How to Buy A Printer
Picking the right printer can be tough, with so many variations in features, and individual printers with almost any possible combination of those variations available.
Before you run out to the store (or compare prices online), sit down and determine your needs. At that point, you will be in a better position to figure out what type of printer and what features match your needs.
Click below to read a roundup of the type of printers in the market. Good reading before making a purchase.
How to Buy A Printer – How to Buy a Printer | Roundup | PCMag.com.
Are You Using E-Mail Marketing?
What is E-mail Marketing and why should it be part of your Social Media Strategy?
Email marketing is best defined as the practice of sending an email,electronically, to a group of people on a list to sell and promote a product or service. Email marketing is immediate as all e-mails are sent simultaneously to your subscribers.
Using e-mail marketing permits you to create newsletters, announce promotions and special events, in advance, and schedule specific dates for them to be sent out.
With email marketing, you can track, at a glance, who is reading your e-mails and how many clicks you are getting on the links placed in your messages.
To learn more about what you need to know about e-mail marketing, CLICK HERE, or below to listen to my interview with an executive from the leading e-marketing company, Constant Contact.
What is Pinterest?
Pinterest is a Virtual Pinboard, one of the many social networking tools available that allows you to organize and share ideas with others. You can upload images and “pin” them to relevant boards. Other Pinterest users can browse your “boards” and comment on individual items. You can browse other users’ “boards” and comment on their pinned items.
Businesses are now successfully using the site to increase traffic, sales and leads. To learn more about Pinterest, click on the link below to listen to my BlogTalk Radio Program to hear my interview with Robin Colner, the President and Founder of http://digistarmedia.com/.
THE WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW.
– Do you have the right equipment to support your business and personal needs?
– Confused by all the new gadgets being introduced almost on a daily basis?
– Do you know what type of smartphone (iPhone, Android, blackberry) is right for you?
– Do you understand the new data plans that have been introduced by your wireless service provider (Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, etc.)?
– Are you or someone you know going through career transition and need help determining their technology needs?
– Need to set up a home office?
These are just a few topics that I discuss on my weekly radio program. While the shows are aired every Thursday at 4:30 PM, you can click on the link below to access the archives of all past programs at anytime. The topics as well as the names of guest speakers are listed for each show.
If you have any questions about any of the topics discussed, please contact me at 917 921-4518 or by e-mail at jblue@bluetutor.com for a FREE telephone consultation. Feel free to visit my website, www.bluetutor.com for more information about my services.
To hear the latest program, click on the play button (>) below. To access my program site and the archives, click on my name (Jim Blue).
THE NEW IMPROVED MAGICJACK
MagicJack, the popular (VOIP) internet based phone system has recently introduced a new program that allows you to make and receive phone calls without your computer being turned on.
For those of you who are not familiar with MagicJack, the system lets you make free telephone calls to anywhere in the United States, regardless of your location, whether you are in the US or abroad.
How does it work? When you sign up, you select a phone number with your local area code (in New York, either 917,646, or 347). What this means is when you plug your MagicJack into your computer, you are calling through the Internet making it possible to make what appears to be a local call within the US, MagicJack is a tiny device that is plugged into one of the USB slots in your computer. The device costs $39.99 with an annual fee of $19.99. Not only that, but when you purchase a MagicJack, you get the first year for free – no monthly charges. You can purchase one at places like Best Buy or online at magicjack.com.
With its new enhanced program called MagicJack Plus ( at a slightly higher rate), you no longer need a computer. No more having to keep your computer on at all times. You can use any phone, stationary or portable and simply plug it into your new phone jack in the MagicJack PLUS which can be plugged into the wall now. The MagicJack Plus device is than plugged into your router. If you want to reduce your telephone costs, you can now “port” over your existing home phone number to MagicJack Plus and take your home phone number wherever you go.
If you have any questions regarding MagicJack or any other technology issues, give me a call at 917 921-4518 or e-mail me at jblue@bluetutor.com. Feel free to click here to receive my NEW white paper, “TIPS ON BECOMING A TRUE MOBILE WARRIOR”
STILL NOT INTERESTED IN SOCIAL MEDIA?
“We don’t have a choice on whether we do social media, the question is how well we do it.” – Erik Qualman, author of Socialnomics: How Social Media Transforms the Way We Live and Do Business.
If you don’t believe the impact that social media has had on our lives, both personally and professionally, click on the link below and listen to this remarkable video. The statistics are several months old, however the message is loud and clear.
The most interesting statistic I found was the one indicating that 93% of marketers use social media for business – do you?
If you want to discuss what social media can do for you, whether on a personal or professional level, do not hesitate to contact me at 917 921-4518 or by e-mail at jblue@bluetutor.com. Feel free to click here to receive my free white paper on Technology Tips on setting up a home office and becoming a true road warrior.
7 Rules for using your iPad overseas
You’ve just purchased a brand new iPad. Congratulations!! If you bought the model with the 4G data service from either Verizon or AT&T, here are some things you need to know about using your iPad when traveling out of the United States.
1. The data service should be turned off before you leave. That means you must switch to Airplane mode. When overseas, you are roaming which means the cost of using the a US based data plan is very high.
2. If you want to access the Internet while traveling, use a wireless (wi-fi) connection which is usually FREE. Most hotels offer wi-fi, and while most places offer it for free, you might run into a situation where there might be either a daily or hourly rate.
3. Most Internet cafes abroad offer Internet access by the hour.
4. If you are unable to locate a place with wi-fi and need to use a data service, you can purchase a micro sim card to insert into your iPad. These local data providers offer plans that are significantly cheaper than activating an International program from either Verizon or AT&T here in the United States.
5. Most public wi-fi “hotspots,” whether hotels, airports, Internet cafes, etc. are not secured, meaning that anyone in the network can see what you are doing on your computer. In other words, do not use a public unsecured “hot spot” to access bank accounts, use credit cards or any other private information. If you are staying at someone’s house who has wifi, ask whether their network is secured and for a password to access their network. If no password is required, it is not a secured network.
6. If you want to stream a video from Netflix, or use an online service such as Skype, make sure you are doing so from a w-fi connection. Using your data service, whether from the U.S. or a local provider overseas, will use up your allowable data plan quickly. For example, watch 2 Netflix movies with the 4G service will use up to 90% of your monthly allowance.
7. Lock your iPad with a password. If you are doing a great deal of traveling, it is not difficult to leave it somewhere or have it stolen.
If you have any questions about the iPad or any other technology issues, do not hesitate to contact me at 917 921-4518 or by e-mail at jblue@bluetutor.com. Feel free to click here to receive my free white paper on Technology Tips on setting up a home office and becoming a true road warrior.
HOW GOOD ARE YOUR TECHNOLOGY SKILLS?
Looking to start a new business? Are you in the job market?
Chances are that if you previously worked for a company and had an assistant, many tasks were delegated and support was just a phone call away. Whether you are starting a new venture or looking for employment, your success will depend on your basic computer skills and having a technology plan that supports your efforts.
The majority of Baby Boomers did not start their professional careers in the digital world. The way we communicate and acquire information has changed dramatically. Social networks such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter are now part of our personal and business lives. Cell phones have made us more mobile and reachable everywhere. Everyone uses Google to find people, places and things.
Set some time aside and take an inventory of your basic technology skills. Are you able to retrieve and save e-mail attachments, search through past e-mails? Are you able to type and format documents? Are you able to locate your documents? Are you able to make educated decisions about your equipment? Do you know how to use a smartphone? The list is endless.
Individuals and companies that have not embraced technology will find it very difficult to compete in today’s global and wired world.
If you feel you need to brush up on your basic computer skills or want to understand more about the world of technology, do not hesitate to contact me at 917 921-4518 or by e-mail at jblue@bluetutor.com. If you are in career transition, feel free to click here to receive my free white paper on Technology Tips on setting up a home office and becoming a true road warrior.