Choosing an Instant Messenger should be Fun

It is very important that you have fun when choosing an instant messenger for your company. This is a process that many people look at and want to avoid. But guess what? You do not have to be the same way. Believe it or not, you can have a lot of fun when it comes to choosing an instant messenger. There are many aspects of this process that should put a smile on your face.

To start, this is fun because it is something that will better your business. You should be greatly interested in anything that will help your business reach new heights. This may appear to be a small upgrade, but over the long haul it can make a big difference.

Why not get everybody involved? You can do this by researching a few of the best instant messengers, presenting your findings to others, and then letting everybody vote on what they do and do not like. This sort of “round table discussion” can be a lot of fun.

Don’t forget that using an instant messenger is something you are doing for the betterment of your company. It is easy to look at this process as a difficult task if you think the results will be menial. But when you realize how important this is, your position will change.

Have fun when choosing an instant messenger!

AIM: Good for Teens, what about the Office?

For more than a decade AIM has been the instant messenger of choice for teenagers. Those in high school and college use this program day in and day out to communicate with friends and family. Even though social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace have taken over a bit, there are still tens of millions of people who like to communicate in real time via AIM.

AIM is not the best choice for interoffice communication, though. There are three basic reasons for this:

1. AIM is built for basic communication and not much more. There is nothing wrong with this. The fact of the matter is that AOL is not targeting businesses with this application.

2. AIM lacks the features of enterprise IM tools such as Brosix. For instance, the video and chat features of Brosix and other enterprise applications are above and beyond the basic features offered by AIM. It is important that you choose an instant messenger that will suit your needs as a business professional; not just something for quick chats.

3. You do not have the ability to organize, operate, and manage private networks. Brosix allows you create a secure and private network that is hosted on top of the line servers. Only the users that are authorized have access to the network. Not only is this good for safety, but also for keeping employees on task. With AIM you never know who your employees will be talking to. 

This is not to say that AIM is a bad choice. But when it comes to instant messaging applications for companies, big or small, there are options that offer more benefits.

How come nobody wants to IM?

Are you the only person in your office who wants to use instant messaging as a way of communicating? Do you often times ask yourself why nobody else wants to IM? If you are in this position, it is up to you to find out why others are staying away and then to talk them into getting started. Remember, you have something great to sell. All you have to do is show the benefits and hope that more and more people begin to catch on.

Some coworkers will not want to use IM because it is out of their comfort range. In other words, they are only interested in what they know. And what they know is using the phone and email for the most part. You need to explain just how easy it is to communicate via instant messaging.

Get your boss on your side. If your boss tells everybody to use instant messaging chances are that the majority will listen. Again, you may have to do a good sales job. There are many people who think that IM is a bad thing; including many higher-ups. They need to be educated as to why this is not the case. Anybody who communicates via instant messenger at work knows that the benefits far outweigh any drawbacks.

It can be lonely being the only person in an office who wants to IM. Fortunately, once you get the ball rolling more and more people are sure to get involved.

What I like about Brosix

If you have never heard of Brosix you are not in tune with the instant messaging industry. Brosix is a feature packed enterprise instant messaging software that is best if used in a corporate setting.

So what makes Brosix so much better than the competition? In my opinion, the best thing about this software is the ability to for companies to create their own network. This allows control over users, while also keeping things as organized as possible. Additionally, a backend online control panel allows the administrator to manage users.

Since security is a big issue for many companies it is important to use an instant messenger that offers the ability to create a private network. In addition to keeping your company and information safe, a private network increases employee productivity because there is no chance for outside conversations to take place.

When you compare the many features of Brosix to the competition it is easy to see that they are above and beyond the majority of players in the industry. Just a small sampling of some of their top features include: video conferencing, screen sharing, and voice chatting. Of course, basic IM tools are also available for those who do not want to expand into the finer features just yet.

There is a lot to like about Brosix. Once you give this enterprise instant messenger software a chance you will realize what it can do for you and your company in terms of productivity, security, and much more.

Problem Employees and Instant Messaging

It is said time after time: I don’t want to let my employees use instant messaging because of the bad apples that will abuse the privilege. There is no way to deny the fact that some employees will take advantage of instant messaging. But does this mean that you should totally outlaw it? Believe it or not, not using instant messaging is putting your company behind the competition. This is the wave of the future in terms of corporate communication, and you shouldn’t let a couple of problem employees hold you back from doing what is best for the company.

The easiest way to deal with this problem is to organize a plan for instant message use. In other words, make it plain and simple to employees as to how they should be using this program. Tell them what they can and cannot do, as well as what you expect. This may not stop all employees from acting out, but it will definitely help.

Of course, you should continue to monitor the performance of all employees. Remember, an instant messaging application is supposed to increase efficiency and productivity. If you find that this is the not the case, you may need to sit down with certain employees to see what the problem is.

Don’t let a few problem employees hold your company back. Your company can benefit by allowing employees to communicate via instant messages with coworkers and clients.

What do you want from your IM Provider?

When choosing an IM tool you should learn more about the company that stands behind it. Remember, there may come a time when you need some sort of support. Will you be able to get all of your questions answered? Or will you be stuck on your own searching for answers?

Before you choose an IM provider make sure you consider this one important detail: customer service. It is very important that the company you are dealing with is one that will help you no matter what problems you run into. Even though most IM applications are easy to install and use, you never know when you are going to have a question.

Companies such as Brosix take great pride in helping every customer enjoy their IM experience. On the other hand, you may find that other IM companies, such as AIM, do not care as much about their users on an individual basis. Do you really think you will be able to reach somebody at AOL who will answer a technical question? Not likely. Instead, you will have to troubleshoot the issue on your own.

It is your right to get what you want from your IM provider. As long as you choose an application that offers the right features and benefits, and a company with good customer service, you will be happy with your decision.

Remember, if your current IM provider is not living up to your expectations you can always make a change. There is a company out there that is willing to help you however they can!

Don’t Dwell on Potential Instant Messaging Drawbacks

I don’t want my employees to use instant messaging and I have many reasons for feeling this way! This is something that many owners and executives mutter everyday of the week. If you continue to dwell on potential instant messaging drawbacks you will never realize what this communication tool can do for you. The key word in all of this is potential. Just because something can go wrong doesn’t mean that it will.

Some believe that employees who have access to instant messaging will abuse the power day in and day out. They will talk to other employees about non-work related subjects, while also doing the same with people outside the company. There is no denying that this is a potential problem. But don’t you give your employees some credit? If you set boundaries and let everybody know what they are, you shouldn’t have to worry too much about being taken advantage of.

If you have a major concern, why not discuss it with others in your company? Why not ask business partners and other company owners what they think? You will probably learn that instant messaging is a communication tool that can really improve the effectiveness and efficiency of your business.

By constantly dwelling on potential instant messaging drawbacks you will consistently overlook all of the benefits. It is your job to do what is best for your company or team. In most cases, using instant messaging from time to time will greatly benefit everybody involved.

What to look for in an Instant Messaging Tool

With so many instant messaging tools available some people have a difficult time deciding which one to use. There is nothing wrong with being in this position; you are not alone. But remember, you cannot let this stop you from installing and using the proper application.

There are many things to look for in an instant messaging tool. Here are three details that you must consider before making a choice:

1. Ease of use. No matter who you are you need to use an instant messenger that is easy to understand and use on a regular basis. Do your homework so you know which programs are most user friendly.

2. Installation. It is important to choose an instant messaging tool that can be easily installed on your computer. And if you are selecting a program for your entire office, you need to make sure that the installation on more than one computer will be just as simple. Fortunately, most of the newer instant messengers do not call for a computer genius to install them.

3. Features. What features are being offered? Teenagers may not worry much about this point because they only want an IM tool that allows them to communicate with friends, such as AIM. But for a business setting, features such as chat rooms are very important. This is why Brosix and Skype have had so much success within the corporate environment.

Two Ways to creatively use Instant Messages

There used to be a time when instant messaging was only for teenagers who wanted to stay in touch after school and on the weekends. Things have changed quite a bit since then, and companies such as Brosix have helped to make sure that instant messaging is a useful tool in the workplace as well.

While sending short notes will always be a big part of the IM scene, there are ways to get more creative. Here are two ways to creatively use instant messaging:

1. Get everybody together in a chat. Instead of a conference call or in-person meeting, using an instant messaging chat room to discuss all the details on your current agenda. This may be a bit of a change at first, but over time you will see the benefits. Not only is this quick and easy, but by saving a transcription of the entire meeting you can have records indefinitely while also sharing with those who were not available.

2. Service customers via instant messages. This may be a bit tricky, but until you try it out you will never know what it can do for you. Why not send an email to all your customers asking if they want to join your instant messaging network? Chances are that a few of them will take you up on this offer.

Now do you see how instant messaging is used for more than personal communication? Believe it or not, IM in the workplace is on the rise and there is no stopping this trend.

Instant Messaging and your Daily Job

How can you use instant messaging to increase your efficiency at work? Is there any way that you can use an IM tool to make your job easier? If you are not currently using an instant messaging application, and you feel that it could help, you need to make a change as soon as possible. Don’t get caught thinking that instant messaging is a waste of time; this is a myth.

If you work in an office environment, and need to communicate with coworkers and/or clients, you should be able to benefit from instant messaging. This may sound complicated, but it isn’t. Once you have the backing of your company you will be well on your way to getting started.

How you use instant messages is up to you. Are you going to use this tool to setup meetings with clients? How about to send and receive files from your boss, partners, etc? The benefits of using an instant messaging tool are endless.

Using instant messaging in an office setting is the wave of the future. If you are not taking advantage of this right now you should realize that you will eventually fall behind. The benefits outweigh any potential drawbacks. Those who are not using instant messaging at work should think about doing so in the near future.