.
Look to this blog to learn about our opinion of products and services on the market today. It will also be the place to
learn about new products from Web and Data Services. Check back often and if you have any questions, or want to talk
about anything you read here, call or drop us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
- Alan Arons
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