Email Etiquette for Business

Tired of endless forwards where nobody changes the subject line, tired of those stupid return receipts (which in the business world is a strict no no). As we become more familiar with it we tend to get careless.

Why every business needs an email etiquette policy:

Professionalism: by using proper email language your company will convey a professional image. Efficiency: emails that get to the point are much more effective than poorly worded emails. Protection from liability: employee awareness of email risks will protect your company from costly law suits. The most important email etiquette tips:

1. Be concise and to the point. Do not make an e-mail longer than it needs to be
2. Answer all questions, and pre-empt further questions.
3. Use proper spelling, grammar & punctuation. E-mails with no full stops or commas are difficult to read and can sometimes even change the meaning of the text.
4. Make it personal.
5. Answer swiftly..
6. Use proper structure & layout.
7. Do not overuse the high priority option.
8. Do not write in CAPITALS.
9. Don't leave out the message thread.
10. Add disclaimers to your emails. It is important to add disclaimers to your internal and external mails, since this can help protect your company from liability.
11. Read the email before you send it. A no brainer.
12. Do not email or respond if you are angry. Another no brainer.
13. Do not forward chain letters.
14. Do not request delivery and read receipts. This will always annoy your recipient before he or she has even read your message. Besides, it usually does not work since the recipient could have blocked that function, or their software might not support it, so what is the use of using it?
15. Do not ask to recall a message.
16. Do not copy a message or attachment without permission.
17. Do not use email to discuss confidential information.

There are many more but these are the important ones. Every business should have an e-mail policy and enforce it. It can be a big liability issue if you don’t.

Save money and upgrade RAM yourself

So, things are tightening up and you really can’t afford a new computer. And the one you have is showing its age. What can you do? Well several upgrades: add more RAM (Random Access Memory), add a video card, or add a hard drive. Since RAM has a direct effect on performance I’m going to start there. It is also one of the easier do-it-yourself upgrades.

Before we start there are a few assumptions we need to make. First, the computer is not more then 3 – 4 years old. Next, you are running WIN XP. For those of you who refuse to give up on WIN 98 or ME your only real choice is a new computer. And last, you have a little mechanical ability.

RAM is what the computer uses to run applications. When the machine was new it came with what was available. That was then this is now. Over the years software has been added, applications have grown and all these use RAM. Add to that tool bars (bad), messangers, and games the RAM gets used up.

First check the RAM. Right click on the Task Bar. Then select Task Manager. When the dialog box opens choose the Performance tab. Here you will see neat little graphs that show how much you have and how much you are using.

The next step is to determine what type of RAM you have. Find this in System Information from the Control Panel, in your computer documentation or online.
You will also need to know the maximum amount the system can support and how many memory slots you have and are being used. You can see this by removing the cover.

Once you have the new RAM it is fairly easy to install if you are careful. ALWAYS remove the power. Lay the computer on its side and remove the cover. Always keep touching metal to discharge static! Line up the notch in the Ram with the notch in the slot and snap it carefully but firmly into the slot. You will here it ‘snap’.

Set the two locks on each side of the slot and you are done. Close it up and boot the system. If all went well the system will see the RAM and you’re on your way. If the boot fails and the machine is beeping like crazy, re-seat the Ram and try again.
Freeing up a resource like RAM goes a long way to overall performance. AND of course if you have any doubts call a professional.

Chris Kaminski is the head designer and web developer at Lone Bird Studio Ltd., an Asheville web design and SEO company in North Carolina. Clients include top companies in North Carolina health insurance, medical, news media, and government. Lone Bird Studio also specializes in creating niche market websites for that realize the necessity of e-commerce as the new marketplace.
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Wireless broadband needed in USA

Since 2001, the U.S. has fallen from 3rd to 16th in worldwide broadband adoption, an alarming trend that seriously threatens American competitiveness in the digital age. Wireless broadband is the most promising way to extend affordable, ubiquitous, high-speed Internet connections to all Americans, particularly in under-served rural and low-income areas (Wireless Innovation Alliance). Roughly 15 million households cannot get broadband from their phone or cable provider because the companies have been slow to expand their high-speed networks in areas where there are not enough customers to generate what they regard as an adequate profit.
“If you don’t have a broadband connection, you’ll be left in a backwater and won’t be able to take part in the economy,” said David J. Leonard, WildBlue’s chief executive. “There’s a growing unmet demand in these markets.”
Wild Blue is a fast growing satellite based technology designed to bring DSL comparable speeds to rural areas that can not receive DSL, cable service.
What are your choices if you live in one of these un-serviced areas? Well there is dialup (eech) which is the whole reason for switching to broadband. Now if all you do is email and the occasional browsing then dialup is fine. But, if you are like the rest of us you would like to take full advantage of what the Internet has to offer. And, if, you are in business you need high speed.
So what are your choices in this new wireless realm? Well wireless is a broad term and covers everything from your home laptop to huge wide area networks. We are talking about wide area. This comes in several flavors, mesh, multipoint, and satellite.
In areas where mountains are not a problem mesh and multipoint work fine. Mesh and multipoint use ‘line-of-sight’ antennas. In areas where terrain is an issue then you will need satellite.
Now all of these have their strong and weak points, like I said terrain is a factor, weather can be a factor and of course cost. You will need to do your homework to see what is available in your area and which service is best for you.

Lone Bird Studio web design is based in Asheville, NC. CEO and head web designer Chris Kaminski built his first website in 1996. He has a passion for computer technology, web design and development and loves to share his knowledge and empower other internet businesses with tips and advice. Feel free to contact Lone Bird Studio with any questions, business or to link up with us!!

Ways to avoid identity theft

Identity theft has been the fasted growing crime for years now. In fact some studies say one happens every 3 seconds. How do they get this information? Surprisingly, not from you. Most are the result of data theft, thousands of records taken from a retail store for example.
What can you do? Nothing really. Something like that is out of your control. But, you can keep an eye on your credit and be notified if someone uses it. All three credit agencies are required to offer a free monitoring service.
To sign up is easy and free. First contact one of the main three reporting agencies (www.equifax.com, www.experian.com, www.transunion.com) and sign up for their Fraud Alert program. They will have paid offerings but the free one is what we are after.
Once you join several things will happen. First, the company you joined is required to also notify the remaining two agencies so all three will be watching. Second, while signing up, select to opt-out of un-solicited offers. This prevents random credit checks and will end those annoying credit offers.
Third and most important, you will be notified of any suspicious credit activity. If you don’t receive any alerts (a good thing) you will at least get a monthly report.
Now there is a catch, a free account is good only for 90 days so you will have to renew, but hey, it’s free.
There you have it. This is what companies on TV are charging you for. But, for a few minutes of your time you can do it yourself and save the money. I still wouldn’t put my Social Security number on the side of a truck though.

By Chris Kaminski
Lone Bird Studio Ltd.
Lone Bird Studio Ltd. is a web design and seo company in Asheville,NC

Welcome to the New Digital Economy

As we watch our traditional economy slow to a halt you can’t help but worry. I don’t need to go into why because that is covered enough on the news. But if you notice none of the institutions you see in the news are online. In fact the virtual business world, though sales are down, is still going strong. So if you have been paying attention to business trends, there is a way not only to survive but to grow, welcome to the new digital economy!

We are living in a unique time. A time when popular trends (moving business online), economic necessity and globalization (finding new ways to earn a living) and the technology of the Internet all come together and collide with a recession.

We have been through recessions before but this time we have a second virtual world to turn to. And when the real world fails we can fall back on this virtual one (scary huh).

Why? Let’s take a look. Fact, it is easier and less expensive to start and run a virtual business than a traditional one. Fact, in the past few years there has been a dramatic increase in telecommuting (working from home). Fact, the Internet has become the worlds business / banking / shopping / socializing backbone. Put all this together and this is truly the age of the entrepreneur.

Virtual business is the missing key that breaks the work from home world wide open. Whether you make sales calling on clients one by one or you sell and ship a product you can do it faster and with less expense then traditional methods.

How? Some examples: put your office online and you can access it from anywhere.

There are shopping carts and payment gateways to handle sales and shipping. To get your message out there is email, video, U-Tube, Google, and blogs to name a few.

Now don’t misunderstand me, every good idea needs a plan and some investment of time and money but you also have tools that were never before available. There is always opportunity if you look even in this economy, so take your idea find a web developer to help with your plan and use the virtual world to make real money.

By Chris Kaminski
Lone Bird Studio Ltd.

The Benefits of Online Business

The Internet has evolved into a powerful tool that allows companies to market and sell products to an online customer base which spans the globe. In the US 73% of the population, about 147 million adults (www.pewinternet.org) has access to the World Wide Web and worldwide this represents a 400 million plus audience.

If your business can tap into only a small percentage of this online community then the returns can be substantial. Businesses have two routes to achieve an online presence, get a professional web developer to produce a web site or use internal employees to build the site themselves.

How much do we spend on advertising?
How much do we spend on printed media? (Catalogues, brochures and leaflets)
How many enquiries do our present marketing activities generate?
What proportion of our sales are achieved by this marketing?

Now, I’m not saying replace all of your current marketing with an online approach, it is worth pointing out that a well thought out web presence can be the most cost effective method of finding new customers.

What are the Benefits?

An advertisement or online shop that is viewable or 'open' 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year.
An incredibly large potential market.
A platform that allows small companies to compete on a near level playing field with large corporations.
A method for reducing ongoing operating costs. (Postage, phone bills and company time)
A one time setup cost with small annual running costs.
Better comunication routes with customers using email and online methods.

Author Chris Kaminski is head web designer at Lone Bird Studio, an Asheville web design and SEO company located in North Carolina.