If you’ve been reading tech blogs in the past few weeks you’ve undoubtedly come across news that Google has launched a new layout for Google+. The layout has brought about some drastic changes to the look and feel that make it a more simple and user friendly social network. Does your company have a presence on Google+?

When you first log into the updated Google+ the amount of white space will jump out at you. It’s a startling contrast to the other social networks. After you adjust to it, you’ll notice four main aspects of the new look:

1. To the left. On the left is a bar, or ribbon as Google calls it, with icons for the main features. This ribbon is reminiscent of the Windows Task Bar and works much the same way. Simply click on an icon to open the related function. If you have an icon you don’t use, simply click and drag it out of the bar and it will be moved to More.
2. In the center. In the center of the page you’ll see all your updates along with a bar above them with your top two circles. To the right of your updates you’ll see what’s trending on Google+, the Invite friends to Google+ button and a suggestions box.
3. To the right. On the far right is a very prominent chat bar with all your chat contacts. Above that is the Start a hangout button which allows you to quickly begin a hangout session.
4. Up top. At the top of the page you’ll see the search bar, from which you can search Google+ for posts, topics, friends, etc.

Are you in love with the cover photo on your Facebook profile? Do you like having a picture spread across top of your profile? If yes, Google+ now has the option to set a cover photo at the top of your profile. Not a fan of one picture across the top of your profile? You can also pick and choose multiple pictures. Your profile picture and information have been moved to the right side of the picture with your circles below.

New features There are three new useful features:

1. Explore. On the left ribbon is a compass icon. Clicking this will open Explore, a page that displays what’s currently trending on Google+. The content shown on this page is viewable by all users, and this gives businesses a great marketing opportunity if they can capitalize on current trends.
2. Block. On your social network profiles there may be a user who is leaving rude comments or spam messages on your posts. On Google+ you can block the user from posting. Simply go to their profile and select block under their profile picture.
3. New hangout page. If you click on the hangouts icon on the left hand ribbon, you’ll be taken to the hangouts page. On the page you’ll see current hangouts that you can join or you can start a new one based on any post. To start a public hangout click the camera icon at the bottom of the post.

It looks like Google has taken a big gamble with the new layout, and only time will tell if it will attract more users. If you would like know more about Google+ and how your business can capitalize on what it offers, we’re ready to talk.

Any kind of business in nearly all industries needs email. It’s an efficient and fast way to communicate (and document that communication) with people both inside and outside the organization. And for many, Gmail has been one of the most versatile email clients out there.

You have to give it to the guys at Google to always think of something new — some innovative way to better integrate their apps.

Before, sending an email through Gmail was a bit long-winded. You had to copy the email address, open Gmail manually, and then paste it onto the ‘To:” bar. Now, this is a lot easier. With the new upgrade to Gmail that allows it to be used in tandem with most Internet browsers, it’s much easier to make Gmail your default email client.

For Google Chrome Open Chrome, log into your Gmail account, and click on ‘Yes’ when asked if you want Gmail to become your default email client. Now, whenever you click on an email link when using Chrome, it will automatically open the “Compose” page of your Gmail account.

For Firefox Open Firefox, go to the ‘Tools’ menu (or click on the Firefox button) and select ‘Options’. Under ‘Applications’, and then select ‘mailto’ under ‘Content Type’. Next, under ‘Actions’, select Gmail as the default email client.

For Internet Explorer If you are a user of Internet Explorer, you’ll have to download the Gmail Notifier, a toolbar from Google. Install the toolbar and have it select Gmail as your default email client.

As technology progresses at an ever-increasing pace, many small businesses have been caught in a costly cycle of hardware and software upgrades that eat up a lot of a manager’s time. Why are they doing this? Mostly it’s to keep up with customer demand, or a reactionary reflex to finding out their business is under-productive because of outdated technology. In the late 2000’s, Cloud Computing was introduced as a way to store data online, while helping to lower maintenance costs and potentially increase productivity.

Many business owners have been caught up in getting their businesses “on the cloud” and are using apps such as those offered by Google to do so. When done correctly, this can bring about substantive cost savings to a business’s bottom line. When done incorrectly, however, there can be many problems. Here are some tips to ensure your company’s smooth migration to Google Apps.

Estimate Users’ Appetite for Cloud Take a poll of your company asking how many employees already use the consumer version of cloud services such as Gmail. This will help make migration easier, as employees will already be comfortable with the idea and using the apps. Also, it will allow you to identify which employees will need training on how to use the services.

Keep Tech Minimal It’s best that when presenting the migration information to employees to cater to their level. If your employees are tech-adverse, keep information, presentations, and demos as simple as possible, leaving out jargon and clearly defining acronyms. Doing this will help employees be more comfortable with the technology, and more responsive to change.

Partner Up Enlist the help of a technical advisory company that specializes in migration to Google Apps. The company will be able to help with issues not covered in the How-To material provided by Google.

Test First Create an environment in which your IT department and IT-savvy employees can test the Google Apps. This gives you the chance to determine the right fit, and which features work and don’t work for your company. The average testing period is around three months.

Revise and Review It’s important to revise any policies you may have regarding the use of technology. Employees will commonly want to access their accounts on their phones and other devices while away from the office, so be sure to have clear policies on the use of these devices. It is equally important to get feedback from your employees about what they think of the products, and ask whether they have any suggestions for improvement.

If you have any questions about migrating to Google Apps, please contact us.

When it comes to running a successful business, the last thing an owner or manager wants to think about is a disaster that could cause their business to go bankrupt. While there are many things you can do to minimize the potential fallout from any disaster, the most important is implementing a comprehensive disaster recovery plan that covers more than just data backup. If you are struggling to figure out what to do, this article may help.

Here are five tips to help ensure that your business is fully ready for the next disaster.

1. Backup everything While it can be tempting to only backup the most important data and programs, it can be a chore to identify what is deemed to be important. Who knows, a file that is non-essential today may become essential in the future. If it is lost due to a disaster, this could prove to be a problem.

It would be a good idea to look for a backup solution that covers all data and programs. But, having a full backup solution isn't enough, you also need to ensure that recovery is easy and can be implemented quickly.

2. Look into tiered recovery Establishing a tiered recovery method means identifying the value and importance of existing systems and utilizing a recovery method that meets needs. It would be a good idea to identify mission critical systems and adopt a recovery method that can have these systems up and running as quickly as possible. From there you can tier different systems and match a recovery method. For example, archived files are likely not needed right away, so they can be recovered at a later date, using a slower recovery method.

3. Keep copies of all keys and licenses With the amount of software and programs businesses use on a daily basis growing, it would be a good idea to keep copies of the activation keys (the string of digits and letters you enter to activate the full version of software) and purchased licenses.

While many of these are now distributed electronically through email, there are still software developers that distribute keys by mail or with the physical install CDs. If you lose the codes in a fire, you will be out of luck and have to purchase the software again. This is an extra charge you likely don't want.

4. Pick the right recovery locations The best recovery plans offer numerous backup solutions which are hosted in different locations. A good provider knows this and will utilize data storage centers as far apart as possible. If you choose to backup your own data, it would not be a good idea to keep the backups in the office.

Similarly, if you are preparing for a big disaster, you likely have physical locations that you can move to if your main business location is damaged or destroyed. Optimal plans will have more than one location identified, and have them as far apart as possible. This will minimize the chances of losing full operations and increase your business's ability to bounce back quicker.

5. Match your recovery plan to your business There are so many different backup and recovery options that it can be tough to pick one. The best course of action is to look at your systems and how they work. If you operate strictly offline, a cloud based backup solution likely isn't your best bet. Or, if you operate fully in the cloud, a physical tape or hard disk backup may not be optimal.

If you are looking to beef up, or establish a disaster recovery plan, try working with an IT partner like us, who can help you find the optimal solution that can meet your needs and budget.