Technology Advisor Blog



Did you know?  You can get call center technology on a small business budget

Posted by Ann Westerheim on 10/28/22 12:14 PM

At Ekaru, we've been partners with GoTo for several years now, and we've helped design, configure, install, and support phone systems for many local businesses in the greater Boston area.  We've been using the system in our own office for several years, and the visual dial plan editor, the ability to work from everywhere, and integrated video conferencing are compelling features.  Recently several of the local businesses we work with have taken the next step to implement "call center" features.

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Tags: VoiP,, Phone System, SMB





Want to achieve your goals in 2019?  Get organized and take action!

Posted by Nancy Amato on 1/3/19 10:50 AM

It's a new year and a great time to get organized so you can achieve your goals for the year.  January is a great time for business planning, and how you effectively use your time will have a big impact on your ability to achieve your goals.
  • Before leaving work each day create a To-Do list of your priorities for the next working day.  Don’t forget to do this on Fridays.  It will help you become more organized.
  • As you begin your To-Do list never spend more than 30 minutes being confused. Stop ask for help or - you are wasting time.  These are the boundaries you need to set for yourself.
  • One benefit of time management is that if you follow your daily list, it will reduce your stress level.
  • Set up deadlines on your projects. Put a time limit on your tasks.
  • Follow your prioritized list by completing the most critical and demanding tasks first thing in the morning if possible.
  • Schedule a break if needed every 90 minutes for a quick glass of water or a cup of coffee. This will help you maintain high productivity throughout the day.
  • Exercise and regulating your sleep patterns also helps with time management. Any form of relaxation is important.   Exercise is also considered a great stress reliever.  Going to bed the same time every night and waking up the same time every day helps with your overall wellbeing.  Many presenters have brought this up during the Hubspot Inbound conference.
  • Never procrastinate. You know the famous saying ‘Why put off tomorrow what you can do today? Procrastination wastes your time and your company’s time. I recently saw 'Mary Poppins Returns', and Emily Blunt said "Today or Never" - a great motto to live by!
  • This one is tricky: Learn how to multitask!  When working in a fast paced environment it’s the only way to survive some days.  This is not easy and may take lots of practice!
  • Start each day by being on time at work. Everyone has traffic to deal with and family morning rituals, but always give yourself extra time to get to work. If you start your day late everyday then you should stay later to make up your time so why start off late everyday…It’s a waste of your time!

 

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Tags: SMB, Time Management





Cyber Attacks Increasing - Cape Cod Community College Hacked for $800,000

Posted by Ann Westerheim on 12/12/18 12:01 PM

Cyber threats are real and they're local.  Major corporations like Marriott make the big headlines, but too many smaller businesses and institutions think they're "under the radar".  Attacks are widespread and they're automated.  The average firewall is getting hundreds of thousands of intrusion attempts per month, over 50 ransomware attempts, and twelve phishing attempts.   All it takes is ONE user clicking on ONE wrong link and a lot of damage can be done.

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Tags: cybersecurity, SMB, ransomware





You've Got Ransomware... Now What?

Posted by Ann Westerheim on 10/16/18 3:36 PM

If you're unfortunate enough to be the victim of a ransomware attack, there are basically only three options open to you. Ransomware is a type of computer virus that kidnaps your data and holds it hostage for money. It has become increasingly common attacking governments and all manner of business and non-for profit institutions.  These are often automated attacks that are broadly distributed, so even if you're a small business you're still at risk.  Too many small businesses think they're "under the radar" and in fact, about half of ransomware attacks hit small businesses.
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Tags: cybersecurity, ransomware, cybersecurity, SMB





5 Surprising Tech Trends Boosting Small Business Growth

Posted by Ann Westerheim on 10/5/18 9:26 AM

Running a small business is exciting but also very risky. American business owners and managers spend countless hours building enterprises that bring value to the table. However, their survival rate doesn't look rosy according to recent statistics. Approximately 80% of businesses survive their first year, 50% survive their fifth year, and 30% survive their tenth year. The fact that their failure rate only increases over time is cause for concern.

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Tags: cybersecurity, SMB





What I learned at Hubspot Inbound 2018

Posted by Nancy Amato on 9/24/18 4:27 PM

Nancy recently attended Hubspot Inbound 2018 with 24,000 marketing pros from around the country and around the world (plus 400,000 followers!)  "INBOUND is a community of people who are passionate about marketing, selling, and delighting customers in an inbound way. Our annual event and year-round media platform inspire and educate hundreds of thousands of people so that they—and their businesses—can grow better."

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Tags: small business, SMB, Marketing





Whats New in SMB Tech?  Internet (VoIP) Phones!

Posted by Ann Westerheim on 6/5/18 1:04 PM

In case you missed it:  Last week we hosted a technology lunch and learn event with our partner, Jive Communications.  Local business owners enjoyed networking, lunch, and technology.   

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Tags: VoiP,, SMB





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