Julie Knudson

You’ve seen all the great interactive Web tools that big companies use—trivia games, polls, and image carousels that keep site visitors engaged. It’s difficult for small businesses to offer those same experiences, because the coding requirements often lie outside their reach. Unless your core business relates to technology or Web design, you probably don’t have […]

Energy costs can gobble up a significant amount of your operating budget, especially when part of your business model includes power-hungry equipment or appliances. Smappee Pro, a new energy monitoring and management platform, is designed to small and midsize business operators visibility into their energy consumption while also providing tips on how to reduce usage […]

Surveys are fantastic dual-purpose marketing tools that give small business owners useful insight on a huge range of topics while also customer engagement. A survey targeted at an existing client base may uncover new opportunities to improve retention, or asking website visitors a few questions could point to order-boosting upgrades. You can choose from a […]

Product recommendations—in one form or another—are nearly as old as ecommerce itself. Some of the largest retailers have used them for more than 15 years, and many dedicate a significant amount of Web page real estate to products they believe customers will love but just haven’t stumbled across yet. However, even with years of product […]

A software platform aimed at helping companies sell faster? That’s TinderBox. “We make it easy and efficient for companies to use the information they have to create sales proposals, sales presentations, and contracts with a single click,” says Mitch Frazier, vice president of marketing at TinderBox. With a suite of modules that you can integrate […]

Monitoring cash flow is a crucial function for every small business. Maximizing the available resources means knowing where the money goes and how effectively outbound funds are used. Fortunately, small business owners can choose from an array of expense management software platforms to help them stay on top of expenses. If your small business is […]

Some small business owners still remain wary of moving their data or computer power to the cloud. Security concerns abound, from the system hacks grabbing headlines to worries that the wrong employee might gain access to confidential company information. A few myths may also influence the comfort level small businesses have regarding cloud environments. We […]

Citrix’s GoToMeeting platform has long played an important role for small businesses, offering them a robust online meeting service that doesn’t require spending a lot of money. It has also been an attractive solution for firms with lean technology resources. “Small business owners often lack the kind of technical support that big companies do,” says […]

As organizations of all sizes increasingly look to the cloud to keep their costs low and their productivity high, some online platforms remain prohibitively expensive, which keeps them out of reach for many small businesses. The team at InfoStreet intends to change that with SkyDesktop, a cloud-based workspace and suite of applications aimed squarely at […]

No longer relegated to the realm of big business, predictive analytics is taking its place in the toolboxes of many smaller companies. The power to crunch numbers and inform strategic decisions can be an important asset, especially when resources are lean. If you’re curious, this article explains the difference between predictive analytics and business intelligence. […]

Does it feel like you just don’t as much done as you could? Too many systems, too many distractions, and too much information to track can make it difficult to really accomplish anything. But with a little fine tuning and the right plugins, you can turn your Web browser into a surprisingly efficient assistant-in-waiting. This […]

Any small business with employees has already figured out a system to make sure its people get paid. But the payroll function isn’t just about employee wages. A good payroll software platform will also let you “keep up with all the payroll regulations and make sure that you’re compliant,” says Amy Vetter, a CPA and […]