Is your business ready for Windows 8 with The PC Support Group

Say hello to Windows 8.

Everything you want. Everything you need.

Do everything faster and easier with a new Windows built for today’s devices:

·         Windows has been reimagined: From the beautifully fast and fluid Start Screen, apps are a touch away. It just feels natural.

·         Apps at its core: Apps are at the heart of Windows 8. The things you need are built in and work together to make each other better.

·         Stay in the Cloud: Sign in to your Microsoft account on any device and instantly get connected to the things you care about most. Access files anywhere with Skydrive and pick up where you left off.

·         Get more at the Windows Store: Free and paid-for apps bring Windows 8 to life. When apps are bought or downloaded, they can immediately be used on up to 5 Windows 8 devices.

·         Experience browsing freedom: With a minimalist design and fast performance, IE10 is more web and less browser. We’ve also made it more secure and private for safer surfing.

·         Be productive everywhere: Take the office anywhere, access work files on the go while staying secure.

·         Use any device: From tablets to laptops to all in ones, get the same personal, immersive experience on any form factor.

·         Rock solid foundations: Familiar Windows 7 apps and devices will run with the full power of Windows 8.

Open a wider world with Windows 8.

Cloud Computing

Flexible and cost effective cloud based solutions.

Cloud computing is one of the important trends shaping technology for the business market today. Cloud solutions enable you to manage your IT requirements using resources via the internet rather than through a local computer or server.
Cloud computing can:

• increase flexibility – add and reduce computer resources as required
• greater accessibility – access systems from anywhere using PCs, laptops or mobile devices
• reduce capital expenditure – no requirement to invest in expensive server hardware and software
• lower support costs – cloud based systems often require less support as the infrastructure provider takes care of some of this as part of the service

The PC Support Group understands that one size does not fit all and every business is different. We are committed to providing our customers with unrivalled support by offering a range of cloud solutions to suit every need. Whether your focus is cost, security, flexibility or functionality we can provide you with the right solution for your business.

Why choose cloud computing with The PC Support Group?

• Personalised solutions to fit your needs
• Partnerships with leading companies including Rackspace, Microsoft and Google allow us to offer a wide range of value-added solutions
• Support is key to well managed infrastructure… even when it’s in the cloud. Our team takes pride in our speed and quality of response.

What can we do for you?

Here are just a few common business requirements that can more cheaply and easily fulfilled by our cloud solutions:

• File sharing – systems that enable you to share files and folders seamlessly in real time, no matter where you are, and without the need for an expensive server adding to your support costs and IT headaches.
   
• Email/Calendar – in just the same way as servers have provided for many years, it’s now possible to have access to emails, calendars and contacts on any device at any time in any place thanks to the cloud. You and your staff can instantly share, check and set up appointments, wherever they are, all without the need for a server and its associated costs.
   
• Remote desktops – how would you like your staff to be able to access and work on their desktop wherever they are in the world from any PC or mobile device? There is no longer a need to be in a specific location to get on with your job. Maximum flexibility, minimum cost.
   
• Virtualisation – for those that still need servers, cloud solutions can offer greater flexibility and reduced risk. By virtualising your servers we can remove your single point of failure, and therefore the risk to your business of a server letting you down. Your servers will sit on your own private cloud, either at your premises or hosted in a secure data-centre with engineers on-hand 24/7. Your business will carry on even if one of your physical servers lets you down.
   
• Software as a Service (SaaS) – software that can be used on demand for a monthly fee. No high upfront costs, no more complex installations and no more licensing headaches. Imagine logging onto any web browser and having your fully functional software available to you instantly. Totally flexible software, when and where you need it.
   
• Flexible Printing – print any time anywhere. We can set you up so that you can hit print on your iPhone, or other mobile device and your document will print straight out at your office, ready for you on your return… Even if your printer is in York whilst you’re in New York.

SEO tips for small business

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) Tips for Small Business

 

Virtually every business can benefit from having a high profile on the web. There are two ways to achieve this, one is to pay for every click (Pay Per Click - PPC) and the other is to gain a natural ranking position through optimisation your web page for the search engines - search engine optimisation (SEO).

So how do you optimise your web site so that it appears high in the rankings?

The important thing to remember is that the search engines generally have one aim in mind - to bring to the fore the most appropriate web sites for any given word or phrase that is used.

Imagine that you are manually choosing the most appropriate web site for a particular phrase. What rules would you use? Here are a few you might use:

• A page that uses that phrase a number of times - if it keeps repeating that phrase then the page must be providing information about it
• A page that perhaps includes the phrase in the title - that must mean that this page considers the phrase important to what is written on the page
• A page that lots of other web sites point to (have links to) - if others think that page is worth "pointing to" then it indicates it's useful
• Which sites are pointing to the page? You would probably consider some sites to be more discerning than others.
• How large is the site? If it has lots of pages then it is likely to have more useful information
• How often is the web site updated? Sites that are updated more often are more likely to be current and therefore more useful.

All of these form the basis of the rules governing most search engines.

So how do you use these rules to help the visibility of your site?

Search engines such as Google, Yahoo and MSN are always changing their rules and using more sophisticated techniques to achieve the best results so there is no simple fixed solution but there are some basics that will always help.

The basic rules to follow are:

 

1. Decide which short phrases are important. I.E. What phrases are your customers likely to use when searching for your type of business? You will achieve better results focusing on a 2 or 3 word phrase rather than a single word. For example, if you clean wheelie bins in Newcastle then focusing on a phrase such as 'wheelie bin cleaning in Newcastle' is likely to produce better results than simply 'wheelie bin'.
2. Try to include the phrase in the name of the page
3. Try to include the phrase in the heading on the page.
4. Include the phrase a number of times throughout the page but keep the phrase in context and don't simply repeat the phrase.
5. Now here's a "techie bit" - in any web page there are three pieces of information called Meta Tags that need to be completed correctly (your web developer can do this for you).
   1. Title - Make this short, precise and make sure you include the phrase within the first 10 words
   2. Description - This can obviously describe your page more fully but don't waffle. If possible use your phrase twice in this but don't simply repeat it.
   3. Keywords - Make sure your main phrase is first in this list
6. You need to add credibility to your site by getting as many links to it as possible. The simplest ways to achieve this are as follows:
   1. Ask customers, suppliers and/or partners to place a link to your site from theirs - perhaps as part of a testimonial?
   2. Write articles about your business and your main subject and place those articles on the many free article web sites - find these by simply searching for 'free articles'. Make sure each article (or the information about the author) includes a link to your site.
   3. Register your business on every free online business directory site that you can find on the web.
7. The final important element is to make sure your site is accurate, up to date and highly relevant to your business area and the subject phrase that you feel is most important. Things to look out for are:
   1. Broken links I.E. Links to other pages on the site that don't link to a live a working page
   2. Update pages regularly - a site that has the same content for many months will be "marked down" by the search engines
   3. Size matters - a more substantial site with many pages of information will be considered to be potentially more important. Bit don't pad the site with rubbish!

Gaining and keeping a high ranking on the search engines takes time and effort but it's not complicated. If you follow these basic rules you will improve your search engine rankings and you could even gain that coveted page one spot!