Here’s the deal: Instead of relying on software such as Microsoft Outlook, Word etc. – which are great programs except that they rely on your desktop or laptop – Kevin uses Google applications to achieve a truly mobile office. He said that by having all of his email and documents available via an internet server, he can access whatever email or file he needs – from any device – at any time – from any place – where there’s an internet connection. Now that’s living on a cloud.

Why? It’s becoming more and more important to live in real time, all the time, in our business
communications. But I use a Macbook (via Telus as my Internet provider and Bell as the celluar provider for my Blackberry), and if I want to send an email from my laptop – when I’m not in my home office – I can’t do it – because my server will only allow me to access email, not send it. I know I can change my local settings but that’s a pain. Result: there are times I’ll miss an email on my Blackberry but get it on my laptop – so frustrating.

Solution: Kevin uses Gmail – an email program that allows him to send, receive and access any
archived file via his Blackberry as well as his laptop – using cloud computing. Brilliant! He can also update his or his clients’ websites or blogs via Blackberry using a WordPress app. Again, brilliant. Because real time access equals real time results.

How? Start using programs like Gmail instead of Microsoft Outlook so you can send and receive anywhere. Simply set up a Gmail account ­- if you don’t already have one. Then start using Google docs, which are all Microsoft equivalents to Word, Powerpoint, etc. Then you can download and upload them from anywhere.

Our laptops and desktops are still important tools but now you can save your documents and emails to the ‘cloud’ and be safely backed up. Neil and I use an online backup program called Carbonite – for around $50 a year – that enables us to securely and continuously back up – without having to buy expensive external hard drives or time machines.

Tipzntrix: Keep up with Google – they’re making the way we do business easier and easier every day! And they’re making life after work easier as well. Have you heard about Google Music? Imagine having your iPod music library available in the cloud instead of having to buy a cool (but expensive) 32Gb iPod Touch? Cooler than cool?

If you have questions, we have answers (or will happily try to get them for you). Email me at jonathan@neilgodin.com and I’ll get right back to you (via Blackberry of course!) Thanks to Kevin @fuzemedia (that’s his Twitter name) – he’s well worth a follow.

Until next time!

Jonathan Christian – WE MAKE STUFF HAPPEN! (JDGEM Consulting Inc).
9809 182nd Street  Port Kells  BC Canada V4N 5A9. Tel: 604 888 5858  Cell: 778 378 9100 I  www.wemakestuffhappen.com. www.neilgodin.com.

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Welcome to the 90-Day Marketing Dangerously Social Media Challenge

Where we are doing our best to answer one simple question: Can social media work for business?

For the 90 days of our social media challenge, Marketing Dangerously is running blog posts and newsletter articles three days a week that relate specifically to using social media to build business (every Monday, Wednesday and Friday). On Tuesdays and Thursdays, we continue to run our T’nT (Tuesday and Thursday) articles on how to promote your business generally.

Why are we focusing on social media for 90 days?

If you’re in business you’ve been told you “have” to be on Facebook…you’ve “got” to be on Twitter – or at least on LinkedIn – not to mention YouTube, Digg, Squidoo, Reddit, MeetUp, Naymes, Plaxo, MySpace. STOP.

And, if you’re like most of the business people we talk to, you don’t “want” to be on any of these sites. You don’t want to hear that someone’s heading out for coffee — or how (badly) they golfed on the weekend. But. Is tweeting nuisance messages “really” using social media effectively? What about using Twitter (and Facebook) for nothing but sending and receiving valuable business messages? What about joining customer groups on these sites – handing out helpful advice.  And providing links to your website or blog – and links to sources of other helpful advice – positioning yourself as an expert?

Would that work? Or would it just be a waste of time?

During this 90 day challenge we are posting three times a week to our Marketing Dangerously blog (and newsletter), challenging you each time with a new social media task — in our quest to answer that question. By the time we’ve completed the challenge we (and you) will know if using social media — of every kind — and in every way — can generate sales of our products and services. And, of course, we will share what we learn with blow by blow descriptions of what we tried; how it worked (or wallowed) and what you can do to implement these ideas in your own business. Our blog is at: http://www.neilgodin.com/marketingdangerouslyblog/

20% of all sales go to Kiva, our favorite non-profit!

Yes. Fully twenty percent of all product and service sales during the campaign are being contributed to Kiva, the world wide organization that arranges micro-loans to micro-entrepreneurs in the developing world. Entrepreneurship is our passion. Promoting entrepreneurship (vs. charity) in the developing world goes beyond passion. We are darn near fanatic about supporting and promoting this cause. And we hope you stay with us.

Neil Godin, Jonathan Christian, and The Marketing Dangerously Tribe
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