We’ve explored why businesses should get involved in social media, and today we’re going to take a closer look at ecommerce. Ecommerce generated close to $42 billion in retail sales in the third quarter of 2010, a 4% increase over the same quarter in 2009. Even though online sales are growing dramatically, small businesses are integrating ecommerce into their operations at a much slower rate. [Read more…]
The Challenges of Growing a Business To Make It Buyer Ready
Those of you that read this online publication on a regular basis know that we started a conversation several weeks ago on the topic of creating a buyer ready business. The first article looked at the emotions involved in deciding to sell and the second article examined some specific steps to create a buyer ready business.
So I was intrigued when a colleague forwarded an article delving into the challenges of growing an “entrepreneurial business.” This is a business that doesn’t just survive through the years but also thrives. This would also be, in keeping with our theme, a buyer ready business. So I thought I would share a few ideas from Ed Hess, professor of business administration and Batten Executive-in-Residence at University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business.
Volume of Cyber Attacks Continues to Make the Internet Feel Like the Wild, Wild West
On June 3, I discussed the perils of not protecting your company’s computer network from cyber attacks. In that article, I focused on the fact that most small business owners, because of their size, assume that they are safe from hackers. As we learned, your company’s size really does not matter to a cyber criminal.
Then in a follow-up to my piece, Tom Farrell posted an article with some very interesting specifics about three reasons why a hacker would target your business’s website. His discussion of “botnets” in that piece was really troubling. The fact that your website might be under attack without you even knowing was equally disturbing.
It now seems like nearly every day we are hearing about major U.S. corporations that are coming under cyber attacks. For instance, earlier this month additional details were released about the Citigroup cyber attacks that took place in May. You may have heard the story. At the time it occurred, Citigroup downplayed the severity of the attacks saying, “its security team identified the attack May 10th and immediately rectified the situation.” However, now we have learned that hackers in May obtained information on 360,083 credit accounts in North America, which is about 80% more than first estimated. [Read more…]
Top 3 Reasons Why A Hacker Would Target Your Business Website
In his June 3, 2011, article, Private Business Owner writer Carl Doerksen made it clear that middle-market business owners are at risk of cyber attacks. I wanted to elaborate on this great post and focus specifically on business websites. Whether your business website is a simple online marketing brochure or a complex e-commerce site that processes credit cards and payments, all are being targeted by hackers.
Most business owners place considerable value in their website. A business owner’s website is likely the focal point of their brand online and, in many cases, will host online commerce and other profit center related activities. Still, most middle-market business owners never really consider that their website would be the target of hackers. After all, the national news really only reports on hacking incidents that result in name brands who have compromised credit card information for millions of their customers. This is misleading as hackers have very specific interests in your website. Here are the top three reasons why a hacker would target your website. [Read more…]
As A Middle-Market Business Owner, Are You Safe From Cyber Attacks?
Many small and medium business owners are under the mistaken impression that they are immune from the attention of hackers and other Internet evildoers because their companies are smaller. Reality is that nothing could be further from the truth.
If you store any sensitive information on your network (and we all do), you could be a target for a hacker. This is especially true if you store credit card numbers, employee social security numbers, and your bank account information anywhere on your network.
If you think I am making too big a deal about this, let me share an article I recently saw on this topic. The title of the article in print says it all: “Small Companies Beware.” [Read more…]
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