QR Codes and How to Use Them

Want to know more about "QR CODES" – Those little square graphics on just about everything these days?

A QR code is a 2-D barcode that can be scanned by a smart phone's camera and transfer information. Based on the type of code it is, it might direct the viewer to a website, make a phone call, deliver a vCard or more.

Interesting Fact: They were first designed for the automotive industry (Toyota in 1994) to track vehicles during manufacturing.

Why: So why are businesses putting these everywhere? Simple - it's fun to scan from your phone right? Well yes, but it is also a great way to send information quickly to promote your business - See below ...

How to install on your phone: You simply download the app on your phone (Search for QR Code in your app store and a few of them will come up). Once it's on your phone try scanning the one above right from the screen (no need to print).

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Here are 10 creative suggestions on how you can take advantage of QR codes in your business.

1. Business Cards. Keeps it clutter free since you can put all of your contact information on your web site or create a "unique page" for the QR code.

2. Scavenger Hunts: Fun way to get customers to go somewhere they may not normally go.

3. Labeling: To learn more about your product or services. For example, if you have a product, create a one page information sheet about it and place it on your web site. Create the CR code that goes to that page. Stick a label with the QR code to the product.

4. Storefront: Display one on your storefront window with after hours specials when the store is closed. They can purchase items from your online store.

5. Advertisements: Put them on direct mail, brochures, mailers - all advertisements with specials, discounts or simply a link to your web site.

6. T-Shirts: Print them on t-shirts to promote an event like a company fundraiser.

7. Link to Videos: A QR code could be on a product that links to a video about the product. Let's say you are a veterinary clinic. You could create codes for specific dog breed information. Instead of printing multiple pages you can have one scan per breed. How about a product that requires a tutorial. You can put a QR Code on the product that links to a PDF file, video or page of instructions from your web site.

8. Build your subscriber list. Use your QR Code to send people to your email to signup for your newsletter.

9. Company vehicle: Put one on your company vehicle.

10. Registration: If you want to share seminar or registration information you can display a QR code on banners, at conferences or flyers to promote your event.

Loss of Company Mobile Devices

Have you ever lost your personal cell phone or had a computer stolen? We all know the content is more important than the device. What happens if a company device or phone is lost or stolen? Many employees are using company phones and laptops with critical information to conduct business everyday outside of the office environment. How does a company secure corporate data on these devices? How do you prevent unauthorized access to data from devices? One lost device could put a companies data into the wrong hands.

Mobile devices create a huge security risk. The reason: For businesses cell phones carry highly sensitive data outside an organization. Unfortunately, approximately 10 percent of laptops, ipads and other mobile devices wind up lost or stolen. And over 95 percent are never recovered. These losses most often occur at airports, hotels, offices, seminars and other similar places.  

So what can be done to prevent this from happening? There are security solutions for your smartphones and tablet computers. They help protect the contents of devices along with other features like enabling safe mobile web browsing, and can assist you if the device is lost or stolen.

Some businesses will put in place locking devices, password protection, encrypt data and remote wipe features to clear a lost or stolen computer or smartphone. Ensuring employees are keeping mobile devices updated with the latest firmware is also important to keep them secure.

Can Double Monitors really increase your companies ROI!

A study conducted by the University of Utah and NEC found that their test company experienced over 600% ROI. From the report the 24-inch widescreen and the 20-inch dual screens were significantly more productive than the 20 inch single monitor. Overall in spreadsheet task, the dual 20-inch monitors performed the best with a slight lead over the 24 inch widescreen.

MORE ADVANTAGES OF HAVING MULTIPLE SCREEN:

1. Increased Productivity: Productivity increases by 42% when using multiple monitors (study conducted by Jon Peddie Research).

You can work on one monitor and keep your emails and instant messaging open on the other monitor so you don't have to switch between windows.

You can be working on one monitor and researching information online on another.

2. Great when using design programs to edit photos or when working with videos.

3. Works well with Laptops and allows for flexibility. So if you work on a laptop you can simply set up secondary monitors in your home or office and move from one setting to the other without having to transfer the files you were working on.

4. Makes it easy to copy data from one application on another. If you are working in Excel or Word on a report and found research online - you can simply copy and paste it into your document without having to toggle windows or close any pages.

Afternoon storms causing power surges and damages. What do those power outages do to your computer?

Are you having power outages in the afternoons due to storms? How much damage does that have on your computer systems and server? Are you prepared if lighting were to hit your business and databases were destroyed?

Do you have a battery backup on your machine and a solid reliable back up of your server?

CHECK LIST:

• Remote Server Backup
• Battery Backups
• Computers off of the floor
• Turn Computers Off before you Leave for the Weekend
• If you know a storm is coming cover equipment to prevent water damage from roof or sprinkler systems

Better Check Now! If you are not sure if your office is prepared in the event of damages due to afternoon storms contact us for a full inspection. It is free!

Some items to consider at home or office....

A battery will keep your computer on in the event of a power outage so that you can safely power your computer off. Sudden power surges are not good for your computer system and can cause hard drive damage. Call us to order and install (local clients).

You could have machine that can be easily damaged from roof leaks, or power surges and not even know it. Recovery takes time and not planning with cost more than just money. You could lose business. We have seen it happen and want to make sure you have a plan in place so that it does not happen to you!

One of the biggest threats to computer users on the Internet today is malware. We hear about it -

Malware ... But what is it?

Simply put Malware is software that downloads to your computer while you are on the internet.

How does Malware get on my computer?

• It can come bundled with other software you install online.
• It can install from websites that you visit pretending to be software needed to view the website.
• Others just install themselves through holes in your browser when you do nothing but just visit the wrong web page and get infected.

What does it do to my computer?

• It can hijack your browser and redirect your search attempts
• Serve up unwanted pop-up ads
• Track what web sites you visit
• Can cause your computer to become unbearably slow and unstable

More about Malware

Malware will reinstall themselves even after you think you have removed them, or hide themselves deep within Windows, making them very difficult to clean. The vast majority, however, must be installed by the user. Unfortunately, getting infected with malware is usually much easier than getting rid of it, and once you get malware on your computer it tends to multiply.

Types of malware

Malware can be divided into several broad categories: adware, spyware, hijackers, toolbars, and dialers.

Will anti-virus programs protect against malware?

Most anti-virus programs have little to no protection. You must install anti-malware software like malwarebytes (http://www.malwarebytes.org)

If you are a business and think Malware has infected your computers causing slow downs and problems - contact TaylorWorks for a FREE one hour analysis.

Using latest technology helps save time and improve efficiency in busy times.

Smart phones and tablets are one way that sales representatives, field technicians, managers and administrators are taking advantage of great tools for communication, calendar sharing and project planning. Custom Web-based Programming Solutions with online forms on tablets are one way field techs and medical facilities are utilizing technology as a “paper free” database and real time solution for client and patient management.

Siri on the iPhone 4S  is also one of those innovative ways to schedule meetings, place phone calls, add memos and more. Many ideas come to us when paper and pen is not handy. Now you can just use your voice to record and save inspirations and important memos right into your phone and email them as well. Imagine the possibilities.

Siri can also be asked questions and set up reminders “Remind me to set up a meeting with Rick Jones next week”, “Find local restaurants by just asking … Are there any good burgers around here”. This is a time saving tool for any “multi-tasker”. You can speak to Siri as you would to a person — in a natural voice. If you want to know what the weather will be like tomorrow, simply say “What will the weather be like tomorrow?” Or “Does it look like rain tomorrow?” Or even “Will I need an umbrella tomorrow?” No matter how you ask, Siri will tell you the forecast.

Combined with Hosted Exchange which allows you to share calendars and contacts with Coworkers you can really MANAGE a BUSY LIFE with EASE!   

Here are 10 Reasons you should get Hosted Exchange.

1: Continuous Replication

Research shows that companies lose $10,000 an hour to email downtime. Exchange 2010 enables continuous replication data, which can minimize disruptions dramatically by allowing you to designate multiple servers to host copies of individual databases.

2: Security

Microsoft Exchange has advanced antivirus and anti-spam capabilities to keep email save and secure.

3: Mobile Emailing

Receive email, calendar and contacts on all of your devices.

4: Unified Messaging

Ability to receive MP3's and text previews of voicemail messages in your inbox. Larger Mailboxes - More Mailbox space

5: Email Archiving

Exchange 2010 offers a new legal hold feature allowing you to preserve the contents of an Exchange mailbox. This is great for emails that need to be retained for litigation purposes. Built in email archiving eliminates need for additional archiving services.

6: Manage Voicemail - did you know?

Exchange 2010 uses a speech recognition engine to automatically transcribe voice mail messages. Users still receive the voice message as an email attachment, but the email message also contains a written transcript of the voice message. Users can check their voice messages even when they don’t have access to a sound card. More important, the transcription feature allows the contents of voice messages to be indexed along with traditional email messages.

7: Calendar Sharing

Employees, owners and managers can share calendars and contacts easily within the company and with partners.

8: Multi Mail Box Search

This feature allows for administrators to search multiple boxes using keywords or phrases.

9: Call Answering Rules

Each user has his or her own personal auto attendant, which Microsoft refers to as the Call Answering Rules feature. Call answering rules allows users to create their own call routing options. So, for instance, an important call might be forwarded to a user’s cell phone, while a less important call might go straight to voice mail.

         10: Retention Policies - did you know?

Retention policies allow messages to be tagged in a way that reflects their useful lifespan and what should happen when they expire. For example, you could specify that items in one folder should be deleted after 30 days, while items in another folder should be moved to the archives after five years. Users can also apply retention policies to individual messages that are separate from folder-level policies.