January 2009
In this issue

> Network Gatekeeping
> Use SharePoint
    Effectively
> When Your PC Crashes
> Greener Printing
> Effective E-Mails
> Just for Laughs
 

8 Tips for More Effective E-Mails
reprinted with permission from the HP Small Business Center

Most business people receive dozens, even hundreds, of e-mails each day. Without question, e-mail is now the primary means of communication in the professional world. That's why it's very important to create messages that effectively communicate your point while presenting a professional image. Here are eight helpful tips for writing e-mails that achieve both goals.

1. Set clear, concrete deadlines. If you're sending a task or a request for more information, don't just say, "Hope to hear from you soon." Make it clear by what time or date you need a response and write the deadline clearly, for instance: "Please respond by next Thursday, January 15th."

2. Use proper spelling and grammar. Poorly spelled or grammatically incorrect e-mails make you appear unprofessional and reduce the effectiveness of your communication. Always double check your e-mails before sending them, making use of spelling and grammar check tools.

3. Think (and read) before you write. In our haste to respond to all our e-mails in a timely fashion, many of us neglect to fully read the mail we're answering and thus may overlook crucial bits of information. This can lead to even more e-mails in order to clarify what was overlooked or misunderstood. So before you send a response, make sure you've completely read and understood the original e-mail; if not, ask for a clarification to avoid further confusion.

Read more tips

 

Please forward this newsletter to anyone else in your organization who might be interested!

The 7 do's and don'ts of Network Gatekeeping
reprinted with permission from the HP Small Business Center

There's little doubt that the Internet has been a real benefit to organizations - providing instant communication capabilities and an almost bottomless source of valuable, up-to-date information on just about any topic.

However, many employees won't think twice about accessing the network for personal use, perhaps to download music or to shop online. Not only does this put a strain on the network by reducing the bandwidth available for legitimate use, but it also makes it easier for criminals to access sensitive company information and for viruses to enter the network.

From an IT standpoint, it's a hassle to deal with employees downloading unsafe material on the one hand, and complaints about how slow the network is on the other.

So what's the best way to effectively limit employees' network use and keep the network safe, without hampering productivity or creating distrust? Here's a list of do's and don'ts to help you put together a network usage policy.
Ideas to Help You to Use
SharePoint Effectively in Your Business
Top 20 ways that SharePoint can solve your common business needs. And I want to emphasize that these 20 are only a few of the many ways to utilize SharePoint .
 
1 Store all your emails on a secure and centralized Website for easy archive.
2 Keep a central task location for assigning tasks to team members. These tasks will automatically show up in your team's Outlook 2007 To-Do List. Those tasks will also link to your projects so you can easily find out what tasks are still open for each project.
3 Organize large events and store the related documents, assigned tasks, and generally post anything and everything related to the events. It will also integrate with Outlook for added efficiency.

Read more

 

Get a Second Chance when your PC Crashes
reprinted with permission from the HP Small Business Center
   

It's a common scenario. You're working at your computer when all of a sudden, with no warning, the PC freezes. Nothing seems to be working. The screen goes dark.

You may even be unlucky enough to see the dreaded blue screen informing you that a critical error has occurred and Windows€ will be shut down.

You've just been the unfortunate victim of a system crash. If this happens to you, it's likely that you've recently added a new program, device, driver or application that your machine doesn't like, and this is its way of making its feelings known.

Sometimes, a simple reboot of the PC resolves the issue. But sometimes it doesn't. You reboot, Windows loads and the computer crashes again, or continues to behave weirdly. What can be done to end the recurring nightmare and return your computer to a more stable state?

How System Restore works

Tips for Greener Printing
reprinted with permission from the HP Small Business Center

HP wants to make maintaining an environmentally conscious workplace a reality for businesses everywhere. Adopting a more environmentally responsible workplace doesn't mean your company has to undergo a major reorganization of its daily operations. In fact, HP has a few tips that can lessen the waste your company produces and improve energy efficiency, all the while potentially reducing your overhead costs.

Increase your printing efficiency
There are techniques that your business can employ that increase the efficiency of paper, ink and toner usage.

Merely ask yourself the following before printing a document:

Just for Laughs


 

Quote of the Month

"The first rule of any technology used in a business is that automation applied to an efficient operation will magnify the efficiency. The second is that automation applied to an inefficient operation will magnify the inefficiency."

~ Bill Gates

  Databranch, Inc.
132 North Union Street, Suite 108
Olean, New York 14760
(716) 373-4467		   213 Prescott Avenue, Suite B
  Elmira Heights, NY 14903
  (607) 733-8550 * (800) 488-4877
[email protected] http://www.databranch.com/
 
Databranch does not knowingly participate in SPAM.   If you wish to be removed from this list, please follow the link below and you will be taken off this list.  Thank you for your interest in our e-newsletter.