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Writer: A full-featured word processor that also includes an HTML editor for designing Web pages |
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Calc: An extremely capable spreadsheet program that also allows you to link to corporate databases |
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Impress: A very capable presentation program for creating electronic slide shows |
What is Writer?
Writer is the Open Office equivalent of Microsoft Word. If offers all the standard word processing tools that you have probably come to expect, but also includes advanced features such as:
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Designing and creating your own Web pages. |
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Creating forms for automatically inputting data into databases. |
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Creating personalized documents with Mail Merge, and link to your e-mail address book or external database. |
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Automatically generating standard documents such as letters, faxes, agendas, minutes, or importing or creating your own templates. |
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Creating your own Style Sheets Importing seventeen different types of text documents with ease, including "doc", and "dot"; and export nineteen different file formats, including "pdf", "html" and three kinds of "doc"s. |
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Automatic indexing, tables of contents, bibliographical references; plus such details as custom headers, footers, footnotes, and endnotes. |
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Automatic outlining, Spellchecking, and Thesaurus. Automatically correct words, or automatically complete words as you type. |
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Create and use macros. |
What is Calc?
Calc is the Open Office equivalent of Microsoft Excel. If you've ever used Excel or another spreadsheet program you will find Calc familiar. It can calculate anything you hand it. It’s a full-featured spreadsheet program with all the great bells and whistles you’d expect from the best. While Calc is great at doing all the basic spreadsheet things, such as adding, sorting and manipulating rows and columns, it also lets you do the following:
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Link to external databases, such as dBase and MySQL (or even your email address book) and view, query, sort, filter, generate automatic reports and more, without affecting your original database. |
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Use an intuitive graphical interface to organize your data from your spreadsheets or database. |
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Filter your spreadsheet or database data to locate information quickly. |
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Use automatic subtotaling with outlining capabilities to give you instant information of the big picture, whenever you need it. |
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Use any and all of 364 built-in functions for financial, mathematical, statistical, database and other purposes. |
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Create your own formulas. |
What is Impress?
Impress creates presentations (also known as slide shows) that you display from your computer, often with a projector, so that people can see what is onyour screen. It is the equivalent of Microsoft's PowerPoint program that comes with Office and works in a similar way. As well as the usual functions Impress allows you to do the following:
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Create a presentation quickly with AutoPilot or a template. |
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Add notes to each slide that are just for the presenter. |
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View your presentation in several ways using the Drawing, Outline, Slide, Notes, Handout, and Slide Show views. |
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Save, print, and export and import in several formats. |
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Format text characters and paragraphs. |
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Create bulleted and numbered lists. |
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Control the look of the presentation with a master slide. |
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Insert graphics and control them using layers. |
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Create your own graphics, including 3-D graphics. Add text animation and slide transitions. |
About the Author: Edward has been writing on the web for over 7 years. His latest writings at http://www.panasonicblurayplayer.net covers the panasonic blu ray player range and gives information and advice about the players.
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com
Have you ever been frustrated because you can't find your agreements? Or don't know which of your employees last spoke to a client? Or which one of your sales brochure is the latest version? Or why don't your employees realize that "Bob" is your high valued customer that requires special attention?
If this sounds familiar, you are in dire need of CRM. When implemented successfully, a CRM initiative will transform your muddled, messy, mis-managed and disorganized business into a lean, mean, tech-savvy machine!
Here is 15 benefits of a CRM system would bring to YOUR BUSINESS...
1. Enable everyone in your organization to achieve operational excellence with a single 360-degree view of the customer.
2. Facilitate successful execution of business performance philosophies such as Six Sigma, Lean, TQM, and the balanced scorecard.
3. Increase customer acquisition, retention, loyalty, and profitability with standardized and improved sales methodologies.
4. Automate redundant sales processes to better target resources, increasing the number of opportunities closed and accounts managed per sales representative.
5. Empower your sales team with real-time pipeline and forecasting to direct focus to the most profitable opportunities.
6. Keep in touch with your customers, even when you are on the road, with access to complete account information on laptops, even when disconnected from the Internet, and other mobile devices that are always in sync with corporate sites.
7. Quickly identify and provide prioritized response to your most profitable customers and prospects.
8. Utilize powerful business rules to automate tasks and target your best clients through up-sell and cross-sell marketing initiatives.
9. Enable marketing executives to quickly measure responses to marketing initiatives on a real-time basis, identify trends, and maneuver to leverage the most successful campaigns.
10. Increase customer satisfaction through not only decreasing customer inquiry response time but also through providing the right response the first time.
11. Provide customer self-service options to reduce costs, improve access, and increase customer satisfaction.
12. Provide timely customer service responses using sophisticated business rules based on questions or other content such as keywords.
13. Reduce unnecessary problem and inquiry escalation through the automated monitoring of customer interactions such as representative response times and frequency.
14. Increase effectiveness and reduce costs by routing customer service calls to the most appropriate customer service representative, such as by geographic location, specialty, or acuity.
15. Enable executives and management to be less reliant on IT to monitor the state of business through management analytics.
SURADO CRM - http://www.SuradoCRM.com
CRM1080 - http://blog.SuradoCRM.com
Article Source: ArticleRich.com
Get the Most Out of Your QuickBooks Accounting Software
by Tim Corner
The financial management and controls of businesses and not for profit organizations tend to come under the spotlight at times of economic difficulty.
When business is increasingly competitive and cash flow tight it is important to make sure you are making best use of your investment in your accounting system.
Many businesses view their accounting software as a tool for creating invoices and to provide information for the accountant. Little, if any use is made of the data on a day to day basis to assist with Financial Control and Financial Planning.
Driven by the changing business environment we are seeing an increasing number of requests for assistance in optimizing the investment made in QuickBooks.
Request can include assistance in
a) Developing new reports for management. (management reporting is no longer a one a month activity).
b) Refining existing reports which do not meet the organizations requirements.
c) Providing information from QuickBooks to replace information generated in other systems (consolidating systems to improve efficiency and reduce cost).
1. Developing New Reports
The reporting function in QuickBooks has always been a strength. The software provides 120+ standard reports available at the click of a button. New users of QuickBooks will often ask 'which reports should I focus on?'
The Standard Profit & Loss Report, Standard Balance Sheet report, A/R (Debtor) summary report and A/R (Debtor) detail reports are often cited as a good start point.
QuickBooks can of course provide much more. The question should not be 'which reports should I focus on'? But 'I need to find a report that will tell me ....
...which customers have not ordered from me recently?
...who are my most profitable customers?
...how does my turnover this month/ quarter compare to the same month / quarter last year?
...how am I performing against budget?
...who is my best salesman?
...who have I invoiced this month?
I am sure you can think of a few more relevant to your business
2. Refining Existing Reports
A simple refinement of a standard report can provide valuable information to business owners.
The Profit and Loss standard report can be amended by selecting an option from the columns box (to the right of the date field) to transform the reports, Try selecting a date range of 'This financial year' and column 'Monthly' to view a Profit & Loss Report per month for your current year.
Too much detail? Perhaps a 'Quarterly' view would be better.
Other popular refined
reports can let you view Invoice in sequential numbers / Purchase Orders / Sales
Orders with the outstanding balances detailed
3. Consolidating Systems to Improve Efficiency
QuickBooks is primarily an Accounting package and many businesses use other systems to perform non accounting tasks (and sometimes accounting tasks).
A review of system usage may lead to an increased use of QuickBooks functions and improve efficiency
Businesses who have previously produced an invoice in one system e.g. word may find it more efficient to generate invoices in QuickBooks (printed on letter headed paper or with a logo added).
QuickBooks can take customer data to create standard letters replacing a mail merge in word.
Data held in excel or access detailing customers by group / type may also be held in QuickBooks. Depending on the requirement for the data duplication could be removed with resulting operational efficiencies.
Whilst QuickBooks cannot
provide all the functions of a true CRM (Customer Relationship Management)
system the data held in your QuickBooks file can be extracted for non accounting
usage. e.g. sending out marketing letter or producing address labels.
Summary
If you do not have the financial data to manage your business and to plan for the future it is likely that you are not making full use of your investment in QuickBooks.
Financial Management & Financial Planning are critical for business success (or even survival). It's time to consider the untapped potential of your QuickBooks software, to extract the information you need and to improve efficiency in your data management.
Tim Corner is a freelance writer who represents a number of UK businesses. For the very best in Accounting Software Advice and QuickBooks Courses he recommends Katara Ltd.
Article Source: GoArticles.com
CRM 101 – The Basics of Customer Relationship Management
by Kausik Dutta
What is CRM?
CRM, or Customer Relationship Management, can be defined as a software program, business strategy, or internet system that helps a business manage and organize its customer database. This includes contacting customers more efficiently, keeping leads hot, aiding in workplace effectiveness, and generally improving customer service and business relationships.
How Does CRM work?
Essentially, CRM works by allowing a representative or agent to access detailed customer information quickly and efficiently while the client is on the line. This means less hassle for the client and a quicker transaction.
For example, say a client contacts a company representative about possibly purchasing the company's product. With CRM, the representative would be able to see if the client had bought anything previously, and if so, what their name is, their age, how long they've used the company, what products they've bought before, how often they buy the product, and much more. This would then allow the representative to suggest and recommend the product or service option that best suits the customer in a timely manner.
Who does CRM benefit?
The beauty of CRM is that is benefits both the customer and the business or service provider. Customers receive a higher level of customer service because their needs are met and anticipated, allowing them to relax through transactions that are often much quicker than they're used to.
The business benefits via improved sales, higher customer confidence and satisfaction, and a more effective work environment. With CRM, a small business or large corporations can know what its customer wants; thus it can provide the service or product the client wants, keeping them as a repeat customer and gaining greater sales volumes.
What are some CRM applications?
CRM applications are created around the same idea as a spreadsheet, where values can be filled in and tabulated to quantify, analyze, and interpret data. A CRM application can both collect and analyze information simultaneously. This means faster, better applications and better ease of use. Clients can download, share or install these programs at their leisure via sites like Salesforce.com.
What is online CRM?
Online CRM is where a business uses an online system to manage its CRM. Straightforward and easy, online CRM is an option often taken by smaller businesses as it allows any representative to access a client's information immediately, without hours of tedious training. A example of an online CRM system might be a 24-hour call center.
What is web based CRM?
Web based CRM is where a business uses real-time updates that are integrated with their existing CRM system. This allows new information to be accessed immediately without any time lapse. It is different from a software-based Customer Relationship Management program in that it allows for live, as-it-happens updates. Thus customer information is always fresh and current.
How do CRM systems help businesses?
CRM systems help businesses by improving customer service and relationships, generating quality leads, monitoring accounts more effectively, always keeping data fresh and ready so leads don’t grow cold, allowing mobile CRM (orders through a mobile device), and managing sales.
Author Information:
Salesforce.com is the world's first on-demand application service and a giant in the field of CRM. With over 24,000 customers, over 500,000 subscribers, and a 97% customer satisfaction rate, Salesforce.com continues to lead their field. To find out more about them, please visit http://www.salesforce.com
Source: Aricle99.com
Improve Your Service Management by Using PDA's to Connect Your Mobile Workforce With the Office
by Patrick Wahl
To be successful in the service industry, or indeed any business, you need to achieve unrivalled levels of customer satisfaction. There are several ways to go about this, but one of the most important ways, in regards to the service management industry, is to improve your mobile workforce management and make use of modern mobile technology such as PDA's or tablet PC's. By doing so, you will improve customer service as you will:
|
Have a real-time overview of your mobile workforce enables you to respond faster to emergency call-outs and give customers accurate appointment times |
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Be able to schedule planned maintenance in advance |
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Speed up order fulfillment through automated links that ensure parts are ordered without delay and minimize customer downtime |
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Capture digital signatures and photos as proof of delivery or work done |
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Ensure accurate billing information |
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Reduce the number of errors inherent in paper-based systems |
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Demonstrate performance against key performance indicators and service level agreements to avoid penalties |
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Win more contracts by increasing your work flow and your mobile workers' efficiency |
Mobile technology will rapidly show its benefits, with increased efficiency and more accurate administration. This not only helps keep the customer happy, but also saves you time and money as information can be captured and processed in half the time. With your service management sorted you can then concentrate on drumming up some new business!
Using iDMobile PDA software allows your mobile workers to capture information electronically, it encourages them to follow a particular process and helps to resolve these problems by using technology to reduce paperwork, increase efficiency and ultimately reduce costs.
About the Author:
Please visit the links below if you are interested in finding out more information:
http://www.idynamics.com/products/idmobile/idmobile.asp
http://www.idynamics.com/Products/iDMobile/iDMobile_Savings_Calculator.asp
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com
by Lincoln Roth
CRM software can do a lot for the business that a person owns or runs and the salespeople who work in it. However, a lot of people do not realize the importance of CRM software so they do not use it. Individuals also often think that CRM software is very complicated, and so they avoid using it because they feel they will not be able to figure out how it works. If it is too hard to use, people will avoid it, and they will find other ways of keeping track of customers. These may or may not work well. Still other individuals may be concerned that CRM software is too costly for them, so they decide it is not cost-effective for their business. CRM software is the right choice for most businesses, though, because it does so much in keeping track of the clients and any issues that pertain to them.
The most important thing that CRM software can do for a business is to keep it organized. Clients and their information is a vital part of business life. Even a small business must make sure that these clients are kept organized. They must not be ignored or neglected because they were somehow lost in the shuffle of people and paperwork that takes place every day. With CRM software, though, there is much less worry about the clients and their information. This software can also help to keep client information safer and more protected. By doing this, the company is better protected from future problems. In addition, the clients often feel better about doing business with the company. Any sensitive information that is provided to the company will not be lost or compromised.
CRM software is a great tool for salespeople as well. It helps to keep them prepared every day for what they must do. Those who work in sales often spend a lot of time each day trying to make sure that they are ready for the next day. They are also concerned about forgetting clients or forgetting appointments. With CRM software, there is a much lower chance of these problems. Everything that the salesperson needs to know about the client and everything that has to be remembered can be easily stored. The only disadvantage to this method is that a salesperson may not take the time to use the system. This, however, would be the fault of the salesperson, not the fault of the software.
For most companies, CRM software is a great way to build business. Not all companies will use this software, but those that do find that their business has been improved. The interaction that salespeople have with their clients is better, and the individuals who need to be reassured that they are important to the company can get that feeling. When they get that, they want to come back. They are interested in doing business with the company, and they feel that their ideas and opinions, as well as their business, are valued.
Dave Roth offers a site focusing on CRM software reviews. The site has reviews on everything from open source crm to various web based CRM options. Not only that, his site gives salespeople the tools they need to make these tools even more effective and profitable.
Article Source: ArticleRich.com
The company also splitted the standard version of AvailSuite, with its lineup now comprised of Standard and Personal. Standard version is appropriate for companies with 5-50 employees because of its networking capabilities. It organizes customer information, manages products and/or services, schedules and dispatches staff, helps to keep expenses under control, handles invoicing, synchronizes data with QuickBooks, and much more. The Personal version is available for micro businesses or one-person companies. It has most features of the Standard version, but allows working with limited number of employees. Pricing for Standard is $299 for a single-user license; pricing for Personal is $69.99.
Standard and Personal version are built on the same code base, allowing for instant upgrading or quick migration between them. Growing businesses could stay with the same program and avoid data migrations and retraining of staff.
“Since small business solutions propose overly complex workflows, and unnecessary features, startups and home-based businesses often try to save time and money and use very simple software for managing their companies,” said Oleg Kokorin, CEO of BusinessWare Technologies, Inc. “But tiny business should strive to become a large one and look professional even taking the first steps.”
Main features in AvailSuite latest release:
• Customer management module automates day-to-day tasks from the first contact to after-sales service.
• Scheduling multiple jobs and/or appointments and setting up the reminders.
• Recurring Task Wizard assists with scheduling recurring appointments using very flexible recurrence pattern, like "every 3rd Friday each month", or "on Monday and Thursday every 2nd week".
• Receivables and payables control. Complete billing module automates invoice management and allows tracking payments and checking unpaid invoices.
• Customizable invoices and orders to help companies have more professional image.
• Inventory control to track and manage inventory.
• Analytics and Reporting to gain insight into the key information needed to control a business.
Help & Support Options
A new software product requires some time for learning even how to start working with it. AvailSuite quick start wizard provides excellent assistance during the process of setting up company information, adding employees and customers, creating orders and invoices, entering payments, and running reports. A user can choose “Show me” tutorial movie or “Do it for me” option. The quick start wizard could be accessed at any time by clicking on “Quick Start” button in the main menu. This built-in assistance feature and traditional Help (press F1 button to access) are very useful. Free unlimited email support is provided for both Personal and Standard versions.
Expandability
If a company outgrows AvailSuite Personal, moving up to the Standard version requires little effort. So whether or not your company will stay small, AvailSuite Personal is the best way to start. No other business management software fits so well with micro businesses and startups.
System requirements
Operating system: Windows XP, 2000, 2003, or Vista
Web-browser: Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 or later
Hardware: 166 MHz Intel Pentium or compatible CPU memory:
• Windows XP and 2003: 128 Mb of RAM
• Windows 2000: 64Mb of RAM
Hard drive space: 150 Mb
About AvailSuite Personal
AvailSuite is a business management software solution designed specifically for the field service industry. It controls the entire job cycle from estimating, scheduling, dispatching and work orders to robust customer relationship management, inventory control, employee job performance tracking, reporting, and financial management. Priced at $69.99 per license, AvailSuite Personal is available for download at
About the Author:
Margarita Ustinova is software marketing specialist from
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com
Computer Shop Software Runs Your Firm Efficiently and Profitably
Are you looking for computer shop software that runs your business more efficiently and profitably?
Time management is a challenge for many small business computer professionals. When you are running your own computer shop, you have a lot on your plate. You wear many different hats and handle everything from sales and marketing, to accounting and billing, to service calls and basic walk-in retail customer traffic.
If you use the right software, you can tackle many different time management issues head-on and free up more hours for more profitable, revenue-generating activities. The following 3 computer shop software tips can help you work more efficiently and more profitably.
1.
Find Computer Shop Software that Helps You with
Business Management.
There is a lot of software out there that can help
you manage client repair jobs and basic billing
procedures. Many waste tons of time on inefficient
methods of tracking pending and completed repair
jobs, as well as invoicing customers and clients
consistently and on time. In order to be perceived
as a professional business, make sure you have a
very set schedule for completing work. You also
need to create consistent policies for invoicing and
payment. The right software will connect the
processes together, so you don’t miss any deadlines
or appointments … or forget an important invoice,
even when things get busy.
2.
Use Diagnostic Software to Isolate Problems.
Often computer repair technicians that don’t use
consistent procedures and tools can waste hours
identifying a system problem. Make the purchase of
diagnostic computer shop software a part of your
plan. This critical tool can help you quickly
determine whether you are dealing with a hardware or
a software problem, and can save you hours of
unproductive time with hit-or-miss, manual
diagnostic techniques.
3. Implement Point-of-Sale (POS) Software to
Manage Sales Activity in Your Shop. If your
business includes a retail computer shop, you should
seriously consider using POS software to help you
effectively manage walk-in traffic sales. POS
software can help you quickly handle sales from
end-to-end, so you are not wasting time at the end
of the day catching up... and so you don’t end up
working an 80-hour work week just to stay afloat.
Just as important, most POS software will keep
real-time track of your inventory.
In this article, we discussed 3 computer shop
software tips to help you efficiently and profitably
manage the different elements of your business.
Learn more about how you can attract great, steady,
high-paying clients and grow your business with
computer shop software now at
http://www.ComputerShopSoftware.com
Copyright (C), ComputerShopSoftware.com, All Rights
Reserved
About the Author:
Joshua Feinberg is the author and editorial director of the Computer Consulting Kit Home Study Course, which helps computer consultants, VARs, integrators, solution providers, and managed services providers get more of the best, steady, high-paying small business (SMB) clients.
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com
For small business owners, making the switch to a new technology can often be time consuming and costly. Unlike most other technologies that require considerable advanced planning, investment, and training, VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) can be integrated into business operations rapidly to deliver immediate cost-savings and convenience.
By utilizing VoIP, small businesses now have the ability to make and receive free calls via the Internet . This can be an incredible savings over time, particularly for businesses that regularly make international calls. However, to take full advantage of this innovative communications technology, you need to carefully evaluate VoIP providers and their service options before making the decision to abandon your current telephone system.
While there are an ever-growing number of VoIP providers to choose from, it's important to narrow your focus to only those that have a strong reputation for providing high quality VoIP services. For the most part, the companies that have been around the longest have the best service reputations. They have invested the time and capital to ensure that they are offering high-quality voice communications and extensive distribution networks.
Once you've identified your short list of possible providers, you'll want to carefully evaluate their offerings. Do not limit yourself by choosing a provider that offers only PC-to-PC calls. To truly take advantage of the benefits of VoIP, select one that also provides PC-to-phone calling and PC-to-mobile phone calling. If you do make long distance calls, check providers' free-calling destination list. Some offer free international calls to certain countries, as well as highly competitive rates on calls to other locations.
As well, you will want to ask about free value-added services. Quality VoIP providers frequently offer useful features such as multi-user voice conferencing , multi-user text collaboration , and instant messaging with presence for no additional cost. Once you've found the VoIP provider that meets your needs, getting started is truly as simple as downloading software. If you have a computer that has a built-in microphone and speakers, you don't need to purchase additional hardware. With just a PC and an internet connection, you can quickly transform your computer into a free internet phone. For optimal sound quality, you may want to invest in an inexpensive headset to use while on your calls.
Once you've selected a provider, you can request support and information to help you navigate through the steps toward transitioning your business over to VoIP. And, even if you decide not to completely transition all of your business's phones over, you can financially benefit from a blended communication system that allows you to use traditional phone service for local calls and VoIP phones for long distance.
About the Author:
Robert Pearlstein is Vice President for Business Development & Marketing for MediaRing Talk, a pioneering provider of VoIP services globally. Robert has over 18 years of experience in internet and communications technology and has been instrumental in the growth and development of VoIP. He holds an MBA from Thunderbird - The American Graduate School of International Management and has completed the Stanford Executive Management Program.
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com
Open Source Software - How to run your small business with the best FREE open source software
by Ian Anderson
For years huge software companies have dominated the software marketplace by charging businesses a hefty price for using their software. Thankfully there are software developers out there that offer a free alternative.
Open source software is usually as good as the commercial versions. Here is a list of commercial products and their open source alternatives (with descriptions) that you can use to run your small business – best of all these open source software titles are FREE!
- GENERAL OFFICE SOFTWARE (SPREADSHEET, WORD PROCESSING, PRESENTATIONS, ETC…)
Commercial Product: Microsoft Office Open Source Alternative: OpenOffice
OpenOffice has all the features you need to run you small business. The entire office suite is here, everything that Microsoft Word can do “Writer” can do for FREE. Need to keep track of information and perform sales/expense calculations in a spreadsheet, “Calc” can do it. Giving a presentation to potential customers on a projector? “Impress” can give you all the functionality you need in on-screen presentation software. There are more applications in suite so I recommend you download and install OpenOffice for free and compare the features before you go out and purchase Microsoft Office 2007 for $679.99. OpenOffice can be used on Apple and PCs.
- ZIPPING FILES Commercial Product: WinZip Open Source Alternative: 7-zip
For years I dealt with the “WinZip is NOT free software” message and waited for 150 days to count out before zipping my folders/files, now I don’t have to. If you (like most people) downloaded WinZip and did not buy it – don’t worry you don’t need to. Download 7-zip for free and get all the nice features of WinZip for free. I really like how it adds a new right-click menu entry for zipping files (just like WinZip).
- MIND MAPPING Commercial Product: Mindjet MindManager Open Source Alternative: FreeMind
The people that develop mind mapping software are amazing. The concept of being able to layout my ideas in a structured way, really helped me visualize certain aspects of my business that were complex and sometimes confusing. However when by trial of MindManager ran out, I had a problem – I didn’t want to spend $349 to get my ideas out of my head. Along came FreeMind.
FreeMind can do everything most people need when it comes to structuring your ideas, and as always - it is free. FreeMind can be used on Apple and PCs.
- CREATING A PDF Commercial Product: Adobe Acrobat/Adobe Distiller Open Source Alternative: PDFCreator
PDFs are a great way to get people to see your documents as you intended. The problem is making them. While the Adobe Acrobat can do this, the $449 price tag makes it very unattractive. Let me introduce PDFCreator.
PDFCreator basically adds a printer (that you can give a custom name) to your available printer list. When you are ready to convert any document to a PDF, use File > Print like you normally would, now choose your PDF printer from the list, hit Print (then save) and your done. It works great.
- CHECKING EMAIL Commercial Product: Microsoft Outlook Open Source Alternative: Mozilla Thunderbird
Nothing is as exciting as getting your own email address. Freeing yourself from the “@aol.com” stigma is a great thing. Now you have the problem of “How do I check my new email address if I don’t have AOL?” You have two options, buy Microsoft Outlook for $109.99 or download Mozilla Thunderbird for free. If you just need to be able to check your email, Mozilla Thunderbird is a great choice.
- CALLING PEOPLE THROUGH THE INTERNET (VOIP) Commercial Product: Vonage Open Source Alternative: Skype
Here is a funny story. I was using Vonage for about a year (paying $24.99 per month) when I heard about a new Skype deal ($29.95 for unlimited calling per YEAR) I was interested and wanted to cancel my Vonage account. I called Vonage support (because you can’t cancel your account online) and told them I wanted to cancel my Vonage account, of course they ask you why you want to leave. Not one to lie, I told the nice customer service rep that I was gong to switch to Skype, she asked why - bad idea. I told her about the $29.95 for unlimited calling per YEAR which is a yearly savings of $250 for my business, she said “However sir, are you aware that you have to talk through your computer’s microphone?” I said “No, that isn’t true, there are regular cordless phones that are compatible with Skype, so I can be anywhere in my office”. She was silent for a second. The she said “Did you know that with Vonage you can take your number with you to different locations, like if you move offices or between the office and home?” I replied “Yes, Skype can do that easier than Vonage”. She finally canceled my account.
You kind of get the idea of Skype VS. Vonage from my story, but here is something really cool – Belkin (and a few other manufacturers) have created Skype handsets that DO NOT need to be connected to a computer to use Skype. These devices connect through any open wireless network and make calls through Skype. This means that if you had one of these devices and the unlimited Skype account, you would have an unlimited use cell phone! Vonage can’t do that! Skype can be used on Apple and PCs.
As you can see from above, you can have some really great business software without having to pay the high price for commercial software. Don’t get me wrong, I think Microsoft and other big companies make great software titles, but if I can get a very similar version for FREE and save my business money (which means more money in MY pocket) - sorry Microsoft I am going with the open source versions.
If you need help finding and downloading any of the above open source titles, just contact me and I’ll help you out. Enjoy
Article Source: Amazines.com
Do Small Businesses Need Customer Relationship
Management (CRM)?
by
Leonie Bruning
Let's first define what exactly Customer Relationship Management is. The easiest way is to give an example: Every time you get in touch with a customer or prospect (still to be customer), you want to register the information regarding that contact. The more you know about your client, the better you can market your product or services in a personal way. You know exactly what your target customers need and want.
CRM is a combination of strategies, methods and best-practices to gather this information and organize it in an accessible way.
In former days, it was hard to do, because you had to write it all down and use a rolodex for the contact information, cardboard files to store orders and bills and there were many different places you could archive data. You can imagine how hard it was to retrieve specific information about a client or even worse, make a list of all prospects of the last 3 years that you sent a brochure. It would be almost impossible to select all customers that lived in a certain area, were 35 years of age and had small children.
Nowadays this is much easier to do, thanks to the software we can use. All information is linked to the customer and with a few mouse clicks you can compose any list you want. The software you use to accomplish this is called CRM software.
Coming back to the question "Do Small Businesses Need Customer Relationship Management (CRM) ?", the answer is definitively "Yes". Because, now more than ever, we must compete with the Big Companies. One of the strengths Small Businesses have compared to the bigger companies is the personal relationship we can (and have to) build with our customers. More and more customers expect to be treated in a personal way, in "real life" and online. Even if we send a big mailing (by normal mail or by e-mail), we have to make sure we address the recipient by their own name in the beginning of the letter instead of an impersonal "dear customer".
A good CRM system is essential to be able to do that in an efficient way. This does not mean that you have to buy one of those expensive CRM software packages.
Most Small Businesses already have the software they need, without being aware of it. I'm talking about Microsoft Outlook. This tool has many hidden features. But most of us only use it for email or the calendar. If you discover it's many flexible possibilities, you will realize how easy it is to stay completely up-to-date on your prospects and clients. You can register all you talked about with your contact, which documents you sent and when, appointment dates and things you have to finish by a certain date and time. Some things are even recorded automatically by Microsoft Outlook.
Using these features is done in an easy way if you have a System you can follow on a daily basis. If you know how to use Microsoft Outlook as a CRM-tool, you can gain hours of time and be totally in control of your sales process.
Leonie Bruning is a passionate international trainer, author, marketer and entrepreneur. She writes books, articles and tutorials to help entrepreneurs improve their business. Click here for your free sample of the eBook.
Article Source: BylamoArticles.com
Software for Your Home Business
by Zach Thompson
Operating a home business is rewarding and provides you with a great deal of freedom. With the high demands in the business world there are a lot of tasks that need to be completed in a home business. Software for your home business can save you both time and money. It is a great investment that will help your business to grow and prosper.
Often when people think about software for a home business, they automatically think that they cannot afford it. This is no longer true for the majority of cases. The good news is that you can download tons of free software from the internet that you can use in your business! Right at your fingertips is the solutions to help your business grow and prosper at a faster rate.
Another option for software for your business is trial versions of programs. You can download or purchase a trial version of a particular business software program. Install the new program on your computer and give it a try. If you like the program, you can have the option of ordering or upgrading to the full version. If you end up not liking the program, you are not losing any money from your wallet.
Many companies will offer you free software in exchange for filling out a product survey or even a thorough product review. This is a terrific way to obtain free business software programs that you can use for your home business without costing you a single penny. You have to invest a little bit of time and find the companies that offer these types of programs to customers. Also, you will need to take the time to fill out the surveys and do the reviews. A small amount of your time to receive free software for your home business is a great bargain that is definitely difficult to pass on.
One important piece of business software that you will need to stay on top of things is some sort of accounting software. You can use it to figure out employee taxes and wages. You can keep track of business expenses and income. You will want to automate and attend all of your accounting needs with one program that you can learn and make the most of for your time. Accounting done manually can cause many errors and end up costing your new business a great deal of money.
You will spend a great deal of time on the internet for networking and advertising your products or services. It is imperative that you have security software for your home business to protect your data and your computer. There are numerous freeware and shareware security programs that you can take advantage of for your business.
Organizational software is also wonderful for a home business. You can schedule appointments with clients, organize inventory, and even keep track of various events for both work and home. The good organizational software will provide calendars, business memos, to-do lists, task lists, and more.
Take advantage of the different software available for your business. It will save you time, money, and frustrations. You can often spend very little on great software for your home business.
Article Source: ArticleRich.com
Finding the Right Software Solutions for Your
Business
by
Adam Singleton
There is hardly a business in
existence now that doesn’t rely on at least one
computer to perform essential tasks. The bigger the
business becomes, the more likely it is that there
will be a network of computers involved, and even
more need for adequate software to do the jobs at
hand.
There are plenty of ready made solutions available
to help your growing business when it comes to
keeping accurate records, creating spreadsheets,
maintaining accounts and much more. But while these
products can be extremely useful they are not the
only solution on offer.
More and more businesses are discovering that they
can opt for a more personalised approach to the
software they are using. They are finding that the
very generic types of software on offer don’t always
have the capabilities that are required for certain
businesses.
For example, a retail business is run in a very
specific way. Not only do the sales need to be
recorded, but there is stock to be booked in,
returns to be logged and many more types of
transactions that are very common when running a
shop of some kind, whatever size it may be.
If your business involves running a hotel however,
you will have a very different set of requirements
that will need to be met. You won’t be selling
stock, but you will need to keep an accurate record
of each room that is booked out and when, while also
keeping an eye on how many staff you need and when
you need them. As you can see, every type of
business has its own set of requirements, and using
the same software program for both of these
businesses is bound to leave gaps in certain areas.
Rather than buying an “off the peg” style of
software, some businesses are now seeking the help
of a
business software company to provide them with
computer programs that are tailored towards their
own kind of industry.
This approach is packed with benefits. It can save a
lot of time which is usually lost trying to plug the
gaps left by the more traditional software packages.
If you use software that is designed especially for
your type of business, you will find it much easier
to use, manage and keep track of.
Another key benefit lies in the ability it gives you
to track your progress, profits and losses far more
accurately. In this sense, although targeted
software like this tends to be more expensive in the
beginning, it will pay for itself many times over in
the long run, and is well worth the investment.
So if you are currently struggling with keeping up
to date records for your business, it might be time
to rethink your approach.
This article is provided by Amazines.com
How to Boost Business Productivity and Spark Innovation Using the Tools you Already Have
by Rich Talbot
There are two ways to make a business more profitable without adding more employees. The first is to find more efficient ways to do the things you're already doing. The second is to do the things you're already doing, better. This sounds logical in theory, but as a business owner, how can you really encourage the individual employees in the office to become more efficient and more innovative in their job functions? The answer is training.
All of the most successful Fortune 500 companies offer continuous ongoing training for their employees. Training not only shows employees efficient ways of doing things, but also does wonders for revitalizing excitement in the task itself. One of the most all-encompassing employee training programs today is the suite of Microsoft Office courses.
When asked what these courses might include, many people assume that Microsoft Office courses probably only cover topics like how to use spell check in Word or how to add cells in Excel. In reality, the Microsoft Office suite is an extremely robust set of software products that when used at full capacity can to improve the efficiency of every person that uses a computer.
The full suite includes Project, Access, FrontPage, PowerPoint, Word, Excel, Outlook, and Visio. Further, there are complete Microsoft Office courses, often no longer than a few days in length, that can show your employees not only how to do their jobs more efficiently, but also how to find new and innovative ways of interacting with their data.
The possibilities for innovation and advancement in an office that is fully utilizing this powerful suite of software are endless. After taking a Microsoft Office course, an inventory management team may discover smarter methods of predicting buying trends by matching sales with buyer profiles through Microsoft Access. Managers may uncover different parallels in their department figures by utilizing new graphing features in Excel. A sales team may find a way to automate 90% of their sales pitch through professional, interactive, web-based PowerPoint shows.
If your employees aren't fully utilizing the potential of the software you already own, then your company is certainly under-utilizing the potential of its current workforce. Smart tools in the hands of a person educated on how to use them completely change the results yielded.
Imagine that you were to hand each of your employees the latest digital camera and image editing software but offered them no form of training. The majority of people will figure out how to take a picture, but won't go beyond that to explore how to take better pictures. Others will try different things and learn through trial and error. Some may read the manual and learn how to truly utilize the potential of the tools. However, send them all off for a few days of instructor-led training on how to correctly use the features of the camera and software, and it's guaranteed that productivity and quality will improve drastically.
Can you afford for the work your business produces to be the result of trial and error? Not only will you immediately notice a boost in productivity after taking Microsoft Office courses, but the majority of your employees will find more innovative ways of interacting with the information they work with on a daily basis using the tools you already have in your office.
Author is a freelance copywriter. Are you interested in MS Office courses? Please visit microsofttraining.net for more information on instructor-led training.
Article Source: BylamoArticles.com
Do I Really Need QuickBooks for My Start-Up Business? And, How the Heck Do I Figure Out Which One?
by Todd Jensen
If you own a start-up business, you’ve probably heard over and over again that you should get QuickBooks for your business. This can be a great idea for most businesses, but the dizzying array of choices can leave any business owner reeling.
First, consider why QuickBooks should be your first choice.
QuickBooks was the first nationally recognized accounting software program designed for business owners, rather than accountants. Starting in 1992, QuickBooks software has made computerized accounting accessible to every business owner.
QuickBooks uses real accounting methods, but allows users unfamiliar with accounting theory to record business transactions using everyday forms. Most regular business transactions can be entered into the computer by filling out traditional invoices, bills, checks, and deposits.
While the accounting profession in general turned up their nose at this revolution, business owners quickly embraced QuickBooks. QuickBooks listened and learned from its users, and, 15 years later, now has the most widely used accounting software. In fact, I have heard estimates that over 80% of U.S. businesses use registered copies of QuickBooks.
Right now, QuickBooks is really your best option in small business accounting software. Microsoft’s Small Business Accounting looks promising, but would not be my recommendation for a start-up business.
If you rarely turn on your computer, don’t feel bad or guilty about not buying QuickBooks. If you won’t use it, it really is just a waste of money. Find a good accountant who can put your information together on a monthly basis (this is called a write-up service by accountants), and move on to the things you do well.
If you just want to way to save time in certain areas of your business, such as creating checks or keeping track of accounts receivable, you can pair QuickBooks with a write-up service. This is a very good choice for many small or start-up businesses.
If you want access to real-time business information, and are ready to computerize 100%, then find a good QuickBooks accountant to help you set up and maintain your data file. QuickBooks makes business accounting much easier than traditional accounting packages, but it’s best to have a qualified accountant review your file quarterly, at a minimum.
If you want to hire a professional, you can use an outsourcing service to enter all of your accounting details in your file for you, allowing you to use the software as a management tool to monitor company profitability.
The options to use QuickBooks as a business tool are limited only by your imagination, but the deciding on a QuickBooks version can be somewhat like picking out an ice cream flavor-they are all good, but some may not be the right fit for you.
If your business is truly mobile, and you need to have access by multiple users in multiple locations, you can use the online version. The first 1-3 users cost around $20 per month. The earlier online versions were somewhat limited, but the 2007 version provides almost all the features of QuickBooks Pro. Processing time may be somewhat slower than using in-house software, if your internet connection is slow, but the monthly fee allows you to access the latest version without paying for upgrades. This is a great option for mobile businesses or service businesses that have users in multiple physical locations.
If you are just getting started with accounting software, and do not plan on using QuickBooks for payroll, you may want to consider the new Simple Start version. The retail cost is around $100, and this version can perform all the other basic accounting functions. You cannot have multiple users with Simple Start. This is the "no-frills" option, and good for many small or home businesses, and even gives you the option of adding credit card processing for an additional fee.
If you plan on using QuickBooks for payroll, you need to purchase QuickBooks Pro or higher. QuickBooks Pro is the best option for most small businesses, at a cost of about $200 retail per copy. You can add multiple users by purchasing additional copies, and can perform all but the most specialized accounting functions.
If you would like reports and charts of accounts pre- set by industry, QuickBooks offers a variety of Premier versions. The Premier version has a more advanced inventory assembly function, as well as functions for business plans and forecasts. The Premier version was offered on the QuickBooks website for about $340, discounted from the regular almost $400 retail price when I wrote this. If you are a contractor, manufacturer that wants to use QuickBooks for inventory, or a professional service provider that needs to set up multiple billing rates, you should invest the extra in the Premier version.
If you are a new QuickBooks user, the extra bells and whistles in the Premier version probably are not worth the extra cost, unless you would like a specialized pre-set chart of accounts. If you purchase the Accountant’s version, you can "toggle" to each of the other industry versions, allowing access to ALL the industry versions for the same cost. (Hint here: Buy the Accountant’s version if you purchase Premier).
Most start-up businesses will not need to look further than this, but QuickBooks does have an Enterprise version for larger businesses or groups that need more than five users. The cost ranges from $3,000 to $7,500, depending on the number of users. The beauty of this is that your company will have to get pretty dang large before you completely grow out of QuickBooks The changes in this version makes it very plausible that your company could potentially use QuickBooks forever, regardless of how big you grow. As more dedicated QuickBooks users grow out of the smaller versions, the capabilities of the Enterprise version continue to expand.
If you are a dedicated Mac user, QuickBooks 2007 finally has a new Mac version. It is very similar to QuickBooks Pro, but has the ability to share data between Mac and Windows, which is great, as most accountants use the Windows version. It retails for about $200.
QuickBooks payroll requires an additional fee, ranging from $69 to $254 per year. Alternatively, you can use their payroll tax deposit services for a monthly fee, like a traditional payroll service bureau.
If you plan on using QuickBooks for payroll, look at the payroll options first, as you can sometimes add software upgrades at a reduced price if you include them in with your annual payroll subscription. QuickBooks payroll usually only supports the latest releases, so plan on upgrading at least every other year if you want to continue to use the payroll tax tables.
Bottom line, use the online edition if you must have users in separate physical locations, or would like to be able to use the software from both work and home. Simple Start is your option if you do not have payroll and only need one user. Buy Premier if you like the extra bells and whistles, or have specialized needs. Everyone else, use QuickBooks Pro.
The great thing about QuickBooks is that your data file can transfer between types, except online. So, don’t worry if you want to use Simple Start. Keep growing your business, and you eventually will be big enough to need the Enterprise version, and hopefully profitable enough to be happy to pay for it!
Discover Why Most Businesses Fail and What Are the 10 Steps You Should Follow to Dramatically Increase Your Odds of Success. Todd Jensen Explains What Are the Things You Need to Do to Start a Successful Enterprise and How Do You Avoid the Traps That Cause Business Failure.
FREE Details:==> http://www.freebusinessstartupinfo.com
Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com
Contact Management Systems Track Your Marketing Efforts
Contact management systems allow you to track which marketing techniques are working and which aren't. With an effective contact management system in place you can see at a glance how much time you are spending with leads and from which sources you are getting the best leads.
A contact management system is like a mini Profit and Loss Statement. In it you track your activities and results for different marketing channels: referral marketing, seminars, direct mail, joint ventures, etc... For each lead source you should track the following type of information:
How much time you spent How much money you spent How many paying clients it brought in How much revenue was generated
From this type of information your contact management system can calculate:
How much time it costs to acquire a lead and client The dollar cost per lead and client The total cost involved per lead and client Conversation percentages Number leads to number of clients Revenue per lead Revenue per client
To get the most benefit from a contact management system you have to be disciplined. You need to consistently record how much time you spend on each lead and client over a period of time. If you update your contact management system every month you should be able to keep on top of what is happening.
Bottom Line on Contact Management Systems Contact management systems provide a wealth of information. By recording data related to your lead and client generation you can track what you are doing, what is working, what's not and then make sound marketing decisions. Using a contact management system gives you the confidence you need to dump the things that aren't working and concentrate your time and money on those that are.
Copyright MMI-MMVII, Computer Consulting 101. All Worldwide Rights Reserved. {Attention Publishers: Live hyperlink in author resource box required for copyright compliance}
About the Author
Joshua Feinberg, co-founder of Computer Consulting 101, helps computer consulting business owners get more steady, high-paying clients. Learn how you can too with free proven computer consulting secrets at http://www.ComputerConsulting101.com
Article Source: Amazines.com
Remember when you shopped at the corner store where the owner knew all his customers by name? He knew your tastes and needs and could often predict what you'd buy. And you rewarded him with your continued custom and loyalty. People often lament the loss of this personal touch in business. After all, it's hardly possible for a company with a vast product line and a global customer base. Well think again, because Customer Relationship Management (CRM) allows you to create that personal touch and gain the trust and loyalty of your customers. Read on and find out how.
Customers are the greatest asset your business has so it makes sense to take care of them as much as possible. For one thing, serving existing customers is very cost effective in the long run (acquiring new customers costs up to five times as much as serving existing ones). What's more, this reputation for service enhances your company's reputation which leads to even more business. It's a win-win situation, but how do you manage it in the modern complex business environment? That's where CRM comes in.
With its origins in database marketing, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is essentially a strategic use of IT to develop your relationship with your customers. CRM software uses sophisticated data analysis to glean insights into customer behaviour and requirements. This lets you so determine their precise wants and needs. And equally importantly, it makes sure that information is in the hands of those who actually deal with your customers so they can deliver what the customer wants and needs.
To illustrate the value of CRM to your company, we'll look at three major applications: sales force productivity, customer service, and marketing effectiveness.
CRM boost sales force productivity in many ways. Firstly, it provides accurate the up-to-date information that the sales force needs. But strategic CRM also provides the tools to put that data into use. This empowers your sales team. They can now focus totally on the customer's needs without being distracted by the mechanics of the operation.
For this to happen, you need a CRM solution that enables your sales operation to share information. This will allow them to instantaneously create custom quotes and proposals and configure products and services to meet customer needs. It's essentially a matter of personalisation and all part of providing an exceptional customer experience.
Next we'll look at how CRM works in the all important field of customer service. Customer service involves forging a relationship with your customers. It requires developing responsiveness to their needs. This requires information that is timely, accurate, and readily available to those who need it. It's a vital way to differentiate your business. And let's not forget after-sales service. CRM gives you the tools to follow up on all customer transactions and let your customers know you're there to support them.
Finally, there's the all important factor of marketing effectiveness. CRM's role here is to use technology to create, automate, manage and track the efficacy of your marketing programs. This means firstly having the right tools. These tools will give you a clear picture of your market and so allow you to develop targeted and personalised marketing campaigns. What's more, they will enable you to optimally allocate funds and produce accurate forecasts. Targeting your campaigns will be improved too. For example, you can set up a system to group together customers with similar profiles to target with a marketing campaign.
Essentially, CRM is the application of IT to the age-old methodology of taking care of your customers. The man in the corner shop could keep all the data in his head. But in the complexity and volatility of the modern business environment, you need the strategic IT driven CRM solution. Using effective CRM can mean the difference between success and failure. Efficiency translates into increased customer satisfaction, your competitive edge, and ultimately, improved ROI.
David Wong is the owner and founder of Bright Blue CRM Australia, specialist customer relationship management (CRM) consulting company that offers innovative CRM software solutions to help manage your customers better.
Article Source: BylamoArticles.com
By karthic
The best of business software applications
In the last few decades we have witnessed a revolution as computer technology has virtually invaded all aspects of our lives. Businesses are no different.
Today, there are very few businesses that are governed manually. Most businesses run on a completely automated system that not only increases the speed, but also increases the efficiency of the business.
The business model
The business models that we see today are far more precise in their decision making thanks to business software applications. If you are a newbie into business and are left wondering which business software applications are ideal for your business, then you are not alone.
There are several new companies who have no idea which software to choose.
Choosing Business Software Applications
When it comes to choosing business software applications, you need to ask yourself a few simple questions.
• What is your business model?
• Is it a large, small or medium sized business?
• What is your budget?
When you have the answers to these questions, you can easily shortlist a few business software applications from the rest.
Then it comes down to personal preferences and comparisons. You can draw a comparison between the business software applications and see which one suits your business model the best.
For example, not all companies have the infrastructure or the resources to allow their employees to undergo training to adapt to the new software. Hence they opt for an easy to use software interface that can be mastered with a few clicks.
On demand
If none of the business software applications suit your business, then you might have to look for software on demand.
This software is specially created for your business and its unique needs. The cost of software on demand is obviously higher when compared to the more regular software.
For more information on business software applications visit :
http://www.sbzone.com/business-software-application.html
Article Source: Free-Articles-Zone.com
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