Cloud computing allows organizations to focus on their greatest areas of expertise by letting others with computing specialization take care of those functions on their behalf. But beware: cloud computing does not absolve your organization of the need to do due diligence or to have a backup plan in place in case something goes awry. Legitimate service providers already have multiple layers of redundancy in place to ensure data security. Nonetheless some organizations with legal responsibility for handling customers’ data with utmost care may prefer to build a private cloud for another layer of security.
How attractive and critical is the data you need to protect? Prioritizing this will help you determine your risk versus the expense it will require to protect it.
Lisa Dunnigan
OLSEN THIELEN
Once you’ve decided what to say and where to engage online, appoint your own online media maven. This person should be an existing, trusted employee, most likely someone in your marketing or communications area.
Tom Salonek
INTERTECH
If a tailored solution doesn’t save you money in the long run, it isn’t worth doing.
Ron Draganowski
OLSEN THIELEN TECHNOLOGIES
Think of your website and lead-nurturing e-mails as a conversation between you and your potential customer. Too many people make their websites a blow horn: ‘Hi! This is who we are. Isn’t it cool?’
Kim Albee
Genoo
Sending an important IT project overseas can be scary for a small business that cannot waste time and money. But with careful planning and project oversight, you can go global, achieving efficiencies that will help your business grow.
Robert Duff
COHERENT SOLUTIONS
If a company wants to share its messages with its audiences, it needs to go to where the audiences are. Chances are they’re on Facebook.
Jennifer Hellman
GOFF PUBLIC
Online content marketing works because it reaches both current and potential customers where they live online, and provides them with useful, engaging information.
Ann Meany
BRANDPOINT
Just as the Web has evolved, intranets are changing too: they are becoming more dynamic and interactive.
Eric Raarup
INETIUM
My company saves thousands of dollars per year using free services from legitimate Internet-based software companies or service providers.
Tom Salonek
INTERTECH
