Little Known Application Suite Zoho.com makes a Big Dent

If you are a small business and you are thinking of purchasing software to run your business like the most well known business suite of software made by Microsoft Office, then you may want to read on and take a better look at what is out there.

Microsoft Office for Windows which consist of a suite of software programs that include Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Publisher and Power Point. These programs are the core of software used by many small to large businesses. The most well know of the suite and most widely used is Microsoft Word which is a word processing program.

Zoho.com is a web based service that offers their own suite of programs for businesses. The one great thing about these online programs is that most of them are absolutely FREE. I am currently using 5 of the 12 main programs Zoho Writer (Word Processor), Zoho Sheet (Spreadsheet Program) Zoho Planner (Online Organizer) Zoho Project (Project Manager) and last but not least Zoho CRM (Customer Relationship Manager) .

My favorite program right now is Zoho Planner. Zoho Planner is a way for me to keep track of my business ideas and personal goals with an automated to do list. It also lets me stay organized by storing my documents and images while also sending me email reminders on what I need to get done for the day. The one thing that sets these online programs apart from their off line competition is the ability to share and collaborate with others in your business.

At a press of a button I am sharing my to do list with my wife, my spreadsheet with my coworker and my latest invoice with my accountant. All one needs is an email address to be put on a list for sharing secure access to any of my Zoho suite of programs.

The only draw back to this great way of sharing thoughts, ideas and documents is the fact that you have to be on the Internet to use the programs. If for some reason you don't have a continuous connection to the Internet you can't do business. Here is where the off line Microsoft products have their advantage.

So as a business owner I would need to way the circumstances and needs of my business. If being able to access your work off line is important to you, and you want to sacrifice speed, mobility and collaboration, then the more traditional Microsoft products may be your way to go.

Zoho.com has me hooked on business in real time. I totally enjoy being online almost all the time and reaping the benefits updated information that I can get right now. I also enjoy not having to be tied to a desk to do my most important work. I can do my work whenever and where ever I please in the world that has an Internet connection.

Zoho.com suite of online programs will give your business an affordable, fast and mobile way to conduct its operations.

The Next Cool Thing in Blogging

I just came across this cool way to blog by using the new mini whiteboard technology a company called SketchCast.com has created. Check out the demo below and give me your feedback on what you have seen. I will be adding my own sketchcast very soon but in the mean time visit Sketchcast.com and create your own.

Tech.Ed in Sydney 2008

I just missed Tech.ED this past August but I am looking forward to next year's location, Sydney Australia. I have never been to Australia and have always wanted to go "down under" as they say over there. Tech.ED is what I would be going their for on business but I am so looking forward to going early and spending a couple days in some of the smaller cities of Australia. I have heard and read so much about cities like Perth and Adelaide. I don't want to just take in the bigger without visiting the smaller. Starting with the western side of the land and Perth.

I remember the Crocodile Dundee movies and seeing some of the beautiful countryside of the western part of Australia were it was mostly filmed. Perth comes to mind because I have read its one of the best places were you can see some of the most fantastic beaches and at the same time take in a safari. Technology has made it so easy that with a click of my mouse I can get an answer to my questions about any of the Perth Hotels via email or instant messaging.

Adelaide would then be my next stop where I would visit one of the cities another one of my favorite Sci-fi movies, The Matrix was filmed. Who can forget the leap Morpheus made from the top of one sky scraper to the next, only to see Neo not have enough confidence to make the same jump. My leap of faith is to use the internet and email to help me find a suitable hotel in Adelaide that would put me right in the middle of all the action. I've been told that most of the Adelaide Hotels are very accommodating and Adelaide is more know for its gardens and parks within and around the city. I also hope to see a professional cricket match in the famous Adelaide Oval.

Finally Sydney, the site where most of the finale of Mission Impossible II was filmed finishes my trek across Australia but begins my adventure of its most well known city. I hope to be in Sydney at least 2-3 days before Tech.ED starts so I can take in and enjoy all the Sydney accommodation Australia has to offer.

Yes, I am very excited about Tech.Ed as an IT Professional who looks to further his career with all the great workshops and certification specials. I just want to take advantage of such a once in a life time treat of getting both my Geek/Nerd and my vacation on. So I will see you in 2008 at the Sydney Convention Center, September 2-5th.

New Kid on the Block of Email Marketing Services

The space of web based email marketing services has been dominated by a very small group of companies. The most popular of them all has been one I have been affiliated with for almost 6 years. Constant Contact by Roving Software is by far one of the most easy to use and cost effective email marketing services on the market. I have seen many try and fail at coming close to what Constant Contact has to offer. One such company iContact.com formally known as Intellicontact.com has probably come the closest when it comes to features and pricing plans.

Today I was informed of another company that looks like it has a shot at playing with the big boys. Viper Logic Corp., a company out of Palms Springs, California has developed their own email marketing services called "Vipermailer". Vipermailer.com has a very simple website but from the looks of things, a very powerful presentation of features and mailer templates.

As of this writing I have only seen emailed examples of their templates and read about their dynamic features and pricing. I will do a follow up blog when I have been given the chance to try their service free, for 30 days.

Speaking of pricing, I really do think Vipermailer.com has an advantage with their service plans where cost is based on the number of subscribers they have to send email marketing message too and not how many individual emails are sent per campaign. Both Constantcontact.com and iContact.com share this type of pricing strategy.

So for I am very impressed with Vipermailer.com and I look forward to sending out my first test campaign to my subscriber base and see what they think of this new email marketing kid on the block.

Yourchildsname.com

I read an article in today's Yahoo.com News about a couple who had a birth certificate in one had and a domain name in the other for their new born child.

I had at one time thought about doing the same for my two children many years before they were born as well but never did. I at one time did own my own name but I let it go and never renewed it. As a result of this article on domain names for children my wife looked up our family's chances of domaindum and we went 3-4. My son's name was the only one not available. I did get a domain name for my daughter's dedication but I am still debating on acquiring her given name sake.

I have always seen domain names as a great way to promote one's business or brand. I have even written about how one should use their email address that includes their domain name "Use Email Address to Promote and Market Your Business" but I never really thought that domain names were meant for children. I do understand how sports figures or movie stars should try and acquire their children's name for the sake of their future. I mean where would the world be if Paris Hilton could not get her own domain name.

So for now I will just consider getting both my name and my wife's name registered in the near future and let my kids make the choice for themselves if they want their own domain name.
But if you are so inclined to step out on faith and purchase a slice of the internet for your child please try http://www.proemailaddress.com/