Small Office-Home Office Tips #6


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TipWorld - http://www.tipworld.com
The Internet's #1 Source for Computer Tips, News, and Gossip

Proudly presents:
The Windows 98 Tip of the Day

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*1.   KEEPING TRACK OF WHAT'S DUE TO YOU          
   
Visual Budget Master is a Windows 95 shareware program that won 
FileWorld's Editors' Pick. The program helps you pay your bills 
and keeps track of payments received and payments due. This 
easy-to-use program can be a nice alternative to a full-scale, 
commercial accounting program, especially if your business is a 
one-person operation with a limited number of clients. You can 
download the shareware from FileWorld at

http://www.pcworld.com/r/tw/1%2C2061%2Ctw-soho0412%2C00.html

If you decide to keep the program, you'll need to register it 
with the software company, Wizard's Workshop, for $35.


*2.   APPLYING FOR TRADEMARKS ONLINE

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has developed TEAS, the 
Trademark Electronic Application System. If you would like to 
file for a trademark (TM) or service mark (SM) for a product or 
service offered by your business, you'll probably want to check 
out the FAQ at this site, which explains the rules and 
regulations connected with filing, receiving, and using these 
special designations. Be aware, however, that the $245 filing 
fee is usually nonrefundable, even if the application is denied, 
and you may be charged other fees as well. You can find out more 
at the USPTO's Web site at

http://www.uspto.gov/teas/


*3.   SOMETIMES IT'S WHAT'S *NOT* IN YOUR OFFICE THAT COUNTS

Turning a spare bedroom into a home office? It's best to give 
more thought to the process than just figuring out how to fit 
the computer desk in the corner. In addition to fitting your 
office furniture in the room, you also need to consider what to 
take out of the room. A bed and television, for example, can 
offer distractions and certainly won't help enforce the feeling 
that you're at work rather than at home.


*4. S CORP ADVANTAGES

If you decide to incorporate your business, you may want to 
consider filing with the federal government as an S corporation 
(as opposed to the traditional C corporation). Having S corp 
status usually means that business owners don't have to file a 
separate income tax return for the corporation. However, S corps 
do have to file Form 11205 with the IRS showing how much money 
the business made or lost during the year. If there are other 
shareholders in the S corp, the form must show their shares of 
the company's profit or loss.


*5. DIRECT-MAIL INFO FROM THE POSTAL SERVICE

The United States Postal Service (USPS), in association with 
Braddock Communications, has developed a site to help you recruit 
new business through a direct-mail campaign. In addition to 
providing information on USPS regulations pertaining to direct 
mail, the site also gives you a good introduction to creating and
managing a campaign. You can find tips on developing copy and 
design, choosing a format for the package, and assembling and 
mailing the final version. The site also provides links to 
additional resources ranging from magazines and newsletters to 
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations on advertising 
through the mail. Check out the site at

http://www.usps.gov/vbc/admail/


*6. WEB PUBLICITY

If you use--or would like to use--a Web site to promote your 
business, check out The Sevloid Guide to Web Publicity at

http://www.sev.com.au/webzone/webpubli.htm

It offers tips on starting your site and attracting first-time
visitors, promoting your site through banner exchanges and other
strategies, and keeping your visitors coming back regularly.


*7. THE CABLE MODEM OPTION

If you're very lucky, you may live in an area that offers you 
one or more choices in higher speed Internet connections. One 
option, from your local cable television company, is to access 
the Web through a special modem that connects to the cable 
lines. The company will probably offer to sell you a cable modem
for about $250 or offer to rent one to you. Access fees will run
about $30 to $40 a month, sometimes more, depending on your 
provider. Cable connections will not tie up your phone line, and
you can get download speeds of up to 1.5 megabytes per second 
(Mbps). The downside: You'll need to use a special cable access 
provider, such as @Home, so your e-mail address will change. 
Plus, the cable connection essentially makes your PC part of a 
big network and, therefore, vulnerable to security problems.

In our next tip, we'll look at a competing technology from your 
phone company called DSL.


*8. DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER LINES

Yesterday, we discussed some of the advantages and disadvantages 
of connecting to the Internet through your local cable provider. 
Local phone companies are beginning to offer DSL (digital 
subscriber line) connections, which also offer download speeds 
of up to 1.5 megabytes per second (Mbps) without tying up your 
voice phone line. You might pay $30 a month and up for the 
service, in addition to paying your Internet Service Provider's 
monthly rates. But with DSL, you can keep your e-mail address 
as long as you keep the same ISP, and the DSL line is arguably 
more secure than cable access. Top speeds may be more attainable
on DSL lines, whereas with cable modems, you'll have to compete 
with others in your neighborhood for a share of the cable.


*9. TARGETED MAILING LIST SOURCES

Oxbridge Communications has developed MediaFinder, a resource 
for businesses seeking mailing lists of people who subscribe 
to fairly targeted periodicals and catalogs. You can also use 
the resource to find publications to which you'd like to 
subscribe or in which you'd like to advertise. Anyone can use 
the service to search for publications by subject--we found 91 
woodworking publications! Subscribers can also search by 
advertising or list-rental rates, circulation, printer, 
publisher, physical specifications, and more. A one-year 
subscription to MediaFinder costs $995; shorter terms are also 
available. For more information, visit

http://www.mediafinder.com


*10. "TRADITIONAL" BUSINESS CARDS

The usual specifications for business cards include a 
heavyweight, 80# card stock. A smooth finish is most common, but 
some people prefer linen or laid finishes. Although you can have 
them printed simply in black ink, choosing a second "spot" color 
can add eye appeal. You can, of course, opt for an additional 
spot color or even a full-color card, but costs increase quite a 
bit with these options. Most of the printer's cost is incurred 
in "setup," and it passes that cost on to you. That's why cards 
become substantially cheaper as you order larger quantities.
