Business

One of the key areas of focus for any business is the need to grow. Once your business has completed its initial range of tasks and achievements, it’s time to look at new areas.

Enhancing your productivity is a key point for any firm looking to grow. There are a number of apps for mobile phones that allow you to boost your business credentials and improve your firm’s key functions.

Cisco WebEx

Cisco Webex is great for those looking to hold a meeting with attendees from a number of different locations. The application allows users to log in and view a particular host’s desktop live, so if you are holding the meeting and want to show your colleagues how to perform a particular function, you can.

You can also use the app to schedule and start a meeting, although on some phone models like BlackBerry you may also need a desktop to carry out certain functions.

Dell KACE Disk Imaging

Disk imaging is great to replace some of the manual hazards and annoyances that go into the deployment process. Using disk imaging can shave off some serious internal time with your business processes and upkeep.

You’ll be able to access all your images in one centralized area.

Microsoft SharePoint

Of course, being one of the most commonly used companies in the business world, Microsoft also has its own app. Microsoft SharePoint allows users to host and interact with each other as well as share files. You can also access your files and programs from any location, which is particularly handy if you travel a lot on business.

The app also allows you to work on files while you are offline and simply send them when you log on. This can help you save money if you pay for your Internet usage on a per minute or hour basis.

Metrofax

Metrofax Internet Faxing is a necessity for any business looking to have a simple and easy way to fax clients and/or customers. They send faxes quickly and directly to the inbox. With the new site that was recently rolled out, corporate customers can get custom quotes and there’s also video tutorials and the ability to send a “test fax” to your inbox.

Chatter

This app works as a kind of Facebook for sales teams. It allows workers in your company to log on and update their statuses regarding recent sales made and targets they have hit. As with most social media sites, users can upload photos for others to view or join groups of colleagues to have private or shared discussions about business.

Seesmic

Social media is important for businesses looking to connect with consumers, although it can be tricky to keep an eye on all of your social media accounts at once. Seesmic is an app that compiles your various social media feeds into a single stream, helping you manage your online presence.

VMware

VMware is a great way to increase business productivity from a virtualization and IT standpoint. Not only will it save you money and time on an internal IT person, but it will also make server management safer, and easier. It also comes with best practices processes to save hands on learning time with your IT team so they can understand the best and most efficient way to work with this.

Helping your business grow should be one of your key concerns. There is always time to boost your company and, thanks to these mobile apps, you can even increase your productivity while you are on the move. Which ones will you begin to use?

Whether you are a writer, website coder or graphics designer, working as a freelancer provides you with distinct experiences in comparison to a standard office job.

Being a freelancer comes with its own set of challenges, however, and so having the right tools (whether that be a special project management system, or an upgraded netbook you can take everywhere with you) becomes essential to overcoming obstacles and being successful in what you do.

These tools will increase your capabilities as a freelancer while allowing you to keep on task, network, collaborate and communicate in your field.

File Storage and File Sharing

File storage and file sharing tools and applications make it easy to access your files anywhere that you need them, or to share them with others. Rather than relying on e-mail or portable drives to get your files from place to place, use a DropBox account to access your files online, on your computer or on mobile devices as needed.

To share your files, try DropBox, Box or DropShare. Different applications have different sharing and collaboration abilities, so make sure you find the right one for you.

The nice thing about using these file sharing systems in the cloud is that you can carry around something as simple as a netbook with you, to make sure that when you’re out during the day you can still access important tasks and project information. You won’t need to carry around something larger/more powerful since these are not memory intensive.

VoIP

Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services make it possible to use your computer to make telephone calls. This is essential in always having access to your contacts and ensuring that you can contact clients and colleagues at all times without limitations.

Skype and similar VoIP applications will simplify your ability to make and receive phone calls, and can even be integrated with multimedia phones like Droid and iPhone for even greater capabilities.

Task and To-Do Tools

Task List and To-Do tools can help you stay on track of your work load, whether you are juggling a single project or a hundred. Backpack is a web app that features a to-do list feature, but there are also apps and websites that focus entirely on listing tasks and helping you stay on task of everything you need to do in a day, such as Remember the Milk. The tagline for Remember the Milk is “Never forget the milk, or anything else, ever again” which is what these apps are all about.

Project Management and Collaboration Tools

BackPack is an example of a project management tool that allows for collaboration, file sharing, task listing, document sharing, shared calendar and a wide variety of other benefits. Create a single account for your entire team, or that you and your clients can use, and choose what files and information you share, and with who.

Another excellent project management tool is Base Camp, designed to help you better manage your projects with calendars, collaboration, file sharing and many additional capabilities. The right collaboration and project management tools can have a profoundly positive impact on your ability to stay on top of your work.

The right arsenal of tools can make all the difference when you want to be a bad-ass freelancer. These tools will improve your productivity and increase your capabilities, allowing you to stand out as a go-to freelancer in your field.

When you have the tools that you need available at your fingertips, you will be much more capable as a freelancer whether you are in the office, at home or on the go.

When the first computer was released, it was a behemoth of a thing that filled a large room.

Back then, “bugs in the system” were literal, the cost was ludicrous, and the engineers were still incredibly proud that the system could tabulate formulas like “2 + 4.”

Things have changed these days, and power that surpasses anything those original engineers could dream of can be found in the palm of your hand thanks to smartphone devices like the iPhone. While useful for everyone, these cutting edge technologies are especially useful for businesses.

A quick glance at the evolution of the phone (and how it got us here to be able to even have this post)

Here are five of the best reasons to use your iPhone for business.

1. It’s Your Business, Only Everywhere

You’d be surprised how many of your business tasks you can complete through your iPhone. Thanks to apps like DropBox, which let you get files from your computer, and the array of document editing programs, you will be able to make progress on reading, writing, and other tasks while you’re… well, just about anywhere.

2. It’s the World’s Most Powerful Reference Tool

Smartphones have two capabilities that make them perfect for checking facts and finding new data. First, they can access the Internet, the single best source of information that has even been compiled. Second, if you’re looking for more narrow or specific information, there are an array of apps that work as virtual compendiums of field-specific data.

3. It’s Your Mobile Meeting Device

The iPhone lets you communicate with coworkers and clients in an unprecedented way, combining every possible communication method into one device. Not only can you use text messaging and makephone calls, but new technology allows you to do video conferencing as well. All the virtual meeting applications for PC and Mac are also making their way over to the iPhone, making it the most powerful business communication tool we’ve ever seen.

4. Get the Message, Now

Everything in business is time-sensitive to some degree or another, so it’s important that you stay on top of messages. Thanks to the ability of the iPhone to access one or more email accounts, and receive messages through a variety of other communication lines, you can get those important messages and still have time to react in whatever way is the absolute best for your business.

5. It’s Designed with Business in Mind

The iPhone, as well as many other smartphones, were created with the enterprise client in mind. For that reason, the extended battery life, SSL VPN support, high-encryption data protection, and passcode integration have made this phone a strong and secure tool to take on the road. Additionally, business-specific utilities, like Microsoft Exchange, have specifically worked to create solutions for iPhone users.

The iPhone is just one of the many great modern business tools, and items like tablet computers and netbooks certainly shouldn’t be ignored.

However, the iPhone is as good a starting place as any, and is a wise investment for anyone who’s ready to take their business to the next level.

When the iPad first came out, many business owners were wondering how they could apply the powerful device to their normal business functioning. However, as the tool has demonstrated its immense abilities, people are starting to ask a different question:

How can I adapt my business to take advantage of this great new tool? Here are just a few quick things you can do.

Know Your Application Options

There are just over 200,000 applications on the Apple market as of the time of this writing. This means that you have great solutions for almost anything you want to do. The trick is to learn about the applications that will be useful, learn about limitations, and adapt your standard policies and procedures accordingly.

Soar Through the Cloud

Cloud computing solutions make it easy to access data and software from any location where you have internet access. With an iPad web subscription, that will mean basically anywhere with even vague signs of life.

The iPad absolutely thrives in the cloud, and there are only a handful of cloud programs that have any issue with iPad’s Opera browser. In these situations, other app options will often resolve the issue. Whether you’re setting up a new CRM system or looking for ways to store files, look into cloud. Cloud storage and services are affordable, mobile, and effective.

Use Exchange Servers

There are a lot of options when it comes to exchange servers for email, so it’s simple enough to find one that suits the needs of your business. By using exchange mail, you will be able to access your messages, write new ones, and synchronize your account data across multiple platforms — iPad included.

Use Appropriate Formatting

While there will be one iPad application or another that can open any given file type, it’s a good idea to limit the number of apps employees have to learn. Decide on two or three “standard company formats” (.doc, .rtf, .pdf, you name it) and stick with those options for anything official.

Send Out Files and Memos in E-Reader Compatible Format

If you want to make reading up on company documentation simple, send out all of your updates in a format that’s e-reader compatible. PDF is the most common format used, but other options are available.

Enable Remote Access

Working on an iPad shouldn’t mean losing touch with any of the details on your work computer. There are numerous programs that allow for screen and file sharing between Apple’s epic tablet and a PC, Mac, or even Linux system. RDP, Mocha VNC, and iTeleport are just a few examples.

Provide Training

If you’re going to invest in powerful tools, it’s important to teach people how to use them. The iPad is fairly user friendly, but it’s a very good idea to train your staff on how to take advantage of all the in-depth features. Training guides and how-tos are often available online if you want some help putting together a presentation. If you want to become the ultimate asset to your company, you can even take Mobile Development courses so you can create apps that will be beneficial to not only you, but everyone else too.

There’s no doubt that iPad’s latest beast of a tablet is highly appropriate for business use. By following the simple suggestions above, you ensure that you’re getting the most out of your new gadget.

With so many demands on our time these days, we really need to maximize our time as much as possible.

Fortunately, even though the pace of life seems to be increasing, there are many ways that we can save precious moments by automating certain tasks and utilizing technology to take care of some of the tedious responsibilities (that none of us really WANT to take care of).

What  actions can tech take the weight off of?

Hand Writing Checks

Not only is it time-consuming, to manually write out checks for bills every month, it also takes time to mail and process checks. Plus, if you’ve ever stood behind someone in line who is trying to pay their electric bill at a grocery store (they exist) you know how annoying it is to stand behind them.

Automate and simplify the process by paying bills online. Today, there are many options to choose from based on your preferences, like:

• Electronic Bill Pay is a bank-provided service that sends payments to your vendors (electric company, phone service, etc.) from your account.
• Auto Bill Pay authorizes the vendor to automatically withdraw the amount of the bill every month from your banking account.
• Online Bill Pay Services are free and fee-based online services that receive bills, show monthly due amounts and provide vendor payments, all in one convenient location.

Many banks even have the ability to email or mail checks to non-businesses as well. This means that you can email money to your sister for her birthday or transfer funds directly to her account.

Manually Depositing Paychecks

Direct Deposit is available by even the smallest companies these days and provides tremendous benefit and time savings to you. Usually the funds are available earlier, sometimes midnight the night before your pay date. In addition, the funds are immediately accessible, making it easier and quicker to pay bills.

Most direct deposit options also allow you to set-up an automatic deposit to your savings account, making it easier to save money every month. You can denote a specific dollar amount or a percentage of the total paid.
There are also banks that allow you to stick your paycheck into the ATM and it will automatically scan and deposit money for you. Bank of America, and other banks have implemented this feature already.

Hand Writing Taxes

Let your computer do the manual calculations of taxes for you and benefit from a huge time savings every year. Noone really wants to sit down and go through their taxes by hand and lets face it. Unless we’re mathamatical whizzes with accounting degrees, we aren’t going to even know where to start.

Those “books” you see on TV are long gone- so many people are looking into software that can handle this for you.

Options include:
• Software Programs installed on your computer that allow you to input your tax information manually or electronically.
• Online Tax Preparation Services are free or fee-based services, approved by the IRS, that both collect and electronically submit your taxes.

Both options also provide the ability to periodically save your progress, allowing you to do your taxes five minutes at a time in-between your two-year old’s questions about their belly button and pulling dinner out of the oven.

Save even more time by having your Federal Return automatically deposited into your account instead of waiting weeks for a physical check. This means you can play and spend your money sooner. What?! I meant to say… this way you can responsibly save and not worry about needing money for while.

There may not be a way to safely speed up the time it takes to deliver a mini-van full of 6 year olds to soccer practice, but with suggestions like these, and online services such as Subscription.com, you can definitely save some time, money and potentially a lot of aggravation, too.

Eliminate some hassle and rework by streamlining some of life’s more laborious tasks and you might even find enough time in the day to take a deep breath before learning how to extract paint from your artistic child’s hair!

Managing a business is a monumental task.

Everything has to be covered, from collaboration to organization to motivation to navigation and more. In today’s fast-moving world, there’s more to keep track of than ever before. To keep your company moving swiftly in the age of ideas, you will need to keep your team members synchronized, informed, and motivated. There are many ways you can go about doing this, but electronic resources have made your job significantly easier.

Here are five great electronic ways to manage your business.

Document Management

Google documents is just one of the many tools being provided by Google that will allow your team to collaborate effectively. These web based documents, including word processing documents, spreadsheets, and even presentations, can be accessed by whichever members of the team need to work on the project. Multiple editors can make changes at the same time without interfering with the work of others, and the files can all be accessed from any computer at any time. Best of all, this stellar resource is completely free.

They just recently added the ability to upload multiple versions, so that instead of going back into revision history, you can view the actual document itself.

Acrobat offers something similar to Google Docs. It has a system with more features (offering out workspaces for teamwork) but it’s actually something you need to pay for to experience the extras.

Project Management

Basecamp is a project management system that shines in its low cost, advanced features, and customization options. The Basecamp HQ has a user friendly interface that provides instinctive task management and various levels of user customization. If you’re skeptical about Basecamp, you can always sign up for the free trial to test the ropes.

Communication Anywhere

Skype is one of the most popular voice communication programs in the world, and there are good reasons for its broad acceptance. For businesses, it’s an affordable solution that can replace normal IVR, standard in-office communications, and even outbound call services. The call quality is top notch, there are resources to help record and track the statistics of your calls, and the typical cost is well below the standard for business phone systems. In addition, free video chatting and conference calling solutions make this a great choice for anyone managing telecommuters.

Email hosting is also another solution to communicating with others outside the office. The ability for microsoft exchange to be synced and pulled into your phone or laptop while away from the office is pretty priceless. Mainly because it allows you to spend more time with family, or at least not be confined at the office while waiting for an important list.

Software Suites

Various software suites, such as Word Perfect, Microsoft Word, and Quicken, can synchronize with one another to maximize the effectiveness of collaborative projects. While most business management has moved online with the introduction of “cloud computing,” simple software is still an ideal solution for smaller businesses with low budgets. These different software suites all serve different purposes, ranging from document creation to company budget management, so appropriate software to meet your needs is almost certainly available.

Technology is moving in a direction that will make you both able to work from wherever you need to, and also get your business done as quick as possible. Utilize these basic tools and mobilize yourself and your business. Fo’ life.

You can’t keep all the information you need in your head. A well-compiled cheat sheet is a nice way to quickly find questions to your answers and what’s more, structured data is easier to remember and keep in mind.

While Excel is an awesome tool for storing, structuring and organizing data, it has so many features and options that it is almost impossible to remember them all, so the following cheat sheets should be useful:

Keyboard Shortcuts and Function Quick Reference

This cheat sheet is broken down into 4 sections:

• Working in documents;
• Selections;
• Editing and formatting;
• Useful functions.

Excel Basics Cheat Sheet

This cheat sheet (pdf) is not really brief; it’s rather a short overview of most useful Excel features presented in a handy format. This makes it a perfect choice for those who only start using Excel. The main sections include:

• Shortcuts for Getting Around
• Know Your Mouse Cursors
• Select Exactly What You Want
• Work with Worksheets
• Edit a Worksheet
• Create a Basic Formula
• Format Cells and the Worksheet
• Preview and Print [click to continue...]

In the current economic climate, more people are choosing non-traditional finance options instead of banks. Because banks can be more expensive, and have more restrictive credit requirements, consumers are finding more flexibility for their financial needs with products like prepaid credit cards.

A prepaid credit card is an ideal solution for a) someone without a bank account, b) someone with a moderate to low credit rating, c) someone looking for the convenience of a credit or debit card without high fees and interest rates. Prepaid credit cards also make great gifts. Instead of choosing a gift card at a specific store, prepaid credit cards can be used almost anywhere.

Some prepaid credit cards offer an option for direct deposit, giving the customer immediate access to their paycheck or other sources of income. Often there are additional options for adding cash to the card, including wire transfers and even PayPal. The convenience of having multiple ways to add cash to the card is one of the best benefits of using prepaid credit cards.

For people who do not have or prefer not to have a bank account, prepaid credit cards are much easier and less expensive than check cashing services. They are also easier to use for paying bills than mailing money orders. For those with poor credit scores, many prepaid credit cards offer the ability to build back a good credit history. When using the card to pay bills, reports are made to credit bureaus and credit scores can begin to rise.

Almost any prepaid credit card will also have the ability to associate your balance with your name and account number, so that in the card is lost, your money is not. Most cards will also offer ways to access your account on the go, so that you always have access to your balance information.

As the national economy continues to falter, many families and individuals have understandably fallen on hard times. In July 2010, the official unemployment rate had topped 9 percent nationally, a number which is actually underreported due to discouraged job seekers who eventually fall off the unemployment ranks. More than 12 percent of the population may actually lack employment. Millions more have taken significant pay cuts. The situation has forced families to cut spending.

Before this period of hardship began, the country was experiencing an unprecedented buildup of household debt. This was due in part to high levels of confidence in future economic conditions by the public and to an easy-money situation spurring lower lending standards. High levels of credit card debt became the norm, and the lenders continued to encourage people to spend more and more money.

So what happens to those who incurred household debt over the last decade yet can no longer afford to manage the outstanding balances because of job loss or pay cuts? Many of them end up in bankruptcy court due to their inability to service their debts. Individuals should reserve bankruptcy as a last-resort option, as it will severely damage credit reports. It will take the average person years to undo this damage.

For anybody in these dire financial situations, debt consolidation is often the most prudent and effective alternative to bankruptcy. Debt consolidation is a credit-friendly way to lower your total monthly payments to manageable levels. It can help you get creditors off you back. Debt consolidation and debt counseling can provide you with the pathway to work out past due loans and lower interest rates, leaving you with less monthly payments to deal with. If you are one of the countless Americans who have experienced job loss or some other financial catastrophe, you should meet with a credit counselor to talk about debt consolidation before considering bankruptcy.