How to configure Windows Live Mail with Google Apps

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With much excitement, pride, and anxiety after such an extremely long journey, we can finally announce the release of MABIAA MyMAIL.

Over the past month, since the announcement of MABIAA MyMAIL, Matthew and his team have been working like possessed men tinkering with the conversion to the new webmail platform.

Please welcome to newest addition to the MABIAA 2.0 upgrade, MABIAA MyMail.

We have build our new webmail platform MABIAA MyMAIL on the open-source webmail software Roundcube.

The new MyMAIL webmail solution has a desktop-like user interface which is easy to use and manage.

• A revamped admin interface, which you will notice to be an extremely easy to use, customer friendly platform.
• Improved reporting, to better track what you and your teams are doing.
• New front-end features, including calendar, tasks and much more.
• Built-in HTML email templates.
• Drag-&-Drop message management
• Sophisticated privacy protection
• Multiple sender identities
• IDNA support
• IMAP folder management
• Full featured address book with groups and LDAP connectors

We hope you all enjoy the new interface and look forward to your feedback.

The post Product Launch: Launch of the new MABIAA MyMail appeared first on MABIAA.

Being a local business, you understand that attracting new customers can be a major challenge.  The days of people pulling out the Yellow Book or visiting the YellowPages.com website to find a local business are long gone.  Today, people are using the internet to find trusted business recommendations.  One of the ways local businesses can get seen by more potential clients is through inclusion on an online directory   Adding a listing to any of these online directories is easy, but if you only list in a few, you’re missing a HUGE opportunity to get found by online researchers.

Each individual directory that you submit your business to is another change to get found on this massive thing we call the internet.  It is extremely important to make sure you’re listed in every possible business directory online.  We have compiled a list of many of the most popular online local business directories available on the internet.  Filling out a form on these can be a big pain in the butt; however, the outcome could be HUGE for you and your local business.

Top 50 Local Business Directories for Local Business Marketing.

1. Google
2. Bing
3. Yahoo!
4. Yelp
5. Merchant Circle
6. LinkedIn
7. YellowPages.com
9. Whitepages
10. Supermedia
11. Yellowbook
12. CitySearch
13. Mapquest
14. Biznik
15. Local.com
16. Foursquare
17. ThinkLocal
18. CitySlick
19. USYellowPages
20. SuperPages
21. Outside.in
22. Dex
23. BizJournals.com
24. TeleAtlas
25. JustClickLocal
26. Discover our Town
27. Metrobot
28. EZ Local
29. twibs
30. LocalEze
31. Kudzu
32. CityVoter
33. Manta
34. Zipweb
35. MatchPoint
36. UsCity.net
37. Local Site Submit
38. InfoUSA
39. Axciom
40. Infignos
41. Yellow Assistance
42. Get Fave
42. My Huckleberry
43. GenieKnows
44. MojoPages
45. Brownbook
46. Magic Yellow
47. CitySquares
48. TeleAtlas
49. Navteq GPS
50. Judy’s Book 

Make sure that you have a presence everywhere your potential customers might be looking.  Don’t wait!  Let us know how you did in the comments below.

The post The Ultra List: 50 Local Business Directories appeared first on MABIAA.

If you are like so many out there, social media can be a bit overwhelming.  There are statistics and figures that prove which network is a hit or a dip within a specific demographic.  As a small business owner, you don’t have the time and probably the energy to be everywhere at once  (don’t worry, large corporations can’t either) – but what social networks are right for you and your small business?  If you don’t know (or even understand social networking) answer a few of these questions and we’ll try to get it figured out for you.

1. My product is best portrayed through:
   A. Photos
   B. Words
   C. Video
   D. A combination
2. My customers love seeing:
   A. Photos
   B. Words
   C. Video
   D. A combination
3. I love producing:
   A. Photos
   B. Words
   C. Video
   D. A combination
4. My best mode of communication is:
   A. Photos
   B. Words
   C. Video
   D. A combination
5. My product can be best explained using:
   A. Photos
   B. Words
   C. Video
   D. A combination

If your answers were primarily A:
The social network that would best suit your business is Pinterest. This network is very image-heavy and is a great way for you to showcase your products and get them to a like-minded audience. One way to best augment Pinterest is to host these images on your website or blog so that you can drive traffic right back to your homebase.

If you answers were primarily B:
Your social network match is Twitter. This 140-character medium allows companies of all sizes to have real-time conversations with folks around the world. This medium is also great for small business owners who are looking to help customers while on the go.

If your answers were primarily C:
YouTube is where you should start. This platform is the world’s second-largest search engine, trailing only Google. Like Pinterest, listed above, it is important to embed these videos on your blog or website to get the most traction out of them for customers and potential customers.

If your answers were primarily D:
Facebook is your ideal social media match. The world’s largest social network allows businesses to mix imagery, text and video to build up relationships with customers and prospects. A great thing to leverage this platform for is giving behind-the-scenes information, imagery or tips to get customers excited about your company.

If the above questions did not meet your needs, your perfect social network is LinkedIn. This platform is often the most overlooked social network, but is a great platform for businesses of all sizes that play in the B2B space to build up contacts that could lead to future business.

What network are you? We’d love to hear in the comments below.

The post Which Social Network Is Right For Your Small Business? appeared first on MABIAA.

Each day, peple go to Google to find businesses like yours.  If they don’t know your business by name, they may search by type of business and city (e.g. “florist Hendersonville””).  Let’s make sure you show up no matter how they search.

Run an easy-to-create ad on Google that appears to potential customers searching your area for eactly what you offer.

Create your ad before June 30, 2012 and we will give you $100 in free advertising.  Just fill out the form below and we will send you your gift card.  There’s no obligation or commitment.

Want to know more about our online marketing solutions?

The Team @ MABIAA

The post Get Your Business to Show up on Google appeared first on MABIAA.

I am sure you are with us in the hunt to find new and unique ways to advertise your company/organization online in this mecca we call the internet but Google might be taking this a little far.  It was once that if you searched a term like business solutions in Chesapeake, VA you might come across businesses and their compeditors ads; however, now when searching for independent businesses Google has started to put ads on our own personal storefront.

As you can see above searching  independently for us in Chesapeake, Virginia brings up our independent Google Business Place; however, when we click on the Place’s Pin you don’t just find our information anymore as you once did, there is an ad for AT&T Web Hosting.

You might be wondering why we are bringing up a competitor, well, really they are not a competitor at all as they only provide a cookie cutter solution for businesses to have a presence on the web and doesn’t really offer any online strategy or direction.  How can this happen with Google’s ”Relevant” search you ask?  Well, although Google continues to preach that they not only provide Organic and sponsored “Relevant” results when you search,  Google is still allowing the paid advertiser to place their ads anywhere they  are willing to put them.

Now don’t get us wrong, we love the competition and welcome the newest additions of change that Google feels we “need” in their attempt for online dominance for a more personalized online experience for users but when was tthe last time you called 411 and aasked  for Taco Bell on North Main Street in Norfolk, Virginia and a recording came one thaat gave a full advertisement for Taco Beueenoo?

Now keep in mind, this doesn’t just account for big chains. What if you run a small automotive shop in Virginia Beach, Virginia and if someone called 411 and asked for the number to your automotive shop the customer service rep said “you may also be interested in  Firestone Complete Automotive Repair, would you like me to connect you to Firestone now?”

Does that seem right to you?

Stay Connected With MABIAA By Following Us On Facebook!

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The first big policy change since Facebook purchased the photo-sharing site is one that puts us all at risk by claiming they own the rights to sell users’ photos without notifying you or paying you for your intellectual property.

C|Net reports that “Instagram said today that it has the perpetual right to sell users’ photographs without payment or notification, a dramatic policy shift that quickly sparked a public outcry.”

Instagram’s new intellectual property policy will take effect on Jan. 16, 2012.  It doesn’t stop there, unless you delete your instagram account prior to the January 1013 deadline, you will not be able to opt-out.

What this means to you:

If a hotel in Key West sees a photo of an instagram user at their resort, the could write a check to Facebook for the license of the photo and display the photos on their website, advertising billboards, email blasts, etc.  Starting to get your head turning?  How about children?  If you have posted a photo of your child at a restaurant in Cleveland, the restaurant could also write a check to Facebook for the rights to that photo and put your child’s face on all of their advertisements, without notifying you.

Facebook has added numerous sections to this new policy, one of them will delete the current Instagram phrase “limited license” and will be replacing it with the terms “transferable” and “sub-licensable,” this will be the public reference that will allow Facebook to license it’s users’ photos to any other organization that they see fit…

Which brings us to the second addition which allows Facebook to charge money.  The policy says that “a business or other entity may pay us to display your…photos… in connection with paid or sponsored content or promotions without any compensation to you.”  This new policy is not in the current terms or use on the photo-sharing site in any form or fashion.

There are many upset online users that have spoken out about the new policy’s by saying that “Instagrams suicide note.”

Other Options

As these new policies are only 3 months after Facebook finalized the purchase of the photo-sharing site, you may be wondering as we are, what does this say about Facebook’s future direction?  This is a HUGE step for Facebook to add a policy like this.  It wasn’t long ago when Facebook was standing up for the intellectual property rights of internet users as the Presidential Administration was attempting to threaten the way we currently use/share information on the internet.  What does this say about how Facebook really feels?

Google has policies, by contrast, is much more narrow as they do not permit themselves to sell photographs that users upload to their sites like Picasa and Google+.  The policies state: ”
The rights you grant in this license are for the limited purpose of operating, promoting, and improving our services.”  Yahoo’s policies are similar saying: “the Company can use the images solely for the purpose for which such content was submitted or made available.”

In multiple attempts from online news websites to obtain a statement from Facebook, Facebook spokespeople have refused to comment on the new policies.

The post Privacy At Risk – Instagram says it now has the right to sell your photos appeared first on MABIAA.

We’re so proud to announce the latest addition to the MABIAA website catalog.  The Club layout will prove itself over and over again online as we have an array of helpful and informative features…  Please all welcome, the Club.

Meet the Club

No matter the business, brick-and-mortar or otherwise, we can all agree that one of the most important aspects are a keen ideas and customers to purchase it.  The link between the two is contact.

Club includes several features to help you engage with your visitors and help them contact you easily and quickly using a variety of contact methods, directly available on the homepage (even a telephone number in the header). Club takes a clean and well-structured approach to displaying all of your content and helping your visitors and potential customers to learn more about you and what your business does.  With the store functionality powered by MABIAA Shop, you can even display an in-depth store to boost sales and manage inventory.

Not just for business

While Club is primarily a business-focussed website, the design can be used for anything from an online store, blog or your own personal branded nameplate website.  With styling support from our Features and Testimonials plugins, as well as a “blog” and “business” page template, your own design is just a few small “tweaks” away.

Alternate Styles

Customising “Club” is important to us.  With this in mind, no expense has been spared to ensure ease with customisation of the website.  Alternate colour styles and unique features will give your business a stand alone look and feel unlike any other.

The post Get a membership to the Club appeared first on MABIAA.

Building Exceptional Value
We work with you to generate significant value through business turnarounds, developing growth strategies, advising on structuring and funding, identifying customer opportunities, creating a competitive edge, building capability and improving operational efficiency.

Globalization of Wisdom through Local Understanding
We help you find clear and simple business solutions built on global experience combined with local understanding. You benefit from the same insights we provide our Fortune 500 clients, applied with the regional and cultural knowledge that comes with years of experience. Our multi-discipline team works for international businesses, and can advise you on how to adapt best practices from around the world to get locally proven results.

Staying Connecting
What separates us from other consultants is our ability to quickly understand our clients’ needs. We do not fly in and out to perform the day-to-day activities our clients need. Our presence in the region ensures a hands-on approach with a strong sensitivity to the cultural requirements of doing business.

The post It’s What Makes us Different appeared first on MABIAA.

Adding more personalization in your email campaigns is a great way to engage with your audience on a more personal level.

However, if you get the personalization wrong in your email campaigns, it can give the vibe that you are an amateur and could even make your subscriber feel irrelevant and you don’t want that… do you?  We have put together a few easy steps to ensure your emails give your audience a more personal and sincere feel.

Using a valid reply to email address

1. Everyone makes mistakes; however, you might find one day that you send out an email to Nicole and personalized it “Dear Michael.”  Nicole probably wont appreciate it and might actually unsubscribe as a result.  Make sure you aren’t using a “noreply@domain.com” address as it sometimes feels too impersonal.

Keep your data

1. If you are new on the email block or storing details that are NSFI (Not Safe for Inboxes), don’t send personalized messages.  Send out a more managed form to collect and use that information in the future; however, don’t start off addressing all your contacts with placeholders.

Don’t use Generic Placeholders

1. We all get it, you we’re valued as your customers, but you don’t need to address me every time as “Dear Valued Client,” it feels to automated.  Using Placeholders are very helpful but they are also sometimes a detract from the message you are trying to give.  Our advice?  Segment your recipients who havent updated their profile with a first name and 86 the personalized greeting altogether.  Your audience won’t even know it’s missing from their email.

Hope this helped.  Let us know if you liked the post by commenting in the box below or just check out our Broadcast Email Marketing services.

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