3 Ways to Make Your Work Computer More Productive

The wonder of technology today is that there are so many apps available in the market or or are free of charge, which people can choose from to suit their specific office needs. These apps can actually increase work productivity by cutting down time versus doing it manually. These apps also enables the user to perform his/her work better.

And so, here are at least 3 apps that have been proven to increase work productivity and effectiveness in and outside the office at all levels of business.

Wunderlist

Wunderlist is a great app for every area of your work. As the name suggests, its main function is making lists which may sound simple but it’s incredibly useful. So what’s so great about Wunderlist? Well, it’s free and it’s extremely easy to use. You can create as many separate lists as you want, and file them accordingly to ensure everything remains organized. Wunderlist allows you access your lists from anywhere and from any device. Once you are signed up, any lists you make are saved in the cloud. You can make a list on your computer in the morning and access it on your smartphone when you get to the supermarket in the evening. It also has the ability to share with multiple users. For instance, you can create a list of to-dos for a certain project and then if you’re out of the office you can assign tasks to other members of the team from your phone, including a set due date for that task.

Keeper

This is the app for those who need to keep several passwords for work. One of the great things about Keeper is its ability to synch across devices, which means you don’t have the frustration of repeatedly entering in a wrong password and locking out your accounts. It keeps everything behind a single ‘master’ password that wipes your secrets if a hack is attempted. If your office has a number passwords for various tools, programs, and accounts, the group option manages the accounts and users to control what goes to whom. There’ll be no more asking around the office for the password or post-it notes with passwords scrawled on sticking on your computer screens.

Speek

Conference calling is an important part of how most businesses operate. It enables teams, and individuals, working in different offices and locations to brainstorm, plan, and discuss. But it can be a complicated process often. Now, there is an app called Speek, a specialized conference calling app that cuts out the fuss and lets you get on with the work. All you have to do is pick a personal link that takes the place of the traditional PIN or phone numbers. Then send it to the other callers needed to join the call and all they have to do is to click on that link from their tablet, smartphone, or desktop to join in. It’s that simple.

How Important is Phone Etiquette When Providing Customer Service?

One of the basics, be it a selling business or a tech support company, is learning proper telephone etiquette. Telephone calls are part of everyday work. It is a necessary tool, which in most businesses, is the first point of contact with customers. It can either make or break a business transaction. Telephone etiquette is the way for a business to convey good customer service.

The First Impression Cliché

As the cliché goes, first impressions last; but this is a cliché that spans all generations and every business. Even in this day and age, most business transactions still start with a telephone call, and how the conversation goes gives the customer an overall impression of the business. Thus, learning proper business telephone etiquette is important because a call can either make or break a potential business client.

With this in mind, you should be prepared before taking a business telephone call but at the same time should not let the caller wait longer. The rule of thumb is to place a customer on hold for no longer than two minutes. Anything else longer than this and you might lose the client.

Calls should be answered after the second or third ring. You should have a standard greeting to be used. Most importantly, modulate your voice because this is an important aspect as to how the call will turn out.

Basic and Courteous Customer Service

Learning business telephone etiquette is essential because it is considered a basic customer service. Established and repeat clients usually make calls more often with the business to follow up because they are already familiar with the business environment. If telephone etiquette is applied, customers will not only come back for your services, but they can be third party advertisers for your business as well; they can recommend a business through word of mouth not just for the products offered, but because of the excellent customer service.

You should take note that the person on the other line may not see the facial expression used when taking a business call, but the tone of voice can determine the facial expression. In a telephone call, it is essential to listen and speak to the person on the other line, in a proper and prepared manner. Always respect the person on the other end of the line.

Enhancement of Communication Skills

Speaking can develop a person’s communication skills. Those who often speak can master the art of talking. You can even practice proper grammar through telephone conversations. The telephone is not just for the benefit of the party calling but for you as well, as a business owner. It is recommended that when you answer a call you should always be positive, not just in tone of voice, but in your overall personality.

By knowing the importance of learning proper business telephone etiquette, you should keep in mind that telephone calls should not be taken carelessly, but always with great care and attention.

Fixing Computer Issues: Should You Do It Yourself?

When your car, television, washing machine breaks down, do you try to fix it yourself or do you call an expert? Well, with the car, if you know about car engines, you could try, but you still end up calling the mechanic.

The same concept applies when your computer breaks down simply because you will also need to call an expert to do it. And if you call a legitimate computer or technical support company, then it will cost you a lot less than your car, television, or washing machine.

When you consider the cost of your investment in your laptop or desktop, it really does not make enough sense to start trying to do a repair job yourself. Also, remember all those valuable files and years of photos (assuming you haven’t backed up) that could all be lost if you botch the repair job.

So, what can go wrong if you try to repair the computer yourself?

Firstly, you may succeed, but take note of the word “may” because there’s also the chance that you MAY NOT succeed.

Of course, there are literally thousands of tutorials available on the web to assist you on how to repair your computer, but you need to ask yourself if it is worth the risk.

Please do remember that you’re not incompetent if you don’t have the ability to repair your own computer; it’s the same concept when you can’t repair your own car or washing machine. The main reason why there are computer repair service centers and tech support companies is because repairing your computer takes skill, expertise, and experience from licensed technicians.

The worst thing that can go wrong when you attempt to repair your computer is that you could do irreparable damage and end up with having to buy a new computer and losing all your data. On average, it only takes between $100 and $145 to have a computer repaired while you could spend more than $275 for a computer the user damaged further.

You may have no idea what the problem is with your machine and without knowledge and expertise, you are going to have an almost impossible task to identify and fix theproblem. Even for experienced computer technicians, it can be a lengthy process to identify the particular problem and resolve it. If it takes a licensed and experienced technician that long and complicated a process, what chance does the user have at all?

In summary, fortunately, you do not have to repair your own computer and if you have a computer problem, it is strongly recommended to call in the experts. It will definitely save you time and a lot of money.