Technology News You Can Use
January 2008 – Issue XXXII
In This Newsletter
Happy New Year Everyone,
As a long-time member of the
San Antonio
business community, it is with pleasure and enthusiasm that I begin 2008 as Chairman of the North Chamber Technology Council. I am proud to be a part of this dedicated group of individuals, and look forward to working with them this year.
The Technology Council prides itself on being a resource for local businesses. Through our annual events and publications, such as this newsletter and the popular CIO Resource Guide, our goal is to help you grow your business by keeping you informed of the newest technology and industry-recognized best practices.
This year, we are pleased to bring you San Antonios first major technology conference in seven years! On March 6th, the InnoTech Business & Technology Innovation Conference and Expo will come to the
Norris
Conference
Center
. The Technology Council has been heavily involved in the coordination of InnoTech and has worked with sponsors to integrate our Annual CIO Panel Forum into the event schedule. With more than 30 educational sessions and fifty technology vendors, this event combines invaluable educational and networking opportunities for everyone in our community.
I look forward to engaging with this community through the North Chamber for the coming year. I can promise you it will be exciting, it will be challenging, and it will be productive.
I wish each of you a healthy and prosperous year in 2008.
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INNOTECH LAUNCHES NEW TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE IN
SAN
ANTONIO
The North San Antonio Chamber is expanding its support of the tech community as a key sponsor of the new InnoTech San Antonio event, taking place on
Thursday,
March 6, 2008
at the
Norris
Conference
Center
. This inaugural 2008 InnoTech San Antonio event , presented by Time Warner Cable Business Class, is shaping up to be outstanding program. InnoTech is the region’s largest business to business technology & innovation conference & expo. Held at the
Norris
Conference
Center
(located at the crossroads of IH 10 and IH 410); InnoTech is the region's premier annual conference & exposition highlighting and celebrating
San Antonio
’s innovation & technology development opportunities. InnoTech is built for Business and Technology Executives, guided and directed by executives in
San Antonio
and surrounding communities. The InnoTech After Party will be held in conjunction with the second annual Technology Connexus Association Technology Showcase and Hi-Tech Mixer at the
SATC
building. The showcase and mixer will run until
7:30pm
. Visit www.satechnews.com for more details.
The keynote lunch program celebrates North Chamber Technology Council’s Fifth Annual
CIO
Panel presented by Spherion. This year’s panel includes executives from Time Warner Cable, Frost National Bank and Methodist Healthcare System. Click here for more CIO Panel event and to register for the lunch program online
An updated list of the day’s events, topics and times is available at www.innotechsat.com.
InnoTech was conceived as a forum for the region’s CIOs, Business Executives, Technology Professionals, Entrepreneurs, IT Managers/Directors, Security & Network Managers, Systems/Business Analysts, Web Developers/Designers and researchers to gather in
San Antonio
and see the latest products and solutions to support their business. InnoTech’s consistent focus on quality education, plentiful networking opportunities, and exhibition of the latest technology innovations and solutions has been the key to InnoTech’s success. “As a supporting sponsor of InnoTech, the North Chamber is excited to be such a big part of what will become the premiere, must-attend technology event for
San Antonio
. In one focused day of conferences and exhibits, we are able to meet face to face with many of
San Antonio
’s brightest technology stars. InnoTech is a fun, positive way to keep North Chamber members in the forefront of what’s happening in technology”, says Scott Hardin, Technology Chair, North San Antonio Chamber.
Registration for InnoTech, the North Chamber
CIO
Luncheon panel and the eMarketing Summit are open now at www.innotechsat.com If you are interested in InnoTech’s exhibit and/or sponsorship opportunities; please contact Karen Rodriguez, Executive Director, at 503-841-5285 or karenr@prosperaevents.com
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Data
Center
Update: How Much to Renovate or Build a New
Data
Center
, Mark A. Provitola, BRUNS-PAK
Over the past several years, through the introduction of blade servers and other high-density computing solutions into data centers, many organizations are now faced with data center power, cooling and space challenges that significantly inhibit their ability to operate and expand their computing operations. Economic growth as well as the expansion of organization-wide computing systems has dramatically increased the demand for data center space across the
United States
and in
San Antonio
. The key question driving the decision to retrofit/expand an existing data center space as opposed to designing and building new data center is: ‘How much is it?’
The answer to this question varies and is based on the organizations unique requirements; there is not a standard definition for a data center and therefore no standard costs associated with retrofitting or building one. Over the past 25 years, the industry has seen retrofit/new construction cost ranges between $67/sq. ft. for basic ‘computer rooms’ to more than $3,100/sq. ft. for ultra-reliable data center facilities. There are multiple technical options to consider that impact cost when developing a data center complex. These options include such things as the criticality of the data processing operations, technology platform support requirements, current and future objectives of the business that the data center supports, budgetary restrictions amongst many others.
Many organizations have discovered that their past assumptions regarding power, cooling and space for their existing data center are no longer valid. Without the inclusions of growth considerations and technological advances, many organizations have found that their existing facility’s infrastructure is on the verge of being made obsolete by the power, cooling and space demands of their existing IT equipment. Factoring in projected growth, coupled with an organizations strategic IT plans, are critical to the planning process and in determining cost factors for retrofitting/expanding their existing data center or designing and building a new one.
Today, a number of other growing considerations, such as energy consumption and environmental factors, have a much bigger impact on the cost of retrofitting/expanding and/or building a new data center than just 5 years ago. Existing data centers typically consume more than 15 times the amount of energy than typical corporate facilities; meanwhile the cost of consumption continues to rise significantly.
LEEDS
certification and/or ‘Green’ building considerations may also significantly impact the cost associated with renovating and/or building a new data center facility as organizations strive to become energy efficient and environmentally sound.
Understanding the technical options and alternatives and the associated cost factors are critical to answering the question ‘How much is It?’ Arguably, the data center is the most expensive real estate that any organization will own. Knowing ‘How much is It?’ is critical to that decision process in their future data center strategy whether the organization is a small or large enterprise, university, community college, military base, city/county/state government or anything in between.
San Antonio
Data Center Trivia - Did You Know?
Top Tier Information Technology Analyst Firms have designated
San Antonio
,
Texas
as the second best place to build a data center in the
United States
.
The BRUNS-PAK Process: Synthesis² - Knowledge Applied. Experienced Leveraged.
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10 Reasons to Outsource Your Marketing Department, Lara August, Robot Creative
Most small- and medium-sized businesses struggle with marketing, technology companies arguably more so than other industry types. The messaging and positioning can be complicated by tech-talk and a completely up to date image is a requirement. With a highly educated staff, it can be very tempting for a tech company to tackle marketing on their own, but there are many reasons why it is advantageous to outsource the marketing and creative work to a third party.
1. Multidisciplinary team at a fraction of the cost A single marketing director's salary can range from $30,000 (right out of school) to six figures (with more experience). And then you are limited to one person's experience, skill sets and personality type. A full-fledged marketing department ideally includes researchers, strategic marketing professionals, writers, designers, photographers, project managers, etc., all adding their own specialized skills to the marketing efforts of a company.
2. Easier to hold accountable, reprimand and let go Your marketing needs and budgets will likely vary and evolve as the business grows or changes. If your business is evolving rapidly, outsourcing allows you to retain the skill sets that you need at any given time, without the HR repercussions for letting them go. And if you've ever tried to manage a truly creative person... you might already know how fun that can be.
3. Collective wisdom and experience of working with a variety of clients Some of the most creative marketing solutions and out of the box thinking can come from experiences in other industries. You can take advantage of the diverse experiences and practices that "your team" gains with their other clients.
4. They have the organizational systems, so you don't need to create them One of the main struggles with marketing can be organizing all of the ideas, deadlines and project plans. A marketing firm will have experience juggling all of your ideas and guiding you through the process of plan development and implementation.
5. State of the art equipment that you don't have to buy A fully outfitted design station starts at $5000 and requires yearly updates. And that doesn't include scanners, high end printers, photography equipment, and a variety of other needs. Don't underestimate the costs of outfitting a marketing or design department internally.
6. Stay current on industry trends If you are in a highly competitive industry, currency can provide you with a marketing edge over your competition. You don't need to pay for the training, certifications and continuing education that is required to stay current - just look for a marketing firm that can demonstrate that they support ongoing education.
7. Easier budgeting Many business owners spend an incredible amount of time chasing ideas that can easily be discussed in a single meeting. A seasoned marketing firm will be accustomed to back of the napkin estimates and can quickly run through ROI scenarios so that you can hone in on the realistic ideas.
8. Network of reliable vendors & someone to manage them Your outsourced marketing department will have resources that extend beyond their walls. The buying power and the relationships that they bring to the table can be invaluable resources.
9. Increase your reach and visibility by extending your network of contacts The vendors you work with will become an extension of your team. The relationships you build can lead to champions for your business, additional opportunities and ultimately revenue.
10. Keep your marketing efforts moving forward, even with other distractions in your business Whether your organization is experiencing a full on crisis, or just having a busy month, marketing activities and planning are long term activities that are easy to push to the bottom of the to-do list. An outsourced firm can ensure timely delivery of your initiatives, regardless of what else may be going on in the business.
Consider your growth goals, current staff, management capabilities and resources carefully before making the decision to implement an involved marketing plan on your own - outsourcing might just be the answer to your marketing dreams. If you aren't quite sure, our next issue will deal with some of the reasons that we would not recommend outsourcing. © Copyright 2007-2008 Lara August. All Rights Reserved Worldwide
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E-mail Blasting – The Good, The Bad and the Ugly, John Tomblin - DataTitan, LLC
E-mail blasting, sometimes called e-broadcasting, is a means of sending valuable content to a large group of people with e-mail using a large distribution list. Newsletters, Call to Actions, Event Announcements, Grand Openings and Promotional Events are good examples. Lists may contain as few as twenty-five recipients but can grow to thousands. When you have valuable information that benefits your distribution list and you send them content in a “broadcast” e-mail format, you have technically performed an e-blast.
The Good…
Unlike [SPAM], permission based opt-in e-blasting is based on your ability to collect valid “opt-in” email addresses from individuals who have stated they want to receive your information. “Opt-in” means you have received a communication from an individual or company stating they want to receive e-mail from you about your company, promotions, sales, special announcements or other content that is generally sent using a one to many format. This assures your audience you are sending content they have agreed to and want to receive. When you visit a website and click that little check box asking if you would like to receive more information from the company, you are granting permission to that company to periodically “blast” or “broadcast” additional information via e-mail to your inbox.
One of the advantages of e-blasting includes reaching a large audience electronically and quickly. Whether you have five-hundred e-mail or five-thousand, you can broadcast to groups quickly, cost effectively and with excellent open ratio’s compared to traditional print media. Most broadcasts have a much higher ratio of “opens”, ranging from 10% to 30% compared to print media. Additionally, e-blasting reports allow you to know who didn’t receive your e-mail, how many people opened your e-mail and can even report by count and percentage which clicked links were most popular.
The Bad…
One misunderstood concept associated with permission based e-blasting is the belief that if you send out a thousand emails, a thousand recipients will open it. This is false. It’s true that e-blasting has a higher “open” ratio than print media; however, it cuts both ways. To understand this concept, you must first understand the meaning of “soft bounce”, “hard bounce”, “unsubscribe” and “open”.
Soft bounces are e-mails that make it to the recipient’s server, but are rejected for reasons including a full in-box, the e-mail address is misspelled or the message size exceeds the server size limitations. A soft bounce message may be deliverable at another time, but at the moment you sent it, it did not arrive at the intended in-box…thus the term “soft” bounce. This explains why a specific e-mail sometimes arrives…and other times do not.
Hard bounces are e-mails that never arrive at the intended recipient’s computer. Reasons include the e-mail account no longer exists, loss of power on the server, the domain is no longer valid or the sending domain (e.g.: @abctoday.com), has been blocked by the recipients server.
Additionally, people are prone to changing their mind and decide they no longer want to receive your content. When this occurs, they will choose the option “remove me from this distribution list”, also known as “unsubscribe”. With each e-blast, recipients must be provided the option to “opt-out”, and when choosing this option, you agree to remove them permanently from your broadcast distribution list. This is not only good policy but best policy.
The prize goes to companies who yield the highest “open” ratio. When you send an e-blast and 23% or more of the recipients open it, pat yourself on the back, you’ve exceeded the national average. Consider your campaign a success.
The Ugly…
E-mail broadcasting can be a very effective communication tool when used properly. Lower costs, faster delivery times and higher “open” ratios make e-mail blasting an appealing tool; however, it must only be used with permission based “opt-in” distribution lists to ensure your content is not blocked or marked as [SPAM]. If you begin a practice of distributing content to people after they’ve chosen to “opt-out”, even inadvertently, you may find yourself the unwitting victim of becoming “blacklisted” by Internet Service Providers (ISP’s). As a result, you may discover that the major ISP’s have blocked both your incoming and outgoing email. Getting unblocked is time consuming…from a few days…to a few weeks.
Following a clear e-blast policy not only assures positive results but allows valued content to be delivered and acted upon by large distribution groups you’ve worked hard to develop.
Copyright © 2008, DataTitan LLC
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