Conference Call using Skype

Skype (pronounced /ˈskaip/) is a multi-platform (Windows, Mac, Linux) software application that allows you to make voice calls (and videos) over the Internet for free. It is an exciting way to stay in touch with family – especially for me, the Stylo Minister of Technology. I am currently finishing my degree in the UK and my family is still in Malaysia.

At Stylo Creative Communications, we are always looking for useful tools that can help small businesses, and we believe Skype is a must-have application. We have been using it to make conferences call with our clients across different time zones. We also use it for our company meetings whenever we are away from the office. It works as long as there is an Internet connection.

Interesting enough, this application allows you to do a lot of other things while still having the voice chat:

• Chat box – It is useful when you wish to send a URL or even smiley face
• Send files – It allows you to send file during your conversation which is useful for discussion and any immediate actions
• Send contacts
  
• Leave voicemal
  

This service is invaluable if you are a small business and running most of your business online. You can learn more at their website on how you can save time, and money, while staying ahead of your competition. And if you are using a smart phone, you can get Skype application for your mobile phone. Savvy!

Introducing: Stylo Small Biz Toolkit

 We are very excited to launch our own Small Business Toolkit. Support of small business has always been a strong personal interest of Stylo founder Julien Sharp, who firmly believes that small businesses are the backbone of a prosperous society.

To that end, Julien combined her 17 years of copywriting and content management experience with the technical backup of SmartSourcing Global, managed by founder Smita Yedekar, and the support of Stylo's own Minister of Technology, Mohd Rafie Kamaruzaman, to create a full array of services aimed at helping small businesses thrive in any economy. 

The Small Business Toolkit includes everything a business needs to:

• Build a Brand
• Promote and Build Recognition of that Brand
• Grow that Brand Online via Social Media
• Optimize Business Workflow/Productivity

We are all so happy to be able to help small businesses make a big-business impact!

The Results Are In: Great News from a Client!

One of my favorite clients is one with whom I have worked since early 2002 – Toby Rose’s College Prep. I am their Consulting Writing Specialist. When I lived in Miami, I taught writing classes to high school and college students, and helped applicants to undergraduate and graduate schools with their essays. Since moving to NYC in 2006, I have maintained the client relationship, working with the students on their application and scholarship essays every season. I just got an email from my client that we have had one of the best years ever as far as acceptances to schools – from Florida state schools to Ivy League, and other prestigious institutions all over the country!

Continue below the fold for a full school list. (S) means the acceptance came with a scholarship and (H) means an acceptance into the school’s Honors program.

A Blog is a Great Way to Talk to Your Customers

Did you know that 77% of all Internet users read blogs? Well, they do.

As posted on Brandtracks (emphases from Stylo):

Take a look at these stats as of March 2008:

• There were 184 million blogs worldwide
• In the US alone, there were 77.7 million unique hits compared to 41 million visitors for Facebook and 75.1 million to MySpace
• 77% of all Internet users read blogs
• Over half of all businesses in North America don’t have a blog. That means that just under half of all businesses do. If you don’t, guess who’s talking to your customers?
• Blogs offer a channel for you to provide an instant voice to the conversation. While a personal blog can share the latest pictures of a newborn baby instantly to friends and family all over the world, a business blog works on the same premise.
• 46% of all bloggers are professionals. They are writing a corporate blog or about their industry or offering opinions about products, even the ones you sell. This equates to just over 84.5 million bloggers that are business bloggers. That’s 84.5 million businesses talking to your customers.
• Online sales in 2007 totaled $260 billion. Blogs are known to increase awareness of new products and services. That means 1 out of 2 companies are losing a large part of $260 billion dollars of online income.

Blogging is a great way to reach your audience. Stylo Creative Communications writes for blogs. We match writers experienced a specific industry with clients in that industry looking for writers! It’s a win-win.