Prezi is a name you might have heard once or twice if you’re into presentations. It’s an online presentation tool that’s different than most and, because of this, has a great deal of admirers. What, specifically, makes Prezi so great?

Flash-based

Prezi is a flash-based tool, which makes it easier to produce non-linear presentations. Most presentation tools require you to go slide-by-slide and don’t leave much room for creativity aside from clipart. With Prezi, your presentation is more like a thought map than anything else, which makes it flow much more organically.

You are able to zoom in and out of that map to access various parts of the presentation, and can move between areas. This eliminates the need to have identical slides throughout the presentation. It also prevents you from having to revisit a previous slide if you must reference it again.

Intuitive

Prezi presentations are built differently than most, which can make it difficult to get used to at first. Once you have become familiar with the program, however, it is like second nature. You can create presentations like you would a thought map, which is fantastic for those non-linear thinkers.

If you’re having difficulty adjusting to the Prezi process, you can find a number of tutorials on the Prezi website.

Although Prezi is web-based, you can download your presentation after it has been created so that you do not need an Internet connection in order to present. Prezi is available in a free version, but can also be purchased for extra storage and improved privacy.

Although Prezi may not be for everyone, it is a great alternative for those who are looking to create a different kind of presentation.

The recent Playstation security breach has opened many Internet users’ eyes to the importance of online security. If the wrong person gets their hands on your information, there is a chance that the effects could be damaging. Luckily, there are a number of simple steps you can take to better protect your online identity.

Use an encrypted connection

Encrypted connections make it very simple to protect yourself online and they can be found on many of the most popular sites. Often, the settings must be changed to gain encrypted access, but once it is achieved, your online session will be much more secure.

In order to see whether or not your connection is secure, check the URL. A secure connection will have a URL that begins with “https” instead of simply “http.” Unfortunately, all sites don’t use encrypted connections, so this is not always a possibility.

Use strong passwords

Strong passwords are always one of the best ways to keep your information secure. By using spaces, symbols, numbers and a combination of upper- and lowercase letters, one can easily achieve a strong password. Even if you don’t utilize all of these tips, be sure to use something that can’t be easily guessed by hackers.

It’s also incredibly important to use a unique password for each of your accounts. Using the same password on a variety of accounts makes them all vulnerable if just one of them is hacked.

Look out for phishing

Phishing is a very common practice because it so often works to help hackers acquire sensitive information. It is basically when a hacker poses as a reliable business, such as a bank, to try to get your passwords, account numbers or usernames.

Epsilon’s recent data breach was a great example of the potential for phishing. Their network was hacked into and thousands of names and email addresses were exposed, making thousands of people vulnerable to phishing attempts.

These three tips are incredibly easy to follow and do not take much work on your part. If you are interested in a few more tips, check out this article.

Quite a few people that travel for business find that they are less productive while they’re on the road. This can be a result of a number of components. Fortunately, we have some excellent tools and tips that can both boost productivity and keep your belongings safe while you’re on the go.

Tools for easier travel

Traveling can become chaotic fast. We lose track of details, can’t find our boarding pass quickly enough, or simply cannot recall which hotel we’re staying at. For those of us that get disorganized quickly, there are many tools that are designed to help.

TripIt is an easy-to-use tool that almost instantly takes away some of the stress of traveling. It organizes all of your travel details for you, including flight number, hotel information, and frequent flier numbers. With TripIt, you don’t have to fret about the details because they’re all neatly organized in one place.

Having an excellent bag for traveling is essential. It’s important to have something that makes it easy to access important items and can still fit everything you need. Some features to consider when buying luggage are:

• Laptop compartment – It’s best to have a separate compartment for your laptop so that finding it at security, or even once you get to your destination, is easy. Nobody enjoys being the person who’s holding up the security line.
• A wire pouch – Having a dedicated spot to place all of your chargers and other wires is great for anyone with lots of gadgets. You no longer have to wonder where you placed everything, as there is a designated pocket for it.
• Convertibility – A convertible bag is ideal for someone who goes on a variety of business trips. If you need to carry everything through the airport one day and carry only your laptop the next, finding a bag that can serve both purposes is beneficial.

Security tools

Many of us travel with our most cherished possessions, which just adds to our stress for fear of losing them. Because of that, it’s smart to bring a personal safe and a notebook lock that can keep some of the most valuable items secure when you can’t keep an eye on them.

Usually, taking general safety precautions is sufficient. Either make sure that your valuable items are somewhere secure, or keep them close by whenever you can. If you’re interested in more tools and tricks to keep your things safe, take a look at this article.

Boosting productivity

Productivity can certainly wane while you’re working from a hotel room or coffee shop on the road. General unfamiliarity with your surroundings can slow down certain processes that are usually quick and painless.

For most jobs, it’s imperative to have Internet access, especially when you are away from your coworkers. Some hotels do not have access to the Internet, and if that is the case you should consider bringing a wireless card or mobile Wi-Fi device that would let you easily access the Internet and your email.

Another thing that can affect your productivity is your comfort level. If you are sitting in an uncomfortable desk chair (which, let’s face it, most hotel chairs are) you may not be able to get as much done. You may want to bring a back pillow that can quickly boost comfort and therefore increase productivity.

There are many things that can make working from the road easier and more productive. These tools and tips can be incredibly helpful and help you learn how to be at your best while you’re on the go.

Building a greener office is an incredible way to simultaneously save money and help the environment. Some small businesses assume that going green takes too much effort, but that’s hardly the case. Here are a few quick and simple ways to make your office greener.

1.    Use double-sided printing whenever possible

Set your printer or copier’s default mode to double-sided printing to instantly cut down on paper use. This is a simple step and if anyone requires single-sided printing they can quickly change the settings.

2.    Use a water delivery service

Bottled water is extremely wasteful and, unfortunately, it is a staple in most office environments. Using a water delivery service can cut down on waste and also prevent the harmful effects that can result from drinking bottled water.

3.    Turn lights and machines off when they’re not being used

This might seem obvious, but many people do not turn off lights and machines when they’re not in the workplace. Failing to do so can result in a lot of wasted energy and can cost your company funds. Encourage employees to turn off lights, computers and printers to automatically cut back on energy use.

4.    Use recycled and recyclable products when you can

You can find recycled versions of nearly any paper product at popular office supply retailers. The recycled versions are often comparable in price to their non-recycled counterparts.

Using recyclable and compostable products is also critical. These items are typically easy to find and can make a huge impact if they’re actually recycled after use. If you don’t implement an easy-to-follow recycling plan, you may find that employees aren’t actually recycling anything.

5.    Cut down on commuting

Organizing carpools is pretty easy to do. Simply match people up based on where they live. If you can, offer parking incentives to those who carpool. If your town has public transportation systems, try offering a bus or train pass to employees who can use those systems.

As you can see, these are simple and inexpensive ways to make your office greener. If you’re interested in even more green ideas, take a look at this article.

If that isn’t enough to encourage you to clean your keyboard, consider the fact that you touch it every day, when you’re sick and when you’re eating. If you don’t clean it often enough, those germs can rapidly accumulate and spread to other items on your desk. Here are some tips that can help you clean your keyboard quickly and effectively.

Detach the keyboard

No matter what cleaning method you use, it’s vital that you detach the keyboard first. This can prevent you from accidentally performing certain actions on your computer. It also prevents damage to your computer, which could be costly.

For a quick fix

A can of compressed air can quickly get rid of the majority of loose dirt and debris. The dust and dirt that builds up beneath those keys can get thick pretty quickly. This clears that right up.

Spray the compressed air while your keyboard is upside down and tap the keyboard until you see loose dirt fall out. You may have to do this a couple of times in order to get rid of the majority of the debris. To make sure you’re really getting it clean, dip a cotton swab in isopropyl alcohol and swab the edges of the keys.

For a more thorough cleaning

If you are trying to do more than just get rid of the loose dirt, a thorough cleaning is in order. You can start by gently prying up all of the keys with a screwdriver or something similar.

Once the keys have been removed, you should use the can of compressed air to get rid of all of the loose dirt. Then wipe the entire keyboard with a damp cloth. Finally, clean all of the keys with isopropyl alcohol to get a more serious clean.

After a spill

If your keyboard is dirty due to an accidental spill, disconnect the keyboard right away and turn the keyboard upside down and shake it. Try to dry it with a cloth while it is still upside down, and leave the keyboard upside down for as long as possible.

For more tips on cleaning your keyboard, check out this guide.

While many prefer face-to-face meetings, virtual meetings are a popular part of today’s business environment. It is vital, however, to remember certain things when you’re conducting these meetings.

Etiquette is vital to most meetings, and it’s no different with those of the virtual variety. This may seem rather obvious, but many people think they can be more informal during virtual meetings – and that isn’t always the case.

Here are some additional tips that can help you carry out more efficient and professional virtual meetings.

1. Be prepared

Preparedness is vital when it comes to professionalism and helping a meeting run smoothly. When you’re gathering the content and resources for a virtual meeting, you should make sure to remember your audience – something that’s not quite as easy during a virtual meeting.

Make sure that everybody will be able to easily access the meeting by providing them with the correct access codes, URLs and call-in numbers. After all, a meeting devoid of attendees is really no meeting at all.

2. Engage participants

Virtual meetings can easily become very stiff if you don’t have a relationship with the person on the other end of the meeting. Instead of just leaping right into the task at hand, try going around and allowing all of the meeting’s participants to introduce themselves.

Although it may seem somewhat cliché, it is always helpful to give people the chance to share a little personal information – such as the highlight of their weekend, or a fun fact. It may seem awkward at first, but it will go a long way in making people feel more connected to the other participants.

3. No side conversations

Side conversations can be extremely distracting to all participants, even if you’re not on screen at the moment. Not only can side conversations grab the focus of the presenter, it can distract other attendees and deter from the point of the meeting.

Virtual meetings are excellent assets and there are many ways to ensure that you are conducting them in a professional and interesting manner. If you’d like to take a look at more suggestions for conducting virtual meetings, check out this Inc. article.

E-readers have become quite popular in recent years. Those who use them swear by them for their convenience and portability. Everybody doesn’t share their enthusiasm, however. There are several things to think about before you decide if an e-reader meets your needs.

What are the choices?

The Amazon Kindle, Sony Reader and Barnes & Noble Nook are among the most popular of the e-readers. Although some e-readers have Internet capabilities, their primary purpose is to display e-books.

Tablets can also function as e-readers, although they have many capabilities aside from displaying e-books.

Pros

• E-readers are amazingly portable, which is great for anyone who likes to read during vacation or a business trip
• One more travel perk – if you are in a foreign country, you may still download an e-book in the language you have chosen, instead of seeking out an accommodating bookstore.
• Books are frequently more affordable than you will find in regular bookstores.
• Privacy – you probably don’t want everyone to know if you’re reading a self-help book. If you’re using an e-reader, they won’t be able to tell.
• All of your books are located in a single place.

Cons

• Depending on the type of e-reader or tablet, you may not be able to read in direct sunlight because of screen glare.
• Cost – even though you might pay less for books than you normally would, e-readers usually cost more than $140.
• If you’re accustomed to shopping in used bookstores, these books will cost far more than you’re accustomed to paying.
• Lending books isn’t always a possibility.
• All of your books are in one location – if you lose your e-reader, you’re losing all of your books if you do not buy a replacement.

As with any other decision concerning buying a new gadget, this decision should be based on personal preference. Some people really like the convenience of being able to have all of their books with them everywhere they go. Others appreciate the weight and feel of a real book and enjoy being able to display all their books on a shelf for the world to see.

For more comparisons of e-readers and traditional books, take a look at this article.

E-readers have become quite popular recently. Those who use them love them for their convenience and portability. Everybody doesn’t share their enthusiasm, however. There are a number of things to consider before you decide if an e-reader suits you.

What are the choices?

The Amazon Kindle, Sony Reader and Barnes & Noble Nook are among the most popular of the e-readers. Although some e-readers have Internet capabilities, their main purpose is to display e-books.

Tablets may also function as e-readers, although they have many capabilities aside from displaying e-books.

Pros

• E-readers are incredibly portable, which is ideal for anybody who likes to read while on vacation or a business trip
• One more travel bonus – if you are in a foreign country, you may still download an e-book in the language you have chosen, instead of looking for an accommodating bookstore.
• Books are frequently cheaper than you will find in normal bookstores.
• Privacy – you probably don’t want everyone to know if you’re reading a self-help book. If you’re using an e-reader, they won’t be able to tell.
• All of your books can be found in one place.

Cons

• Depending on the type of e-reader or tablet, you may not be able to read in direct sunlight because of screen glare.
• Cost – even though you might pay less for books than you normally would, e-readers usually cost more than $140.
• If you’re accustomed to shopping in used bookstores, these books will cost much more than you’re used to paying.
• Lending books isn’t always an option.
• All of your books are in a single location – if you lose your e-reader, you’re losing all of your books until you buy a replacement.

As with any technology, the choice between an e-reader and a book depends upon personal preference. While some people want to be able to display their books on a bookshelf and share them with the world, others prefer the portable convenience that comes with an e-reader.

If you’re considering purchasing an e-reader, take a look at this article on the advantages of the technology, and where it may be headed.

It can often be difficult to motivate employees when you’re running a small business. Resources are limited, and time is incredibly valuable. Incentives are critical when it comes to motivation, however; finding inexpensive and simple incentives is vital.

Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to inspire employees that don’t include huge bonuses. A little creativity can go a long way in terms of showing employee appreciation. Here are a few great, simple ideas:

1. Ask for input

By seeking employees’ opinions, you are showing them that their ideas are valued. Employees are likely to be more inclined to work harder when they feel that their actions and opinions truly influence the company overall.

2. Change it up

Boredom can be among the biggest de-motivators out there. Fortunately, there are plenty of simple ways to derail boredom. Mixing up projects and responsibilities in order to allow employees to display their talents, even if they’re not entirely work-related, can help inspire employees to work harder on all of their projects.

3. Focus on a great company culture

People who love their jobs often do because they feel their company is distinct from others. Companies that offer special or fun perks often lure great employees and tend to keep their employees happy longer. Things like a game room in the office, where employees can go alleviate a little frustration when need be, can go a long way in employee motivation.

4. Recognize people for a job well done

Working hard on something often feels like it was pointless if you are not acknowledged for doing it well. That’s why it is so critical to show some sort of recognition for your employees to keep them working just as hard.

Although “employee of the month” programs may seem clichéd, they are in fact a great motivator. People like to be recognized for doing a good job and these programs are an easy, inexpensive way to do that.

All of these techniques are easy, inexpensive and can do wonders when it comes to motivating employees. Explore one or two of these ideas to see how they may affect employee morale and motivation.

For more examples of inexpensive employee motivators, check out this article.

Smartpens are a new office trend with ever-expanding possibilities. The capabilities of smartpens have grown leaps and bounds since the technology first came about, and they’re still expanding.

What the majority of smartpens do is capture the notes that you are writing down and translate them into a digital format. Extra possible features, however, vary by brand and model.

IOGEAR Mobile Digital Scribe

This was the first smartpen in the marketplace and, because of that, it comes without some of the special features that are available on newer pens.

The Mobile Digital Scribe captures and stores everything you write down for later review. Unlike other pens, you don’t need to write on a specific surface in order for it to register, a simple piece of paper will do. It even lets you link the pen directly to a computer so that everything you write down will be displayed on the screen.

Logitech IO2 Digital Pen

The Logitech smartpen has many of the basic functions that you might find in the Mobile Digital Scribe. It transcribes your notes and can save them in various different file types.

You are then able to browse your notes for keywords and phrases by date, file name or file type. This makes it much easier to scan your notes for highlights of a meeting or conversation. One of the inconveniences of this smartpen is that you cannot simply write on any surface – you must use Post-Its or a digital notebook made specifically for smartpens.

Livescribe Echo

The Livescribe Echo has far more capabilities than its counterparts. It not only transcribes your written notes into a PDF, it also records any audio and enables you to save that in a variety of different formats.

The coolest feature that you’ll find on the Echo is the Pencast capability. A Pencast lets you play back the audio and synchronize it with your notes, making it much simpler to keep a detailed record of your thoughts without writing down everything. Apple has also built a free app that allows for easy sharing and replaying.

Smartpens are a cool technology that is sure to keep becoming more popular in the office setting. They make it easier to become a more efficient worker with little effort.

For a little more insight into the Livescribe Echo and its cool features check out this article.