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Archive for November, 2014

Over 100 Famous Hollywood Actresses’ Secret Naked Smartphone “Selfies” Stolen By Hackers And Brandished All Over The Internet. Could YOU Be Their Next Hacking Victim?

As you probably read, earlier this year over 100 celebrities (including Hunger Games star Jennifer Lawrence, swimsuit model Kate Upton and many more) recently had naked and explicit photos hacked from their iCloud accounts and published online. The hackers aggressively attempted to blackmail many others, threatening to post their pictures online.

While it’s very easy to dismiss these hacks as a publicity attempt targeting only the rich and famous, it’s scary to think of all the data we have in our businesses that we would never want in the hands of any criminal.

Small Businesses Are Actually A Cybercriminal’s Favorite Target

Why? Because small business owners are not prepared and make it easier on criminals. One of the biggest issues facing small business owners in the fight against cybercrime is the lack of a cybersecurity plan. While 83% lack a formal plan, over 69% lack even an informal one. And over half of small business owners believe that cybercrime will never affect them.

Cyber-attacks cost SMBs an average of $188,242 each incident, and nearly two-thirds of the businesses affected are out of business within 6 months (2011 Symantec/NCSA Study). A separate study by Verizon showed that over 80% of small-business cybercrime victims were vulnerable because of insufficient network security (wireless and password issues ranked highest). With insecure networks and no formal plan to combat them, we make it easy on the criminals.

Fight Back Against Cybercriminals With This Free Report:  “What Every Business Owner MUST Know To Protect Against Online Identity Theft”

This free report outlines in plain, non-technical English common mistakes that many small business owners make with their computer and network security that put their personal information and identity at risk of being stolen.

Download this FREE REPORT today online at www.virtualitmanagers.com/onlinetheft.

 

In this FREE educational report, you’ll discover:

  • The top 3 ploys used by online identity thieves to easily gain access to your business and personal information, and how to avoid them.
  • 10 sneaky e-mails used to steal your identity that you should IMMEDIATELY delete if they land in your in-box.
  • One easy, surefire way to keep your network and computers safe and secure from online thieves.
  • What you need to know about the NEW scams being used to steal personal information via social media sites like Facebook.
  • Best practices to prevent you or your employees from inadvertently giving away passwords and other “keys to the castle” to Internet criminals.

Download this FREE REPORT online today at: http://www.virtualitmanagers.com/onlinetheft

Posted in: Tech Tips for Business Owners

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Be Realistic About Cross-Referrals And Your CRM

As you build your business, you naturally explore different avenues of networking for new opportunities. One such source is the cross-referral. A powerful formula for success in lead generation outcomes and accelerating sales velocity is the proper use of cross-referrals and your CRM solution.

Cross-referrals are strategic agreements, whether formal or informal, between companies serving like markets to trade their clients’ contact information to the other for marketing their complimentary products or services. For instance, web designers may build referral resources from freelance writers, marketing and branding companies or web developers and other businesses that do things that the designers don’t, but offer complimentary services to their end-customers.

Cross-referrals are a great way to use free, word of mouth advertising though referral agreements may not always be free. There will be some arrangements where a commission can be earned based on a prearranged percentage or a flat-rate referral fee; but many startups are happy to give free referrals in return for the same courtesy. While these referral arrangements may seem like promotional gold, you cannot always rely on other companies to sell you to their customers. There may never be more than a passing comment made to the occasional client. If you are relying heavily on referrals from others, you need to make a change in your approach. While paid referral agreements may offer more of an incentive, it is your responsibility to provide your referral sources with adequate materials to help them promote your business.

Some ideas include:

Professional-looking brochures and business cards that contain your website, contact information, and a blurb about your services or products. If the situation warrants, you can regularly provide referral sources with discount offers and coupons they can pass along to their own clients that are exclusive to referral clients or customers

Promotional items such as pens and magnets that can be passed along to others.

Say Thanks

When the referrals do begin to come in, make sure your cross-referring business partners know how much you appreciate them. Courtesy thank you notes are crucial after referrals made bring you business. Keep a stack of personalized thank you cards to drop in the mail after a referral pans out. You may consider a small gift basket of cookies or snacks to say thanks from time to time. A nice lunch meeting can also help reinforce your gratitude for the referral assistance. This is a great opportunity to leverage reciprocating for your cross-referrals and your CRM‘s power to manage the entire process.

Referrals Aren’t For Everyone

Don’t expect everyone to be open to engaging in free referrals. You can quickly become tiresome to others if you are constantly asking for help in getting business. You should have a strong marketing system in place, so that you aren’t relying exclusively on referrals for new business, making any referral that comes in icing on the cake. It is good practice to touch base with your cross-referring sources to keep them up to date on what is new with your business.

Remember – it’s a two way street, and you should be working as hard to make referrals to your cross-referring business partners as you expect them to in exchange. The more often you make referrals, the more likely the favor will be returned.

Don’t Forget Your Clients

One of your biggest resources for referrals may not be from other businesses. In fact, it is your clients’ praise that will warrant consistent word of mouth advertising for you. This is one of the reasons that excellent customer service is vital to your referral success. Clients who have consistently had a good experience with your company will be more than willing to spread the word to others who are in need of your product or service. While there is no obligation to reward these acts, you might provide something in return for their advertising on your behalf. The better you take care of the clients you already have, the more likely you are to expand your client base. For those clients who are particularly good to you, a token of appreciation like a gift basked of cookies or treats sometimes goes a longer way than a discount on a service or a referral commission, and it humanizes the relationship between you beyond a business one.

Referrals can be a great source of business for you, especially when you are just getting started. You cannot expect everyone to cooperate, but you certainly cannot be a wallflower when approaching the situation. Be direct but flexible – and always offer to return the favor.

Click here to learn how Virtual IT Managers, Inc. can help you maximize cross-referrals and your CRM with our effective CRM Solutions for your business in Miami, FL and surrounding cities.

Posted in: Tech Tips for Business Owners

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