In October, Facebook officially rolled out their revamped Page Insights. This tool is for any business or person with a Page, and allows them to gain valuable understanding about how their online visitors are interacting with the content the business posts. One of the reasons this is so useful is because it provides you with a potential way to optimize your marketing efforts.

Here are four ways you can use the various measurements presented by Page Insights to help figure out what content and posts work. From here, you can work out what strategy to adopt or focus on next when it comes to connecting with your customers.

1. Look at overall engagement

If you open your Page Insights (select the Cog which is below your Page's Cover Image and select View Insights). Scroll down to the middle of the page that opens, where you will see a section with information on your last five posts. Take a look at the Engagement column and you will see two numbers beside each post. The upper number is Post Clicks while the lower is Likes, Comments and Shares.

These two numbers, according to Facebook, are presented with bars to visualize how engaged visitors are with your content. Naturally, the higher the number means greater engagement. You can keep a running tally of these figures and the different posts on your profile. Over time, you should begin to see patterns emerge as to what type of content your visitors interact with most, and what type they are more likely to share or like. If you can continue to create similar content, you should see overall engagement increase.

2. Pay close attention to the Likes

While the Engagement column presents you with a quick glance at the figures, you can also look deeper into your content. One measurement to focus on is Likes. If you take a step back and think about how Facebook works, this makes sense. When people click Like for content, they are essentially broadcasting it to their friends. This increases your Page's potential exposure. To go one step further, many who 'Like" content will also share it, thus increasing exposure even further.

In order to get Likes, you first need to know what works and what doesn't. This means looking at the Likes tab. When you click on it, you will see a breakdown of your content by type - Photos, Status and Link. You will also see four sections that present data on a daily, total and net basis. The first section you should look at is Total Likes. This graph visualizes the number of likes each type of content has received, allowing you to see what type works best.

Combine this with the other sections and you should gain a pretty clear picture as to what type of content is working, where it works best, and even the best time to post. From here, you can tweak content and posts, and see how your visitors respond. In theory, if you begin to provide what they like, your exposure should increase.

3. Know who your fans are

We all know that people are different, especially when it comes to age. Those who are 50 will generally not be interested in the same things as those who are 20. Therefore, in order to drive Likes and your marketing success, it pays to know who your audience is. Posting content that is not aimed at your target group will generally result in lower interaction and even loss of followers, leading to a possible downturn in business.

On Facebook, figuring out your audience is actually fairly easy. Open your Page Insights and click on the People tab. On this page you will be able to narrow down those who interact with your page demographically. This can help you determine age, sex, location, and even check-in information. If for example, you see that women make up 70% of the users who like your content, creating content that is aimed more at them could see some great payoffs.

4. Take a look at the Reach of your content

The Reach of your content is how many people actually view it. A higher reach means more people see your content and thus there is more exposure for your company. This is a positive indicator and something all Page owners are striving for.

When you click on the Reach tab from the Insights page, you should see a wealth of useful data. Some of the more interesting sections include post reach, which displays exactly how your content reached people - paid or organic. You can also look at the Likes, Comments, and Shares section to see how many users liked your content. This graph also shows the number of users who hid or unliked your posts.

This can be really helpful in helping you figure out what type of posts and content to avoid and what content was seen by the highest number of people.

You can also see this information applied to specific posts from the main overview tab. If you scroll down on the main Insights page you will see a breakdown of your posts. Take a look at both the Engagement, (as we mentioned above), as well as the reach. If you see posts with lots of interaction but a low reach this is worth looking into. The same goes for content that has achieved a high reach with little engagement.

In general, tracking the information displayed on your Page Insights can be helpful in shedding light into what content works and what doesn't. When you have an understanding of this information, you can then look into creating content that will work best for your business. The truth is, there is no general answer as to what works best, and this varies for each individual company.

If you would like help figuring out your Facebook Page and content, please contact us today to see how we can help.

A common tech term often uttered by tech experts and indeed many business is 'cloud'. It is often accompanied with the word 'virtualization'. These two terms have led many users to believe that they are interchangeable, when in fact they have actually quite different meanings. This can lead to confusion with all parties involved and even lead to companies making poor decisions.

What is virtualization?

At its most basic, virtualization is the creation of a virtual version of something. This virtual version is housed in a physical environment, usually a server or computer. It allows one device (server) to run multiple computing environments at the same time.

Some examples of virtualization include:

• Condensing four servers in an office down to one which runs all four.
• Using one server to host software that 10 computers can access.
• Installing Windows 7 on a Macbook.

One of the biggest benefits companies see from virtualizing is maximization of the use of resources, such as networks, computers, and servers; along with providing increased flexibility.

What is the cloud?

The cloud, on the other hand, is more of an umbrella term to cover any service that is delivered over the Internet. There are numerous cloud services, most of which can fit one of three categories: Infrastructure-as-a-Service, Platform-as-a-Service and Software-as-a-Service.

Some examples of cloud computing include:

• Using software like Google Apps or Microsoft Office Web Apps.
• Accessing your email through the Web.
• Storing files on a cloud-storage provider like DropBox.

The cloud carries most of the same benefits as virtualization, but can also further streamline the management of systems. Most cloud systems can be managed in a browser and can reduce the total cost of ownership for organizations.

Do the two overlap?

Where much of the confusion about the two terms stems from is the fact that there is actually quite a bit of overlap between the two concepts. Without the ability to virtualize servers, the cloud would not be able to operate.

Think about it this way: A cloud storage provider uses servers in a data center to host their storage. Without virtualization, the provider would essentially need one server per client or per group of clients. With many popular storage providers having millions of users, they would need to have an obscene amount of servers. So what they do is virtualize multiple servers and house them in one server. In other words, virtualization allows the cloud to function.

It's important to realize that the cloud is still reliant on servers, just as virtualization is. The main difference is that when companies virtualize, they usually host the servers on-site. When companies go 'to the cloud', they usually connect via the Internet to servers that are hosted off-site (outside of the organization).

Which is better for small businesses?

The main reason many companies virtualize their systems is so that they can reduce the number of servers and the physical space required to house each server. This in turn can reduce overheads. Virtualization also enables server resources to be better utilized, because when you host only one function e.g., email on a server, the hardware resources used are likely to be only a fraction of the total resources available. This results in increased efficiency and likely reduced costs.

Most companies tend to think of the cloud as a system - it provides end-users a service that they can use e.g., a word processor and document management system you access via your browser. Essentially, the cloud gives many small businesses access to enterprise level applications at a fraction of the cost - they don't have to develop, host and maintain these applications, yet see all the usability and benefits.

Because virtualization is usually local, while the cloud is seen to be more of a service, there is no real answer as to which is better - it really depends on the individual organization. If your business already has servers and systems which deliver capabilities like email, document sharing, telephony, etc. in place, then virtualization may be better employed, largely because it can help reduce your overhead and increase resource efficiency.

On the other hand, if you are a new company, or are looking to introduce a new system like document storage or production, a cloud service might well be a valuable option to look into.

Regardless of what you think would be best for your company, why not get in touch with us? Our experts can work with you to help you find the solution that best fits your company. Give us a call today.

Tech gadgets have become so integrated with our daily lives that it is hard to imagine working without them. One of the most popular is the Apple iPad, but while these devices are sturdy, easy to use, and generally secure, they are not without their weaknesses and do break or stop working occasionally. A common issue many users have with their device is that it will not connect to Wi-Fi networks.

Here are six troubleshooting tips that you can try if your iPad isn't connecting to Wi-Fi networks. Before testing these out it is a good idea to test if your Internet is or isn't working. What most people do is open a Web browser and try to load a website, like google.com or apple.com/store. If you get an error message, or the page doesn't load, then try the different tips below.

First: Check if your iPad can see Wi-Fi networks

Try moving next to where the router is and then tap on the Settings app. From here tap on Wi-Fi (it is located in the leftmost list, near the top). Look to see if the network you want to connect to is listed under Choose a network… If it shows up, try tapping on it and entering the password if required.

If your iPad doesn't 'see' the network, try turning Wi-Fi off and on again by sliding the button beside Wi-Fi at the top from On (green) to Off (grey). Wait a few seconds then turn it on again. If you still can't connect, try restarting your iPad.

Second: Try restarting the router

If your iPad is picking up the network but not connecting to it, there may be a problem with the router. The first thing you should do is to turn the router off for at least 30 seconds, then turn it on again. Believe it or not, this solves the vast majority of Internet problems.

Once the router has restarted, try connecting to the network again, or if you have connected to this before, the iPad should try to connect automatically.

Third: Check if your password is correct

Another common problem users run into is that they have entered the password for the Wi-Fi network incorrectly. Oftentimes the password is missing a letter or number, or someone has changed the password and not let other users know.

Go back into the Settings app and tap Wi-Fi. Try tapping the 'i' icon and selecting Forget this Network. Restart your iPad then go back into the Wi-Fi settings. You should see the network pop back up under Choose a network… within a few seconds. Tap on the network name and enter the password again. If you are sure the password is correct, try asking other people who connect to the network, or the administrator, if the password has been changed.

Fourth: Try other devices

If you have other devices like a phone or laptop, try connecting these to the network and seeing if it is possible to connect to the Internet. By doing this, you will be able to see whether the problem lies with the network, router or the iPad itself. Should the other devices be able to connect and access the Internet, it's highly likely that the problem lies with the iPad.

However, before you jump to conclusions, check to see if other people are connected. Some routers can be configured to only allow a set number of devices to connect at the same time. Another common connection problem is when someone is using a high amount of bandwidth - e.g., downloading torrents. This can cause other devices connected to experience incredibly slow Internet speeds - slow enough that loading websites may time out, causing the browser to display an error message.

Try asking someone to disconnect from the network for a few minutes to see if your iPad can get online.

Fifth: Reset your Network Settings

Are the previous options not working? Try resetting your network settings to the default settings, as if the iPad was brand new. Don't worry, your whole iPad won't be reset, just the settings related to network connections i.e., Wi-Fi and LTE/3G.

You can reset your Network Settings by:

1. Tapping on the Settings app from the main screen of your iPad.
2. Selecting General followed by Reset.
3. Tapping on Reset Network Settings.
4. Hitting Wi-Fi and selecting the network you want to enter.
5. Entering the password again.

Once you have followed these steps try opening your Web browser again and loading a website.

Sixth: Contact us, or Apple Support

Finally, if the other options don't work, try contacting Apple Support to see if they can help. Of course, you can also get in touch with us so we can help get you connected.

How many people would you say use Microsoft Office? Well, according to Microsoft, it's over one billion. The vast majority of users tend to stick with the big three programs - Word, Excel and PowerPoint - but there are other programs included in most versions of Office that are equally useful. One such program is the note app OneNote.

So what is so great about OneNote? Here are five things you may not know about this program:

1. It can do math!

If you are in a meeting where figures are flying fast and furious, or you are struggling with some math and have OneNote open, you can use this program to help. Simply enter the numbers into any blank line in a note, add an = sign and hit the spacebar: e.g., (4587x2)-(3900x4)=. The answer should pop up right beside the formula. If it doesn't, try using different symbols like the asterisk instead of x.

You can also insert more complex equations by clicking on the Insert tab, selecting Equation followed by Insert New Equation. You can then select, draw or even type the symbols to create your equation.

2. There are some great templates

By default, new notes are created using a white background, or 'paper' as it is called in OneNote. However, you don't have to stick with a white background, as there are actually a plethora of templates you can choose from in order to make your notes stand out.

To change the template click on the Insert tab and select Page Templates. A menu will open on the right side of the screen with the different templates to apply to the note. For some users, the templates may be too much. Try looking at the Insert tab and you will be able to select the page color and the lines.

3. It's also a great recorder for meetings

If you are in an important meeting and don't want to miss anything, you can actually use OneNote to record proceedings. The first thing you will want to do is to create a new note and enter the details of the meeting. Then press the Insert tab and select Record Audio. After the meeting is finished, you can stop the recording and it should be saved in the note.

While the audio is recording, you can make small notes that should put a play button beside it. When you press the play button, it should start the recording at the time you made the note.

4. You can access it on almost any device

Many times when you are heading to meetings or appointments, you probably don't want to take your laptop with you so you can take notes. Luckily, OneNote is available as an app for Windows Phone, Android, iPhone and iPad devices. If you log in with your Microsoft account, any notes you create will be synced and available on any device. Check out the OneNote site for links to the apps that you can download and install on your device.

5. It's easy to share notes with your colleagues

So many business tasks are now collaborative, you will likely need to share notes from time-to-time. With some note apps this can be a bit of a chore, but on OneNote it's actually quite easy: Simply press File followed by Share and then Get a Sharing Link. This will generate a link that you can send to people you want to collaborate with. When you press Get a Sharing Link you will be able to set whether people will be allowed to just view or edit your note.

If you choose to allow others to edit your notes, they will be allowed to change everything and have changes sync across all versions of the note in their own version of the OneNote app or in their browser. This makes it a great tool for collaboration.

Looking to learn more about using OneNote in your office? Contact us today to see how our solutions can help.

Are unpaid bills getting out of control in your practice? It may be time to implement a revenue-cycle management program such as that offered by gloStream.

Revenue-cycle management, or RCM, is the management of claims, from processing to payment. It’s a lengthy process that includes patient insurance eligibility, collecting co-payment, properly coding claims using ICD-10, making sure payments are collected and addressing denied claims.

Ensuring that you’re paid for the work that you do is a significant challenge for most health-care practices, but using technology can help. Various systems can help you keep track of the claims process at every stage, ensuring a steady stream of revenue for your practice.

If you need help, consider gloStream. We have a team of professionals including coding experts who are already familiar with the ICD-10 coding system. They will scrutinize claims for completeness before sending them to payers, then dispute and resubmit claims as necessary. They’ll also work with your accounts receivable, too.

Remember, denied claims can cause up to 90 percent of missed revenue opportunity, and with ICD-10 regulations, revenue cycle management is only going to get harder - so why not let gloStream help?

As businesses continue to integrate increasingly advanced technology more and more business owners and employees are working from outside of the office. Many employees may even be working from coffee shops or other public spaces, connecting to public Wi-Fi networks. While these networks are convenient, they are open and could pose a security risk to your data.

If you or your employees work outside of the office, and rely on, or frequently connect to public Wi-Fi connections, there are three security dangers you should be aware of.

1. Fake networks

The number of businesses offering free Wi-Fi to customers, especially coffee shops and restaurants, is growing. Some hackers have actually taken to setting up networks with names that are the same as a location or business in hopes that people will connect to it, believing it is an open network.

The issue is that they may have attached data monitors that collect data - including passwords and other private information going into and out of the network. Some have even gone so far as to set up a portal site that one must navigate to in order to log in and use the service - similar to what you see when you use most public Wi-Fi connections. Only these sites are loaded with malware which can be installed onto your system once you log in.

In order to avoid this, it is a good idea to look at the name of the network you are actually connecting to and check whether there is more than one with a similar name, or if there are any spelling mistakes. If you are unsure, the best approach is to check the name of the network at the business which is providing this connection.

2. Shared files or folders

Both major operating systems - OS X and Windows - have files and folders that automatically share any folders and files put into them with other users on the same network. Some business users put important files in these folders while at the office in order to allow colleagues access to them.

The problem with this is when you connect to a public Wi-Fi connection. Other people on that network may also be able to see those files. If you didn't take the important files out of the folder, they could potentially steal the data contained within. Hackers know this, and may sit on the networks looking for other computers with shared files.

In order to avoid this, you should ensure that you aren't sharing files stored in public folders on your computer. Try using other ways to share documents like a cloud storage provider.

3. The man-in-the-middle

A man-in-the-middle attack is a form of hacking where the hacker uses technology to actively listen to or capture data being transmitted over a network. What this means is that if there is someone capturing data, they could theoretically gain access to anything that gets sent outside of the network. This could include private files, passwords and more.

If you or an employee connects to the office remotely while connected to a public network, one way to minimize the chances of data being intercepted is by using a VPN. These connections set up a direct link between the computer and the home network, and make it difficult for those who aren't part of that network to connect to and view data that is transmitted over this connection.

On top of this, it is a good idea to avoid entering passwords or other important information like bank account and ID numbers while connected to public networks.

If you are looking for ways to keep your data secure while out of the office, get in touch with us today to see how we can help.

On November 8 typhoon Haiyan slammed into the Philippines leaving a trail of unimagined destruction. Watching the various news channels covering the disaster and recovery, business owners can't help but reflect how a disaster would affect their ability to cope and survive, as well as the safety of those they work with, of course. This is why many businesses implement business continuity plans. However, in doing so, they may not necessarily know how technology can help.

Technology can help small to medium sized businesses develop and execute both disaster recovery and business continuity plans in many ways. Here are five:

1. It helps enable more efficient communication

The majority of business owners and employees now have smartphones, tablets and laptops that they use on a daily basis. What these devices have done is enable better communication, which is also a major part of a continuity plan.

With a multitude of chat apps like WhatsApp, Google Hangouts and iMessenger, companies can set up group chats that can be accessed via multiple devices from nearly anywhere. This means that you can get information out fast, with a higher chance of reaching the people you need to during and after a disaster.

Combine this with virtualized systems like email and VoIP, both of which are usually hosted off-site and are highly likely to remain optional during a disaster, and you further boost the chances and effectiveness of communication.

2. It makes developing plans easier

Let's face it, when developing a recovery or continuity plan, there is a ton of factors that you need to consider and actually plan for. These plans can get complicated and hard to track and manage very quickly, and any plan that is either overcomplicated or poorly managed runs the risk of failing when implemented.

This is why there are numerous well-designed software options that allow businesses to not only develop, but track, implement and share recovery and continuity plans with greater effectiveness than manual systems.

What's more, is many of these solutions are created using industry standards and can often help you apply proven methods that may not have been previously possible.

3. It makes recovery easier and quicker

Traditional data backup systems require a physical backup like a hard drive or tape. When you do need to recover systems, it can take hours or days. Now, many IT partners offer cloud backup services which store your information in the cloud.

When you need to recover data, you can usually log on to any computer with an Internet connection and have your files and data back in a fairly short amount of time. This means that your company can return to as near full operation status as quickly as possible without much loss of time and consequently, profit.

4. It makes coordination during a disaster easier

As stated above, most professionals have multiple devices that allow them to connect with colleagues and customers with ease. Business owners therefore have a variety of quick and easy ways to try and connect to employees in a time of emergency, allowing for a higher chance of coordinating and executing a plan of action.

5. It helps minimize disruptions

By employing technical solutions like virtualization and cloud services, essentially moving services off site, you will be able to remain operational or recover quickly. This is largely because many solutions have redundant servers, so if one fails another can take over and still keep your systems available.

There are many ways technology can be employed in order to make planning for disasters and even recovering from them less challenging. If you are looking to learn more about how technology can help your business, get in touch.

Apple has been releasing new versions of their popular operating system OS X on a nearly yearly basis. The latest update - 10.9 'Mavericks' - brings some useful features which business users are enjoying. One of the more popular features of Mavericks is the ability to tag files and folders in order to make them easier to find. While this is useful, some users are finding it difficult to actually manage Tags.

The Mavericks update introduced numerous changes to the Label system, including renaming it to Tags. This feature promises a better ability to manage and group files and folders stored in different locations. All you need to know if how to effectively manage Tags on OS X Mavericks, along with ways you can remove tagging too.

How to tag an item

The easiest way to tag a file or folder is to simply right-click on it and click on Tags… This will allow you to create a new tag and give it a name and color. Once you have done that, you can select various files and folders that you would like to tag by right-clicking on one of them and then clicking on the tag you just created.

How to tell if something has a label attached to it

Identifying which files or folders have been tagged is actually quite straightforward. Simply take a look at the name of the file. If you have tagged it, you should see a colored dot beside the name. The color will vary depending on how you have tagged the item, but it will always be to the left of the name if you are in icon view. Those who prefer to view their files in List view will see the colored tag beside the name.

You can also open any folder from the Finder and look at the left-hand vertical menu bar. You should see a section called Tags. Clicking on any of the options under this section will show you all files that have been tagged

Method 1: Removing labels using the right-click

If you make a mistake and apply the wrong label to a file, or would like to remove one label because the file is no longer relevant, the easiest way to do so is to right-click/Alt-click on the file and scroll down to the Tags section. Then, hover over the tag and you should see an option to that says Remove "Tag name". If you click on this, the tag will be removed.

Method 2: Removing labels using the Finder

The second way you can delete Tags is by using the Tags button which is located on all Finder windows. You can delete Tags by:

1. Opening the Finder and navigating to the file that you would like to untag.
2. Selecting the file or files and clicking on the button at the top of the Finder window that looks like a toggle. It should be located at the top-right.
3. Clicking on the tag you want to remove from the drop-down menu that opens.
4. Tapping Delete on your keyboard.

If you are looking to learn more about using OS X Mavericks in your office, please contact us today to see how our solutions can help.

In many countries, October 31 marks not only the last day of October but also Halloween. This night of tricks and treats is eagerly looked forward to by many children. This year, Google decided to do something special for adults too: Take the wrapper off of their new version of Android - KitKit and the new Nexus 5. Now that Google has a new phone and operating system out, businesses have another option to choose from. The only question is whether it's worth it's worth opting for Google's Halloween goodies?

Below is a brief overview of the new Nexus 5 and Android 4.4 and what they mean for businesses.

Nexus 5 - Possibly 2013's worst kept secret News of this latest phone was rumored and even leaked months before Google announced it. Everyone who is a tech follower knew all about it already. So, when Google finally announced its introduction no one was really that surprised.

It is now expected that Google will announce a new Nexus phone each year. This is the device that Google deems to be the new benchmark for all future Android devices. With a stock version of Android, this is also the closest you will get to a 'pure Google' experience, not to mention the fact that these devices are usually quite powerful.

The Nexus 5, built by LG, is the benchmark device for late 2013/2014 and will be the among the first devices to get new versions of Android when these come out later next year.

If you are looking at this device for business purposes, here are six specifications that you might want to focus on and consider:

• Size and display - This device has a 4.95 inch screen (from top-left to bottom-right corners) and is a little over five inches long. The display itself is 1920x1080 pixels, and many reviewers are calling it the best display on a smartphone to date. Like most other high-end smartphones, you likely won't struggle reading font on this device even when zoomed in.
• Processor - The Nexus 5 has a processor that is more powerful than many of today's lower to mid-range laptops. Clocking in at 2.26GHz, it can handle everything you do on a smartphone without any issues.
• Storage and memory - There are two versions of the Nexus 5. One with 16GB and the other with 32GB of storage. Both versions should be more than enough storage space for all business users. The device also has 2GB of RAM which ensures that you will be more than able to run multiple programs at the same time.
• Connectivity - As with most new phones, you will be able to connect to 4G/LTE data networks (if they are available in your area). If you don't have 4G/LTE, this phone can also connect to 3G and Wi-Fi networks. This means you will be able to easily stay in contact with the office, usually with high-speed connections.
• Battery - LG has put a bigger battery in the Nexus 5, thus many users are seeing the phone lasting a full day, or more, on one charge. This is great news for business users away from the office or a charger for long periods of time.
• Price and availability - The Nexus 5 is available in the US, Australia and the UK now from the Google Play store, and is also available from many carriers and electronic stores around the world. Possibly the biggest draw for this phone is the price - the 16GB costs USD $349 while the 32GB costs $399 on the Google Play store and comes unlocked.

This makes the device affordable for many users, including small businesses - especially if purchased on contract.

Break us off a piece of that KitKat The Nexus 5 is the first device to be launched with the newest version of Android - Android 4.4 KitKat. As with the last few versions of Android, the 4.4 version is an incremental update instead of a completely new operating system. There are a number of new updates introduced in 4.4 worthy of note that business users will benefit from.

• SMS rolled into Hangouts - Google has decided to roll their SMS app into their chat app Hangouts. In fact, on any phones with Hangout installed, and updated to the latest version, you should be able to view and send SMS messages. With the Nexus 5, Hangouts is the SMS app.
• Increased Google Now presence - Google Now, Google's voice-powered assistant has been beefed up, and can now be accessed by swiping left from the home screen. You can also activate Google Search, programs and give basic commands like calling or messaging people from the home screen by simply saying, "Ok, Google". If you don't want to speak, you can enter your search from the now omnipresent Search bar at the top of the screen.
• New version of QuickOffice - QuickOffice comes installed on nearly all Android devices and is the app used to open documents and PDFs that are downloaded to your phone. The new version allows users to open, edit and create Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel documents. It is also integrated with Google Drive, allowing you to store files on Drive, or even other cloud services.
• Support for more devices - Google has noted that Android 4.4 was designed to work on a wider number of devices, especially those with lower hardware specifications. This should help push 4.4 to more devices.

As is usual for Android, newer Google Nexus devices will get the update soon, probably by the end of November. Older devices, like the Google Nexus from 2011, will not be getting the update, and devices made by other companies will have to wait to see what the manufacturer does. If you have a relatively new device, chances are good you will receive an update, it just may take a while.

Is the Nexus 5 good for businesses? If you are in the market for a new smartphone that can do anything and everything, then the Nexus 5 is likely the best phone currently available, especially considering the price is much lower than similar unlocked phones.

Of course, if you are still on contract with an existing phone and are looking to upgrade you should contact your mobile provider to see if the phone is available and that you can upgrade to it.

Before you do rush out and purchase the Nexus 5 however, you should make sure that your existing systems will integrate well with it. Why not contact us, as we can help ensure that any new phone will work with the systems you already have in place, or may be able to provide a solution for you.

There are many factors that contribute to business success, and one of the more recent ones is a corporate social media identity. Sure, simply having a presence doesn't mean a business will be successful, but it will go a long way in helping gain valuable and important connections. It is these links that can help determine how successful a business will be. However, many businesses are struggling to connect effectively with their customers. One reason for this is because they can't be easily found on social media.

If you are struggling to make your existence known on social media, and missing out on those all important connections, then here are five tips to make you easier to find.

1. Use your actual name When it comes to social media, you want to be easily found. When your customers try to find you, they will almost always enter the name they call your company by. Therefore, your profile on social media needs to register this name even if it isn't your company's official name. Use the same name in various places on your profile e.g., in the About us section and even in your posts if it fits. If they can find more than one of your social media profiles (because you have used the same company name for all of them), there is a higher chance they will connect with you.

2. Become more recognizable We are highly visual people and when we see patterns, will normally begin to associate it with something. Many of us are also on more than one social media platform, so companies can leverage this in order to gain more connections.

Try having the same profile picture on all of your profiles too. What this does is make you and your brand more recognizable. If people are looking at other social networks that you have a presence on and they see the same profile picture, they are more likely to recognize you as the same company and potentially be more willing to connect with you. If you change your picture on one profile, be sure to update it on the others.

3. Create more social emails We don't mean start emailing people asking them to connect, as this will likely drive people away because they will think you are spamming them. Instead, try putting links to your social media profiles in your email signatures with a suggestion to connect. Because you likely send a fair number of emails out on a daily basis, having links to your social media profiles can help increase the chances of people reaching out and connecting with you.

4. Don't use multiple email addresses It can be tempting to use different email addresses for each social media platform - this can help track integration and engagement - but in truth, this can actually confuse people and could make more unnecessary work for those who manage your profiles.

Many personal users have only one email for social media, largely because it's easier to manage and quickly look at traffic. So, in order to make things easier for you or whoever manages your company's social media, it might make sense to just use one email address for all of your profiles.

If you have already used more than one email address for different social media profiles you have two options: You can choose to change the email addresses so that they are all the same, or you can simply link the other email addresses so that they are included in all of your profiles.

The most professional looking option is to pick just one email as it will reduce uncertainty as to what email address to use when customers want to contact you via your social media pages - e.g., email you about your products.

5. Make your website social Finally, you likely have a website. While many people will find you on social media, it is a good idea to include links to your social media profiles on your website. The reason for this is because it helps you build your brand image. It is a way of letting people know that you are not only on the Web, but also have social media profiles and that as a company you interact.

The most popular way to display your social media presence on your website is to include icons on the homepage, or in the footer. When you click on each of these, a new window or tab opens and takes you to the relevant social media page.

In general, the more locations you broadcast your social media presence, the higher the chance of gaining more connections. It follows that the more connections you have and the more active you are on your social media profiles, the greater consumer interest and engagement is, and the stronger your brand identity becomes. Over time, you should see an increase in sales and ultimately profitability.

If you are looking to learn more about how to leverage social media in your business, please contact us today.