Microsoft's Office 365 is one of the more popular, if not the most popular, office productivity suites available to businesses. An integral part of Office 365 is Outlook - Microsoft's email platform. With a wide array of features, Outlook is an email powerhouse. One useful feature is archive, which allows you to file away older emails.

Below are steps on how you can archive your emails in Outlook, and how you can retrieve archived items.

How to archive emails When it comes to archiving emails, you have two options:

AutoArchive

1. Open Outlook and click on File.
2. Select Options followed by Advanced.
3. Click on AutoArchive Settings which is located in the third box down.
4. Tick the box beside Run AutoArchive every XX Days. This will turn on AutoArchive. Be sure to set how often you would like it to run.
5. Set where archived emails will be stored on your computer by clicking Browse. Be sure to also set the age limit when old emails will be moved by selecting the options beside Clean out items older than...
6. Press Apply these settings to all folders now to apply the settings to all folders and then press OK when you have set up the options to your preferences.

Manual archive Before you manually archive your emails, we recommend creating a new folder in Outlook by clicking on Inbox followed by New Folder from the ribbon above the email screen. Select the name and location for the folder and press OK. You can then move emails you want to manually archive into this folder. From there:

1. Press File followed by Info.
2. Press the Cleanup Tools button and select Archive...
3. Tick Archive this folder and all subfolders: and select the folder you recently created from the menu below. Note: If you set up AutoArchive, you can press Archive all folders according to their AutoArchive settings to force an AutoArchive.
4. Set the age limit in the box that says Archive items older than: emails older than the date you choose will be archived while newer ones will remain.
5. Select the location for the archive by clicking Browse and picking where on your computer you would like the backup to be saved.
6. Press OK and your files will be archived.

A few things to be aware of We strongly recommend that when selecting a file to store your archived emails that you select the default location suggested by Outlook. We also recommend that you archive emails you don't need regular access to, because when you archive them, they are taken out of your Inbox.

Retrieve your archived emails If you navigate to the folder you set for your backup, you will see the archived emails labeled as archive.pst. If you back up your system regularly, we strongly recommend you ensure that this file is also backed up, as if your system crashes and you haven't backed up this file, you will lose all of your archived emails.

For users of Outlook 2013, you can easily access your archived emails by:

1. Opening Outlook.
2. Selecting Archives and pressing the black arrow.
3. Clicking on the file you have selected to archive.
4. The emails should pop right up.

If you have an older version of Outlook, you can access your archived emails by:

1. Pressing File followed by Open.
2. Selecting Open Outlook Data File.
3. Clicking on the archived file and pressing OK.

Note: This will move ALL archived emails back into your Inbox and other folders, so you will need to re-archive them.

If you would like to learn more about Outlook and other programs included in Office 365, please contact us today.

Email is an integral part of almost every role in business. From front-line employees to business owners, it is the key form of communication, and one of the main programs to enable this is Gmail. To keep Gmail one of the most popular email platforms, Google regularly updates it, or introduces new features. In late May, Google introduced a new feature that changes the way your inbox works.

Here is an overview of the changes recently introduced to Gmail.

Gmail gets tabs Tabs have been a part of most Internet browsers for a few years now, and response to this has generally been positive. The latest update to Gmail introduces tabs to the interface. When this feature is activated, you will see up to five new tabs just above your emails. The idea behind these tabs is that they separate your inbox and keep certain types of less important emails together. This simultaneously cleans up your inbox while potentially ensuring important emails aren't missed.

Note: Google also refers to these tabs as 'categories'.

The five tabs (categories) you could see are:

1. Primary - Your main inbox, where all important emails will go. This is also where person-to-person emails will be sent.
2. Social - Emails and notifications from your various social networks including updates, posts, etc. will now show here.
3. Promotions - Emails from the various promotion sites you follow including newsletters, ads, deals, bills, etc. will now be located in this tab.
4. Updates - Update emails including airline tickets, hotel reservations, shipping notifications, support tickets, etc. will now show under this tab.
5. Forums - Email notifications from the various forums you belong to will be stored here.

This update could be great for business users who have a tough time managing their inbox because of bacn (email you want, just not right now).

How to enable the new feature If you would like to try this new feature out, you can enable it by:

1. Logging in to your Gmail account on any Internet browser.
2. Clicking the cog in the top-right of the screen (just below your profile picture and name).
3. Selecting Configure inbox.

Your inbox will reload and you will see a window asking you to select what tabs to show. We recommend selecting tabs that are relevant. If you don't use your email address for social media, you don't need to select the Social tab. After you press ok, you will notice that your email has been sorted into the different tabs.

If you want to quickly go back to your old inbox layout, click on Categories on the left-hand vertical bar from the main Gmail window.

How to manage your new inbox New emails will be automatically sent to what Gmail deems to be the correct categories. We suggest that you look through these categories (tabs) for any email that doesn't belong and move it. You can move emails from one tab to another by simply right-clicking on it, hovering over Move to tab and selecting the tab to move it to. You can also drag emails from one tab to another by selecting it and dragging it over the tab you would like the email moved to.

When you move an individual email, you will notice a yellow bar across the top of the screen. This bar has two options: You can press Undo to undo the move and Yes to send future emails from the sender to the same tab. If you select multiple emails and move them by dragging and dropping, you won't get this option.

Where the new feature gets confusing While this new feature is great for sorting out emails currently in your inbox, it isn't so great for emails with labels or those that are archived. These new tabs only include emails from your inbox. Emails that you have archived are not included. If you have set up filters for certain types of emails to skip the inbox (be archived immediately), they will not show up in the tabs, you will have to look at the labels or in your archived emails to see them.

If you have been using Smart Labels, you likely already have similar labels for social media and update related emails. You should be aware that these are different, and emails that get labeled may not show up in the relevant tab. If you plan to use this feature, it would be a good idea to turn off or delete the Smart Label.

The biggest thing you should know about this new feature is that your inbox count will only reflect emails in the Primary tab. Any new emails in the other tabs will not increase your inbox total. The reason for this is that Gmail views other categories/tabs as less important. So, if you are expecting an important email, be sure to check all your tabs.

If you have moved over to the new layout and would like to learn more about how Gmail can help make your business more efficient, please contact us today to see how we can help.

When it comes to computers and other similar systems, many business owners know they have to think seriously about security. However, they often lack the time or funds to actually take the necessary steps to ensure their systems are as secure as they should be. The fact is that security can be as costly or as affordable as you make it out to be. There are certainly numerous security related steps you can implement that won't cost a fortune.

Here are five low-cost things you can do to ensure that your business is secure.

1. Communication is key Many companies take adequate steps to ensure that their systems are adequately protected. The thing is, many security breaches come from within the company. If your employees keep passwords written on pieces of paper that they leave lying around their desks, this is a security issue. It is a good idea to agree with employees where to keep important information and ensure they follow these rules.

Beyond that, if you implement security changes or new systems e.g., new virus scanning software, it is important that you talk to your staff to ensure they know how the system works and how they can use it. You would be surprised at how much effective communication can help to minimize security issues, and best of all? It's free!

2. Educate your staff One of the more common security issues comes from spam and malware found in emails. It is a good idea to educate your staff on how to spot these different types of emails and other malicious websites, as well as how to avoid them.

It is worthwhile ensuring that your employees know their roles when it comes to security too. If you have a secretary who you believe is responsible for ensuring the office is locked at the end of the night, take steps to ensure that this person understands their responsibilities. The same goes for computers your staff use: If they are responsible for conducting security scans let them know this. While this may take some time, the cost is low to free.

3. Keep track of your keys To ensure the security of your IT systems and your physical office, you should keep control of your keys. That is, both the physical keys and those associated with your software (the codes you enter to verify software and unlock full versions).

Keep track of which staff members have a key to the office and if possible number them. The goal here is to know where your keys are at any given time, and if a staff member changes employers make sure you ask for them back.

Many software keys or licenses are single use only. If you invest in software and an employees steals this along with the key, you will likely have to purchase the software again. A good tip is to keep software keys secure and separate from the software itself. The best part about this step is that the cost of doing this is minimal.

4. Keep your software updated Hackers can be a lazy bunch. They will often target those with out of date software, because it's usually easier to hack. To reduce the chance of being hacked, you should take steps to ensure that your software is up-to-date. This includes your virus and malware scanners, as well as browsers and even software you don't use.

Get your staff to perform a 'software audit' on their computers on a regular basis. This means going through their computer and properly uninstalling software that they don't use, while also taking time to ensure their system is completely updated. This step is easy to implement and will cost you next to nothing.

5. Keep important systems off site Many small to medium businesses keep their servers on site. While this is convenient as your systems are right there and easily accessible, this could also create a security issue. One way to minimize this is to work with an IT partner who can host your systems or servers off site or in the cloud. While this involves some cost, working with an IT partner could save you profits and productivity in the long run, as good providers will ensure that your systems are secure and working properly.

If you are looking to make your systems more secure, please contact us today. We may have a solution that will work for your business.

Disaster can strike at anytime and in any form when it comes to business and sometimes something as seemingly straightforward as dropping a hard drive can really create havoc. Regardless of what disaster may occur, one will eventually strike your organization. To stave off the negative effects many companies have instituted a disaster recovery plan, which involves data backup. You may have heard of offsite backup, but do you know what it is, and how it can help?

Here are five benefits and a definition of offsite backup.

Offsite backup defined The definition of offsite backup can be a bit difficult to nail down, as when many IT providers talk about this idea they are usually referring to one of a number of different kinds of backup. The key idea revolving around offsite backup is that your company's data and backups are sent out of your physical location(s). In other words, your backups are not stored in your office or building.

Offsite backup is usually done in one of two ways:

1. Physical transport - This can range from something as simple as copying important files onto a removable hard drive and storing this in another location, to backing up entire systems on tape and storing them off site.
2. Remote backup - This is a more modern approach to data backup, whereby your data and files are stored on servers located off site. This form of backup is commonly referred to as 'cloud backup'.

For the purpose of this article, we will focus on remote backup as this is the main solution companies are enquiring about.

Benefits of remote backup

1. It's more reliable The major benefit of remote backup is that it can be automated. Your files are updated on a daily basis, or you can set the time for the update. Because these solutions work over the Internet, you will be able to recover files quickly. Beyond that, the servers that offer this solution are often located in numerous locations, which ensures that your backups are always available, even if one server crashes.

2. It reduces workload Traditional backup solutions require a person, whether you or an IT professional, to manually back up or copy files. This can take a long time, and will take you away from your normal job. Many remote backup solutions can be initiated at the click of a mouse after setup, or can be scheduled for when you aren't in the office.

3. It's easy to set up Backup solutions are managed by an IT partner who can work with you to set up which files and data to back up. Other solutions can be set up with a few clicks and even automated, so you can rest assured that your data is backed up and up-to-date.

4. It's secure Most backup providers store their servers in secure locations, meaning that your data is physically secure. To ensure that backup data is transmitted securely, most solutions use advanced encryption tools to keep data secure.

5. It will save money If you have numerous computers with large amounts of data that you back up regularly, you know that physical storage solutions can be costly. The majority of remote backup solutions are billed on a monthly-basis and support a near unlimited amount of backup space. If your company operates in an industry where backups are mandatory, or you have a large amount of files to back up, these options will save you money.

If you are interested in learning more about how offsite, remote backup can help ensure that your business is ready for disaster recovery, please contact us today.

An important part of the Internet is e-commerce. It's made people's lives easier and has given companies another way to sell their products. One common issue with e-commerce though is payment, which has traditionally been done through credit card. A trend that's gaining more popularity is the idea of an e-wallet, and a service leading the change is Google Wallet. Google has recently introduced a new feature that makes Wallet even more useful.

The new Google Wallet feature introduces the ability to send money as a Gmail attachment. Before we get into the update however, here is an overview of what Google Wallet is about.

What is Google Wallet? The whole idea of Google Wallet is to provide you with an online 'wallet' that stores your payment information, (credit card, bank account numbers, and address), in the cloud. This is linked to your Google account. This service can be used across multiple devices, including your Android smartphone and tablet, and desktop browser.

Google Wallet has two main focuses - online and instore shopping. If you have the mobile app and a specific phone, you can use it to pay for items at stores that support this by simply tapping your phone on a terminal; no need to carry your physical credit or debit card. When you are shopping online, you can also click the Google Wallet button on supporting sites and your payment information, including your address, will be automatically added.

At the moment, the mobile app only works in the US, with no word on when it will be rolled out to other countries. The online version however is supported in the countries listed here.

Send money using Gmail Google recently introduced a new function for Google Wallet which could prove to be useful. Gmail users in the US can now, (or will soon), have the ability to send money to others by simply using an email attachment.

If you already have a Google Wallet account, you can hover over the paperclip icon at the bottom of the compose message window in Gmail, and select the $ icon. You can then select the amount of money to attach. The email recipient will be able to claim the money, as long as they also have a Google Wallet account.

This feature is free for users who have linked their bank account to Google Wallet, or have an available balance. If you use a credit card, there is a charge of 2.9% per transaction.

Is this a good idea for businesses? If your company has an online store or processes payments online, having a Google Wallet account could be a good idea, as it gives your customers another way to pay for their purchases.

The major downside though is that you need to have a Google Wallet account to receive money, and it is only for users in the US. This limits current usability, especially if you have customers outside of the US.

A common issue many companies focus on is how secure these transactions are. Google has noted that transactions are secure and can be monitored easily from the online version of Wallet. From what we can see, it may be a good idea to actually hold off supporting or accepting payment through email until this service has been out for a few months. It is highly likely that Google will push this functionality to more customers which will give you more time to prepare and ensure that payment through email is something your company could use.

If you would like to learn more about Google Wallet and how it could fit into your business, please contact us today.

One of the most popular Internet based services is social media. It has drastically changed the way we communicate and interact with one another. One of the bigger platforms, Google+, has been consistently playing catch-up with other more popular services. However, Google recently announced and rolled out a big update to Google+ that should make it more appealing for many users.

Here is an overview of the new Google+ features recently introduced.

A new layout One of the first things you will notice about the updated Google+ is the layout has been drastically changed. On the main (Home) screen you will notice that posts have been changed to individual cards, similar to the Google Now cards, and are arranged in either one, two or three columns. These posts now take up more space horizontally which makes it far easier to view more content at the same time.

The menu bar that took up the left-hand side of the previous layout has been moved and is now collapsible. If you hover over Home on the upper-left of the screen the menu will pop out from the left-side. Circles and related feeds have also been added at the top of the window and clicking on a related circle name will bring up content only from your friends in that circle.

Adding new posts has also been turned into a card layout which is found at the top-left of the content stream. The different options e.g., Text, Photos, Link, Video and Hangout, are now big buttons that you can push to create a related post.

Improved Hangouts Possibly the most intriguing new feature introduced is actually an update to the existing Hangouts. The numerous Google chat functions have been merged into a single chat and video messaging app available for Google+, iPhone, iPad, Android, Gmail and Chrome.

This means that you can host group chats for up to 10 participants which users can access through various systems. What this means for businesses is that you now have an easier way to communicate across multiple systems without having to worry about compatibility.

Better pictures and albums A key component of any social media platform is visual content like pictures and videos. Google has introduced some interesting photo based features that could help make your content even more attractive. One feature is Auto Enhance, which will touch-up photos by looking at factors such as blur, contrast, saturation, etc. From what we have seen, the touch-ups are effective in making your pictures look better.

There is also a new feature called Auto Awesome, which looks at the types of photos you upload and can do various impressive things. For example, if you upload a series of similar pictures, say a sequence of images taken one after the other in a short amount of time, Auto Awesome will create an animated GIF which you can share on your wall. This function can also create panorama or HDR images.

Auto Highlight is another recently introduced feature which uses an algorithm to analyze pictures and skip over duplicate, blurry or underexposed pictures while uploading them, supposedly leaving you with only the best pictures.

Hashtags The hashtag (#) has become popular on many social media platforms and is an easy way to find similar content. Google+ has improved the hashtag system and will now automatically add relevant tags to your posts. You will see these as small blue tabs on the right of the card, and hovering over these will show the relevant hashtag. If you click on it, the card will flip over and show you other posts that have the same tag. This could be a great way to find similar content and could help bring more exposure to your profile.

The new Google+ layout is definitely a big change compared to previous versions and could prove to be useful for your company's profile and online presence. If you would like to learn more about using Google+ please contact us.

A common tech topic of the past couple of years is cloud storage. Many of the major tech companies, like Google and Microsoft, have their own cloud storage platforms. The 2013 version of Microsoft’s cloud based productivity platform, Office 365, has a new cloud storage app called SkyDrive Pro. If you have updated to Office 365 2013, you have access to this, but do you know what it really is?

SkyDrive is Microsoft’s online cloud storage service. Users can create, edit, share and store all manner of documents, including those from the various Office programs. SkyDrive Pro is the business oriented version of SkyDrive.

According to Microsoft, “SkyDrive Pro is your professional library – the place to keep your work documents and other files.” Using either your company’s SharePoint server or SharePoint Online, your files are synced and stored in the cloud. This enables you to easily share them with colleagues, access them from mobile devices, and work on files offline.

Your files are stored in what Microsoft calls a Library. Think of this as a virtual hard drive. You can add files and folders in the same way you can with a normal hard drive, only they are online instead. You can access this by logging into Office 365 using your browser and clicking on SkyDrive (in some sites SkyDrive Pro is referred to as SkyDrive and clicking on this will take you to SkyDrive Pro).

How to set up desktop syncing with SkyDrive Pro

One feature of SkyDrive Pro is that it allows you to sync files from your desktop to the cloud, for easier access. If you have a version of Office 365 installed that includes Office 2013, you should already have access to SharePoint Pro. In fact, it should already be installed on your computer.

Before you try to set up desktop syncing, it is a good idea to check with your system administrator to ensure that SkyDrive Pro syncing has been enabled and downloaded. Then, you can set up syncing by:

1. Clicking on Start and searching for SkyDrive Pro. It should be found in the Office 365 folder.
2. Launching the desktop app. You should see a window pop-up asking which Library you would like to sync. Don’t enter anything unless your IT partner has provided you with a specific IP address.
3. Opening Office 365′s Web portal on your browser and clicking on SkyDrive.
4. Clicking Sync in the top-right of the Office 365 window in your browser.
5. Selecting which library you would like to sync with your desktop and clicking Sync Now.

The PC based application you opened in step two above should automatically start syncing. It may ask you to log into Office 365, and after you do so, you should be able to access your online Library from your desktop.

By default, the Library will be placed in your Favorites folder which can be accessed by opening any folder and looking to the left, under Favorites. Saving files into the SkyDrive Pro folder should upload and sync them to your account.

If you would like to learn more about using SkyDrive Pro or any Office 365 program please contact us today.

Google has a yearly conference - I/O - where upcoming products and changes/updates to existing services are introduced. This conference is eagerly awaited by many Google fans, and this year's didn't disappoint. One of the more intriguing announcements, that could have a large impact on businesses, was that Google will be updating Google Maps.

Here is an overview of the upcoming change to Google Maps and what it could mean for your business.

What's changed? The new version of Maps aims to bring a more personal map to users. It is currently an invite only update, but Google has noted that all users will be updated sometime between August and November this year.

The first thing you will notice when you see the new layout is that the maps themselves have been visually updated. Major roadways are now highlighted, while smaller roads are muted. This generally makes the map look less cluttered and easier to read. In truth, it looks a lot closer to the mobile app. Beyond that, Google Earth has been integrated into this new version of Maps.

While the new maps are easier to read, the biggest change is to the overall layout. In the existing Maps, when you search for a business or location a bar on the left of the screen displays search results and highlights businesses on the map with pins. The new version does away with the results bar and instead provides a drop-down card with businesses and locations shown as red dots on the map.

How the new Maps will work Google has made the new Maps more dynamic. In the current version, when you search or simply look at a map everybody sees the same results and a static map is shown to all users. In the new version, the map will be different for each user. Search results and identified businesses will be different based on your preferences, reviews, friends and search history.

Beyond that, the map itself is highly flexible. If you click on a business or landmark, it will change to show you similar businesses in the area, with closely related businesses bolded and popping out at you. Clicking on a bolded business will bring up a card on the left of the window with more information, including contact details, reviews, Street View, 360 Panoramas, (if available), and photos. Clicking on the card will open the business's Google+ page.

What does this mean for my business? The most important factor to note about the new Google Maps is that Google has made your Google+ page an incredibly important part of your online presence. When a user searches for a business on Google Maps, they will be able to filter results based on top reviews and their Circles. What this means for you is that if you have had some less than positive reviews, or don't have a Google+ presence, your business will show up lower on search results, or may not even register on some personalized maps.

Essentially, Google wants to promote quality businesses that have an active presence on Google+. If you haven't been focusing on your Google+ profile, it is time to start doing so. You should ensure that your information is correct and up-to-date, and that you are posting content on a regular basis. You will also need to build up your contacts and encourage customers to review your business on Google+.

While the new version of Maps won't be out for a few months yet, it is wise to get ready for it today. If you would like to learn more about the changes and how you can prepare for these, please get in touch with us.

The Internet has undoubtedly made our lives easier, and some would even say better. It is a bit of a double edged sword however, as we have seen an increase in the number of security breaches and hacks exposing our information. One way to minimize data being exposed or stolen is to use different passwords for every site. While this is advisable and fine in theory, it can be a pain to actually keep track of all of your different passwords in reality. That's where a password management system can help. The next decision is what type of password management system you should use.

Below is a brief overview of the four types of password management system you can use.

1. Cloud or Internet-based These systems are usually cloud based and accessed through an app or browser plugin. Apps ordinarily store your passwords, or generate one to use, and will automatically apply this when you visit a site that requires a password. These systems are great for breaking the one password habit, However, because they store all of your passwords in one place, they could become a target for hackers.

2. Cloud or Internet-based with two-factor authentication The next step up from the cloud-based password management system is one that supports two-factor authentication. Your passwords are still stored in the cloud, but you will need to provide another piece of information before you can access sites.

The interesting thing is that many of the cloud based password systems actually offer this in their premium offerings. So, not only do you get better password protection, but it's with the same system meaning you likely won't have to switch.

The cloud based systems are a good idea if you use more than one system on a regular basis and if you work from outside of the office.

3. Computer-based Computer-based password management systems are similar to the cloud versions, only the passwords are stored on your computer, and accessed using a master password. Because many hackers usually don't go after individual hard drives - they have to get through your network and then find the program and try to break the password - the chances of your passwords being exposed are minimized.

The only problem with systems like these is that you normally have to log in for the service to work. If you forget to log out and someone walks by, they will be able to access everything. However, for the manager who wants a secure system, this is a better option than the cloud based versions.

4. USB-based There are a number of USB devices that have a smart card in them that can store passwords. When you plug in the USB to your computer, the software on the USB can input the stored passwords when needed. These devices are typically more expensive, with some costing as much as USD$100, but they offer the highest amount of security as your passwords are kept with you.

The main downside to these devices is that they aren't the biggest and are usually about the size of a standard USB stick. This means that they are easier to lose, making getting your passwords back even tougher.

If you are looking for a better way to keep track of your passwords, please contact us today to see how we can help.

When it comes to your business on the Internet, reputation and a presence are everything. Customers expect you to be online, and many companies go to great lengths to establish and protect their reputation and image. Part of being online means that you will eventually have to deal with a complaint, and if you handle it wrong, you could see your reputation tarnished and customers disappear. To minimize the chance of this happening, it is a good idea to practice some reputation management.

Here are five reputation management practices you can employ to better manage your online brand.

1. Don't remove negative content If you see a negative comment or post online it may be your first impulse to delete it. This isn't necessarily advisable, as the main rule about the Internet is that nothing ever goes away. If you delete negative comments on a regular basis, customers could notice and this may lead to them losing trust in your company and ultimately, to lost sales.

What you should be doing is replying instead and encouraging any users who complain online or make criticizing posts to contact you directly, or through a more private medium like email. That being said, if you see malicious posts or content that is posted just to incite a negative reaction (trolling), there is nothing wrong in deleting. Just make sure to acknowledge this by posting a warning that states something along the lines of: "Please note, malicious content will be deleted."

2. Address complaints promptly You should have someone monitoring your online platforms for complaints or negative feedback, so that you can respond promptly. This will also show customers that you actually use your platforms and are willing to engage. If you do not take steps to address negative material, you could be sending the message that you don't care enough about customers, which could drive them away.

3. Provide people with a place to complain Being proactive is important when it comes to reputation management. Instead of waiting for complaints to be posted on various review sites, blogs or even social media, which are all out of your control, why not provide a place that you can control, for all types of feedback.

Having an easy to see form, forum or other similar area on your website, where customers can interact with you, could go a long way in helping limit where complaints pop up. If you are in control then you're more likely to see complaints sooner and better able to answer them quickly too.

4. Ensure colleagues and staff are all on the same page Two things that turn almost customers off of a brand are a company that isn't organized and being told different things by different people within the same company. If you have more than one staff member managing your online reputation you need to ensure everyone is on the same page. If a client asks a question they should get one answer and if there is a complaint there should be one response or person handling it.

It is a good idea to establish how to deal with complaints, who will deal with them and when they will be dealt with, and communicate this with all staff, not just those handling your online presence. A unified procedure could go a long way in minimizing the harm negative feedback can cause.

5. Monitor online activity We don't mean monitor the activity of your employees, we mean take a look at the different communication channels used by your customers and the public at large. If your business relies on reviews, simply monitoring your own profiles and website isn't enough. Many customers complain on review sites like Yelp, Ripoff Report, or their own blogs. Taking time to search for, and browse these sites could help you gauge the general perception of your company. If you see an increasing number of negative reviews for example, you know it is time to look at what needs to be improved.

Having a well managed online reputation won't guarantee new customers will come flooding in the door, but it can help decrease customers from going out the door, taking valuable sales with them. If you would like to learn more about reputation management please contact us today.