IT Consulting Services - Offer What Your Prospects Need

IT consulting services come in all shapes and sizes. When you first start a business it is often difficult to decide which IT consulting services to offer. Should you sell what you know, sell what is trendy, or sell what you think people want?

The best way to figure out what IT consulting services to sell, and the products that are needed to support them, is to sell, service, and offer the IT consulting services that your prospects NEED.

Sounds pretty intuitive, but what typically happens is businesses start-up offering IT consulting services that their prospects want. A need and a want are two different things. The IT consulting services that a business owner thinks he/she needs are not necessarily the IT consulting services that are actually needed.

Think about this--if your prospects want an air conditioner, do you sell it to them in January? No, in the winter months, unless you're in the far south, you sell space heaters, car battery warmers, down comforters, and hot chocolate. The same goes for IT consulting services, you sell them what they need right now, so that they can continue to operate effectively. By selling IT consulting services they need, you will cover the wants in due time.

Now, when you are dealing with a non-technical business owner or manager, their needs may be quite superficial. That's ok. If they perceive that they need IT consulting services to fix their lockups, improve their sluggish performance, find out why they can't log on, or why they're losing drive letters - provide those services.

Once you prove to them you know what you're doing, then you can sell them the IT consulting services you know they need to reach peak performance. Basically, you want to sell aspirin for their aches and pains. You can't even start to sell the IT consulting services that you're trying to sell them --productivity tools, security tools, hardening, intrusion detection, collaboration, connectivity, wireless VPNs-- until you've fixed what they perceive their IT aches and pains to be.

Bottom Line on IT Consulting Services When you start thinking about what IT consulting services to offer you need to think like your prospects. Try to understand what they need and separate that from what they want. Be careful to remember that non technical buyers will have legitimate surface need that must be addressed. Offer IT consulting services that cover both the basic fixes and the long term solutions and make yourself an invaluable asset to the businesses for which you provide IT consulting services.

Eight Steps to Writing an Outstanding Podcast

Podcasts are on the cutting edge of business communication, allowing you to speak with your own voice directly to your audience. They add variety to your blog or website and prove that you know how to stay ahead of the pack. But hitting "record" without putting some thought into what you're going to say and how you're going to say it is a fatal mistake. Here are eight steps to follow for creating a podcast that makes your listener want to come back for more.

1. Choose a theme. Pick an issue about which you feel confident speaking. Try to narrow it down to a particular angle or perspective-think news clip, not university lecture. The best podcasts touch on a specific subject and cover it in depth, rather than attempting to discuss the history of Western Europe in three minutes or less.

2. Consider your audience. How much does your audience know about your subject? What style of reporting will connect with them? The more you put yourself in your listeners' shoes, the better you will be able to speak directly to them. Be sure to include a response to any previous questions or suggestions-your audience doesn't want to feel ignored.

3. Prepare an outline. Expand on your theme by coming up with four or five main elements or topics to discuss. Put the most important and engaging information first; this will hook your listener and entice them to hear out the rest of it. Even if you don't write your script word for word, an outline will help you organize your thoughts into a tidy framework.

4. Think ahead for interviews. If you want to include an interview in your podcast, it's a good idea to plan ahead. Make a list of questions you want to ask for sure, but remember that sometimes the best sound bites happen off-the-cuff. Feel comfortable enough with your interviewee to ask follow-up questions and allow the conversation to travel somewhere more interesting if the opportunity arises.

5. Use simple sentences and language. Keep the tone natural and conversational, as if you are speaking with a listener face-to-face-just as you would for any business writing. Toss any words that would send someone reaching for the dictionary; likewise, avoid long sub-clauses and complex syntax (these things only bury the point). Just because your sentences are short and clear does not mean your language has to be dry. Do not be afraid to use sensory descriptions to put your listener right in the heart of the action.

6. Keep it succinct. The length of your podcast depends on your subject and audience-but no matter how much information you feel is absolutely crucial to your point, listeners will lose interest if it drags. No footnotes or unnecessary diversions here; just the facts, ma'am.

7. Do a practice run. This is especially important if you're working from a basic outline. Read the script for a friend or family member for their (honest!) feedback, or record yourself once and listen to it. Be on the lookout for awkward pauses, confusing sections, and stumbling points. Make notes and do another few run-throughs with the changes incorporated.

8. Print it out. It's much easier to read from a piece of paper than from a computer screen, so print out your script before you record. Enlarging the font helps too. If you're worried about losing your place during recording, highlight a few key words or mark the beginning of different sections to keep you on track. The more thoroughly you prepare your script, the more confident you will be when it comes down to recording it-and the more effective your podcast will be because of it.

High Speed Internet Connection

Internet has almost become a lifeline for the new generation. Many businesses now depend entirely on the Internet. People residing in different parts of world are able to talk to each other via the medium of Internet. Video conferencing is a live example of it. Many marriages are also made with the help of the Internet. The list of benefits that Internet provides is limitless. But, what would you do when you have a slow speed internet connection that takes a lot of time? That internet connection would simply be useless to you. The speed at which you are connected to the Internet plays a very important role in enjoying the advantages offered by it. For example, suppose one of your relatives who is residing overseas, has sent you a holiday clip. Now, if your Internet speed is slow then first of all it would take a long time to load the mail website. Then you would enter your user name and password. It would again take extra time to verify it. Also, downloading the clip would be very slow, even if its size is very small. Overall, you can say that having a low speed Internet connection (dial-up connection) is not a good thing. There are many choices available for a high speed Internet connection. DSL, Cable and Satellite are some of them. You can select the best one from them. Here are some of the common benefits that all these high speed Internet connections provide. * Viewing of streamlining clips or videos is very easy and fast in these connections. Dial-up connections may not even allow their access. * You can upload web pages and download any kind of information or software with more than twice the speed of dial-up connection. * Downloading of images and huge e-mail files can be done almost promptly. * High speed Internet connection has proven to be a boon for all businessmen. They can now access the world wide web within a few seconds. Their businesses have been highly benefited through efficient and quick video conferencing which would have been impossible in a slow dial-up connection. * For those people who work from home, a high speed Internet connection can assist them in increasing their overall work efficiency and output. * On a long term basis, the high speed Internet connection can prove to be highly economical. DSL: The best choice for high speed internet connection Now-a-days, DSL has become the leading choice for a high speed Internet connection. DSL works on existing telephone lines. With a DSL connection you can browse the web and talk on the phone at the same time. Generally, a DSL connection requires a DSL router, a dedicated phone line and a network card or a modem for each system. The installation of DSL at your location is the responsibility of the service provider. Last but not the least, this high speed Internet connection is offered at very affordable prices.

The Newest Work Hazard For Computer Users: CVS

Millions of Americans go to work every day to sit at a computer for 8 or more hours, seven days a week. While office work is hardly considered to be a "dangerous" job, several years ago, doctors began to notice that certain afflictions are becoming increasingly common among those who use computers all day long.

First, the medical community became aware of CTS (Carpal Tunnel Syndrome), a painful and sometimes debilitating inflammation in the wrist, arms, and hands. In response to the increased number of office workers being diagnosed with CTS, computer furniture manufacturers began to develop ergonomically correct keyboards and keyboard trays, as well as computer chairs that offer more comfortable seating for computer use. Now, many employers provide ergonomically correct workstations for their office staff and CTS is on the decline.

Unfortunately, a new hazard has now taken the place of CTS. It's called CVS (Computer Vision Syndrome), and is caused by prolonged visual exposure to a computer screen. CVS has, in the past two years, become the number one health complaint of office employees.

Like CTS, Computer Vision Syndrome is also preventable. There are a few things you can do to reduce the sensitivity and eye strain associated with computer work. According to optometrist Dr. Larry K. Wan, there are five key ways to reduce the effects of CVS.

Dr. Wan suggests getting regular eye exams, which means (according to NIOSH—the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health) once a year. While many contact-lens wearers are required to get eye exams each year to renew their lens prescription, it's important for those who don't wear contacts as well. Tracking the health of your eyes will allow your optometrist to identify whether or not you're experiencing a deterioration of vision due to CVS.

Dr. Wan also contends that proper lighting is important, citing that eyestrain can be caused by excessive lighting either coming in through a window, or from interior lighting itself. Dim your lights when using a computer.

Glare is another factor that Dr. Wan claims can cause CVS. In addition to adding an anti-reflective coating to your eyeglasses, glare can be prevented by anti-glare screens attached to your monitor, or by using an LCD monitor arm. LCD monitor arms actually allow you to tilt or slide your monitor at the touch of a finger, eliminating strain as the light in the room changes. We found affordable, high-quality LCD monitors online at Versa Products, Inc.

Adjusting the brightness of your computer screen can also help. Optimize for comfort which may mean either reducing or increasing the brightness. Find one that feels comfortable to your eyes.

Interestingly, Dr. Wan also tells his patients to blink more often. When staring at a computer screen, we tend to blink less than we normally do—a process which keeps the eyes lubricated and comfortable. Make a point of blinking more often and every half hour, blink about ten times in a row, slowly. This will help reduce the effects of CVS as well.

Your software : Is it legal??

It's estimated that upwards of 30% of software installed is illegitimate - that means that the licence fee has not been paid to the owner. When you buy a piece of software most of the purchase price is essentially a fee to the owner allowing you to use the software on a non-exclusive basis. Non-exclusive means that you're not the sole licensee - anyone willing to pay the licence fee can use the software.It has been common for small businesses to erroneously presume that if they buy a piece of software retail they are entitled to install it on all the computers in their office. T
his is not the case. Software bought in this way constitutes what is known as a 'single user licence', meaning that you are entitled to install it on one computer. Different software owners allow for minor variations to this condition - e.g. some also allow the software to be installed on, say, a Notebook as well as the office Desktop - on the presumption that you won't be using the software on both computers at once. Others allow the software to be uninstalled from one computer and reinstalled on another.
You need to check the Licence conditions regarding these options and they are often printed in the Manual or are always contained in a file usually named licence.txt on the CD.To install a particular programme on, say, all the computers in your office you need what is called a Site Licence or sometimes a multi-user Licence. These are offered at a discount to the price for a Single-User Licence - similar to the way most businesses offer quantity discounts. As an example a Single-User Licence may be $200 and a Site Licence for 5 computers in the one business name may be $500 - a saving of $500.Many businesses have been caught with illegitimate software on their computers.
There is an organisation representing the interests of some of the larger software companies called the Business Software Alliance (www.bsa.org) and they often get tip-offs from disgruntled employees about the use of unlicenced software. Any owner of a piece of software being used illegitimately can sue for substantial sums - enough to put most small firms into bankruptcy. And don't think just erasing or uninstalling software from your computer will eliminate all trace of that software on that computer. On a Windows computer there will still be the tell-tale information in the Registry - including the registration code for the copy of that software.So, get smart and regularise your situation.First, conduct a software audit in your business.
This is a bit like a stock-take: you list all software (including the operating system) installed on each computer. This list should include the software name, version number and serial(registration) number (find these under Help About). Then compare that with your purchase records. And, if they don't match, you now know what to do ...Check the web sites for all your software for details of their site licences and place your order.

Some Ideas For Creating Your Own Slideshows

Creating your own slide shows can be fun and entertaining, and easy to accomplish. Almost every digital camera now comes with some sort of software to manage your images. Some have more features than others. Some will allow you to create slideshows. Some will add transitions, and allow image durations to be adjusted. You can also use most video making programs to produce slideshows, which is one way to have more control over the outcome. For example, Windows XP offers MovieMaker, which has many of the functions of a full-blown video producer program. The program allows you to set the duration of each picture, the transition between each picture; offers various effects to apply to individual pictures, and allows you to overlay an audio track.

To start, I have found that most digital images need a little adjustment for viewing on monitors. If your program allows it, I recommend increasing both the brightness and contrast just a few notches. Also, if you can, sharpen them slightly. A note about color: colors come in two categories: transparent and opaque. When you prepare images for printing or for viewing on a monitor you must consider how colors interact with each other. Printed colors, when mixed together, go towards black. Projected colors, when mixed together, go towards white. Printed images are usually produced on equipment with a much higher resolution capability than your monitor, so they will appear richer and sharper in print. Most cameras are preset for printing, and that’s why it’s a good idea to sharpen, brighten and increase the contrast on images to be viewed on the pc.

Selecting your images and ordering them are the next important step. It is best to try and tell a story, to have a logical sequence to your images. Don’t show people going in the house before the shot of them getting out of the car. When you are taking pictures, remember that you may make a slide show, and try to take pictures that will present well in that style; for instance, in a room full of people , start at one side and take many pictures as you swing across to the other side of the room. When presented as slides, it will give the effect of creating the complete environment. Vary the duration of the slides; don’t make them all 3 or 5 seconds, make some shorter and some longer. If there’s one person in a picture, shorten it; if there are many people then lengthen it so people have a chance to look at every face.

Once you have assembled the slideshow and applied transitions and effects, you can put the crowning touch on by adding a narration. You can simply choose some favorite or appropriate music, but to really personalize it, a narration is best. Not everyone is a natural speaker, nor does everyone have the most recordable voice for such a purpose. Here’s where you can take advantage of a program like AV Voice Changer Software to create a separate track, or you could use AV Movie Morpher 2.0 to overdub the production. (You can go to http://mp3-player.audio4fun.com/free-audio-software.htm to download the software for free trials). In that case you will have to output the slideshow first and then open it inside the Movie Morpher program. The nice thing about both of these programs is that they can alter the sound of your voice to make it more entertaining. It can deepen or enrich it, or make it faster or slower; it can even change a male voice to a female-sounding voice. It can add special effects for emphasis or dramatic effect. You should work out either a written narrative or an outline of what you will say, practice it, and then record it. The final outcome will be an entertaining, creative, and personal record of part of your life, whether it’s a party, a graduation, or a simple family gathering, you will have created a cherished memory to be shared for all time.

Instantaneous Recovery From Virus Attacks With Rollback Rx

If you think why use Rollback Rx, think again. Keeping an organization’s computers continuously online and fully functional is stressful work. Even huge corporations are sometimes at a loss to know what to do if there’s a massive virus attack. It is mind-boggling to think about the expense of replacing expensive operating systems and let us not even contemplate replacing all the data lost! It is an organization’s worst nightmare to even think about having a virus attack that will bring their business to a total standstill. It does not bear thinking about losing customers because system restore software didn’t work and critical data could not be accessed. The techies are unable to fix computer problems in such a scenario no matter how hard they try, and they spend hours of precious time trying to figure out what went wrong.

Negligible Impact On User Productivity

With Rollback Rx, you have an instantaneous recovery solution from virus attacks because you can roll back your computer to a point before the virus attacked. You can revert to a working state by doing a pc restore through a snapshot within your pc boot cycle, with almost a hundred per cent data recovery. Just before performing the rollback, support can take a snapshot of the virus-infected system to preserve all the files since the last back up. This snapshot will be accessible later to enable them investigate the cause and understand what went wrong. The most important files can be kept under quarantine, repaired and restored to the user – all minus the virus! After support identifies what the problem is, they can coordinate with the antivirus people to get the appropriate solution to avoid such a situation. But this does not affect the user as pc restore enables him continue with his work.

Rollback Rx’s ability to take multiple snapshots of the system, allowing the user to roll back or forward to a preferred system state is a powerful advantage that helps organizations come out of a virus attack with any major loss of data. In fact, it is the fastest system restore software in the market and hardly uses any hard drive space. PC users feel that it is absolutely essential to have a system restore software like Rollback Rx, which is way ahead in its capabilities compared to other conventional methods. If your Windows operating system crashes, thanks to a corrupted system file, you can still access Rollback Rx from the boot sequence and do a pc restore real quick.

Most users of Rollback Rx system restore software appreciate the flexibility and ease of use that it provides making it an invaluable and integral part of any maintenance solution.