Author: Alan Shaw

A combination of Club members contributed some useful hints and tips so that we can all get more of what we want out of our computers and less of what we don’t want, especially when using the Internet. On that latter point, Tony Cadwallader has detailed (see over) how he deals with the hundreds of spam items hitting his system every day. On the former point, Alan Shaw showed on a live system how we can be more selective in finding what we want on the Internet. He demonstrated how he has found very useful downloads to help with his business, including PowerPoint presentations, Word Files, Excel files, pdf and jpeg files. Naturally, it is always advisable to respect copyright and intellectual rights and seek permission to use such files but many files (especially pdfs) do not require permission - they are there as freely available downloads, especially from government sites. Andy Laverick pointed us towards some free Ad-aware and Spybot software (see over).

August Social
On 4th August we plan to hold a joint social evening with Burton Business Club and we shall be hosting the event. We have now settled on a professional guided tour of Lichfield followed by a buffet, drinks and networking in a local hostelry. The plan is to meet at 7.30pm at the Bird St. car park (back of Woolworths); the tour lasts about an hour. This event is to be subsidized by the Club, so make sure to book your place with Sandra. More details next month, so watch this space!
Marketing meeting
Immediately prior to the joint event with Burton on 4th August, we plan to hold an open meeting with members to brainstorm what we feel is the best way forward in raising the profile (visibility) of the Club in the area so that we can attract new members. All members are encouraged to attend to contribute their views. The meeting is 5-7pm in the usual place at SULC. All ideas and suggestions will be given serious consideration. If you cannot be there but have some ideas you would like to be considered, please call or e-mail Warren Bradley (wbradley@hrps.fsnet.co.uk)
Chair & Membership Secretary - Debbie Baker- Thomas 01543 308621
Vice Chair and Treasurer –Chris Edwards - 01543 263915
Newsletter and Club Programme –Alan Shaw - 01889 584147
Social Secretary – Sandra Booth - 01785 353808
Member – Andy Laverick – 08707 456280
Secretary – Warren Bradley – 01543 472747

Computer Tips & Tricks…

Other Information

Despatches

2004 Club Programme
7th July - Lichfield Brewery - a presentation
4th August - Social with Burton Business Club (see main body of text)
1st September - Teamwork Challenge, to test the ability of members to work together in a team
6th October - Business Accountiong and Taxation
3rd November - AGM plus Lichfield Festival
1st December - Social - Xmas Party

Lichfield District Business Club Newsletter

June 2004

This story can fit 150-200 words.
One benefit of using your newsletter as a promotional tool is that you can reuse content from other marketing materials, such as press releases, market studies, and reports.
While your main goal of distributing a newsletter might be to sell your product or service, the key to a successful newsletter is making it useful to your readers.
A great way to add useful content to your newsletter is to develop and write your own articles, or include a calendar of upcoming events or a special offer that promotes a new product.
You can also research articles or find “filler” articles by accessing the World Wide Web. You can write about a variety of topics but try to keep your articles short.
Much of the content you put in your newsletter can also be used for your Web site. Microsoft Publisher offers a simple way to convert your newsletter to a Web publication. So, when you’re finished writing your newsletter, convert it to a Web site and post it.

This story can fit 75-125 words.
Selecting pictures or graphics is an important part of adding content to your newsletter.
Think about your article and ask yourself if the picture supports or enhances the message you’re trying to convey. Avoid selecting images that appear to be out of context.
Microsoft Publisher includes thousands of clip art images from which you can choose and import into your newsletter. There are also several tools you can use to draw shapes and symbols.
Once you have chosen an image, place it close to the article. Be sure to place the caption of the image near the image.

This story can fit 100-150 words.
The subject matter that appears in newsletters is virtually endless. You can include stories that focus on current technologies or innovations in your field.
You may also want to note business or economic trends, or make predictions for your customers or clients.
If the newsletter is distributed internally, you might comment upon new procedures or improvements to the business. Sales figures or earnings will show how your business is growing.
Some newsletters include a column that is updated every issue, for instance, an advice column, a book review, a letter from the president, or an editorial. You can also profile new employees or top customers or vendors.

This story can fit 150-200 words.
One benefit of using your newsletter as a promotional tool is that you can reuse content from other marketing materials, such as press releases, market studies, and reports.
While your main goal of distributing a newsletter might be to sell your product or service, the key to a successful newsletter is making it useful to your readers.
A great way to add useful content to your newsletter is to develop and write your own articles, or include a calendar of upcoming events or a special offer that promotes a new product.
You can also research articles or find “filler” articles by accessing the World Wide Web. You can write about a variety of topics but try to keep your articles short.
Much of the content you put in your newsletter can also be used for your Web site. Microsoft Publisher offers a simple way to convert your newsletter to a Web publication. So, when you’re finished writing your newsletter, convert it to a Web site and post it.

This story can fit 75-125 words.
Selecting pictures or graphics is an important part of adding content to your newsletter.
Think about your article and ask yourself if the picture supports or enhances the message you’re trying to convey. Avoid selecting images that appear to be out of context.
Microsoft Publisher includes thousands of clip art images from which you can choose and import into your newsletter. There are also several tools you can use to draw shapes and symbols.
Once you have chosen an image, place it close to the article. Be sure to place the caption of the image near the image.

This story can fit 100-150 words.
The subject matter that appears in newsletters is virtually endless. You can include stories that focus on current technologies or innovations in your field.
You may also want to note business or economic trends, or make predictions for your customers or clients.
If the newsletter is distributed internally, you might comment upon new procedures or improvements to the business. Sales figures or earnings will show how your business is growing.
Some newsletters include a column that is updated every issue, for instance, an advice column, a book review, a letter from the president, or an editorial. You can also profile new employees or top customers or vendors.

E-mail spam has become a real issue for most of us and anti-spam software can bring its own problems. The way that Tony Cadwallader deals with this is to direct all e-mails (over 1,000 per day!) that are specifically for him - as opposed to anything@ldb.co.uk - are the only ones he needs to read. To do this, he sets up a folder in outlook express called tonyc (from local folders, right click on new folder and give it a name) and then sets up a mail filter. To do this, click on tools/message rules/mail and click on new; scroll down the top box until the line “When the To or CC line contains people” and click on this. In the second box, find “Move it to the specified folder” and click on it. In the third box, click on “Contains people” and type in your e-mail address (eg Tony uses tonyc@ldb.co.uk). Also in the third box, click on “Specified folder” and type in the name of the folder (tonyc in this case). This is then your new in-box, and other e-mails not addressed specifically to yo can be routed to the recycle bin - the best place for them!
Other uninvited guests are computer viruses that are getting ever more sophisticated and intensely irritating, especially those that, when trapped by anti-virus software, then stop the remaining e-mail from being received. Keep anti-virus software up to date.
On another matter, spyware is on the increase. At worst they can read your passwords when dealing with your on-line bank - a very serious matter indeed. Some others simply create innocuous but irritating pop-up adverts and slow down your computer. The most popular free checking tools to deal with these are Spybot and AdAware, both of which can be obtained from www.shareware.com. The AdAware can also be found at www.lavasoftusa.com/support/download/. Make sure to run these regularly - at least once a week

Lichfield Business Village
The Friary
Lichfield WS13 6QG

Lichfield District Business Club Newsletter

Phone: 01543 308620
Fax: 01543 308622
Email: hawthornes@lichfield.biz

Promoting interaction in local business

In a nutshell … Club members’ businesses

As businesses grow Management can loose focus on what is providing them success (financially). At the same time they are not big enough to be able to afford many of the skills they need full-time. Bill Douthwaite, recognising this need in small and medium sized businesses, set up Horizon Consultancy Services Ltd to provide the commercial and financial analytical skills to help these businesses see what is making them money and what is an unprofitable distraction (so the first can be increased and the latter limited).
Working to reduce costs and increase gross profit the aim is to prove that the benefits of this assistance will far exceed the cost and all work is undertaken on this basis.
Bill can be contacted on
Tel: 07813 973199.
Roger Perks is a manufacturer’s agent. He set up his business, Tracer Components, in 1992 when he was made redundant from an American military semiconductor company which closed its UK sales office. He has 25 years of electronics field sales experience and works from home. He now represents two UK companies and one in Italy. The products he sells are membrane keyboards and touch screens for a company in Dorset, decals for agricultural and construction equipment, and emergency vehicle livery for a West Midlands company, and transformers and power supplies for an Italian manufacturer. He also does some trading in electronic components when the opportunity arises.
Tel: 01827 259 112
Broadband access saves 52 days each year
A study conducted by NTL has found that small businesses that upgrade to broadband Internet access save 52 days a year in lost productivity, and save employees more than 90 minutes each day in waiting for slower dial-up services. The study revealed that 56% of small businesses in the UK are now broadband-enabled, and over two-thirds of those polled said broadband had improved their efficiency. NTL said the Government should prioritise making broadband accessible to all small businesses, as it is an “essential tool” for enabling them to compete with larger firms.
For more on the survey, see:
http://www.ntl.com/mediacentre/press/display.asp?id=709

The Club is sponsored by Lloyds TSB, Barclays, SULC and Lichfield District Council

Despatches

Business Topic of the Month - Internet Tips & Tricks

Visit your Club web-site at
www.lichfieldbusinessclub.com - it exists to help you

www.lichfieldbusinessclub.com

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