Stuart Crawford, a good friend of mine and someone I look to as a mentor in business, released his free eBook “Connecting the Dots to Business Success in Today’s IT Business”.  While the booklet was written for IT Professionals, it can really be used by anyone.

Stuart talks at length about the rapidly changed IT industry. He talks about customers and the role of a service provider. You need to understand where the market is today, and this is what the eBook is about. It is about “Connecting the Dots” today, so you can be successful right NOW!

Stuart wrote “Why is this book free?  …I am not charging anyone for this eBook, it is completely free.  Life is about helping others and providing assistance to our colleagues in the marketplace.  Life is about giving back to the community.  So pick up your eBook today!”

I enjoyed reading Stuart’s report and found many parallel’s between his thoughts on the IT Business and our business of website design and development.  Thank you Stuart, for sharing your thoughts and advice.

Get your free copy here – http://blog.itsuccessmentor.com/connect-the-dots

Hey – why not get Skype now and give me a call?

Cheers -
David A. West

Someone wrote about our business today and Google sent me a note. Do you know when you or your business is mentioned on a website, forum or blog?

Google Alerts is a free service provided by the Worlds leading search engine. A testament to the speed of the Google bot is the speed in which Stuart’s blog entry today was indexed.

I received this alert at 8:45 PM today, the same day that the blog entry was written.

On 1/28/08, Google Alerts <googlealerts-noreply@google.com> wrote:

Google Blogs Alert for: link:www.ekzact.com

Leading IT Companies come together to help Calgary Small Business
By Stuart R. Crawford(Stuart R. Crawford)
A new group of leading IT companies in Calgary have recently come together to help out the needs of the Calgary Small Business community. Technology needs in Calgary are becoming more and more complex and Calgary businesses need a group …
Calgary Small Business IT Blog – http://calgaryitblog.blogspot.com/

Google states that some handy uses for alerts include:

• monitoring a developing news story
• keeping current on a competitor or industry
• getting the latest on a celebrity or event
• keeping tabs on your favorite sports teams

I monitor our company domain names, trade names and some keywords that are important to us. The use of Google Alerts for search engine optimization and testing is invaluable. You may want to setup an alert on your business name or personal name to see what people are writing about you!

You can sign up for Google Alerts at this location — http://www.google.com/alerts

Cheers,

David A. West

PS – Thanks Stuart

As a small business owner it can be difficult to “get out” and take courses. When a great course comes along though, you just have to make the opportunity to attend.

Stuart Crawford has been running a series of course in the Calgary area for small business owners, including his “Blogging in Calgary” and “Facebook for Business”.

On Stuart’s “Blogging in Calgary” site, he says,

“Blogging is rapidly becoming one of most effective ways to get your message out about your services, your industry, the products you sell or any other market and business trends that affect your business.”

I would add, that blogging can be addictive and fun.

During the course yesterday, a small group of entrepreneurs came together and learned about Blogging for business. Stuart did an excellent presentation, followed by a thorough demonstration of Google’s Blogger tools.

During the session, I was inspired to add a couple of new ideas to my “blogging book”. It’s the little pad I keep in my shirt pocket to write ideas for my next blog entry. I affectionatly refer to it as my “blook”. Stuart keeps his Blackberry handy, to jot down his blogging ideas.

I have to say, I truly enjoyed this course. Stuart is doing a great job of brining Calgary Business owners together. He is forming a community!

Stuart’s next event is on Feb 6, 2008 at the Calgary Coast Plaza Hotel at 6 PM. You can contact Stuart through his blog at StruartCrawford.com.

If you would like a free blog on the internet, you can sign up at Calgary Business Online. It’s fast and simple.

Our business, a Calgary web design company, has been promoting the use of blogging in business. We offer a hosted solution based on WordPress. If you think you would like a blog with a 100% custom designed look and feel, please visit eKzact and complete our quick request for a proposal.

Cheers,

David A. West

Welcome to DavidAWest.com.

So, who is David A. West? I am the owner of eKzact Solutions Inc. a Calgary website design & development company. I have been planning on starting a blog for some time now. My intention is to use the blog as an opportunity to extend our business website’s content in a more casual manner.

While a traditional business website doesn’t really allow for ramblings or general sharing of ideas – the web 2.0 world of blogging is all about getting “involved” in your website.

I am inspired to start blogging, in part because of Stuart Crawford, who has really become a key mentor and partner for me in business. His near daily blogging has drawn my attention. I really appreciate his manner and style, both personally and in business. He is one of the daily reminders that have brought me to finally start our blog. I consider myself a lucky person for having met Stuart. Stuart is one of the owners of IT Matters, a trusted Calgary information technology service provider.

Please feel free to contact me or reply to any of the entries in my journal.

Cheers.
David A. West