Technology Solutions

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Links to Sites that Offer Online Services (SaaS) and Other Business Software Packages

123 SignUp - online event registration tool
Create Adobe PDF - online service to create professional-looking PDF documents
Eventbrite - online event registration tool
FreeConferenceCall - A free conference call service. All you need to supply is your name and email address. Long distance rates are charged.
FreeTimesheet - web timesheet service providing hosted time tracking, expense reporting and project management software
Go To Meeting - Specializing in web conferencing, online meetings, online training, etc.
Google Analytics - The free online tools which can be used to analyze various aspects related to the traffic/visitors to a website.
GoogleAps - collaboration suite that uses the power of the web to make it easy for everyone to work together – from anywhere in the world
Google SketchUp - software that you can use to create, modify and share 3D models.
Google Video - a website for posting or viewing videos
GoToMyPC - Allows you to remotely access your computer from any other internet-connected computer with almost any operating system. Monthly plan starting at $19.95.
HitMeLater - a snooze button for your email.
HyperOffice Collaboration Suite- Suite of online collaboration tools including shared documents, calendars, contacts, projects, tasks, etc.
Mozy - Creators of MozyHome a free online backup service for personal, non-commerical use. Also have a business version called MoztPro.
Office Live Small Business - Everything you need to grow your business online, a free web site and email plus low cost e-commerce.
OpenOffice - OpenOffice.org 2 an open-source office software suite for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, databases and more. It is available in many languages and works on all common computers. It stores all your data in an international open standard format and can also read and write files from other common office software packages. It can be downloaded and used completely free of charge for any purpose.
Paint.Net - a replacement for Windows Paint. Requires .NET Framework 2.0 which comes with Windows Vista. A simple image editing application.
Poll Daddy - a tool for creating web surveys
Processor Explorer - Can be used for diagnosing computer problems and finding potentital malware on your computer.
QuickBooks QuickStart 2009 - Free version of QuickBooks. Can have up to 20 clients.
RemotePC - Allows you to access your computer remotely from anywhere as long as both computers are connected to the internet. Monthly basic plan starting at $4.95 per month.
Salesforce.com- an on-demand contact management system.
Skype - a VoIP application that when coupled with Whiteboard Meeting gives you a business collaboration aoolication. Add a Logitech Quickcam and you now have video conferencing.
Survey Monkey - a tool for creating web surveys
TimeXchange - web timesheet service providing hosted time tracking, expense reporting and project management software
TightVNC - A free remote control software package. Allow you to see the desktop of a remote machine and control it with your local mouse and keyboard just like you would do sitting at the computer.
Twitter - A service for friends, family, co-workers and business associates to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to questions.
VistaPrint - Online print service which offers free and economically priced printing of various marketing materials/colateral.
Web CEO - a SEO software package. They have a free version of it.
Wetpaint - an easy to use WSP (wiki service provider)
WebOffice - collaboration suite that uses the power of the web to make it easy for everyone to work together – from anywhere in the world
Wiggio - A free online toolkit that makes it easy to work in groups. Provides a group calendar, polls, a central folder, internal messaging sytems, easy to setup conference calls anc chatrooms and a links library to keep track of all the group's commonly used resources.
WikiSpaces- the WSP (wiki service provider) that is used for this site and the one we recommend to our clients.
YouTube - most recognized site for posting and viewing videos
Yugma - FREE Web Conferencing, online meetings and web collaboration services for Mac, Windows and Linux.
ZOHO - multiple FREE online tools for individuals or groups. Some of the tools are: word processor, spreadsheets, presentation tool, document management, note taker, organizer, chat, email, project management, CRM solution, invoicing, web conferencing, database, reporting & BI service, HRIS & Recruitment Mgmt, bundled package for businesses.

Interesting Articles/Presentations & Links to Online Journals

10 things to love (and hate) about IE 8 - Find out about the new features in IE 8. (must be a techrepublic member to view - membership is free)
11 Reasons to Use Twitter for Business
8 Tips for Countering a Blog Attack on Your Business - an article by Christopher Elliot about what to do if this happens to you.
Cloud Computing Journal - An online journal with articles about all things related to cloud computing
Geek.com - An online journal that reviews new chips, mobile tools, apple tools, games and gadgets.
Inc.com- An online journal for Entrepreneurs and small businesses.
IRS for Small Business- Useful information from the IRS for small business and the self-employed.
Keyczar - An open source cryptographic toolkit which makes it easier for developers to use cryptography.
Recognize Phishing Scams & Fraudulent E-mail - An article which talks about what to do about phishing scams.
TechRepublic - Web site for sharing IT related information on various topics
Video: What you should know about phishing identify-theft scams.
Web2.0 Journal - A web site with articles related to Web 2.0 technology, issues and solutions
Wire - Online IT magazine
Wikis & Blikis: A Presentation - An introduction to wikis & blikis and how they can be used.

Ideas to Save Money

Print your own business cards. Go to Microsoft's download site and download a business card template.
Create your own professional letterhead, envelopes, brochures, newletters, business plan, bank loan request, balance sheets, financial statement, competitive analysis, etc. Go to Microsoft's template site for Small Businesses.
Can't afford the price of MS Office, but want a free compatible office suite. Check out Open Office from OpenOffice.org.

Venture Capital & Angel Networks

AngelSoft - a website which will help you locate angel investor groups in your area.
Appletree Capital Ltd - a Chicago based private equity, venture capital and merchant banking group. For more information contact Francis P. Manzo III via e-mail or at 847-441-1822.
Chicago Venture Capital - an alliance of developers and investors dedicated to providing capital to early and mid-stage entrepreneurial companies.
Concept Equity Group - prepares entrepreneurs for investment and introduces entreprenuers to investors for early stage companies.
Golden Angels Network - a group of angel investors in Chicago and Milwaukee many of whome are Marquette University alumni and friends. Click here for what makes an attractive investment for the Golden Angels. Contact Tim Keaneat (4140 288-5722 for more details.
Phenomenelle Angels Func I, L.P. - a new, early stage fund that invests in women and minority owned or managed businesses in the Midwest.
Silicon Pastures - a local network of angel investors and strategic partners for emerging technology business in the Midwest. Based in Milwaukee, Wisc.
Venture Capital Firms - a list of Chicago and Illinois VC firms and a list of companies that received monies from the firms.
Wikipedia's List of Chicago VC Companies -

Links to Developer Sites

Drupal- An engine suitable to setup or build a content driven or community driven website.
Gannthead- an online community for IT Project Managers
Joomla! - content management system and web application framework
Joomla Chicago - the local users group for joomla developers and people interested in using joomla for web site development
Joomla CMS Training - offers affordable Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Joomla CMS Training Classes in addition to other IT related classes.
Microsoft's ASP.NET- Microsoft's site on all things related to ASP.NET
Mozilla Developer Center- Source of Firefox, tutorials & advice on different technologies, etc.
MySQL- The official site on MySQL. MySQL is an open source database that many businesses and organizations are adopting.
O'Reilly Webservices.xml.com- Web developer's site
PHP - The official site for all things php. Absolutely essential for PHP developers.
W3 Schools - Web Developer's site with LOTS of tutorials and advice on different technologoes & skills
Web Monkey - News articles & online tutorials for IT professionals
XAMPP - An installer for Apache web server along with MySQL, PHP and Perl.

Networking Sites

Facebook - a social networking site
LinkedIn - a professional networking site
MySpace - a social networking site
Second Life - An online, 3D virtual world imagined and created by its residents.
Twitter - Social networking and microblogging service utilising instant messaging

Ideas for Your Life

Check out these sites. They have some neat ideas for personal and professional life.

LifeHacker - ideas about how to unclutter your life.
MsMogul.com - a site decicated to Female Entrepreneurship and Empowerment
Unclutterer - another site with ideas about how to unclutter your life.

Last Updated: Jan 7, 2010 10:10 am