Business Tips Guides

MS Outlook allows you an efficiently organized means of managing the important components and aspects of your everyday business life–your email, contacts, calendar appointments and meetings, tasks, notes, and journals and the counless techniques for keeping connected with your prospects and clients. But what happens when you are suddenly faced with an emergency computer situation and you know you need to create a backup of your Outlook data–and you need it, like, right NOW.

MS Outlook keeps all that important information in just one file–outlook.pst–a file just like a Word .doc file or an Excel .xls file. (There are some miscellaneous items NOT there like your master category list (2003), custom views, modified toolbars, and such).

And if you are backing this up on a regular basis, my hat’s off to you…your 3 in 100. But even if you ARE backing up regularly, there are unfortunate times when an up-to-the-minute FAST backup is required.

So here then is a sure-fire method to safely and completely back up the lifeblood of your business life. By the way, you’ll want to save this information someplace safe (cut and paste into an Outlook Note) should you ever need this information).

The essence of this technique is quite simple: we are simply go to the folder where the current outlook pst file is kept and literally Cut and Paste everything.

There is a small trick to this though; because you can’t copy your Outlook file while Outlook is open, this little procedure will help you quickly find the right folder and the make it so that you CAN copy it.

For Outlook 2003:

1) From the menu, left-click on Files, Data File Management.
2) Highlight the Personal Files folder (Mail Delivery)
3) Click on Open Folder icon–this will open a Windows Explorer session and highlight the selected outlook.pst (Note: don’t worry if the file name is not outlook.pst, there are countless reasons why the names may not match)
4) Use your Alt-Tab key to go back to Outlook. Close the Account Settings box
5) Close Outlook.
6) Alt-tab back to the Windows Explorer.
7) Press Ctrl-C to copy the file. Press Ctrl-V to make a copy.

For Outlook 2007:

1) From the menu, left-click on Files, Data File Management.
2) Click on the Data Files tab
3) Highlight the Personal Files folder (Default)
4) Click on Open Folder icon–this will open a Windows Explorer session and highlight the selected outlook.pst (Note: don’t worry if the file name is not outlook.pst, there are countless reasons why the names may not match)
5) Use your Alt-Tab key to go back to Outlook. Close the Account Settings box
6) Close Outlook.
7) Alt-tab back to the Windows Explorer.
Press Ctrl-C to copy the file. Press Ctrl-V to make a copy.

If you find that the outlook.pst file is STILL locked (you are getting an error “The process cannot access the file…”), then some other process has the file open and therefore locked–like your Blackberry Manager or your Palm HotSync program. Exit those and then try again.

Once your outlook.pst file is backed up you can move it somewhere else (CD, DVD, pen drive, another hard drive, or even the network). Just make sure you determine the size before you decide where to move it to.

Here are 2 additional and noteworthy points of interest:

1) Because the file is safely tucked away under Documents and Settings, it will be backed up everytime you perform a standard backup–which should include (normally does) the Documents and Settings folder.

2) When you are moving to a new computer, NEVER copy the active outlook.pst file to the new computer over the original (and active) file–some information is maintained in the registry and you could end up with 2 Personal Folders that are reflections of each other. Always IMPORT the old pst into your new PC or laptop.

A final note: If you are not backing up on a REGULAR BASIS using either the standard windows backup facility (Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Backup) or some 3rd party software program, you are sitting on a time bomb. Take the important steps TODAY to protect the serious investment you have made into your business…and sleep easier tonight.

Paul Wagner, The Software Magician, a coach, consultant, and author on Contact Management, teaches business professionals and entrepreneurs how to overcome technical overwhelm and get peace of mind by working faster, smarter, and more easily with their MS Outlook. www.softwaremagician.com

You’ve started your new business or you are looking for a way to connect with more customers. Customers are the life blood of any business, whether you have a small store, an online business, you are a direct seller or network marketer.

Have you considered setting up at public events to build your customer list? Trade shows, expos, country fairs, markets, craft shows and other various events which are open to the public and have vendors are a great place to promote your products and meet new people. People who will potentially buy from your or use one of your service.

Here’s how to use public events to explode your customer list:

Never sit down in your booth and never look busy, people will not want to bother you so they’ll walk on by. Plain and simple, you can’t meet people when you are sitting on your behind, which is the purpose of you being there.

Do not eat in your booth, again people won’t want to bother you and it’s hard to talk to someone when you mouth is full. Have someone spell you off while you go enjoy a meal or a snack.

Be friendly, greet everyone who looks you in the eye, and try and catch the attention of those who don’t. You are here to meet people and start building a relationship with them. People do business with people they like.

Bring plenty of business promotional materials; catalogs, brochures, business cards, samples etc. Make sure to collect the name and contact information of everyone who takes your materials. The easiest way to collect this information is to have a draw. List your services on the draw form so they can check off which ones interest them as well as their preferred method of communication.

Make sure that you bring plenty of stock to the event. You don’t want to run out of inventory near the beginning of an event. You can’t sell what you don’t have and people are more likely to purchase something they can take home with them. Again, you will want to ask for the name and contact information of anyone you sell to at the event so you can enter their name in your draw. A thank you note after the event is a nice touch and one that people will remember.

An important note about adding people you meet at public events to your email list, ezine or newsletter. It’s always best to use a double opt-in system to protect yourself from being labeled as a spammer. Simply explain to your event visitor, they’ll receive an email confirmation for their request and that they must click the link to receive the information.

Here are some tips on how to be a great neighbor at these types of events. Get to know the other vendors, be friendly and helpful as they can be a good resource to find other good events. Do not block your neighbor’s booth or allow your customers to block it either. Ensure your booth fits within the confines of your allocated space and never encroach on your neighbor’s real estate. Do not talk to customers who are looking at your neighbor’s booth or talking to your neighbor, this is seen as rude and intrusive by the neighbor and could cause them to lose a sale.

Last but not least, never break down your booth prior to the official close time of the event. This will trigger other participants to pack up their booths and kills the show for those participants who are still trying to do business.

Keep in mind the main purpose of doing public events is so you can meet new prospective customers and/or business leads and add them to your list. You may have heard the saying, “The money is in your list!” However, the fortune in in the follow up so this only holds true if you actually contact the people on your list.

Melody Thacker enjoys doing public events and running her own Watkins business. You can learn more about her and the Watkins income opportunity on her web site.

If you are just a beginner in the online forex trading market, just thinking of having to spend for formal trading programs is a big turn-off, especially if you are only still contemplating whether to join the industry or not.

If you are one of these individuals and are still undecisive if forex trading will give you a sound investment opportunity, then you should first try out the expert articles and courses that are available for free online.

Forex trading and other financial instruments is not something things you should play with, because they could spell huge losses if you do not know what you are doing. Thus, for an individual who is just getting started and want to learn the basic concepts, there is a wealth of information available online, free of charge.

Few brokerage firms offer free online trading for a specific time frame if you sign up to their service. But if you are really bent on not spending a single penny to initially learn, then you could just forget this advice.

But if you are interested in saving up on broker’s fee when you are finally ready to jump into the industry, you may just want to try these free services out especially if you are just starting out and is merely keen on trading a few stocks.

Indeed, technology has given us cost-saving opportunities investment in. However, some of these free online trading services do not offer you the whole package. If you do not trade regular and are new to the market, you could try trading for a month using all of these free services. But be very careful in selecting your provider.

Investigate and compare your all your options. And most importantly, just make sure that they have the best trading equipment to make your investments successful, after all, it is your money that you will be gambling on, so you may as well invest a little to be sure that you are well prepared.

As mentioned earlier, free forex trading courses available online will only do so much as give you a summary of the terms to remember and the basic concepts. They will not provide you tips on how to maximize your assets, unless they truly want to assist, and will not part with you tips and tricks that have already been tried and tested by professionals and experts.

Remember, there is never such a thing as a free lunch. While the Internet will provide you a wealth of knowledge about the forex trading industry, you will learn that there still remains more to know when you finally try your hand at actual doing it.

You could also save a little without having to signup for expensive forex training programs by purchasing a software package that focuses on the topic. Several of these software not only provide you enough information about the business, but it will also let you to operate on simulated trading environments, to provide you with a more detailed look into how online forex trading works.

Andrew Chin is a recognized authority on online forex currency trading. His website Online Trading Exposed provides a wealth of information on everything you will need to know about commodities trading.

Many debt collection agencies are avaliable today, but only a few stand out from the crowd. We examine the standards that you should be loking for when making a choice.

So, Why Use A Debt Collection Agency

When deciding upon using the services provided by a debt collection agency, the details can seem daunting at first. People use these agencies for a number of reasons so it is important to seek the advice and service of one that best suits your needs. Debt collection agencies can typically offer more help than what one might initially think.
One of the most common questions when choosing between debt collection agencies is in regards to cost.

The Costs Involved

An agency should offer more than one option for payment to offer a more customized plan for you. Choosing the right option for your needs will help ensure better use of your debt collection agencies services.
A debt collection agency may offer a flat rate plan. These plans offer services for a set fee to keep your costs fixed. Within this plan, even more customization may be available, depending on how often the services of the debt collection agency are required. You may be able to choose between monthly plans or even on an as needed basis.

No Win No Fee

One common payment plan that many debt collection agencies use is to collect debts with no fee. The purpose of this plan is to offer a low cost alternative to other plans. If debts are not collected, typically no payment is required. If the debt collection agency does collect debts, they will then withhold their commission rate, which varies among companies and the amount of debt that has been collected.

Can The Debt Collection Agency Measure Up

It is important to determine if your debt collection agency can be customized for your needs, depending on the type of business you have and the amount and type of debt that you need to be collected. For example, landlords of both residential and commercial properties can seek the service of debt collection agencies to pursue overdue and unpaid rent. While it is common for landlords to be owed rent, it is important to be sure that your debt collection agency fully understands the details for completing the necessary paperwork and how to successfully collect the debt owned to you in a timely manner.

I Have A Judgement But No Money

Perhaps you are owed a debt so you have filed a judgment in an attempt to claim the money owed to you. In order to be enforced, the services of a debt collection agency that is experienced in this field may be required. A judgment does not actually collect your money therefore it is important to find a debt collection agency that understands how judgments work in order to get results.

Choosing Your Agency

A debt collection agency should be able to offer you a variety of choices when it comes to payment as well as customized plans to better suit the needs of your business. When it comes to collecting your debt, you will want results, and you will want them in a timely manner. It is imperative to choose a debt collection agency that can provide all of these services while still being the best value.

The choice of the right debt collection agency can be crucial to the recovery of your money, so make the best choice for you. A no win no fee service is always advisable for the best results.

James Johnson,trawling the net for a decent debt collection service. Online debt collection is likely to be the future of debt collecting. Debt collection services and agencies. Desigh by DNETS

The Czech Republic, formerly known as Czechoslavakia, has been at the center of European history for decades. The city of Prague, one of the most beautiful in Eastern Europe, includes a mix of architecture ranging from Gothic to baroque and the influences of an ancient medieval kingdom intermingled with the modern touch of the recently dissolved Soviet Union.

International moving to the Czech Republic is an experience that will change your perspective on the world today and the events of the past that have shaped it.

International moving to any European country requires the help of an experienced international moving company which can instruct you on taxes and fees, proper packing and inventory lists, and local customs and languages. You can do these things on your own if you wish but you really are better off hiring someone to handle these headaches for you.

The Czech Republic has its own national language but you will often hear German, Russian, and of course English spoken in your travels there. Since the fall of the Iron Curtain there has been an increase in international moving to former Eastern Block countries. Western influences have brought about a rise in capitalist industry and you can even find McDonald’s and Coca-Cola throughout the country now.

The American Embassy is located at Trziste 15, Praha 1 in Prague and the country code for telephone calls is 420. The unit of currency is called the koruna but many local businesses also take Euros and even American dollars in some cases. Like most of Europe, the Czech Republic has a value-added tax (VAT) on goods and services. All of this and a basic knowledge of the language are important for a successful international moving experience.

In 1989, the country which was still known as Czechoslavakia staged a bloodless coupe known as the Velvet Revolution to separate itself from the Soviet Union and become a republic. Since that time, the country and particularly the City of Prague has grown up and become a haven for tourists and a favorite destination for international moving companies around the world. Cobblestone streets that have felt the hooves of king’s horses, the jackboots of Hitler’s armies and the heavy treads of Soviet tanks now are covered by swarms of visitors from Europe, Asia and America.

In 2002, massive floods in August threatened to destroy a large portion of this historic area. The Czech Republic and its hardy people survived and most of the classic architecture withstood the rising waters. Once the tide subsided the wave of international moving began again.

Today, the Czech Republic offers the best of what the West and the East have to offer. If you plan on moving there, hire a reputable and experienced international moving company to help you and do some research on the internet to gather information on culture, language and political climate. If you are going to Prague, make it a point to visit the Estates Theatre and take in a showing of Mozart’s Don Giovanni. It will change forever the way that you view theatre.

Nir Dotan is a writer and promoter of International Moving services, and
Omega Shipping Local as well as International Moving.

The city of Amsterdam in the Netherlands is one of the most popular international moving destinations in the world. By the year 2010 it is predicted that the number of transplants and migrants will actually outnumber the native population. This historic city, a maze of waterways, bridges and stately townhouses has become known in recent years for its tolerance policy towards activities that are illegal elsewhere in Europe. Prostitution and narcotics are controlled in Amsterdam, not outlawed, making it an attractive international moving destination for those who wish to indulge in these activities.

Sadly, the policies of Amsterdam have put a negative stamp on the Netherlands as a country filled with deviates and drug addicts. This is simply not true. Even in the Dutch capitol you are likely to find many local residents who do not indulge riding bikes and jogging in one of the many beautiful parks. Cities on the outskirts house master craftsmen in jewelry, porcelain and prints. Culturally, the Netherlands are also the homeland of the Pilgrim Fathers and many still visit the city of Leiden every year to pay homage.

Despite a tolerance policy within the country, international moving and the transport of items over the border are strictly regulated. The Netherlands is a member of the European Union and entry can give you access to other countries on the continent. International moving companies are thoroughly screened and smuggling or illegal activity of any kind is punished harshly. If you are planning on moving to the Netherlands, make sure that the international moving company you hire checks out with local authorities and can provide you legitimate references that you can verify.

The national language of the Netherlands is Dutch but you’re just as likely to hear English, Russian, French or German. Amsterdam itself is one of the most cosmopolitan cities on earth and a melting pot for people from all six habitable continents. The unit of currency is the Euro but keep some American money on you while you’re there. The dollar can still buy you peace of mind in Europe as can the British Pound. International moving companies normally accept all three.

When you prepare your belonging for your international moving company to transport, throw out or donate anything you don’t need. Shipping to another country by sea or air is expensive and often it is a better option to just purchase new furniture when you arrive. If it’s a temporary move, put your belongings in storage and pay it off in advance so you know it will all be there when you return.

Even if your international moving venture is permanent it is a good idea to maintain citizenship in your country of origin just in case things don’t work out. The American Embassy in Amsterdam is located at Museumplein 19 if you need help of any kind. The telephone country code is 33 and you can dial 112 on any payphone for police assistance. Internet access is available throughout the country and the technology is fairly modern so you can reach out to folks back home any time you like.

Nir Dotan is a writer and promoter of
Moving services, and
Omega Shipping Local as well as International Moving.