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Software Your Business Must Have

Computer Software

Once your computer is set up and ready to go, you will notice that it already comes with a selection of software that allows you to do some very basic things like communicate with others and browse the Internet. However, if you intend to start an online business, you will need some more applications. Here is a list of some of them.

• The web browser is of course your primary tool for setting up and managing your online shop. However, your browser also needs to have the ability to view your website with all its features; display various animations, play music or movie clips. Your Web browser is your primary tool for conducting business online, provide secure access if you intend to carry out secure transactions for your site and so on. It is therefore important that you install the very latest version of a web browser.
  
  
• Further, you should consider installing more than one kind of browser. For example, even if your computer comes with the latest version of Internet Explorer, you might want to download the latest versions of Firefox and Opera. This way you can test the way your online shop looks and operates in all major browsers.
  
  
• Software known as Web Page Editors help you to edit the pages of your website, formatting the text as you wish, inserting images and links where necessary and adding all the required bells and whistles. In fact, many web page editors come with storefront packages that make it easy for you to design an online store.
  
  
• Even before you ventured into setting up an online store, you were probably familiar with the concept of emailing. However, in order to manage orders and customer requests better, you should make sure that your email software has a few advanced features as well.
  
  
  1. Autoresponders – Your email software should be able to respond to requests for product or pricing information automatically with a brochure or document of your choice.
     
     
  2. Signature Files – Your email software should allow you to automatically append a signature to every email that you send out. You can mention your company name, your titles, the website address and contact details in the signature file.
     
     
  3. Mailing Lists – You can collect the email addresses of all those who subscribe to your mailing list and organize them in your email software’s address book. You can then send them a regular newsletter informing them of new product arrivals, special offers if any or of the latest industry news.
     
     
• Even though you may hire a graphic artist for all the major artwork required for your online store, you will occasionally need a graphics-editing program to just adjust your digital photographs or scanned pictures. Of course, nowadays most scanners and digital cameras come with some software that should suffice for this purpose.
  
  
• While it is a disaster if you lose copies of some important personal documents, it is twice so if you lose business related documents. Not to mention the financial loss that you may have to incur and the loss of faith that may follow. It is therefore very important that you install backup software that will make it easy for you to take regular backups of all your mission critical business data.
  
  
• Using an instant messaging service has a lot of other benefits and is not just used for idle chatting online. For example, you could use MSN Messenger, AOL Instant Messenger, and Skype for your business as well. Here are some suggestions on how you could do so:
  
  
• If the individuals you work with mostly work from home and you need to know if they are at work so that you can contact them, a messaging program will help you do so. The program will tell you as and when the person logs in to the computer so that you can immediately get in touch with them.
  
  
• Using instant messaging and Skype, you can reduce the cost of long-distance phone costs significantly either by speaking or exchanging messages with your other colleagues.
  
  
• An application like MSN Messenger even allows its users to carry out file transfers without sending email attachments or using any kind of FTP software.

• Since you will be running a business, you will need to keep all your accounting records in order. To help you do this, you could use some well-known commercial accounting software like Microsoft Money, Quicken or QuickBooks. These will let you keep track of your money, prepare statements and reports in the format you want and even help you with tax preparation. Some of them are fairly simple to run and operate while some require that you be able to set up databases on your computer and so on. 
  
  Whatever software you choose, you should ensure that the account keeping is accurate and that you are able to take regular backups so that important records stay safe.
  
  Of course, if your accounting needs are not too much, you could always hire an accountant to help you maintain some basic records and help you with preparation of statements and filing of taxes at the end of the year.