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April 14, 2008
Spring Cleaning
Spring is a good time to clean up your computer's monitor and keyboard. Keeping your monitor screen clean can reduce eye strain. To clean your monitor screen, turn the monitor off, spray window cleaning solution onto a soft cloth or paper towel and wipe your screen clean. Then wipe again with a clean cloth or paper towel. To clean particles out of your keyboard, pick it up, turn it upside down and shake it. Most small business owners find it amazing how much crud slips between the keys. If you have bottled air, use it to do a more thorough job. Both of these tasks are good to repeat once a month.
March 24, 2008
Deleting Rules in Outlook (v2003)
When a rule is no longer needed, it can be deleted.
1. If necessary, open your Inbox
2. From the Tools menu, select Rules and Alerts...
The Rules and Alerts dialog box appears.
3. Select the E-mail Rules tab
4. From the Rule (applied in order shown) scroll box, select the rule that you want to delete
5. Click DELETE
OR
Press [Delete]
A confirmation dialog box appears.
6. To delete the rule, click YES
To keep the rule, click NO
7. Click OK
March 17, 2008
Creating Rules in Outlook (v2003) from a Template (using the Rules Wizard)
The Rules Wizard allows you to quickly and easily set rules in Outlook.
1. If necessary, open your Inbox
2. From the Tools menu, select Rules and Alerts...
The Rules and Alerts dialog box appears.
3. Select the E-mail Rules tab
4. Click NEW RULE...
The Rules Wizard dialog box appears.
5. Select Start creating a rule from a template
6. In the Select a template section, select the appropriate rule template
7. In the Edit the rule description section, edit the conditions as necessary by clicking the underlined portion
NOTE: Conditions that are not underlined do not need editing.
EXAMPLE: Click SPECIFIC WORDS to set which word(s) Outlook will look for
A dialog box appears.
8. Complete the dialog box as appropriate and click OK
EXAMPLE: To set words to search for, in the Search Text dialog box that appears, type the word you want Outlook to search for
NOTE: This dialog box will differ depending on which type of rule you selected.
You are returned to the Rules Wizard Type of Rule dialog box.
9. Click NEXT
10. From the Select condition(s) scroll box, select the appropriate condition(s)
NOTE: If you select a condition with underlined text, in the Rule description text box, click the underlined portion to enter a value.
11. In the Edit the rule description section, edit the conditions as necessary by clicking the underlined portion
NOTE: Conditions that are not underlined do not need editing.
12. Complete the dialog box as appropriate and click OK
HINT: To set words to search for, in the Search Text dialog box that appears, type the word you want Outlook to search for.
NOTE: This dialog box will differ depending on which type of rule you selected.
13. Click NEXT
14. In the Select action(s) scroll box, select the appropriate action(s)
NOTE: You may select more than one action.
15. In the Edit the rule description section, edit the conditions as necessary by clicking the underlined portion
NOTE: Conditions that are not underlined do not need editing.
16. Click NEXT
17. In the Select exemption(s) scroll box, select the appropriate exemption(s)
NOTE: You may select more than one action.
18. In the Edit the rule description section, edit the conditions as necessary by clicking the underlined portion
NOTE: Conditions that are not underlined do not need editing.
19. Click NEXT
20. In the Specify a name for this rule text box, type a name for the new rule
21. If it is not already selected, select Turn on this rule.
22. OPTIONAL: Select Run this rule now on messages already in "Inbox" to have the rule applied to messages you already have
23. Click FINISH
The Rules Wizard main dialog box appears.
HINT: You can review the rule and revise it as needed in the Rule description text box.
24. Click OK
The new rule is applied.
March 10, 2008
Types of Rules for Email in Outlook (v2003)
Outlook allows you to create many different types of rules to help automate and organize your email. Once set, these rules enable Outlook to automatically perform such actions as the following:
1. Flag messages from a specific person
2. Move messages from certain people to a special folder
3. Redirect messages based on subject
4. Display an alert message when an important message arrives
5. Assign a category based on the content of a message
6. Open or start a program after receiving a certain message
7. Filter unwanted or junk messages and send them to a special folder
8. Print messages containing specific words or phrases
March 6, 2008
Color-Coding Your Email in Outlook
Outlook provides you with a number of different ways in which you can organize your email, making your inbox much more manageable. For example, you can create different folders and create rules to move messages from specific senders into specific folders.
1. Open Outlook
2. From the Tools menu, click Organize.
3. Under the list of Ways to Organize Inbox, click Using Colors.
4. Select an email message. Use the drop down arrow to specify whether messages received from the sender or sent to should be color coded.
5. Use the drop down arrow to select the color messages should be displayed in.
6. Click Apply Color.
February 11, 2008
Ask Visitors for Their Feedback
Are you asking visitors to your website for their feedback? One of the best ways to improve your site is to ask those who are interested in your products or services for their suggestions. Many website builder programs, like FrontPage for example, offer an easy to implement response form. If you have someone else that maintains your website, ask them about adding a response form to your site. Remember, most people will not speak up unless they are asked for their input. Ask for their feedback and use the responses to improve your site.
December 31, 2007
Show Me Your Backup Disks
Sam’s computer crashes on Monday morning. A computer technician checks it out that afternoon, delivers the bad news that the hard drive is shot and asks a simple question: Do you have the backup disks for your computer? Sam replies that he never had the time to backup his files and begins the painful task of recreating all of his files that he lost. This story is enough to send cold chills up the spine of any small business owner because computers are like an irreplaceable employee. The point is that if you use a computer, back up your files. Not all your files…just the ones you want to save if your system crashes and burns. Keep all of your programs such as Word and Quicken in a safe place that can be accessed easily if you need to reinstall them. Also make sure you have license numbers and information should you need to enter this information while reinstalling. To make your backup, consider using FlashDrives, CD’s, or another computer’s hard drive on your network. On a very basic level, simply copy your data files to a flash drive or a CD or ar Zip disk. Windows users may want to use MS Backup, a standard part of the Windows operating system. MS Backup can be located by clicking on Start, Accessories, System Tools and Backup. Other options are available but the point is to stress the importance of backing up your computer r-e-g-u-l-a-r-l-y. Don’t wait until someone asks you for your backup disk for you to realize the importance of this routine procedure.
December 24, 2007
How to Paint with the “PaintBrush”
Included in the standard Windows toolbar is a small yellow and black paint brush that can save MS Office users a lot of time in formatting text. How does the Format Painter work? If you’re making a block of text bold and italic, for example, and want to use this formatting in other parts of the document, use the paintbrush. First block a letter or word that has the formatting you want to copy. Next, click on paintbrush, which will cause the cursor to turn into a paintbrush image. Then, “brush” the text you want to have the same formatting with the paint brush- cursor. Drag the “brush” over the text while holding the left mouse button down and release the button at the end of your newly formatted text string. Try it, and see for yourself. This typically works for font sizes, styles and formats.
December 17, 2007
How Many People Came to See You Today?
If you have a website, do you know the numbers? Do you know how many visitors you’ve had to your site and what pages they visited the most? Do you know which pages were visited the least? Web stats are a vital part of any Internet plan. Some web stat applications simply read the server log and provide historical information while other applications provide “live” stats that display real time information. If you’re getting ready to have your website hosted, be sure to ask companies that you’re considering hosting with about the reports you’ll receive on your traffic. If you already have your website hosted and don’t know what your site’s numbers are, ask your administrator or hosting company. This information is critical to your website’s success.
December 10, 2007
Open the Page in a New Window
Windows users have the option when opening a page to open it in a new window. To do this, right click on a link and then choose “Open in new Window”. Then when the page comes up, it will open in a separate new window instead of the window you currently have open.
December 3, 2007
Click Help for Help
Have you ever been riding with someone in the car who refuses to ask for directions to a destination when you're both lost? Frustrating, isn't it? Not using the Help button in a software program when help is needed is a very similar situation. Oftentimes the answer can be found in a matter of minutes with a little searching. Many Help sections include Contents, Answer Wizard and Index type sections to make it somewhat easy to locate the information you're after. The next time you need to learn how to place a formula in multiple fields in Excel don't drive around trying to figure it out yourself. Pull into the Help section and search for the answer. You'll be surprised how much self-helpful information is available.
November 26, 2007
Free Software
If you’re searching for software and you’re on a budget, why not see if what you need is free or at least free during a trial period. Freeware is software that is free. Shareware is software you can try out for free and then pay for later if you want to keep using it. Crippleware is software you can use for a set number of times and will then not be functional unless you purchase it. All of these are available at www.shareware.com (by C|net).
November 19, 2007
Show Someone How to Surf
Many people are still apprehensive about using a computer much less the Internet. While those who surf the world wide web know the value of the net, others think of it as a mystical place accessible only by the technologically advanced. Do you know friends or family like this? If so, show them what the online world is all about by getting them on your computer and helping them search for helpful information through your browser. They will more than likely appreciate the tour and you can feel good about helping to bring someone into the age of the Internet that otherwise may have not had the opportunity.
November 5, 2007
You Do Have A Privacy Statement…Don’t You?
Privacy statements should be a mandatory part of any website. Your visitors like knowing what will be done with any information they provide while browsing your website. The privacy statement details what information is collected and how it is used. Privacy statements can be created free online. For example, Microsoft has a builder available on their site at http://privacy.bcentral.com/. Once it’s created, make sure you follow what you create.
October 29, 2007
Narrowing Your Search
Many frequent users of search engines find that they can’t input the right combination of words to communicate with the search engine without getting 54,000 responses. Different text can be entered to try to narrow the search but if the results still aren’t helpful try a directory like Yahoo. Website directories allow you to narrow down your search by clicking on category headings. Another option is to use a metasearch engine, like queryserver.com or vivisimo.com, to search several search engines at once.
October 22, 2007
Don't Use Your Hands to Talk
Do you find yourself cradling the phone between your ear and your shoulder during conversations with clients? Does your neck hurt at the end of the day? Consider purchasing a headset for your phone. Use your hands to enter or search information on your computer or in your files. Plus, your neck will feel much better and you'll probably be more efficient too. First write down the type phone you have and then visit your local major office supply store. One of the largest suppliers of headsets in the country is Hello Direct (www.hellodirect.com). Many headset users wonder why they suffered without one for so long.
October 1, 2007
Don't Forget About the Shortcuts
Sometimes it takes longer using a mouse to perform an action on your computer than it does using shortcuts on your keyboard. Many users find keyboard shortcuts very helpful. If you're a Windows user for example, you can press CTRL and "A" to block all of the text in a document or field. Using a mouse, you would have to start at the top and drag all the way to the bottom to accomplish the same task. You can also Copy text by pressing CTRL and "C" (at the same time); Paste text by pressing CTRL and "V" (at the same) and Cut text by pressing CTRL and "X" (at the same time). For more keyboard shortcuts visit: http://www.microsoft.com/enable/products/keyboard.aspx.
September 17, 2007
Don’t Let Your Browser Become Dusty
New security patches and updates are frequently posted on browser manufacturers’ websites (Microsoft, Mozilla, Netscape, etc.). These updates typically plug any security holes that have been found in the browser software and occasionally update the browser’s features. These updates are important and should be downloaded at least once a month. Look in your Help or Tools section of your browser for the link to the updates for your program.
August 13, 2007
Don't Wait...Update
Software and application providers frequently release updates for their users. These updates can vary from upgrades to security patches and are important, if not necessary, for safe and smoother use of various programs. Receiving updates is usually only a matter of visiting visiting a providers' website, locating and downloading the file or files. Check the "help" menu in your software to determine who manufactured your software or application and update your programs today.
August 6, 2007
Don't Throw Away Your Old Laptop
As the old saying goes, it's not when your computer will mess up but when. This is especially true for laptops. If you are one of the small business owners who recently upgraded to a newer laptop, don't throw the old one away - especially if this is your only backup system. If your new computer is broken or stolen, you'll need a system to at least retrieve your email.
July 22, 2007
If You’ve Used One Search Engine, You Haven’t Searched Them All
No search engine has mapped the entire Internet. This means if you are searching for cocker spaniels, only those sites that the search engine has cataloged will be referenced in your search results. But with the sheer number of websites coming online, dropping offline and remaining online, there is no (current) way a search engine can catalog 100% of the websites 100% of the time. If you can’t find what you’re searching for using one search engine, consider searching one that searches several individual engines at one time. These are called metasearch engines. Examples include www.dogpile.com, www.vivisimo.com and http://www.queryserver.com.
July 15, 2007
Routine E-mail
Do you find yourself regularly placing similar email in specific folders? Many email programs allow the user to create handling procedures or mail rules to automate the process. Based on your preferences, the established “rules” search for specific criteria to be met. For instance, it may search for email from a particular sender or email that has a specific word in the Subject field. When the criteria it is searching for is met, it will go into action to either forward, delete or flag the email, for instance. As an example, let’s say you want all of your email with the word “apple” in the subject is to be flagged and placed in a special folder you’ve created called “fruit”. When an email comes in with the word “fruit” in the Subject field, the email program will jump into action automatically placing the email in the “fruit” folder without you having to do anything. There are numerous options available. Check your email program to find out what routines you can create. For more help, check your “help” section of the program.
June 18, 2007
Worms, Viruses and Trojans, Oh My!
Don’t be caught without protection for your computer. As a small business owner, you don’t have enough time as it is to get the top tasks checked off on your to-do list let alone fool with a computer virus or worm’s aftermath. The best offense against these nasty time (and property)destroying programs is a good defense. First, never click on an attachment if it is from someone you don’t know. Second, even if an attachment is from someone one you know, double check before opening it to make sure it is something you were expecting or needing and doesn’t look suspicious. In other words, if you receive a file from a friend that has no subject or text but only an attachment, think twice before opening it. Third, purchase virus protection and keep the files updated. Fourth, keep your computer’s files updated with the latest security patches and updates.
June 11, 2007
Throw Away Your Address Book
Making the transition from using your (paper) address book to a personal digital assistance (PDA) can be a slow but rewarding process. Instead of having pieces of paper and scratch-through corrections, all the contact information you need will be kept in the "palm" of your hand. The key is setting (and sticking to) a goal to throw away your address book on a certain date. Of course, you have to enter your addresses in the PDA prior to throwing the address book away, but that's the point, right. Once you've made your way through the transition, the records can easily be searched, sorted and updated.
June 4, 2007
Buy a Backup
Next time you purchase a print cartridge for your printer, don't buy one replacement - buy two. For a lot of small business owners, the time their print cartridge runs dry or toner runs out is when they need it the most and don't really have time to run out and get replacement. Plan ahead. Always have a backup on the shelf of printing supplies of other necessary office supplies.
May 21, 2007
Why Print Your Company Newsletter When You Can Email It
Many small businesses spend a lot of time preparing, printing and mailing newsletters. This takes time and cost money. To reduce the handling and mailing cost, consider converting it to an e-newsletter. The content preparation time is the same and you can spare your company the expense of mailing each one. Talk to your website designer or search for more information on the Internet under enewsletter creation.
May 14, 2007
Don't Let Your Registered Domain Name Expire
Unfortunately, a registered domain name can expire if it isn't renewed by the end of the term. The company who the domain was registered with will probably send out emails and written notice but if they go unanswered, the domain name could wind up in the great beyond. The point is, make sure your registered domain names have the proper contact information associated with them. Reviewing the contact information is easy. Visit a site such as Register.com (www.register.com), enter you domain name, follow the steps to see the WHOIS information. If the information is incorrect, contact the company you registered it with the make the changes.
April 30, 2007
Store Your Conversations on Your Computer
Voice recorders seem to be a relied upon tool for many businesspeople. Fortunately, the newest recorders no longer need tapes to record because they are recorded digitally. This technology allows the messages to be stored on computers for easy reference and depending on the size of the file, can even be emailed. For more information visit any large office supply store.
April 23, 2007
Easy Language Translation
Before the Internet, how would you have handled written correspondence from someone who doesn't speak English? Phoned a friend or asked around until you located someone who spoke the language? There are several sites available that automatically do the translation for you. For example, visit http://babelfish.altavista.com/. Simply enter the text, choose the language you are want translated to and from, and with the click of a button the site does the rest for you. For simple translation, this is a great timesaver.
April 9, 2007
Keep Your Hands on the Wheel
How often do you find yourself driving to an appointment with the steering wheel in one hand and cell phone in the other? More and more studies are being released about how cell phones, PDA's and other "tools" are causing drivers to have avoidable accidents. If you have to stay connected while you drive, check for accessories to make mobile multi-tasking less risky. Cell phones can be mounted on the dash with an ear piece that contains a microphone on the cord. The result: two hands on the wheel (except when you're speed dialing). Business is important but as a small business owner your health and safety are even more important. Keep your hands on the wheel.
April 2, 2007
Email Response Expections
How quickly to customers and potential customers expect replies to their inquiries made through a company website? According to a recent survey by www.Enterpulse.com, over half expect a reply the same day and over a quarter expect a response by the next day. How does your business handle these types of inquiries? Do they go out the same day? Next day? Keep these results in mind when you reviewing your communications flow.
March 19, 2007
Search Engine Ranking Tip
In addition to other measures, many search engines gauge the importance of a webpage by the number of other websites linked to that page. One way to increase the number of links to your site is by creating reciprocal links with other non-competing sites. Contact the webmaster of a site you would like to exchange links with about your offer.
March 12, 2007
Search Catalogs Online
Leading search engine Google has added a search feature to save time flipping through sales catalogs. They are the first we search engine we have seen to scan in numerous sales catalogs, over a wide range of interests, and provide the ability to search for specific words in each of them. This number of catalogs on their site will grow. To see what they have available now visit http://catalogs.google.com/
March 5, 2007
Throw Away Your Paper Day Planner
PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) are now a common site in the hands of businesspeople across the country. One of the main reasons is that they give the ability to keep your ever-changing schedule in the palm of your hand and synchronized to the same application on your desktop computer. These devices are smaller than standard day planners, easier to search for information and contain a lot more information. Schedule, task list and address book are all standard features. To see what is available, visit www.palm.com or Amazon.com for additional product lines and pricing at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/browse/-/172594/102-8736222-7184131.
February 26, 2007
e-Mail Merge Using Outlook
Have you wanted to email clients information on your business and have each message addressed to the individual recipient? If you are a user of Microsoft Outlook and Word, you have the right tools. Create the message you want to send in Word, use the Mail Merge feature in Word and set the merge to be output to Electronic mail instead of one of the other options: new document or printer. For more information, click on Help in Outlook, click on Answer Wizard and then type mail merge.
February 18, 2007
Tabbed Browsing using Internet Explorer 7
Tabbed browsing is a feature in web browsers to effectively contain multiple pages or documents in a single window.
Advantages
- The most often-mentioned advantage of tabbed browsing is the fact that it eliminates the need to display tiled windows that demand frequent resizing and repositioning.
- Tabbed browsing consumes less memory and operating system resources than tiled-window browsing provided the user does not keep too many items open at once.
- Tabbed browsing reduces page clutter
When a new session of Internet Explorer is started it will open one Tab displaying your choice of home page. To the right of this Tab is a second smaller Tab.
To open a new tab:
Click on that small Tab to open a new Tab.
Alternatively, right click on any open Tab and select New Tab from the context menu that appears.
A third option is to use the (ctrl + T) key combination. These new Tabs will always open in the foreground
Creating a Tab Group
Make sure that you have only those pages which you want to save as a Group open. Right click any open Tab then select the option Add Current Tabs to Favorites.
Closing Tabs
Click on the X button to right of screen to close the active Tab or use the (ctrl W) keyboard combination. Alternatively, right click on any tab then select Close or Close Other Tabs.
Navigating between Tabs
Simply click on any Tab to view its contents. If you prefer to use your keyboard, the shortcut keys for navigating Tabs are as follows: use the (ctrl tab) key combination to jump from left to right one Tab at a time, and use the (ctrl shift tab) key combination to jump right to left one Tab at a time.
February 12, 2007
Always Reply With Original Message
Have you ever sent a question to someone by email and received an answer back without your original question? The result can oftentimes cause confusion because the sender may have to search for what was asked initially. Plus, if there are several replies back and forth, it is very convenient to both parties to be able to scroll down and view the whole conversation. The “include original message with reply” option can typically be turned on or off for most any email program’s settings. If you can’t locate them, use the “Help” directory in your application. Next time you reply to an email, check to make sure the original message is included.
February 5, 2007
Who Am I Replying As?
Even a one-person business can set up different email accounts to represent various departments or areas of the company such as customer service, sales, webmaster, etc. Many small businesses set up various departmental email accounts even though the business owner may wear all of the “hats” in the business. This allows the business to appear to be larger than it is which may be helpful for marketing reasons.
However, if there are multiple email accounts set up on one computer, it can get tricky. The email program user has to make sure that when an email comes into sales@123.com that it is replied to from sales@123.com instead of accounting@123.com. For example, in Microsoft Outlook if more than one email account is set up a drop down box appears next to the “send” button which gives the user the option to send the email from any of the available accounts. Check your help section regarding setting up multiple accounts on your system and make sure you know who you are when you send out your next email.
January 29, 2007
Need Technical Support?
When do most people need technical support for their computers? During the work day, right? When do most calls go into a call center? During the work day. This means if you call during this standard peak time, you will probably have to wait and wait and wait. Try using a contrarian strategy by calling when others don't. For example, if you're on the East Coast, call first thing in the morning. West Coasters should dial in late at night, while the East Coasters aren't working.
January 22, 2007
Virus? Hoax? Trojan Horse?
What is a Virus? What is a Hoax? What is a Trojan Horse? This information as well as specific virus details can be found on McAfee's website: www.mcafee.com/anti-virus/default.asp. If you think you may have a virus or have received a message about your system possibly being infected with a virus, the McAfee site is a good place to start for information and tools.
January 15, 2007
How Much RAM Should My Computer Have?
Some computer users try to squeeze by on as little RAM as possible, which can cause a system to operate slowly during "crunch" time and sometimes even crash. With today's application and operating system demands, it makes sense to have at least 512 MB of RAM running and may usually makes more sense to have 1GB of RAM running. Memory prices are fairly affordable and computers are typically packaged so upgrading won't require brain surgery. Check the documentation that came with your system for specific steps.
January 8, 2007
If Your Computer is S l o w, Reboot It
Computers slow down and sometimes crash – it’s a fact of life. Sometimes computers simply stop working. Sometimes they slow to a crawl and then offer up an error message that makes no sense to anyone. Sometimes they start acting in an unusual manner. If this happens to you occasionally, then it’s time to reboot your system. If possible, close all of your open windows and then click on Start, Shot Down Restart. Once it comes back to life run Scan Disk on your system and then Defrag (which are probably located in your Accessories file in your Programs directory. This will typically help a slow computer unless there are other issues involved which may need to be looked at by a technician.
December 4, 2006
Never Open a Stranger's File Attachment
With the myriad of computer viruses and clever ways they are distributed, a tried and true rule of thumb is to never open a file attachment from someone you don't know. Even if you do recognize the person who sent the email, make sure the email is written in their normal style and does not contain an unusual attachment. If the sender is in your office, ask them if they sent it before you open it - if you do at all.
November 27, 2006
Organize Your Bookmarks
Have you ever searched for a URL (website address) and couldn’t find it – in your own bookmarks? The bookmark (or favorite) feature in your browser is designed to save you time by consolidating and organizing the websites you want to return to in one location. Before you create one long, long list of various bookmarks, stop and create folders to place them in to make locating them easier. You’ll appreciate your own organization down the road.
November 20, 2006
Need a Driver for Your Printer?
If you ever need to update the driver for your printer and can't find your software that came in the initial packaging, don't worry. Visit the website of the printer to download the latest driver for your printer. If you're having printer problems, you may find obtaining the latest driver may correct them.
November 13, 2006
Don’t Ignore Upgrade Messages
So you’re trying to review a potential customer’s video over the Internet and your Windows Media Player appears. However, this time a message pops up regarding upgrading to the latest “codec”. You have the choice to accept or cancel. More often than not, it makes sense to upgrade. Many applications, like the Media Player or Internet Explorer, oftentimes provide automatic upgrade messages to make it easy to access the page where the actual upgrade can be downloaded. Therefore, the next time you’re faced with the reminder to upgrade, go ahead and click OK. It may prevent error messages from appearing when running the application you’re trying to access.
October 30, 2006
Create an Email Address for Spam
Have you ever met someone who enjoyed receiving spam? We haven’t. In a time when many small business owners are searching for ways to decrease spam, we have possible helpful solution. Create an email account for receiving spam. In other words, create an email address that you use for signing up for online newsletters, free downloads, etc. All of these types of areas have high spamming potential. When the spam becomes overwhelming, cut off the account and create another. However, you should use your primary email address for restricted use only – such as corresponding with clients.
October 2, 2006
Protect Your Electronic Assets
Power surges are a common occurrence in homes and businesses across the country. They can mean BIG trouble if certain precautions are not taken to protect the equipment that must withstand these electrical "blasts". Make sure all of your electronic equipment in your office is protected with a reliable power surge protector.A good one typically cost between $20 and $30 and many come with the jacks to connect and protect your equipments connected to phone lines too. Don't wait until a surge puts you in the dark. Protect your electronic work horses now.
September 18, 2006
Smells Like Phish
Your account has been violated!. Activate your account now!! These emailed messages that are showing up in your Inbox appear to be from legitimate sources. After all, they include company logos, support links that are valid and a message that seems real. However, the sender of the message wants you to click on an imbedded link to either enter your account information or begin a process to download unwanted programs onto your computer. The result could be spyware or adware on your computer or giving critical financial account information to a stranger. This is called phishing. If you suspect something's amiss with an email you (apparently) received from a company you do business with, call or go to the company's site (type in the company URL, don't use the link in the emailed message) to contact them regarding the possible problem. You've heard the phrase "buyer beware." Well, in this case it's "email reader beware."
September 11, 2006
Excel Tip
If you want to quickly determine the sum of a column of numbers in Excel, drag your cursor over the numbers you want to add. Then look at the base tool bar at the bottom of your window and the total is displayed automatically.
August 28, 2006
Be an e-Educated Buyer
Buying Computer Equipment? Use the Internet to compare equipment. Two valuable sites include Zdnet (www.zdnet.com) and PC World (www.pcworld.com). ZDNet provides top 100 products in various categories and many categories include the Editor’s Choice. PCWorld provides comparisons and other information on new products. These sites will help you become an educated buyer.
August 21, 2006
Keep Your Computer Updated and Patched
An easy to use program is available through CNET that scans your software and lists any updates or patches your system needs. The program is free. Visit www.CatchUp.com for more information and to check your system now.
August 7, 2006
If I Can Read This File So Should You, Right?
It’s easy to assume that because I can open, save and send file that the person I email the file can open it to. Forwarding files and documents can be easy for the sender and a nightmare for the receiver. If you send a Word 2003 file by email, are you sure the receiver has Word 2003? If they don’t, they’ll probably receive a message that asks which program should open this (unknown) file which will either result in a “sorry I can’t open it” type of message, a page of hieroglyphics or a terribly formatted page that looks nothing like what you sent. While it is true that some programs have a free downloadable viewer, such as Word 2000 (http://officeupdate.microsoft.com/2000/downloadDetails/wd97vwr32.htm), other programs are very proprietary which result in someone only being able to open a file if they have the specific program the file was created in originally. As an alternative to sending files you aren’t sure can be opened by the receiver, especially text files, consider either saving the file in text format or simply copying the message into the body of your email. Or you can simply send a courtesy email before you send the file to make sure the recipient can open it. This is especially important if you are sending a file to a prospective or current client.
July 31, 2006
Ouch! My Elbow Hurts
Sitting in front of a computer all day can wreak havoc on your body. It's important to glance away from the computer screen often to ease the strain on your eyes. Also make sure your feet are flat on the floor, back straight and computer monitor is squarely in front of your head so you don't have to look anywhere but straight ahead. Make sure your thighs, forearms, wrists and hands are parallel to the floor while typing and using the mouse. Take frequent breaks out of your chair and stretch your arms and legs when possible. Keep in mind, the human body was created for hunting and gathering...not sitting 8 hours a day.
July 24, 2006
Who Belongs to This Phone Number
Many small business owners and salespeople have experienced the frustration of having a partial phone number. The dog may have eaten part of it or a few drips of coffee may have left a number or two illegible. If this happens to you, use the Internet to do a reverse phone number lookup to match a phone number with a business or person. Sites that provide this service include www.anywho.com, http://www.netscape.com/netcenter/yellowreverse.html, and www.whitepages.com.
June 26, 2006
How to Get There From Here - Online Maps
One of the benefits of the Internet that has been touted for years, is the ability to generate maps and driving directions. Enter the address of the starting point and the ending point and the program generates turn-by-turn directions complete with a map. Two of the best known sites that provide this free service are www.mapsonus.com and www.mapquest.com.
June 19, 2006
Print a Web Page
Have you ever wanted to show someone a hard copy of a webpage? Most browsers make this a simple task. Bring up the webpage you want to print in your browser window. Then, click on File and Print. In recent versions of Internet Explorer users have several options to choose from before printing. The options can be viewed by clicking on the tabs in the Print Window. If you have a color printer, the printout can be quite impressive.
June 5, 2006
Using the Internet to Check Up on Charities
Businesses oftentimes decide to donate money to charity. Whether this is done in person, by mail or through the Internet, it would be helpful to have a checkpoint that provides helpful information on which charities are legitimate. If this interests you, guide your browser to two sites run by non-profit organizations, www.justgive.org and www.helping.org. The sites provide searchable lists of thousands of non-profit organizations.
May 30, 2006
Adjust your Clock
If your computer clock is off by a few minutes, change it. Windows users need to simply right click on the clock displayed in your main window and then click on Adjust Time/Date. The other option is to click on Date/Time in the Control Panel and then making the adjustment. This task only takes a minute.
May 15, 2006
Another Spamming Strategy
Spammers are constantly trying new tactics to find active email addresses. One strategy they use is sending a message they hope the recipient will reply to. The message may appear to be intended for someone else, contain only a partial message or simply contain text in the Subject field with no text in the body. The Spammer may send their unwanted messages with an address for the recipient to reply to to be (supposedly) removed from the email blast list. However, those who reply back to the message (for whatever reason) wind up waving a red flag that their email address is valid. Unfortunately, the result is often an increase in the number of spammed messages sent to the email address.
May 8, 2006
To Speed Up Try Turning the Effects Down
If you are searching for ways to increase your computer speed, try decreasing the amount of visual effects your system is handling. For Windows 98, ME and 2000 users, go to your desktop, right click your mouse, select Properties, and then Effects. Sometimes all of the fancy graphics and transitions can take its toll on a system's resources - especially if the computer is a few years old.
April 24, 2006
Removing Unused Programs from Your Computer
Are there programs taking up space on your machine that you don't need? To review programs that can be easily deleted, look in Control Panel for the Add/Remove Software area. Depending on which version of Windows you are running, click on the program you wish to remove and follow the prompts. Another option is to click Start > Programs and look for an Uninstall located in the programs drop-down menu.
April 17, 2006
Trace the Route to a Website
When you type the name of a website into your browser the search is on to find the server that hosts the website you want to appear. From your ISP, the search goes server to server on its way to the final destination. Sometimes these intermediary servers go down or other technical problems arise that prevent or stall the connection from being made. To view the path or trace-route, as it is commonly referred to, visit a site such as Network-Tools (http://network-tools.com) or Sam Spade (http://www.samspade.org/t/) and select the options to conduct a TraceRoute. Other helpful online tools such as whois searches and DNS lookups are available at these sites too.
March 27, 2006
Throw Out Your Typewriter
If you have a computer, printer and basic software, such as Word, you can print labels, envelopes, business cards, and more. Check the help section of your word processing application for information on printing these items. Word has a special feature built in that allows a user to create a letter and then print an envelope with the address used in the letter. Features such as this can be a real time saver for any small business owner.
February 27, 2006
Want to Know Your Competition's Keywords?
Smart website owners need to know what keywords their competitors are using to pull traffic to their sites. Keywords are words that are included in the HTML of a website that helps search engines in building their indices. To locate keywords on a website using Internet Explorer, visit a website, click on View and then Source. At the top of the page, look for the phrase that reads Meta Names "keywords". It is typically listed after Meta Names "descriptions". The words after " "keywords" content = " are the keywords the site is using. If your competition does not have any keywords, then it is to your advantage to make sure you have them on your website.
November 28, 2005
Email Format for AOL Members
If you are not an AOL member and planning to send an email to an AOL member, make sure you are sending the message as a text message instead of an html message. AOLers have a challenging time reading standard html messages from non-AOLers. These messages typically result in rows and rows of text and numbers.
March 28, 2005
Hitting the Road with Your Dial-up Account
If you're planning to travel in the near future and need to retrieve your email while on the road, check your ISP's access numbers. An access number is a phone number your computer dials into to connect to the Internet. If you have a local access number available to where you're traveling, don't pay a long distance charge to dial in to your "home" access number.
February 14, 2005
Backup Software Included
If you are running Windows operating system, you may already have the backup software you need to back up your computer files. Using Windows 2000, click Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Backup. The program opens with details on how to use it. Check what Windows has to offer on your system before making a software purchase that you may not really need because you may already have it.
January 31, 2005
Click the Picture and Upload
Digital cameras are a must for any small business owner wanting to promote his business – especially if he or she has a website. To purchase one of these hi-tech cameras several years ago required a small loan from the bank but recently the technology has gotten better and the prices are much more affordable. Uses for a digital camera include: shooting pictures of your storefront and uploading them to your website; taking pictures of your salespeople in action for promotional shots; shooting anything regarding your business and having it available for use on your website, in promotional pieces (printed using your color printer) or in presentations using your computer. A good digital camera be purchased for $400 or less and a great digital camera can be purchased for around $700.
January 17, 2005
Online Help for Your Printer Problems
Many printer manufacturers provide self-service technical support for the products' users online. From printer drivers to regular maintenance and cleaning tips, helpful information is typically a few mouse clicks away. So, the next time your paper won't feed properly into your printer, visit the website of the manufacturer for potential solutions. A simple solution can be a lot less expensive than a service call.
September 27, 2004
Free Virus Scanning Application
Anti-virus software has become a required part of any computer connected to the Internet or a network. If your system doesn’t have the scanning software on it, click over to a site that has a free virus scanner available for you to search your files. Visit www.housecall.antivirus.com.
September 6, 2004
Library Equals Internet Access
If you find yourself on the road and in need of a quick and free internet connection, visit the local library. Most all libraries across the country have computers with free Internet access. While there may be a time limit on usage, this option can come in handy when you need to reach out and touch the world wide web from on the road.
August 30, 2004
Free Personal Firewall
With hackers and data thieves constantly attacking computers through the Internet, most smart computer users protect themselves with a firewall. A firewall is made up of software, hardware or both and is used control the access to a computer or network via the Internet or through a LAN. For those who are curious, firewall software allows the user to monitor who has attempted or succeeded in communicating with their computer. An example of a reliable firewall, which can be download over the Internet, is Zone Labs' Zone Alarm (www.zonelabs.com). Their service is free for personal use and can be tried for 60 days free before purchase for business use. If you have a DSL or cable modem and keep your computer on most of the time, then you should definitely invest in firewall safety for your computer. To see how many "outside" computers are communicating with your computer, take advantage of a firewall trial offer. You will more than likely be very surprised at what you find.
August 16, 2004
Next Monday Your ISP Connection Won’t Work. What’s Your Backup Plan?
Computers for many small business owners have become as necessary as the telephone. However, computers can cause a lot more aggravation than Alexander Graham Bell ever imagined. It’s important to plan ahead for situations when your computer(s) are working properly or can’t access the Internet. If you typically connect via DSL or other high speed internet connection, consider having a couple of dial-up accounts as a backup for when your ISP connection goes down. (Not “if” but “when” because it will happen again….and again…and again.) Slow speed is better than no speed when it comes to accessing your important emails from customers and prospects. Don’t wait for the inevitable to happen to suddenly make a backup plan – plan now. You’ll appreciate your forward thinking when everyone in your office says they can’t get any email or get on the Internet…and look at you for answers.
August 9, 2004
Shopping for a Broadband Connection?
If you’re tired of website pages slowly beaming up in your browser, consider getting a faster connection such as DSL, Cable or Satellite hookup. Where’s a good place to start? DSL Reports (www.dslreports.com). DSL Reports is sort of the Consumer Reports of broadband connections (dsl, cable and satellite). Users post opinions and experiences with various broadband providers for the world to see. The site also lists what broadband connections are available for your area and has information to guide you through the whole process.
July 26, 2004
Calling Dick Tracy
Email communication using a computer is old hat now compared to the new ways we have to download those important messages. Technology now allows the masses to receive email using pda’s (personal digital assistants), cell phones and even wristwatches. The devices have limitations but it’s nice to see that the most popular form of online communication, email, is getting easier to receive. For more information on these communication tools, visit companies’ websites such as AT&T Wireless (http://www.attws.com/), Sprint (http://www.sprintpcs.com/wireless/), Palm Pilot (http://www.palm.com/), Timex (http://mobile.timex.com/) or browse through any major electronic retailer.
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