yclmanager5, Author at Your Computer Lady

October 29, 2024 By yclmanager5

Got Your Back!

Over the past 28 years, Your Computer Lady has developed a system for working with clients that we call the “Got Your Back” process. Our goal has always been long term clients who come back to YCL over and over with a variety of projects. We want to reduce your frustration and headaches by stepping in to do projects so you are able to focus on what you do best – your real business. How do we do this?

One point of contact – Though YCL has a network of experts for graphic design, web site programming, database creation, etc. you only deal with one person. This allows us to learn your business. We can pick up faster on a project. We learn details, special industry terms and personal preferences.
Wide range of services – Our network gives us the means to have an amazing range of services to offer you. If we don’t do a particular job, we know who does!
Online support – Within 15 seconds, we can set up an online meeting to look right at your computer. We can teach you how to use a software feature. We can fix a problem for you.
Back ups – Your Computer Lady keeps extensive back up files. If you can’t find that brochure file from two years ago so it can be updated, we can!
Large or small projects – We don’t care if it’s a big project with lots of hours or a small question that can be handled with an online training session.

We estimate that the “Got Your Back” process can save you on average 20% over doing a project yourself. Not sure? Give Pamela a call today and discuss the project you need finished.

October 25, 2024 By yclmanager5

Why Use Portable Document Format (PDF)?

Often you want to save your files so they cannot be modified, but you want to be able to share and print them. Examples include resumes, legal documents, newsletters, and files intended to be read and printed. PDF formats can help. By using an add-in, which is an extra function you download, you can convert a file, from your Microsoft Office programs, into a PDF format

Portable Document Format (PDF) preserves document formatting and enables file sharing. When the PDF format file is viewed online or printed, it retains the format that you intended. Data in the file cannot be easily changed. The PDF format is also useful for documents that will be reproduced by using commercial printing methods.

There are a lot of PDF Writers that you can purchase or download for free from the Internet. Please research and choose the one you feel will work best for your company’s needs.

My fav? PDF995.com

October 23, 2024 By yclmanager5

Email Deliverability: Why it Matters & How to Improve It

“Learn how to send emails that make it to your contact’s inboxes.

Deliverability measures how many of your contacts receive your emails, and it’s 1 of the most important factors for email marketing success.

For your strategy to work, people must first receive your emails. There’s no point in crafting perfect content otherwise. Although deliverability involves more than building an audience and pressing send, it doesn’t have to be complicated.”

Click here to continue reading.

October 22, 2024 By yclmanager5

Social Media – It’s Only Networking

Micro View
If I attend a professional association dinner, I’m going to introduce myself as Your Computer Lady but I’m going to talk sports, make a joke about the rubber chicken, ask about Ron’s daughters or listen to the horror story about the building project in Tucson that one of my architect friends is working on. If someone asks me a computer question, I’ll give them an answer. Hopefully the person sitting beside them will listen in and think, “Oh, that’s a good answer. Pamela’s knows a thing or two about computers.” Down the road when either of those people have a computer project, they’ll think of me and give me a call.

Macro View
I set up a LinkedIn account. I introduce myself as Your Computer Lady but I’m going to talk about sports, make a joke about the rubber chicken, ask about Ron’s daughters, … …

Clear away the hype and fear of doing something new and social media is just plain old networking. You’re doing it on a grander scale (8 people at the dinner table vs 58 LinkedIn direct connections or 252,600+ with 3 levels of connection) but it is still networking.

Just like networking at an organization, networking online takes a little time. Joining a new organization means you’re seeing more new faces. You’re taking time to build the relationships. You’re gathering business cards and inputting them into your contact management system. But after those basics are done, maintaining the relationships is relatively easy and doesn’t require a lot of time. But you have to be consistent. If you only show up every six months, you’re always at square one. Once you’ve set up your online account and filled out your profile, started connecting with friends, you can switch to maintenance mode too. Show up once a week and respond to invitations, send some messages, add some info.

You want to use social media for the same reasons you network at a meeting. Get your name out there! Be viewed as an expert! We live in a big, high technology, information-explosion world. We want to – need to – connect with people. Social media gives your company the ability to do that. You can humanize your company. You can reach out person-to-person.

As Jennifer Maggiore of Maggiore Consulting pointed out, “There’s no penalty for being early to the game. But there is a big penalty for being late!” eMarketer reports that there was an 11% increase in the use of social media in 2008. 41% of all Internet users visited a social media site at least monthly. They predict that 79 million people (40% of all Internet users) will put content at least once a month on a social media site in 2009.

Your firm can start small. Encourage your employees to participate. All of the Fortune 500 firms have social media activities. 499 of them have vice president level and above participants. But any employee can assist the cause. Whole Foods has tweeters from several stores in addition to their central page. Build your presence. There are firms like Maggiore’s that specialize in social media. If you need to get to more in depth, locate your target audience or increase your presence quickly – you want to contact a specialist. This is an emerging technology. A guide can get you to the destination faster.

If you’re early to the game though, you can take your time.
1. Choose one, maybe 2, networks to join and build.
2. Get that network to the maintenance stage before you take on another one.
3. Tie your networks together. A post on my blog shows up on my LinkedIn page. A Twitter message shows on my Facebook wall.
4. Measure your activity and success. There are tools like TwitterGrader that help you measure what you’re accomplishing.

My recommendation is to start with LinkedIn. It’s a pure business site that is simple to use. You can make good connections. Then add Twitter. Those little 140 character messages have potential. Check out twitter.com/JetBlue, /Whole Foods or /ScottsdalePD to see some business results. Yes, you can follow John McCain now too. Then expand into Facebook, Yelp or some of the other sites.

The Arizona Small Business Association is doing a series of social media classes in April and May. Check their web site for details.

Connect with me:
www.LinkedIn.com/in/YourComputerLady
@PamelaBir at Twitter
Pamela Bir on Facebook

October 18, 2024 By yclmanager5

How A Typo Can Hurt Your Business

OK, I’m on my soapbox! I think proper spelling, punctuation and grammar count. In your web site. In your emails. In your marketing literature. Yes, even text messages. I did find an Urban Dictionary that explains all of the acronyms and shortcuts used today but you won’t see me using them. Words matter!

And Marketing Profs agree with me! Read their article about typos and their effect on your business.

Marketing Profs has a great email service giving you good market research and information. Sign up if you haven’t already.

October 16, 2024 By yclmanager5

We Need to Talk About Personalization: Evolution & Trends

“What do you think we’re talking about when we say the words “email personalization”? Are you thinking about merge tags or dynamic content? Segmentation and automation? Profile or behavior-based automations? Or all of the above?”

Click here to continue reading.

October 15, 2024 By yclmanager5

How To Get Emails from Website Visitors

One of the most important things your website should be doing for you is growing your email list. Think about it! Someone found your website out of all the billions of sites out there. You have the start of a beautiful relationship!! Now you want to stay in touch and continue educating them about your company.

Offer them something in exchange for their email!

Here is a very nicely done example of a company offering an eBook in exchange for my email. They offered valuable information I wanted. A list of foods to increase metabolism. They made the process easy. I had to enter only my email. They made the offer appetizing. A nice photo in the background. A simple, easy to read offer.

You can offer something pertinent to your business.

White paper or eBook of valuable information – “Resources To Save You Time and Money”
Checklist of related information – “Checklist to Prepare Your Pool for Summer”
Special offer – 30 minute, no charge, no obligation phone consultation or No charge service quote
Discounts – 20% off your first pedicure

Your website should make you money! Email opt ins are a powerful option. Call Your Computer Lady for help on the offer or to update your website.