June 2010
In this issue...

If you could connect to the world's business professionals, in the time it takes to check your email, wouldn't you? Welcome to the world of online networking, where valuable business connections are made every day on social and professional networking sites like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Social and professional networking simply refers to the interaction between a community of people who share a common interest. Through these personal connections you make with an otherwise impersonal medium, you can give your business a personality, build brand awareness, and equally importantly, tune in to what people are saying about you.

The ability to create your own online networks through sites like Ning, has made it difficult to distinguish which online communities will help you reach your business goals. We did the leg work for you, by exploring the difference between social and professional networking and the business value of both, analyzing which sites work best, and providing tips to help you make the most of the free networking resources that already exist.

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No doubt, you've heard the term web log, better known as blog, but you may not know how blogging can actually benefit your business. By definition, a blog is a website that hosts entries—or posts—of commentary, descriptions of events, graphics, videos and more. No longer just a way for controversial thoughts to be heard, small and large businesses everywhere have begun to blog to build brand awareness, interact with their customers on a more personal level, and elevate their status in the industry as a thought-leader.

In part one of this article, The Business value of Social Media Part I: Online networking, we explored how free networking sites like Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin are crucial to helping your business thrive. Here, we'll show you how blogging has gone from being an online diary of sorts, to an online marketing tool that helps you gain credibility and position yourself and your business as leaders in your industry. We'll also provide a few tips for getting started, should you decide what millions of others already have—that blogging is good for business.

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What is CoreExchange?
Hosted by CoreTech, CoreExchange is an informal, educational meeting for business owners, middle managers and staff. Formats and topics vary from roundtable discussions and short product demonstrations to happy hour events at our office.

Social Networking: Policies and Pitfalls in Employment and Marketing
CoreTech hosts guest speakers from Woods & Aitken, LLP

Save the Date!
Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standard Compliance
How do the new standards affect your retail business, ecommerce Web site, or business receiving credit card payments?

Summer Event
CoreTech’s 10-Year Anniversary and Client Appreciation Open House

Resource Links
CoreTech’s Web site is updated on a continual basis with postings on upcoming events, newsworthy content and resource links for small to midsize businesses. Our resource link  page contains a growing list of links. The page currently includes a technology dictionary, product Web site links, security-related resources and more! We welcome your input on technology information resources you would find helpful.

My How Life Has Changed!
This year, CoreTech is celebrating our 10-year anniversary! Our business has changed so much over the years as we have adapted to providing more services and increased our knowledge of new technologies. In looking back at our own business, we can’t help but wonder how our clients businesses have changed over the past 10 years as well. We took a few moments to talk with Mike McFarlin at Quick & McFarlin, P.C.—a client with us since the start of our business—about changes they’ve experienced in the past 10 years.

Mike McFarlin, Owner, Quick & McFarlin, P.C.
For more than 50 years, Quick & McFarlin (www.qmcpa.com) has served the Midwest with the highest quality accounting, tax and consulting services. Professional staff at the firm maintain a high level of involvement with clients as they believe it is critical to delivering the service their clients expect. Quick & McFarlin serves a number of industries including: retail outlets, professional firms and manufacturers.

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