Comments on Small Biz Survival: The Cheap Small Biz Software Guide

Thanks, Greg! Excellent news! Now I better go fix ...

2009-08-08T21:26:38.824-05:00

Thanks, Greg! Excellent news! Now I better go fix those SMTP settings.

Gmail/Google Apps now allows you to send mail usin...

2009-08-08T21:14:52.223-05:00

Gmail/Google Apps now allows you to send mail using an SMTP server other than Google's. This eliminates the "sent on behalf of" text in the header. See http://bit.ly/YyOwq

Thanks for those ideas, Katie. I've looked at I Wa...

2008-11-20T17:10:00.000-06:00

Thanks for those ideas, Katie. I've looked at I Want Sandy, and it looks really useful!

This is also a good lesson for us as business people. Are we including everything essential for our customers? Are we leaving out something that just frustrates people?

Becky,

I love CutePDF. It's a free applica...

2008-11-20T10:41:00.000-06:00

Becky,

I love CutePDF. It's a free application that prints documents to pdf files. Very, very helpful when you need an easy way to turn something into a pdf.

I also use Paymo.biz as a free project time tracker, and "I Want Sandy" to send me email reminders everyday of things I need to do.

I'm like you, I also balk at paying so much for "essential" software. (If it's so essential, why isn't it included?) It's like buying a printer, and being told the cable to connect it to your computer comes separately. Very frustrating!

Thanks, Rachel. Two more good examples.

2008-11-18T22:12:00.000-06:00

Thanks, Rachel. Two more good examples.

Here are two more free suggestions:

QuickBo...

2008-11-18T16:53:00.000-06:00

Here are two more free suggestions:

QuickBooks Simple Start Free edition is available for download at www.simplestart.com, to help small businesses manage finances and make sure money isn't slipping through the cracks.

Billing Manager offers free online invoicing to help business owners get paid fast at www.billingmanager.com.

Sheryl, that is a great service! Thanks for sharin...

2008-11-18T13:15:00.000-06:00

Sheryl, that is a great service! Thanks for sharing it!

Becky,

I couldn't agree with you more! This...

2008-11-18T12:40:00.000-06:00

Becky,

I couldn't agree with you more! This is the topic I write most about in my ezine.

One of my current favorites is Dial2Do, a free voice-to-text service that interfaces with both Remember the Milk and Google calendar.

Sheryl

Thanks, Chris. Glad to have a solution!

2008-11-18T08:36:00.000-06:00

Thanks, Chris. Glad to have a solution!

For small business I would recommend getting the f...

2008-11-18T08:11:00.000-06:00

For small business I would recommend getting the free Google Apps [ http://www.google.com/apps/ ] instead of Gmail.

That way you can have up to 100 email accounts with your business domain (and all of them will use the Gmail interface) along with Google Docs, Google Calendar, and Google Talk for internal employee communications.

It eliminates the problem that Andrew pointed out above.

Thanks, Chel. I'm still using text files for stuff...

2008-11-18T07:30:00.000-06:00

Thanks, Chel. I'm still using text files for stuff like that. Maybe time to explore a new tool!

With the many different ways for you to use Everno...

2008-11-18T06:38:00.000-06:00

With the many different ways for you to use Evernote, you can choose your level of geeky.

I use the Mac app, the iPhone app and the web app to keep track of photos, links, lists, text, pdfs. All those little snippits of information that would usually go in a text file go in here for me.

I recommend it because it's handy and you can use it in a way that feels best to you so it's perfect for small businesses and non-geeks.

Thanks, Scott. That's another solid small business...

2008-11-17T22:56:00.000-06:00

Thanks, Scott. That's another solid small business tool.

I always install Eraser, a (free) secure data remo...

2008-11-17T22:17:00.000-06:00

I always install Eraser, a (free) secure data removal tool. This way when I delete something, whether it be of a personal nature or a business nature, I know it's deleted.

It can be found here: http://www.heidi.ie/eraser/

Thanks for the alternative, Ryan. Zoho has such a ...

2008-11-17T19:48:00.000-06:00

Thanks for the alternative, Ryan. Zoho has such a huge suite of tools!

I'd look at Zoho as an alternative to Google Docs....

2008-11-17T19:47:00.000-06:00

I'd look at Zoho as an alternative to Google Docs. They also have Zoho invoicing which is a great online tool for estimates and invoicing. It helps you track outstanding bids and accounts receivable all in one place.

Scott, two excellent examples. Thanks!

Tha...

2008-11-17T19:36:00.000-06:00

Scott, two excellent examples. Thanks!

That's also a good example of how to correctly mention your own product in a comment here: relevant, transparent, honest. Thank you.

A great online reminder / task management applicat...

2008-11-17T18:42:00.000-06:00

A great online reminder / task management application is Remember The Milk (RTM) - www.rememberthemilk.com.

I provide an online invoicing and quoting service called Invoiceplace that helps manage your billing - www.invoiceplace.com

Both RTM and Invoiceplace provide free accounts.

Thanks, Andrew, for sharing that info. I think we ...

2008-11-17T15:31:00.000-06:00

Thanks, Andrew, for sharing that info. I think we learn best when we share our experiences.

Paul, great point! Thanks!

Great list, Becky!

I'd add: claim your ...

2008-11-17T15:13:00.000-06:00

Great list, Becky!

I'd add: claim your Twitter & Facebook IDs ASAP.

I would make in very significant change...Do Not U...

2008-11-17T09:56:00.000-06:00

I would make in very significant change...Do Not Use Gmail for business!!! I used Gmail exclusively for about a year and had it setup to send as if it was coming from my domain. (so as not to give all of my customers my personal email) Periodically a customer would send me an email to my gmail address and not my business email. then I found out that Gmail does not actually send the email form your business account instead it send emails "on behlaf of"

Check this google search: http://www.google.com/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=&=&q=on+behalf+of+gmail&btnG=Google+Search

It looks very unprofessional when you send to Outlook from gmail.

I have switched everything to Thunderbird It works beautifully and is free.

Comments on Small Biz Survival: The Cheap Small Biz Software Guide

Thanks, Greg! Excellent news! Now I better go fix ...

Gmail/Google Apps now allows you to send mail usin...

Thanks for those ideas, Katie. I've looked at I Wa...

Becky,I love CutePDF. It's a free applica...

Thanks, Rachel. Two more good examples.

Here are two more free suggestions:QuickBo...

Sheryl, that is a great service! Thanks for sharin...

Becky,I couldn't agree with you more! This...

Thanks, Chris. Glad to have a solution!

For small business I would recommend getting the f...

Thanks, Chel. I'm still using text files for stuff...

With the many different ways for you to use Everno...

Thanks, Scott. That's another solid small business...

I always install Eraser, a (free) secure data remo...

Thanks for the alternative, Ryan. Zoho has such a ...

I'd look at Zoho as an alternative to Google Docs....

Scott, two excellent examples. Thanks! Tha...

A great online reminder / task management applicat...

Thanks, Andrew, for sharing that info. I think we ...

Great list, Becky!I'd add: claim your ...

I would make in very significant change...Do Not U...

Becky,

I love CutePDF. It's a free applica...

Here are two more free suggestions:

QuickBo...

Becky,

I couldn't agree with you more! This...

Scott, two excellent examples. Thanks!

Tha...

Great list, Becky!

I'd add: claim your ...