Have you ever considered switching over and using Office 365? This video gives an overview and examples of how Office 365 could benefit you.
Are You Addicted to Your Smart Phone?
Smartphone addiction is a real thing and while this article talks more about the younger generation, its not limited to them as I have seen some of my clients and friends with the same addiction. You know who you are! I encourage you to use this suggested method to break your addiction!
I completely believe we check email too often and put pressure on ourselves to respond instantly. What moments are we missing by putting this pressure on ourselves?
An excellent book on better email processes is “The Hamster Revolution” by Mike Song. Good, practical processes to spend less time on email and more time on the important things.
Social Media or SEO?
This is seems to be a popular question for all of our small businesses. When you can’t have both which will you choose? Let’s take a look!
Social Media Benefits: Helps improve brand awareness, builds trust and loyalty, great for driving more engagement, and managing customer service.
SEO Benefits: Builds audience, easy to measure and quantify, targeted-high quality website traffic, and less competition.
Want to learn more about your SEO and social media options? Message Your Computer Lady today to get started!
Protect Yourself!
I wanted to share this article from my bank with you about protecting your cards and identity.
- Going paperless for accounting is safer!!
- PayPal provides extra protection for online purchases. You’ll need to compare their options with what your credit card offers. The combo of both is probably your best option.
- I had never heard the trick about testing for a skimmer at the gas pump.
Opt Out of Unwanted Mail and Email
STOP PREAPPROVED CREDIT CARD OFFERS
Go to OptOutPreScreen.com and opt out of receiving those annoying preapproved credit card offers or insurance offers. The service is free for 5 years.
While you’re there, you can pay $2 for their Mailbox service which allows you to get off numerous direct mail lists. You can also opt out of Direct Mail Association (DMA) members’ email lists. Regretfully, most of the junk email you receive isn’t from DMA members. But every little bit helps!
PS – Don’t forget the National Do Not Call Registry to cut down on telemarketing calls! DoNotCall.gov
What Does Google Know About You?
The answer is “A lot!”
Go to MyAccount.Google.com
Privacy Checkup
Google will walk you through the settings and help you choose your preferences.
Or look at the individual sections to change your preferences.
Personal Info
Change each setting for your preferences.
Ad Settings
Google follows what you search for and develops a “profile” for you. They narrow down your search results then to fit your profile. If you do a search that gets strange results, you can delete it from History to keep your profile more clear.
Location Tracking
You can turn off tracking or delete your history.
It is worth your time to check the Google settings. You want to give enough info to have good search results but not enough to display your whole life to the Internet.
Where Is My Email Stored?
Here’s the scenario. You write an email in Outlook and send it to your best friend. Your friend then opens the email in her Gmail account.
Where is the email stored? In 4 places.
- Your Outlook (email management software) saves a copy in Sent Items.
- Your server (Cox, CenturyLink, Verizon, etc.) saves a copy in webmail Sent Items.
- Your friend’s server saves a copy in her webmail Inbox.
- Your friend’s Gmail (email management software) saves a copy in Inbox.
You can delete both of your copies if you want to. Delete from Outlook. Log into webmail and delete from webmail.
You can not delete your friend’s copies.
That’s why you always want to THINK before you hit SEND!
Programming human beings to build a hate-free Internet
Prevent Eye Strain While Working
There are some simple tips to help prevent eye strain while you’re at your computer.
- Change the brightness of your monitor screen to match the light level of your room. EX: If you’re working with the lights off in the office, dim the screen. Or the reverse, brighten the screen when the sun is shining in the windows and adding to the florescent lighting.
- Adjust the monitor and/or your chair until your eye level aligns with the top of the monitor. We naturally look downward by about 10-15 degrees. Next best option: Align so you are looking at the center of your monitor. Do NOT look up at your monitor! That’s bad for your eyes and your neck.
- Increase the font size of your Windows displays and of your software programs. Use at least a 12 point font. You can even use a larger font later in the day to help with eye strain.
- Be wary of the colorful background designs offered by Windows, Firefox and other software manufacturers. Yes, they are entertaining but they are harder on your eyes than a simple design where the contrast between the background color and the font is greater.
- Take frequent breaks. No, not to play solitaire! Blink your eyes. Look out the window, across the room, somewhere in the distance. Do a couple of easy stretches sitting in your chair or standing at your desk. Close your eyes and take some deep breathes.
Evidence is Mounting on the Connection of Cell Phones to Cancer
Can your cell phone cause cancer? The answer to this question has just changed from “possibly” to “probably.” You need to educate yourself and your family about the dangers to minimize your risk. Click this link to visit the Environmental Health Trust to learn about the latest research and recommendations.