ARRC Technology -- The Circuit

August 2009
In this issue

	ARRC on the Web
	Social Networking: Is Your Identity at Risk?
	Value of Social Media
	Office Secrets

Business value
of Social Media
part 2: blogging
reprinted with permission from the HP Small Business Center

No doubt, you’ve heard the term web log, better known as blog, but you may not know how blogging can actually benefit your business. By definition, a blog is a website that hosts entries—or posts—of commentary, descriptions of events, graphics, videos and more. No longer just a way for controversial thoughts to be heard, small and large businesses everywhere have begun to blog to build brand awareness, interact with their customers on a more personal level, and elevate their status in the industry as a thought-leader

In part one of this article, The Business value of Social Media Part I: Online networking, we explored how free networking sites like Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin are crucial to helping your business thrive. Here, we’ll show you how blogging has gone from being an online diary of sorts, to an online marketing tool that helps you gain credibility and position yourself and your business as leaders in your industry. We’ll also provide a few tips for getting started, should you decide what millions of others already have—that blogging is good for business.

Social Networking: ARRC on the Web

Social networking has become the new way to stay in touch, rekindle old friendships and business relationships as well as establish and maintain new and current relationships. With the ability to update your status and follow your contacts with an SMS feed sent directly to your mobile phone it’s become easier than ever to keep up whenever you have a spare moment.

In our efforts to stay current with technology and to stay connected to our clients and partners, ARRC Technology has created accounts on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Plaxo. We invite you to sign up on these sites as well. For the latest updates in technology or to see what is new at ARRC Technology, please follow us on the following links:

Along with social networking comes the responsibility of following proper social etiquette. Your social connections are also the connections that are going to help your business grow. Would you do any of the following in face-to-face relationships?

1.	Jump on the friendship bandwagon without properly introducing yourself?
2.	Consistently talk about yourself and promote only yourself without regard for those around you?
3.	Randomly approach a friend you barely talk to and simply ask for favors — repeatedly?
4.	Introduce yourself to another person as “Pink House Gardening?”

If you answered yes to any of the above you should brush up on your social etiquette skills and read the following article posted by techipedia. Social Media Etiquette Handbook

Social Networking: Is Your Identity At Risk?
reprinted with permission from HP

The total number of users on the social networking site Facebook has now soared above the 200 million mark. Just to put that into perspective: if Facebook were a country, it would be the fifth largest on Earth, after China, India, the U.S. and Indonesia. According to a recent report by ComScore, the number of European Facebook subscribers has grown by 314% over the past year to nearly 100 million users.

Due to the site’s popularity, many organizations (including HP) have recognized Facebook’s value in promoting their products and services. And everyone from British actor Stephen Fry to President Barack Obama has a Facebook page. Unfortunately, many of the aspects that make Facebook and other social networking sites so popular also make them a prime hunting ground for identity thieves, online scam artists and criminals.

Do You Know
Office Secrets?
By Alan R. Earls
Reprinted with permission from Microsoft Small Business Center

Microsoft Office 2007 has a wealth of features that you may have overlooked that could help your business. Here are four you may want to learn about.

In Summary:

•	Microsoft Office 2007 is chock-full of useful features you may not be aware of.
•	Read these tips on using SmartArt, the Outlook To-Do Bar, Document Inspector, and ScreenTips.

At the core of every business are the fundamental office productivity applications that support nearly every business function. The Microsoft Office suite of applications is so familiar that many managers probably assume they know everything they need to know about its capabilities.

But according to Monica Robinson, Microsoft Office 2007 senior product manager, there are numerous new features-some subtle, some dramatic-that can make a significant difference for businesses. "With the right software tools, employees are better able to impact the business," she says.

Many businesses are recognizing an increasing need for employees, customers, and partners to collaborate effectively, says Robinson. Office 2007 has several features designed to address this and other business challenges, including: