How to choose the right computer equipment for your business to increase your productivity and efficiency without it costing the earth.
Business software helps you complete a range of tasks. Choose the right software, provide support and train your staff with our introduction.
It is highly likely that you depend on the internet for some aspects of your business. Find out how you can use the internet more effectively.
Good communication with customers, partners and suppliers is vital for business success. This summary explores business communication methods.
How would you cope if your IT system failed or was breached? We cover the main IT security issues and how to protect against them.
Good IT management can help you choose, use and implement IT. Our overview helps you manage IT in a way that maximises the return on your investment.
IT support is vital if you rely on your IT system. But how can you set up an effective safety net in case things go wrong? We explore the options.
Getting the right IT is just the first step. Appropriate training, policies and working practices can help you maximise return on your IT investment.
As bulging inboxes around the world indicate, email is an essential tool for every company. It is often the communication method of choice, because it's easy and versatile.
Because there are several ways to get a business email system, it's important to establish your requirements first, then work out the best way to meet them.
Start by asking yourself some key questions. What email address do you want? Are you happy with a free email address or do you want to use your company or domain name in your email address? How many email addresses do you need? How do you want to access your email?
Most email services limit the size of attachments and the number of messages you can store, so you also need to consider the volume and nature of messages you will be handling. If you want to send automated or marketing messages (like a company newsletter), you'll need to invest in email marketing software or outsource your email marketing campaigns to a specialist provider.
Once you've settled on your requirements, there are three main ways to get business email:
You'll also need to give people in your business some way of accessing their email. This is usually done by installing email software onto each device. If you already use an office suite, it may well include email software. The most common business email software is Microsoft Outlook.
You'll probably want email addresses which end in your company's domain name (like yourcompany.com). Check this is possible with your chosen email system. Some suppliers restrict how domain names can be used or require you to transfer your domain to them.
For all but the simplest business email systems, it's worth consulting an expert - like your IT supplier - to ensure your email system fits your needs.
Once your company email system is up and running, there are some key issues to consider:
Ongoing business email management needn't take too much effort, but you need clear procedures for certain situations. For instance, when an employee leaves, you may need to ensure their emails get forwarded on to an alternative member of staff.
