Starting your own business
Seeing as we're going through a name change ourselves (from Claygate Computers to TipTop Computers - click here to find out why) I thought I might be able to give you a few tips about setting up your own business.
Domain Name, Website Hosting & Email
When you choose the name of your business, it can be worth looking up and registering the domain name (eg. www.tiptopcomputers.co.uk) to check if it is available. You can do so through numerous websites, eg. www.fasthosts.co.uk.Once you've registered your domain name you can set up hosting (this is where your website is uploaded to once it's built).Next you can set up email accounts with your domain name after them (eg. rbanks@tiptopcomputers.co.uk) which look more professional than @aol.com, @hotmail.com and the like. You might want to consider an Exchange email account (about £6 per month) which syncs your emails across multiple computers and smartphones (including the latest iPhone). Very useful if you're on the move.
Search Engine Listings
Once your website is up and running, you probably want it to appear under search engine listings, eg. Google. You can help your website get higher up in the natural listings in a number of ways, including putting your keywords frequently throughout your website. Google will then pick up these words and will display your website in its search results. You should also include keywords and a website description in the the website's meta tags (the coding behind the website).
Pay-per-click Advertising
You could try out pay-per-click advertising, such as Google's AdWords. You enter the keywords you wish to appear under and then you bid for position on Google's sponsored listings. The more people bidding for the same keywords, the more you'll pay to come up in the top positions.
Hardware & Software
Now that your online activity is under way, it's time for your computers. If you're starting up on your own, you'll probably just need one PC or laptop. Consider spending a little extra to get a more powerful computer as your time will be precious and you'll benefit from the extra speed in the long run. A fast processor and lots of memory (RAM) is preferable. If you think you'll be using your laptop on your lap for any length of time then I would recommend that you purchase a lap protector such as the Belkin Notebook Cushtop Case. Laptops can become very hot underneath which can cause health issues, especially for men (see this BBC story).
Most users will need an office suite such as Microsoft Office (compare the different suites here), but remember that Open Office is a free alternative and includes all the features that most users will require (we use it ourselves!). If you require Microsoft Outlook, this can be purchased separately, or comes included with Fasthosts if you purchase an Exchange email account (see earlier). Open Office will open Microsoft Office files, and can be set to save files in Microsoft Office format (so they can be opened by anyone with Microsoft Office).
Antivirus software is another necessity. We recommend Kaspersky or McAfee for business use. Also consider how you will keep track of your accounting. Sage and Quickbooks are probably the most well-known, but also consider Microsoft Accounting, as the Express version is free and integrates with other MS Office programs.
Backup
Everyone should have a backup in place, and businesses especially are living very dangerously if they don't have an up-to-date backup ready at a moment's notice. You can use an external backup drive and/or backup online (eg. www.carbonite.com).
Server
If you're a larger business you might wish to have a server to enable multiple user access with varied access rights, remote access, real-time mirror backups, and central storage.
Want more advice?
Working out which setup is right for you can be a frustrating and daunting task if you are unaware of your options, the benefits and the pitfalls. Every new business has varying IT requirements and can end up in a terrible mess without some technical advice. If you would like for us to come and advise on what set up is right for your business please feel free to contact us on 01372 46 4321 to book an appointment at your location.
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