Archive for September, 2009



Introducing LSB Advertising

September 30th, 2009 by Gregory Silvano Posted in Stature Projects | No Comments »

LSB Advertising was formed for the sole purpose of bringing some of our most requested and technically advanced web presence methodology to Small Business.  With Stature Software in the background, LSB Advertising can offer advanced websites and email hosting with the ability to add custom features and development as needed.

 

Bravo, FedEx

September 30th, 2009 by Gregory Silvano Posted in Stature Projects | No Comments »

Anybody with kids will appreciate this story:  FedEx Flies Terminally Ill Girl Home

 

Google Chrome: No Shine For Small Business

September 17th, 2009 by Erin Posted in Small Business, Technology | No Comments »

Google Chrome.

The browser everyone was super duper excited about a little more than a year ago – appears to be sitting stagnant.

Sure, its third iteration was just released – but as a devoted Chrome user, I see no improvement in its functionality.

It appears small business owners aren’t getting any sparks from Chrome either.

In fact, small business owners are being warned to steer clear of Chrome altogether.

Sure, it has speed that far surpasses the likes of competitors Firefox and Internet Explorer, but it lacks what small business owners really need: compatibility.

Certain advanced web applications (Microsoft)  simply don’t work with Chrome - and the browser’s sparse user base only compounds the problem. Web developers are not designing apps with Chrome in mind.

Nevertheless, Google has made strides in trying to maintain Chrome’s edge, adding improved Javascript performance and HTML 5 support.

Can Chrome eventually cut it in the small business world?

Perhaps, but it has a lot of catching up to do.

I’m a big proponent of Chrome because of its small user base . I can browse quicker and surf safer – but I sure get annoyed when it can’t support a simple app.

It might be fledging, but we shouldn’t lose hope in Chrome. After all, it was developed by the world’s search giant.

And think of the alternative – Internet Explorer.

 Tags: , , ,

Small Business Web – A Brilliant API Collaboration

September 11th, 2009 by Erin Posted in Small Business | No Comments »

Small Business Web.

Have you heard about it?

It’s a network that encourages small business software companies to share their products, or APIs, with one another and bring those applications to the next level, in turn making life easier for those who buy them – small businesses.

No doubt this is a fundamentally different way of doing business. Companies that compete are, in a sense, locking hands and joining forces in an effort to better serve their customers.

Here’s one example from a recent BusinessWeekarticle:

BatchBlue Software – a company that makes online CRM tools for small business – recently had trouble with business development. CEO Pamela O’Hara spent a year trying to partner with another company to let her customers easily email the lists of contacts they organized in her software . At her wits end, O’Hara finally decided to have her team write its own code to sync its software with MailChimp, an Atlanta-based email marketing compnay. Using MailChimp’s API, BatchBlue was finally able to give its clients the email function they needed.

Small Business Web contends that not every firm in the network is integrated. Some even compete in the same market. Yet ALL are committed to publishing and sharing their APIs – which keeps their customers from locking into any one platform.

Referrals with Small Business Web are also through the roof.

BatchBlue, in particular, reports that 40% of the firm’s business comes from referrals by partners within the network. BatchBlue also says it no longer has to pay for advertising, relying soley on word of mouth.

Talk about leveraging the power of small businesses. A brilliant idea indeed!

As they say… there’s strength in numbers.

Look out Microsoft.

 Tags: , , ,

Moonit: Magic Or A Mockery?

September 2nd, 2009 by Erin Posted in Technology | No Comments »

I love water cooler stories.

I love hearing them. I love reading them. I love writing about them.

This one, though, takes the cake – but I couldn’t resist.

Enter Moonit.

This is a startup website that claims to measure your compatibility with other people – professionally, romantically, and for friendship.

It was demo’d recently at TechCrunch50, both for entertainment and business purposes.

But, here’s the rub.

Moonit uses the science of astrology to deliver it’s compatibility ratings.

The site explains:

“Moonit is a social compatibility tool that is rooted in astrological and psychological underpinnings. We use thousands of years of data from the stars to help determine whether two people are compatible from a romantic, platonic and professional perspective. Then we track your relationships to help you learn from them over time so that you never make the same mistake twice, kinda like a virtual relationship therapist. We know you could probably figure out if you’re compatible with someone after a few interactions, but we can save you some of that time so you can spend it doing fun things instead.”

Is it hokey?

Sure, but I just had to try it out.

I entered my name, email address, and birthday – along with my boss’s name and birthday. One click and the astrological results revealed that yes – we are indeed compatible.  In fact, we received a 76% compatibility rating and along with this blurb:

“Issues will always come up during the course of any long-term partnership, but the two of you have the good sense and peace of mind to find a viable solution to any problem at hand and can see it through while others might resort to finger pointing and name calling.”

Yada, yada, yada… yeah right.

Will Moonit add any value to your small business or office?

Unless you’re a new agey kind of person – probably not.

This is a site that’s fun to use once and move on.

Although, I have to say it was spot on about most of the people in my life – enemies included.

 Tags: , , ,