1. How do I stay up to date on the technology/changes?
    
2. Is the technology I have paid for already being used to its potential?
    
3. What can I do to win new business?

The answers are not so easy to come by but let me provide a rapid response to each.

Staying up with changes
The answer to this is complicated because it depends on the technology you are using. More importantly, it requires you to have an understanding of what technology you could or should be using. I use a combination of key websites and discussion forums for our in-house technology. For instance: if you use Google Apps (like I do), add the google apps blog to your Google Reader (or blog reader of choice). You’ll be notified when they post updates.

If you don’t know what Google Reader is (or what a blog/news reader does, you need to ask me).

Using current technology to its potential
Chances are, unfortunately, you aren’t. I do this for a living and I am not. The reason is two-fold. First, to get the most of technology, you have to understand what it does and you have to understand what you need to have done. The other reason is that using technology to its potential requires you to front-load the work. This means taking some time to setup templates and the underlying technology prior to using it.

Winning business
This is a tougher one but I can tell you that the answer is not 5,000 followers on Twitter or Facebook. However, an online strategy that involves educationally-focused content across various platforms can greatly increase your visibility.

These are the same questions that needed answering in the dot com boom, the dot com bust, and before those times and since… While not the only questions, they continue to vex businesses.

If you are trying to answer these questions or have other you need answered, shoot me an email (see the sidebar). I’ll try to provide some insight and possibly use the question in an upcoming blog.

It is part of my Songwriter & Social Media Tour, as I am playing music the night before and night after in Ruidoso as well.

If you want to find out more and register for the event, go to the eventbrite registration page at:

For more information, including content and contact information, click the link above.

* discount code for Ruidoso Chamber members. Contact the chamber.