Top 5 Tech Tools for Small Businesses

Starting a new business can be tough, as obstructions you never imagined crop up. Limited time, manpower, and budgets can all be a factor as the workload starts to pile up and the bills come rolling in. With the right tools, small businesses can reach their potential. Below is a list of tools that small business owners can utilize.

1. For organization and productivity – 

• Google Drive - lets you store and access your files anywhere--on the web, on your hard drive, or on the go.
• Trello – Visual project management system
• Expensify - financial services startup that provides an online expense management service for customers worldwide.
• Evernote - A suite of software and services that allow users to capture, organize, and find information across multiple platforms.

2. Cloud storage – 

• Dropbox - Provides a home for users' most-important information.
• Google Drive - lets you store and access your files anywhere -- on the Web, on your hard drive, or on the go.
• Apple’s iCloud - a mobile- and Web-based application that enables its users to store their information.
• Microsoft OneDrive - A storage application that enables users to store and share photos, videos, documents, and more.

3. CRM tools – 

• Salesforce - A global cloud computing company that develops CRM solutions and provides business software on a subscription basis.
• Act! -  To organize customer details, increase productivity, and drive results.
• SugarCRM - enables businesses to create extraordinary customer relationships with the most innovative CRM solution in the market.

4. Email marketing/marketing automation – 

• MailChimp - an email marketing service that helps businesses with newsletters, automated messages, and targeted campaigns.
• Constant Contact - provides email, social media, and event marketing tools to help small businesses grow their customer base.
• Emfluence - lets you create, deploy, and track multi-channel online marketing campaigns from one place.
• InfusionSoft - provides sales and marketing automation software for small businesses that combines CRM, email marketing, and e-commerce.

5. Social media and content tools – 

• TweetDeck - A Twitter tool for real-time tracking, organizing, and engaging on Web and mobile devices.
• Sprout Social - provides a platform for businesses to manage social media engagement, publishing, and analytics.
• Buffer App - helps users share social media content by scheduling online posts throughout the day.

What’s In a Name?

Creativity is the essence of the tech world and it is evident even with the names of tech companies. There is a story behind the names of most of the companies. 

Here’s a look how some of these well-known tech giants got their names:

• Apple - Steve Jobs liked apples a lot. The other reason he named his company ‘Apple’ was that “Apple” was ahead of “Atari” in the phonebook and he used to work at Atari. 
• Amazon - Bezos wanted his book retail site to be so quick and easy that it seemed like magic. The site went online in 1995 with the name of Amazon, taken from the Amazon River for being the biggest river. Clearly, Bezos had big ambitions right from the start.
• Google - Google took its name from a deliberate misspelling of Googol, the word that represents 10^100, or a 1 followed by 100 zeroes. Why this? Simply because founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page wanted to convey the huge amount of data they intended to make available.
• Microsoft - The company was officially established in April 1975, with the name coming from a combination of “microprocessor” and “software” – which is fitting given that they were creating software for the Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems’s (MITS) Altair 8800.
• Oracle - This name started as the code for a project that co-founders Larry Ellison and Bob Oats worked on for the CIA. It was a database that was supposed to be able to answer any question about anything.
• Mozilla - In 1994, when a team at Netscape sat around to think of names for a new browser to take on NCSA’s Mosaic browser, what they were looking for was something that would crush the competition. What they looked to was Godzilla. Combining Mosaic with the movie monster brings you to the current day name of Mozilla.
• Asus – The name is derived from the mythological Greek winged horse Pegasus. According to the company’s own explanation it embodies the strength, purity, and adventurous spirit of this fantastic creature, and soars to new heights with each new product it creates.
• Lenovo - The word is a combination of Le and Novo, meaning new in Latin.
• Skype – It’s a combination of “sky” and “peer-to-peer”, shortened to skyper. The name ‘Skyper’ was already in use, so the new name became ‘Skype’.
• Twitter – Founders first thought of ‘twitch’. But ‘twitch’ was not a good product name because it doesn’t bring up the right imagery. So, they looked up dictionary and found ‘twitter’. The definition was ‘a short burst of inconsequential information,’ and ‘chirps from birds.’ And that’s exactly what the product was.
• eBay - The website started out as “AuctionWeb,” a part of the personal website of former Apple software engineer Pierre Omidyar. The website took off, and Mr. Omidyar decided to spin it off into its own entity and name it after his consulting firm, Echo Bay Technology Group. When the domain name echobay.com was taken, he switched it to ebay.com.
• Verizon – According to Verizon’s corporate history, the name is a combination of the Latin words “veritas” and “horizon.” Veritas refers to truth and reliability, while horizon signifies forward-looking and visionary.
• Blackberry - This name was coined in 1999 because the keys on the device resembled the drupelets on the fruit.

What To Do If You Miss Job Interview

An interview is your opportunity to impress an employer and show how perfect you are for the job. Missing the interview or arriving late can jeopardize your chances and is something you should avoid at all costs. However, unavoidable situations sometimes occur that would make it impossible to attend. If you take appropriate steps immediately, you might be able to appease the employer and get a second chance.

The right thing to do, regardless of the reason why you missed the interview, is to send the recruiter a formal letter or email message of apology/explanation. It’s best to keep your letter or message brief but sincere. Take responsibility for your failure to appear for the interview. If you still want to work for the company and you had a good reason for missing the interview, let the recruiter know this, too. It can’t hurt and you might get a second chance!

Even if you were caught among unavoidable circumstances, missing an interview is highly unprofessional. But, still you can request the employer to reschedule your interview. He/she may refuse, but you can try. If the interviewer does agree to schedule another meeting, make note of the time and date, and thank him or her for the opportunity.

If the interviewer agrees to reschedule the meeting, make an effort to arrive at least 15 minutes early. Thank the interviewer for the opportunity, but do not mention the missed interview and do not make any excuses about it. Be polite, professional and do your best to show the interviewer that you’re a reliable, competent candidate. Good luck!

….And You Will Be Hired in Silicon Valley

Your resume is perfect, you are qualified, you have applied to hundreds of jobs in Silicon Valley, and yet you are not getting hired, right? Well, if this is your problem, then you are not alone. 

If you want to fulfill your dream of being an employee of the most sought after region for techies, here are tips:

• The easiest way to open yourself doors of top tech companies in the Silicon Valley is to enroll in some of the graduate schools. San Jose State University, UC, Berkeley, Stanford, San Francisco State University are among the top universities in the US from where the tech talent is placed by the hottest companies. So, if you have degree from one of these schools, you are in demand!
• Most of the candidates want work for Google, Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn. But the reality is for every open position, they get around 250 applications. The competition is fierce for getting into these companies. So, you need to look beyond these companies. Consider start-ups which have started receiving funding. You can contact them directly and send them your resume. Remember, start-ups are not getting 250 resumes for every open position they have.
• Make your resume tells the recruiter only the important points – your contact information, education and work experience. Don’t include your other interests, hobbies in resume. Resume should have action verbs like “Designed”, “Developed”, “Created”, “Sold” to describe what you have done so far that could benefit his/her company.
• Network with the people who are already working there. Ask them how they got the job, which skill sets are in demand in their companies, hiring process etc. Most of the times it is easier to get interview calls if you apply through employee referrals.
• When you go for an interview, show your passion for that company. The interviewer should see your excitement to work there.
• Generally, Silicon Valley companies don’t hire management trainees. They want their employees to be productive right after they join. This doesn’t mean you have to have at least 5 years of experience to get hired. But, during interview you have to show your ability to grasp things quickly and get started immediately. You cannot expect a long term training program before you start contributing here.
• Regularly browse through the job search sites such as TheGongzuo.com to know what the Silicon Valley tech companies are looking for. You get a fair idea about which skills to pickup to increase the probability of getting hired.

Tech Start-ups Founded by Women

Women population in tech world is low, but a positive sign is that they are taking action! Many aren’t waiting for companies to give them leadership roles; instead they are launching their own businesses.

Here is the list of tech start-ups owned by females:

• AdmitSee - This start-up seeks to bring transparency to the college and grad school application process. It makes easier for students to get admitted to college. Students can find the profiles of other students, see where others have applied and got accepted, strategize their own applications and can even get access to successful college essays. AdmitSee transforms an overwhelming, time-consuming grad-school admission process.
• Dot Laboratories - Dot offers diagnostic tests for endometriosis. Dot is creaking a path for early awareness; their technology will arm women everywhere with the knowledge they need to make critical health decisions.
• FINDMINE - FINDMINE runs product catalogues and retailer looks against user data. They then match your goods to shoppers’ tastes. This means shoppers see their perfect outfit on the website, in ads, in emails, etc. It leverages the power of data! Retailers use data to cater to customers and personalize marketing.
• Give InKind - A platform dedicated to providing comfort for those who need it, from organizing meal delivery to products to advice articles. Taking the hassle out of providing care for loved ones is a great concept.
• Indian Moms Connect - This is an online community for Indian moms. They share stories, tips, recipes, you name it. It’s all user-generated content, which creates an immediate sense of community. Plus, they have great product suggestions embedded within their content.
• Pace Match - Pace Match helps you find a running partner who lives near you, and whose speed matches yours. This was the result of a developer using her spare time to play with a runner’s API—and she realized that speed was the ultimate data point.
• ResultCare - An app dedicated to evidence-based medicine. It factors in cost so that clinicians can make smarter decisions. Healthcare is begging for innovation and the fact that this app takes costs into account is the key.
• Stilla - The smallest security system that fits into your hand. It can link to anything—a door, a bag, a laptop—and it will alert you if the object moves. The ease-of-use aspect here is fascinating. You can use the system for the objects you need, when you need it.
• Vidcode - A JavaScript coding platform targeted to teens. Platforms like this, that teach code in a fun, respectful manner, are in high demand.
• Hitlist – Hitlist lets you build wish lists of places you want to travel to. When there are fare deals for those places, Hitlist will send you an alert so you can buy tickets cheap.
• Control – Control helps businesses manage the payments they receive online from customers. Businesses can manage multiple accounts with Control on different devices (mobile on iOS or Android, or with the desktop web app).
• Shippo – Shippo wants to shake up the shipping industry by making it cheaper and easier for online marketplaces and merchants to send you your stuff. Shippo's software lets e-commerce companies connect with different shipping providers to get better rates and labels at a low cost.

If you are one of those women, who dream of starting your own business, but hold back due to certain reasons, get inspired by these women. We at TheGongzuo.com will help you launch your dream. Register at our website for free and let’s get started!

Tech Skills in Demand

It’s a perfect time to be in Information Technology field. In the US, unemployment rates in this industry are lower than other industries. There are plenty of opportunities for IT professionals.

Here are the top IT skills in demand today in the US:

• UI/UX designers/developers - User experience and user interface (UX/UI) designers are going to be in high demand to help make software interfaces as intuitive as possible. Consumers won't settle for anything less than a quick, seamless and painless user experience.
• Web and product developers – Web developers, especially skilled in Java, JavaScript, PHP are in high demand.
• Network engineers - Networking is the foundation of web and streaming technologies. For digital businesses as well, networking professionals are in high demand.
• Security professionals – Actually there is a shortage of this particular skill in the US. Hackers are creating threats to breach systems, so businesses and governments are scrambling to find security talent.
• Mobile engineers – Mobile is the most heavily used digital platform. There is a major market for mobile application developers.
• Business analysts – Business analysts play a critical role, as they are liaison between IT department and business. They ensure IT projects are meeting business needs and meeting strategic goals. Organizations need them as they speak both the languages – language of business as well as IT.
• IT project managers - With an increase in IT spending to pursue new innovation, IT project managers are in great demand. Managers who specialize in one particular field, for example banking and financial sector have the best chance to get placed.
• Cloud architects - With the continued shift toward public cloud infrastructure and hybrid cloud adoption, IT pros skilled at setting up, performing integration and securing cloud deployments remain in high demand.
• Data scientists - Companies are currently struggling to handle the overflow of data they're receiving - everything from user data, customer behavior data, purchasing data, sales leads, marketing data etc. Professionals who can develop solutions to capture, process, analyze and interpret data continue to be necessary for an organization's success.

If you are an expert in any of the above mentioned areas, please log on to TheGongzuo.com to find which employers are looking for your skill sets and apply today to get hired!

Small Businesses - Big Challenges

Running a small business is anything but small! Growing businesses face a range of challenges. As a business grows, different problems and opportunities demand different solutions - what worked a year ago might not be the best approach now. The first thing to do is to understand that problems are an everyday part of every business and then face each problem with determination and a proper solution.

Here are some of the biggest challenges that small businesses need to overcome:

•  Finding talented people - The biggest problem is see for small business today is in hiring employees that can truly help your business grow. It's difficult to compete with the larger businesses for the same talent when you have such limited funds. You need to find more creative ways to tap into the talents you need. Give them a sense of 'wanting' to build and grow with you. Research what employees want other than the pay check! You can't compete with money and that's a challenge.
• Cash flow issues - Money problems in their various forms are top of most lists of company woes, and for small businesses the major worries are clients stalling payments, unexpected outgoings, and outstanding bills that won’t wait to be paid. You can take help of apps to automate bill payments etc. Online invoices and reminders is a powerful way to persuade reluctant clients to pay money.
• Finding and retaining customers – Research your existing customers and analyze them based on their characteristics – highest volume of sales, low credits, number of repeat orders, associated costs etc. This will give you a clear idea about where to focus your energies. To understand what customers want, you can ask for feedback from current best clients.
• Staying current - Small business owners can be so busy they forget to keep up with what’s current in their sector. It takes so much time just to keep on top of the work. When you’re scheduling your week, don’t forget to allocate time to track competitors and undertake awareness-raising activities such as reading blog posts.
• Lack of marketing knowledge - When you start your own business, you don’t get a handbook explaining the ins and outs of marketing. While there are plenty of resources to help small businesses learn these skills, it’s hard to find the time to filter out workable marketing tips and techniques. You can hire a marketing company to handle your workflow. If you really don’t have the time to market your business, it’s likely worth the investment to make sure someone else is marketing it for you.
• Lack of direction and planning - This problem prevails because of not creating a thorough and detailed business plan. Many young entrepreneurs are so excited about setting up their very own business that they fail to prepare a proper business plan. It helps in focusing on the goal and mission of the business. It determines the financial situation of the business, the roadmap to follow, market research and analysis of the competition. A business plan is basically an investment to your business.
• Trying to do it alone - Coping with everything alone is also one of the most common mistake new business owners make. They believe that they can manage everything and don’t need any advice or help form anyone. Initially, they do seem to be successful in this strategy as the cost is low since they handle everything. However, as the work starts growing gradually, the workload takes a toll on the new entrepreneur. Hiring two to three employees is more beneficial for a start-up business. It is better to pay a small amount to your workers than lose double the amount in the future.

The key for small business owners is to recognise these challenges and take counter measures accordingly. Cutting overheads in every way may seem like the only right thing to do, but “attack” is also the best form of defence. Small business owners should constantly look for opportunities and take their advantage in timely manner.

TheGongzuo: Helping Ideators Realize Their Dreams

“New ideas pass through three periods: 1) It can't be done. 2) It probably can be done, but it's not worth doing. 3) I knew it was a good idea all along!”- Arthur C. Clarke

Any startup begins as an idea. How well you execute the idea differentiates you from an average ideator. TheGongzuo offers you the right platform to connect with potential investors and entrepreneurs who maybe interested in your idea. However, before this happens, you need to spend time developing your business idea.

The Fundamentals

TheGongzuo believes in following a step by step system to realizing your dreams and making them into a reality.

Here are the steps you need to take in order to be a successful ideator and attract potential investors to invest in your business idea.

Step 1: Come up with an idea

Step 2: Post it on TheGongzuo

Step 3: We Create traction for your idea using the following:

• Building teams with the right technical capabilities
• Creating and building your online presence via TheGongzuo, social media and other resources the site offers you
• Get a mentor to guide you
• Use offshore resources and companies
• Connect with potential customers
• Get the right team in place to support you and your idea
• Use legal advice to

Step 4: Weigh your finance options

• You can either opt for grants or take a loan. Your options include debt financing, using a government grant, find an equity partner or bootstrap
• The other alternative is attracting investment. For this, you would need to prepare the right documentation, such as a sound business plan, a white paper about your product and/or service, have the right financial forecasts in place and get a business valuation report

Step 5: If you opt for the investment option, you can attract angel investors, strategic investors and/or venture capitalists

TheGongzuo Advantages

TheGongzuo offers ideators and opportunity to realize their idea and turn it into a reality, as all the resources to create the perfect system are available on the site. Once the system is created, there are further resources available to ensure that system works just the way you envisaged.

For more information visit: http://www.thegongzuo.com