news

The Spanish Immersion Program

2010-05-03T13:51:11Z

Blanca M. Lawton is the director and creator of a very unique Spanish Program. TSIP provides a positive, fun and nurturing environment for successful learning. Our commitment is to give you the tools to build the confidence to communicate and understand Spanish, appreciate the Hispanic culture and to give you the opportunity to prepare for the future Global marketplace. “Our students range from 2.5 yrs to adults, everyone learns the same way: singing, repeating, matching cards, games, role playing, talking, writing, reading and lots more. We make Spanish learning fun”
If you, or someone you know wants to learn the Spanish basics or a conversational class to communicate with prospects or current customers, need training to provide customer service etc, this program will work great for you! TSIP will customize your business needs.
“Spanish is an official language on fewer than four continents and learning it will allow you to communicate with an estimated third of a billion speakers across the globe”.
Spanish for All: Business\Adults, Youth, and Preschool Spanish classes.

VirusMalware

2010-04-27T18:55:11Z

BEWARE! Currently we are seeing an escalating attack from e-mail virus\malware disguising themselves as package delivery updates and UTUBE videos. Make sure that if you do not know for sure the mail is for you, DO NOT OPEN the mail.

Get out of My Pocket Government

2010-04-24T19:31:58Z

The IRS Targets Independent Contractors

By Anne Field ( Businessweek Magazine)

Small companies are likely to see the greatest scrutiny as government agencies crack down on permalancers

• “It’s easier and quicker to audit smaller businesses”

For decades the IRS has played a game of find-the-freelancer at businesses where independent contractors remain on the payroll for months or even years. Companies, especially small ones, increasingly rely on such workers because they offer greater flexibility—and because they’re cheaper. Employers can save as much as 30% on wages by avoiding payroll taxes, unemployment insurance, worker’s compensation coverage, and benefits they provide regular employees.
Now both the IRS and state agencies across the country are redoubling efforts to uncover long-term “temps.” In February the IRS launched a three-year program that will examine 6,000 companies to find permanent workers misclassified as freelancers in violation of the Tax Code. President Obama’s proposed 2011 budget includes funding for 100 additional federal staffers to pursue such cases, and it would repeal a 32-year-old rule allowing companies in industries ranging from construction to health care to legally classify long-term employees as independent contractors. What’s more, a 2008 initiative linking the computer systems of various agencies makes it easier for the IRS and states to share data on how companies classify employees.
Most of the IRS action on independent-contractor violations will target small businesses and the self-employed, the General Accountability Office reports. Over the past decade the average size of small businesses has fallen, an indication that they’re using more free¬lancers. In tough economic times, keeping independent contractors on the payroll makes sense because they’re easier to shed if the business starts to falter. Furthermore, without the legions of lawyers and tax consultants available to big corporations, small companies are less likely to understand—and therefore to follow—the complex rules covering freelancers.
The moves come amid what some researchers say is closer overall scrutiny of small and midsize businesses by the IRS. Over the past five years the agency has increased by 30% the hours spent auditing companies with less than $10 million in assets while decreasing by a third the time spent on large-company audits, according to the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, a research center at Syracuse University. While the IRS disputes that study’s methodology and says it isn’t targeting small business, some tax experts say such a strategy would make sense. The IRS believes smaller businesses are more likely to evade taxes, says Dean A. Zerbe, a managing director of alliantgroup, a Houston tax consultancy. “It’s also easier and quicker to audit smaller businesses.”
When small companies are scrutinized by the IRS or other agencies, they have a hard time mounting a challenge to any penalties they might face. Last June, Paula Routly, co-owner of Seven Days, an alternative weekly in Burlington, Vt., got a $317 bill from the Vermont Labor Dept. The agency said she hadn’t paid unemployment insurance for one of the paper’s 14 freelance delivery drivers. Though Routly insists she didn’t break any rules and is appealing the assessment, her attorney told her “it might be cheaper to give in than to pay the legal fees it would cost to fight,” she says.
The current push could lead federal agencies to standardize the employee classification system so it’s clearer just where to draw the line between temps and full-time employees. “No one has ever been able to come up with a universal test,” says GJ Stillson MacDonnell, an attorney at employment law firm Littler Mendelson in San Francisco. “So we end up being whipsawed between different state and federal definitions.”
Representative Jim McDermott (D-Wash.) has introduced a bill that would help clarify the definition of a contractor and increase penalties for companies that misclassify employees. “Far too many workers aren’t receiving the benefits and protections they deserve,” McDermott says. “This will level the field for companies playing by the rules.”
The bottom line: The government is stepping up scrutiny of companies using contractors and is working to clarify the definition of a freelancer.

Link to Businessweek Magazine Article
http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/apr2010/sb20100421_463331.htm

Quickbooks Users Be Aware

2009-12-31T19:42:17Z

Quickbooks R9 and R10 Update
Quickbooks has released a new upgrade\Update that has caught business by surprise. This update is not your normal click update on all the user stations and carry on like normal. R9 is the update that started the ball running and R10 has been released to fix some issues with R9. Enterprise users must update the server, and then all company data files must have a conversion routine ran on each of them. Be prepared for the time needed to complete this and make sure you have your Administrator login and password for Quickbooks available. We can do this upgrade for you if you are not ready to tackle this project, we are.
Quickbooks has also released 2010 Quickbooks and we have already started installing this version for customers already.

Microsoft Windows 7

2009-11-17T04:54:37Z

Microsoft Windows 7
Should or Can you upgrade ?
By: Greg Lawton
Windows 7 has been released and many users have been waiting for it instead of using Microsoft Vista. It is very much like Vista, but as you dig deeper into compatibility with most of the business office’s day to day applications, it is not like Vista or XP. Not to get into the technical mumbo jumbo, it is written different then its previous versions. What this means to allot of office’s is that you will need to do a little homework before making the step forward. An example would be that Intuit has stated that they will only support Quick Books 2010, even though older version will install properly. Customers using Sage Timeslips will not be able to upgrade at all since they do not support Windows 7 as of yet. So as you think of your budgeting dollars and your in need of new workstation, just follow these suggestions I have written to make sure you are not going to be left with computers you cannot use. Most of the distributors like Dell and HP, etc. are making new PC purchases available with XP or Vista with a Windows 7 upgrade disk included (XP will be unavailable soon though)
This is why you need a company like Lawton Networks, Inc, to do the homework. If we do not already know the answer to your questions, we will find the answer.

Tape Backups VS. OnlineOffsite Backups

2009-11-17T04:51:18Z

Why revisit the online backup option? As you make the choice to either purchase a new server, or your current server is aging, the tape backup options are becoming obsolete. Let me give you an example of a new purchase: Your cost involved of a new backup system will consist of the tape drive or other device backup, the software to perform the backup (Usually requires yearly renewal for support and updates), and then multiple device cartridges in order to remove them offsite for security, and fulfilling disaster recovery of data.(Tape options recommend replacing tapes yearly). Depending on how much data is to be backed up, the cost of hardware will fluctuate. This option can add anywhere from $1000.00 to 3 or 4 thousand dollars and up, and not counting reoccurring costs. This leads into the older backup scenario example: Backup drives have a life span that is mainly ruled by how long your warranty replacement is, and how long will the manufacturer produce the drive. If you have a server that is damaged (fire, water, natural disaster) or stolen, and have tapes but no tape drive replacement to restore data! What good are they now? Attempt to locate a recovery site for existing tapes cost money and time. That means loss of $$$$$!
Technology is always changing and the online backup scenario is a change for the better. No Hardware necessary (unless wanting to take advantage of the duel use portion of client that can do an online and onsite backup) Install the client to the Server, PC, or Laptop and as long as you have internet connectivity, your worries are behind you. We support Windows Servers (SBS, Std\Enterprise, Exchange, SQL, Mac, and more). You can get a file restored over the web. Be relaxed in knowing that you will receive an email when your backups have been completed, and if there have been any issues, you will be notified also. Call or email us, so we can talk about the affordable peace of mind of LNI can offer you. ****FIRST MONTH FREE***

I work 365 days a year without Vacations. I need attention TOO!

2009-10-11T22:32:05Z

We all like to think of ourselves as the hardest, most dedicated worker of the business. This is probably true in a lot of ways, but actually your computer is!, what gets done if your computer, server, or other aspects to your network are malfunctioning? Not very much!. The trend during the financial situation is to take care of the aging hardware and software, and only replace if absolutely necessary. So our old friendly computer employee needs to be checked up on to make sure they are given every opportunity to make it through these times until you can retire them, or move them to less critical functions in the company. Computer or person, we can get viruses; computers can get malware, spyware, and hardware issues. This will slow productivity of yourself and employee’s if you have them. This is why a checkup is necessary to make sure that none of this is causing a slow down, and also check updates, and evaluate whether it will be cost effective to upgrade items like memory as an example to give your computer, or computers an extended business life.

Sell More by Saying Less

2009-10-11T22:27:47Z

Sell More by Saying Less

In a world awash in information, it’s more important than ever to get straight to the point
By Carmine Gallo
NewsWeek Magazine

When selling, the fastest way to turn off a potential customer is to talk for too long. I once asked New York real estate queen Barbara Corcoran, founder of the Corcoran Group for public speaking advice I could share with my clients. Her response: “Nobody is as interested in you as you think they are.” Harsh, perhaps, but she has a point. As information continues to overload us, it’s more important than ever to be succinct. I often recommend that business owners practice describing their product or service in 140 characters (about 20 words) or less, the length of a message on Twitter. Try it yourself, then check out attempts by fellow readers.
Remember, sales prospects don’t normally have the time to listen to your life story. You need to state your case and move on. If they’re interested in learning more, they’ll let you know. Here are several areas where it pays to keep it short.
In blogs. People read a page on a Web site more slowly than a printed page. So you might want to reconsider your 7,000 word treatise and replace it with a 700-word essay that includes just the key points. Better yet, offer an even shorter post with a few findings and a link to the full piece.
In e-mail. As a journalist, I received a ton of unsolicited pitches from public relations professionals. Many e-mails would contain great ideas but were so long and convoluted that I had to work too hard to figure out the story. Every journalist I know shares the same frustration. The most effective e-mails get right to the point.
In presentations. Some of the most noteworthy speeches in contemporary history (JFK’s inaugural address, Martin Luther King Jr.‘s “I Have a Dream” speech, and Barack Obama’s 2004 keynote at the Democratic National Convention) were under 20 minutes. Ask whether or not you really need 70 minutes for your next big event. A well-crafted presentation should last no more than 20 minutes.
At events. My wife and I were in the food line at a Chamber of Commerce mixer when we asked the man behind us what his company did. We knew were in trouble when he responded, “That’s a good question. Where should I start?” There were six people ahead of us but by the time our turn came five minutes later, I still didn’t know what this man did, apart from something related to wireless something.
The next time you’re trying to sell someone your product or service, try to do so in 30 seconds or less. Then gauge your listeners’ reaction to see if they want to learn more. Be specific. Don’t waste those 30 seconds with meaningless buzzwords like “best of breed” and “solutions.” Earlier this month, 30 startups presented to a group of investors at an event called Launch Silicon Valley. Lumiette was voted one of the companies “most likely to succeed.” Its elevator pitch was specific—it manufactures and distributes energy-efficient flat-panel lamps. In one sentence you learn that it makes a physical product (not a service) and you learn specifically about the type of product it makes.
There’s power in brevity. As a rule, keep it short.

http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/jun2009/sb20090616_017396.htm

Ben Gay III

2009-09-08T23:31:52Z

Lawton Networks, Inc.
Customer Corner

Ben Gay III
BFG & Associates

Ben Gay III has been called a living legend in the sales world.Now in his 43nd year of professional selling, he has been the #1 salesperson in every organization in which he has worked.
At age 27 he was president of what was then the world’s largest direct sales/network marketing company, having been personally trained by fellow sales legends J. Douglas Edwards, Dr. Napoleon Hill, Earl Nightingale, William Penn Patrick, and many other sales giants.One of the most famous, popular and powerful sales trainers in the world, Ben now writes/publishes/produces “The Closers” series of
books/audios/videos/newsletters/teletrainings/live seminars
. . . a series that is considered to be “The Foundation of Professional
Selling.”
Ben was the founder and is the current Executive Director of The National Association of Professional Salespeople!

WHEN HE WAS JUST 18, BEN WAS THE #1 SALESPERSON AT MACY’S/ATLANTA . . . AS WELL AS THE YOUNGEST BUYER IN MACY’S THEN 100 YEAR HISTORY!
. . . HE WAS THE #1 SALESPERSON IN A LARGE ORGANIZATION OF MANUFACTURERS’ REPRESENTATIVES. . . #1 IN THE LEADING FOOD BROKERAGE OPERATION
IN THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES. . . #1 IN THE LARGEST DIRECT SALES/NETWORK
MARKETING COMPANY IN THE WORLD AT THE TIME. . . #1 IN A THEN 50 YEAR OLD INTERNATIONALMANAGEMENT CONSULTING FIRM. . . #1 IN YET ANOTHER INTERNATIONAL DIRECT SALES COMPANY IN FACT, BEN GAY HAS BEEN THE #1 SALESPERSON IN
EVERY ORGANIZATION WITH WHICH HE’S EVER BEEN ASSOCIATED!

AND, THROUGH HIS COACHING, CONSULTING, BOOKS, AUDIO PROGRAMS, VIDEO PROGRAMS, NEWSLETTERS, TELETRAINING SESSIONS, SPEECHES & SEMINARS, BEN HAS HELPED TRAIN- - DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY – - LITERALLY MILLIONS OF OTHER PROFESSIONAL SALESPEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD!
* * * * * * * * *
WHILE ALL OF THAT WOULD HAVE KEPT MOST PEOPLE BUSY, HE’S ALSO AUTHORED 12 BOOKS ON THE SUBJECTS OF SELLING AND LIVING SUCCESSFULLY . . . WHILE “GHOST
WRITING” ANOTHER DOZEN OR SO FOR OTHER SALES TRAINERS/SPEAKERS/SEMINAR LEADERS.IN FACT, IT’S BEEN SAID THAT, IF YOU’RE REALLY IN PROFESSIONAL SELLING, YOU HAVE AT LEAST ONE OF BEN GAY’S SALES TRAINING BOOKS IN YOUR PERSONAL LIBRARY

. . . WHETHER YOU KNOW IT OR NOT!
BEN ALSO WRITES A NEWSLETTER – “THE CLOSERS UPDATE” - THAT’S BEEN CALLED “THE VOICE OF PROFESSIONAL SELLING.” HE CREATED AND TAUGHT THE FAMOUS “PEOPLE BUILDERS” PROGRAM FOR THE INMATES AND STAFF AT CALIFORNIA’S INFAMOUS SAN QUENTIN STATE PRISON.

HE WAS NICKNAMED “THE ATTITUDE COACH” FOR THE APOLLO 15, 16 & 17 ASTRONAUTS BY COL. JAMES ERWIN, COMMANDER OF APOLLO 15.

THEN, IN 1976, BEN LAUNCHED THE “800 NUMBER INDUSTRY” BY FOUNDING “THE NATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS CENTER” . . . AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, THAT STARTED A
BUSINESS REVOLUTION THAT TOTALLY CHANGED THE WAY WE ALL SHOP AND COMMUNICATE! AND BEN GAY WAS THE FOUNDER AND IS THE CURRENT
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL SALESPEOPLE. OVER THE PAST 44 YEARS - - WHILE CONTINUING HIS OWN
DAILY PERSONAL SALES PRODUCTION – - BEN HAS SHARED HIS KNOWLEDGE WITH SALESPEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD THROUGH HIS SALES TRAINING MATERIAL, SPEECHES &
SEMINARS, AND HIS COUNTLESS TV & RADIO APPEARANCES!

For additional information on Ben Gay, please go to:
http://WWW.bfg3.com

Why focus on your website?

2009-09-08T21:40:04Z

Marketing Information $$$$$$$
By Bill Chambers
These days, everyone is online searching for information. They look up product information, compare companies and then make their decisions based on this research. Is your company being researched online? Are people checking out your services online or comparing your products to your competitors? If you answered no to either of these questions read on!
Do you run print advertisements or radio spots to bring in customers? Consider the costs involved. A typical 3 month radio spot can cost $5,000 to $10,000 and are only good during that time frame. Print advertisements are also very expensive and are only good for the lifespan of the publication and we all know what happens to those postcards and brochures you mail out. They end up in the trash! Websites are very cost effective when compared to traditional advertising. A website can cost anywhere from $500.00 to $5,000.00 based on your needs. They are easily updated and cost effective. Yearly fees are generally less than a few hundred dollars.
A website can be as simple as a brochure or as complicated as a complete online store. What you need to be competitive is where we come in! Lawton Networks, Inc. offers full service web design and development. From consultation to deployment, we will work with you to take your brand online. We pride ourselves in developing beautiful, modern and globally accessible websites using the latest techniques and standards. We take the time to talk to you about your needs and then put together the perfect solution. We can also help you market your new website so that people can find it.

Virtual Server “Whats that?”

2009-09-08T21:31:54Z

Is Virtual Server Right Your Business?

A virtual server in a nut shell is the ability to have multiple individual server operating systems running on one physical hardware server. The days of a room full of servers are numbered for alot of business’s where it makes sense. Business’s that have multiple servers now, or are moving onto programs that will require their own server are thinking of ways to reduce cost and space. This makes virtual servers sound very attractive, and it can be. It is a very exciting technology as long as you understand the advantages and challenges you may run into.
Businesses cannot keep moving when they need space, same for server rooms. With Virtual servers as your business needs change you are able to install a single hardware source to operate multiple server guests inside it. Consideration for this technology can have its challenges also. With all the servers being in one hardware device you can run a risk of access to critical data if the hardware goes offline, which possibly would have been available in a traditional server environment. On the other hand, with the correct redundancy in place, a Virtual Server recovery is a much faster and has safety factors built in to reduce the return to full operation in much less time.
Ultimately it gets down to your needs and your budget as your business changes. This is why it is important to have the facts before moving forward in the changing server environment. Lawton Networks, Inc. will be there to step you through the options available to make your business network, work for you.

What Data Can Your BUSINESS AFFORD to LOSE ?

2009-08-04T17:08:26Z

I am thinking NONE is the right answer.

I know this sounds like a non question, but it is a real fact that many business’s neglect to have adequate or up to date backup procedures in place. I have had many customers state if it is not automated, they will just not do it. Do you have the right backup for your particular Server or Workstations ? Do you know how to check if it is working right? Are you getting an automated message alert? You should know the answers to all these questions, or at least have the confidence that it is working and tested.
With the advancment in hardware and software there are more options then ever. Onsite backup and offsite backups, which one to use? My recommendation would be a mix of both, let me tell you why. Local backups will give you the speed of a faster recovery, but the online\offsite backup will give you the security in case of natural disaster, fire, and theft. A local backup will not do you any good if it is burned, drowned, or stolen.
Lawton Networks does offer a Offsite\Online\local, backup solution that is tier 1 complient and meets HIPPA regulations. We can backup both, Servers and Workstations. This includes Windows servers, Exchange, SQL, and Mac. We also support and install many other onsite backup solutions like Symantec products. We look forward to assisting you with your data storage requirements.

Ask Inc.:Should a Marketing Pitch be Focused or Comprehensive?

2009-08-04T16:54:12Z

What’s the best strategy for a sales pitch when there are many service available?

By Inc. Staff | July 1, 2009

Q: We offer multiple services, including hold messages and Web design. In our marketing materials and sales pitches, shoul we promote all of our services or focus on one?

Amir Watynski
President
Watt Media
Coral Springs, Florida

A: Research shows that most human brains can hold only a few thought at a time. Assuming you are targeting humans, it’s best to edit.

Click Here for complete article!

New Services Available

2009-08-03T17:23:48Z

Lawton Networks, Inc. is constantly looking to for new ways to support its current and future customer’s business needs. This is why we are offering new service options.
Help Desk Support for offices that have a high demand for 24x7, 365 day support. We also have added Proactive Monitoring 24x7, 365 days, giving you the confidence that many of your network issues are discovered before they can become a production stopping issues. Ask about how we can better serve your business needs.

July 2009 Newsletter Article

2009-07-05T20:37:15Z

It is certainly understandable to try and postpone spending while we wait for business to increase. If the systems that you have are performing well and you or your employees are not complaining about lost productivity because your systems are crashing or slow, then you should be fine to hold off on purchasing new systems. The average life expectancy of a server is 3-5 years, a desktop is 3-5 years, a laptop is 2-4 years. Many companies will replace 20-25% of their IT equipment each year to keep everything up to date and spread the cost over a 4-5 year period.
You also have to consider the operating system and applications that are running on the server or desktop/laptop since they might be outdated and non-supported. For example, if you use Microsoft Windows for your server operating system, it should be Server 2003 or higher. For your desktops/laptops you should be on XP or higher.
If you are experiencing poor response time, system crashes, downtime, or other problems you may be sacrificing productivity for the cost of new equipment. At this point, the cost of replacement may be less than the cost to support and maintain the old equipment. We at Lawton Networks, Inc. will be completely honest with our evaluation to repair\upgrade you’re existing network and computers or to replace.