I want to be the first person to admit that I do not know all the programs, bells and whistles that are available on my computer. The one I use for my home business is relatively new—I purchased it brand new less than a year ago and took it right out of the box, hooked up all the peripheral equipment and went right to work. And, while I feel pretty efficient, I am willing to bet that I have not even begun to optimize my business computer and use it for all the things it is capable of…
Taking a day to do some investigating and get good and familiar with your business computer can be well worth your while. You may find that you already have software that can boost your productivity and, by finding out exactly what you have, you will be less likely to waste money purchasing duplicate software or even other equipment that might do the same thing as something you already have. It is also a good idea to see if there are any updates or additions that you need to or can make to existing computer programs in order to optimize their efficiency.
Also consider whether or not you are doing tasks slowly or inefficiently that you could be doing better using your business computer. You may not know that you can print postage from your computer, manage all sorts of accounting and bookkeeping tasks, and print and manage mailing and contact lists—all from the average computer. You may be wasting time going to post office or wasting money on other services when familiarity with your business computer’s capabilities can eliminate excess and make your business more productive. And remember to NOT throw away the manuals, tutorials and pamphlets that come with your business computer and/or software programs. Taking the time to read them through and educate yourself about the resources at your fingertips is time well spent.
See Also: Purchasing a Computer for Your Home Business Needs
Should I Turn My Computer Off Over Night?
and check out the Computing Blog for more articles on computers.