I’m back on my soapbox to encourage you to use good, strong passwords. Check out this list of the most common passwords and how long it takes hackers to break them.
Now go change your password!!
How and When To Back Up Your Data
Simply put, the more important the data
the more often you should back up
the more back up copies you should have.
EXAMPLES:
Pictures of my daily Wordle results
Back up once a quarter
One copy on a thumb drive is enough.
QuickBooks back ups for my company
Back up every 2 times I close the program
Keep a copy on my external hard drive and a copy on Dropbox
Payroll records
Back up after each payroll period
Keep a copy on my external hard drive and a copy on Dropbox
Not only can your hard drive go bad, your external hard drive, thumb drive or DVD can also go bad. So important data needs to be backed up in multiple places. For years, when the standard back up method was to a DVD, I kept one copy in my office and another copy in the trunk of my car. I figured the office and the car wouldn’t be destroyed at the same time!!
Now with online options, it’s even easier.
Thumb Drive
Large thumb drives allow you to back up all of your files or a major project quickly. The process is manual which means you have to discipline yourself to do the back ups.
External Hard Drive
BBBS can assist you with purchasing and configuring an external hard drive that sits in your office and automatically backs up your entire hard drive. If the computer hard drive goes, you can download everything you need from the external hard drive.
Online Back Up Services
There are multiple options for you. BBBS can assist you in choosing the best service and help you configure the settings.
- One Drive is part of your Microsoft 365 account.
- Drive is part of your Google account.
- Dropbox is my favorite but there are many Software-As-A-Service (Saas) companies.
Back Up Your Files NOW!
Here’s the rule of thumb for when and where to back up data.
The more important the information
The more often you should back up and
The more distant those back up files should be.
I back up my QuickBooks data every 2 days and every time I do a lot of input. I don’t want to re-build or re-do a lot of entries. So the time it takes to do the back up is a savings compared to the frustration and time required to re-do the work.
If YCL does more than 1 hour of input on a website, we back up the site immediately. No need to risk losing that work!
Really important information like a password list, payroll records, client info, photos of grandchildren, etc. should be in 2 or 3 different places. Maybe a copy on a thumb drive in your office. A copy on Dropbox. A copy on iDrive.
If the thumb drive gets corrupted, you can pull from Dropbox or iDrive. If Dropbox crashes, you can pull from the thumb drive or iDrive.
Yes, even files stored on the cloud should have back ups!
Case in point, I store all of my passwords with LastPass. It’s a great software that I’ve recommended to many of you. A month ago CenturyLink had a nation-wide system disruption that affected the LastPass servers. I couldn’t log in!! The info was still there but I couldn’t get to it. Now I am exporting the passwords once a month and storing them in Dropbox.
I highly recommend that at least one of your back ups be automated. Sync everything with Dropbox. Use iDrive. Buy an external hard drive with back up software. Automating the process will save you time and give you protection even on those super busy days where little tasks get missed.
You can set up Dropbox to automatically sync files from your computer. You can use iDrive or Google Drive to schedule back ups.
Don’t wait for a disaster to happen. Plan and implement your system now for peace of mind.
How To Determine And Adapt To Your Customers’ Communications Preferences
As you begin implementing your marketing plans, one big consideration should be “How do my clients WANT me to communicate?” If a prospect contacts you via Facebook then it’s reasonable to assume they want a Facebook response. Don’t demand that they call you because you like talking on the phone better. Start with “They’re a FB person” and respond. Then you can move them to a phone call or in person meeting as needed. First you want to meet them where they are. One client I work with never responds to an email no matter how urgent the subject. But they answer to every call. So why frustrate both of us by sending emails? I’m not a big text person. When I have a client who is, I respond by text then forward their text and my answer to my email so I have the continuity that I like. But I don’t expect them to change to fit my preferences!! Communication is definitely a case where the client is always right. Here are some more suggestions.
Clean House!
Get rid of your old electronics and eliminate some clutter.|
Phones, gaming consoles, video games, tablets, Apple and Samsung wearables, MacBooks, CDs, DVDs
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Phones, tablets, iPods, Apple computers
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Walmart.com
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Phones, tablets, all types eReaders, gaming consoles, smart speakers, MP3 players
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Visit their websites for details or call for assistance.
Donate
CellPhonesForSoldiers.com – accepts all types of cell phones and accessories, tablets, MP3 players. You can also buy pre-paid minutes for active and recently returned service members.
Too old for re-use
Staples.com will take any electronic and recycle
AZStRUT.org (Mesa) will take any electronics, accessories, cables, etc. etc. They re-use what they can and recycle the rest.
Videos
If you are considering adding videos to your marketing tool kit, here is a good article describing the process.
All That Tech Stuff!
Here is a cool site with lots of answers and lots of suggestions for you on all things tech – phones, online banking, Alexa, speakers, etc. The content ranges from simple “What is a platform?” to more complex “How to buy the right laptop.”
And it’s FREE!
Don’t Get Scammed!
I had another client get scammed last week by the “Microsoft noticed that your computer has a virus and we want to help” message that commandeers your computer.
MICROSOFT NEVER EVER CONTACTS YOU ABOUT A VIRUS OR PROBLEM
WITH YOUR COMPUTER! NEVER.
Do not call the number given in the message! Do not let unknown persons remotely access your computer. Do not give unknown persons your credit card info.
If you are ever in doubt, call me or text me at 480-433-9995 for help.
Or take these steps to get out of the lock.
Try to close your browser completely.
If that doesn’t work, hit Ctrl+Alt+Del to open your Task Manager and force the browser to close.
If that doesn’t work, power off the computer. Hold the power button down several seconds until it forces a shut down.
Unplug your modem. Then restart the computer. If the message shows up again, try to close it again. There is no Internet connection so it can’t do any harm at this point.
Shut down the computer again. Re-plug the modem. Turn on the computer. Open your browser.
If you see the message again, call one of my hardware referrals. Let them clean up the problem.
If you don’t see the message, say a gratitude prayer!
Building Bridges Business Solutions
602-604-5000
Les Ticey
Expert IT Support
480-217-3721
James Casteneda
Shopify CEO Memo Regarding AI
Tobi Lutke, CEO of Shopify, makes an elegant case for AI and sets an example of how to implement within your own company.
The Importance of Media Literacy in 2025
“The ability to critically evaluate information is more essential than ever. Media literacy—the ability to analyze, evaluate, and create media content—is not just a skill but a necessity, particularly for young people navigating a digital landscape filled with misinformation, misleading narratives, and harmful content.”