Igniting Business Blog

There has been some talk going around about the new Windows 10 operating system. Rumored to be released as soon as this summer, the new Windows boasts features such as the personal assistant Cortana and a new browser called Spartan. Regardless of what you have heard, below I have detailed some things.

Most clients that I visit say they have some sort of backup system, but they don't really know where or how their data is being backed up. Other businesses may not have a current system in place due to budgetary reasons or simply the time it takes to initially setup. For these companies, backing up usually doesn’t become an absolute necessity until after a data loss problem occurs. Below is a quick overview of several types of backup systems:

Everyone thinks that it'll never happen to them. But that's not true. If you want proof, type in "2014 identity theft statistics" in google. You will be surprised by the results. The truth is that few people know and understand the real danger of virtual theft. People always talk about how to protect yourself from someone who mugs you on the street, but how do you protect yourself from something you cannot touch or see?

Shopping for tech this year? With so many products being advertised, searching the best product can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. Although finding the best option isn't easy, here are a few reminders on how to find the best products for your business:

Igniting Business will be presenting a marketing seminar at the Columbia Chamber of Commerce's annual Small Business Exhibition held on Wednesday, October 22, 2014 from 12-4 p.m.  Grab a passport and tour dynamic booth displays from Chamber businesses with 15 or fewer employees and attend informative seminars relevant to businesses of all sizes. Admission is free! Seminar Details: Topic:5 Affordable Small Business Marketing Tools Presenter: Ben Seidel, President of Igniting Business Time: 1:15 pm (seating will be limited, try to arrive early!) Location:Parkade Center, East Entrance, Suite 214 E - 601 Business Loop 70 W, Columbia, MO 65203 Description: Ben will be presenting on 5 low-cost (some are even free!) tools that you should be using to market your small business and communicate with current customers. Seminar Schedule: 12:30 pm- The Art of Negotiation and Closing a Deal 1:15 pm- 5 Affordable Small Business Marketing Tools 2:00 pm- Small Business Resources Please encourage others to come see us and other local businesses.  We look forward to seeing you there!

The ability to share files without emailing back and forth has been a fantastic tool for small businesses. Sharing any sort of document is so easy these days that we don't realize how much time this saves us. DropBox is probably the most popular free file sharing service, but there are a few other options that you could use along with DropBox.

As a computer technician, I often get asked the question "Why is my computer running so slow?" I chuckle to myself sometimes, because "slow" is usually a relative term. For example, "Can you take a look at my laptop? [Insert co-worker's name] is not having any issues with her computer, and we have the same computer." Regardless of what slow means to you, here are some simple tips that will help keep your computer running smoothly:

Recently, Igniting Business asked a local small business employee what she thinks of Windows 8.1. Her name is Paula Burger, and she is an accountant for Oakstone Construction, a residential construction company. When we got her answers to our questions, Paula said "I was not entirely positive about upgrading, but I was honest." If you are still unsure of upgrading, read through Paula's experience of the new operating system.