How you store your client information inside Salesforce.com makes a big difference. One area where this is very clear is Accounts and Contacts. Salesforce began as a business tool and therefore focused on business to business (B2B) relationships. Therefore, the Account object is oriented toward a business or company by default.
These relationships look like this:
ACCOUNT (i.e. Acme, Inc., www.acme.com, 1-800-ACME-INC)
|
|
----- CONTACT (i.e. Joe Smith, joe@acme.com, 555-555-1212)
----- CONTACT
...
This works great when there is a company such as a company client, vendor, or partner and it has employees that are related to it.
However, what happens when the client is an individual person such as someone who bought one of your e-books or a t-shirt? What happens when you are a nonprofit that relates to individual as well as institutional donors? (more…)
I have had my current computer for over 3 years. I had my previous computer for four years before selling it to a college student who still uses it two years later.
Using a computer for six years should be a somewhat rare occurrence but it is not. Data loss is all too frequent and is estimated to cost $2,900 per incident. Ouch! This is foolish when the problem could have been solved for under $300. Even more, hard drives have been failing at an increasing rate as we depend more and more on our computers – sometimes as high as 15% in a single year!
Especially in this economy, fully depreciating (and then some!) our assets is a high priority but so should avoiding a catastrophe.
I encourage this attempt at cost savings as long as you are managing your risk well.
Doing so includes:
- Automated data backups with multiple versions
Examples: Mozy for Mac, Carbonite for Windows, Bacula for Linux
- Routine and scheduled Hard Disk replacements & reuse the old drive
Example: Within the estimated life of the Hard Drive, often called MTTF, or every three years
- Contingency planning for downtime
Example: Have a secondary computer or shared computer just in case. (more…)
I am on a free hotspot as I write this.
I had client meetings with others in Pasadena, Philly, Seattle, West LA, and Florida this week. All without driving anywhere past my nearest EZ Lube, Starbucks, or Coffee Shop.
You are feeling the pain of this economy and so am I. Even $50 a month saved can make a significant difference if used effectively.
I am in the business of helping make others successful so here is what I do to remain competitive as a small business owner and entrepreneur. I coach, train, and support others as they walk down this journey toward competitive advantage with technology.
Vons, EZ Lube, Hospitals, & Apple Stores: Unexpected Resources
Once you commit to mobilize your office, remaining connected on the go becomes a much higher priority. It used to be that this lifestyle required a cellular card for your computer that could run up to $100 or more per month.
Not so today where you can actually reduce costs by getting out of the office.
(more…)
