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MEMBERSHIP
SPECIAL
Our
records indicate that you aren't currently a Software Council
member. Wait no longer, take advantage of our special offer
and join today.
Now through June 30th, take advantage of our special offer to
attend an event on us! (a $60 value) Become a member
within 10 days of attending one of our events, and we will discount
your membership fee by the full amount you paid to attend the
event.
The Software Council is a membership-driven organization, and
we need your support to thrive and continue serving you. If
you haven't sent in an application for membership, please support
the Software Council and submit your application
today. Reference discount code SUMMERDEAL.
Internships/Volunteer
Positions with the Software Council
A fantastic opportunity for a bright, energetic individual looking
for experience and a launch pad to a great career!
We have 2-3 Internships/Volunteer positions available. We are
seeking individuals with Marketing, Communications, Administrative
Management or Data Management specialties.
Interested individuals can contact Catrina for more details
at Catrina@scsc.org
Part-Time
Database/Data Entry Position Available at the Software Council
We are seeking part-time help in the office about 4 - 6 hours
per week and will pay between $10 - $12 per hour depending on
experience. The work involves computer data entry/updating member
and event records (in an Access database), a high level of comfort
working with computers is essential. This job has the potential
to expand into event management responsibilities in the future.
Hours/days per week have some flexibility.
Please
feel free to circulate this to anyone that might be interested.
Contact Catrina at catrina@scsc.org
for details or to send a resume/letter of interest.
MAKING
YOUR VOICE HEARD: DISTINGUISHING YOURSELF WITH INFLUENTIAL JOURNALISTS
By Rose Maciejewski, vice president, Ruder Finn
Picture
this: your public relations manager comes to you with a glint
in his or her eye and says, "Christopher Palmeri from BusinessWeek
is interested in writing a story about you. He wants to speak
with you on Friday. Can you do it?"
Chances
are, you "can" do the interview, but are you prepared
enough to ensure it is successful? If you are like many executives,
while you want the publicity that comes from an article in a
top-level business publication, it's tough to put yourself on
the line knowing every word may come back to haunt you. Sometimes
the fear of making a mistake or seeing a negative article overcomes
the desire to do it.
It's
not wise to pass up too many media opportunities. Well-written
articles in key publications are proven to generate leads, and
increasing sales is always top of mind for C-level executives.
The question becomes how to create a balance. There are several
key points to keep in mind when interviewing with journalists.
Whether the reporter is from BusinessWeek or eWeek, following
these tips will ensure you put your best foot forward and end
up with the most compelling results.
MORE
>>
The
Software Council's IMPACT Marketing SIG is addressing the issue
of how to make your voice heard at its upcoming May 18 event:
"Pitch it to Me: Connecting with Top Level Journalists"
Register for this unique evening at http://www.scsc.org/events/impact/may1805.html
SHORING
UP OUTSOURCING
IS NEARSHORING STILL THE WAVE OF THE FUTURE?
By Susan
Kelly, freelance journalist
More
than three-quarters of businesses today are using outsourcing
companies to perform vital business functions, according to
some estimates.
Offshore, nearshore, bestshore, rightshore . . . . Which shore
is it for a successful operation?
"It is getting a little crazy with the crosscurrents,"
said Roger Byrnes, vice president of delivery for New Jersey-based
Computer Horizons. Founded in 1969, it provides a variety of
services and solutions for the IT industry, including IT staffing
and application outsourcing.
In 2002, when his company opened its Montreal office: "The
hysteria was around outsourcing, with everyone trying to go
as far offshore as possible," he said. Many customers dismissed
Computer Horizons' interest in the Canadian city, pointing to
India as the way to go.
MORE>>
TOP
TRENDS IN EMAIL MARKETING
A number of new trends in email marketing have surfaced this year.
Keys factors for improving your results when using this phenomenal
communication tool are listed below:
1.
Relevance is King. The number one email trend is relevance-sending
unique messages based on individual attributes at an appropriate
frequency. "We are seeing the final and well-deserved
demise of batch-and-blast emailing, and to some extent the
move away from large-batch segmentation," says Chris
Baggott, chief marketing officer of ExactTarget. "Marketers
are beginning to appreciate the unique value of email in building
person-to-person relationships. While this has been a stated
goal for years, execution historically has followed the mass
marketing approach."
MORE
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OPEN
SOURCE SOFTWARE:
MANAGING THE RISKS FOR THE SOFTWARE DEVELOPER
By Tom D. Le, Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth
While
open source software offers significant benefits, managing the
technological and legal risks involved may be as important as
any other obstacle faced by the software developer in managing
its business.
The
term "open source software" refers to software that
is licensed under an alternative business and legal framework
to what is commonly known as the proprietary model. Unlike the
proprietary model, where the development and know-how of software
is closely guarded by the software developer, the open source
model is based on the principle that the development and improvement
of software should be open to all who use the software. Proponents
of open source software argue that allowing the widespread improvement
of software results in better and more reliable software. Reflecting
this principle, open source software licenses provide that all
users of the software are allowed to redistribute copies of
the software without paying a fee or royalty, that all users
of the software be given a copy of or otherwise have access
to the software's source code and that all users of the software
have the right to modify the software.
Open
source software's key benefit to software developers is that
it provides a low cost alternative to in-house development or
fee-based licensing of the same software. The cost savings to
developers are realized not only in initially obtaining the
software, but may also lie in the ability to create upgrades,
enhancements and fixes to the software. Many developers also
prefer open source software over proprietary software because
the architecture of open source software may be more transparent.
MORE
>>
FAST-GROWTH
COMPANIES MAKE INNOVATION A WAY OF LIFE
But Some May Be More Innovative Than They're Getting (Tax)
Credit For
PricewaterhouseCoopers' "Trendsetter Barometer" interviewed
CEOs of 355 privately held product and service companies identified
in the media as the fastest growing U.S. businesses over the last
five years. The surveyed companies range in size from approximately
$5 million to $150 million in revenue/sales.
CEOs from two-thirds of America's fastest-growing private companies
report that innovation is an organization-wide priority, and almost
all say it has had a significant, positive impact on their business.
Further, the overwhelming majority rate their business better
at innovation than their one or two strongest competitors. But,
in this scenario, could something be amiss? One in four of those
citing innovation as a priority say they do not have an R&D
budget. And, because of their definition of R&D, some may
be overlooking the federal tax credit for research and experimentation,
according to PricewaterhouseCoopers.
MORE
>>
MEET
NEW AND RETURNING MEMBERS
Welcome
New Members:
Returning
Members:
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CONTENTS
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