Tomorrow, the fashion business world will flock to New York to celebrate one of the biggest events of the season – Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Fashion Week brings together designers, marketers and fashion enthusiasts from around the globe to promote ideas, judge style and ultimately, establish the trends that will shape the fashion industry for the next year.
To celebrate fashion week, Microsoft has partnered with fashion and small business blogger Erin Flynn of Reality Chic who is hosting a giveaway for an Acer Aspire S3 loaded with Windows 7 Professional. To find out more about how you can enter to win the new PC please visit http://realitychicblog.com/.
While Fashion Week has inspired some of my colleagues to think about fashionable PCs, it has made me think about trends – specifically tech trends and how they can be tailored to small businesses to help them get the most out of their PC experience and in turn, help their business succeed.
Here are some of the top computing trends we’re seeing and recommendations on how to leverage them within your small business:
- Bring Your Own Device. In a report released from IDC, the firm suggests that small businesses are adopting the “bring your own device” concept quickly. The ability for small business employees to choose the device they work on is said to increase productivity and efficiencies. With all the new devices out there, such as the ASUS Zenbook UX31, which brings fashion and function together, and the Sony VAIO Z that offers a ultra-sleek look with a long battery life, there really is a PC to fit everyone’s style and business goals. To find out more about a Windows 7 Professional PC that could work for you visit http://www.microsoft.com/windows/business/get-a-new-pc.aspx.
- Anywhere Mobility. Customers expect companies to be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, providing real-time information at a click of a button, which makes the ability to work anywhere, anytime a necessity for small businesses. Windows 7 Professional gives small businesses the ability to be connected wherever they go from the office, to home, to the local coffee shop. With features like Remote Desktop Connection and Windows Connect Now, small businesses can have peace of mind knowing that they will stay connected regardless of where they are.
- Social Media. Social media has been top of mind for many businesses over the past couple years and this year will be no different. A recent study from the CMO Council found that 68 percent of brands struggle to integrate social media and in 2012, “brands that give their social customers useful and engaging online experiences, a chance to connect with each other, and special rewards and status, will pull away from the pack in 2012.” So whether it’s jumping into social media for the first time or reevaluating a current plan, small businesses should take the time to establish a strategy and get to know their customers through a deeper social networking lens.
- New Technology. No one wants to be slowed down by an outdated computer. A great new PC like the Dell XPS 13z or Acer Aspire S3, running the latest software like Windows 7 Professional and Office 365 will ensure small businesses keep up with the trends, while staying productive. Features like Windows Defender helps protect PCs from pop-ups, spyware, and other security threats and will make sure that small businesses stay secure and productive all year long. Additionally, some fun features like Snap, Snipping Tool, and Shake, help users do things with just a click of a mouse and are unique features that only Windows 7 users can experience.
Microsoft is dedicated to developing products to keep small businesses ahead of the game. Please continue to check back here often and I’ll make sure to keep providing valuable information for small business owners. To learn more about how Windows 7 Professional can help your small business, visit http://www.microsoft.com/windows/business/.
