| |
| |
|
Small Business Information |
|
|
|
Computer Tips that Help Small Businesses Operate Profitably
When working properly, computers enable small businesses to make big business profits; however, get booted off your computer and you're suddenly starving. In most instances, computers usually act up due to lack of care by its owners. Here are four computer tips that'll keep you up and running smoothly. Tip #1 -- Back up your computer's data no less than once a month. Too often a small business is thrust back to infancy because it didn't take time to back up precious data; information that took hours upon hours to create. Information that's irreplaceable, such as customer databases or employment contracts. Keep in mind you'll want to back up your written data as well as check books such as Quicken and email address books. If your computer has a CD writer, it's simple and quick to back up your data. Simply select the files and folders you want to back up and copy them to the writer. Or if you have an older computer, copy your most important files to a floppy disk. Either way, don't stop there; now take the CD or disk and store it in a fire-safe box! To expedite the process, organize your files within folders so you can quickly grab and copy one or two folders. Tip #2 - Don't turn off your computer every evening. Too frequently computer users turn their computers off every evening. This is unnecessary and not recommended. A computer's components are at their most vulnerable when turned on and off. When a computer has to heat up [turn on] or cool down [turn off] it's at this precise moment components fail. It's recommended you turn your computer off once or twice a week or only when necessary, such as from a power outage. However, don't do the opposite and never turn your computer off, since many anti-virus programs require a computer reboot be performed before new virus patches take effect. Tip #3 -- Automate anti-virus software so it updates automatically no less than once a week. Depending on your software, you may need to prompt it to update. Unfortunately, there are people with too much time on their hands who desire to attack and make your computer unusable. A computer user is not ultimately protected from viruses and spyware [pop-ups, cookies, etc.] unless you're using a combination of anti-virus and anti-spyware software and a firewall, a piece of hardware that protects computers from being hacked. You must have all three pieces in order to ward off viruses, lurkers and attacks. What's more, most of the attacks are very quiet. You don't know someone is on your computer. Instead, they secretly store information, such as child pornography or music MP3s on your computer, since it's illegal, and redirect child-porno or MP3 seekers to your computer instead of theirs. Tip #4 -- Install a firewall if you keep your computer constantly on. Using a broadband or DSL connection dramatically increases your exposure to being hacked. It only takes an average of 15 minutes being online before a home-based computer is attacked. The only true way to protect a computer from a hacker is to install a hardware firewall. It's a misconception that software-based firewalls ultimately defend computers. This is simply not true. Computers must have a hardware firewall for ultimate protection, such as a SonicWall or Netscreen firewall, a component installed between a home user's cable or DSL connection and their computer. About The Author Sharron Senter is co-founder of VisitingGeeks.com - an on site computer repair, security and networking company that helps families, home power users and small businesses north of Boston, Southern NH and Maine. Visiting Geeks' technicians are crackerjacks at squashing viruses, pop-ups and securing and making computers perform faster. To reach Visiting Geeks call (978) 346-4087 or visit http://www.VisitingGeeks.com. Sharron's also the author of, "Make Money While Sleeping." Learn more at http://www.sharronsenter.com/fs_increase_seo.shtml
MORE RESOURCES:
Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
To Buy Or Not To Buy: Lawn Mowing Business TRUTH IN THE LAWN MOWING INDUSTRYWe do not wish to slander any company or person but instead share information that is of value to each and every one! Most people who enter this industry will be effected by one of the following and we see fit to share with you what we know and have seen.Buying Into A FranchiseOk buy into a franchise, spend 25 thousand. Most Franchises Are Small Home Businesses Many of our nations 400,000 franchisees run their businesses out of their homes and therefore their home addresses and phone numbers are listed in the Unifrom Franchsie Offering Circular's, attachments. Uniform Franchise Circulars, UFOC, are for franchise buyers and they explain the investment involved. What is Business Process Automation? Business Process Automation or BPA for short. This was a buzzword a few years back with anyone and everyone claiming they were experts in this area. Predicting Business Retirement Satisfaction for Business Owners Most business owners do not think of selling their companies as "retiring". Instead, these vital entrepreneurs see selling their business as a "transition. Getting City Contracts; Local Government Contracting All cities have a purchasing office and/or a procurement officer. They handle all city contracts that are sent out to bid. Franchises Must Meet Legal Definition to be an Actual Franchise All franchises must meet the legal definition of a franchise no matter what they call it before it is an actual franchise. This is the Federal Trade Commissions take on the franchise rule. Finding a Venture Capital Firm Many ventures are faced with the challenging task of raising venture capital. The first part of this process is finding the right venture capital firm (VC). How to Promote Your Business by Entering Contests You are probably hard at work promoting your business (and if you're not, you should be!), but if you haven't submitted your profile to any contests yet, you may be missing a golden opportunity.Receiving an award for your business can increase your company's credibility. Two Types Of Business Plan Cover Pages - Which One Are You Using? This is the tale of two business plans with very different cover pages. They both contain a unique and exciting business opportunity with the potential for high investment returns. Equipment Maintenance Manual for Mobile Cleaning Business Outline Service Cleaning Businesses must maintain their equipment in order to insure it is ready to go when the company vehicles reach their customer. It does not matter how many service vehicles or employees you have, a manual can save you both time and money. Business Success - The 42 Greatest Business Tips What does it take to grow a business and run it successfully? The main ingredient is attention to the basics, operating with integrity and following the way other successful people have run their operations.Here are StartRunGrow. How to Prevent Home Business Burnout As a home business proprietor, you may already realize why avoiding "home business burnout" is so important. Even if you have only been working your home business venture for a relatively brief time, you may have already been aware of the need to maintain your energy levels and reduce your stress levels while you were involved in your other employment. The Truth About Government Grants for Your Business Free money! Receive up to $25,000 that never has to be paid back -- Guaranteed! Get a grant to start your own business today!If you're a small business owner, or you've always dreamed of starting your own business, you've probably run across ads like these. Companies that "guarantee" you'll get a grant to start your own business that never has to be paid back. How to Create an Information Plan What is in an information plan?Before you even meet with a potential customer, you should have an action plan in place. The action plan should consist of 5 areas. A Small Business Consultant Can Help in Many Ways... But One Thing He Can't Provide A consultant must remember that the business belongs to the client. There is always a danger that the consultant will take a dominant position to the detriment of both of them. Starting a Mobile Auto Detailing Business; Dry Wash or Pressure Wash? Many experienced auto detailing professionals who have started out using a pressure washer rarely use Dry Wash n' Guard. Most would say this is a matter of preference more than anything else. Why The Carwash Industry is Stagnant; What You Can Do to Change Your Field Many years ago, I had warned the carwash industry of problems brewing in customer dissatisfaction as we continued to grow our car wash company into a National Franchise Chain. I warned of environmental controls, speed of wash, water usage, quality of labor, price points, car wash fundraisers, car damage, up selling and hot wax. Internships: Good for Everyone Many job applicants want a job but often do not have the prerequisite experience, experience that they can only have by getting a job. Managers who take the chance and hire them may have to spend considerable time and effort training them, only to find the new recruits unsuitable or unhappy with the jobs and looking for employment elsewhere. Business Pain Defined Every company has business pain, but the pain does not necessarily mean that they have a success problem. Pain can be anything from a minor dent, as when a marketing event does not produce the anticipated results, to a major process issue, as when reporting is not accurate. 5 Small Business Management Questions to Help Choose Marketing Programs As small business managers, we juggle limited resources in a quest for success. To an extent, when we focus on success in one area we forego attention elsewhere.
|
| home | site map | Web directory | Pham Thanh Long | Luat su| Lawyer| Links |
| © 2006 |
