Google Unveils App for Paying With Phone

Google introduced a mobile application that allows consumers to make a payment by waving their cellphones at a retailer’s terminal rather than pulling out a credit card.

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Heat 83, Bulls 80: Miami Join Dallas in Championship Finals

The Miami Heat clinched the NBA’s Eastern Conference title on Thursday to join the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA finals.

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Qaddafi Reportedly Stashes Billions in Western Institutions

Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi has stashed billions of dollars of with financial institutions on Wall Street and in Europe, according to an international advocacy group.

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Increase Your Google Search Ranking by 40%

A great website designer knows to build into a web design proposal SEO. Business, marketing, and now social media networking plans are all important in promoting a product or service, but nowadays, you need a website to compete within your industry. If I am looking for a company that sells track balls for Blackberry smartphones, my keyword search will be track balls. If the words track balls are not written strategically in my website, my search engine ranking position may end up on page 4 or higher. Most people stop searching at page 3.

At a conference, meeting, workshop, social event, anywhere you have an opportunity to promote, the first line of marketing is your business card. Included on your business card should be your web address. If a prospect loses your business card but wants to make contact, they more than likely will search the Internet for keywords of your personal or business name, your city, or industry. Again, if your site is SEO ready, the chances of you being found on the first 3-4 pages of Google, Yahoo, Bing, Dogpile, etc. increases by 40%.

You can have the most beautiful website created, but if you can not be found, or if you don’t have a viable marketing plan, it will take a company like cozzas to fine-tune your website to get the ranking results you need to generate revenue.

Increase Your Google Ranking

Let’s Make It Happen!
Jacqueline Lawson
jacqueline@cozzas.com
President and CEO
cozzas, llc
The Greatest Expert, Speaker, Trainer of Cloud Computing and
Zoho Online Collaboration Tools for Small Businesses!

www.cozzas.com

National BDPA and cozzas llc Discuss the Future of African Americans in Technology

The National BDPA, Black Data Processing Associates (www.bdpa.org), and cozzas llc (www.cozzas.com) a fully integrated internet marketing and graphic design firm, highlight the 32nd Annual National BDPA Conference on the cozzas BlogTalkRadio program “CloudSuiteSmart”, Wednesday, July 28th from 12:30 to 2:30 EDT.

African Americans sometimes underestimate the impact of technology on shaping the course of history. The show’s segments will include short interviews of senior BDPA officials to discuss their vision and dream for the organization. Internet Radio brings an added technology feature to the conference. It is a format that allows for real-time dialogue over the phone and in chat rooms anyone can access on the Internet. These Internet Radio interviews will provide multiple perspectives that are sure to appeal to anyone interested in the future of African Americans in IT.

This internet radio program will be hosted live from the 2010 National BDPA Technology Conference to be held in Philadelphia, PA on July 28-31, at the luxurious Philadelphia Marriott Downtown Hotel. The theme of this year’s conference, “Access for All”, is both timely and appropriate given President Obama’s challenge to all Americans: “We need to invest in the skill and education of our people.”

“We are very pleased to recognize the outstanding contributions that BDPA has made for Blacks in Technology over the last 35 years,” said National Past BDPA President, Milt Haynes. “In this economy, many African Americans in technology are concerned about opportunities for both employment and advancement. It is important to recognize how BDPA has helped provide African Americans with challenging and fulfilling career opportunities in Information Technology.”

“BDPA is the voice of African Americans in IT,” said Jacqueline Lawson, President and CEO of cozzas llc. “cozzas llc is honored to be working with BDPA because it is committed to closing the digital divide and helping African American IT professionals advance.” Added Lawson, “I honestly believe that the BDPA can use its talents and resources to advance the cause of Blacks in technology and I welcome an opportunity to support a worthy organization in my field of service.”

Jacqueline Lawson knows her way around a computer. After all, she has over 35 years of technology experience. As a professional database administrator, project manager, web and print designer, Corporate Computer Trainer for the City of Atlanta, she knows what clicking that button will do! She uses her extensive experience, practical know how and down-home antics to help busy people get more enjoyment and productivity in using computer technology. In early the 2000s, Ms. Lawson was instrumental in appearing on and hosting television and radio programs discussing the digital divide in the black community. For more information about cozzas llc, please visit www.cozzas.com, or call (404) 437-7523.

Click here for Blog Talk Radio chat room and call in details.

Listen to internet radio with Jacqueline Lawson on Blog Talk Radio

Twitter is Cleaning Up. How Not to Get Banned!

“Three little birdies on your window singing a sad song : this is our message to you.  Don’t worry, but you’ve been banned from Twitter!” How does it feel to wake up one morning to find that you have been banned from Twitter!  What was your crime to be banned like some criminal outcast? Twitter’s popularity has grown to over 50 million tweeters! Many now see Twitter as a social media network to promote a business.  Celebrities, sports figures, politicians, entertainers, baby boomers and so many others now use Twitter.  And even some of them have been banned!

So let’s say you start with a few followers and people of interest you are following.  You believe it’s a numbers game and want to look really important with a larger number of followers!  The marketing strategy you have in place is not working.  So you join a paid service to assist in eliciting followers.  Great, now you see your numbers start to increase.  But wait, most of these new followers from the program are spammers and not really posting information of interest to you or your legitimate followers! Using an automated service is just one way to get you banned.  What are some of the effects of being banned?

1. Status of being banned, not cool.
2. Your followers you’ve worked so hard to build can no longer find you.
3. Having to change the link on all your marketing collateral.

Now ask this question, what could possible get me banned?  It turns out from support there are several reasons this happens, mainly:

1. You’ve followed a large number of people in a short amount of time,
2. There is a small number of followers compared to number of people you’re following,
3. The updates consist mainly of links and not personal updates, and/or
4. A large number of users blocking the profile and writing in with spam complaints.

While Twitter continues to grow gaining more media publicity (it’s not just for teens and young adults anymore) they have a big problem with Spammers filling up the tweets with junk and sending friend requests using Automated software. Now, here comes the Feathered Hammer. Twitter recently cleaned up many accounts, suspended spam accounts, and any account that breaches its Spam Guidelines.

How to Avoid the Feathered Hammer

I am going to share a few tips on how not be marked as a Twitter spammer and void getting banned:

• Don’t repeat the same Tweet with a link together to many times!
• Don’t follow large numbers of people in blocks, either manually or using automated tools
• Don’t send a Tweet every other second; limit to 30 minute intervals.
• Use the @someonestwittername and dialogue with your followers.
• Don’t constantly try to sell your product or service. Tweet helpful tips.
• Avoid other Twitter users clicking the flag you as spam button.

What is really good about all of this is that Twitter is taking a stand on Spammers! Yes, it looks good to have 2,532 followers, but grow them with real people who will appreciate your Tweets. Twitter can be used as a great marketing tool if used for all the right reasons.  Let’s rock in the treetops!

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Using Video to Promote your Business!

Make a video to promote your product or service!

I recently participated in a webinar that cited statistics on the use of videos to market your business.  It was an amazing webinar.  With over 400 million on Facebook, 60 plus million on Twitter, millions on YouTube, Vimeo and other sites, it seems that we need to start or continue to create videos.

But how does a BABY BOOMER capture the attention of a large audience and remain competitive? Creativity is the key, by watching videos of others. You have to also identify the right tools for creating high quality audio and video.  I use Camtasia, Jing Screencast, and QuickTime

CHECK OUT MY MOST RECENT VIDEO :

Jacqueline Lawson is the greatest expert, speaker and trainer of cloud computing for small businesses and Zoho online application tools. Her internet marketing firm, cozzas, is the only Zoho Affiliate Partner in the state of Georgia, and she can show you how you too can Save Money for your business in the Cloud!  Training workshops and webinars are available!

Contact:

Jacqueline Lawson
jacqueline@cozzas.om
Cloud Suite Smart
404-437-7523
http://www.cloudsuitesmart.com

Cloud Computing – Money Saver for the Small Business

There is a lot of chatter about cloud computing.  IT professionals are holding huge conferences talking about being in the cloud.  You might ask, “what the heck is cloud computing?”  In my own layman’s terms, “cloud computing is accessing every day business software applications on the internet either for free or a small monthly service charge.  So anywhere you can connect to the internet and a browser you can access your business.  Anywhere, including your car! “  There are netbooks, notebooks, tablets, smartphones, all kinds of gadgets that can connect you to the internet.

The concept of cloud computing is not new.  In the olden days, we called it mainframe computing.  Data was stored on big computers called data centers in a big office on floor number 13 (not really; few buildings have a floor 13)!  Data centers could have been in the basement.  Where ever they were located, you had to be a member of the IT group to access that particular room.  You were assigned an ID and password in order to log in and access programs necessary to complete your work assignments.  If you had a problem with your log in information, you had to call John or Bev on the help desk in order to get assistance.  If you were nice to John or Bev they may have come by your desk personally to lend you a hand.  It didn’t hurt to have brownies when they got there.  That was then, this is now.

Do you use Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Skype, Amazon, PayPal, or MySpace?  How about LinkedIn, Hulu, Online Banking, web hosting account, Salesforce, Google Gmail, Google Docs, or Zoho?  If you do use any of these or hundreds of other websites, whether you know it or not,  you are “in the cloud!”  These websites have data centers located someplace other than on the computer you are reading this blog from now. My online collaboration service of choice, Zoho, has data centers in India and other places around the world.  We are now truly cruising the world wide web (www).

So what does this have to do with saving you money as a small business.  Well I am glad you asked.  You asked the right somebody!  I am going to list for you five (5) ways being in the cloud is a cost saver for you, especially in today’s economic recession.  The key here is to understand what cloud computing is and how it can work for you.  As a small business we need all the tools we can afford to compete with the larger companies.  And don’t forget, America is really run by small businesses!  In the words of the late, great James Brown, …’living in America, eye to eye, station-to-station…” Okay, here goes:

Reason Number 1 – No Equipment Cost -

Reason Number 2 – No Software to Purchase with Licensing Agreements -

Reason Number 3 – No On-site Technical Support Staff -

Reason Number 4 – Minimum Setup Time

Reason Number 5 – Cost Savings

Having these cost-effective, online office tools at your finger tip takes a lot a pressure off of you, the small business owner.  You do not have to wear ALL of the hats in your business.  All you need to know is that the applications are available where ever you can connect to the internet with a browser!

Even with the Top Five reasons to operate your Small Business in the cloud, some of you may still not be convinced.  That’s okay.  Here are your options:  purchase equipment, software, hire technical support personnel, or do it yourself,  install the software, purchase upgrades, purchase technical support with a  Service License Agreement (SLA).

I have moved my business to Zoho Business and CRM, and my profitability margin has increased 55%.  So, for me and my shop, we’re moving and grooving in the cloud!

NEXT: Cloud Computing : Backup and Security, How to Select the Service You Need and Steps to Move Your Business to the Cloud

Jacqueline Lawson is the greatest expert, speaker and trainer of cloud computing for small businesses and Zoho online application tools. Her internet marketing firm, cozzas, is the only Zoho Affiliate Partner in the state of Georgia, and she can show you how you too can Save Money for your business in the Cloud!  Training workshops and webinars are available!

Contact:

Jacqueline Lawson
jacqueline@cozzas.om
Cloud Suite Smart
404-437-7523
http://www.cloudsuitesmart.com