Tips

How 1Password Solves Your Login Woes Last week, I blogged about the worst passwords of 2014 and how they made the NeuConcept staff want to both laugh and cry at the same time. Although I had a good geeky chuckle at what passes for login security with certain users, I also understand why they’re tempted to…

Were these users too busy, lazy, forgetful or just looking for a good laugh? We’ve all been there: you’ve got a million things to do at work, school or home and just need to quickly access that one email, bank transaction, school assignment or work project. And…you can’t remember your password. After some creative self-help…

RSS Trauma When Google Reader shut down last July, millions of RSS feed reading folks were left in the lurch. My husband, Brett, the tech genius of our household and this company, meticulously researched solutions as spends much of his free time reading feeds. (Most evenings, I inquire if he has “finished the Internet yet” which…

How to fix the printing a single check in Quickbooks for Mac This is for all the Quickbooks for Mac users out there who have encountered yet another Quickbooks FAIL! It appears that printing a single check has been malfunctioning for quite some time in Quickbooks for Mac. I searched the web and user forums,…

Being such a fan of UI and usability, I tend to always look for something better. Email is something we all I’m sure do quite a bit of. In my quest for nirvana, I came across a tool that says it works with email. I find that somewhat false, as it only works with gmail…

I’m so pleased when others help to outline the most important tips to access fast, quality searches. Shoemoney.com recently outlined some quick ways to use Google search more effectively. OR word or “|” character  – enables you to search for variants Tilde (~) character – uses synonyms.  So like lets say your looking for a…

PBS Off Book created a mini documentary on logo design, and although it’s impossible to capture the essence of the history, purpose, style, and process of creating logos in six minutes, it’s fun to at least get a glimpse. My top take-away: Design with the brand’s personality in mind. This “mask” will represent your brand…

I’m excited to announce a new 4-part podcast series that I moderated is being introduced on IDEA’s website and through NEMAcast. I’ve had the good fortune to interview and interact with several E-Biz leaders in the electrical industry for this podcast (an article was also published in NEMA’s ei Magazine). The companies I spoke with,…

After I wrote my review on Quickbooks, my husband shared a humorous instant message conversation he had with Quickbooks customer service. We can’t win, so we might as well laugh! For your reading entertainment, here’s the recent “circular” conversation that my husband had with Quickbooks customer service regarding an upgrade for the 2009 version. Very…

A big part of running a small business is managing accounting. For those of us who are creative types, this can be a bit of a challenge. Most companies, however, buy accounting software like Quickbooks, MYOB, Peachtree, or one of the new online services like Freshbooks. When I started this company, my husband and I…

With all the brouhaha recently about the Facebook user agreement, many started thinking about their privacy and their information on social networking sites. Thanks to Twitter, I came across this excellent summary on “10 Privacy Settings Every Facebook User Should Know” on AllFacebook.com.  I thought it was very helpful, and since I’ve recommended it to…

I read a very good article in Maximum Impact’s newsletter, called “7 Reasons Why Speakers Flop.” For years, I have worked with CEOs on speaking at conferences, and these are all things I worked to get across to each of them each year. As I read this article, I wanted to stand up and yell,…

I had so much to say on the topic of great writing, that I had to break it into multiple posts! Here’s a few more tips to follow to improve your writing process: Read out loud. After writing, speak what you write. This unveils awkward phrasing, gaps in the structure, and areas that need revision.…

Want to look smart? Learn how to write clearly and concisely! Writing has never been more important as we all spend hours every week writing emails. Although this list applies to nearly all business and promotional writing, I wouldn’t suggest applying it to essays and creative writing. This is, however, a great checklist the next…

In my previous two jobs, I have produced over 60 promotional videos, so I have a few tips to offer on how to create a great video. I’ve done it on the cheap and with a big budget. And, since I only had one video class in college, I learned from experience…and from my incredibly…

I love press releases. They are one of the most clear, concise and non-manipulative ways to communicate important information. And, if written correctly, news releases offer facts and invite participation in a tantalizing way that makes everyone want to read them. I’ve found they are welcome addition to any direct marketing program; why save the…

I recently attended an informative (and fun) luncheon put on by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) St. Louis Chapter. The topic was research and the speaker was Steve Bast of Nucleus Marketing Lab. Since we’re all needing to prove our worth these days, research is becoming more important in every field. Steve customized…

Today, I had the pleasure of participating on a panel about careers in communications at St. Charles Community College. It was fun! It was put together by the SCC Speech and Communications Department, which includes Darren Osburn, associate professor, who I knew from our days together at Culver-Stockton College. The other panel organizers were: Curt…