Tag: google

Small Business SEO Techniques

Posted by Winflow – August 5, 2011

For small businesses, the internet has been a massively influential tool. It helps build a fan base, creates sales and provides a hub of activity. The chances are that the internet will continue to grow and maintain its impact for a long time, so the best thing to do is understand how it works. And one of the best methods of helping grow your company online is by using small business SEO (search engine optimization) techniques.

SEO Importance

Firstly, let’s understand what SEO really is. When you search on Google, the large majority of the time you will just click the top links and ignore the second and third pages. But have you ever considered why these links are at the top? It’s mainly because they have used SEO to help them connect with the Google bots that search the web. Though, it can also come down to the size of your company. For example, if you type in ‘the sun’, theoretically information on the sun should appear. But it’s actually the newspaper which tops the list.

Google uses what’s known as Googlebots to help it cover every website possible. It looks through billions of pages to find new and updated material that can be added to the search engines, and may only need a couple of days to find your articles. One of the main ways for the Googlebot to find your website is through links, and having websites link to you is a great start for maximizing your SEO. Read the rest of this article

How to Name your New Business

Posted by WFG – July 29, 2011

Think back to a time when you were sitting on your couch, or on the way to work. How many different company names, logos and catchphrases did you see? It’s probably in the hundreds, if not thousands, and each one is fighting its way to the forefront of your attention. As a new business owner you will be joining this fight and you’ll need an individual, and inspiring, name to help you win.

It might sound impossible but in your short company name you’ll have to reveal a whole host of different aspects, firstly, who you are. Identity is a huge importance in the business world and remember that if everything goes well you’ll create a reputation. For some it will mean mixing your personal name into the title, others though choose something a little wittier and create a new image for themselves.

When you were thinking back to the company names your saw, do you remember what they all do? A company name should tell us what the business does in a simplistic manner. This isn’t always possible, and a lot of companies, such as Google and Apple, don’t really describe their business. But as a small business it’s imperative and there’s always a possibility that at a later date it can be shortened. Read the rest of this article

Company Naming Mistakes

Posted by WFG – June 15, 2011

When you first start a small business there are a wide range of complications. The finances, business location and that’s without creating the perfect name. Finding the right name might seem like the easiest of all the tasks but many people make a series.

One of the first mistakes people make is asking others to think of ideas. You can only choose one name and if when discussing the options with a large crowd you risk alienating the people that want to help. If everyone joins together to think of a name then the final verdict will often be a safe and mundane conclusion. Try to mix up your group with people that think in different ways.

The name of your company needs to stand out and be simple, so try to avoid what’s known as the ‘train wreck’ method. This happens when companies try to create a new word by mixing two that already exist. For example, imagine a fitness center called exegym. Both words are fine for using in a name, but mixed together in this way creates something that should left alone.

But remember that your name still needs to make an impression. You’ll be competing against other companies so make sure to have something that people remember. Search engines such as Google and Yahoo stand out because we remember the words. They wouldn’t have been as successful if they were titled internationalsearchengine.com.

 

Microsoft loses Patent Battle with Toronto’s i4i

Posted by Winflow – June 9, 2011

Earlier today, the US Supreme Court sided with Toronto-based company, i4i, and found the Microsoft Corp.  guilty of infringing upon a patent held by i4i. The details are as follows:

  • Microsoft fought to lower the standard of proof defendants are required to bear in patent infringement cases.
  • The US Supreme Court agreed that the US$290 – million jury verdict was to be awarded to i4i.
  • The patent in question, filed in 1998, dictates the software that can use XML language to open computer documents. This type of software appeared in Microsoft’s Word 2003 and 2007 operating software.
  • Microsoft plans to keep pushing for patent law reform.
  • Microsoft is not allowed to sell versions of Word that contain this patent infringement.
  • The chairman of i4i has spent over US$10 – million on expenses associated with this lawsuit.
  • Software giants, Google and Apple Inc., supported Microsoft’s side of the case.
  • The judgment in it’s entirety can be read here.

The ruling in favour of i4i sets the precedent that inventors cannot simply have their patents infringed upon by large corporations. For the full article, visit the Financial Post.

To ensure your company’s contracts and agreements are protected, contact the Winflow Financial Group. We can be reached by: