The New Year can be a golden opportunity for diminutive business owners to turn their struggling or failing business around. If you spent 2008 crying over a bank account that seemed perpetually empty, rejoice! I’m going to show a few simple changes to make to your business that will slash your expenses and increase your sales. All while making your company more profitable than ever before.
Incorporating your Ten Resolutions into a single document is key to making this change. That document of course, is the Business Plan. You can’t sustain it in your head and you certainly can’t sustain it “somewhere” in your computer. Create a plan and effect it down on paper. A paper document can be posted above your desk and will always be visible, which will assist to preserve you on track. Within this plan, we’ll write ten resolutions that will make 2009 your best year to date.
To start, you need some basics. What were your expenses last year? Collect out your old receipts, cancelled checks, notes, tax returns and anything else you have that will detail where your money went in 2008. Total up your expenses. How much went to sales and marketing? How worthy to employees? What did you pay the power company, how much to your landlord? Break it all down into separate categories. Rent, utilities, taxes, accounting fees, gasoline, etc. Now you’re ready to commence.
Resolution 1. Decide upon your sales goals. How much money do you want to make? A monthly and yearly sales goal will bring focus to your company and harness wasted energy. You’ll use this energy, to focus your efforts on bringing in the dollars needed to meet your goals. So go ahead and write down your monthly sales goals. Add these twelve sales goals up, and you’ll get the yearly sales goal. Now you have specific goals to try and attain. Congratulations, your company now has a direction!
Resolution 2. This resolution will deal with your Cost of Sale. Put simply, this means the amount of money you will expend on labor and on your supplies and materials to complete a job. Keep in mind that only those dollars paid to labor and supplies and materials related to completing a specific job count as Cost of Sale. Wireless phone bills for example, are not Cost of Sale items since a cell phone is outmoded for other company business like marketing or shipping. Sixty hours of labor at Mrs. Jones’s house and 185 pieces of lumber are examples of Cost of Sale items.
Resolution 3. Figure out how worthy you’ll have to utilize each month on your General and Administrative expenses. This includes insurance, gas, telephones, uniforms, advertising and anything else that is not Cost of Sale. There are fixed costs that don’t change from month to month. These are things like rent, car payments, salary payments to employees who are not paid hourly and marketing and advertising budgets.
Now survey at your Cost of Sale number and your General and Administrative Expenses number. Add these two together and you have your Total Expenses. If you then subtract your Total Monthly Expense from your Monthly Sales Goal number, you can see how much profit you’re expecting to obtain. Eye opening can be an understatement! Perhaps for the first time ever, you can identify why you haven’t made money despite your hard work!
Resolution 4. This one is particularly important. Adjust your monthly sales goal numbers so that you near out to a profit every month. This will usually mean raising the number considerably. Your banker will be happy. You’ll be happy too. So what are you waiting for? Raise those sales goals to start keeping more of the money you effect every day.
Resolution 5. Set a marketing budget. Marketing your business is a science of it’s own. How much will you spend every month to promote yourself? Some companies will spend ten percent of gross sales, some only one percent. When you decide what is most pleasant to your business, write the number down and stick to it every month. You now have control of your marketing dollars.
Resolution 6. State a half hour aside every week to track your progress. Look at the numbers on your business plan. How close to your sales goal are you for the week? How much have you spent of labor? Do you have to adjust things to keep your company on track? You may find that sales are too low and your salespeople will have to spend more time knocking on doors and less time sitting in the office! Expenses too high so early in the week? Cut labor hours, avoid stocking up on your weekly supplies, do what you have to in order to bring those Cost of Sale numbers down!
Resolution 8. Keep your understanding visible. Make sure that your thought is printed out and posted in a visible place. If you can’t see it, you can’t manage it! Too many times a grand idea is jotted down on a memo pad and then shoved into a desk drawer where it’s forgotten. The cold hard numbers you’ve detailed and put down on paper should be staring you in the face throughout the day.
Resolution 9. Decide what additional expenditures you need to view for, and then fabricate allowances for them in your Busness View. Keep in mind that at points throughout the year you will need to budget for additional expenses to facilitate business growth. If you want a secretary by March, you’ll need to factor that increase in labor costs. Will this new employee need a desk? A computer and a phone system? Write it down within the Business Plan you’re creating. When March comes, you will be prepared to spend the money necessary.
Resolution 10. Reach your monthly sales goals by the twenty fifth day of each month. Why would you do this? Simple really, if you meet your goal by the twenty fifth each month, by November you will have reached your Yearly Sales Goal. So in December you’ve in effect given yourself an extra month to boost sales. Attaining this goal regularly will also allow some cushion for slow periods of business throughout the year, strikes, natural disasters, etc.
The New Year can be a immense year for your business. It will take consistency and dedication to sticking with the 2009 Business Plan. But if you can do it, you’ll find your bank anecdote swelling, your headaches vanishing and your company growing solid. Make 2009 the first of many good years to come.
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Filed under Small Business Phone Lines by on Oct 10th, 2011. 
Are you a freelancer? Are you currently working an in house job, while doing freelance work on the side hoping to some day compose it your full-time gig? If you are, you should seriously consider starting/establishing yourself as a small business in order to procure tax breaks, increased profit and an organized system for earning money.
One of the first things you should do in order to establish yourself as a professional, and get your services out there among the others, is to get a website. I don’t mean “blog” I mean professional website, your own domain name, displaying your work, portfolio, services, credentials, etc. Most people are not impressed initially with a blog of your work, sorry to say. While blogs are fantastic, they’re not included in what I call a business website.
If you’re used to blogs and want complete control over the content on your website while collected having a professional web design, you HAVE to check out Websitenabox.com. They offer free hosting, free domain name, unique design packages and their own custom software that lets you log in to your site and update/edit/add content and menu items.
Establishing any freelance gig(s) as a small business of some kind is almost always a good idea. Why? Because depending upon the type of small business you establish, you will profit big time at the end of the year for tax season, by doing nothing more than filling out a few forms that establish your freelance work as an actual “business.” Also, contrary to what you might think, it is not very hard and well worth the small amount of effort.
It’s even easier with websites that offer Books, Kits, Software and Forms
for easy and do-it-yourself business launch up forms. Check out their Small Business/Startups Products
In addition to saving you money, starting a exiguous business has many other benefits. First of all, you will organize your work more thoroughly ensuring that you keep track of all profit, income and expenditures. Second of all, establishing yourself on paper and legally as a business leaves your business entity commence for investors. Now, you might be thinking…”Investors? Yea apt!” But, you’d be surprised at the amount of money someone is willing to invest in a decent idea. Look at it from the investor’s stand point…
Put my loads of money is a savings account and fetch 5% or take a chance on a business owner, who has already proved they would invest in themselves and likely salvage 10 times that in 5 years less or more.
Alright, now I’m just about threw convincing you to commence a small business if you are currently solo gig freelancer. Now, I will give you some tips on how to do it RIGHT.
Read my article on Tools for starting a dinky business for some more mammoth information!
-Write a business plan. It might seem redundant, but trust me, it will organize your thoughts, organize your “business” and give you a better idea of how to truly earn a profit.
-Buy Quickbooks Simple Start. It’s the simplest of the quickbooks exiguous business accounting programs, it’s very inexpensive, has limitless capabilities and is also incredibly easy to work. Just think, if you could really document and track the amount of money you make vs. the amount you spend, give yourself a budget and organize your earnings, how much easier will it be to turn a higher profit? Considerable EASIER. You’ll know exactly what you need to earn to break even and/or fetch a profit, while planning for the coming months/years.
-Fill out the forms, and win it done! Go to the Small Busines Administration website and see how easy it is and research what you’re doing.
-Once established, keep ALL reciepts. Depending on the type of business you start, almost everything can be a write off.
Gas money to discuss the company plans with your family
Software
Computers
Hardware
Pencils
Office supplies
Electricity for the room that you do your work in
Phone bill
Internet billYou get the drift, make yourself a business entity and relish the benefits of it.
Last tip, an LLC (limited liability corporation) is objective about the best route for any new business. Check out the basics of what it is, and see if it’s right for you!
Read my article on Tools for starting a runt business for some more immense information!
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Filed under Small Business Phone Lines by on Jul 9th, 2011.
Ask any small business owner for a list of their biggest troubles or most aggressive goals, and there are undoubtedly a few things that will be on every entrepreneurs list. Almost all small business owners suffer the same basic hurdles as they work to gain their share of the market. These hurdles are most commonly: Staying in touch with what competitors are doing, staying in touch with customers, effectively marketing goods and services, and finally, staying organized and communicating their ideas and needs to vendors, investors and customers.
Luckily, small businesses are returning to the landscape in full force as large corporations continue to struggle in a lagging economy. This shift from mass-employment to entrepreneurship has spurred on many low-cost and easy to use advances in technology that effect today’s limited business just a little bit easier to manage and grow. Here’s a list of my common geek-chic tech gadgets you cannot live without to help your runt business get a leg up on the competition (and maybe even fabricate some of those tremendous box stores a little jealous).
Getting Brilliant With SmartPhones
Smartphones have taken the pocket-toting media world by storm with their ability to store music, take photos, watch YouTube on the bus and play games on airplanes. But have you considered putting your smartphone to work for you?
I fell in love with the Motorola Droid and HTC Droid earlier this year, and just as other small business owners can attest, when you learn to use the apps effectively they can make business a whole lot easier. Jam packed with thousands of application options, I’ve got a short list of my personal favorites where it comes to managing a small business.
First, the instant access to the internet on Verizon’s 3G network makes comparison shopping a dart. It doesn’t matter whether you find your supplies at a warehouse in the industrial district, or remove up your fare at garage sales, using Google – or better yet scanning product bar-codes – to recognize what prices are being charged elsewhere will give you a leg-up when it comes to negotiating the best prices. Another mammoth feature is the ability to check your business mail while on the go. No need to hunt for WiFi or lug around a laptop when you can read and compose e-mail with a device small enough to fit in your pocket.
My next well-liked feature, particularly with the Motorola Droid, is the easy to use GPS and navigation system. All it takes is a car-dock and a few taps of the screen to procure you going in the right direction without having to purchase a separate GPS unit. Great for small business owners who are always working in unusual territory, the ability to map and navigate on the go saves a ton of time and aggravation.
Facebook and Twitter Marketing Tools
One of the biggest leaps in exiguous business technology is the ability to connect with customers, vendors, clients and investors without having to leave your desk. Social Networking is a new marketing concept that is taking businesses by storm because of its ease of use, low cost and tangible results.
Not only is setting up an account for your miniature business easy, it’s most often also free. Unlike faded marketing campaigns that advertise on a broad scale hoping that consumers are listening, social networking gives small businesses a platform to announce new products, news and announcements directly to customers where they are paying the most attention.
Don’t have a spacious marketing budget? No problem. I have spent the last several months playing with marketing on Facebook and have discovered that there are multiple strategies that work for small business owners trying to attract the attention of consumers. First, if you’re willing to learn the ins and outs of Facebook and Twitter, you can attract customers to your page simply by interacting with them yourself and being available to answer questions and comments in real-time. If instead you want to integrate a true marketing campaign, Facebook Ads allows you to tailor fit a marketing campaign to you that can be as broad or dialed-in as you want. I was able to create marketing campaigns that only reached people within 50 miles of my business, within an age range that I clear, that had a status of keywords that I chose, and the waste result was a campaign that resulted in over 30,000 impressions for a little over $11.
Skype Connectivity
Skype is a concept that has been slow to bleed into the business world, viewed by many as simply another way to chat online with friends similarly to how Yahoo and MSN chat have been used in the past. Skype is now starting to turn the heads of small business owners as they continue to add new features and capabilities that can be integrated into businesses for free that were once only available to huge businesses with expensive infrastructures.
Not honest for internet phone service any more, Skype now also allows runt businesses the opportunity to use V-Calls for free. Reducing the need for rented meeting spaces, travel and time away from customers, V-Calls allow exiguous businesses to video conference over a high quality video system that is smooth and detailed enough for displaying charts and graphs as well as talking “face to face”.
Skype has also introduced Conference Calling services, a product that has previously been too costly for many small businesses. Using conference calling allows business owners to connect simultaneously with customers and business partners when working on large projects and conduct phone meetings with multiple employees or vendors at once. For a negligible fee, conference calling can even be used with landlines and mobile phones so you don’t have to manage getting everyone set up with Skype before the meeting.
Traditional chat is also available, as well as file sharing, screen-to-screen sharing for presentations or providing customer support, and a laundry list of other products. The wide variety of useful tools available for free or very inexpensive rates makes Skype a perfect communication tool for small business.
Going Paperless
Keeping organized between meetings, sales presentations, accounts payable and receivable and all the other day to day activities of a small business can be a daunting task, and the technology sector has responded with inexpensive ways to stay organized and keep small businesses Green.
One of the many colossal Green-Tech products that come in handy when working in the field are Digital Notepads. Although they look just like any other clipboard, digital notepads like the ADESSO CyberPad automatically saves everything that you write on the surface. Great for keeping track of meeting notes, digitizing sketched designs and inspired doodles, the ADESSO CyberPad dramatically reduces the amount of paper that you have to keep track of. Instead of having stacks of paper on your desk with notes and sales records that have to be manually entered into the system, digital pads achieve every pen stroke as an e-file that you can later download to your computer.
As small businesses continue to pop up everywhere, these spacious tech gadgets are certainly some you cannot live without and will support to propel you ahead of the pack. The best tool that any business owner can have is the ability to change and adapt to match customer needs. More than ever customers are looking for businesses that are easily accessible, have a firm grasp on what is going on in the industry they record, treat them like people and not customer numbers, and marketing in a way that is fine and non-intrusive. Applying the technology mentioned here, as well as other tools and services designed for small business will help your business to not only stop afloat, but to prosper.
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Filed under Small Business Phone Lines by on Apr 27th, 2011.
For a business that is honest starting out and has a limited budget, an Internet-based phone system will save money, provide maximum flexibility and make a great first impression on customers. In the past, businesses that have wanted a sophisticated phone system have had to spend thousands of dollars to purchase and install hardware, only to be locked into equipment that quickly becomes obsolete. By using an Internet-based phone system (sometimes called a virtual pbx) the business owner can be up and running within minutes for very little upfront cost, and will always have the most up-to-date technology at his or her disposal.
There are many companies that offer Internet-hosted phone systems. In choosing one, you will want to consider the features offered, any set-up charges (which are typically less than $100), the monthly account charge, and any charges for calls made and received. If you already have a phone number, you will want to check if it can be ‘ported’, or transferred to the new provider. Most companies offer both toll-free numbers and local phone, so if you are getting a fresh number, you’ll need to choose. You may also want to check if you will contain the number, which will allow you to transfer to a different provider in the future.
The central feature of a hosted phone system is the auto attendant. When callers dial your number, the auto attendant will retort the call and present a list of extensions and other options. In addition to listing available extensions, many auto attendants include dial-by-name capability. Once the caller chooses an extension, the auto attendant will either send the caller directly to voice mail or else ring one or more physical numbers for a set amount of time before sending unanswered calls to voice mail. It is up to you to program the attendant to follow the sequence of actions you wish, and this can vary by extension, time of day, and day of the week. The actual phone can be located anywhere – in your office, across town, or in another county.
Although a hosted phone system can be dwelling up using standard phone lines, the most flexibility and cost savings are achieved when you spend the system with VoIP phone lines (calls are transmitted via the Internet), and IP phones designed to plug directly into your local spot network. While this will increase your initial cost, it is well worth the investment.
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Filed under Small Business Phone Service by on Apr 21st, 2011.
COMPUTERS
General Information
Home Office
The in-home office has the same basic requirements as the one-person office. The exception to this is that the in-home office computer user may have stricter place limitations than the one-person office. The in-home user needs to be concerned with getting the business application programs that fill their needs without being too complex to run. For example, in a mufti-user office there is usually an accountant to run the accounting package and a programmer to speed the database package. However, in an in-home office there is no one to study the subtleties of the individual software packages, so software that runs a variety of programs supplemented by any special purpose business programs is recommended. The type of computer needed can then be definite by the requirements of the software packages selected. Consult your local dealer for more information concerning special software titles.
Physically Challenged Computer Users
The physically challenged computer user has a wide variety of software to choose from. Depending on the user’s particular needs, software can be purchased to complete the desired task. Any special hardware to help the user control the computer can also be purchased or created. A variety of special hardware is available, ranging from mouth activated controls to specially adapted keyboards. Special software is also available for enlarging screen text for observe impairment, and reading program menus and screen text for the blind. For more information on products available for the physically challenged contact your local computer dealer, or call the national support center for persons with disabilities at 1-800-426-2133.
Student Computer Users
The student computer user has some special buying concerns. The student should try to buy the same package that they are learning at school, or a compatible product, if possible. This helps the student learn programming without having to translate the classroom examples from one version to another for use at home. There are usually low cost software products that have some of the features ragged in the more expensive packages taught in school. Consult your school for a list of the packages feeble in clear computer based courses.
Household System
There are two important questions a home computer buyer should ask. Do I want a computer for entertainment and game playing, or will I use it to bring work home, do personal finances, or help the children with homework? If the system is just to be used for games then the buyer should look into buying a game system. These cost less than a personal computer and are considerable better at playing arcade style games than personal computers. If a home computer is needed for other purposes, then the buyer should look for software packages that can do several functions, or software that does exactly what they need the computer for. If the user will be bringing work home, then the software packages used at home must be compatible with what is extinct at work. Once software packages have been chosen, the type of computer needed can be determined. For more information on household computer systems, please contact your local computer dealer.
What about Computer Service?
The place to get service for a computer depends on where and when it was purchased. Computer dealers will usually repair what they sell for free within the first few weeks or months after the sale, depending on the dealer’s warranty policy. For service after that, most dealers will sell warranty extensions, which may or may not include on site service. Some computer dealers will repair computers that were purchased elsewhere for a fee. If there is no local computer dealer to go to, there are service centers for different makes of computers that take computers from across the country. The drawback with the service center approach is that you may have to pay the shipping costs and it usually takes longer to rep your system encourage. If all other options have been tried, some computer manufacturers will repair their models for a fee. Sending a computer back to the manufacturer has the same drawback as the service center approach.
Which Computer Is Best for You?
The first time computer buyer should first figure out why they want a computer. Is it for balancing the family budget? For storing recipes? To help with school work or to bring work home from the office? The new buyer should then find out which software packages are available in their price range that do the task desired. The next step is to find out what computer hardware is needed to run the chosen software packages. Is a color monitor needed, or will a black and white monitor work? How worthy memory is necessary to bustle the software you need? Is a mouse recommended for use with the software you’ve chosen? This information, and more, can be found in computer magazines and from your local computer dealers.
Computers in the Future
In the future the majority of people will be computer literate as computers become easier to use and become share of many more well-liked devices. We are already seeing the microchips that make up a computer being manufactured in everything from wrist watches to cars. The computer will become so commonplace it will become part of certain major home appliances. Most of the everyday devices that a person uses in the future will be controlled or supplemented by a computer. Computers will continue to decrease in size while gaining in power. Secondary storage media, like floppy disks, will remain approximately the same size, but a tremendous leap in capacity is expected.
Education
Self-study of Computers
Due to the popularity of personal computers there are many different resources such as books, magazines, audio cassettes, video tapes and self-study programs to help a user learn more about their computer system. These covered topics range from software of all descriptions to hardware and how to fix it. Almost all of the self-study material is available through major book chains or computer stores. Different types of computer users use different resources. New users can pick up a wide variety of introductory materials to get started but almost every advanced user, whether they are a programmer or a spreadsheet expert, have at least two or three books of reference for seldom broken-down options and newer versions of programs.
Vocational Schools
There are many vocational schools available to get people the training they need to become a professional in the computer industry. Most such schools are geared toward training programmers or repair technicians, though many are expanding their curriculum to include systems analyst and design. Most vocational schools provide all their training at, or just under a year’s time. To supplement their training, most schools also have job placement assistance. Pricing varies but the vast majority of schools provide financing. This is a good option for people who know what field they are involved in, but do not want to use the time, or take the extra courses that a college or university requires.
Private Teachers
Private personal computer teachers can be found in many larger cities. This type of training is generally more focused than what is found in vocational or public schools. This type of training is recommended for those who know specifically what subjects or even what areas of certain subjects they want to learn. The private teacher can create a one-on-one course that very closely follows what the student is eager in. This also has the advantage of being a faster way to learn about a given subject, more than the weak classroom. Private teachers also impose no prerequisites or required classes, as most schools do. The disadvantage of this type of training is the increased cost of a teacher’s undivided attention. If the cost is not out of reach, the increased control over what is taught is enough for many to choose this type of training for the software package they use the most. Local users groups are a good place to initiate when looking for a private teacher.
User Groups
One of the best sources for information about what is available for your computer, or for serve when using your computer, are local user groups. Local user groups allow users to share software tips and swap notes on how well a particular package handles a particular problem. Users often compare local dealer experiences to help one another find the best sources for hardware, software, or training in the area. The advantage is that these are trusty users with real problems, not fair a sample problem made for a demonstration of product. Depending on how many volunteers there are, and how well organized, local user groups often keep a library of free or reduced cost software for all of the members to copy for their personal computers. Many user groups have structured periods to expose a program that a member may not be familiar with. Almost all user groups have, at some point, a free form question and answer period. User groups occasionally print and distribute a newsletter outlining the last meeting, next meeting, and containing some useful software tips. The cost of membership is usually nominal. Membership is highly recommended for current computer users as they can learn from the more experienced user and avoid costly mistakes and a lot of frustration.
Internet
What Is the Internet?
The Internet is a super highway that can connect you and your computer to other people and their computers located throughout the world. When using the Internet, a person can chat with other people, shop for products or services, send letters electronically with E-mail, and obtain information on almost any topic. To get connected to the Internet, you use your telephone line to connect your computer to a company called an Internet service provider. This company will assist you with connecting your computer to the Internet.
Profiting from the Internet
Any product or service can be sold on the Internet by creating a Web site. When selling your services or products on the Internet your virtual store is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year. No office expenses or utility bills, no permits or government red tape. It isn’t even necessary to answer the phone if your Web station is constructed properly. All information about your business is readily available for your customers at your Web site. Customers can make purchases from your Web site with a charge card or purchase order number without human intervention.
Web Site Development
A Web site is a form of advertising for a business to sell its products throughout the world on the Internet. By creating an electronic brochure of your company and placing it on the Internet, you can advertise your company 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year without human intervention. Your Web area is located on the computer that is owned by your Internet service provider. Any brochure or advertising literature can be placed on your Web site. With some minor adjustments, orders can be taken at your Web place without human intervention.
Internet Service Provider
An Internet Service Provider company connects your computer to the Internet using a phone modem and your telephone line. This company will charge an annual fee of approximately $200 to allow you to connect to the Internet. Included in this charge is free computer software that is needed for connecting to the Internet. Also included is your E-mail address for receiving messages.
What Is E-mail?
Your E-mail address is how you can receive letters electronically on the intent from all over the world, similar to the address of your residence. Think of it as a private mail box that only you have a key to open and retrieve your electronic mail. This service is provided by your Internet service provider.
Can I Consume the Internet If I Don’t Own a Computer?
You can use the Internet for advertising your company, without having access to a computer. We can create for your company an advertisement on the Internet that would be viewed all over the world. Any response to the advertisement would be sent to you directly. Once initial contact was made you could communicate with your customer using traditional methods such as telephone or mail.
Online Information Services
Online information services are services that provide software and electronic mail, or some combination of those services, to computer users. These services are accessed by users over the phone lines with a modem and generally have a cost per minute associated with their use. Additional costs can also be incurred if some special information service is accessed, such as a database or certain profession. There is also the cost of the phone call itself that the user must pay. However, even with all of the costs of getting in and using an online service, their use is typically seen as self-financing. This is because online services can quickly provide a user with information that may take weeks to gather manually or not be totally available in the user’s area. This information comes in the earn of databases of knowledge for various professions and direct communication with experts in any field through electronic mail. Miscellaneous services such as PC to Fax communication, online games, electronic shopping and countless others, make online services useful for almost every computer user.
Bulletin Boards
A computer bulletin board service, or BBS, is a personal computer equipped with a modem and software to allow other users to call in with their modem and retrieve files or read electronic mail. Note that these two services are also offered by the online services. The difference in being that the online service computers are usually mainframes with far more capacity than a personal computer, but bulletin boards usually don’t charge for access and those that do, charge nominal flat rate fees, and the online services also offer a powerful wider range of services. Bulletin boards are filled with information of a powerful more local nature than online services. Civic centers, user group meetings, and local electronic mail are the things normally posted on a computer bulletin board. Bulletin boards are much cheaper in connection charges than online services since it’s generally a local call. This is why a lot of users get free and reduced price software from bulletin boards when the same software is found on the technically superior online service. The drawback here is that because the bulletin board can simply be someone’s personal computer, running an inexpensive communication package, security can be a concern. Confidentiality of electronic mail cannot be guaranteed by these systems, and viruses are occasionally found in the software available to users. With common sense, and some protective software, bulletin boards can be a great way to accept introduced to the world of telecommunication by the computer.
What Can the Internet Do For You?
We would like to give you some basic information on what the Internet can do for you. Becoming involved in, and exploring the Internet can benefit you both personally and professionally. Plus, it can be a lot of fun. The Internet allows you to investigate almost any topic imaginable, and offers the opportunity to receive up-to-date reports on things such as reports, the weather and the stoke market. You can expand your computer software library by downloading free software or demonstrate new software, called shareware, before you purchase your individual copy. The Internet can help you stay in touch with loved ones by using E-mail, or meet someone novel through online chat rooms. For even more fun, you can play interactive games such as chess and checkers with other Internet participants. You are able to take with or play games with Internet subscribers all over the world. The Internet has important business applications because it is one of the latest advertising techniques used to promote products or services. Many businesses are building web sites because it offers a creative way to attract novel customers through both audio and visual presentation.
Software
What is RAM?
RAM (ram) stands for random access memory. RAM is the computer’s workplace for holding programs and the results of programs. Almost all of the instructions to develop the computer do any of the things it can do, must be loaded into RAM for the computer to work. RAM starts out with very few instructions in it when the computer is first turned on, but fills up with the programs that you load into it, to do the work and the results of any previous work. In general, the more RAM a computer has, the more data it can work with at one time. Adding more RAM generally allows the computer to work more complex problems because the software necessary to complete complicated tasks take up more RAM space than more simple programs. RAM is measured in bytes. One byte could represent the letter “a”, the number “1″, or an instruction for the computer. Approximately 1,000 bytes (bites) is called a kilobyte (kill-o-bite). Approximately 1,000 kilobytes is called a megabyte (meg-a-bite). Most computers today have between 256 and 640 kilobytes of RAM. Most computers can be expanded to several megabytes of RAM. A system needs to have as distinguished RAM as the programs being run on it require.
What is ROM?
ROM (rom) stands for read only memory. ROM holds some of the instructions that the computer uses for starting itself and operating some of its hardware, like the serial and parallel port. The ROM of a computer is used by the operating system to talk to other types of devices, like the disk drive and monitor.
What is DOS?
DOS (dos) stands for disk operating system. It is a setup program for controlling the hardware that makes up a computer. The programmer will write a program that will communicate with DOS to store or display certain pieces of text and DOS then communicates directly with the hardware that makes up the computer. With DOS we have thousands of programs available that can share data with certain limitations with each other. Without operation systems like DOS, there would be far fewer programs available and the programs would have grief sharing data with each other. DOS is the supervisor of all the programs a user runs on their computer. And it also determines which programs a user can run as some programs use services found only in particular versions of DOS or other operating systems.
What Is Serial?
Serial is aged to describe one way the computer can send its results or to receive results from another blueprint, like a printer. The computer stores information as bytes. One byte can represent the letter “a”, the number “1″, or an instruction for the computer. A byte is on most computers made up of eight bits. Serial communication is done one bit at a time. On other words, a computer sending the letter “a” to a printer serial would actually send the printer eight separate bytes, one at a time. Some common devices that talk to the computer serially are modems, mice, and some printers. Compare this type of communication with parallel.
What Is Parallel?
Parallel is used to describe one way the commuter can send its results to or receive it results from another way. Like a printer, the computer stores information as bytes. One byte can represent the letter “a”, the number “1″, or an instruction for the computer. Parallel communication is done one byte at a time. In other words, a computer sending the letter “a” to a printer using a parallel communication would actually send it in one step. The most common devices that talk to the computer using parallel communication are printers. Compare this type of communication with serial.
Word Processing
A word processing program is one that allows a user to enter and manipulate words. There are a wide variety of word processing programs with a wide variety of capabilities. Some word processing programs allow the computer to do little more than act as a memory enhanced typewriter. Other word processing programs offer additional features. These might include search and replace where a user can automatically change every occurrence of the word “dog” to the word “cat”. Smooth other word processing programs have more advanced features, which allow the computer to mix text and graphics on the same page, automatically generate a table of contents or index, and format the page in newspaper-like columns. In purchasing such a package it is significant to figure out which features a user needs now, and which features may be useful in the near future. Buying a package with too few features means having to re-learn an entirely new program sooner than is necessary. Likewise, buying a package with too many features complicates the task and makes the simple jobs harder than they should be. To earn more information on what program you need, consult your local dealer and ask any friend currently using a word processing package.
Spreadsheets
A spreadsheet program is one that allows a user to enter and manipulate numbers. This type of package is more similar from package to package than word processors or databases. One of the basic features of any spreadsheet is the ability to create formulas. Some spreadsheets have additional features such as graphics, and many more have add-ins that do very sophisticated statistical analysis. This type of program can be found in all combinations of capacity and power. Similar spreadsheets can have a 256 by 256 grid of cells in which to enter numbers and simple formulas like averages and sums. The more mighty packages can have over a billion cells with such advanced formula functions as standard deviation. The main factor to consider when buying a spreadsheet is ticket. If a spreadsheet has the formula functions needed and any other features wanted like graphics then the only inconvenience is stamp and remember that most spreadsheets share the same basic set of formula functions.
Desktop Publishing
Desktop publishing packages are programs that are designed to help layout and format a page of text, usually for publication. These programs are usually not endowed with the features useful for entering and manipulating individual pieces of text, like those found in word processing packages because that is not their main function. The desktop publishing program is equipped to handle such things as mixing text and graphics from various programs onto the same page, controlling the appearance of the text, such as fonts, and generally do all of the formatting famous to take a word processing file and make it survey like it was a type set for inclusion in a publication. The distinction between desktop publishing and word processing programs is blurry. The more powerful word processing packages are acquiring rudimentary page layout skills. At the same time, the more powerful desktop programs are becoming more capable in manipulating individual pieces of text. As these packages have become more powerful, a new group of desktop publishing programs has emerged. These new programs are far less complicated and more generous for home and small business use than their counterparts. Consult you local dealer to find out which package has the features you need.
Accounting
There are several accounting packages available for personal computers. These range in price is from about $100 to several hundred dollars. The features they have may be appropriate for either home use or businesses use. Some are even adapted for use by non-profit organizations or other groups with special accounting needs. The home use accounting programs are good for balancing the family budget. Some of these have additional features like check writing and electronic banking making personal finances almost painless. The business programs have the more advanced accounting features that are related to having multiple books open at once and computing payroll and linking accounting information such as cells to inventory. The menu or command structure varies greatly between packages so there are multiple options even when the needed level of power and features have been decided. Consult your local dealer to find out which packages are best suited for your accounting needs.
Database Management
Database management packages are programs that are designed to store and manipulate tables or lists of information. These packages not only vary in the way they store and retrieve information, but also in the way a user can access it. For example, a simple database program may allow a user to create several tables of information such as a client list and a salesperson list. Such a program is called a “flatfile” database program. A more powerful database program may also allow the tables to be linked so that the user can track which salesperson is in charge of sure clients. This type of program is loosely termed a “relational” database. A still more distinguished database can have its known programming language and allow a custom set of menus to be built for others to more easily get at the information in the client and salesperson tables. There are currently several competing packages at each of these levels of sophistication. Prices run an equally wide spectrum. Flatfile databases can cost as little as about $100. A relational package with its own programming language can cost several hundred to several thousand dollars. Consult your local dealer for more information on which type of package is best suited for your needs.
Computer Education for All Ages
There are several packages available for educating people in a wide variety of subjects. These programs come in several varieties, including games that instruct, guided tutorials and interactive tutorials. The games that teach can be anything from a space invaders-like game to one that teaches spelling, to simulation programs. The simulation programs allow one to explore various situations with surprising technical accuracy, otherwise unavailable or hazardous to the user. These include piloting a plane, submarine, space shuttle, or tank. Other simulations may include scenarios for diving or exploring a foreign land. The guided tutorial programs usually take a single path approach to learning. They guide the user through a subject in a set series of steps. There are usually provisions made for different levels of detail or different levels of opinion. The next step up in sophistication is the interactive tutorial which not only allows for different levels of detail, but imposes no set series of questions to ask, or problems to pose. This form of tutorial is considered the best though there are many award winning guided tutorials for subjects where the interactive approach is confusing. Basically, the computer gives the choice today of not only what to learn but how to learn it. Consult your local dealer for specific titles in different subjects.
Computer Games
Games are the single largest software category for the personal computer today. Games are usually separated by type into one of four categories. They are simulations, arcade games, adventure games, and numerous hybrids. The simulation programs allow one to explore various situations with surprising technical accuracy, otherwise unavailable or hazardous to the user. These include piloting a plane, submarines, spot shuttle, or tank. Other simulations may include scenarios for diving or exploring a foreign land. The arcade games are either a personal computer version of a popular video game or can be any of the hundreds of the so-called “shoot-em-up” games. The adventure games are usually based on either a medieval saga or a roving starfighter plot. There are other games that quite simply, but capably, replicate a physical game classic. These include the programs that play chess, checkers, Chinese checkers, and countless card games. The advantage to having then on the computer, not only lies in the speed and ease of setting up or resetting up a game, but in that the computer can act as a second player, if needed. The important thing to note about game programs is that because of their graphics oriented nature, the type of hardware a user owns determines which games can be used, and what level of detail is to be expected. Consult your local dealer to find out which titles are available for your type of hardware.
Integrated Packages
An integrated package is a program that attempts to offer some of the features found in each of the basic computing areas; word processing, spreadsheets, database management, graphics, and usually also, communication. The advantage to buying this type of package lies in the consistency between the different types of programs. Whereas, buying a spreadsheet from one vendor and a database program from another, will usually mean having to learn two separate sets of commands. An integrated package uses the same commands where appropriate across its different modules. There is another advantage in price. The integrated package usually costs much less than buying the equivalent in individual programs. The only major disadvantage to buying this type of program is that it normally compromises features in order to be small enough and fast enough to run on the more common, but lesser equipped personal computers. The new user of personal computers is strongly advised to try using an integrated package before using separate ones. This will score a person producing actual results faster.
Graphical User Interface (GUI’S)
A graphical user interface is simply a program that allows a different approach to entering commands to your computer. Whereas, some computers accept typed commands with lists of options typed accordingly, a computer running a graphical user interface allows a user to point to command and their appropriate option. This sometimes requires a pointing draw such as a mouse in order to work. There are graphical interfaces for many computers, and some computers are made to only work in one. The advantage to using a graphical interface is that it brings more consistency to the various programs being run on a specific computer. A graphical interface does this by setting rules for program writers to follow so that the similar commands in their programs appear in similar places in the interface, and function the same. As you can contemplate, one needs to purchase programs written to take advantage of these rules in order to get the most out of the graphical interface. Graphical interfaces also have the advantage of being easier to learn than their typed counterpart, depending on the particular interface. The major generic disadvantage to graphical interfaces is they usually require more computing horsepower than most users fill. This means that most users will also have to buy more hardware to get a graphical interface to work on their system. Consult your local dealer to find out which graphical interfaces are available for your computer.
Telecommuting
Telecommuting is the process by which someone can work away from the office, usually at home, and send in completed work over the phone line through a modem as it is finished. While still very new, many employers are finding that telecommunicating can raise productivity significantly. This is because telecommuting allows the employee to avoid wasting time physically commuting to the office, and giving the worker a chance to work in a more comfortable environment. The worker also has the fringe benefit of flexible self-set hours, though the employee must be a self-starter. Many writers and programmers in this country are currently telecommuting to work regularly. Some are even telecommuting into this country from across the world. Telecommuting can be adapted for a variety of positions in a variety of professions. The only requirement is the work should be able to be completed by one individual who needs no direct supervision. There are a few areas to see out for when setting up a new telecommuting group, such things as regular office visits or meetings to hold a sense of organization, and regular status calls in the beginning to score the workers familiar with the setup. For some organizations telecommuting, has forever increased profits and morale without giving up control and consistency.
Do You Need More Computer Memory or RAM?
We would like to help you decide whether your need to add more memory to your computer. Exactly how much memory, or RAM is a difficult question to answer unless you know exactly what you are going to use your computer for, and what kind of performance you expect from it. Most of today’s games and productivity software requires at the minimum, twelve megabytes of RAM. Since standard computers come with sixteen megabytes of RAM, it’s usually not significant to purchase additional RAM unless you want to increase computer performance. In contrast, some CAD software applications require thirty-two megs or higher of RAM. XXXX suggests you pay attention to the system requirements of the software when you purchase it to help determine how much RAM you will need. The other distinguished reason your may want to purchase additional RAM is that it will allow you to increase system performance.
What is Multi Media?
We would like to explain exactly what multi media is, and how it impacts your computing capabilities. Basic multi media is defined as a CD-ROM player, sound card and speakers. These three devices work together to form an interactive means to combine high-end graphics, motion video and real-time audio playback. The CD-ROM plays an important role because it can hold the larger amount of data that is required for high-definition video and graphics in many games and powerful programs. A CD-ROM player may also be necessary because more and more popular software programs are being distributed in this durable format. The sound card and speakers contribute to the multi media package because they allow you to hear sound from your software program. Sound effects enhance the interactive aspect of computer use. XXXX knowledgeable staff can give you information on new multi media computing systems or offer advice on upgrading your unusual system.
When is More Video RAM Necessary?
We would like to help you decide when more video RAM is needed for your computer system. Many computer buyers are requesting higher performance video cards, which have more RAM, with their computer systems because they believe their machine will run faster. If you pick, or already own a computer with a smaller-sized monitor, for instance – a 14-inch or less, on a meg of RAM, which is standard, will be adequate. If your purchase, or already own a larger-sized monitor, for instance, a 15-inch or larger, you may be running your monitor at a higher resolution so your computer will require more video memory. Another instance for which additional high-performance video RAM may be needed is when running 3-dimensional games and CAD programs. Additional vide RAM will increase overall system performance when using these software programs. Knowledgeable staff can provide you with more information on video RAM or offer advice on whether your need to upgrade your system.
What is the MMX Processor?
would like to provide you with information on Intel’s MMX processor. The latest microprocessor by Intel is the MMX CPU. It claims to increase system performance in two ways. First, they have added more internal cache memory, which increases processing speed. The second way Intel has increase system performance is the addition of 57 new opcodes to the CPU. When these additional opcodes are used by MMX-capable software, up to a twenty percent increase in system performance is possible. At this time, very few software programs are available with the MMX technology. It is predicted that a greater number of MMX programs will be available in the future.
Hardware
What Is a Disk?
A disk is a type of storage device used by computers to hold information until needed for use by the computer. This information can be either programs or data. Disks come in two varieties, the floppy disk and the hard disk. The floppy disk is used to store relatively limited amounts of data and are commonly dilapidated to move files between computers. The hard disk is used to store much more data, but is usually physically installed inside a computer and can not as easily be moved.
Monochrome Monitors
A monochrome monitor is a monitor that uses only one color to display information. Most monitors of this type use either green, amber, or white to indicate information on a black background. There are some monitors of this type called page white displays that use shadowy to display information on a white background. The page white display is preferred by some because it more closely mimics the printed page. A newer form of a monochrome monitor called a gray scale monitor uses either amber or white to indicate information on a black background. The difference is that a gray scale monitor can produce shades of a given color to more closely simulate color displays. Monochrome monitors are sometimes preferred for work with word processing or other text based programs.
Color Monitors
There are different types of color monitors designed to work with different computers. Some types of computers have several different types of color monitors to choose from. When choosing a monitor, one factor is the resolution that a camouflage can provide. This resolution is determined by the number of dots or pixels (pick-sels) a monitor has. Different monitors also have different numbers of possible colors. A specific combination of how many dots and colors are available for the computer to work with is called a graphics standard. The graphics standard a computer uses is determined by the controller for the monitor called a video card. The different color monitors are built to work with a certain graphics standard and a certain video card. The number of pixels and number of possible colors usually increase together. Where the early monitors had only four colors and about 300,000 pixels, the newer systems have over two and a half times as many pixels with 64 times as many colors. The type of monitor needed will be determined by your computer hardware and what type of work you are doing.
Plotters
A plotter is a device that uses one or more pins moved over a page to produce graphics from a personal computer. They are not well suited to producing a page of text because the pins are very narrow pointed and are more expensive to replace than dot matrix printer ribbons. The plotter is, however, the best at producing wire framed graphics, as it can produce tree diagonals and curves because the plotter’s pins move in two axis of motion rather than one like the grid of the dot matrix printer. This is done by moving the paper aid and forth under a stationary bar, along which the pins move, or by a bar which moves up and down the page while the pin moves across the bar. Some plotters can also work with very large page sizes and work with many colors. Plotters are normally used only in offices where technical documents such as blueprints and schematics need to be produced because of the plotter’s high price and suitability only for graphics.
Portable Printers
A portable printer is a dot matrix, or thermal transfer printer, that is small enough to be easily carried while traveling. These printers are essentially the same as larger dot matrix printers. Some exceptions include slower printing speeds, and a slight loss of quality in print. Most users of portable printers exhaust them with a laptop computer while traveling or allotment them among multiple computers in an office for printing preliminary drafts where the print quality is not a major factor.
Modems
A modem is a device that converts the digital signals generated by the computer’s serial port to the modulated, analog signals required for transmission over a telephone line, and transforms incoming analog signals to their digital equivalents. In personal computing, people frequently exercise modems to exchange programs and data with other computers, and to access online information services.
Local Set Networks (LAN’S)
A local dwelling network, or LAN, is a combination of hardware and software that allows multiple computers to share resources. Such resources might be laser printers or ample disk drives that are sometimes too expensive to equip every computer in an organization with. A LAN also allows multiple users on multiple computers to work together more effectively by sharing messages and documents over the LAN. There are a number of decisions that need to be made in order to choose the right combination of hardware and software to make a LAN. Consult your local computer or network dealer for more information.
What Is a Mouse?
A mouse is a rolling ball housed in a hand held box that is used to control the computer. It allows the user to go more quickly through menus and large bodies of text than the arrow keys found on most keyboards. Using a mouse to select choices from program menus is often easier for new computer users than memorizing the key combinations to activate a specific option. The mouse can also be used to modify graphics more easily than with the keyboard. However, the mouse can only be used with the programs that are written to take advantage of it.
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Filed under Small Business Phone Lines by on Dec 15th, 2010.