(This column originally appeared in Forbes)
Here are five things in tech that happened this week and how they affect your business. Did you miss them?
1 — LinkedIn rolls out post boosting for lead generation.
LinkedIn has introduced a new feature allowing businesses to boost organic posts for lead generation. This tool lets companies convert posts into targeted ads aimed at capturing high-quality leads, using LinkedIn’s first-party data to reach beyond followers. The setup involves selecting a post, setting a budget and target audience, and adding a lead form to collect information. This feature is now available globally on both mobile and desktop platforms. (Source: Search Engine Land)
Why this is important for your business:
If you’re in the B2B world like I am, LinkedIn is an essential resource. I use it to engage, post and generate leads. I haven’t done any promotion on the platform yet. But this is going to motivate me to try. Like everything else, I’m betting it’s not easy because nothing on social media is easy. It will take time to figure out the process, test, fail, test again and again. And it’s not cheap. But if that’s where my customers are, that’s where I’ll need to be as well.
2 — Firms face critical decision on AI-driven CRM, ISG says.
A recent report from Information Services Group (ISG) highlights a critical decision facing businesses as AI-driven CRM capabilities expand. According to their report, companies must modernize their CRM systems by 2026 to leverage AI for enhanced sales, service, and marketing functions. As ISG’s director of research Stephen Hurrell stated, “New data-driven AI technology is necessary to gain market and competitive insights, engage effectively and achieve optimal outcomes.” (Source: MarTech Cube)
Why this is important for your business:
Could not disagree more. Firms don’t need to “modernize” as long as they’re using a good mainstream CRM application. The application providers are the one’s “modernizing” by investing millions in new AI-driven features that justify their monthly fees. AI is just a feature of these products. As consumers our job is to understand the AI capabilities of our CRM platforms and invest heavily in training — yes training — so that our employees can leverage them the right way.
3 — Claude AI can now analyze PDFs — here’s how to try it (and why you’ll want it).
Lance Whitney of ZDNet reported on Anthropic’s newest feature called Visual PDFs in its Claude 3.5 Sonnet AI model. The feature allows the AI to analyze both text and visual elements — images, charts and graphs — within PDF files. The AI can also extract important details from legal documents and translate content into other languages. Once a file is uploaded — no larger than 32MG — users can ask the AI about any text, pictures or charts contain in the file. This new tool is accessible via Anthropic’s Claude Pro subscription at $20/month. (Source: ZDNet)
Why this is important for your business:
How is this applied in real life? Think of the complex files you get from your customers, suppliers that need to be better explained. Or research papers. Or diagrams for equipment. Or proposals, estimates and other documents that come from engineers, architects, accountants and lawyers. Anthropic’s new feature will allow us to take the most technical of information and have it better explained.
4 — Small business owner? Hackers may be targeting you.
Password manager NordPass posted their data breach trends report which found small businesses are a prime target for hackers. Among the various reasons, the common misperception among owners that they are “too small to target,” results in having fewer security protocols in place. Additionally, hackers see smaller entities as potential steppingstones to larger organizations, leveraging them as entry points to infiltrate larger companies. (Source: Tom’s Guide)
Why this is important for your business:
To safeguard against these threats, small businesses are encouraged by NordPass to adopt basic cybersecurity practices, including multi-factor authentication, regular employee training on phishing, data backups, and working with cybersecurity firms for added support. Oh, and buy their product too.
5 — Why I switched from Windows to Chromebooks and haven’t looked back.
Dave Parrack of PCWorld details his journey from using Windows for over 30 years to switching to ChromeOS. Parrack says “he hasn’t looked back” because of Chrome’s simplicity, speed, security, and updates. He relies on Chromebook for daily tasks and points out he’s had “less stress about malware and security issues” as Windows tends to be the go-to target among hackers. For Parrack’s detailed report, visit the link. (Source: PCWorld)
Why this is important for your business:
Every year I toy with this idea, and then I wind up dropping a thousand bucks on yet another Windows device. Why? Pure laziness and resistance to change. Help me someone, please.
