Whether you run a small business or a home office, there are six broad categories of software you need to maximize your productivity and efficiency.
These six categories include Office Suites, Utilities, Web Design programs, Graphics and Publishing software, Accounting software, and Communication programs.
Each of these categories can help you as you grow your venture into a profitable enterprise.
Office Suites
One of the must-have pieces of software for any business is an Office Suite package. These suites, such as Microsoft Office or Corel WordPerfect, include word processing, spreadsheet, database, and presentation programs.
With Office Suite software, you can compose professional correspondence, develop slide shows, create contact lists, produce business forms, and more.
Another advantage is that because the software is aimed at a wide audience of end users, it is typically easy to learn even for computer novices.
Utilities
Utilities are hard to classify because they include a wide array of programs that perform numerous useful functions for your computer.
In fact many utilities are essential if you want to keep your hardware up and running safely and efficiently.
Virus protection, system restoration, firewalls, file cleaning, and disk management software are just a few examples of utilities.
Virus protection software alerts you if a virus is found on your computer so that you can find it and prevent it from doing any damage to your system.
Similarly, if you have an always-on Internet connection such as cable or DSL, you must have a firewall utility. Firewalls prevent other people from infiltrating your system without your knowledge and protect your computer from hackers.
If you are in the habit of downloading programs or files from the Internet or making frequent changes to your computer, then system restoration software is also critical. With this type of software, you can easily return your system to a previous configuration in the event that a new program or an accidental file deletion causes it to stop working effectively.
File cleaning and disk management programs help you utilize your hard drive better by cleaning off old files, getting rid of temporary files, and more.
Web Design Programs
Web design programs are not just for individuals who develop web sites for a living.
They are also for individuals like yourself who need to create a web site but cannot afford to pay a professional or who simply want to maintain creative control over their business.
There are a wide assortment of web design programs available to users of all skill levels. For example, if you have no HTML knowledge, you might use a program such as Microsoft FrontPage or Trellix which allow you to cut and paste your site together using templates and other options.
If you are a slightly more experienced user, you might want to try Macromedia’s DreamWeaver software which, like the previous examples, is classified as WYSIWYG (What You See is What You Get) software.
On the other hand, if you are comfortable with HTML or other web design languages, you can find a number of effective and useful programs that will help you create a functional and attractive site.
Graphics and Publishing Software
These types of programs, such as Adobe Photoshop, CorelDraw, and Microsoft Publisher, allow you to add pictures and designs to your business materials such as brochures, flyers, business cards, and more. Graphics programs give you the ability to take photographs and manipulate or modify them to fit your needs as well as giving you the chance to test your creativity by designing logos or other elements for your site and marketing collateral.
Publishing programs allow you to bring everything together in a form that is professional and appealing. Because the skill levels required by these programs vary from novice to expert, make sure to do your research before making a purchase.
Accounting Software
Programs such as QuickBooks Pro, Intuit’s Quicken, and Microsoft Money make it easier for individuals and small businesses to keep track of their income and expenses without the assistance of a full-time accountant.
These programs are generally easy to use and provide a wealth of valuable features. Some of the programs also allow you to print off checks and invoices, track unpaid invoices, and create financial reports.
Instead of having to scramble to get everything together at the last minute for tax time, this software allows you to easily stay on top of your business’s finances.
Communication Programs
This type of software helps you stay in touch with employees, customers, and vendors more efficiently and includes programs for sending/receiving email, sending faxes over the Internet, and instant messaging.
Instead of sending forms through the mail which can take days to arrive and which cost money to print, you can fax the form straight from your computer to their fax machine instantly and without the cost of paper and ink.
Furthermore, you can send files and messages between computers instantly using instant messenger programs so you can quickly answer customer questions or conference with employees without leaving your desk.
And while not instant, email is still one of the most widely used Internet applications and is a popular form of communication used by people all around the globe so forgetting about it is not an option for a successful company any more.
Conclusion
Depending on the type of business you conduct, you may not need programs from all of these categories to get you started, but once your company starts to grow, chances are you’ll see the need to add them all to your software library.
Purchase Business & Office Software here
Cavyl Stewart is the author of “135 Hot Tech Tips for Small
Business Owners.” To Download your free copy, just visit:
http://www.find-small-business-software.com/135_tips.php
