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Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) recently announced the latest version of its Office productivity suite for Windows and Mac.

Microsoft Office 2019 and Office 365 ProPlus started rolling out September 24, introducing some new features small business owners may find useful for home and office use.

Microsoft Office 2019 and Office 365 ProPlus Roll Out

According to Jared Spataro, Corporate Vice President for Office and Windows Marketing, Office 2019 is the next on-premises version of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Project, Visio, Access, and Publisher

Office 365 ProPlus, the cloud-based subscription version of Office, on the other hand, is touted as the most productive and most secure cloud-connected Office experience—with the lowest total cost of ownership for deployment and management.

“The new enhancements in Office 2019 are a subset of a long list of features that have been added to Office 365 ProPlus over the last three years,” Spataro said in a blog post announcing the latest Office releases.

Office 2019 Features and Updates

Microsoft says Office 2019 provides a set of valuable enhancements for customers who can’t be cloud-connected or receive regular updates, including apps to help users create amazing content in less time.

Some of the new features introduced in Office 2019 include:

• PowerPoint 2019:  Lets you create cinematic presentations with new features like Morph and Zoom. It also includes improved inking features across the apps in Windows—like the roaming pencil case, pressure sensitivity, and tilt effects—allowing you to naturally create documents.
• Excel 2019: Adds a set of powerful new data analysis features, including new formulas and charts and enhancements to PowerPivot.
• Word 2019:  Includes learning tools, like Read Aloud and Text Spacing that make it easier to engage with your content, and Focus Mode that blocks out distractions and puts your content front and center.

“Office 2019 also includes new IT value for enhanced security and streamlined administration,” said Spataro, adding, “We introduced Click-to-Run (C2R), a modern deployment technology, in Office 2013, and it’s now used to deploy and update Office across hundreds of millions of devices worldwide. With Office 2019, we’re moving the on-premises versions of Office to C2R to reduce costs and improve security.”

Among the advantages of C2R that Microsoft lists are predictable monthly security updates, up-to-date apps on installation, reduced network consumption through Windows 10 download optimization technology, and an easy upgrade path to Office 365 ProPlus.

Office 365 ProPlus Features and Updates

Office 365 ProPlus will continue to add new features on a monthly basis, including innovations in collaboration, artificial intelligence (AI), security, and more, according to Spataro.

Microsoft seems to be positioning Office 365 ProPlus as its preferred option for commercial users, considering that the tech giant made it clear Office 2019 is a one-time release and won’t receive future feature updates. You may have to purchase the subscription version to get the best features of Office.

“While the cloud offers real benefits in productivity, security, and total cost of ownership, we recognize that each customer is at a different point in their adoption of cloud services,” Spataro said. “We see the on-premises version of Office as an important part of our commitment to give customers the flexibility they need to move to the cloud at their own pace.”

Office 2019 is already available for purchase to commercial volume-licensed (trusted) customers, but regular folks and commercial customers will have to wait a few weeks to purchase the program.

Other services such as Exchange Server 2019, SharePoint Server 2019, Skype for Business Server 2019, and Project Server 2019 will also be released for businesses in the coming weeks.

Image: Microsoft

This article, “Microsoft Office 2019 Is Now Available – With Potential Features for Small Businesses” was first published on Small Business Trends

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Google is shutting down Google+ as a social network, effective August 31, 2019.

Google made the announcement on October 8, the same day as a Wall Street Journal story outlining that the data of a half million users was exposed.  Google knew about the security issue back in March 2018, but elected not to disclose it to users.

Within hours of the story, Google came out with an announcement acknowledging the issue, but defending its actions.  In the same announcement it said it was closing Google+ down in 10 months’ time.

Google Vice President Ben Smith said in a statement that the data was exposed through an API used by third party apps.  An API is a technical means of transferring data from one software program to another.

About the Google+ Security Breach

Google downplayed the impact of the security breach, stating it was due to a software bug. Here are key points:

• It says the security bug was limited to a small number of Google+ profile fields marked non-public. Those fields include name, email address, occupation, gender and age.
• The breach “does not include any other data you may have posted or connected to Google+ or any other service, like Google+ posts, messages, Google account data, phone numbers or G Suite content,” according to Smith.  G Suite content, of course, refers to G Suite users’ email, calendar, and stored files. Many small businesses use G Suite (formerly called Google Apps for Business). So it’s good to know your company’s sensitive communications were not affected.
• Google says it disovered and patched the bug back in March.
• Google can’t tell which users were affected, because it claims to keep log data for only two weeks.
• However, it estimates that 500,000 users using 438 different apps were affected.

Google Plus to Shut Down: What Small Businesses Need to Know

Google+ will remain open until August 31, 2019.

However, you might want to consider leaving sooner rather than later if you use it for marketing purposes. Smith revealed how the network has shrunk, admitting it has “low usage.” Over 90% of its sessions are less than five seconds!

Google Plus launched in 2011. Activity has declined noticeably in recent years.  Google+ is widely considered a failure for Google.

And what if you have original posts and images on Google Plus that you want to save?  Smith says Google will provide instructions in the coming months for how to download and migrate files.

Google plans to continue to offer an enterprise-only version of Google+. The company says there’s value as a private network within organizations.

Small businesses should take these steps to prepare for the Google Plus shutdown:

• Make a plan to remove Google+ share / follow buttons from your website and blog.
• Plan to phase out social activity on Google+ such as sharing content and commenting.
• In you run a Community on Google+, make plans to migrate it to a different platform. Facebook and LinkedIn Groups are two obvious choices.  Set up a new group somewhere else. Notify members of the transition date so they can move over. People may assume Google+ is shutting down immediately.  Don’t wait if you want an orderly transition.
• If you have developed a proprietary software app that works with Google data, become familiar with Google’s new API and data sharing policies.
• Pick up the pace of content sharing activity on other social networks. For instance, we’ve found that motivational quotes work well on Google+. So we’ll be experimenting to find an alternative platform for motivational content.

Do a Check Up on Your Google Security

Google says it is paying even more attention to privacy and security. Now is a good time to check your privacy and security settings in all your Google apps, including your Google account, GMail and more.

• Individual users should check the security for their own Google acounts. Use Google’s Security Checkup Tool.
• G Suite administrators should check organization -wide settings.  More information on checking G Suite security here.

Photo via Shutterstock

This article, “Google Plus to Shut Down: What Small Businesses Need to Know” was first published on Small Business Trends

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Freelancers are increasingly making up a larger percentage of the workforce and businesses of all sizes are offering more telecommuting gigs to accommodate them.

The new survey from Virtual Vocations has ranked the top telecommute jobs of 2018 along with the seasonal telecommute jobs through December.

As the freelancer and telecommute job market matures, it is attracting professionals across many different industries. The participation of these professionals is especially beneficial for small businesses looking to hire experts for projects and one-off jobs.

CEO of Virtual Vocations, Laura Spawn, addressed this very point in the press release announcing the results of the survey. Spawn said, “The average telecommute jobseeker is over 40 years of age with a minimum of a bachelor’s degree and at least five years of experience working remotely, so it’s no surprise that the best jobs of 2018 reflect many diverse, mid-level career specialties.”

The list for 2018 was compiled from Virtual Vocation’s mid-year company data through June 30, 2018. Other data include salary and job growth collected by PayScale and the  Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The Top 20 Best Telecommute Jobs

Virtual Vocations identified which telecommute jobs are most prevalent in the most popular job industries after going through the queries of its website members.

The company also said these jobs will experience growth at least until 2026.

1. Software Developer
2. Sales Representative
3. Nurse
4. Account Manager
5. Instructional Designer
6. Consultant
7. Project Manager
8. Interpreter
9. Manager
10. Customer Service Representative
11. Teacher
12. Marketing Manager
13. Writer
14. Business Analyst
15. Fundraiser
16. Speech-Language Pathologist
17. Quality Assurance Specialist
18. Researcher
19. Recruiter
20. Finance Manager

Seasonal Hires

More and more seasonal jobs are also being carried out by telecommuters. According to Spawn, this can be a great testing ground for professionals looking to telecommute fulltime.

The company said there will be a boom in seasonal hiring through the end of 2018. Customer service, sales, marketing and travel industries are already filling jobs to get ahead of the holiday shopping surge.

The Growth of Telecommuting and Freelancing

More Americans are working from home, including freelancers. According to a report (PDF) by MBO Partners, around 32% or 40 million of the private workforce are currently working as independent professionals at some level.  Of these, 16.9 million are doing so 15 or more hours per week.

By 2027, the report says 6 in 10 Americans or 58% will be independent or will have worked independently.

Photo via Shutterstock

This article, “Survey Reveals Top 20 Telecommute Jobs Businesses are Hiring For in 2018” was first published on Small Business Trends

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The appearance of the Spotted Lanternfly in Berks County, Pennsylvania in 2014 has now escalated into an infestation threatening the entire northeastern United States.

This invasive insect is endangering Pennsylvania’s grape, apple, and peach industries which are collectively valued at more than $4.9 billion. The state’s forest products valued at $19 billion and nursery and landscape business valued at $944 million are equally in danger from this troublesome pest.  In all, the insect feeds on more than 70+ plants and there are no native spotted lanternfly predators to make any noticeable difference in the population.

According to the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the Spotted Lanternfly infestation may also have harder-to-quantify risks. In a recent webinar, Dana Rhodes of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture highlights these risks. Rhodes says the infestation can affect property values and quality of life, tourism and assets like the state’s park system (ranked #3 in the nation), the state’s natural ecosystem, and new business initiatives.

The impact also extends to companies dependent on these state assets, many of them local small businesses.

What is the Spotted Lanternfly?

The Spotted Lanternfly or Lycorma delicatula is an invasive insect native to China, India, and Vietnam. In addition to Pennsylvania, it has been spotted in New York and New Jersey with other neighboring states on alert.

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture says the invasive species has the potential to greatly impact the grape, tree-fruit, logging, nursery and landscape industries in the state.

Protecting these industries will require early detection, enforcing quarantines on locations already determined to be infested, and educating the public to help officials limit the spread of this infestation.

State officials want anyone living outside of the quarantine area to report sightings of the insect.

You can call 1-888-4BAD-FLY (1-888-422-3359) or click on this link to do it online.

The quarantined counties are Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia, and Schuylkill.

State officials are issuing permits for businesses in these counties to move equipment and goods in and out of the zone. In association with Pennsylvania State University and its Penn State Extension, the department of agriculture has developed a course to train designated employees on how to comply with the quarantine.

You can take the permit training here.

The Damage

According to the Penn State Extension info page, the Spotted Lanternfly attacks fruit trees, but not the fruit itself. It feeds on the sap in trunks, branches, twigs and leaves leaving a greyish or black trail along the bark of the plant.

When it is digesting the sap, the insect excretes what is known as honeydew. The honeydew and sap become a medium for the growth of fungus, such as sooty mold. This can cover the leaf surfaces of the infected trees, fruits and vegetation and stunt their growth. If the infestation is pervasive, it disrupts photosynthesis and the plants may not survive.

Spotting the Spotted Lanternfly

The Spotted Lanternfly is around one inch long as an adult but looks quite different during the developmental stages of its life. The images below show these stages.

If you see a specimen at any stage, report the sighting. If you choose to collect the specimen, it can be turned in to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s Entomology lab for verification.

You can also take a picture of it and send it to Badbug@pa.gov.

What is Being Done?

The Spotted Lanternfly has a preferred host, a plant called tree-of-heaven, which is also an invasive species, introduced to Pennsylvania from China in the 1780s. The US and Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture are removing this plant, as well as leaving trap trees baited with insecticides, and deploying control and eradication measures in the quarantine zones.

If you see an egg mass, the agriculture department says you can scrape it off, double bag it and throw it away. You can also put the eggs into alcohol or hand sanitizer to kill them.

As far as Spotted Lanternfly predators, there aren’t enough of them to make a difference. There are spiders and praying mantis, but they can’t make a dent because of the rate at which the insect propagates.

And remember to always report any sightings. This is the best way to help eradicate this infestation.

The Penn State Extension has comprehensive information about the Spotted Lanternfly and the measures being taken by state officials. You can access the site here.

Images: Penn State Extension, Pa. Dept. of Agriculture

This article, “Spotted Lanternfly Poses Threat to Thousands of Small Businesses” was first published on Small Business Trends

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A new infographic by IntiativeOne says effective, inspirational leadership doesn’t have that much to do with personality, age, or genetics. Instead, it says the skills you learn, work on, and grow into are more relevant if you want to inspire others.

Titled, “Six Ways Leaders, Inspire Their Teams,” the infographic and the blog says exhibiting certain inspirational traits is more important for leadership than personality.

And if you are looking to inspire your team, it also means eliminating the negative traits which will do the opposite of inspiring them. For small business owners with a smaller number of team members, these negative traits can be more detrimental than for a large organization.

As InitiativeOne says in the blog, “There are some traits, like consistent negativity, acting like a dictator or just plain being a jerk, that are not going to cut it with a team looking to succeed.” But just like you can learn traits to be a great inspirational leader, you can also learn to eliminate the negative ones.

Are Leaders Born or Made?

According to InitiativeOne, 19% of people believe leaders are born while more than half or 53% believe they are made. There also those who say it is both at 28%.

When it comes to leadership, 24% say it is genetic and the remaining 76% say it is learned. As to the value of genetics vs learned behavior, it is 30% to 70% respectively.

How to Inspire Teams

The six ways leaders inspire their teams are by caring equally about their people and the business; pushing excellence in their team; leading with head and heart; looking to learn from others and not just teach; seeking to develop others; valuing the input of everyone in the team.

When it comes to the traits inspirational leaders have or should develop, they start with trustworthiness, exuding confidence and leading by listening. Leaders should also be self-aware as well as being aware of others.

The infographic says inspirational leaders recharge their emotional batteries regularly and are capable of clearly stating their vision, core values, and team norms. But the most important trait is centeredness.

Being centered allows leaders to stay calm in stressful situations, empathize, listen deeply, and remain present. InitiativeOne says ranking in the top 10% in this trait increases your ability to be seen as inspirational.

According to Dr. Fred Johnson, CEO and Founder of InitiativeOne, there are two things that differentiate great companies from everybody else. Top companies differentiate themselves by the way they make decisions and solve problems.

Inspirational leaders are able to make sound decisions and solve problems while motivating their teams through the actions they take. If your team knows they can count on you, you can motivate them to action.

You can take a look at the rest of the IntitiativeOne infographic below to get inspired and help you and your team succeed.

Photo via Shutterstock

This article, “6 Best Ways Leaders Can Inspire Their Teams (INFOGRAPHIC)” was first published on Small Business Trends

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From a lead generating conference on Boston to a customer service summit in New York City, a variety of events geared toward small businesses dot the calendar over the next week — and several weeks.

Other upcoming events include a brand partnership forum in Nashville, a Gartner sales and marketing conference in Las Vegas and a workshop in Chicago about listening to the voice of the customer.

Look down the list of upcoming events to determine which might be most appropriate for your small businesses.

Oh, and if you have an event to promote to the small business community, consider making it one of our Featured Events. Here’s an example of how this might look!

If you have an event or contest you want us to know about please get in touch with us. See details below!

Featured Events, Contests and Awards

More Events

• Digital Book World 2018
  October 02, 2018, Nashville, United States
• LeadsCons Connect to Convert 2018
  October 03, 2018, Boston, MA
• The Customer Service Summit NYC (October 4 – 5, 2018)
  October 04, 2018, Brooklyn, New York
• Chief Analytics Officer, Fall 2018 – Boston, October 8-11
  October 08, 2018, Boston, United States
• Gartner Sales and Marketing Conference 2018, Las Vegas, NV
  October 09, 2018, Las Vegas, United States
• Brand Partnership Forum
  October 10, 2018, Nashville, TN
• Listening to the Voice of the Customer Workshop
  October 10, 2018, Chicago, IL
• Rhodium Weekend 2018
  October 11, 2018, Las Vegas, NV
• Real Estate Wealth Expo Featuring Tony Robbins and Pitbull – Bay Area 2018
  October 13, 2018, San Mateo, United States
• CPI Global Summit, 16-17 October, New York
  October 16, 2018, New York, United States
• Agriculture 4.0
  October 16, 2018, San Francisco, CA
• Small Business Expo 2018 – LOS ANGELES
  October 18, 2018, Los Angeles, CA
• LEAP HR: Manufacturing
  October 23, 2018, Chicago, United States
• FUND Conference
  October 24, 2018, Chicago, IL
• Crowdsourcing Week
  October 24, 2018, Online
• Brand Marketing Summit and Social Media Marketing (October 24-25, New York)
  October 24, 2018, Brooklyn, United States
• B2B Marketing and Sales 2018
  October 25, 2018, Austin, United States
• Small Business Expo 2018 – SAN DIEGO
  October 25, 2018, San Diego, United States
• The Las Vegas Franchise Show
  October 26, 2018, Las Vegas, Nevada
• Brand Authority Summit
  October 28, 2018, Scottsdale, Illinois/USA

More Contests

• Public Vote to Crown America’s Most Unique Small Business Underway
  November 08, 2018

This weekly listing of small business events, contests and awards is provided as a community service by Small Business Trends.

You can see a full list of events, contest and award listings or post your own events by visiting the Small Business Events Calendar.
Images: Shutterstock

This article, “Small Business Events Abound – Share Yours!” was first published on Small Business Trends

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