Maximize Productivity In A Home Office Or Small Business With These Software Programs
Small business owners wear multiple hats…particularly within the first few years following start up. Accounting, human resources, marketing, customer service, and let’s not forget selling the product or service. It can be very, very stressful.
The good news is that there is plenty of software on the market to help a small business owner maximize productivity and relieve some of the stress associated with being one’s own boss (and employee).
1. Let’s talk typing. From note taking to mailing lists to everything in between a small business cannot do without some sort of word processing program. The most accepted and reliable choice is Microsoft Word. Microsoft Word 2007 can save in multiple formats (including a compatibility mode for Word users that have not upgraded yet), handle labels, envelope printing, and if a person knows how to do it they can utilize it with or without Excel to generate a mail merge to make keeping in contact with customers easier. Microsoft Word is available in the Microsoft Office Suite. The price is around $150. However, that includes seven programs.
2. What is the best method to keep up with clients or possible clients? Cell phone? Paper? Rolodex? One great program to keep up with client information and needs is ACT Contact & Customer Service Manager. It can be integrated with Plaxo and ZoomInfo to support track of online contacts. If a small business has a large online presence a la Twitter or Facebook that information can also be added. This program can generate e-mail marketing and campaigns and has 13 new reports…including reports to help the small business owner keep track of possible sales opportunities. The notice for this software is around $230.
3. Keep multiple calendars? A program like MobileMe can synch the iPhone, iTouch, and personal computers. The easiest explanation is this: the business owner enters it into one calendar and uses MobileMe to synchronize the computer and iPhone / iTouch calendar. It is easy to use and a person can also use it to share documents and for e-mail. This software has a reasonable price of $99. Try finding an assistant to work for the business for only $99…there won’t be one. This program is a great investment.
4. Does your business need the ability to edit scanned documents? OmniPage 17 gives 99% accuracy for OCR and is ideal for converting paper documents into PDF. This program works for not only paper products, but can also be used with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and even Outlook. This program also offers conversion from PDF to the user’s program of choice. Another great feature is that this program recognizes more than 100 languages. This program sells for around $150, but that is a steal for the sort of power and usability a business will acquire from this program.
5. Need help with project management? Office Visio could be the solution. If a business does not have it from a previous version of Microsoft Office, it can be bought as an upgrade. This program comes with multiple templates and it can help the small business owner get their ideas into an organized, user friendly layout. The price to upgrade is around $130.
6. Accounting…either a person can do it or they can’t. There really isn’t much of a middle ground. Either plot it goes, one affordable option for a little business is Quicken Premier. Monitor bills, set and track goals, track spending, and a place to monitor all investments are some key features of this mammoth program. As always – Quicken makes it easy to import personal account information and allows for more than one account to be entered. It is a expansive program particularly if a business uses escrow accounts or sets up multiple accounts. The product ticket starts around $60 for the personal version.
7. Wasting money on travel expenses to woo clients about the latest and greatest product or service the business has to offer? Deem trying Gotomeeting.com. The $49 per month fee to allow a business to conduct multiple meetings online could bring in a substantial savings. The set up is easy and it allows the business owner to invite multiple people to an online meeting and demonstrate the product to multiple clients or potential clients. It can be musty to track attendance in a meeting and to schedule future meetings.
8. Sharepoint is another wonderful Microsoft product. It allows a small business to keep all of their documents in one spot and other users / employees can easily access the documents. It offers a secure solution to manage business content. Prices start around $6 per month.
9. Perhaps a small business is starting to grow and hires several part time employees or independent contractors. Sometimes it just feels a little awkward instant messaging someone without a business friendly user name for business purposes. Perhaps a business owner would like to limit instant messaging to only within the organization. Enter Microsoft Office Communication Online. This is an instant messaging program that is secure. This is a real time program that allows workers to study another worker’s availability for things that they may need to discuss immediately. The label range for this program is around $2.00 per user per month.
10. Another great option to slice down travel expenses is to use Skype. Skype allows free Skype to Skype calling and offers video meetings. The basic download is, of course, free. Skype also offers pay as you go for minutes to call cell phones, land lines, or to have those calls transferred to you. They also offer a subscription package for three or 12 months. To learn more about the fees for Skype visit their website.
Running a small business or a home business is THE American dream. It takes time, devotion, and money. Money is a touchy subject during our current economic strife. Yet most do not want to give up their dream…particularly if the business is successful. Making minor investments into immense products can save money for a small business.
Do the research. Not every product listed is right for every small business. Not every business can use a pre-packaged accounting program. A CPA may be necessary. Visit websites such as the Dinky Business website set up the government. Visit forums where other small business owners get together and discuss software to learn of other options that might be factual.
Sources:
www.bestbuy.com
www.skype.com
www.gotomeeting.com
www.microsoft.com
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Filed under Small Business Phones by on Jan 16th, 2011. 
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