May 2011
In this issue:

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7 Reasons Small Businesses Switch to Cloud Based Software
used with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center

Small business owners often have big dreams. Whether that dream is to keep your business small or to grow it into a big business, you want your business to run as smoothly as possible - every step of the way. You might start your business as a sole proprietor with just a laptop and a few software programs. As your business grows and adds employees, you have to start thinking about security, backup, remote access, and coordination of effort.

One of the reasons small businesses switch to cloud-based software is to reap the benefits of big business infrastructure, without having to implement and manage it directly. Until recently, your software and servers almost always resided in your office, where they would be administered by your IT staff. This type of deployment is referred to as "on premise." In the last several years, "cloud based" software has become more popular.

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10 Ways to Improve Your Facebook Security
used with permission from Cisco

Small businesses are a growing fan base for Facebook.

Seventy percent of U.S. local small businesses interested in online marketing now use Facebook for marketing, up from 50 percent one year ago, according to a February report by MerchantCircle.  Many businesses consider Facebook their best friend for low-cost brand marketing. Some also enable shopping on their pages, using Storefront, Payment, or another ecommerce application.

A Cybercriminal Fan Club
Facebook is also a favorite of Internet criminals, says the Cisco 2010 Annual Security Report. It's a big target, with more than 500 million active users. Even CEO Mark Zuckerberg's Facebook account was recently hacked.

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Reduce Employee Turnover through Appropriate
Rewards Programs
By Craig Kitch  www.craigkitch.com

I just finished reading “The Carrot Principle: How the Best Managers Use Recognition to Engage Their People, Retain Talent, and Accelerate Performance” by Gostick and Elton. I have long been a fan of employee recognition but always struggled with how so many companies allow it to become blasé. Sometimes it even turns into an entitlement program when team members complain that they have not had “their turn” as employee of the month.

So many managers begin a rewards and recognition program with the best of intentions only to have it become a waste of time and a drain on the bottom line.

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