You are currently browsing the archives for October 2010

Five tips and tricks for using Word for business

  • Posted on October 29, 2010 at 9:26 am

Most people don’t use all the features of their software. We tend to pinpoint the most helpful and stick with them.
Here are five features in Microsoft Word that could save you time and money.
Create and Design Your Company’s Letterhead, Templates and More
Every business needs an official letterhead. You don’t have to buy it. If you know what you want you can create it in Word and save it as a template to

use time after time.
A letterhead doesn’t have to be complicated. It can be as simple as the company name, address and telephone number. Word provides lots of fonts,

and you can change the size and style.
You may want to add art. You can scan in your logo and use it. Or alternatively make use of Microsoft Office’s Clipart Gallery. There you’ll find

thousands of royalty-free images available to users of www.microsoft.comindiasmallbusinessoffice2003.mspxMicrosoft Office.

Microsoft also offers free templates for letters, labels and forms. They can be found in the Template Gallery.
Send the Same Letter to Many People Without Addressing Each Separately
Word’s Mail Merge makes it easy to send the same letter to lots of different people.
It uses a list of names and addresses from a table. You can create the table in Word, Access (a Microsoft database program) or even Outlook. All are

part of Microsoft Office .
This works best with planning. You have many options; this example uses Excel but there are other ways to achieve the same thing.
Start by writing your letter. The same letter goes to everyone; you can’t do much customisation. When you write it, leave space for the person’s

address and the salutation.
When setting up Excel , you need the person’s name and address. You’ll also need a salutation field. If Rocky Jones is one of the people receiving the

letter, you might want the salutation to be Dear Rocky. If your relationship with Dr. Rocky Jones is more formal, the salutation might be Dear Dr. Jones. So

the names in the Salutation column would be “Rocky” or “Dr. Jones.”
Now open your letter. Go to Tools > Letters and Mailings > Mail Merge Wizard . Follow the instructions on screen. You can

also make things easier by addressing envelopes and labels with Mail Merge.
Add a Watermark to a Document so Everyone Knows it’s a Draft
If you are circulating a proposal to your staff, you don’t want it mistaken for the finished product. A good way to avoid that is a watermark that says

“Draft”.
A watermark is clearly visible on the document but does not damage the legibility of the writing. You can use text or a picture, black and white or

colour.
To use a watermark, go to Format > Background > Printed Watermark . Make your selections and click OK. If you expect to

use a watermark regularly, create a template (see above).
Be careful not to go overboard. There’s a fine line between cool and irritating. If the watermark makes a document hard to read then people just won’t

bother.
Keep an Eye on Changes that People are Making to Documents
When a document is returned to you, it can be difficult to see changes made by others. Word will highlight them so you can see what’s been altered.

Here are the instructions for Word 2002 2003:
First, open the newer Word document.
Click Tools > Compare and Merge Documents .
Browse to the original Word document.
Click it once to highlight it.
In the lower right corner, click the drop-down box and select “Merge Into Current Document.”
For Word 97 and Word 2000:
Click Tools .
Go to Track Changes .
Click Compare Document .
Find the original Word document and click it once so it is highlighted.
Click Open .
Sometimes developing a document is so arduous that we lose sight of what we’re trying to do. Looking back at older versions can help.
That’s easy to do in Word. Click File > Versions . Select “Automatically save a version on close.” Every time you close the

document, that version will be saved.
When you want to look at an old version, follow the same path. All of the versions will be listed in the box. The most recent will be on top. Highlight the

version you want and click Open.
You can turn off this “versioning” feature by clearing the check mark from “Automatically save a version on close.” Or, you can delete individual

versions. Just highlight the ones you want to lose and click delete.

Continue reading Five tips and tricks for using Word for business

Five Reasons Podcasting Might Be Right For Your Home-based Business

  • Posted on October 22, 2010 at 9:26 am

Five Reasons Podcasting Might Be Right For Your Home-based Business

Podcasting has been called the wave of the future. The truth, however, is that podcasting is the here-and-now and is rapidly gaining momentum across the world. There are podcasts available for just about any topic you can think of from cooking to video games to religion. As of February 2006, a Google search for the term podcast returns over 205,000,000 results. The amazing reality of this is that it is still, in effect, an untapped market that will continue its growth in the years to come.

Podcasting can have many uses for the home-based business owner. It can be useful not only advertise, but to also communicate your business message. Below are 5 tips on how to use podcasts to benefit your business:

1. Reach your niche market Depending on your product, podcasting can be the perfect way to reach new groups of people in your market. Believe it or not, there are people out there looking for the product you provide and this enables them to easily find them.

Podcasts are quickly becoming a new advertising venue as well. A podcast that is listed in podcasting directories such as iTunes can reach thousands, even millions of listeners. This can be a very inexpensive method for advertisers on a budget.

The popularity of podcasts is a steadily growing trend. Many people who are just beginning to learn about podcasts will search for topics of there interest. This is a great way to reach customers that you would not have been able to reach before the advent of podcasting.

2. Share your passion Podcasting is a great way to share what you love. If you are excited about a topic or product, chances are that others out there are, too. A podcast on the topic you are passionate about is a great way to connect with others who also share that same passion.

People can hear your excitement over the airwaves. I always enjoy listening to a program when the speaker is obviously energized about whatever it is hes speaking on. So, when recording your podcast, keep a smile on your face and allow your excitement to show.

3. Share information Many home-based businesses have begun because they are filling a need. A podcast can help this information reach the people that it will benefit. For example, CWAHM.com was created to help women be at home with their children while still contributing to their families financially. Many of the sites visitors are buys moms who may not have the time to scour the hundreds of pages the site contains. Our podcast, Christian Work at Home Moment, airs once a week and is 24 minutes long. Its an easy way for moms to learn more about working from home without spending hours on their computer.

Make it a point to research your topic and find all of the interesting and little known facets of passion. Keep your listeners interested and they will want to hear more!

4. Become an Expert in your field Creating a podcast can help to establish you as an expert in the area your broadcast covers. You must be willing to take the time, do the research and share information that is valuable and useful to your listeners.

Just as authors become experts by researching and writing on specific topics, podcasters become experts by sharing the information they find with their listening audience. There is a big market for podcasts in a multitude of areas the next expert could be YOU!

5. Its easy – A podcast can be started with virtually no cost or investment. In most cases, there is no need to be tech savvy to be a podcast creator. It can be as simple as using a phone to record your podcast through a service like Odeo.com. There are, of course, more complicated set-ups, but to begin you truly just need a topic, a phone and a quiet spot to record.

Podcasting is easy for listeners as well. A podcast can be listened to directly from a website or downloaded from iTunes and put directly on an MP3 device.

There are many reasons that a podcast can benefit small and home-based businesses. This growing market is an entirely new way to communicate information to the world. When it comes to podcasting, the skys the limit. So take your business to new levels and start podcasting today.

Continue reading Five Reasons Podcasting Might Be Right For Your Home-based Business

Employee Intellectual Property Theft Destroys Businesses

  • Posted on October 15, 2010 at 9:26 am

In business one of the top priorities is internal security. Through computer use, corporate information can easily be compromised if an organization does not have a proper spy software system in place. By tracking employee activity, a well-developed spy software system allows administrators to have control over all computer activity while preserving the privacy of all internal data.
SONAR is a revolutionary security spy software product that helps administrators maintain the integrity of their company by protecting critical information and enforcing internal policies to all network users. This advanced spy software creates a coherent system that functions at the desktop level.
SONAR’s spy software monitors all online activity through a central server that governs assets on or off the company network, including outside contractors and traveling sales people. With SONAR, security solutions are configured in minutes making this spy software one of the most user-friendly on the market. With SONAR, it is unnecessary to have other solutions installed, making it an idea all-in-one security program.
SONAR’s advanced spy software system captures all keystrokes that have been typed into a computer. This spy software monitors and filters all Internet use, whether it is on your network or off, including when you are not online. With this efficient and thorough software, all web mail and instant messages are quickly disseminated. SONAR takes screenshots of all computer activity, past and present, reads all employee communications, blocks software applications on a scheduled basis, screens all email attachments for sensitive material, and tracks all file use.
SONAR allows compromising material to be blocked and will remotely destroy or locate any recovered data when appropriate. With SONAR’s advanced filtering capabilities you can block websites, filter content, create a white-list of websites allowed, whereby traffic is directed to these sites only, and limit application of use according to your specifications.
In addition, SONAR offers spy software functions as an ultimate surveillance tool, providing proof for investigations that may be conducted as a result of inside company fraud.
In a recent survey it was found that 78% of IT related companies have suffered inside security breaches, costing the institutions a fortune in losses. With employees and contractors having free access to connectivity, no wonder businesses are becoming more vulnerable every day. But internal fraud is something preventable. With SONAR spy software the technology is analyzed internally, allowing the risk of security breaches to be nipped in the bud.
Often precious time on the job is wasted by unnecessary web surfing. More than 23 of Internet users have confessed in interviews that they have wasted sometimes more than 30% of their job time in non-work-related Internet surfing, whether browsing shopping sites, porn sites, or hobby-related sites. With SONAR spy software this activity is not only monitored but can also be instantly curtailed.
SONAR spy software has the unique ability to identify, track, and control data output, providing a specific protocol for what can be done and what cannot be done with company material. This application is easily configured in minutes versus the days or weeks that other spy software systems often require.
Any application can also be deployed at the discretion of company administrators in a matter of minutes making SONAR one of the most pliable, efficient, and thorough spy software programs on the market today.
Computer theft has also become a commonplace occurrence in the business world. Losing even one computer can compromise the entire security of an organization. SONAR offers a Location and Recovery module that helps to locate a stolen computer, identify what has been done with data, and destroy compromising material before it has ended up in the wrong hands.

Continue reading Employee Intellectual Property Theft Destroys Businesses

Easy Money=Easy Prey, How Not To Fall For The Home

  • Posted on October 8, 2010 at 9:26 am

Easy Money=Easy Prey, How Not To Fall For The Home Business Scam

Workings from home sounds like everyones dream come true. No more commuting and having to deal with demanding bosses. Why work for someone else when you can do the same for yourself? The truth of the matter is, many of this home business start up plans are fraudulent. Many make the promise of big money for very little effort. The end result is you end up out of pocket and they just get richer. This article will look at how to spot the home business or work from home scam. It will also give you key questions you should present to any company offering you the chance to start up work from home.

The Internet, magazines and newspaper are literally littered with advertisements telling us how to make money from home. Some make huge promised of large amounts of money by doing relatively little work. The sad thing is that many people are taken in by these ads every day only to be parted with their money. The elderly and stay at home parents are some of the most vulnerable victims.

Before going into one of these schemes, look at the ads carefully. Look at what they are promising and use you common sense. If they are promising big money for simple work then they are likely taking you for a ride. No one gets rich stuffing envelopes or assembling kits. These are two of the most common scams out there. Any ads like this should be given the heave ho.

If you see a work at home ad or a home business start up ad, have a look at any start up costs. For things such as simple work at home jobs, there should be no fees attached. You should never pay for contact information or kits. Many times these contacts are fraudulent and will go nowhere. Those that are legitimate companies are under no obligation to offer you a job. Once you have parted with your money then you are unlikely to see it again.

Home business opportunities may have some start up costs. However, look into these carefully and weight them against what you could make. Many MLM businesses make their money by selling their products to you and not the consumer. If it looks like the start up costs are high then leave it alone. If you are good at sales then you may be able to get your own business going.

Always get a company name before you sign up for any work at home or home business scheme. Their name can be run through the better business bureau to see if there are any registered complaints. If there are none then this maybe something that you should look into further. Make sure this company also has a fixed address and phone number. Never do business with anyone who only has an email address. This is a serious red flag and sign of someone who will take you money and run.

Finally, with any work at home scheme or home business plan, ask if there are any minimum quotas involved. Some places will set high quotas in order to get out of paying you what you have earned. Any place setting a quota should be looked into with extreme caution.

Anyone looking to work from home or start a work from home business should do so with caution. Daily, people fall prey to con artists who are just looking to make easy money. Working from home is possible but it takes time and hard work. Dont be fooled by ads promising easy money, there is just no such thing.

Continue reading Easy Money=Easy Prey, How Not To Fall For The Home

Critical Business Procedure – Keep All Email Communications

  • Posted on October 1, 2010 at 9:26 am

Businesses routinely maintain copies of correspondence and memos. Far to often, however, they do not extend this practice to email correspondence. Email correspondence is no different then your normal paperwork. You must keep copies of all of it to protect your business in any litigation.

Currently, only banks and broker-dealers are obliged to retain e-mail and instant messaging documents for three years under U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission rules. Beginning July 2006, all public companies will also be required to do so under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

Notwithstanding these laws, your custom and practice should be to maintain copies of all email correspondence. Email is considered evidence and courts are hammering businesses that do not maintain email records. Judges are often ruling that the failure to maintain and produce email records means the business in question is hiding key evidence.

In the recent Perelman v. Morgan Stanley litigation, a judges ruling on the failure of Morgan Stanley to produce email was key factor in the issuance of a 1.45 billion verdict. Based on the failure to produce email records, Judge Elizabeth Maass issued a pretrial ruling that effectively found Morgan Stanley conspired to defraud Perelman in a 1998 deal. Morgan Stanley is not the only business defendant to have this problem.

In the summer of 2004, UBS bank was found by a judge to have willfully destroyed email evidence in a discrimination case. UBS was ordered to pay costs and a jury returned a 29 million verdict.

Email Policy

To protect your business, you must have a procedure in place to maintain email communications generated through the business. Failure to keep these records can lead to rulings in litigation that your business willfully destroyed evidence. If this occurs, the judge may issue significant monetary sanctions, automatically find you liable or take other harsh steps that assure a victory for the Plaintiff. As if such developments are not bad enough, there exists a second risk associated with email communications.

Maintaining email communications, however, can have a downside. The problem arises, of course, when a communication contains statements that are damaging to your business. Yes, the proverbial catch-22 situation.

To avoid such disasters, your business must develop a clear policy on email communications and train all employees to comply with that policy. Employees must understand the business environment is not one in which jokes, flippant remarks and so on should be made in email communications.

Continue reading Critical Business Procedure – Keep All Email Communications