Here are 10 things to consider if you are thinking about using Office 2016 for Mac:

1. YOU NEED OS X 10.10 AND LOTS OF MEMORY

Office 2016 for Mac requires Mac OS X 10.10 or a later version. It also requires 6 gigabytes of hard disk space in the Mac OS Extended Format (HFS+).

To operate, Office 2016 for Mac needs 4 gigabytes of memory. This is four times more memory than Office 2011 for Mac requires.

2. YOU CAN GET IT AS PART OF A SUBSCRIPTION OR AS A STANDALONE PRODUCT

Office 2016 for Mac is available through Microsoft Office 365 subscriptions for consumers and businesses. It is also available through Microsoft’s Volume Licensing Service Center. Office 365 and volume-licensing users do not have to pay extra for Office 2016 for Mac, as they are paying for the software as part of their subscriptions.

If you do not want an Office 365 or volume-licensing subscription, you can buy Office 2016 for Mac separately. Microsoft offers a one-time-purchase version.

3. ONENOTE IS INCLUDED BUT NOT ACCESS OR PUBLISHER

Like its predecessor, Office 2016 for Mac includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. There is also a new addition to the suite: OneNote. You might already be familiar with OneNote. It has been available as a free download from the Mac App Store since March 2014. OneNote lets you enter text, add images, and even record audio clips in digital notebooks.

Office 2016 for Mac does not include Access or Publisher. Microsoft has not created Mac versions of these programs.

4. IT SUPPORTS MANY OS X TECHNOLOGIES

Office 2016 for Mac supports more OS X technologies than its 2011 counterpart. One noteworthy improvement is that you can use OS X Multi-Touch gestures in all the productivity suite’s programs. For example, you can pinch to zoom in on a specific part of a Word file or Excel spreadsheet.

The productivity suite also fully supports the Retina display screens found in many Apple products. Its Retina-optimized graphics provide high-definition images and text to users running the suite on a Mac with Retina display.

5. IT LOOKS AND FEELS A LOT LIKE OFFICE FOR WINDOWS

Office 2016 for Mac looks and feels a lot like Office for Windows, thanks in large part to the redesigned ribbons at the top of the programs. Gone are the hybrid gray ribbons that integrated elements from both the Mac and Windows worlds. The redesigned ribbons sport a streamlined look and each program’s traditional colors (e.g., blue for Word, green for Excel).

Making the Mac version look and feel like the Windows version did produce some critics. Some Mac users are unhappy with the loss of Mac’s distinctiveness. They are concerned there will be a steeper learning curve for Mac users new to the productivity suite. However, it will help users who need to work with Office on both the Mac and Windows platforms.

6. RIBBONS FEATURE NEW TABS

Ribbons provide an easy way to access programs’ commands and tools, which are grouped into tabs. Office 2016 for Mac includes some new tabs in its programs’ ribbons. For example, Microsoft added the Mailings tab to Word for Mac. Although the Windows version of Word has had this tab for a long time, it was not present in past Mac versions.

Microsoft also added a new Design tab to both the Mac and Windows versions of Word. It contains the graphics and formatting tools previously found in the Home tab.

7. COLLABORATION IS EASIER

Some new features in Office 2016 for Mac make collaborating with colleagues, friends, and family easier. For instance, with the co-authoring feature, you and several colleagues can work on the same document or presentation at the same time. Threaded comments can help you keep track of the feedback in that document or presentation. When you need to set up a meeting with your colleagues, Outlook for Mac lets you see their calendars side-by-side, making the scheduling process quicker.

8. MOST BUT NOT ALL FEATURES ARE COMPARABLE

Most of the features in Office 2016 for Mac are comparable to those in the Windows counterpart. There are exceptions, though. One notable exception is that you cannot import PDF files and create editable documents from their contents.

A few features have disappeared in Office 2016 for Mac. For instance, you can no longer rearrange the tab order in ribbons or save a PowerPoint presentation as a movie.

9. SPAMSIEVE DOES NOT WORK WITH OUTLOOK 2016 FOR MAC

SpamSieve is popular client-side spam filter among Mac users. This third-party software will not work in Outlook 2016 for Mac. Microsoft dropped the ability to run AppleScript scripts in Outlook 2016. SpamSieve relies on this type of script to catch and handle spam.

10. YOU CAN EXPECT LARGE UPDATES

Microsoft published an update for Office 2016 for Mac about three weeks after its release. This update mainly fixes bugs and improves features. More updates are likely. This is something to consider if you have a slow Internet connection. The updates are very large in size. They are basically full re-installations of each program in the suite.

Using Microsoft Auto Update for Mac is the easiest way to update the productivity suite, as it automatically updates the programs. Another option is to download the updates for each program manually. Each program has its own updater, though. This means you will need to download five updaters before you update the suite the first time.

Here are five reasons why you should invest in a CRM system:

1. PROVIDE BETTER CUSTOMER SERVICE

CRM systems let staff members quickly and efficiently access information. This ability to easily find a customer’s details means that your company can provide a higher level of customer service. With a CRM system, your customers will never end up in a situation in which they explain their details to one customer service representative only to have to go through them again when a different customer service representative answers the phone the second time they call in.

2. GET A BIRD’S-EYE VIEW OF YOUR AUDIENCE

Sometimes it can be difficult to take a step back and look at the big picture. Thankfully, this is not a problem if you use a CRM system. You will be able to view the details of all your customers as a group. You can then divide them into different subsets based on characteristics such as location and purchase histories.

By analyzing your audience like this, you can identify business trends. You can then use this information to find new customers and keep existing ones.

3. CREATE EFFECTIVE MARKETING CAMPAIGNS

Some CRM systems let you develop, test, deploy, and measure the results of marketing campaigns. The results can help you determine which marketing campaigns are the most effective. For instance, you might discover that your email campaigns are more successful than your direct mail ones. In light of this information, you might decide to invest more in email marketing in the future.

4. TRACK IMPORTANT FINANCIAL METRICS

Some CRM systems integrate with companies’ financial software. This integration lets you keep track of revenue and operating costs as they relate to sales and performance metrics.

5. PROVIDE AUTOMATED TOOLS TO HELP STAFF MEMBERS DO THEIR JOBS

Many CRM systems include automated tools that can help keep your staff members at the top of their game. These tools can be as simple as an automatic alert feature that reminds sales representatives to reach out to a prospective customer after a month or two.

There are also more sophisticated automated tools. Some CRM systems have tools that automatically send marketing materials to potential customers through email or social media sites. There are even tools to automatically track all communication between sales representatives and customers.

Sophisticated CRM systems may require an experienced professional to configure them correctly. Talk to your IT provider for guidance.

Cookies are used throughout the Internet because they let websites communicate with their visitors in a more personal way. For example, suppose you buy shoes from an online retailer. The retailer’s web server will assign an identification (ID) number to you. Besides storing this ID number in a database, the web server will send it to you in a cookie.

The next time you visit the online retailer’s website, your web browser will send this cookie back to the retailer’s web server. The web server will then personalize the page that it displays for you. In this case, it might showcase shoes that are similar to the pair you bought last time. This personalization means that online advertisers do not have to run the same ads over and over again. It also means you can save your preferences when visiting a particular website.

WEB TRACKING

While many organizations use cookies in a positive way, some companies are harnessing them for more shady purposes. In November 2014, The Washington Post reported on how telecommunication giants AT&T and Verizon were using so-called supercookies to track their customers’ web activity, even when they were using their browsers’ privacy mode. Unlike their normal counterparts, supercookies cannot be deleted. Consumers and privacy advocates condemned AT&T and Verizon for using supercookies. The companies were eventually pressured into allowing customers to opt out of their use.

Facebook also allegedly uses cookies for monitoring users’ browsing habits. The Belgian Privacy Commission published a report in February 2015 that claimed Facebook was tracking European users’ web activity, even when they chose not to sign up for the tracking option. According to the report, the social network was even tracking people who did not have accounts and users who had already logged off of the site. A Facebook spokesperson said that the report contained factual inaccuracies.

HOW CYBERCRIMINALS USE COOKIES

Cookies themselves are harmless. However, cybercriminals can use them to impersonate you online and thereby gain access to your accounts. By hiding code in stolen cookies, cybercriminals can also spread malware and manipulate you into visiting malicious websites.

Cybercriminals can also use cookies to make websites look unavailable to web browsers. As mentioned previously, when you return to a given website, your web browser will send a cookie back to its web server. A cybercriminal can alter this cookie so that the web server receives hundreds of cookies instead of just one. When the amount of cookie data exceeds what is allowed in the connection setup, the server closes the connection. You will not be able to visit the website until you delete your cookies.

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF

If you are uncomfortable with the idea of using cookies, you can turn off this setting in your web browser. If you do not mind cookies being used, it is still a good idea to delete your browser’s cookies every now and then. This makes it harder for companies to track your web activity.

There are other security measures you should take to keep yourself safe while browsing the Internet. You should be using up-to-date firewall, anti-virus, and anti-malware applications. These programs can block attacks that use cookies.

In addition, before you enter private information on a website, you should make sure the link is secure. To do so, look for a padlock icon somewhere in the browser window frame. When you click the padlock icon, you should see details about the site’s security, including information about cookies. You should also make sure the web address begins with “https”. Websites beginning with “https” use encryption to secure web connections. For more advice about using the Internet safely, talk to your IT service provider.

Social Media Uses in Business

Customer service : Companies like Dell (@DellCares), Samsung (@SamsungSupport), and BlackBerry (@BlackBerryHelp) are using Twitter and other social media platforms to provide quick, personalized, and low-cost customer support to their users. Feedback on products and services : Social media can serve as a focus group of your target users when you ask questions about a recent product release on Facebook, for example. Or, you could ask your customers what features they would like to see included in the next iteration of your product. Staying top-of-mind with clients : Social media makes keeping up with all your clients and prospects much easier. When clients follow you on Facebook or Twitter, you have added opportunities to keep in touch so they will think of you the next time an IT need arises. Knowledge leader positioning : You can provide clients with useful information that will remind them of why they do business with you. For example, providing helpful articles about your industry on LinkedIn can position you as a trusted resource.

Social Media Networks You Should Consider

Facebook : Small businesses love Facebook because virtually everyone is there, users tend to speak up when they have a question or comment, and the network provides a rich community for sharing via text, photos, and more. LinkedIn : Since your clients are prospects are likely to be on LinkedIn as well, you might consider creating a company profile there, too. It’s a great place to recruit talent, to network, and to find discussions to join surrounding your industry. Twitter : Twitter remains a viable content sharing platform, not to mention a place to network with industry peers (and to provide customer service, as mentioned above). YouTube : IT companies can offer how-to videos on YouTube to help clients use their products and services more effectively. Google+ : While Google+ is a strong social network in its own right, you probably won’t find the robust community that awaits you on places like Facebook and Twitter. However, many IT businesses are using Google+ to collaborate in and out of the office. Hangouts provide an excellent virtual meeting space for employees who work remotely. Pinterest : If your IT company sells visually-oriented products and services, you might consider Pinterest, too. For example, a web design company could create endless Pinterest boards on what makes a good website. The key to selecting which social networks to join is to start small – in fact, you’d be wise to start with one, and then branch out from there if you wish. Don’t try to do too much too soon, and remember that nurturing an active community on one social network is much better than trying to juggle too many if you don’t have the resources.

Read More:
Integrating Social Media into Your IT Business