« Older Entries

Like Excel: Try Numbers Instead

Friday, March 19th, 2010

A little over a year ago I made the move from PC to Mac, not at home, but in the office. I had used Mac for about two years with my family prior to this switch and I slowly grew to love the ease of the Mac operating system. We could build simple Web sites, modify photo’s, video chat with family, and a myriad of other non-work things.

But Macs couldn’t work in the office, right? I believed I couldn’t be fully functional in my day job because I’m an accountant and accountants use Microsoft Excel for everything. Excel has been my program to do everything; a staple of my daily work life. However, early last year I got a MacBook as my main office computer, purchased Excel for Mac, and slowly Mac began to make my work life much better.

Life was good because I had the operating system I liked and the usefulness of Excel for Mac. Yet it just didn’t seem right. Let’s be honest, the Mac version of Excel isn’t the same and it takes a little getting used to. Like Tiger Woods on his wedding night, my eyes began to wander. I wasn’t happy and was ready for a breakup.

The challenge was finding the next spreadsheet solution. Everyone uses Excel because it’s assumed to be the best but, thankfully there’s something better: Numbers. I can’t believe I even said that out loud, I’m sure every accountant just felt a needle poke them in the back. But it’s true, Numbers is a better program.

What’s great about Numbers is the simplistic way to integrate tables, graphs, and text. Unlike the Excel method of one sheet with thousands of cells, Numbers lets the user start with a blank document with one table. The table can be manipulated to the exact need, yet the document stays clean. Then, if you want a graph below or beside the table, just add it and the same is true with a text box. It’s like working with a hybrid of PowerPoint and Excel.

It’s just too easy to use. So, I’m an accountant that likes Numbers. Have you used Numbers before?

Posted in Business, General Internet Marketing | No Comments »

SCORE Internet Marketing Presentation

Thursday, March 18th, 2010

Yesterday I had a wonderful opportunity to speak with the local SCORE chapter about the benefits of Internet marketing, specifically social media. Giving presentations is normally Eddie’s job but his overnight illness became my chance at stardom.

After the presentation I stuck around for the remainder of their meeting and wondered what Internet marketing strategy I’d use if I was the SCORE King for Day. Here is my quick idea:

  1. Build a fun, almost cartoony Web site with plenty of pictures of the SCORE members. The contrast of age and youth would be very unique. Personality and fun would be the key to driving lots of people to the Web site.
  2. Blog, a lot. SCORE members have an amazing amount of wisdom to share; each member has had decades of success in business. Imagine the amazing stories, “in 1967 the warehouse truck didn’t arrive so we pounded the sand ourselves and we ended up with the biggest sale ever.” It’s like that Red Square scene in Cast Away.
  3. Counsel more than one person at a time by using webinars and video’s as the main platform to communicate with budding business leaders. Most entrepreneurs are very busy and foolishly never make the time learn about how SCORE can help their business. So instead of trying to help one person at a designated event, help many, on their own time.
That’s what I’d do if I had the chance to build something for SCORE. What would you do?

Posted in Blogging, Business, Search Engine Optimization, Social Media, Website Design & Development | 2 Comments »

First “Work” Resolution of the Year

Monday, January 4th, 2010

With the start of a new year we all make resolutions on ways to make our lives better. The symbolism of the calendar odometer rolling over seems like the best first day of our new lives and why not, we all need to refresh and kick some old habits only start new ones.

So in the spirit of New Year’s resolutions I recommend you change your passwords. Exciting right? Well maybe not exciting but none the less important. Think about it, when was the last time you changed your passwords?

According to a non-scientific poll at geeksurgar.com only 16% of people change their password on a regular basis. Half of the respondents say they change their passwords only when they worry if it’s been compromised. That doesn’t sound safe, waiting to close the barn door after all the animals have left. Maybe you can be different, you can be that one person that changes their passwords on a regular basis and doesn’t keep them listed under their keyboard or on a document called “passwords”.

So there you go, a New Year’s resolution for us all. Change your passwords, all of them, so we can have a fun and hopefully a hacked free 2010.

Posted in Business | 3 Comments »

« Older Entries

Author

Levi Spires
Business Manager at Site-Seeker, Inc.