Month: November 2018

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How Does Using Microsoft Digital Ink Improve Workplace Collaboration?

The integration of the Microsoft (MS) digital ink function and digital pen provides companies with a way to improve collaboration, increase out-the-box creativity, and drive innovation. Have you given thought on how your organization can create better cooperation among your different work teams essential for driving new product development, opening up new markets, or managing workflow? If you have, you need to invest some time and effort learning how digital ink can be of assistance to your company.

About Microsoft Digital Ink

Microsoft digital ink allows a digital pen accessory to write on the surface of a pen-enabled device. These include laptops, notepads, notebooks, and Windows-based handheld devices. This capability allows the creator to share notes, capture your thoughts, and your ideas in real-time. This benefit is of great importance when your team members find themselves limited by space or the ability to use a fully attached keyboard.

You have the need to put together elaborate sales presentations in MS-PowerPoint or jot down quickly a sales quote for a potential customer in MS-Excel. The use of digital ink allows your workers to do this in less time then it takes to format a slide or complete a spreadsheet. It takes their handwritten notes and scribbles and converts them into a presentation that gets attention.

Microsoft Digital Ink

How Digital Ink Creates Collaboration

Imagine a massive project of yours that requires the input of stakeholders from different teams within your company. Accounting for financial projections, engineering for logistical support, and business planning for managing the project’s timetable, all of these disciplines need the ability to communicate with each other to keep the project on time and within budget.

You can take the traditional route of calling time-consuming meetings that require members of the project team to sit in the same room, away from their other duties and responsibilities. Or you can install Microsoft digital pen and allow input and updates come into the project from all over without the need for lengthy meetings or huddles that take time and people resources away from their jobs, reducing their productivity and increasing your costs.

Is Microsoft Digital Ink Easy to Use?

The digital ink application is both intuitive and easy to use. It is a simple plug-and-play application that requires nothing more than the digital pen itself as the peripheral device and a machine that is digital pen enabled. Your end-users will remark at how easy it is to simply draw, doodle, write, and express their ideas in any application using digital ink, and share that information between their colleagues.

The Bottom Line

The bottom line for you and your business is this: your competitors, especially younger entrepreneurs and competitors, are already employing next-generation technology. They are doing so as a way to gain market share and increase their competitive advantage.

You need to up your technology game to hold on to your customers, maintain relevancy, and attract the type of workforce that will grow your business. With so much riding on you and the decisions you make, Microsoft digital pen is a straightforward solution for you to consider and implement company-wide.

You can not afford to stay stuck in old practices in favor of new tools that make life easier for your teams. The investment you make in digital ink will pay huge dividends in the future, regarding better deployment of your people resources and greater freedom to innovate.

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What Is Small Business Saturday? (November 24th, 2018)

How do you usually shop when you need something like a gift for a friend, a new pair of shoes, or a bike for your son or daughter? Today more than ever before, Americans make a beeline for the computer or a big box store when it comes to getting through their shopping list.

Small Business Saturday

And it’s not just clothes, toys, and gifts we buy at these places. Paper towel, cell phones, greeting cards, and all your groceries can be purchased at the same time — with just one trip to a large chain store or one click of a button.

So where does this leave the little guy — small businesses?

Small businesses are closing up shop, and fewer new businesses are opening than ever before. Unfortunately for everyone, this means less support to locally-run firms, more unemployment, cheaper goods, terrible customer services, and small towns that suffer.

But you can help!

Small Business Saturday is a way to pump life into the small businesses here in the U.S. — and around the world. Here’s a bit more about this special annual event and how you can participate this year!

What Is Small Business Saturday?

Small Business Saturday is a day that celebrates small businesses of all kinds around the country. This includes all types of independent retailers from locally-owned gyms, grocery stores, cafes, and restaurants to artists and craftsmen who sell their goods online, local farmers, and more.

When Is Small Business Saturday?

Every year in the United States, Small Business Saturday is celebrated on the first Saturday after Thanksgiving. This year, 2018, Small Business Saturday will take place on Saturday, November 24th.

How Did Small Business Saturday Start?

Especially since the 1960s, when the modern American shopping mall came into existence, big box stores and chains have taken over what was once a country dominated by small local businesses. Small and even medium-sized towns have seen their small businesses obliterated when bigger chain stores come into town. Usually, the smaller retailers can hold out for at least a year, but inevitably, it’s the big guys who win out.

Small Business Saturday started as a way to pump some life back into the small businesses around our nation — to honor and recognize them. The first celebration of this holiday was only celebrated in Massachusetts in 2010. It was created as a way to work against Black Friday, which inevitably favors large chain stores and retailers.

But since that time, the holiday has spread throughout the nation. From the start, Small Business Saturday was sponsored by both the non-profit National Trust for Historic Preservation and by American Express. There are now Small Business Saturday celebrations in the UK and elsewhere around the world as well.

Why Participate in Small Business Saturday?

If you’re a small business owner, it, of course, makes sense to raise awareness of your business and other small businesses around the nation and the world on this day!

If you’re not a business owner, it also makes sense. That’s because consumers like you profoundly impact whether or not small businesses are able to get off the ground or maintain their business. By patronizing small businesses on this day — and raising awareness for others — you’re putting your money where your mouth is and let the world know that you appreciate small businesses and want them to stick around.

How Can Small Businesses Participate in Small Business Saturday?

Small businesses should prepare for Small Business Saturday by promoting the day online and in-store. You might consider holding a special event, an open house, or the release of a new product or service on this day. For more inspiration, head here to Shop Small®’s Get Inspired page.

How Can Others Participate?

If you’re a consumer, the best way to participate in Small Business Saturday is to buy from and patronize small businesses!

This might mean shopping at your local grocery store instead of the big chain supermarket in your town. It might mean grabbing a coffee at a local café instead of a chain coffee shop. Or it could mean ordering a piece of art, a tool you need, or something else from an independent retailer online.

Don’t Forget to Spread the Word!

Lastly, whether you’re a shopper or you own or work at a small business yourself, one of the biggest things you can do to support Small Business Saturday is spread the word.

Tell your friends and family about Small Business Saturday, use the hashtag #ShopSmall on social media, and of course, don’t forget to get out there and spend your money at small businesses in your area this Saturday, November 24th, 2018!

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Google Medic Update Aftermath: 6 Clear Steps to Recover Ranking

Experts estimate that as many as 42% of websites may have been impacted by Google’s Medic update that dropped mid-summer. And, as with so many Google algorithm changes, it came out of nowhere, leaving a wake of destruction.

Medic Google Rankings

Did you see your own company website’s ranking plummet as a result of the Medic Update? Here’s what you need to know to determine if you were affected and how to fix damage from the medic update.

Were You Impacted By Medic Update?

Do you want to know the truth? You very likely were impacted in some way even if you didn’t feel the brunt of it. It’s known as the “Medic Update” because it disproportionately affected health-related websites early on. But as the waves continued to roll, other industries and sites felt the aftermath:

  • Fashion
  • e-Commerce
  • Local businesses
  • Affiliate marketing websites
  • Among others

Chances are that you fall into one of these categories. If you saw your search engine rankings dip — even slightly — in August 2018 with little to no recovery, you’ve very likely felt the wrath of Medic. Like many updates, it’s rolling out in sections so the decline may not be over.

While it never feels good to see your website lose ground in Google searches, know that Medic continues Google’s goal of elevating the highest authority websites which can best answer a searcher’s query. These are the ones that deserve those coveted top spots on page one.

If you take steps to adapt to the Medic Update, you have the potential to outrank the many websites that don’t. You could actually come out better than you were before when you learn how to fix damage from the medic update.

Step 1: Align Content with Searcher Intent

Before websites were impacted by the medic update, searching for a product or service may have sent you straight to a sales page. But this doesn’t reflect the modern buyer’s journey. Google knows that. This appears to be at least one thing that this algorithm change attempted to rectify.

70% of the buying decision is made before a person reaches a sales page. The Medic updates reflect this by pulling up more informational pages that help a potential customer make that decision.

If your website strategy largely revolved around the end of the buyer’s journey (sales), it’s time to put more focus on helpful content like blog posts, videos, and interactive tools on your website.

Step 2: Utilize Google Shopping Ads

Ad clicks don’t directly impact your search engine ranking. But they do help you stay top of mind and build brand awareness over time when combined with a comprehensive brand awareness strategy. Google shopping ads have enjoyed a 47% increase in visibility year over year.

Don’t blame Google. It’s one of the main ways they make money. Increasing your pay-per-click (PPC) marketing budget will help you take advantage of this increased visibility and restore organic ranking indirectly.

Step 3: Check Your Link Profile

The number and quality of inbound links is still a known ranking factor. Relevant links from high authority websites help establish with Google that your company has an authoritative website. But Google search is getting smarter every year. It can more easily spot unnatural links that were likely purchased or otherwise unscrupulously acquired to manipulate your ranking. The aftermath for sites using questionable link-building strategies was swift and brutal.

It’s time to revisit your links using Google Search Console and more advanced link analysis tools like AHrefs, SEMrush, or Moz.

Look for links coming from low authority and spammy websites. Disavow them using Google Disavow Tool.

Step 4: Be Clear About Ownership

Do you have a sneaky agenda for your website? You probably don’t. But some websites do. They leave it unclear who owns the website. For example, a business could create what appears to be a 3rd party review website and then review its own products. That’s not full disclosure.

Learn how to fix damage from the medic update on sites where ownership is unclear. Add your contact information to every header or footer. Or create a detailed “About Us” and “Contact” page. Make sure every page on any owned site has a link to these pages.

Step 5: Build Credibility

Some of those most impacted by the medic update were giving health advice when it was unclear what credentials they had to do so. But this applies to any industry.

Consider adding a full, short bio on each blog post or informational page. Clearly, state the education and/or experience that qualifies the person to write and publish this content.

Remember E-A-T with every piece of content you produce. That’s…

  • Expertise – Your content demonstrates that you’re an expert in your field and you have the credentials to prove it.
  • Authoritative – Being authoritative is more about outside recognition. Do others in your industry recognize you as an authority? This may come in the form of reviews, links to your website, awards, or ratings from organizations like BBB, Pulitzer, or JD Power. Showcase this social proof of your authoritativeness on your website and work to get more recognition off-site.
  • Trustworthiness – Trustworthiness comes in many forms. For one, you should be careful with the facts you communicate on your site. Stretching the truth or failing to cite sources doesn’t evoke trust. Second, trustworthiness comes in the form of your physical site. Your site is secure (HTTPS), easy to navigate, and looks professional.

Step 6: Do Historical Optimization

Have you learned a lot about how to build a better website over the years? Most businesses have. There was a time when you could fairly easily rank low-quality content that wasn’t mobile-friendly or on a fast-loading page. But those days have passed.

You may have content on your website that is so far below your current standards, that it should be removed from the site. But you’re also likely to find pieces of content that would be excellent if you:

  • Make them a little longer – the average blog post on page one is now over 1000 words. In some industries it’s over 2000.
  • Beef up the content – Thin content that doesn’t really add value doesn’t rank well. Add real value, not fluff.
  • Get rid of ungrammatical keyword usage – Google hasn’t used “exact match” keywords for some time. Google disregards unnecessary words and even many prefixes and suffixes when ranking websites. Keywords like “Luxury furniture Houston” that can’t grammatically fit in a sentence should be changed to “luxury furniture in Houston.” If the content used keywords unnaturally or every 100 words, find a synonym.
  • Interlink – Content should link out to some reliable websites and interlink with one or more other relevant pages on your website.
  • Connect with the target audience – Did your hook fall flat? Did people bounce off your website? Then you may need to evaluate how you’re connecting with that audience.
  • Visuals – Pages that have more relevant images rank better.

If you’re not doing these things in the current content, then it’s time to update your website.

How to Fix Damage from the Medic Update

The Medic Update hit a lot of websites hard. But the good news is that when you adapt by applying these 6 steps, you can come out on top. To learn more about marketing, follow our blog.

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Blog Technology News

Section 179 & Information Technology Systems (Questions/Answers)

Want To Boost Your IT Capabilities & Reduce Your Tax Burden?

Take Advantage Of The IRS 179 Deduction Now Before Section 179 Expires

On January 2, 2018, H.R.1 was signed into law. It revised several previous tax laws going forward. With the passage and signing into H.R.1, the deduction limit for Section 179 increased to $1,000,000 for 2018 and beyond. Also, the limit on equipment purchases was increased to $2.5 million.

What Is Section 179?

The IRS 179 Deduction was enacted to help small businesses like yours by allowing you to take a depreciation deduction for certain assets in one year, rather than depreciating them over a more extended period.

It lets you take an outright deduction equal to the full purchase price of a qualifying piece of equipment. Section 179 means you can lessen your taxable income, and ultimately your tax burden.

When Is The Deadline For This Year?

Section 179 always expires at midnight, December 31st. To take advantage of Section 179 this year, you must buy (or lease/finance) your equipment, and put it into use, by midnight 12/31/2018.

What About The Bonus Depreciation?

The bonus depreciation is 100%, was made retroactive to 9/27/2017 and is good through 2022. The bonus depreciation also now includes used equipment.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) extended the ability to write off Bonus Depreciation through 2026 (or 2027 for certain assets), and it made other changes to the write off percentages and the types of assets that qualify for Bonus Depreciation.

What Happens After 2022?

The 100% deduction will stay in place for five years. It will step down each year after and then end in 2026.

After 2022, the depreciation percentage will be reduced by 20% each year (80% for assets acquired in 2023, 60% for assets acquired in 2024, 40% for assets acquired in 2025 and 20% for assets acquired in 2026), until it is eliminated.

Can You Lease or Finance Equipment And Still Qualify For Section 179?

Business equipment (including technology and software) financed or leased still qualifies for Section 179. This is true even if you’re making payments on equipment over several years. However, the equipment must be placed in service for business purposes to quality.

What Type of Equipment Qualifies for Depreciation?

Any equipment qualifies that’s purchased under a Capital Lease, cash sale or a dollar buyout, and where you’re considered to be the owner of the equipment and maintain full control over the residual value qualifies.

What Types of Technology Equipment Are Eligible?

  • Routers and Firewalls (These should be replaced every 2-3 years for security purposes.)
  • Switches (Take advantage of the newer, faster switches that are available today.)
  • Wireless Access Points (More and more devices rely on wireless connections for roaming across your facility.)
  • Off-the-Shelf Software (software that’s not customized for your business)
  • Servers (These should be replaced every five years.)
  • Phone Systems (VoIP or traditional)
  • Backup & Disaster Recovery Appliances (Do you have a reliable system that will support your business if you suffer from a natural or manmade disaster?)
  • Workstations and Monitors (Consider adding a 2nd monitor for your key staff to increase productivity.)
  • Laptops and Ultrabooks (New technology is available with much longer battery life.)
  • Scanners (Today’s scanners are faster and allow you to scan multiple documents at once.)
  • Battery Backups (You need these when the power goes down.)
  • Storage SAN- Storage Area Networks, RAID-Redundant Array of Independent Disks, etc. (Digital picture files now require a lot more storage today.)

This is a significant and impactful advantage that you should take advantage of if you want to buy equipment and lessen your tax burden.

It’s essential that you check with your accountant or another tax professional about any specifics regarding your business or industry.

Did you find this article helpful? If so, visit Data Magic’s Blog to read others and stay up to date on news that will help you use business technology more effectively.

7 Tips To Speed Up Computers That Start Running Slow

Every day for the past two weeks, your company computers have slowed down. They’re not keeping up like they used to. Recently a customer contacted Data Magic Computer Services about slow computers too. They explained, “We have a small business, and our computers have been running slow. We’ve had the internet checked out, and according to them the problem is the computers.” Let’s look at what might cause your company’s computers to slow down and what you can do to fix it.


Who Offers Dark Web Scanning In Dallas/Fort Worth?

One of the main motivations for cyber attacks is the sale of personally-identifiable information (PII) on the dark web or deep web. The dark or deep web market is the impetus for many data breaches because the quick sale of healthcare and financial PII (primarily) offers a tempting prospect to black-hat hackers. Fortunately, Data Magic can do dark web scanning that can locate any stolen data.

Can Business Benefit From Microsoft Office 365?

In today’s business world, it’s essential for companies to stay ahead of the trends when it comes to the latest tools for productivity. Office suites like Microsoft’s Office 365 have become popular among organizations hoping for more effective performance and communication.

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7 Reasons Teachers Need Office 365

Teachers are always striving to provide the best education possible for their students while often operating within strict budget constraints. Office 365 provides an abundance of technology that is often free for educators. There are several reasons why teachers should use Office 365 in their classrooms.

1. Provides a Variety of Apps

Office 365 offers several different types of apps to help teachers provide their students with a variety of online educational experiences. Whether it’s teaching interactive lessons or individualized learning, the apps can meet several educational needs. Applications are downloaded using Click-to-Run technology that allows users to install apps quickly. A few of the apps that are available include the following:

  • Microsoft PowerPoint – Students not only learn how to use PowerPoint, but how to put together professional presentations that are informational and engaging.
  • Microsoft Word – Students will learn to use Microsoft Word more effectively by using the many projects and lesson plans that are offered.
  • Microsoft Excel – Teachers can learn to make spreadsheets and data analysis fun and engaging for their students. The apps include lessons for everything from analyzing inventory from a store they like to creating a recipe.
  • Microsoft Publisher – Educators can use Microsoft Publisher to create posters and cards using clip art. There are a variety of color schemes, text choices, and backgrounds to choose from.
  • Skype – Students can connect with students from other classrooms around the world to collaborate on projects. These types of collaboration will enable students to learn about different countries and cultures.

2. Offers Cloud-based Access and Storage

As a cloud-hosted app, Office 365 is stored and supported by Microsoft. This means teachers and schools don’t own it but subscribe to it. Storage is another excellent reason to start using Office 365. All the data that is used by both staff and students is stored safely in the cloud. Since there is unlimited storage, there is no need to worry about having enough space for data. Teachers and students will no longer have to worry about losing a thumb drive containing hours of hard work.

3. It’s Always Updated

Updating computers and programs can be technically difficult and time-consuming. Since Office 365 is stored in the cloud and supported by Microsoft, it’s always being updated. This means schools can rely on the latest technology and security always being in place. There’s no need for continual maintenance or dependence on an internal IT team.

4. Provides School-to-Work Transition Skills

One of the top priorities of education is preparing students to make a smooth transition from the classroom to the workforce. Students are now expected to possess baseline technology skills. Office 365 can provide students with several types of training tools including learning how to Skype, put together PowerPoint presentations, and learn how to create graphs and spreadsheets.

5. Supports Global Collaboration

Office 365 provides opportunities for both teachers and students to collaborate with others around the world. Teachers can share information with PowerPoint, Excel, or Word and still rely on formatting to remain consistent. Collaboration is done in real time whether it’s with a school across town or across the globe. Teachers can also use collaboration tools to offer tutoring and online classes.

6. Predictable Costs

One of the most attractive aspects of this service is that Office 365 for Education is offered free for students and teachers that are currently attending an educational institution. There are basic services and applications that come with this particular offer. Teachers can expect to receive Word, Excel, OneNote, PowerPoint, SharePoint, and Yammer. There is also unlimited storage when five or more users have subscribed. A school may decide to pay for extra services, depending on each teacher’s individual needs for the classroom.

7. Data Control and Security

Office 365 provides a high level of built-in security that can keep student and teacher data secure. There is both 24-hour monitoring and threat management security. Teachers can rely on consistent anti-spam and anti-malware protection. With a strong level of safety, schools won’t have to worry about student data being compromised.

Office 365 in Schools

Office 365 can help teachers easily organize their materials, put together interactive lesson plans, and create individualized learning plans for each of their students. Teachers and students can easily access all the great training and tools that are available at any time.

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How Can Teachers Use Office 365 To Improve Student Engagement and Learning Outcomes?

Microsoft’s Office 365 for Educators has many tools that teachers can use to make their day easier and help their students learn more effectively. The program is also free for any educator and districts can also obtain a license for free Office 365 programs for faculty and student use.

Microsoft Office 365 Education

Many of Office 365’s programs work cross-platform too, so students using tablets or Chromebooks can work together with students or a teacher or aide with a laptop or desktop computer.

How Will Office 365 Help Me Save Time as a Teacher?

Every year new standards and new curriculum makes planning lessons and fitting everything in the busy classroom day seem like almost impossible tasks. Office 365 has introduced some tools that help save time on paperwork and repetitive grading that can speed things up.

OneNote Class Notebook lets teachers put all of their lesson materials in one place, share them with the class when it’s time, grade homework, and set up group projects and timelines seamlessly.

  • Grading is included in OneNote Notebook Creator
  • Teachers control adding students, including new students joining the class.
  • Teachers can team-teach and collaborate across classes
  • Collaboration space includes student groups and assignment-based collaboration
  • Students all have private notebook space for grades and individual work.

Best of all, OneNote Class Notebook is accessible from mobile devices and desktops. You can add lessons, grade, and respond to students while on the go.

How Can Office 365 Support Online Teaching?

Microsoft’s Sway is also part of Office 365 for educators. The intuitive program lets teachers design lessons or collaborate with experts to create hands-on demonstrations.

Sway is also perfect for course modules or units which include visual, audio, and interactive materials. Teachers, assistants, and students can all work on and edit projects in sway. Everyone can see everyone else working. Sway even works for cross-curriculum or cross-platform teams (tablets, phones, laptops, desktops).

How Does Office 365 Keep Curriculum and Content Safe?

The days of stacks of torn, rain-stained handouts and lost homework packets may finally end thanks to Office 365’s OneDrive. Teachers can save any documents, folders, and video content they need to OneDrive where they can be accessed at any time. Even if your computer crashes, OneDrive will have a copy of your materials. You can access files in OneDrive any time while on the go with the Office 365 Educator password.

Can Office 365 Support Distance Learning and Video Conferencing?

Skype for Educators is part of Office 365, with a global teaching community that stands ready to help educators make the transition to real-time video conferencing for education. Skype for educators even supports virtual field trips. Imagine a field trip where no one gets lost, and everyone can see and experience everything — and even language barriers can be overcome with Skype Translator.

Can Office 365 Support a Flipped Classroom?

Office 365’s extensive tools and online educator community support and training can help teachers design all the content and curriculum they need to flip their classrooms and strengthen student learning. Collaboration is natural and intuitive throughout all the tools that Office 365 provides.

The last thing teachers need is added work and more new computer programs. Office 365 for Educators takes familiar Microsoft programs that teachers know and combines them with simple new tools and online classroom areas to build a suite of tools and materials for easier, faster, more effective teaching and learning.

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Creating Video Marketing That Stands Out

It is hard to maintain a strong brand presence without video marketing. Whether local or national, brick and mortar or eCommerce, goods or services, video content is crucial to success in the current marketplace.

Video Marketing

Here are some recent numbers from an Animoto study to put this into perspective:

Basic Stats

  • 93% of marketers report that they reach new customers through the use of video content
  • 73% of consumers say that social media content has made an impact on their buying decisions
  • 45% of consumers say that video is their preferred form of social content, with image, link and text content coming in second, third and fourth, at 22%, 13% and 10% respectively
  • About a third of consumers will review a brand’s social media content before deciding whether to go to their website in the first place
  • 45% of consumers report that their first encounter with a product or service is through video

So this clearly establishes a couple of things.

  1. You need to pursue video content marketing through social media to maintain a strong brand presence in the modern age.
  2. Everyone is doing it. So it’s going to be hard to stand out.

Video content is necessary, but all it accomplishes on its own is that it puts you in the running. Producing video content earns you a shot at getting seen, but it won’t guarantee that you are seen in a crowded marketplace. What does it matter that your videos are making thousands of impressions if nobody’s clicking play?

How do you produce the right kind of video content?

It’s all a process of narrowing-down. As in any data-driven marketing decision, you take your options, cut them in half, cut them in half again, and again, and again until you are getting the most effect for your efforts. You’ve probably taken a look at your analytics and found that certain kinds of content will perform better when posted at certain times of day and on certain days of the week. The same sort of thinking applies to the process of developing, producing and posting your video content.

This begins with…

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The Animoto survey found that three types of video content comprised the vast majority of views:

  1. How-to videos
  2. Videos about sales and promotions
  3. Top 5’s

One of these categories is probably on-brand with your product or service. If it’s not immediately apparent, you can try testing content in each category and gauge their performance. Sale-announcement videos are always a good idea, but you might find that your target audience prefers how-to’s to top 5’s, or vice-versa, and produce content accordingly.

Where Are You Posting?

The Animoto survey suggests that Facebook and Youtube lead the way for video views, but Instagram is the clear winner for sales-per-view. People are specifically on Instagram to discover something new, whether it’s a content producer or a new ice cream shop. This means that your viewers are already in the right frame of mind to discover whatever it is that you’re offering them. Users on Facebook and Youtube are generally looking for content that they’re already familiar with, favorite game streamers, keeping up with friends and family and so on.

This does not necessarily mean that you will have the most success with Instagram. Every brand attracts a different audience, and while more brands than not may enjoy more engagement on Instagram, you might have more success on Facebook if your demographic is a little older, or even Pinterest, which trails far behind the video leaders, but might be perfect if you’re after an arts-and-craft audience.

Calibrate And Refine

All of this data can set you off in the right direction, but getting the most out of any social media content is a process of constant calibration and refinement. Almost nobody gets lucky and hits the target dead-center on the first try. You might post a dozen videos and get fewer than one hundred views on each one. But one of them is going to be an outlier, one of them is going to have a few views more than the others. So you produce a dozen more in that direction, and, again, you have an outlier, one that produces twice as many engagements as the runner-up, and you keep following the outlier and following the outlier until you get a sense for exactly what catches the attention of your target viewer.

There’s no secret formula for producing attention-grabbing videos in a crowded marketplace, because every brand is different. But if you keep testing and adjusting your aim appropriately, you will discover exactly what your customers are looking for.

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How To Choose A Dallas Computer Support Company

All businesses need adequate management of their IT hardware, network systems, and various software applications and proper support for users. Business owners shopping for a Managed IT Services provider in Dallas should consider a number of important factors before agreeing to work with a new tech services company.

Choose a Dallas IT support provider with a thorough understanding of the particular needs of your business and a proven track record of delivering the best possible solutions to meet those needs.

Questions to Ask Dallas Tech Services Companies, Before Signing a Service Agreement

Here is a list of important questions to ask prospective IT service providers. Asking the right questions can make your selection process easier and help ensure that you choose the best IT support provider for your organization’s unique needs.

1. What geographical area does your service cover?

If you’re planning to expand into new markets or move, you need to know that your IT support company can provide service in all regions in which you plan to operate.

2. What levels of IT support do you offer?

Various IT support providers offer differing options of service levels, to accommodate different levels of service needs and budgets. IT services programs may include:

  • Break-Fix IT Support — Hourly or fixed-price contracting. Fixes isolated issues. (Either paid per incident or on contract to ensure coverage for urgent services when needed.)
  • Managed IT Services — Active full-scope management of your IT systems. Reduces risks of typical problems that can lead to disruptions of operations. (Usually paid per terms for a periodic payment.)

3. What areas of IT expertise does your service include?

Make sure that the IT services provider specializes in the kind of enterprise you operate, the kinds of IT platforms and programs you use, the special security, and other challenges confronting your business.

4. What IT services are included in the contract?

Most support companies will cover labor charges on any incident that relates to hardware repair or specified software issues. Find out if their fee includes travel time and mileage to and from your location. Make sure that they cover all hardware and software that your organization uses, including operating systems, platforms, and applications. Ask if their service includes your networked hand-held devices, office machines, etc..” Also, ask what’s not included in the contract, to get a clearer view of the services package.

5. Does your service include remote management and monitoring?

Preventive services are the best possible way to avoid the risk of prolonged downtime due to emergency issues that are much more likely to occur when systems are left unmanaged. Monitoring can detect trouble spots on disk drives, in network systems, and throughout your systems, to capture and correct issues before they lead to major disruptions of your operations. Also, remote management can go a long way in reducing the amount of time spent fixing tech problems after they occur.

6. Are calls answered by a live operator, or by an answering machine?

It’s helpful to know what to expect when you call your IT services provider. If their phones are answered by an answering machine, at least get a commitment on how long you can expect it to take for someone to return your calls.

7. How many IT support professionals does your company have?

With a larger support team, an IT company has a broader knowledge base and expanded ability to provide a larger array of solutions. Alternatively, a lone IT guy typically struggles to deliver comparable service. When the single IT service person has more than one client to help at the same time, or is ill, on vacation, etc., service is compromised.

8. Will someone be assigned to manage our account?

Having just one or two points of contact allows your IT specialist to get to know you and your company so that your tech expert can help ensure that your IT accommodates both your current needs and future plans.

9. Do you have an IT Help Desk ticketing system?

One essential that your provider must offer is a Help Desk at which you can expect to log service request calls 24/7. You should be provided with a direct contact phone number to reach the company’s IT services technicians in Dallas. A Help Desk ticketing system allows you to track communications and the progress of your service requests.

10. How long is your Help Desk response time?

You should expect a reasonable response time commitment. However, be careful about counting on guarantees of response timeframes, which is the amount of time within which a company may promise to start working on your reported problem. Keep in mind that response time is not the same as resolution time. The latter is the amount of time it takes to resolve the problem, and that timeframe varies between problems with quick, simple fixes and those involving greater complications.

11. Are we restricted to calling your company only when we have a tech problem?

Does the IT services team offer any additional support, beyond resolving strictly technological problems? For example, can we call with common questions from end-users, such as, “How do you perform this function in Access?” That kind of additional help can add a lot of value to the investment in your IT support.

12. Does your team keep updated on new IT industry knowledge?

Because IT is continually evolving, you should only agree to work with a services provider that you are confident is one whose team is diligent about continuing education in their field. Especially, ask if the team attends certification courses provided by the producers of the hardware and software your business uses.

13. Do you have affiliations with other IT services companies?

High-quality IT support providers go the extra distance to help ensure that you receive the best available support in the industry. They form relationships with other top-quality IT companies and providers that specialize in related services, like cabling, phone systems, and others. A good IT services provider works with your existing technology providers, freeing you from having to be personally involved in communicating with them about, for example, telecommunications equipment, broadband problems, etc..

14. How long are IT services contracts?

The majority of IT services providers offer service contracts for minimum time periods. That way, if you’re not satisfied with the services, you have the ability to replace your current support provider with a new one. Ask about the cancellation period. (It’s usually about a month.)

15. When and how will I be billed for services?

Though billing varies from one IT services company to another, it’s often around 15-30 days terms payment for one-time service calls to an IT support company. For Managed IT Services clients, service agreements commonly include advance payment arrangements for monthly, quarterly or annual service periods.

16. What kinds and amounts of insurance does your company have?

Before you sign a service agreement with an IT company, ask to see their certificate of liability insurance. Also ask to see their certificate of worker compensation insurance, if the company is of a size that is required to carry workers comp coverage. Liability insurance should be $1,000,000, or more.

17. Can you give me contact information for some of your references?

Strong evidence of a good service provider is one that is happy to provide multiple references. So, be sure to ask for some references. Even if you decide not to contact them, to have the IT company provide the references’ is a good indicator of their level of confidence in the reputation they’ve earned with their long-time clients.

18. What sets your IT service apart from others?

Some IT support providers may find this to be a difficult question to answer. But, it’s worth asking, to hear how they believe their company is adding value to their services. Don’t give much credit to ambiguous responses like, “It’s our service quality,” or, “It’s our sense of commitment.” Listen instead for an answer like, “We are the only IT team in the region that can…”

Data Magic, Dallas Computer Support

We are the leading computer support company in Dallas for large and small companies throughout the Dallas/Fort Worth metro area. Our wide range of proficiencies has set us apart as the strongest team of IT experts in the region. We provide Computer Repair, Managed IT Services, Co-Managed Services, PC and Mac Support, Software Development and IT Consulting.

Major business platform brands supported by Data Magic specialists include the following, among others:

Microsoft

Cisco

Juniper

QuickBooks

Peachtree

 Great Plains

AutoCAD

Counterpoint

Goldmine

Sage 100 ERP
For More Information

For more information on IT services for your business or other organization, contact Data Magic Computer Services, Dallas TX at (469) 635-5500. We’re here to answer your questions. Ask to schedule an appointment for a no-obligation IT systems assessment.

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Blog

Top 8 Questions To Ask Your Financial Controller

The controller plays an essential role when it comes to driving profitability and growth through enhanced financial visibility. Therefore, chief financial officers should strive to collaborate closely with controllers. Successful CFOs make it a priority to make sure their organization takes full advantage of the experience and knowledge of their controller.

Financial Controller

Here are the top five questions to ask your controller to ensure they are operating at the highest level of accuracy and efficiency possible.

1. How Many Manual Journal Entries Are Made During the Closing Process?

Too many manual journal entries can extend the duration of a closing period significantly. A large number of manual journal entries made during the closing process is also often a sign of hidden issues. It can hide errors and anomalies that have roots that are broad and systematic. An excessive number of entries can also be an indicator of variable accounting processes.

2. Is There An Integrated System for Both Operating Metrics and Financial Information?

It is in the best interest of most organizations to have just one reporting system. If you have more than one reporting system, a significant amount of time will be spent dealing with conflicting definitions and reconciling differences. Therefore, a good question to ask your controller is if there is an integrated system for both operating metrics and financial information. If there is not an integrated system in place, you should inquire about what steps your organization should take to establish such a system. For cohesiveness and simplicity, it is well worth the effort to work towards having just one reporting system.

3. Why Are There So Many Reports?

If the financial department, for example, distributes dozens of reports on a periodic basis, it may be a good idea to ask your controller why there are so many reports. Your controller may find that many of the individuals who had requested the reports are no longer with the organization. It will save your organization a significant amount of time and resources to stop producing the reports that are no longer valuable or in use.

4. What Are We Doing in Excel?

Millions of people across the world use Excel due to its versatility and ease of use. However, while Excel certainly has its advantages, it also has its disadvantages. Excel is difficult for collaborative purposes, for example. Also, it is easy to make mistakes in Excel and these mistakes are often very difficult to find. Excel is ideal for prototyping new processes rapidly. Once a process has been stabilized, it’s best to move to an environment that is more automated, secure, and collaborative than Excel.

5. How Many Transactions Are There in Each Department?

Inquire about how many vendor payments and invoices there are. You should also ask about how many lines items for each are in existence. Ask about how quality is measured. You can use this information to focus on improving quality and efficiency in the long run as well as to plan staffing levels.

6. Who Has Access to the Accounting System?

Ideally, only one administrator should have access to the full functionality of the accounting system. There should be a documented approval process in place for the purpose of making changes to the system.

7. How Many Invoices and Sales Orders Have Been Re-Billed or Canceled?

Not only do you want to know how many sales orders and invoices have been canceled or re-billed, but you also want to find out the reason behind these cancellations. A high number of canceled or re-billed invoices and sales orders is an indication that your system needs to be redesigned.

8. Which Areas Should We Invest in First?

Your controller will know best which areas should be invested in first when it comes to your finance department. You want to focus on the biggest problem areas and redirect resources to the places that need them the most. Focus on adopting new technology to automate and simplify processes.

If you want to be a successful CFO, you should take advantage of the knowledge and experience of your controller. Pick your controller’s brain by asking them the eight questions discussed above.

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Blog Technology News

Questions You Must Ask When Sourcing IT Companies In Dallas

If you’re looking for an IT company in Dallas, you’re probably looking for ways to differentiate among the many technology service providers.

When looking at IT companies in Dallas for IT support or computer repair work, it’s a good idea to ask some critical questions of companies you’re considering. Here are a few essential queries to make.

IT Companies in Dallas

What Services Are Provided?

Before searching for an IT company in Dallas, be clear on what your technology needs are. Are you looking to outsource some or all of your IT operation? Do you need repairs or support for hardware and software problems your employees have? Can someone help assess your existing technologies and make strategic suggestions to optimize work and innovate? Are there software applications or databases you need to be built? Being clear about what you need helps you ask companies about what services they offer. Here are a few of the most common managed IT services:

  • Helpdesk support for hardware, software and network issues
  • Network monitoring and optimization
  • Hardware and software upgrades and patching
  • Vendor, contract and warranty management
  • Virtual CIO consulting
  • Managed security protections, including firewalls, anti-virus, anti-spam and anti-phishing tools and website access management

Who Will Be Working On My Account?

Know how many employees the company has if it outsources any of its support offerings and who will be working on your account. Will you have a dedicated account manager and engineer? Ideally, you’ll have one central point of contact instead of working with a different staffer each time you call for help.

Is The Company Familiar With Your Industry?

Every industry has its own unique needs and challenges. You want an IT partner who is familiar with those industry-specific characteristics, typical software products used, and universal support needs. You want a company that works with businesses that are like yours, regarding industry, size and maturity.

What Billing Options Are Available And What’s the Difference?

Managed IT services offer several billing possibilities: fixed-price, variably priced or per incident.

For most companies, the fixed-price model is the ideal solution. It gives you a predictable monthly cost for IT support and usually includes unlimited access to a help desk and other services.

Variable pricing is based on how long it takes to resolve your problems but can also lead to confusion and frustration. What happens, for example, if an issue that was fixed in one month recurs the next month. Some fixed-price agreements are variable pricing options in disguise, with a certain number of hours allocated for your account. But such agreements often exclude on-site support and limit hours when requests will be addressed.

Per-incident pricing may seem economical but can become expensive if the needs exceed the budgeted amount.

If you choose a fixed-price model, ask about what’s covered, such as maintenance (upgrading operating systems, installing software and firmware patches), warranties, contract management and vendor interactions.

When Is Support Provided?

Outsourced help desk support is one of the most valuable aspects of using an outside IT company. It’s important to know when assistance is offered. Is it just during regular business hours or are needs addressed after hours and on the weekends? Also be sure to understand how help desk requests are submitted, processed, assigned and addressed and by whom.

Is There A Service-Level Agreement (SLA)?

An SLA provides guaranteed levels of assistance for your business, including problem management and resolution. Quality, availability, speed, capacity and reliability. These measures are usually compared to agreed-upon metrics and should be reviewed regularly. Credits for failure to meet SLA requirements should be spelled out contractually.

One caution about SLAs. Bigger IT companies sometimes can take advantage of SLAs by delaying help until the maximum allotted time. So, if your SLA says that requests need to be addressed within three hours, it might be 2 hours and 50 minutes before you hear from someone.

Are You Compliant?

Depending on your business, you may be bound by regulatory requirements related to patient privacy, payment card security or banking regulations. You want to be sure that your IT partner is fully compliant (and can show you documentation) for any compliance requirements. If there’s a problem, your company will likely be held responsible for data issues affecting your employees or customers.

When you need an IT company in Dallas, turn to Data Magic Computer Services. Our skilled teams can assist with a range of technical needs from managed IT services to computer repair and software development. To learn more about Data Magic, contact us today.

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