4 popular web browsers
Chris Wanamaker2018-09-20T08:00:50+00:00
The internet browser is a special kind of software. No two products share the same functions and features, and most of them can be downloaded at no charge. This gives you many options when it comes to selecting the ideal browser, and the myriad of choices may make it difficult to choose. Here are some of the pros and cons of the four popular web browsers.
Google Chrome
By just about any metric, Google Chrome has been the browser of choice for most internet users over the last couple years. It’s easy to use and its graphics interface has a low profile. However, if you want to customize Chrome with extensions and apps, there are more than enough options. The bottom line is: this is the best browser for users who spend a lot of time in G-Suite documents, or want the security benefits of frequent patches and updates.
Apple Safari
We might as well start off with the one, glaring drawback of Safari: […]
MyAnalytics: O365’s productivity coach
Chris Wanamaker2018-09-19T08:00:53+00:00
Installing software that immediately boosts employee efficiency is any small- or medium-sized business owner’s dream. With Office 365’s dashboard, that’s exactly what you’re getting. And best of all, it’s directly integrated with your existing productivity suite. Read on to learn more.
What is MyAnalytics?
MyAnalytics apply machine learning technology to your employees’ Office 365 data. By utilizing extremely powerful computing processes to analyze huge blocks of information, MyAnalytics can uncover trends and correlations that may be too complex for human discovery.
Every day, Office 365 users create several thousand new data points across Microsoft’s productivity suite, and there’s a lot of potential to rearrange meetings, project goals, and employee tasks to increase efficiency.
The most obvious improvement is with Outlook calendar. MyAnalytics tracks how much time you’re spending with each person in your office as well as the time you’re investing in specific projects. After sufficient information has been gathered, your Office 365 dashboard will begin coaching you on how to organize meetings and […]
5 great voice commands for Google Assistant
Chris Wanamaker2018-09-18T12:40:22+00:00
Google Assistant is essentially the next generation of Google Now. It performs all of the same tasks as Google Now, such as scheduling events and web searching, but has a better, more conversational interface. For a crash course in some of Google’s best AI-powered voice-commands, take a look at five of our favorites.
Before you can start playing with Google’s AI, you need to turn on the service. On your Android device, press and hold the home key at the bottom of the screen. This will open the Google Assistant interface. Tap Next on the “Meet your personal Google Assistant” screen, then tap Continue on the next screen to enable permissions.
If you’re prompted to configure voice activation, simply repeat “OK Google” three times and you’re good to go! Turn it on and try some of the examples below.
Tip #1: Reminders
Google Assistant helps with information discovery, but what about when you just need a little help managing your calendar? The phrase “Remind me to [action] + […]
Google indexing: 4 tips for better results
Chris Wanamaker2018-09-17T11:03:53+00:00
Whether you’re a newbie or an expert in search engine optimization (SEO), the field changes so often that it can be overwhelming. That can be pretty frustrating since businesses of any size need to get people to their sites in order to really grow in our web-driven culture. Thankfully, there are a few tried-and-true methods for improving your position in Google’s index.
Make sure you’re indexed by Google
Go to Google.com and search ‘site:’ with your website domain listed after the colon (example: ‘site:acme.com’). If you don’t see any results from your page listed, that means Google hasn’t added your site to its search results yet. Although some advisers recommend filling out a request form that Google offers, there is a much faster way to get recognized by the search giant.
Google is constantly scanning web pages for updates in content to include in their search results. When they see a link to an external site on one of their already indexed pages, Google will add that […]
5 virtualization platforms fit for SMBs
Chris Wanamaker2018-09-14T09:47:15+00:00
Virtualization allows you to eliminate dependency on physical hardware limitations and software requirements. Before you choose any one virtualization solution, it’s a good idea to go over the different companies providing virtualization services. Below is a list of five popular vendors offering reliable virtualization platforms.
VMware
Any conversation about virtualization for small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) usually starts around VMware. VMware is the company that really put office virtualization on everyone’s action item list. The company offers a number of different solutions for different-sized businesses with a wide variety of needs. Its ease of use and robust security features have secured its reputation as one of the best options for virtualization for SMBs.
Citrix
The average user may not recognize the company name but probably knows their popular remote access tools, GoToMyPC and GoToMeeting. Citrix has specifically geared their virtualization software XenApp, XenDesktop, and VDI-in-a-box toward SMBs and even claims that non-IT staff can easily manage and administer the services. They even provide a free trial to […]
Keep your callers happy by using VoIP
Chris Wanamaker2018-09-14T09:48:52+00:00
If you don’t want your customers to switch to your competitors, customer satisfaction should be on top of your priority list. One sure way to keep them satisfied is by having a professional yet customer-friendly phone strategy. Something as simple as your automated on-hold messages may seem inconsequential, but when people need help, you don’t want them to feel ignored or neglected. Here are tips on designing great on-hold messages.
Hire professionals to record your on-hold message
On-hold messages are your customers’ first point of contact with your business when they need help, so your messages should be professionally recorded. You may be tempted to have an in-house production because it will initially cost less than hiring a professional voice talent and renting a studio, but in the long run, professionally recorded messages in your company’s Interactive Voice Response (IVR) systems will be more beneficial.
Voice talents have the skills and equipment to give your phone system that professional, friendly, and pleasant feel. If […]
Master Microsoft Excel with these 3 tips
Chris Wanamaker2018-09-14T10:02:59+00:00
Digital literacy is all about mastering essential computer skills like navigating search engines and word processors. But one of the most crucial you need to learn is Excel. Check out these tips to be an Excel master.
Pie and Sunburst Charts
Everyone knows that bombarding stakeholders with endless numbers and decimal points is the wrong approach. You need to compile data and develop comprehensive pie or sunburst charts to make life easier for clients and investors.
Here’s how to create a pie chart:
- Select your data.
- Click on the Recommended Charts tool to see different style chart suggestions for your data.
- Click on the Chart Styles, Chart Filters, or Chart Elements button in the upper-right corner of the chart to personalize its overall look or add chart elements, such as data labels or axis titles.
Steps to create a sunburst chart:
- Select all your data.
- Click Insert > Insert Hierarchy Chart > Sunburst.
- Go to the Design and Format tabs to tailor its overall look.
Pivot Tables
Pivot Tables might be one of the most powerful […]
How to adjust your Windows 10 notifications
Chris Wanamaker2018-09-14T10:02:51+00:00
Unless the computer app is critical for your work, alerts about a new patch update or incoming message can distract you. Luckily, you can personalize your notifications settings on Windows 10’s action center using these three simple steps.
Overarching action center settings
First of all, you should customize your Windows 10 system-wide notifications settings. To view these:
- Click on the Cortana icon on your taskbar and type ‘Notifications’.
- Click ‘Notifications & actions settings’.
Here, you can turn off alerts entirely or customize the alerts for core functions such as alarms, reminders, and incoming VoIP calls.
Settings for individual applications
If you want to take a far more nuanced approach to your notifications, there are advanced options to create rules on an app-by-app basis. At the bottom of the ‘Notifications & actions’ setting screen is a section titled ‘Get notifications from these senders.’ By enabling any of the items in this list, you can open a new window full of more graded notifications options. From here, users can specify lock screen, sound, […]
Valuable strategies for SMBs on Facebook
Chris Wanamaker2018-09-14T10:02:39+00:00
Facebook’s most recent monthly active users numbered over 2.3 billion. That’s almost one account for every three people on the planet! Many of your ideal customers use this platform to interact with businesses and creating a page for them to engage with yours costs almost nothing. Here are six free ways to get more eyes on your business’s Facebook page.
Focus on getting comments
In the beginning of 2018, Facebook announced broad changes to what it shows to users. Notably, the social platform now prioritizes posts from friends and family over those from businesses. Zuckerberg says the aim is for users to engage with their connections more often, and going forward, the number of comments a post has will be the biggest factor in how many newsfeeds it shows up in. Posts from businesses lost a lot of visibility, but the ones that generated the most conversation weren’t hit as hard.
Facebook-only promos
Another great strategy for boosting user engagement is to offer product or service discounts that […]
5 Simple but effective cybersecurity tricks
Chris Wanamaker2018-09-14T10:02:26+00:00
Can you name five cybersecurity best practices? Most people can’t, and few of those who can, actually follow them. Unfortunately, cyberattacks are far too common to be lax about staying safe online. Your identity could be stolen, or even worse, you could expose private information belonging to your company’s clients. There are many ways you can protect yourself, but this list is a great starting point.
1. Multi-factor authentication (MFA)
This tool earns the number one spot on our list because it can keep you safe even after a hacker has stolen one of your passwords. That’s because MFA requires more than one form of identification to grant access to an account.
The most common example is a temporary code that is sent to your mobile device. Only someone with both the password and access to your smartphone will be able to log in. Almost any online account provider offers this service, and some let you require additional types of verification, such as a fingerprint or facial […]