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Jan

E-Commerce Software Fuels Order Fulfillment Success

E-Commerce software, once rudimentary venues that helped fledgling companies sell products and services via the ‘Net, have morphed into highly sophisticated vehicles for e-sellers. Along with highly accomplished shopping cart functions, high level sensitive information security protection, state-of-the-art hosting platforms, and order fulfillment services, cutting edge e-commerce software also offers cloud functions that protect all manner of data.

You might even want to use the cloud to host your site. There are now some e-commerce platforms that offer cloud hosting for those who want to “pay as you go” and save dedicated server space. In some cases, you can select a combination of cloud and more traditional managed hosting programs. Some services even allow your company to access a “private cloud” to securely manage your e-commerce site, integrate supply chains and streamline order fulfillment functions.

Should you employ multi-channel operations, there are equally sophisticated e-commerce platforms that offer the tools you need to coordinate all features of your business. As more e-sellers feel the pressure of thinner profit margins, product quality, pricing and order fulfillment become even more significant components.

How effective e-commerce platforms drive sales

The combination of outstanding e-commerce platforms and willing buyers helped online retailers experience a highly successful holiday shopping season. 2011 also recorded more than five $1 billion (yes, with a “b”), online sales days. Yet there is widespread concern that e-sellers must remain diligent with operational efficiency controls, superior supply chain management and high quality customer service.

While many e-retailers are becoming more concerned with their fiscal ability to make new investment in e-commerce platforms and more efficient website development, revenue and profit generation, as usual, will enhance or decrease this ability. The classic retailer mantra, “It’s the price you pay, not the price you charge,” still applies.

Saving money with savvy branding

However, the importance of successful branding has never been higher. While smaller e-sellers face challenges achieving the highest levels of branding success, e.g., Nordstrom, using the best e-commerce software, suppliers and order fulfillment services they can afford will help reach the revenue goals and profit margins they desire.

Those companies contemplating some budget tightening should do their homework. With branding, quality customer service, and order fulfillment occupying influential positions, cost cutting in these areas can be self-destructive. Similarly, your company needs to employ the most effective e-commerce software the budget permits. Cutting back on IT, call centers, order fulfillment or e-commerce platforms might dangerously affect revenue levels.

Creating a winning marketing combination

Feeling comfortable with every aspect of your business efficiency has never been more significant. Utilizing e-commerce software features will help you “ride the wave” of holiday season success into the New Year.

Should you be a bit uncomfortable with one or more of these crucial components upgrade them—do not shrink their budget levels. If you had a successful holiday shopping season, you simply cannot afford to intentionally support a decline in these functions, all of which contribute to your customer satisfaction.

Remember, these components must all integrate and function well. Think like a football coach. Assume you have a great quarterback, but no talented receivers, running backs or offensive line. Your quarterback (company) cannot perform well without an effective supporting cast.

Investing in the optimum e-commerce software, without quality products, efficient supply chains or professional order fulfillment services may fit budget constraints, but will not increase revenue or profitability. You need the full menu of features, working together, to achieve your goals and objectives.

Do you have any outside the box ideas that might help you achieve the success that you crave? Are you bullish on a 2012 continuation of e-commerce success? Are you pleased with your e-commerce software, supply chains and customer service? If you are, maintain your course. Should you have some concerns, invest in more efficient systems, people and services.

Categories Blogging, General, Software, Technology
Comments (5)

Jan

5 Programs to Speed Up Your Windows PC

by Contributed

Is your computer becoming more and more sluggish every day? Do you have problems like blank screens, slow downloads and super-long load times? If you do, here are five easy to use programs that will help your computer speed up.

CCleaner – Formerly called Crap Cleaner, this program deletes junk files that slow down your computer. It also finds registry disputes and solves them for you. It is free and easy to download and works wonderfully. It can even wipe your free space if you want it to, though that tends to take some time. Just visit http://www.piriform.com/CCLEANER for your free download today!
Defraggler – Your computer could be working slower because your files are fragmented. Clean it up and make your system more efficient with another free download from Piriform. Compact and quick, Defraggler works great, plus you have the option of just defragging the files you use most often. What could be easier? Visit http://www.piriform.com/defraggler for a free copy.
Firefox or Chrome – Rather than using Internet Explorer as your web browser, try Mozilla’s Firefox or Google’s Chrome. Much quicker load times, superior add-ons and a more secure framework make these browsers a necessity. Plus, they’re free. Be mindful that some websites do not work as well in them, so keep IE installed for backup, just in case. Download Firefox here: http://www.mozilla.org. Download Chrome here: http://www.google.com/chrome.
Recuva – Have the problems with your computer developed to the point that you’ve lost files? Did you inadvertently erase your digital camera’s memory card or MP3 player? No problem! Just use Recuva to recover your files. Get it free at http://www.piriform.com/recuva.
Revo Uninstaller – If you’ve ever had to add or remove programs on your computer, you know how time-consuming the process can be. Not only is it time-consuming, but a lot of the files from the uninstalled programs are never deleted. For a quicker, stress-free fix try Revo. This program is easy to use and much quicker. It also explores your computer for hidden files and deletes them- truly uninstalling the program. Try it free for 30 days here http://www.revouninstaller.com.

There you have it; five simple programs to get your computer purring! So whether you have a laptop, a desktop, or a mobile phone, keep these programs handy and keep your computer running fast.

This is a guest post from Laura Backes, she enjoys writing about all kinds of subjects and also topics related to internet service in my area. You can reach her at: laurabackes8 @ gmail.com.

Categories General, Software, The Desktop Experience
Comments (24)

Jan

Common Brother Printer Problems (and How to Fix Them)

by Contributed

credit: 아우크소(Auxo.co.kr)

When your Brother printer breaks down, it can be extremely frustrating. Especially if there is an upcoming deadline, interview, or important sales call you need your printer to work. If you are experiencing printer problems, read below for a few possible solutions to get your printer working in no time.

”Printing only one document”

General – Multiple Printers

If your printer is only printing one document when you asked for more than one, then follow these steps. Go to your control panel and click on printers. Right click on the printer icon for your machine and select properties. Under the advanced tab, you will find a box that says enable advanced printing features. Disable and click OK.

“Won’t print black and white”

Brother MFC 290c, LC61

With this printer, you need to make sure that you have color ink full in addition to the black and white or it won’t print. Even though you aren’t using color in a black and white print, the printer will continue to say replace ink until the color is full also.

“Won’t print logo and text at the same time”

General Brother Printers

Some brother printers will not allow you to print a bitmap logo along with normal text; you have to print one or the other. Fortunately there are two workarounds for this:

1. Use the Anchor “As Character” setting for the images.
2. Export to PDF and print from the PDF document.

“Printer defaulting to fax instead of print?”

General Brother Printers

If your Brother printer is defaulting to fax instead of print everytime you go to print something, don’t worry the problem can be fixed. Right click on the printer in the control panel menu and click make it default.

“Brother toner quitting before its really done”

Brother HL-5170 DN

Sometimes brother printers will not let you print because it says that you are out of toner even when you are not. There is a way that you can trick the printer into letting you continue to print by placing a small piece of tape over the eye at the bottom of the machine if you remove the imaging cartridge. Just make sure that you look out for when the toner is getting low as this is the sensor that you are turning off.

“Replace Toner won’t go away”

Brother DCP-9045 CDN

If you have just replaced the toner but the printer still thinks it is empty, there is a very easy fix. Just like for electrical systems in cars that report the oil %, you have to reset the system every time it is replaced. To do this press the clear/back button on the control panel while opening the cover at the same time. This will give you the reset menu.

This list of helpful printer solutions was created by PrinterInks.com; for a vast catalogue of Brother ink cartridges and toners, check out what’s available on their site.

Categories General, Hardware, Technology
Comments (10)

Jan

5 Tips to Protect Your Computer from Credit Card Fraud

by Contributed

Technology these days are getting more advanced, mobile, convenient and useful. Unfortunately the same problems we had with yesterday’s technology, we still have today. Our personal information is sprawled through every sector of our computer’s hard drive. This means that if it is in the wrong hands, our information can be used for just about anything. One of the biggest issues is credit card fraud. This has been a problem for many computer owners when hackers and con-artists get their greedy hands on our personal and financial information. However, there are steps you can take to help protect yourself from computerized credit card fraud. Here are 5 tips to keep yourself and your credit protected.

Never Give Out Information:

This is a tip that seems like common sense, however, many computer users give too much information to the wrong person. Protect yourself by not giving out your passwords, account information, credit card number, or any other personal or financial information to anyone. No matter how much you trust them; there runs a risk that this information can fall into the wrong hands.

Use Only Protected Sites:

There are millions of websites out there. Some of these sites are less than safe. Your web browser has a way to tell you if the site you are on is protected or not. Use only sites that show it is protected and secure. This is commonly indicated by an image of a locked padlock either on the bottom of your browser page or the top of the page in the address bar. This lock indicates the site is on a secured server.

Do Not Send Information Through E-Mail:

E-mail scams have become very popular. The reason for this is because it is effective. By sending out mass e-mails, impersonating a reputable and well known company, and asking for personal information, these con-artists are able to gather what they need. Many companies will never ask for your personal information through e-mail due to the low security. If you receive an email asking for your personal or financial information, discard it. If it is from a company you are familiar with contact that company and ask them questions about it. Even if they did not send the e-mail, they can warn their current customers about the scam.

Be Careful on Public Networks:

There is no doubt that the convenience of surfing the internet at your favorite coffee shop is a fantastic luxury. However, you still have to be cautious when you are using an internet connection that is shared by others. The latest method thieves are using is creating an identical webpage as the one you bank with. As you go to your normal bank website and enter in your login information, you could be logging into a dummy site and giving away access to your account and your money. Do not do any banking or credit card applications on a public connection.

Clean Out Your Computer:

One thing many people forget is cleaning out their computer when they sell it. Even if you believe your information is erased, it stays on your hard drive until it is written over by new data. Hackers are then able to retrieve these deleted files and your personal information. Use a program that wipes it out and writes over the information. The best option for when you sell your computer is to remove the hard drive all together. Hard drives are reasonably priced these days and if your customer is really interested in buying your computer, they will be willing to replace the hard drive. You may lose a couple of customers who want the hard drive with it, but that is a small price to pay to keep your banking and credit card information safe. Technology is running our world today. We are always in the presence of a technological device that makes our lives easier. If you are a computer user and take advantage of the convenience computers offer, then take the steps to keep your financial information protected.

Terri Miller is a financial advisor who frequents CreditCardCompare.com.au’s consumer reviews website for information on instant approval credit cards for her clients.

Categories General, Security
Comments (17)

Jan

The Best Parts Of Your PC To Upgrade

by Contributed

Upgrading a PC for yourself can actually be rather rewarding (especially considering there are monetary savings to be had), but to many it’s a daunting task. Whilst a full overhaul may never appeal to everyone, there are always components and peripherals you can swap or add that will do wonders for your system. If you’re building to play the latest games especially, consider swapping these parts for something new before you ditch your entire machine:

Graphics Card

Ever since the now defunct 3DFX’s Voodoo range, the first thing any PC builder replaces when they are upgrading is the Graphics Card. Featuring components that are very specifically engineered to make graphical computing tasks faster, these cards will still provide the biggest jump for most machines. They’re also the easiest thing to install in your machine, and finding a decent card is a pretty straightforward process (bigger numbers mean better cards, spend as much over £150 / $250 as you want to).

However, it’s important to acknowledge that there are limits to what a new card can do for you. Very old motherboards will be incompatible with modern graphics cards, (the latest PCI-E v2.1 and v3.0 specification may not be supported by older motherboards). More importantly though, a good graphics card can be held back by not enough ram, or a weak processor.

RAM

No full-sized machine set up for everyday tasks really ought to have any less than 4GB of RAM these days. A games machine ought to have at least 8GB, and 16GB ought to future-proof you against the more data intensive games just around the corner. Broadly speaking, more RAM means that complex visual and mathematical elements – models, textures and the like – can be stored close at hand. This reduces load times and the risk of sudden, prolonged loading spikes during gameplay. It’s also important to get high speed RAM. DDR3 RAM with a 1600Mhz (1.6 Ghz) speed is the current standard.

Hard Drive (Solid State Drives)

Hard disk sizes kept rising and prices kept falling, and now the days of the cheap Terabyte hard drive are a reality. We’re now finally in an age where a Hard-Drive is no more hassle to purchase and install than an optical disc drive. Buy a large enough drive, and never have to worry about your data again.

Or perhaps not. The fact is that the access speeds of a spinning hard disk drive and its data-reading head aren’t especially impressive in modern computing terms. The new pretender to the throne is the SSD – the Solid State Drive. In simple terms, SSDs are like large flash memory disks (not entirely unlike those in mobile devices). They can be accessed, written and rewritten almost instantaneously, translating into extremely fast data access speeds on any PC they’re added to. The only problem is size (well, and cost): you get about 1/6th of the capacity for nearly twice the price of a typical Hard Disk drive.

Nothing is stopping you from running a gaming PC with a SSD and a conventional Hard Disk drive, though. Stick your Operating System on the SSD and all your games on the conventional disk and you’ll be laughing.

Monitor

Often overlooked (though you’re almost certainly literally looking at one right now), having a good monitor is essential for gaming. The 1920×1080 resolution typical of ‘High Definition’ entertainment (e.g. Blu Ray) is the standard for current gaming PCs. But if you’re adventuring into screens of 27” and above, you should seriously consider investing in the sharpness of a 2560×1440 screen. High refresh 3D-capable monitors are certainly within reach too, and 3D technology is certainly most exciting when implemented in games.

Steph Wood has built several PC builds in the past, and is currently writing for Novatech who offer the best cheap laptops to UK customers.

Categories General, Hardware
Comments (15)

Jan

How to Upload to Youtube

by Roger Corwin

Dreaming of a life in the spotlight? Want to be the star of your own personal video watched by millions? YouTube is making this dream possible for the ordinary folks how upload videos to their site. Since its launch, millions of YouTube videos have been uploaded, watched, rated and commented on. If you want to join the ranks of the people who have become overnight YouTube sensations, or just want to share a video with friends, then you will need to know how to upload to YouTube.

Required Tools and Materials

Computer
Video to upload
Internet
YouTube account

Instruction

Create a YouTube account / log into YouTube
If you don’t have one already you will need to create a YouTube account. To do this go to youtube.com and click Create Account at the top right.
Fill out the form by choosing a user name and entering your date of birth and accepting their terms of agreement.
Once you’re finished, log into the YouTube account
To upload, click “Upload” located to the right of the search bar and click browse. A window will open allowing you to search through the files on the computer for the video you want to upload.
Select the video file to be uploaded. The file must be one of the following formats:
- AVI (Audio Video Interleaved)
- 3GP (cell phones)
- MOV (Mac)
- MP4 (iPod/PSP)
- MPEG or .MPG (Motion Picture Experts Group
- FLV (Adobe Flash)
- SWF (Shockwave Flash)
- M4V (h.264)
- WMV (Windows Media Video)
Click the button that says “Upload video”
Enter the information necessary to upload the video. This will include:
The title, description of the video, category the video should be added to and tags. Hit save
Wait for the video to upload, the length of time will differ depending on the length and quality of the video.

Tips and Warnings

Videos can be up to fifteen minutes in length and 2gb in size
Keep the title simple and relevant to the video this is the best way for the video to come up in searches and get as many views as possible.
Keep tags in line with the theme of the video but not exactly the same as the video so it comes up more often.
Make the description detailed, interesting and relative to the video.
Never upload copyrighted material to YouTube. It is against the rules laid out in their terms and conditions. Videos containing copyrighted material will be deleted from the site as soon as it is discovered. If you keep uploading copyrighted material (this can be original videos with copyrighted background music) your account could be suspended or deleted. Filmmakers and production studios especially are clamping down on their material being illegally distributed on the Internet. In addition to account suspension, you could face criminal charges.
Uploading lewd and pornographic material will also cause your account to be deleted
Read through YouTube’s terms and conditions if there are any questions about the types of videos that can be uploaded.

Categories General
Comments (11)

Jan

Skydrive Gives Access Anywhere

by Contributed

Mobile users are able to enjoy the versatility and convenience of using their phones to access a plethora of information. As technology grows, mobile phones are capable of doing a lot more than in the past. This sparks programmers and companies to create apps that make mobile computing possible, fast and convenient. Now Microsoft has launched a new app for their Skydrive service, a place to store and retrieve files both from your computer and your mobile phone.

Overview:

Cloud computing is becoming a popular method for accessing and storing files for use anytime and anywhere you need them. Microsoft’s new Skydrive app allows the same concept. By uploading your files into the 25 GB storage they offer, you can access your files from any computer and now your mobile phone.

This app also allows you to upload your photos and videos from your phone into your Skydrive storage. Once you are home you can log into your Microsoft account and access the uploaded files to share, edit, or archive. This is a great way to keep the memory on your phone cleared and have access when you need it.

Pros:

Skydrive offers a lot of space and with the ability to copy your Skydrive files onto your computer, the space is nearly limitless. Since you have 25 GB of free space to use, you can fill it, download the files, and fill it again. It eliminates the need to save files on your phone’s memory or card.

The convenience of having access anywhere is the main appeal. If you have an interview, appointment, or meeting, you can upload the files you will need from your computer to your Skydrive and access them once you are there. This can be a useful tool if you are constantly on the go for business. Never again will you be without the documents you need when you need them.

If you combine this app with Microsoft Office’s app, you can easily download, edit and upload Excel and Word documents at the moment of inspiration. If you come up with an idea on how to improve your document, download it, make the changes, and upload it while your ideas are still fresh.

Skydrive offers an easy way to share your files and folders. Once you have them uploaded, you can click on the files or folders you would like to share with others and send a link to your Skydrive files. This is a great way to collaborate with co-workers or just let your friends see your latest photos and videos. Added security will allow you to share with them, choose if they can view or edit the folders, and also will not allow them to share your link with anyone else.

Cons:

Currently Skydrive only allows a limited variety of file types to be uploaded. Currently you can upload Excel files, Word documents, photos and videos. Perhaps in the future Skydrive will allow other file types for upload.

Another complaint is the inability to upload more than one file at a time. If you have a phone full of photos, you will have to upload one picture at a time. There are other apps you can use in conjunction with Skydrive such as iUnarchive that allows you to upload multiple files at once, however currently Skydrive itself does not offer that feature.

If you are constantly on the go and looking for a way to have access to the files that are important to you, Skydrive may be the solution. It is available as an app for iPhone and Windows phones, however, your Skydrive account can be accessed by any web enabled phone. Now you can have all your files just a tap away.

Writer Stephanie Sanders is a communications consultant and contributes to mobilephones.org.uk, which has a large selection of cheap mobile phones with many unique plans.

Categories General, Microsoft, Technology
Comments (10)

Jan

5 Important Tips for eReader Care

by Bethany Ramos

If you were one of the lucky ones to be gifted a top-of-the-line eReader for Christmas this year, you may be wondering exactly what you can do to protect your brand-new toy. If you want to extend the shelf life of your eReader and keep it in the best condition, it takes a little planning and TLC.

Get a case. If your eReader didn’t come with a screen protector or a case, it’s a great idea to get one. Whether you want to admit it or not, most of us can be pretty clumsy if we’re not paying attention. If you’ve already dropped your iPhone multiple times, then your eReader could probably use some added protection. A screen protector can save your screen from chips and cracks and is much cheaper than springing several hundred dollars for a new device if you were to break your Kindle.
Get a second charger. For less than $10, you can get another USB charger for your eReader. This is a great tool to have on hand so that you never have to go without if your Kindle is low on a charge. This is also an especially helpful accessory to have if you accidentally lose a charger or forget to bring one with you when you are traveling.
Keep it clean. You can clean your eReader with a soft, slightly damp cloth – but make sure that you dry it immediately with a soft towel to prevent any moisture damage. You can also use a special screen cleaning cloth with a lens cleaner, if it makes you feel more comfortable. Just make sure that you don’t use abrasive products, like harsh glass cleaners, on the screen of your device.
Read the instructions. A device like the Kindle lets you read the instructions directly through the device so that you can fully understand all of the buttons and features available to you. The instructions will tell you where to find the battery and how to change it if necessary. This type of basic understanding will likely prevent you from making simple mistakes that could be avoided when you understand exactly how your device works.
Backup your data. Cloud-based services like Dropbox will let you back up the e-books that you have on your eReader. This is beneficial since the e-books that you buy can’t be re-downloaded if they were lost. In some cases, you may delete files on your device by accident, making backups a necessity to prevent any unexpected errors that could erase your data.

Bethany Ramos is a full-time freelance writer that co-owns her own e-commerce website, The Coffee Bump. The Coffee Bump specializes in a wide variety of commercial coffee makers and assorted coffee and espresso products.

Categories General, Technology
Comments (17)

Jan

Giveaway of WAV To MP3 Software

by James M. Fisher

Today starts a free Giveaway of WAV To MP3 at http://www.wavmp3.net/giveaway.html.
Before 2012 Feb 5th, WAV To MP3 is for free for all users. Once users download and install the giveaway version during the giveaway period, they will be able to use the converter for lifetime with 100% full function.
The main purpose of WAV To MP3 is converting lossless WAV audio files to MP3 music for popular movable audio devices like iPod, and to save a lot of disk space because the MP3 file size is much smaller.
The FLAC creator feature is also added. FLAC is a lossless audio compressed format, and it is very popular with audiophiles. Now users can create FLAC audio from WAV files directly by WAV To MP3 without quality loss.
The WAV To MP3 regular price is $29.95 USD, but it is 100% free and full functional in this giveaway period.
The giveaway page: http://www.wavmp3.net/giveaway.html.

Categories General, Promotions
Comments (23)

Jan

New DVD to Android & iOS Converter

by James M. Fisher

If you have been looking for an easy software that converts your DVD movies or video files into the proper format and size for your Android or iOS gadgets then read on. Our friends over at BurnWorld have just received a few dozen licenses for a new software called 123 Movies2Android which is an easy to use 1 click video converter.

Here is a detailed list of all of the features that you can benefit from:

Software Features

Transfer DVD movies to your smart phones, tablets and mobile video players.
Use movie only mode to copy just the feature film or go advanced to copy your favorite bonus features.
Transfer HD Internet videos and watch them wherever you go, without going online.
Download Internet Videos – YouTube, Google Video and many more video websites supported.
Copy downloaded HD video files to many different file formats that can play on your PC,smart phones, tablets and mobile video players.
Supports MPEG4, WMV, AVI and more.
All major smart phones supported including the iPhone, Blackberry smart phones, Android smart phones, iPad, Samsung Galaxy Tab and many more.

Here is a quick video demo showing this software in action:

If you are interested in a software tools like this be sure to take advantage of their $20 pricing made for WindowsTalk readers. To take advantage of this offer or to learn more about 123 Movies2Android head over to their site now.