by Felicien | Feb 16, 2018 | Education
Looking for quick tips to optimize your Microsoft Outlook experience? Check out this article that includes all you need to know to get the most out of Microsoft Outlook.
With over a billion users worldwide, Microsoft Outlook is the preferred email program for business owners. Though other email programs have some of the same features, no single one of them addresses the everyday needs of business professionals better than Outlook.
In spite of its popularity and its versatility, many users are not getting the full range of benefits Microsoft Outlook has to offer.
This program provides a rich array of valuable features. It allows users to sort, filter and categorize all emails. In addition, there are numerous other email shortcuts that can save users time and reduce their daily frustration. Below, we discuss some of the biggest time-savers. Please note that these shortcuts are based on Outlook 2010, but most will work on later versions, as well as earlier ones.
Learn the Keyboard Shortcuts
It may not seem like it to some people, but having to move your mouse around and click on something takes a lot longer than just pressing two keys. For people whose world revolves around email, the wasted time can really add up. Therefore, it’s expedient to learn a half dozen of the most commonly used shortcuts:
Ctrl+R: reply to email
Alt+S: send email
Alt+R: reply to all in email or switch to work week calendar view
Ctrl+M: or F9 to Send/Receive all
Alt+W: forward email or switch to weekly calendar view
Ctrl+G: open the “Go to date” dialog and jump to any date in the calendar
New to Outlook?
You won’t be a newbie for long once you learn these tricks. Below are a few great tips for newcomers that will have you working like a pro in no time.
Switching Tasks
This tip lets you easily switch between your calendar, contacts, email and other items by pressing Ctrl + [the place number of the item]. This can eliminate lots of clumsy maneuvering in the navigation pane.
Quick Steps
This feature, first introduced in Microsoft Outlook 2010, is the fast, painless way to create your own shortcut when performing any multi-step action (it’s also available for modifying default Quick Steps). For instance, let’s say you want to create a Quick Step for marking emails as read, then forward them to a specific group of people.
Go to the Home tab and click Mail, then in the Quick Steps section, click the More arrow. Next, click on Manage Quick Steps. Select the Quick Step you would like to change, and then choose Modify. Look for Actions, then change or add the actions you want this Quick Step to perform. In the Shortcut key box, assign this Quick Step a name. You can also change the icon next to the Name box by clicking on it, then click OK.
Create a New Item from the Clipboard
This one is a real time-saver. Instead of going to Outlook, opening a new item and then copying and pasting content into it, you can do all this in one smooth step. Simply copy text to your clipboard and press Ctrl-V to create a new message that contains the selected text.
Using Outlook for A Short Time?
Sometimes we all must work on a specific project or with a team that’s already using Microsoft Outlook. For those people, it can be a hassle to get up to speed on how to carry out common tasks. The tips below will have you whizzing through your emails.
How to Create a Calendar Event
Most new users think you have to scroll through the calendar to find a date that works for your upcoming meeting or appointment. Outlook allows you to simply type phrases like “three weeks from now” or “next Wednesday”. Your calendar automatically sets up the appointment. Of course, you can always change these dates if you need to.
Modify Desktop Notifications
If you get lots of emails each day, you understand how distracting it can be to constantly be notified of a new email. Many of the emails we all get aren’t that important anyway. Outlook allows you to set your desktop notifications so that you are only notified of messages from people that you specify.
You can set up a VIP email folder by going to Rules > New Rules, then select “Advanced Options”. The “Rules Wizard” allows you to specify which emails should be sent directly into the VIP folder. That way, you’ll have your important messages all in one place. Using the Rules Wizard, you can set up all your Mail Options so that they work for you, not against you.
Creating Email Templates
During an ordinary workday, we often send out similar messages to people. Why not create an email template for those? Open the email, then select File > Save As > Outlook template. Now when you want to send the message out to someone, go to New Items > Choose Form. Browse through your “User Templates in File System” to find the template and click on it.
Seasoned Outlook Vet?
Maybe you’ve been using Outlook for years and are ready to learn some new tricks. Below are a few amazing time-savers.
Schedule Email Delivery
Whether you’re running off to a meeting or rushing to the airport, you may want to send emails to special people later that day or even weeks in the future. First, write the email, then go to Options > Delay Delivery > Do not deliver before. and then simply type in the date and time you want the message sent out.
Make Folders for Emails
Organizing emails into specific folders is a great way to streamline your Inbox. A good folder system can save you time and prevent important messages from getting lost. Once you have your folders set up, simply drag emails into the right folder. Go to Folder > New Folder and enter a name for it. In the pull-down menu called “Folder Contains”, select “Mail and Post Items”, which formats the folder for email messages. Next, choose “Select where to place the folder” to assign a location for it, and click OK.
You can use this to create folders for people or businesses that you get regular emails from. You probably get daily emails from your boss, so it’s a good idea to set up a folder with his name on it. You may get emails from important clients, each one of which can have their own individual folder.
Once you get all your folders set up, be sure to create Rules so you can easily route mail to the correct folders. The easiest way to do this is to open the email message, go to the Move group on the Home tab and click on Rules. A list of suggested rules will appear.
Let’s say you wanted to set up all emails from your boss, Jay Jones, to go into a folder with his name on it. Click on “Always Move Messages From: Jay Jones”. Click on the “Jay Jones” folder to select it, and click OK. From now on, every message from Jay Jones will go directly into a folder with his name on it. No more searching endlessly for important messages from the boss.
Create Sticky Notes for Quick Reminders
Have a fun luncheon coming up with friends? There’s no need to create a calendar event for tasks like this. With Outlook open, you can create a new sticky note by pressing Ctrl + Shift + N. Your note can be dragged anywhere on the screen. Now you’ll have that little reminder so you don’t miss important events.
A Few More Quick Tips
Microsoft Outlook has many more fast, convenient ways to streamline your daily email experience. For example, it’s easy to group long email threads into one message. Simply click on the message, then click View > Show as Conversation.
Block emails from specific people by going to Home > Junk email options. A new window will open, in which you can select which senders you wish to block.
You can quickly Flag a message for further inquiry. Simply press the Insert key to toggle the flag off and on. In newer versions of Outlook, a small flag appears in the upper right corner. You can click on this flag to specify follow-up options.
Cloud Advantages
With everything moving to the cloud, newer versions of Outlook will have more features that are web-based, which users will be able to access from any device or location. This is the future of all Internet programs. Today’s savvy business people need to work on airplanes, in hotel lobbies and from phones, as well as laptops. With the cloud, you can take your work home or even on vacation with you. This can be a good thing and a bad thing. We all do need some time away from work each week.
The Future of Outlook
With millions of faithful users, Microsoft Outlook should remain the go-to email program for business owners. Microsoft has tweaked the program over the years to make it more intuitive and less intrusive. Their use of helpful built-in features appeals to business professionals.
As the program continues to expand, users can save time and get the drudgery of daily emailing completed much quicker. It’s a good idea to check the Microsoft website for new updates each year and become a true Outlook guru.
by Felicien | Feb 15, 2018 | Education
Are you a potential target for one of the most popular scams in Canada today?
One of the most successful scams in recent history is now affecting Canadian business owners. It goes something like this: a business owner receives a phone call, letter or email saying that there are overdue taxes or something is wrong with their tax return. The caller or email will use very strong language, saying that if you don’t take care of the matter at once, you could be placed in jail. They mention that you might have to pay court charges or face deportation.
This scam –designed to get business owners to pay money they do not owe — has affected thousands of business owners across Canada and the U.S. These callers are also interested in getting financial information from business owners. They may ask for the owner’s social insurance number (SIN), bank account information or credit card information. These callers use very aggressive language and threaten business owners in such a way that many go ahead and send the money to the scammers.
Below, are a few of the tactics that these scammers use to entrap people:
They will say the issue needs your serious attention.
They will threaten that all your assets may be frozen.
They will tell you that you could go to jail or be deported.
They will emphasize how important it is that you take action immediately.
Fear is their greatest weapon.
Fraudulent Tax Returns
With these types of scams becoming so successful, thieves all over the world are now using numerous methods to cheat people out of their money. One scam that the CRA is seeing more often involves fraudulent tax returns. Using the most devious methods, scammers will get your SIN or tax ID number, then file a tax return in your name, changing the address so that the thieves get the tax refund. It can take years to get this type of issue straightened out. Sometimes people don’t even realize that scammers have filed a fraudulent return using their name and personal information. It can be expensive and highly stressful to resolve the matter.
Email Scams
Thieves can make an email look exactly like it has come from your bank or credit card company. The email always asks you to click on a link. The appearance and wording can seem so legitimate that it fools even professionals. Usually, once you click on the link, some type of virus or malware will be downloaded into your computer. In some cases, a ransomware virus is downloaded. This virus locks up all your files and holds them hostage until you pay the ransom. These crooks always want to be paid with Bitcoins, pre-paid credit cards or gift cards.
Thieves Are After Your Money!
The bottom line in each scam is money. In fact, one conman who was caught trying to cheat a CBC news reporter confessed that he was indeed employed by scammers. He boldly told the reporter that this company he worked for earned over $10,000 per day by scaring taxpayers into making payments they didn’t owe.
Scams in Ontario
Police in Ontario have reported that these scams have been so successful that their agency has been overwhelmed with calls from individuals and business owners. Both the police and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) recommend never giving out personal information over the phone to strangers. Instead, business owners should hang up and call the CRA directly or visit the website, so that you can be certain that you’re speaking with an authentic CRA representative.
Calgary and Toronto police have joined forces to try and stop the scammers from bilking any new victims. Kristie Verheul, staff sergeant at a Calgary police department told news reporters that the police are stepping up efforts to catch the thieves and stop them. Sergeant Verheul said that the average victim loses between $900 and $2,000. In most cases, these amounts are higher when they involve business owners.
The Refund Scam
In this scam, the individual or business owner receives a fraudulent email from the CRA, which, at first, will seem like good news – you’re getting a refund. All you have to do is click on the link they provide. Once you get to the website, you’ll be asked to type in your personal information, including your SIN and banking info. The goal of this scam is to obtain your personal financial information. The bad news is that you aren’t really going to get a refund. Instead, your personal information will be used to set up bogus credit card accounts. Thieves can charge thousands of dollars to accounts in your name and even ruin your credit. Perpetrators of this type of scam are often never caught.
The CRA has this advice for Canadian business owners:
Never give out personal or business financial information over the phone.
Do not click on links in suspicious emails.
If you aren’t sure about the status of your taxes, call the CRA directly. Never call a number listed in an email or phone message. You can check the authenticity of a phone number by calling 1-800-959-5525 for businesses and 1-800-959-8281 for individuals.
Do not give out personal information to strangers on the phone including your passport number, SIN, your driver’s license number, banking information or credit card info.
General Tips for Safety
The CRA recommends that consumers should be wary of anyone asking you to pay them using gift cards or prepaid credit cards. Payment types like this are often utilized by scammers because they are readily available and completely untraceable. Once you use this type of payment option, there’s no way to track thieves down and get your money back – it’s gone for good.
They also say that real CRA officers will not leave messages either by email or phone that contain your personal information. They never share your taxpayer info with anyone unless you have given them prior authorization to do so. They point out something that should be obvious to everyone: before your tax situation would go so far that you were being threatened with jail time, you most likely would have received numerous letters in the mail.
If you aren’t sure about the status of your latest tax return, visit the CRA website or give them a call at the numbers listed above. Although the lines are often jammed because of the high number of scam-related calls, it’s still better to wait on the phone than pay taxes you don’t owe.
by Felicien | Feb 15, 2018 | Education
Keep hackers from turning you and your business into a victim with these cybersecurity best practices.
Cyberattacks come in many forms, and no part of your business seems to be safe from them. You work for months to prepare your website. You go into painstaking detail over each section and prepare for your go-live date. You are so proud to show your corporate baby to the world. Then a few months later, you go to log into your website to find it has been hacked. Not only does this affect your business data and reputation, but also your position in Search engines. How do you keep this hypothetical from becoming your reality?
What type of website you have can determine what kind of attacker targets you – for example, WordPress website customers are targeted by hackers using one of three options: a single bot, a person, or botnets. A single bot is an automated program that is used to search for vulnerabilities; once it finds vulnerabilities, it exploits them. A person will be manually searching for weaknesses. While this seems old-fashioned or slow, it is usually the method of choice for high-value websites. Lastly, Botnets are groups of machines that run numerous programs that collaborate. Similar to how a single bot works, botnets work as a high functioning team to carry out a vast number of attacks simultaneously. With so many different types of attackers, how does one protect themselves and their website?
Stay Up-to-date With Cyberattack News
The best offense is a good defense. To prepare for, respond to, and recover from an attack, you need to know what you are up against. You can prepare for Cyberattack by keeping up to date on current cyber threats to your company. Over 2 million new malware attacks are launched every day, with recent examples including the Meltdown and Spectre bugs. Both Spectre and Meltdown could allow potential attackers to access to data, but these aren’t your only threats. You need to also prepare for other Cyberattacks such as Ransomware, crypto, and malware attacks. Forbes magazine reports these are the top cybersecurity threats to look out for in 2018.
Update Security On Your Login Page
Similarly to your email password, you should take great care in protecting your website admin access. You should use strong passwords so they can’t be easily guessed or forged. Secondly, you should memorize your website passwords, rather than write them down, as this poses another security risk. Thirdly, remember to change the password frequently – it is recommended that you do so every two months.
Update Software
Updates always seem to come when we are at our busiest. Whenever there’s an opportunity to update, it’s essential to do so. Updating is like having a secret security group continually working to keep your business safe. Updates provide protective patches that safeguard your data from the latest cyberattacks, such as Meltdown or Spectre. Plus, they keep your computers and systems running optimally.
Security Plugins
Security plugins offer your website features that range from protection against malware attacks to an added firewall and database security. Each plugin comes with own cost and features – for example, one of the highest-ranking WordPress plugins is WordFence. This plugin continually scans your folders and files on your website for signs of malware infection. Once it finds an infection, it can rapidly notify you as it blocks the malware. Another WordPress plugin that packs a lot of features into a small package is Sucuri Security. Through this plugin, you can have security activity auditing, file integrity monitoring, malware scanning, blacklist monitoring, as well as a website firewall.
HTTPS Instead Of HTTP
How much difference can one letter make? Between an HTTPS and HTTP, surprisingly it makes a massive difference for security. Hyper Text Transfer Protocol Secure is the version of HTTP which transfers data from your browser and your website. The difference is that one letter “S” – secure. This means that any and all communication between your browser and your site is protected with encryption.
Secure Webhosting
Another way to strengthen the security of your website is by using a secure web hosting company. There are lots of big and small names to choose from when deciding on a web hosting provider. This is where it is essential to use your list of non-negotiable features that you want from your host to narrow down your choices. For example, you could look for a host that offers a Virtual Private Server, which conceals the identity of your service and improves privacy. Another important feature to look for when deciding is how many users it can support.
Lock Files/Folders
One of the simplest ways to improve the security of your website is by locking or hiding files. You can place passwords on files or folder, that way they cannot be opened without your key. Additionally, you can also encrypt them so that they are unreadable without your password. You can do this by using a password-protection system or using file permissions that are already in place. Check to see what features your web host offers.
With all the ways that a hacker can gain access to your business’s data, it is crucial to stay one step ahead. Remember the importance of securing your website as well. Something as simple as a secure password for your admin page or locking specific files can make a huge difference for you and your business.
by Felicien | Feb 14, 2018 | Education
There are plenty of options when it comes to finding a Managed IT Services provider for your business – how can you tell which is the right choice for you?
These days, business owners are searching for every advantage to put their company on top. With so much competition out there, just a few small issues here and there can result in costly slow-downs to daily work. One of these resides in your IT department. Nothing is more frustrating than broken computers, slow internet service, and expensive service calls.
Things like this can ruin your week and take a huge chunk out of the budget. Though there’s no way to stop computer and network problems from happening, there are ways to minimize your exposure. For small and mid-sized businesses, the solution is Managed IT Services. With Managed IT Services, you can forget about setting up an expensive Server Room and hiring a bunch of highly trained IT people. You’ll probably only need a handful of IT people on staff to handle simple issues that crop up in day-to-day business.
The problem comes with the fact that there are so many IT service providers these days and so it can be difficult to find the one that works best for your company. To help, check out these five timely tips to help you find the right IT service provider so you can get back to the job of running your company.
Tip One: The Budget
Although having the best IT support for your company is important, sometimes managed service providers are keen on trying to sell you expensive services that you really don’t need. To avoid this scenario, sit down with your on-staff IT people and talk about exactly what services your company needs to stay up and running. Speak to your accountant and make sure about the monthly amount that will fit comfortably into your budget. All companies are nervous about data breaches these days; they can be expensive and stressful. However, don’t let that push you to buy over-priced services that you really can’t afford and don’t need. For some companies, hiring a consultant to advise you is a good solution.
Tip Two: Understand Your Contract
Too many business owners get locked into long-term contracts that they can’t afford. Make sure you understand exactly what your contract includes. How often can you call for service? Some companies allow unlimited service calls for just a few extra dollars per month. This can be a good way to go if your computer equipment is getting old and might break down more often than new equipment. Another issue is whether the contract includes regular updates to software and hardware.
One of the biggest issues that companies face is the evolution of technology. Every year, technological capabilities develop at phenomenal rates; it’s hard to keep up. There are new devices, gadgets and social media sites that demand faster computers and networks. Managed IT Services should keep you up to date with the latest advances in business technology.
Tip Three: Stay Proactive
The whole point of Managed IT Services is that you have someone else to handle network and computer problems. As with all service providers, some are just better at their jobs than others. Make sure your Managed IT Services provider believes in staying proactive. Avoid providers who only come out when there’s a problem. You need a company that will stay on top of all the latest threats. One data breach could drive you into bankruptcy, so it’s important for your IT support provider to make sure your computers are ready for whatever may come.
Often, you can find out about things like this by reading online reviews of the company. Have they had any complaints filed against them? How long have they been in business? Don’t let a fast-talking salesman sell you on a company with two employees that just opened its doors. Find someone that has a great reputation and has been in business for years. You want to work with providers who will stand behind their services and won’t stop until you’re satisfied.
Tip Four: Is it Scalable?
Hopefully, your business is growing. What will happen if you need to add five new computers? IT services should grow as your company grows. You don’t need to understand all the intricacies of cost optimization, cloud services, and scalability, but you should know what it will cost in terms of money and time when your company begins to grow. Ask intelligent questions about colocation and virtual infrastructures.
Many business owners are not well versed on these topics but your company’s IT professionals should be. You need IT people you can count on; not people who try to dazzle you with big words. Your on-staff IT team should be working proactively each day to ensure ongoing network services and a sound infrastructure. Hire the best people you can afford and expect them to do their jobs.
Tip Five: Ask the Right Questions
In the world of Information Technology, there’s quite a bit that the average business owner doesn’t know about. For instance, will the Managed IT Services provider perform regular security updates and patch management? These are both crucial to preventing cyber breaches. Will they perform network monitoring and send alerts when something looks out of order?
A new service provider should begin your professional relationship by performing a vulnerability and risk assessment. This will tell you whether your software and hardware are up to par. Is your equipment set up to handle the massive number of new cyber threats that are hurled at businesses each year?
How many times have you waited all day for a service provider to show up? This is stressful and costly for any business owner. Ask if the IT provider has a guaranteed response time. It can also be very helpful to have 24/7 Helpdesk support. Be sure this is included in your contract.
Many managed IT providers also offer additional services that can be very helpful, such as consulting and project management – make sure you ask about these services, and whether they come with an extra charge. The more you know, the better.
Other Considerations
Your company may not be at a place right now in terms of growth, where you can sustain an expensive long-term Managed IT Services provider. If this is true, look around for no contract, pay-as-you-go providers. Many IT pros offer this as an option but they may not say so right up front, so be sure to ask about it.
Look for companies that offer flexible plans for small businesses. Everyone has been in the position of just starting out and needing to save money wherever possible. Companies sometimes have slumps in sales. You have to plan for every contingency. While you do need the most reliable IT services available, they should be professionals who are willing to work with you. Businesses that succeed often have skilled partners who have their back and that’s not too much to ask of your Managed IT Services provider.
Don’t settle when it comes to your Managed IT Services provider – put the time and effort into finding the right one for your business needs, and you’ll soon see the positive effect it can have on you and your staff’s daily work.
by Felicien | Feb 14, 2018 | Education
Coke versus Pepsi. Angelina versus Jennifer. The New England Patriots versus…well, everybody. These are just a few famous rivalries throughout history all of which pale in comparison to the rivalry between Alexa and Cortana. People are fiercely opinionated about which is best – but what if you didn’t have to choose?
What if these “ladies” can improve healthcare?
Amazon and Microsoft recently announced that they will work together to make Alexa and Cortana interact. More importantly, they’re examining ways to have them work to improve healthcare and the overall patient experience. The first healthcare providers in line to use this technology are Penn Medicine in Philadelphia and Commonwealth Care Alliance in Boston:
“Amazon’s Alexa will stretch the boundaries of how people view their ability to organize their own care,” stated CCA’s John Loughnane, MD and chief of clinical innovation. “We see the possibility to learn about stress points for our patients – and address those.”
Brian Wells, the associate VP of health technology and academic computing at Penn Medicine notes, “We’re focusing on Amazon as it is a more open platform and furthest ahead in the race”.
Alexa and Cortana both bring strengths to the game, and according to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos:
“Together, their strengths will complement each other and provide customers with a richer and even more helpful experience.”
Here are just a few things we can expect to see in the future from “the marriage”.
Drug Creation
Developing medications through clinical trials can take more than a decade and cost billions of dollars. AI technology could speed up the process and make it more cost-effective.
Assisting With Tedious Jobs
IBM launched an algorithm called Medical Sieve, which is capable of assisting with clinical decision making in radiology and cardiology. This “cognitive health assistant” can evaluate radiology images to spot and detect complications faster and more reliably. Radiologists in the future will only have to look at the most complicated cases where human supervision is useful.
Getting The Most Out Of Doctors’ Visits And Consultations
Having to wait days to see your doctor is never fun when you’re sick.
Medical Artificial Intelligence (AI) consultations based on personal medical history and common medical knowledge is the newest way to get access to medical help faster. Users can report their symptoms to an app, which checks them against a database of diseases, and then offers a suitable course of action. It is also capable of reminding patients to take their medication.
Date Management Controlled By AI
AI in healthcare is storing and safeguarding data. “Collecting it, storing it, normalizing it, tracing its lineage – it is the first step in revolutionizing the existing healthcare systems,” states Medicalfuturist.com. Google recently introduced the Deepmind Health Project, which analyzes the data of medical records in order to provide better and faster health services. They are working with the Moorfield’s Eye Hospital in London, England to help improve eye care for patients.
A Nurse Available At The Touch Of A Button
Meet Molly, the world’s first virtual nurse. Driven by the award-winning medical start-up Sensely, she has a friendly face and a kind voice. Molly’s goal is to aid people by monitoring their conditions and treatments, offering support to patients in-between doctor appointments. There is even a process that monitors whether patients are taking their medications or not. In addition to Molly, the AiCure app, which is supported by The National Institutes of Health, uses a smartphone camera along with AI to confirm that patients are following their doctor’s orders and following their prescriptions.
AI in healthcare could establish patient treatment plans and afford physicians with all the information they need to make the best decisions. AI will have a major influence on the study of genetics as well, with new technology looking for mutations and connections to disease. “Voice technology is an opportunity to provide care in conjunction with transportation, scheduling, prescription refills, reminders, and alerts,” tells Loughnane.
This new merger will create customized care based on the ability to ask Alexa things like when home health aides are scheduled to arrive, to check out wait times and schedule appointments, and to arrange transportation to get there.
Advancements in the healthcare industry will certainly lead to breakthroughs in other industries as well. When will we fully see these applications in action? Only time will tell, but some experts think it will be sooner rather than later.
The world is changing fast, and it’s a great time to be alive. One can only imagine what it will be like 20, 50 and 100 years from now. Steps taken today will improve our lives and the lives of our loved ones for years to come. “Voice has been a tremendously underutilized aspect of how healthcare views interactions,” Loughnane said. “I see a future where voice is going to be an integral part of healthcare.”
by Felicien | Feb 14, 2018 | Education
There are few things worse than feeling trapped in an unfulfilling relationship – especially when it’s a vital business relationship.
Technology is an integral part of everything your business does, which raises a few important questions about your current IT set up. For starters, what is your relationship like with your technology systems – rock solid, or more than a little rocky?
How about with your technology service provider – are they always there for you when you need them the most? Do you still love your technology service provider the same way that you did the day you first met? Does your relationship with them still make you happy, and leave you feeling confident and supported in everything your business does? Can you count on them to help you reach your goals and achieve your dreams for the future?
One last question – has your passion for your network faded, leaving you frustrated, disappointed, and longing for happier times? If the answer is yes, then we have some good news for you… Your IT cupid is here to help you get back that lovin’ feeling. Let {company} rekindle your passion for your business technology. Something that is such a core part of your daily life shouldn’t be a constant drag on your mood, your productivity, and your success.
You deserve better. You deserve a technology company who puts you first and treats you like you’re special. IT and IT support are in no way one-size-fits-all. Your technology infrastructure should be as unique as your individual business, and tailored to meet your specific needs. Everything from the software you use to the way your data backup system is configured should take into account the way your company operates, and what your employees need to have access to in order to be effective and efficient.
A cookie-cutter IT infrastructure can’t help your business grow and thrive. If your IT company can’t or won’t treat you like you’re not just another client, it’s time to look for someone who will be more than happy to treat you right.
If you’ve stopped feeling that spark from your tech support when you pick up the phone and call them, it’s a surefire sign that the relationship is no longer working for you. Dreading making a call to the help desk because you know that you’re going to, at best, get an apathetic response from the person on the other end of the line is not a good feeling. This is a company you’re trusting with your business’ most valuable assets, and if they can’t make your needs a priority? That’s a serious problem.
What happens when something goes seriously wrong, and you know that your emergency is going to be treated like just another service ticket? What could possibly be a worse feeling than that?
It’s time to put your foot down and stop being taken for granted by IT companies who have become complacent, thinking that you will always be there for them to come to when they feel like it. You can’t afford to be kept waiting each and every time you need something from your IT provider, and you can’t afford to leave your technology in the hands of someone who isn’t interested in helping you get the most out of your IT. Technology is evolving fast, and having someone there to help you take advantage of innovative solutions can make all the difference to your business’ future success.
Like any good relationship, your IT provider shouldn’t only pay you attention when there is something broken that needs to be fixed. They should want to spend time with you and work on building a solid, trusting rapport with you and your staff. They should want to take the time to learn what your business’ goals and values are, and connect with you without you always needing to be the one who makes the first move.
No relationship should ever be one-sided. If you’re doing all the work, then what’s the point of keeping that IT company in your life? If they’re not giving you everything you need and more, it’s time to let go, move on, and find someone who deserves your business.
Here’s our number: {phone}. Whenever you’re ready to chat with us, give us a call. We’d love to sit down with you, get to know your business better, and find out what we can do to help you get the most out of your current technology and future technology investments. We want to help you reach your business goals, and offer the best possible service to your customers.
And of course, you’re welcome to ask us anything you’d like to know about who we are, what our values are, and what we have to offer. We’re an open book.
Ready to set up that first date and talk technology with a team of professionals who truly care about your business? Give {company} a call at {phone} or email us at {email} today.
