Dell expands online advice and services for SMEs

Dell is targeting small firms with its latest promotions

Dell has unveiled several enhancements to its online offerings for small and medium sized businesses (SMBs), designed to offer a range of technology, information and community support.

The company is expanding its SMB Solutions Center, making it available across 10 countries and adding new interactive content, industry research, tag clouds and enhanced search options.

Recent research by analyst firm IDC suggests that around a third of SMBs see vendor and manufacturer web sites as an important resource for learning about new technologies.

"The entrepreneurial spirit of the world's SMBs will be the driving force behind any global economic recovery," said Paul Henri Ferrand, vice president of SMB global marketing at Dell.

"The modern entrepreneur is looking to technology vendors for much more than a great shopping experience; they want information, best practices and to connect with the greater SMB global community.

"That's where Dell's resources like the Solutions Center, Live Chat and social networks come in, providing concrete answers and advice developed, in many cases, by our best experts: our customers."

The revamped service provides information on a wide range of technology topics, including hardware, online marketing, green business, office management and industry-specific information ranging from accounting and finance, to construction, law and medicine.

Community-based features include forums, product ratings and reviews, Dell's IdeaStorm site, a Small Business Blog, as well as Dell's presence on several social networking and sharing sites such as Facebook, Flickr, Twitter and YouTube.

Dell has also included a Stimulus Learning Center, designed to help US entrepreneurs tap into the stimulus package created under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Also on offer is Dell's Live Chat service aimed at assisting visitors looking for information on products and pricing.