Microsoft & Google work in partnership for Horatio Investments.

February 13, 2012 By

Working with our digital marketing partner Noisy Little Monkey, BisonGrid built and host the new website for Horatio Investments. The website is already outperforming the client’s expectations and here’s why…

The unique BisonGrid Hybrid CMS (content management system) means that the site benefits from the flexibility and ease of use of a Microsoft .Net based DotNetNuke CMS combined with the SEO (search engine optimisation) performance of WordPress. This means the content of the site always reflects the changing service offering from Horatio Investments, the news is easily updated once per week and with each team member’s bio page featuring their live Twitter feed, the website messages are absolutely up to the minute.

The team at Noisy Little Monkey have worked their SEO magic too – the site ranks highly in Google’s organic search results for generic searches within days of launch. Where it doesn’t rank yet there are highly targeted AdWords campaigns. To help deliver results in the short and medium term Noisy Little Monkey have worked with the team at Horatio Investments to optimise their use of Social Media and trained them on producing content that attracts back links to keep them outperforming the competition on Google and Bing.

Check out the Horatio Investments site and let us know what you think.

Visit the Noisy Little Monkey site for more info on Digital Marketing for SMEs

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: ,

Top tips for mobile working & increasing business productivity.

February 13, 2012 By

Are you and your staff getting the most out of mobile technology?

The Benefits of using mobile technology:-

  • Be more responsive:  You can deal with enquires, orders and issues much faster.
  • Be more flexible:  Many entrepreneurs choose to run their own business so it can fit in with their life style and working patterns. Mobile working allows you to work when and where you want.
  • Increased Productivity:  Surveys have shown allowing your staff to work flexibly can improve productivity 15% -30% .

Mobile working tips:-

  • If you use Microsoft office 2010 Home & business or Professional this includes a licence that allows you to install on your desktop and laptop allowing you to cut the cost of using the latest applications.
  • Keep your laptop data safe by Using Microsoft BitLocker and Bison Grid Online Data backup. The loss of your laptop could costs you a lot more than the price of a new PC.
  • Access your Emails, Diary, Contacts and shared files from any location using Microsoft Office 2010 and Microsoft Online Business Productivity Suite (BPOS). BPOS includes Microsoft Exchange and Microsoft SharePoint. You can also use Microsoft SharePoint web interface with Microsoft Office web apps to view and edit documents using any PC that has access to the internet.
  • Get duplicate power suppliers. Keep one at the office and one at home.
  • Save weight by charging portable devices using USB connections rather than carrying separate chargers.
  • Get a docking station and a mouse for your laptop. So you can turn your laptop in to a desktop when you need to.
  • New Windows Mobile 7 phones synchronise your email, calendar, contacts and SharePoint files. You also get pocket versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
  • Save money on mobile phone charges and subscribe to WIFI hotspot services such as the The Cloud and BT OpenZone.
Filed Under: Blog, BPOS, Cloud Computing, Communications, Data Backup, Mobile Working, Sharepoint Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

What is Cloud computing?

February 13, 2012 By

The term Cloud computing comes from how the Internet has traditionally been symbolised in network diagrams and system designs using the image of a Cloud. In short cloud computing is the use of hosted resources located in large secure data centres to provide computer platforms, software, and information to end user devices, like the electricity grid. Cloud technology itself has been defined by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) as follows:

‘Cloud computing is a model for enabling convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources… that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction. This cloud model promotes availability and is composed of five essential characteristics, three delivery models, and four deployment methods.’

It then gives the essential characteristics as:
• On-demand
• Ubiquitous network access
• Location-independent resource pooling
• Rapid elasticity
• Measured service

Another, more straightforward, example is the cloud as a commercial entity that enables users to purchase computer services and have them delivered as a service online.

Filed Under: Blog, Cloud Computing Tagged With: