Two-thirds of all CEOs surveyed believe the economy has improved during the past year and half expect further gains during the year ahead. The Vistage CEO Confidence Index was 105.2 in the 1st quarter of 2011, slightly below 106.3 recorded in the prior quarter but well above the 93.7 in last year’s 1st quarter survey. CEO confidence has more than doubled since the recession low of 48.7 two years ago. However, the small decline reflects a renewed uncertainty about the impact of events in Japan and the Middle East on energy costs, consumer spending and inflation. Overall, the majority of CEOs still expect the recovery to continue and their own businesses to continue to grow.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/vistage/45000/
Frost & Sullivan recently published a white paper, Virtualization for Midsize Businesses: Keep Your Foot on the Accelerator, which identifies the benefits midsize businesses gain through holistic adoption of virtualization technologies.
To overcome the many recurring challenges pertaining to data centers, there are streams of benefits virtualization across servers, storage, networks, and desktops can deliver, especially for midsize businesses with heightened strategic priorities in innovation and revenue growth. This shift to virtualization increases capacity and improves effectiveness with greater speed, flexibility and reliability than possible in non-virtualized environments.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/56117-frost-sullivan-white-paper-virtualization-midsize-business-efficiency-ibm
Sage, a leading provider of business management software and services to more than 6 million small and midsized businesses worldwide, today announced the inaugural Sage Listens RV Tour, a 50-day, nationwide tour where Sage executives will meet with more than 50 Sage customers and bring attention to the importance of shopping locally in order to support the economy. Additionally, the Sage Listens RV tour will give the company an opportunity to gain a better understanding of how to develop features and services to better support its customers. The tour will feature lively and engaging customer visits, parties and special events – all while promoting the “Shop Local” concept.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/62140-sage-16-city-nationwide-sage-listens-rv-relay
Using an entrepreneurial distribution model, the Natural Light project will now donate a second instalment of 20,000 solar lamps. These will be sold by new sales agents in off-grid communities in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone and, for the first time, in Malawi.
The aim of this project, besides bringing a sustainable light source to off-grid communities, was to create a business model for local sales agents to make a living. This has been a great success. Today more than 50 sales agents in three African nations – Zimbabwe, Zambia and Sierra Leone – have their own businesses selling Natural Light solar lamps.
The Natural Light project, in collaboration with social business Little Sun, and NGO Plan International, was created to celebrate the VELUX Group’s 75th anniversary. Following an international design competition last year, which received 172 submissions from all over the world, the winning design was chosen and 14,500 units of the solar lamp were distributed in Africa – one for each employee of the VELUX Group and its sister companies.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8006751-velux-more-natural-light-shine-in-africa/
Over the past six months UK small-to-medium-sized businesses (SMBs) have grown on average by six per cent despite the broader UK economy struggling, according to the latest SMB Index from HP.
HP’s survey of 1,000 SMBs, with between 1 and 50 employees shows that, compared to that of the previous six months, growth for UK SMBs has slowed slightly but optimism is still strong, with SMBs expecting to grow by up to 13 per cent over the next year. Optimism in the economy is also strong, with 66 per cent of SMBs optimistic about the year ahead. SMBs in Financial Services have grown the most (13 per cent), followed by Manufacturing (10 per cent). SMBs in Retail (4 per cent) and Professional Services (1 per cent) have seen the least growth. Nearly half of UK SMBs (48 per cent) are turning to social media to help grow their business and reach new audiences, with 56 per cent of sole traders recognising its value the most. However, although SMBs are finding social media beneficial for networking purposes (83 per cent), and as a mechanism for advertising (57 per cent), many SMBs are underestimating its true potential for business growth and lead generation.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/prne/hp/48901/
For the next six weeks, America’s PrepareAthon! and other preparedness partners will focus on various hazards and provide simple actions that people and communities should take to prepare for each particular hazard.
This first week highlights floods. Individuals, communities, businesses, schools, and houses of worship around the country are holding preparedness discussions, conducting drills, and taking easy steps to prepare for floods and other disasters.
America’s PrepareAthon!℠ is a grassroots, community-based campaign for action to get families, organizations, and entire communities better prepared for floods and other emergencies.
According to the National Weather Service, flooding, which can occur anywhere in America, proved to be the most costly hazard in 2015, exceeding $2.7 billion in damages.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7770531-fema-national-prepareathon/#release
A Settlement has been reached in a lawsuit with the manufacturer of the weed-killer Imprelis®. The lawsuit claims that Imprelis® killed and damaged trees and other non-target vegetation.
Imprelis® was used by lawn care professionals on residential and commercial properties, as well as by golf courses, between August 31, 2010 and August 21, 2011. It was used in every state, except California and New York.
This Settlement will provide benefits to consumers and businesses with tree damage caused by Imprelis®.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/60753-imprelis-tree-damage-settlement
https://youtu.be/Y6rIs220PXc More businesses are taking their products and services online than ever before. Consumers, for the most part, are feeling safer about completing online transactions – especially with businesses they trust.
But some entrepreneurs in the e-commerce world have never started their own business. Many are unfamiliar with how to run an e-commerce store. There’s no doubt that this is an exciting time to explore the e-commerce marketplace – especially for people who are testing it out while keeping their full-time jobs.
Having said that, business owners new to the online world should understand from the get-go that the e-commerce industry is one of the most lucrative targets for cyber criminals. News of the recent eBay hack is a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities associated with online businesses. But big businesses aren’t the only ones getting hacked. More than 20 WordPress sites are hacked every minute of every day.
But there are a few basic things you can do to help prevent losing control of your website and your customer’s private information.
Choose a Secure eCommerce Platform
More than two third of all active e-commerce sites are using either Magento or WordPress’ WooCommerce. Why? Mainly because of their sophisticated security features. There are other factors as well, but what makes them stand apart is the extensive security. PrestaShop can be yet another choice with a proven security framework.
Keep your software up-to-date and, it should go without saying, keep your passwords unique and secure. Educate your clients, as well as your workforce, about your information security practices. Let them know how you are protecting customers’ credit card information and what they should do from their end to keep the financial information secure.
Implement SSL Certificates
SSLs (secure socket layers) are the de facto standard when it comes to securing online transactions. An SSL certificate authenticates the identity of users and encrypts data while at store and transit. Implementing SSL is essential for E-commerce websites to establish secure connectivity between the end-user systems and your website.
For tech-savvy buyers, the padlock icon with HTTPS in the address bar is an essential prerequisite for providing their personal details and credit card information. If the consumers believe that a vendor is doing everything possible to secure their transactions, they are more likely to do business with them.
Scan Your Site for Security Vulnerabilities
Although SSLs protect your transactions, they don’t protect your website. No matter which platform you decide to use, ensure that your server maintains PCI compliance requirements by running PCI scans on your server to validate whether you are compliant or not. Companies like Trust Guard not only scan your site for more than 75,000 known vulnerabilities, giving you detailed reports about its safety, but they also provide users with trust seals.
These small, digital images, when placed on your home page and checkout page, have been proved to drastically increase sales and conversion rates. They show potential buyers through accompanying certificates that you are serious about their privacy and security. It gives them the peace of mind they need to make the buying decision.
Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or just are getting started, you should understand that keeping your site safe is your most important endeavor. Hackers can (and do) cause economic, legal and reputational damage every day. Keep your site safe and protected by following these three simple website security tips for your online business.
Virgin Media Business has launched a nationwide competition, with an unprecedented £1million business accelerator prize fund, to find the country’s most exciting and innovative businesses.
In an intimate three minute television message, first broadcast on Channel 4 on Tuesday evening, Sir Richard Branson cited bravery as the defining characteristic of an entrepreneur. He invited start-ups and innovators from across the UK to pitch their ideas to him in Virgin Media Business’s “#VOOM: Pitch to Rich 2015”, in association with the world’s largest professional network, LinkedIn.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7474951-virgin-media-branson-business-prize/
Bringing high-quality color printing and workgroup reliability to a larger base of business customers, Lexmark International, Inc. (NYSE: LXK) today introduced the new robust, high-performing OfficeEdge Series of multifunction products (MFPs). These MFPs are built upon Lexmark’s new business inkjet platform and engineered with enterprise-caliber components to deliver the long-lasting, reliable performance of a laser with the color quality and affordability of an inkjet. A workhorse for small workgroups within the enterprise and small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs), Lexmark’s OfficeEdge Series includes two new models equipped with business-class features and laser-quality color printing at a 50 percent lower cost.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/lexmark/48236
http://www.globalintegra.com/blog/
What your small business can learn from apple's marketing strategy. Apple's marketing strategy is powerful and has made them the success story they are. Apple uses unique marketing techniques. What is unique about apple's marketing technique? This video deconstructs apple's marketing secret! You can apply this in your small business marketing.
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The Investor Desk Presents US Highland, Inc. (OTC PINK: UHLN), a diversified product development, sales, and marketing company.
Since its founding in 1997 as Highland AB in Sweden, the Texas-based company has been developing and manufacturing high-performance single cylinder and V-twin powertrains used for a variety of applications. In September 2015, the publicly traded company began diversifying its operations, guiding startups in the marketing, reselling, and distributing of their products, as well as helping customers establish their brand and penetrate the U.S. market.
Overseeing the company’s growth is chief executive officer and president Josh Whitaker, a marketing executive with global experience in technology marketing, strategy, and implementation. Whitaker has worked with high-profile brands like Red Bull and Under Armour, as well as industry leading companies like Tucker Rocky Distributing and KTM Motorcycles.
Over the past two decades, US Highland, Inc. has tapped a variety of distribution channels, enabling growing businesses, both domestic and foreign, to launch their products in the United States whether wholesale, retail, or over the Internet.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/uk/7660851-us-highland-the-investor-desks-new-company/
