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IT Services Toolbox

Forward Marketing (FM) is committed to being a 100% cloud-based company for all activities even IT. We think that IT should be a “Geek-Free” process taking little time and money, freeing up your company to Return on Investment (ROI). Below is a list of the latest Cloud-Based IT tools and services we use for both our clients and internally at FM. Please submit suggestions regarding this list so we can improve it. These are listed in the order of suggested deployment.

Google Chrome Browser

We recommend the Google Chrome Browser for communication & collaboration functions, working along with one’s Google Apps service & account. Here’s the links to install the browser, Google Chrome Extensions, to add to the browser listed in the order we would have them appear left-to-right on the toolbar. The Labs add-ons we would like you to turn on.

Mozilla Firefox Browser

We recommend the Mozilla Firefox Browser for website design & internet marketing production tasks (example: working inWordPress, Flickr, PR Web, etc.). Here’s the links to install the browser, Mozilla Firefox Add-ons (similar to Google Chrome Extensions) listed in the order we would have them appear left-to-right on the toolbar.

Opera Browser

We recommend the Opera browser for setting up Opera “sessions” of sites you wish to always visit & participate in. We suggest adding the LastPass add-on for Opera, in addition to some other add-ons:

Microsoft Internet Explorer Browser

We believe that IE is best used as a “basic” production testing browser. We suggest you download the latest version; removing all add-ons, extensions, enhancements, etc.; turning off all password saving features & history saving features, deleting all saved passwords, history, cache, etc. Only use IE to see how the most basic person sees your website.

Domain Name Research Tools

You purchased a domain name, you need to  see if it’s available & if the concept infringes on another similar name that might lead to confusion.

Domain  Registration Vendors & Strategies

We suggest that you register your domains at the same place your web host, if the pricing is fair. Many people use Go Daddy due to the cheap pricing & average support. However, we host all our websites at HostGator who has a separate HostGator Domain Registration page. In addition, you should register these 7 variations of a domain name if it’s your primary brand & the .com version will be critical to your success.

  • .com – Use for your public, corporate site; Google Apps email, calendar, contacts
  • .net – Use for your Windows Network domain controller
  • .org – Use for your employees to access internal “organization” resources
  • .biz – Use for your internal transaction server or point at transaction web service
  • .info – Use for a Dropbox account to share & collaborate with external partners
  • .tv – Point at your YouTube or Vimeo channel
  • .ws – Use for development and test of the next version of your .com site

Google Apps Email, Calendar & Contacts

Google Apps Services: Email, Calendar, Contacts, Intranet SitesGoogle Apps is the premier, cloud-based productivity suite address all of an individual or enterprises email, calendar, contacts, & intranet site building needs. These services work well with the iPhone, Android, Blackberry or Windows Mobile smartphone platforms. Additionally, the Google Docs component included in Google Apps has online document storage to go along with an online word processor, spreadsheet & presentation package. However, we don’t recommend Google Docs or its competitor, Microsoft Office Web Apps for most organizations.

Setup an “Accounts” Spreadsheet

Set up an Accounts spreadsheet at the very beginning!When you set up your Google Apps service, make a confidential spreadsheet that keeps a list of all your accounts & their login credentials. Your spreadsheet should contain these columns: Service, User Name, Password, PIN, Account No., and Comments. You need to have a different tab for each user’s name if you have 20 users or less.

Google Apps Labs

Google Labs for Gmail & Google CalendarGoogle Labs offers a “Labs” feature with Gmail & Calendar. Many of these are very stable & helpful. The following are lists of the Gmail Labs & Calendar Labs features we recommend be turned on:

  • Gmail Labs Features to Turn On:
    • Authentication icon for verified senders
    • Custom Date Formats
    • Extra Emoji
    • Flickr previews in Mail
    • Google Docs preview in Mail
    • Google Maps previews in Mail
    • Google Voice player in Mail
    • Green Robot
    • Inbox Preview
    • Inserting Images
    • Mark as Read button
    • Message Sneak Peek
    • Move Icon Column
    • Navbar Drag and Drop
    • Picasa previews in Mail
    • Pictures in chat
    • Preview Pane
    • Recently used Emoji
    • Refresh POP Address
    • Right side chat
    • Send & Archive
    • Sender Time Zone
    • Signature Tweaks
    • SMS (text messaging) in Chat
    • SMS in Chat gadget
    • Title Tweaks
    • Undo Send
    • Unread message icon
    • Video chat enhancements
  • Calendar Labs to Turn On:
    • Gentle Reminders
    • Event attachments
    • Event flair
    • Smart rescheduler
    • Who’s my one-on-one with?
    • Year view
    • Jump to date
    • Next Meeting
    • World Clock (only if you deal with multiple international time zones)

Google Services to Add to Google.com Account

Once you get your new email set up with Google Apps, log out & go to the Google home page at http://www.google.com & log back in. Now you have a true Google Google Accounts LogoAccount with the Google Apps services included. You can add these services by visiting their locations while logged into your account. Google will ask you if you wish to add these services to these accounts, to which you should respond yes. These are the additional services we recommend & use:

LastPass – Account & Password Security

The idea behind LastPass is that it is “the last password you will ever need” – hence the name LastPass. Download the LastPass extension into the Google Chrome Browser & make a new account using your new Google Apps email address. Then download the LastPass add-on onto the Mozilla Firefox & Opera browsers. If you have mobile devices, you can also download the apps onto your Android, iOS, Blackberry, or Windows Mobile/Phone device. Visit the LastPass website for more info & downloads.

Box.net & Dropbox Cloud-Based File Management

Box.net Cloud File StorageBox.net and Dropbox are cloud-based folder & file management service that keeps a synchronized set of all your files locally on all the computers with access to the same account. The additional benefit is that you can work from either your files in the cloud for flexibility or directly with the files on your computer for performance. Box.net or Dropbox is each one of the necessary applications we use regardless of PC, Mac, Android tablet, iPhone or iPad, or from a computer via the website for remote access. Visit Box.net or the Dropbox website for pricing & editions. One approach that has worked for us is using Box.net for corporate file storage and Dropbox for personal file storage.

WordPress Website Platform Resources

WordPress is the world’s leading Content Management System, website design platform & management platform. Listed below are WordPress resources, enhancements, & templates.

Google Analytics Setup for all Websites

Google Analytics ChartOnce you set up both your Google Account with the Google Analytics service & your WordPress website(s), be sure to make a Google Analytics profile for analytics, then install the tracking code onto the site immediately. It will take 24-48 hours before you see the first reporting cycle.

Website Uptime Monitoring

Pingdom Website Uptime Monitoring Service and Mobile AppOnce your website is up & running, don’t assume so. Use a different vendor than the hosting the site to monitor your website up-time & performance every 5 – 15 minutes. If the site goes down anytime, you’ll get a text &/or email messages & have documentation to prove the site was down. It’s helpful, but not necessary, to get an up-time website monitor service that also has a companion mobile app – such as Pingdom.

Microsoft Live.com, SkyDrive, Office Web Apps

Microsoft's free Skydrive with 25 Gb of storage spaceThe free Microsoft Live.com includes Microsoft SkyDrive with 25 Gb of storage space for Microsoft Office documents & photos. It also has the Microsoft Office Web Apps, which compete with Google Docs. Unfortunately, neither are ready for prime time. If you’re desperate, using Google Docs as part of the Google Apps suite probably makes more sense, but it’s a close call. If you set up a Live.com account, use your own email address rather than the one they suggest.

Backup & Storage

Having an off-site, cloud-based backup system for everything you do & make is crucial. Here are solutions that are working for us or that you should consider.

Internet Filtering For Companies, Individuals

OpenDNS Internet Content FilteringProtecting your company, employees & family members from the destructive & offensive content on the website is critical. Instead of managing the settings for every single computer and mobile device, consider either of these solutions.

  • OpenDNS – Free version for homes; also offers enterprise version
  • Websense – Enterprise-focused filtering solution

DNS Tools

DNS StuffIf you must troubleshoot DNS & related domain issues, these are good resources:

Finance & Accounting

QuickBooks Online EditionWe can’t imaging having all of our confidential financial information anyway but in the Cloud! It’s secure, convenient, & accessible by our accounting firm for our audits every 90 days!

Mobile Apps

Mobile AppsOnce you select your services, be sure to check for companion mobile apps on your mobile smartphone or tablet. We depend on & encourage use of these:

  • Chase Bank
  • Device Policy for Google Apps
  • Documents To Go
  • Dropbox
  • Go Daddy
  • Google eBooks
  • Google Gmail
  • Google Maps
  • Google Music
  • Google Voice
  • gPanel Mobile for Google Apps
  • mAnalytics
  • Mint.com by Intuit
  • Netflix
  • PayPal
  • Pingdom website uptime monitoring service
  • Photoshop Express by Adobe
  • WordPress

Office Productivity

Office ProductivityThese sum up our combination of desktop software & cloud-based services that make up our approach to traditional office productivity:

  • Email, Calendar, Contacts, Intranet Websites – Google Apps
  • Communications & Productivity Browser – Google Chrome
  • Production Browser for Internet Marketing, Accounting – Mozilla Firefox
  • Word Processing, Spreadsheets, Presentations – Microsoft Office Starter Edition 2010
  • Backoffice Accounting Solution – QuickBooks Plus Online Edition
  • PDF Creator – Nuance PDF Professional
  • PDF Viewer – Google Docs included in Google Apps
  • Keyword Ranking – Web CEO
  • Basic Photo Editing – Adobe Photoshop Elements for Windows

Sales & CRM

If you’re interested in Sales & Customer Relationship Management (CRM) solutions, there’s two we can recommend.

Strategy & Planning

If you must plan before executing, these tools from Palo Alto Software are the best for their two respective areas:

Telephony & Video Conferencing

Hardware & Software

IT Professional Training & CertificationsTraining

For More Information

Houston Internet Marketing ForumForward Marketing (FM) is a full service marketing firm specializing in Internet “ROI” with complete Cloud-Based Information Technology (IT) Services. We also manage the Houston Internet Marketing Forum (HIMF), the Houston Website Designer Forum (HWDF), and related seminars with partners such as the Art Institute of Houston. For more information, Contact Us, Follow Us via social media, or call us at 713-449-2000.