Excel Basics

I have moved all my blogs to my new website:  https://helpfulofficetips.com/2017/10/27/excel-basics/  From now on, all updates will be at the new site, and all links will take you directly to that site.  Please check it out!

I am a guest blogger on Noobie.com.  They asked me to create some new-to-Excel posts for beginners.  Just click the links below to go right to those lessons:

Excel Spreadsheet Basics Everyone Should Know:  a tour of Excel, discussion of the cursors, and how to move around

Formatting Cells in Excel For a Better Understanding of Information:  basic formatting

Excel Dates | How to Format Dates in Excel:  use Excel's formatting shortcuts and more advanced formatting features to make your dates just the way you want them.

Excel Formulas and Dollar Format:  create a simple spreadsheet multiplying quantity and price to get the cost, plus adding up the sales

Excel Tables | How To Format Excel Tables with Total Sort and Filter:  format information as a table so you can sort and filter

How To Create Charts and Graphs in Excel:  make your numbers visual with a chart or graph

MS Word: Introduction Lessons

I have moved all my blogs to my new website:  https://helpfulofficetips.com/2017/09/08/ms-word-introduction-lessons/   From now on, all updates will be at the new site, and all links will take you directly to that site.  Please check it out!

I teach an Introduction to MS Windows class for a community education program.  Noobie.com asked me to type up those lessons for their blog site.  You may find some of them helpful, so here are the links:

• Lesson 1:  Beginning a Word Document and Formatting
• Lesson 2:  Word Document to PDF, Inserting a Date, Alignment, and Saving
• Lesson 3:  Cut, Copy, Paste and Format Painter
• Lesson 4:  File Tab Pushpins, Browse, and Envelopes

Windows: Some Beginner Lessons

I have moved all my blogs to my new website:  https://helpfulofficetips.com/2017/07/06/windows-some-beginner-lessons/  From now on, all updates will be at the new site, and all links will take you directly to that site.  Please check it out!

I am a guest-writer on a website that teaches tech, and I designed a few lessons for brand new Windows computer users.  For novices, I'd recommend reviewing them in order for the best learning experience.  If you have some basic knowledge of Windows, pick and choose.

• Windows 10 Basics:  Boot Up, Restart, Sleep, and Shut Down
• Windows Taskbar
• Learning to Save a Document in Notepad
• Windows File Explorer:  Search, Create Folders, Move and Rename Files
• Windows PC Memory:  This PC, Adjust Windows, File Extensions
• Windows:  USB Drives, Phone, Camera and Memory Cards

Voice Mail for the Small Business Owner

I have moved all my blogs to my new website:  https://helpfulofficetips.com/2017/01/07/voice-mail-for-the-small-business-owner/  From now on, all updates will be at the new site, and all links will take you directly to that site.  Please check it out!

Do you have one phone for business and one phone for personal calls?  If not, your voice mail for your phone should be professional.

What are the parts of an excellent voice mail message?

Call a few similar businesses after hours and listen to their messages.  What do you like and what don’t you like?  What makes you feel like your call really is important?

Does it answer the basic questions:

• Who?
• What?
• When?
• Where?
• How?

Before recording any message, practice in front of mirror and smile the entire time!  This practice will also help in your daily interactions with clients.

Who?  State your name and/or the name of your business.

What?  Think of your missions statement or elevator pitch.  State what you do in one sentence.

When?  State your hours.  If you do not have regular hours, such as “Monday through Friday, 8 to 5,” think of the simplest way to state your hours so someone can understand.  Practice this with a friend or ask for help.

Where?  State your address and cross-streets if applicable… or say “We come to you!”

How?  What is the best way for the customer to reach you for an appointment or questions?  Email, website, leave a message.  You may wish to state how quickly they may expect to hear from you:  24 hours, the next business day, etc.

Many cell phone companies allow a caller to press a key, like “*” to skip the message.  Please check with your provider, and ask if this is possible.  If so, add the instructions to the end of your message, such as “To skip this message in the future, please press ‘star’.”

Clear and concise is the key!