SlideShare Launches iOS App, Zoho Announces CRM Offering

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Businesses that use SlideShare to save and distribute presentations got some welcome news this week. The company announced an iOS app so that users can access their presentations from anywhere. But that wasn’t the only new offering announced this week. Web application suite Zoho also launched a couple new products, including an 8-product suite called Zoho CRM Plus.

These are just a couple of the stories making headlines in the small business community this week. Read the rest of the headlines in this week’s Small Business Trends news and information roundup.

Marketing Tools

SlideShare iOS App Lets You Access 15 Million Presentations

You never know when a slideshow presentation about your business, product or service can come in handy. If you’ve met a potential client or lead on the road, the amount of time you have to tell them about yourself and your business is limited. A quick presentation could get that same message across much faster and be more effective.

Zoho Launches CRM Plus: Customer Engagement Platform, Affordable Price

Zoho today announced two new products, a slew of product enhancements, and an integrated 8-product suite called Zoho CRM Plus. “It’s our largest product release to date,” Raju Vegesna, Chief Evangelist of Zoho, told Small Business Trends. It’s also the latest release since 2013 for Zoho.

Infusionsoft Gets More Funding – Latest Sign of Marketing Automation’s Importance

This morning Infusionsoft, makers of marketing automation software serving the small business sector, announced a new $55 million round of funding headed by the likes of Bain Capital and Goldman Sachs. This brings Infusionsoft’s total of funding raised to over $125 million, since its founding in 2001.

Social Media

What Twitter’s Mute Button Means for Small Businesses

My remote’s mute button and I are best buddies. We tag team the task of watching a show and muting the commercials — all from the comfort of my favorite recliner. Why do I mute commercials? It’s simple: They’re usually annoying or irrelevant. When the program I’m interested in returns, I’m able to unmute my TV, and life is good once again.

Finance

Finance Companies Account for a Decreasing Share of Small Business Credit

Bank lending to small businesses has been on a long term decline, with number of loans of less than $1 million – a common proxy for small business lending – falling from 51 percent of the number of commercial and industrial loans in 1998 to 25 percent in 2014, data from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation reveals.

10 Small Business Tax Definitions to Determine Your Eligibility

The term “small business” is casually used in conversation to describe companies that aren’t public companies or other large firms. But when it comes to taxes, the term has a very specific meaning, one that controls or limits eligibility to various tax breaks.

Green Business

Would You Buy a Vegetable Garden That’s Fertilized by Fish Poo?

Gardens come in all shapes and sizes. But have you ever considered having a garden that’s actually part of a fish tank? It might seem like an unconventional idea. But it’s actually an eco-friendly system that cuts down on the maintenance you have to do for both the plants and the fish.

How to Save on Energy Costs in Your Office

Saving energy is good business, because it cuts expenses. It’s also environmentally wise and responsible. There are any number of things you can do to save on energy costs in your office. They range from simple things each of us can do (like turning off lights) to ambitious upgrades.

Management

GoToMeeting Free: Hold Online Meetings Without Any Hassle

According to statistics from the American Community Survey, telecommuting has risen 79 percent between 2005 and 2012, with approximately 3.2 million workers doing their thing from home. This number only includes full-time employees who work from home for someone other than themselves at least half the time.

Improve Productivity With This Giant Hamster Wheel Desk

If you get tired of sitting around at a boring old desk all day, you’ll be happy to hear that there’s now a more active alternative out there. The Hamster Wheel Standing Desk is pretty much what it sounds like – a desk that allows users to stand and walk on a human-sized hamster wheel. Users can set their own pace on the wheel while completing a day’s work.

Small Biz Spotlight

Spotlight: Wishing Wells Reflections Turns Face Painting, Balloon Twisting Into Art

Think back to the last time you were at a festival or family oriented event.What kinds of things were there for kids to do? How about the opportunity to sculpt fanciful characters from colorful balloons or to transform into ghostly apparitions or have roses literally bloom from their cheeks?

Business Gifts

How Much Should You Spend on Business Gifts?

Whether around the Holiday season or during any other time of the year, you may occasionally need to choose gifts for those in your organization or those you do business with regularly.

12 Shipping and Packing Tips for Business Gifts

Ever get a gift (or any package for that matter) only to find it was broken, crushed, crinkled or mangled beyond recognition? After spending time and money to choose the perfect gift for a client, the last thing you want is for the recipient to open up a broken mess. Proper packing and shipping is in order.

Technology Trends

Another Use for Business Drones: Spaxels Creates Light Art

In 2012, Ars Electronic Furturelab revealed Spaxels, quadcopter drones equipped with LED lights. “For what?” you ask. Well, along with long-exposure photography, the Spaxels create beautiful three-dimensional light art in the sky. Check out the results in this featured video and let us know if you’ve ever seen more beautiful drones.

Hewlett-Packard Will Split Into Two Companies

The writing was already on the wall. But today HP officially announced plans to split into two companies. One will be HP Inc., including the company’s PCs, printers and other personal devices. The other will be Hewlett-Packard Enterprise, including technology infrastructure, software and services.

Pebble Watch Price Drop Isn’t Due to Competition, Company Says

If price has been a key factor in your purchase of a smartwatch, a new offer from Pebble may make you reconsider. A Pebble watch price drop is not due to competition, however, the company says. Pebble has announced that its landmark smartwatch will now cost $99. A second device, the Pebble Steel, has dropped to $199.

Tile Will Find Your Car Keys, Protect Your Computer

We’ve all experienced it. Misplacing the most important items of daily life can be a real problem making you late for meetings or put important information stored on a mobile device at risk. Keys, a wallet, a smartphone … they all seemingly sprout legs and walk away when we’re not looking. Or you could truly lose these important items, accidentally or through theft.

Staying mobile photo via Shutterstock

 

Marketing, SlideShare Launches iOS App, Zoho Announces CRM OfferingBusiness, Marketing
SlideShare Launches iOS App, Zoho Announces CRM Offering