Focus

Connect with the world's leading business experts.

Get instant access to their expertise via world–class Q&A, Research, and Events.

James E. Gaskin

Follow Following Unfollow

Author / Consultant / Speaker, GaskinTech

120 points

I write books, articles, and jokes about technology, and consult for those who don't read my books and articles. Until budget cutbacks 11/09, I wrote Network World's Small Business Technology newsletter.

For the last 20 years, I ...

I write books, articles, and jokes about technology, and consult for those who don't read my books and articles. Until budget cutbacks 11/09, I wrote Network World's Small Business Technology newsletter.

For the last 20 years, I've focused on explaining technology to small and medium business users through articles, books, speeches, and blogs. Companies serving this market often have me help them reach those same customers by writing case studies, product reviews, and marketing materials for end users.

» read more » read less

WEB: Gaskin.com

James E. Gaskin and 3 other people answered this question

Oct. 3, 2011

Which UC application tops the list for today's smaller businesses?

To me, the best tool is one of the most basic in all VoIP systems: making it possible to answer a call from more than one phone. Some call it twinning, some call it dual ring.
I use it to ring both my cell and desk ... more

Information Technology

Business Telephony

James E. Gaskin and 5 other people answered this question

April 26, 2011

How do you keep from feeling isolated when you work from home?

Networking lunches. Find groups that meet relatively close. Look to your associations, alumni groups, lead transfer groups, whatever works for your business. I have two different writer groups I meet with each month.
And, whenever I can get away, I go play tennis. Highly recommended to ... more

Working from Home

James E. Gaskin and 3 other people answered this question

Dec. 16, 2010

Why would moving CRM to the cloud be beneficial for smaller businesses?

Two reasons. First, even the smallest businesses today have multiple locations, and SaaS products ease access and security issues. Access from anywhere, anytime, without having to shoulder the burden of securing access to your own servers is worth money and relieves headaches.
Second, if the alternative ... more

Customer Service

Cloud Based Applications

Cloud-based CRM

James E. Gaskin is now following

Dec. 16, 2010

James E. Gaskin is now following

Dec. 16, 2010

James E. Gaskin is now following

Dec. 16, 2010

James E. Gaskin and 7 other people answered this question

Nov. 18, 2010

How long does it take to implement a 20-user CRM system?

If "how long" includes becoming embedded into the work processes of all sales people and sales management, figure at least three months AFTER senior management made a public and lasting commitment to the CRM system. more

Customer Service

Information Technology

James E. Gaskin and 2 other people answered this question

Sept. 29, 2010

Your thoughts on the best strategy for a start-up company to begin their social networking efforts.

The Startup needs to be quite clear on their market: what they do, and who they do it for. Once they have those questions answered, their choice of social networking is simple: where are their clients, or potential clients, connecting to each other? If their ... more

James E. Gaskin and 2 other people answered this question

Aug. 7, 2010

Are the new all-in-one PC desktops a good investment in lieu of traditional ones?

Many users have found them to be a good compromise for PCs that need to fit into small spaces. If someone besides Apple had a Mini that was popular, those might be a good alternative, as would the long-awaited net tops, or thin client boxes ... more

Information Technology

All-in-one PC Desktop

James E. Gaskin and 1 other person answered this question

Aug. 1, 2010

How can I measure IT maturity level of a small business?

That can be tough, because the most common measure is how many users. But technical companies may have many more computers than users.
Examine the number of computers compared to the number or employees. How fast is their Internet connection? How many servers do they have? ... more

Information Technology

Information Technology Applied to Process Improvement

Information Technology in Small Business

James E. Gaskin and 2 other people answered this question

June 20, 2010

Who provides a good appointment software for a small accupuncture office?

Google Calendar can be seen but not changed by the public. They have free and inexpensive options. more

James E. Gaskin and 1 other person answered this question

June 20, 2010

If you’re self-employed, what business taxes do you have to file?

Send 25 percent of every check to the IRS for your quarterly payments. You have to pay both halves of Social Security, meaning 15 percent of all income off the top until some high income number.
Advantages are legally deducting expenses you have as a good ... more

Financial Services

James E. Gaskin and 1 other person answered this question

June 20, 2010

Why use an internet phone service?

One thing I love: dual ring. My office phone and cell phone ring at the same time, and I use the one closest to me. Make sure the company voice mail kicks in before the cell voice mail so you keep all message in the ... more

Information Technology

James E. Gaskin and 1 other person answered this question

June 20, 2010

What green metrics help your business grow?

A green attitude is the most important. Look at every business decision through a green filter: how to get the desired result with the least impact to budget, time, energy, and aggravation.
Drill down in every question. Which server is most energy efficient is the wrong ... more

Information Technology

James E. Gaskin published a brief

June 1, 2010

Top 7 Considerations for Your Wireless Network

Information Technology

James E. Gaskin and 2 other people commented on a brief

May 31, 2010

The Top 5 Business Networking Myths

Ben makes some good points, but a large manufacturing site with 200 or more employees is not the target audience for this brief. Small companies have far too little money and management experience to jump into the world of physical servers and security and the ... more

Information Technology

James E. Gaskin published a brief

May 20, 2010

Networking for SMBs: 10 Things You MUST Have to Compete

Information Technology

James E. Gaskin published a brief

April 20, 2010

Supporting Netbooks, Laptops, iPads, Slate, and Tablet Computers

Information Technology

James E. Gaskin published a brief

April 16, 2010

Netbooks, iPads, and Slates: 5 Ways They Will Help Your Business

Information Technology

James E. Gaskin and 2 other people answered this question

April 14, 2010

I’m looking for cheap new laptops to distribute to my outside sales team.

Dell's netbooks are built for their education market first, then moved over to the business area. They're affordable and meant to survive middle school users. Check those first.
HP makes theirs with metal cases and use DriveGuard to protect the hard disk, but cost more. If ... more

James E. Gaskin published a brief

April 8, 2010

Security Tips for the Traveling Netbook, Laptop, and iPad

Information Technology

James E. Gaskin and 3 other people answered this question

March 31, 2010

Should I sign up for Postage by Phone?

Postage meters can be had today for as little as $13 per month (not including postage, of course). They will include a scale for up to either 2,3, or 5 pounds depending on model.
If you primarily have odd sized pieces to mail and therefore print ... more

Customer Service

Information Technology

Office Equipment

James E. Gaskin answered this question

March 26, 2010

When do you start using structured cabling practices?

T. Boone Pickens said, "If you need a tree, the best time to plant one was 20 years ago. If you didn't do that, plant one today."
Start your structured wiring and data center organization program today. Bosses tend to balk at the time and money ... more

Information Technology

Structured Cabling Practices

James E. Gaskin published a brief

March 5, 2010

Top 4 Postage Meter Companies

Information Technology

FP Mailing Solutions

James E. Gaskin and 3 other people answered this question

March 5, 2010

Do you use a colour laser printer?

With prices in the US down as low as $200, you can save quite a bit of money using a color laser in place of an inkjet printer. If you regularly send out printing jobs for color copies, such as for non-glossy marketing handouts, the ... more

Information Technology

Colour Laser Printer

James E. Gaskin and 1 other person answered this question

March 4, 2010

Which samsung color laser printer is the best?

CLP-315W Wireless Color Laser Printer
CLP-620ND Color Laser
Samsung CLX-6200FX All-in-One Color Laser Printer
How much do you want to spend? How many pages per month? How many of those are color? more

Information Technology

Color Laser Printer

Office Equipment

James E. Gaskin and 1 other person answered this question

March 4, 2010

What are the top multifunction printers in the market?

Check for which strikes you most favorably among this group of MFPs:
Canon: imageCLASS MF4350d
Epson WorkForce 610 (I have this one, but only because Epson gave it to me for an eval). The scanner/copier has a nice document feed.
HP Officejet 4500 Wireless All-in-Oneprinter
Samsung monochrome laser SCX-4623F
If ... more

Information Technology

Multifunction Printers

Office Equipment

James E. Gaskin published a brief

March 4, 2010

What Can (and Should) a Postage Meter Do For Your Business?

Information Technology

Office Supplies and Equipment

James E. Gaskin and 5 other people answered this question

Feb. 18, 2010

How do i create content on a shoe-string budget?

Would you dress for an important presentation on a shoe-string budget? Probably not, so why create marketing information that way?
Depending on the type of content you're looking for and the reason you're looking, some of may be able to help. Can you give more details? more

Following 3 Topics

Information Technology

Following 0 People

Followed by 19 People

Knowledgeable in 17 Topics

#137 of 1411

#526 of 1982

Social Networking

#13 of 85

#833 of 2755

#61 of 391

#70 of 314

Information Technology

#501 of 2263

#53 of 223

#459 of 619

Customer Service

#585 of 741

#91 of 154

#66 of 98

Unified Communications

#68 of 112

#58 of 66

#6 of 24

Software Implementation

#9 of 21

Office Supplies and Equipment

#10 of 20