Think You’re Engaging with People on Twitter?

(Long Island, N.Y.) I often tout the “social” aspects of social media — the format’s ability to help us build relationships, form business contacts and otherwise connect with a whole wide world of people. But if you’re using Twitter as a medium to engage with others, a study released by Sysomos, a social media analytics company, may surprise you.

First, the study discovered that 72% of all tweets are made by 5% of Twitter users. This isn’t a shock. Conventional wisdom states that 90% of all the work in an organization is done by 10% of the people, so this is merely a corollary of that rule. (Some sources quote this as the 80/20 rule, rather than 90/10.)

What is surprising is that, of those 5% of tweets, more than one-third are automatically generated. Even more surprising: Nearly one-quarter of ALL tweets are made by computer programs. Many of these bots generate more than 150 tweets per day.

That’s not to say the Twitter stream is clogged up with spam. These twitter users get your permission when you follow them to share their message. It doesn’t matter that they’re not delivering it personally but, instead, using a software app (aka, a “bot”) to send out scheduled tweets.

The top Tweet bots, according to Sysomos?

•     @diggupdates

•     @deliciousrecent

•     @imdb

•     @twitseeker

•     @rosehose

•     @ladyreporter

•     @nieuwslijstnl

•     @dogbook

•     @combatsi

The top live people using Twitter — people with more than 50,000 followers — send out an average of between 33 and 43 tweets per day, with blogger and social media expert Chris Brogan topping that list.

A Society of Voyeurs

On the other end of that spectrum, 85% of all users post less than one tweet per day. Nevertheless, they stick around to read, observe and, yes, click those links tweeted by bots and real users alike.

Social media consultant Chris Voss brings up a key observation in his video about the Sysomos study, posted at http://thechrisvossshow.com/?p=3230. He reminds us that we are a society of voyeurs. People are accustomed to watching television, movies, sporting events… Even as much as the Web is an interactive medium, the number of comments on a well visited blog will reflect only a very small percentage of the blog’s overall traffic. Most people would rather watch than participate in almost anything.

Celebrity Influence a Myth?

Just who are the vast majority of people on Twitter are listening to and watching? While many users (not bots) on the list of Top 25 users with more than 50,000 followers are celebrities, not all are. Even though celebrity Twitter accounts gain massive amounts of followers, the Sysomos study shows that celebrities have very little influence on Twitter. It’s the Chris Brogans of the Web — and the lesser known bloggers, coaches, social media experts and Internet marketers — that hold the most influence, getting people to retweet, click and, yes, buy.

How This Can Help Your Business

So what does this mean to small business owners who want to use Twitter as a marketing channel? As of the beginning of this year, Twitter had 75 million users. In short, you’ll find massive amounts of people giving you permission to share you message. With the clever use of hashtags, your bio, and applications such as FourSquare, you can even target your tweets and followers to your region to attract customers to your local business. Or you can cast a broad net for Internet marketing.

That top 5% of Twitter is not yet a glutted market. It’s not dominated by celebrities. multimillionaires or people who spend every waking moment in front of the computer. To match Brogan’s average of 43 tweets a day doesn’t take much time. By putting out interesting content consistently, you, too, can become one of the top Twitter influencers, share your message and expand your business.

Why not start by following me (@DawnAllcot) and your favorite source for Long Island news, Long Island Exchange (@Long_Island)?

How to keep busy until Twitter can beach the Fail Whale

(Long Island, N.Y.) The Fail Whale has been out in full force since last week. Last night, Twitter co-founder Biz Stone accepted three Webby awards on behalf of the micro-blog — but problems still plague the site.

Business owners, social media marketing experts and anyone who uses the blog to stay in constant contact with their network may panic at the site of the iconic “Fail Whale,” the screen that indicates Twitter is having problems.

CNNMoney.com reports some of the reasons for the glitches: Twitter is currently working to strengthen its infrastructure and add new features. So far, users have been tolerant of the technical problems, understanding that it’s a part of growing pains.

In the meantime, Long Islanders are fortunate to live in a rich, diverse community of six million people and plenty of things to do when we’re not tweeting. Here are some productive ways to spend your time networking and enjoying life until Twitter gets back to business as usual.

 

1. Set up accounts on a few more social networking sites. You’ve got LinkedIn and Facebook down to a science, and the MySpace account you set up 10 years ago is destined to fade into obscurity. But why not explore some of the other social networks — places like Plurk, StumbleUpon, and even BlogTalkRadio, where you can set up an account and join a community of people with similar interests. Don’t neglect networks exclusive to your industry, either.

 

2. Re-vamp your blog. I’m not talking about anything drastic. Just a few tweaks here and there to create a fresh new look. Bonus: You’ll have something new to promote when Twitter’s Fail Whale finally floats away.

3. Grab a book and hop a train. It might be a long ride on the LIRR if you can’t tweet your location at every stop, but that’s why you should take a great summer read with you on the rails. I recommend Eckhart Tolle’s Power of Now, because a train ride is such a Zen experience, Seth Godin’s Linchpin (because you can’t go wrong with books by Seth), or for pure escapist non-fiction from a Long Island native, read Vicky Ward’s The Devil’s Casino: Friendship, Betrayal, and the High Stakes Games Played Inside Lehman Brothers. What to do once you hit the city? That’s easy. Anything you want!

4. Attend some real-life networking events. I shared my top picks for Long Island Networking Events last week. Of course, you can also seek out fundraisers held at catering halls on the water to really appreciate all Long Island has to offer.

5. Support local businesses — shop on Main Street. When I think of Main Street, U.S.A., Sayville, Lindenhurst, Bay Shore and Babylon Village all come to mind as top spots to eat, shop or enjoy a pleasant walk. (Can you tell I’ve spent most of my life on the South Shore?) Each of these areas has successfully combated the spread of chain stores and the Wal-marts to support thriving local businesses. Buy ice cream, antiques or health foods in one of these areas, or impress a client by taking them to lunch at a mom-and-pop restaurant where mostly locals go.

6. When all else fails, go to the beach. If you’re an entrepreneur or small business owner, take advantage of your proximity to the country’s top beaches and just take a break for a few hours. Hitting Robert Moses at 1 PM on a Tuesday afternoon isn’t something you want to make a habit of if you want your business to succeed. Just think of it as making good use of the time you’re NOT spending checking your Twitter account.

Let’s hope Twitter gets its problems straightened out soon and the world of social media can return to normal. In the meantime, take a few minutes to enjoy life — off-line.

Best Long Island Networking Events for Women (and Men, Too!)

(Long Island, N.Y.) Looking to make local connections to grow your business? As a freelance writer, there are days when I barely venture outside my home office in the upper half of my North Babylon cape. It’s cozy here, and I find myself more productive than I’ve ever been in any magazine office. (Or when I used to work in my living room). Most of my client leads and magazine writing assignments come from word-of-mouth and Internet marketing. (Now there’s a surprise, right?)

But when I decide to venture outside my home, I find that Long Island offers a wealth of networking opportunities for small-to-medium size business owners. I’m focusing on networking organizations that are run by women or specifically women, simply because women have, stereotypically, not pursued these type of events. Things have changed today, but in my parents’ generation, men dominated organizations like the Rotary and Kiwanis clubs. It’s important to note that both men and women will find plenty of value with these top Long Island networking organizations.

Long Island Way:

(www.thelongislandway.com) I first met Long Island Way Founder Donna Cariello at a fundraising dinner last year and was immediately impressed by her passion and professionalism. Long Island Way hosts “speed networking” events, which includes only one representative from each profession. (For instance, only one real estate agent, one writer, one Avon representative, etc. may attend). This is a great way to share your pitch and get your name out to a lot of prospects and make connections outside your own industry.

Even more important, though, is the Long Island Way’s philanthropic mission, which is “making a difference through the spirit of giving.” The organization’s objective is to match non-profits and established businesses to form mutually beneficial relationships. If you’re all about giving back, you’ll find a way with Long Island Way.

Long Island Webgrrls:

(http://www.webgrrls.com/longisland-ny), run by Ellen DePasquale, The Software Revitalist™ and founder of Efficient Office Computing, is the local chapter of the international organization known as the “women’s tech knowledge connection.” Don’t let the name fool you, though. Even if you can’t tell a “tweet” from a sweettart, and your idea of technical-savvy is paying someone else to update your Blogger site, you’ll benefit from these monthly meetings. In fact, they could be just what you need to help you master the Web and make great local connections with other SMB owners. Webgrrls is described as “an online and offline networking organization of professional business women focused on propelling their careers and businesses forward.” Sound like something you’d enjoy?

Lion’s Club:

(www.lionsclubs.org) It was a few years ago at a fundraising dinner that the head of one of Long Island’s many Lion’s Clubs told me the organization is making a marketing push to attract more women. Before we spoke, I didn’t know that. I also didn’t know that the Lion’s Club International Foundation is the largest service club organization in the world, with 1.3 million members and 45,000 clubs. Check their website to find the Long Island chapter closest to you, and see the difference it can make in your community and your business.

Social Media Efforts to Save Long Island Parks

(Long Island, N.Y.) Many business owners and solo-preneurs use social media to promote our companies, but we shouldn’t forget about another powerful way to use the medium — for social change, environmental causes, and other activities that can really make a difference in people’s lives.

Long Island’s Parks Examiner Jennifer Jones recently reported that close to 10,000 Long Islanders have joined the Facebook fan page “SAVE LONG ISLAND PARKS!!!”. These Long Islanders all feel passionately about preserving Long Island’s many acres of beautiful parks, many of which are threatened to be closed because the state can no longer afford to pay for their care, upkeep and staffing.

Brookhaven State Park and Nissequogue River State Park were two of 37 state parks already closed down due to state funding cuts. There will be no Jones Beach Fireworks on the Fourth of July this year, either.

On the positive side, the efforts of generous Long Islanders kept Connetquot River State Park Preserve in Oakdale, Orient Beach State Park, Cold Spring Harbor State Park, Trail View State Park in Woodbury, and Caleb Smith State Park in Smithtown open through charitable donations from individuals and organizations. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t in danger next year.

Spreading the Word to Save Our Parks

It is up to all Long Islanders — businesses and individuals alike — to help save the parks, and with them, the memories that have been created there and will be created in years to come. This, according to Malverne, Long Island native Allison Lyons, was the impetus behind starting the Facebook Group “Save Long Island Parks.” Lyons, who launched the grassroots effort in February, says, “If these parks are boarded up, so are all our memories, past and future.”

She notes that parks left unattended will be subject to vandalism and decay. Local business owners, who benefit from the increased traffic surrounding these recreational areas, will suffer, too. “Closing these parks benefits no one,” she says.

It took a comment from Lyons’ 4-year-old son for Lyons to realize she could take action to help prevent the park closures. “We own a house in Orient Point and visit Orient Beach State Park all the time. My father takes my son in his electric car through the park, and they stop for a ride on the swing. My son looks forward to this time as soon as the weather gets warm,” she shares. “When I read the article [in Newsday] and told my son the park was going to close, he thought it was just overnight, or maybe for the winter. I told him it was forever and he said I had to stop them. I left the room, and then came back in. He asked if I had stopped them yet. Two minutes later, the Facebook fan page was created.”

The one-woman crusade has expanded into a website, a Cafe Press site, which offers bumper stickers and t-shirts for sale, with proceeds going to help save the parks, and, of course, the initial fan page which is 9,000 + fans strong — and growing.

Donations made through the website and from Cafe Press sales go to the Long Island Pine Barrens Society. Lyons also urges Long Islanders to contact state Assembly members, our senators and the governor. And, of course, to join forces with other Long Islanders and vacationers who love Long Island parks through the Facebook page.

Lyons uses the Facebook page to keep everyone up to date on the latest news, current articles, and (sadly) any park closings. “People have been sharing their thoughts, stories, and pictures with me through Facebook and it is so touching,” she says. “I remember being so excited when we reached 100 fans and now at almost 10,000, it is just amazing. Even Christie Brinkley is a fan.”

Have you ever posted something you regretted? Most tech users have!

(Long Island, N.Y.) One of my favorite workday quotes as a magazine editor was when one of our graphic artists declared, “Don’t you wish life had an ‘undo’ button?” (Or, for Mac users, an “Apple-Z” command). It’s too bad life doesn’t have an undo button but, in social media, the delete button can be your friend.

Sometimes, we post and hit enter too quickly and then can’t delete our words before the damage is done. According to a new Gadgetology study released by Retrevo, 32 % of all people surveyed said they posted something online they regretted. When you consider iPhone users exclusively, that number jumps to 59%. Users of other smartphones came in at 54%.

The Immediacy of Mobile Media

Perhaps it’s because our iPhones, Blackberries and Droids are always with us. We may be multitasking (hopefully not driving!) and decide it’s a good idea to make a post about something funny we saw or heard. Or maybe we want to vent about something — from our boss to traffic on the L.I.E. — and our smartphone is the easiest way to do so. Maybe it’s just because people who access Twitter, Facebook and the like through our smartphones tend to use social media more often — because we’re posting more frequently, the odds that we will say “the wrong thing” increases.

Taking Back Our Words

Fortunately, 13% of all users were able to remove the offending post before it did significant damage. Another 9 % weren’t as lucky — 3% say the post ruined their marriage or relationship, while 6% said it caused problems at work or at home.

More significantly to business owners, we have no way of measuring how many potential clients were lost as a result of an “offensive” or incendiary Facebook post. If someone doesn’t like something you post on Facebook, they’re probably not going to contact you and tell you. Instead, they simply won’t call you or inquire about your business.

Drawing Lines in the Social Media Sand

For this reason, it’s important to maintain a distinction between your professional social media life and any personal social media you may use. There are a number of ways to do this:

•     Set up separate accounts under different names (for instance, your business name and your own name) and don’t let your business associates into your personal network

•     Use different social media for different purposes — for instance, use Facebook to share photos with friends and family, and utilize Twitter and LinkedIn for professional connections.

Having this separation permits you to be a little bit more “loose” on your personal accounts. For instance, you might be inclined to post about your sick child or a fun weekend party on a personal account — information you wouldn’t share with business associates.

Even if you maintain separate accounts, however, clients and business associates could be offended if they discover you have another account and haven’t friend-ed or followed them. Be prepared to defend your decision or work very hard to keep your “alternate online identity” secret.

Additionally, there are certain topics it’s best to avoid as a businessperson, even on your personal accounts — unless, of course, you work in one of these fields.

•     Religion

•     Politics

•     Sex/Sexual preferences

Yes, the “big three” of topics not to be discussed in “mixed” company remains the same whether we are at a dinner party or on the Web. No surprises there, right?

Remember, it’s best to maintain professionalism on all your social media accounts. You never know who is watching!

Deer Park-headquartered Cousins Paintball uses social media to build customer loyalty.

(Long Island, N.Y.) In tough economic times, many companies focus on getting new customers. Dean Del Prete who, along with Paul Sattler owns the Deer Park-headquartered Cousins Paintball, has a different philosophy. Cousins appreciates new customers and does put marketing efforts into growing the proverbial pie (the number of people who play paintball nationwide, which now numbers in the 6 millions). But Del Prete focuses a lot of the company’s social media marketing and promotional programs on building customer loyalty. “It costs pennies to keep a customer, rather than the costs to recruit new customers. Social networking is one thing that helps us do that.”

The Cousins Facebook Family

“We look at Facebook as ‘insider-ish,’” Del Prete explains. “It’s a chance to show our internal goofiness. Because of the business we’re in, we can get away with being a lot edgier than many companies.” Cousins’ Facebook fans will find long-time employees like Steve Cusano, Dave Rotunda and graphic designer Chris Vitale on Facebook hosting fun contests and talking about everything from testing out the latest cool products to upcoming games.

Del Prete notes that this social marketing plan — using Facebook and Twitter to build relationships with existing customers — may not be what social media marketing experts might recommend, or what everyone else is doing, but it’s working for Cousins. “Social media is a net, and we’re not casting it wide. But we’re catching the vast majority of the customers we’re aiming to catch.” The target audience? The diehard players, the insiders, and players who want to feel like insiders.

Sometimes, that net will reach a bit further and someone who is a Facebook friend of someone who is a friend of Cousins Paintball will become interested in paintball because they noticed a link or something their friend posted.

But Facebook is most useful, Del Prete says, “to maintain an ongoing conversation with our loyal customers, to give them an insider’s look at our company, and to make them feel appreciated.” He adds, “Our approach to social media is always evolving, but it’s all about understanding the customer — and our most loyal customers are on the Internet, so it’s been very successful for us.”

Prepping for the Long Island Big Game 2010

Recently, one very active thread introduced the commanding generals for the upcoming Long Island Big Game, to be held this May 15 and 16 at Cousins Paintball in Coram. Speaking of customer loyalty, the red team general will be local paintball legend Rob Navas — Cousins Paintball’s first customer three decades ago. He’ll face off against former pro paintball player and industry insider Chris LaSoya.

In addition, G4 network’s Attack of the Show will be covering the game, with special guest and Playboy Playmate Sara Underwood. Approximately 2,000 players are expected this year, as well as two tanks and a real helicopter.

The bulk of paintball’s 6 million players are weekend warriors, people who come to Cousins to play for birthday parties, bachelor parties and special outings. But anyone who comes to Big Game is sure to have a blast — you don’t have to know the players or own special gear to enjoy a target-rich environment of 2,000 players. And you don’t have to care that you’ll be participating in one of paintball’s longest continuous running organized events. (Although that is pretty cool!)

AdWords Works to Reach New Customers

In terms of new customers, Del Prete tailors some of his AdWord campaigns — which are all local — to unique keywords not necessarily related to paintball. “We’ll place ads for the keyword ‘class trips,’ because we have groups who call us up thinking about paintball as a senior trip.”

This innovative approach goes back to Del Prete’s “net” analogy; AdWords casts the net wide to bring in new customers. It still comes down to knowing your customer and knowing what your customers want. In the case of a paintball field and store, the ads are tailored to people looking for a unique and exciting weekend activity. Any business owner can apply this strategy by thinking about what need his business fills, and what search terms people would use if they were looking to fill that need.

“What are we selling, really?” Del Prete asks, and then answers the question: “We’re selling fun.”

Are Facebook Fan Pages Worthwhile?

(Long Island, N.Y.) Last weekend someone suggested we set up a Facebook Fan Page for my daughter, who’s almost two years old. Apparently, people enjoy the brief updates, funny stories and photos I share through my Facebook account. (Which, unlike my business-oriented Twitter account, I use mostly for personal interactions with friends and far-flung family.)

Apparently, I’m not that unusual. While Facebook’s demographic is predominantly college kids (50%) and “young females,” 53% have kids and most of those parents make more than $60K annually. Knowing these demographics is important if you are a business owner debating whether or not to set up a Facebook Fan Page.

Some internet marketers believe there should be no question about it. Susan Payton, Managing Partner of Egg Marketing & Public Relations, an Internet marketing firm, believes, “If you’re a business owner, you really need to set up a Fan Page, or else you risk being left behind as more businesses shift to social networks like Facebook.”
Is Susan right? Well… yes. She also notes that 300 million people are on Facebook — that’s nearly the size of the U.S. population. If you’re a small business owner, of course you want to go where the people are.

But, like any social media marketing techniques, a Facebook Fan Page will only be effective if you do it correctly. That means:

•     Knowing where your target demographic and Facebook’s key demographics overlap

•     Driving traffic to your Fan Page with integrated social networking tactics

•     Providing value to your fans once they reach your page — along with a reason to return

Reaching Facebook Users

Victoria Secret’s PINK fan page is one example of a business building a fan page for a specific brand, rather than for the whole company. If you are a local business with product lines or specific sales that appeal to Facebook’s young female demographic, it might make sense to launch your fan page with that in mind.

Ask yourself: What do you have that Facebook users like?

Driving Traffic to Your Fan Page

We all know the Internet isn’t like the Field of Dreams — just because you build it doesn’t mean they will come. As with a blog, a website or any other Internet marketing efforts, you have to actively promote your fan page. Here are some ways to promote your Facebook Fan Page:

•     Send an email to your existing list.

•     Reach out to your Facebook contacts on your personal profile with status updates and personal messages.

•     Include a link on your website’s home page to your Facebook Fan Page

•     Post updates on your other social networks driving people to your Fan Page for unique content and special deals

Provide Value to Your Fans

You can provide value to your fans in a number of ways.

Information/resources – Your fan page can become a top resource for users of the products and services you manufacture or sell. For instance, a local hardware store may offer home improvement tips on their fan page. A Mary Kay representative can run articles about applying makeup for different occasions. Useful content, updated regularly, remains a key to driving traffic anywhere on the Web.

Discounts – Thank your Facebook Fans for their involvement by offering discounts available only on the Fan Page.

Insider knowledge – Use your Facebook Fan Page as a unique way to give your customers a glimpse into the inner workings of your business. People like being the recipients of “exclusive” information, so why not extend that privilege to your Facebook Fans?

Fan Pages a “Must-Have” for Businesses

Facebook has fallen under fire lately for its bulky navigation, invasive (and time-suck) apps, and significant security concerns amongst private users. A Facebook profile may not be the best social media choice for individuals, but a Facebook Fan Page is definitely a “must-have” for businesses.

A few more benefits? Customers don’t have to have their own Facebook profile to become a “Fan,” and fan pages typically rank well in Google searches.

Long Island Exchange on Facebook

No, I didn’t take the suggestion to set up a Fan Page for my daughter, but there is an exciting new Facebook Fan Page you’ll want to join. You may have already guessed… Long Island Exchange now has a Facebook Fan Page, where you’ll find insider knowledge and plenty of resources about the island we all love. Check it out at
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Lindenhurst-New-York-11757/LongIslandExchangecom/114221358613891

CPX Interactive Owner Mike Seiman Talks About Web Advertising for SMBs

(Long Island, N.Y.) Are you thinking about Web advertising but not sure where to invest your dollars? The Web is such a widespread medium, how can you think globally while attracting local customers?

Mike Seiman, CEO and founder of Westbury-based CPX Interactive, launched the earliest incarnation of his full-service Internet advertising network while he was still a freshman at Hofstra University. By 2001, with a B.S. in Computer Science, he created BUDS Inc., the parent company of CPX.

Today, CPX provides Internet advertising services to Fortune 500 companies in the tri-state area and across the world. The company placed #71 on Inc. Magazine’s list of the 5,000 fastest growing private companies in America. Seiman recently shared some tips for Long Island SMBs (small and medium-size businesses) looking to advertise online.

Tell us about CPX Interactive. Why do business owners come to CPX?

Mike Seiman: We’re an intermediary between advertisers and Internet publishers. We provide the technology and the service between both sides. We close the deal and have the technology to optimize and run the advertising campaign across the networks we work with.

How has the industry changed since you started the company?

Mike Seiman: It’s expanded a lot. There’s a lot more diversification. You have hundreds of thousands of websites, you have a lot more targeting capabilities, and people are interested in data and measuring the types of users. It’s gotten more intricate, more ROI-focused, and a lot more targeted. In the beginning, it was just: “Okay, let’s place an ad and see what happens.”

What is a company’s best means for tracking results today?

Mike Seiman: If you’re talking about a small-to-medium size local business, from a pizza place to a family shop in a local area, it’s really about utilizing local advertising and targeting down to your closest radial area. If you’re a Fortune 500 company or a large organization, it’s about thinking about your product line and the customers it appeals to, and the best ways to hit that consumer, using demographic data.

What tips do you have for Long Island SMBs looking at placing Internet advertising?

Mike Seiman: If you’re a small business, don’t over-think it. Don’t think about your demographic, your target audience. When you’re looking at local advertising, you need to keep your population as broad as possible. There are only a given number of Internet users online at any given time within a certain zip code or mile radius. To break it down into smaller demographics, you’re pushing your audience down to maybe 1,000 Internet users a day, which isn’t effective. Don’t over-think it, just hit as many people in your local radius as possible.

Anything else?

Mike Seiman: Keep the message simple. Simple advertising is most effective on the Internet right now. If you’re reaching someone in your local area, say something like, “Shoe sale in Westbury, Shop now!” Something simple, easy to read, and to the point to invite people to come to your store.

Also, make sure you’re working with a company that’s capable of providing the service levels you want, or at least that you know you’re getting what you’re paying for–you’re hitting the local area you need to and you’re paying the rates that are competitive.

Does Internet advertising make sense for local (brick-and-mortar only) companies?

Mike Seiman: I think we’re starting to move into that area as an industry. I think you’re going to see a major shift over the next few years. People are going to see advertising dollars moving from their Pennysaver and their local newspaper and going online. Businesses are finding efficient ways to buy Internet advertising cheaply. You can spend $50 – $100 a month to see if it works.

That’s not expensive at all…

Mike Seiman: It’s relatively inexpensive. Don’t get fooled into thinking you have to spend a lot of money. Don’t think you have to have an amazing website or $10,000 creative–you don’t. You can see how it works, and worst case scenario, you’ll get some more people in your local area to know about your business. Keep it small, keep it simple, and make sure you’re working with a company that can provide you with the level of targeting and the reach that you need.

Is Google’s browser worth the download time?

(Long Island, N.Y.) Using part of my tax refund, I just invested in a new laptop. I thought it would make me more productive. Instead, I’ve spent the past three weeks familiarizing myself with Windows 7 (more “changes” than “improvements”), and Open Office (it’s free — and much like MS Word, for better and for worse).

Just as I started to get the hang of it all, problems I was having on my old laptop, particularly with my web browser, began to crop up. Namely, I couldn’t load full-featured gmail. After bad experiences with Outlook at one publishing house where I used to work, I use gmail for nearly everything — including my email, calendar and chat. This is a Big Deal. No one else — including several of my tech savvy friends — seem to be having this problem with Firefox and gmail compatibility issues. So I’m going to chalk it up to user error.

And then I found a solution: Google Chrome. The browser, launched in 2008, isn’t exactly new, but it hasn’t yet garnered the mainstream appeal of FireFox and Internet Explorer. Yes, people still use that archaic browser, apparently — the latest version is ranked #2 according to some recent statistics posted at W3Schools.com, but Chrome is fast-gaining market share and looks to surpass IE8 by April, at the latest.

I’ve been a Firefox users since back when the Web browser was considered “cutting edge,” but in just three days, I’m sold on Chrome. I didn’t believe the hype that Chrome makes Web browsing faster, but I’ve found it to be true. I’m on a computer not yet bogged down with programs, so the difference is subtle, but definitely noticeable.

I like the graphic history that shows up when you open a new tab, which provides a quick glance at the most recent Web pages I visited. I’m a creature of habit, and the pictures make it easy to spot what I need quickly.

Tabbed browsing is similar enough to Firefox that there was no adjustment period for me. And when I installed the program, it imported all my bookmarks from FF.

I’ve been able to upload text from OpenOffice to Blogger or WordPress with no issues, and format my posts on both blog platforms — critical in my line of work. And all my social media loads quickly and seamlessly.

Three days isn’t enough to explore all the nuances of a new program — even one as simple as Chrome — but I came across The Power User’s Guide to Google Chrome with some easy-to-read and fast-to-deploy tips to make your Web browsing experience even more pleasant.

I have encountered one odd problem with Chrome. I can’t seem to copy and paste from Open Office into gmail, not even using hotkeys. I don’t know if this is a browser problem, or a problem with gmail. Thinking it was an OpenOffice issue, I typed a sentence into Google Docs, selected all, copied and… still nothing when I pasted into gmail. Odd. (Readers, I’m open to suggestions if you have any; email me.) Am I pasting in invisible ink?

Overall, though, I’m impressed with Chrome. I finally discovered (thanks to a discussion with a friend who’s a computer tech) why Windows 7 has issues with FireFox. He couldn’t even get the browser to load on his machines. Mozilla’s 64-bit version of FireFox is still in Beta version. Beta, as we all know, often equals “buggy.”

I understand that FireFox is open source software and I shouldn’t expect immediate compatibility with the latest and greatest computer systems. It takes time to develop software — especially software that’s distributed free. But I believe that by the time Mozilla releases the full 64-bit version of FireFox, I’ll be so hooked on Chrome, I won’t go back.

Melville-based FalconStor’s VP of Sales earns top honors from Everything Channel

(Long Island, N.Y.) FalconStor’s vice president of North American sales was named a 2010 Channel Chief by the Everything Channel’s CRN. As a leader in creative effective channel programs for IT solution providers, Petty and FalconStor helps companies nationwide protect their data and server infrastructures.

Some of FalconStor’s clients in the New York area include Grey Healthcare Group, one of the world’s top five healthcare communications companies and Maxim Group, LLC. Maxim Group is a full-service financial institution headquartered in New York, with their DR data center based on Long Island.

We congratulate fellow Long Islander Wendy Petty on the Channel Chief award, and would like to use the opportunity to explore secure data storage solutions for small to medium size businesses (SMB). FalconStor’s Vice President of Enterprise Solutions Chris Poelker took a few minutes to answer our questions about data security and storage. “There are new, innovative products available for small businesses to save money over traditional approaches [to data storage], while providing much more stringent service levels for disaster recovery,” Poelker says.

Local Disasters Put Our Minds on Data Recover

Although reports say many companies are cutting costs on technology in these challenging times, businesses of every size should continue investing in secure data storage. The recent earthquakes in Haiti and Chile, along with school fires closer to home in Riverhead and West Babylon, may open SMB owners’ eyes on its importance.

Poelker noted that 9/11 had a large impact on DR awareness, but technology has changed a lot and solutions have become even more affordable since 2001. For business owners who started thinking about data recovery after the terrorist attacks, it may be time to revisit DR solutions. And, as this economy has created an influx of entrepreneurs and new business owners, it’s never too soon for start-ups to think about data recovery. “Many NY-based small business owners are still spinning the wheel and hoping their number does not come up,” Poelker says. “I’m sure if you took a survey, most are still using traditional methods such as offsite tape shipping, which may not help if a real DR issue arises.”

Data Storage “in the Cloud”

Poelker wants Long Island business owners to know: “The ability to provide security is a must, but you don’t need to break the bank or hire expensive consultants in order to get it done.”

He cites inexpensive off-the-shelf solutions for small business owners, such as, small, appliance-based virtual tape libraries which can encrypt backup data, including existing physical tapes. Poelker explains: “Instead of shipping unsecure tapes offsite for storage, you can simply replicate encrypted data to a cloud service provider.” He urges business owners to keep it simple.

Storing data “in the cloud” (that is, on the Internet), through Software-as-a-Service providers, keeps costs low for SMBs and permits access from anywhere in the world through secure channels. FalconStor offers storage virtualization as one of its services, which is a key aspect that enables data to be placed anywhere securely. “[This aspect of our business] enables our SaaS and cloud solution partners to provide extremely cost-effective solutions for internal or external data services on a cost-per-gigabyte basis,” Poelker says.

Need to Learn More about Data Recovery?

It’s important to note that FalconStor does not offer data storage and recovery solutions to end users, but, instead, partners with top OEM providers such as Sun/Oracle, IBM, EMC, Pillar Data, HDS, 3PAR, Xiotech and Nexsan. “FalconStor partners with industry leaders such as MicroSoft, Oracle, Symantec and VMware in order to assure data is always provisioned and protected as efficiently as possible to enable small business to have peace of mind and save money,” Poelker says.

Poelker, who is passionate about the topic of data storage, security and recovery, will talk more about these important, but often neglected, aspects of running a business on this Wednesday’s BlogTalk Radio show Technical Tidbits with Debbie Mahler. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/technicaltidbits

What are you doing to protect your important company data in the event of a local or national disaster?