Pay attention to details:

• the quality of the music the client listens to while holding the line;
• if you use an IVR system (like "Press 1 for technical s
  Your Business Logo and Color Scheme
  My business logo and color scheme started one lovely spring day in my office, after two years of working with words and images. I purchased some rubber stamps and played with them. A logo emerged: simple, elegant, with the right feeling for my business. I took the ideas from the stamps and played with Photoshop on the computer until I had created an original business logo that felt totally right.Luckily for me, in my day job I worked among some of the top designers in the world at the Department of Architecture at MIT. An elegant Italian Ph.D. student named Maria was doing me the favor of giving me feedback on my business logo. She loved it! That was reassuring, but what really helped was what she said next.“And this can be your color scheme, too! You can g
  How do you create good customer service in your software business?

  Providing good customer service is a challenge for every software seller. It is a well known fact that satisfied clients are the best promoters for the software business. Keep in mind that customer support is not just about fixing a problem, but forming a relationship with buyers and creating an opportunity for future sales. In the very dynamic computer software industry, the quality and effectiveness of your software products must be accompanied by good customer service in order to be successful.

  Your customers are not software professionals, so what might be easy for you, could present difficulties for them. Every software program has a certain level of difficulty, so don't patronize your clients and try to treat them as you would like to be treated if you needed help. And remember that "the client is always right" works for the software business, too. Try to be as tactful as possible to keep your buyers happy.

  Taking good care of your customers is a time consuming job. So specify very clearly on your website, in manuals, packaging, etc. what kind of support you provide. Set realistic expectations and don't make promises you can't keep.

  Below are presented the most commonly used techniques of customer support in the computer software industry:

  • Include a complete Help program in your software

    It is the most frequent and convenient way of solving customers' problems. The help program should cover every aspect of the software you're selling. You can include a search box which returns relevant results, for keywords customers usually use when they need support. It is the most inexpensive and rapid way of dealing with your clients.

  • Make it easy for clients to contact you, by phone or e-mail

    Telephone assistance is particularly useful for users who have no real knowledge of computing, and need to speak to someone who can explain to them step by step what is to be done. Have a set timetable for the help line and publicize it in your software product documentation, website, etc. Always treat your clients with respect, be polite and offer easy to follow solutions in a plain language.

    Pay attention to details:

    • the quality of the music the client listens to while holding the line;
    • if you use an IVR system (like "Press 1 for technical s
      How Your Business Can Save $6500 per Year
      If you run a small business, you probably have a hidden expense that’s eating your time, and your business’s money: Tracking employee time and productivity.When businesses are small, traditional practice is to use some sort of manual time keeping system to log employee hours. Each employee fills out a paper time sheet, the payroll administrator goes over the time sheets, cuts the checks, handles the deductions and government paperwork, and deals with requests for time off, overtime and vacation days.As businesses grow and add employees, this manual system becomes more and more cumbersome. The steps to automation start out small – an automated punch clock and pre-printed time cards, and a rapid switch from manual time keeping to using a spreadsheet.But eve
      ur software products must be accompanied by good customer service in order to be successful.

      Your customers are not software professionals, so what might be easy for you, could present difficulties for them. Every software program has a certain level of difficulty, so don't patronize your clients and try to treat them as you would like to be treated if you needed help. And remember that "the client is always right" works for the software business, too. Try to be as tactful as possible to keep your buyers happy.

      Taking good care of your customers is a time consuming job. So specify very clearly on your website, in manuals, packaging, etc. what kind of support you provide. Set realistic expectations and don't make promises you can't keep.

      Below are presented the most commonly used techniques of customer support in the computer software industry:

      • Include a complete Help program in your software

        It is the most frequent and convenient way of solving customers' problems. The help program should cover every aspect of the software you're selling. You can include a search box which returns relevant results, for keywords customers usually use when they need support. It is the most inexpensive and rapid way of dealing with your clients.

      • Make it easy for clients to contact you, by phone or e-mail

        Telephone assistance is particularly useful for users who have no real knowledge of computing, and need to speak to someone who can explain to them step by step what is to be done. Have a set timetable for the help line and publicize it in your software product documentation, website, etc. Always treat your clients with respect, be polite and offer easy to follow solutions in a plain language.

        Pay attention to details:

        • the quality of the music the client listens to while holding the line;
        • if you use an IVR system (like "Press 1 for technical s
          Branding Yourself To Increased Profitability
          Successful Realtors know the importance of branding their identities into the consciousness of the communities in which they live, like the big boys; Pepsi, McDonald's, Burger King, and other companies we know and have come to trust.Why is branding important? Think about it! When you want a soda do you buy an unknown off-brand just because it's cheap?Or, do you reach for a Coke? I'm a Pepsi guy myself, but you get my drift!And why do you do that? Because there's comfort in familiarity and you know what you're getting when you buy it.We spend mega bucks on name brand products just because we've been inundated with their marketing campaign messages.Don't believe me? Try this! Quick, who said "Have It Your Way"; "Soup and S
          sible to keep your buyers happy.

          Taking good care of your customers is a time consuming job. So specify very clearly on your website, in manuals, packaging, etc. what kind of support you provide. Set realistic expectations and don't make promises you can't keep.

          Below are presented the most commonly used techniques of customer support in the computer software industry:

          • Include a complete Help program in your software

            It is the most frequent and convenient way of solving customers' problems. The help program should cover every aspect of the software you're selling. You can include a search box which returns relevant results, for keywords customers usually use when they need support. It is the most inexpensive and rapid way of dealing with your clients.

          • Make it easy for clients to contact you, by phone or e-mail

            Telephone assistance is particularly useful for users who have no real knowledge of computing, and need to speak to someone who can explain to them step by step what is to be done. Have a set timetable for the help line and publicize it in your software product documentation, website, etc. Always treat your clients with respect, be polite and offer easy to follow solutions in a plain language.

            Pay attention to details:

            • the quality of the music the client listens to while holding the line;
            • if you use an IVR system (like "Press 1 for technical s
              How to Communicate With Your Bookkeeping
              Does the thought of doing the bookwork send you into a frenzy? Do you find anything to do other than get your finances in order? You may be missing some great communication with your books, which could ultimately guide you to success in your business and your personal life.Now this may sound a bit bizarre communicating with your books, yet so many things are communicating a message to you. You see I recently took a bookkeeping course and then QuickBooks so that I could manage my finances easier. It also deals with repetition on forms and statements saving even more time. I realized how bookkeeping is just another form of communication. Your books tell you, on so many levels how your business is doing. They show:* Wha
              nvenient way of solving customers' problems. The help program should cover every aspect of the software you're selling. You can include a search box which returns relevant results, for keywords customers usually use when they need support. It is the most inexpensive and rapid way of dealing with your clients.
            • Make it easy for clients to contact you, by phone or e-mail

              Telephone assistance is particularly useful for users who have no real knowledge of computing, and need to speak to someone who can explain to them step by step what is to be done. Have a set timetable for the help line and publicize it in your software product documentation, website, etc. Always treat your clients with respect, be polite and offer easy to follow solutions in a plain language.

              Pay attention to details:

              • the quality of the music the client listens to while holding the line;
              • if you use an IVR system (like "Press 1 for technical s
                Make Money as a Spanish Translator
                There are lots of ways to earn a living in the world today. Sometimes we only seem to think that doctors, lawyers, or rocket scientists are the only ones who can make any money. However, if you're bilingual in Spanish and another language, you can be a Spanish translator and earn a good income.What it takes to be a Spanish TranslatorA lot of people think that anybody that speaks two languages can be a translator. This is not the case. A Spanish translator must be able to understand not only English and Spanish, but also has to know the culture of the people that speak the languages, and be able to write well. Also, in order to be a freelance Spanish translator, you need to have drive and determination to make your new business work.Becoming a transl
                ng, and need to speak to someone who can explain to them step by step what is to be done. Have a set timetable for the help line and publicize it in your software product documentation, website, etc. Always treat your clients with respect, be polite and offer easy to follow solutions in a plain language.

                Pay attention to details:

                • the quality of the music the client listens to while holding the line;
                • if you use an IVR system (like "Press 1 for technical support" etc.), make sure the menu of your multi option system is easy to follow;
                • don't allow waiting queues longer than 3 minutes;
                • have patient and trained specialists respond to the problems clients might encounter.

                If you can't offer a solution right away, search for an answer and call your customers back within the time frame you agreed with them.

                Since almost all software companies have a dedicated e-mail address for offering technical support, clients got accustomed to sending questions using this method. The main advantage of e-mail messages is that you can cut and paste ready made answers and send them to more clients. When it comes to dealing with customers via e-mail, try to resolve all problems with just one reply and avoid encouraging a correspondence. There are also clients who are not satisfied with a standard answer and might require a customized response.

                E-mail messages are easier to handle than phone support, as you do not have to provide an answer in real time and are therefore able to adjust your workflow and eliminate peaks of activity which might need additional resources. Keep in mind though that customers expect an answer to an email in no longer than 24 hours.

              • Use your website to offer support and update it frequently

                Many customers buy software directly from your website, so this is the best means of providing technical support. Place a visible icon right on the home page and give details about other means of customer support you can provide.

                Encourage customers to search on your website for FAQs –frequently asked questions, and offer them appropriate answers. Concentrate on creating complete help pages for every product you sell. Remember that it takes less time, both for you and your clients, if the answers they are looking for are visible and handy.

              • Create a forum

                Although regard