Microsoft Excel Keyboard Shortcuts

Here are some great keyboard shortcuts to use in excel you can use to save some time.

• Ctrl + 2: Bold
• Ctrl + 3: Italic
• Ctrl + 4: Underline
• Ctrl + 5: Strikethrough
• Shift + Ctrl + F: Font dropdown list
• Ctrl + 9: Hide rows
• Ctrl + 0: Hide columns
• Ctrl + Shift + (: Unhide rows
• Ctrl + Shift +): Unhide columns
• Shift + Space: Select entire row
• Ctrl + Space: Select entire column

Developing Ideas and Design Concepts with Craig Smallish- Lynda.com

"Sketching design concepts is a natural way to develop creative ideas, but translating a rough sketch into a polished design can be a challenge even for the most seasoned designer. In Developing Ideas and Design Concepts, Craig Smallish explores ways to efficiently capture and iterate your design concepts—from brainstorming through refinement."

Welcome

Developing Ideas and Design Concepts | by Craig Smallish

Inserting Text on Multiple Lines within a Single Cell in Microsoft Excel 2010

If you are typing text into a cell and you want to have your line breaks in a specific place just press ALT+ENTER when you are ready and you will be typing on a new line but still within the same cell.  While you can also use text wrapping, this tip allows you to be very specific as to where you would like to wrap your text within a cell. 

5 Keys to Customer Loyalty

Great article about customer loyalty which is a result of customer satisfaction. Enjoy!

5 Keys to Customer Loyalty

Voting Options with Microsoft Outlook 2010

This is a great tool to use if you need to track answers from a large group of people.  When you open a new email or email that you would like to forward, click on the Options tab, look in the Tracking group, and click Use Voting Buttons.  Then select which voting options you would like to use, or click Custom to customize your voting responses.  You will not see actual buttons on your email, it will show on the top information bar in your email that you have added this option.  Also, it is important to note that this tool works best if recipients open your email within Outlook, as the option to vote will also appear in the information bar of the email.  To see all the answers that you have received, you will open the email that you originally sent with the voting buttons and click the Message tab and look in the Show group and click Tracking so that you can see your results, but know that you will not see this option until at least one person has voted.  

Manage Your Time- Lynda.com

"In this weekly series, Todd Dewett, PhD, shares the tips respected and motivated managers use to improve rapport, navigate tricky situations, build better relationships, and drive the business forward. Each week, we'll release two tips ranging from avoiding the dreaded micromanagement to managing a multigenerational workforce, cultivating better listening skills, and developing an understanding of your organization's politics. Check back every Wednesday for moreManagement Tips."

Hiding Rows and Columns in Microsoft Excel 2010

There are many reasons that we may need to hide different rows or columns especially for printing and distributing, but we also need to preserve the data that they contain.  It’s quite easy to do, just highlight the entire row(s) or column(s) that you would like to hide by clicking on the headings (1,2,3 or A,B,C). Now right click within the highlighted section and click Hide.  This will hide your selection until you Unhide it. To Unhide, look in the headings and place your cursor between the columns or rows that are hidden and right click, this time click Unhide.  

Social Media and Mobile Phone Usage Statistics

Here are some important statistics from a Constant Contact article about social media and mobile phone usage.

• According to a new report from eMarketer, 28 million Americans will use Twitter on their mobile phones at least monthly this year. That’s up 22 percent over 2012.
•  EMarketer also projected that nearly 100 million Americans will access Facebook via a mobile device at least monthly in 2013. That number is expected to increase 50 percent by 2017.
• Today, nearly all mobile social network users will use Facebook on their mobile device.
• 75 percent of smartphone owners are “highly likely” to delete emails they can’t read on their phone

A new Constant Contact survey, done in conjunction with  research firm Chadwick Martin Bailey, provides further evidence for why brands need to be thinking about mobile when designing their marketing emails.

Possibly the most revealing piece of data collected from a survey which included responses from 1,497 smartphone users, is that 75 percent of users say they are “highly likely” to delete an email that does not display well on mobile.

It should come as no surprise that 80 percent of participants also reported it is extremely important to be able to read emails on their mobile device.

The survey also provides a closer look at the role of mobile for different age groups:

• For respondents ages 18 to 30 years, 88 percent open email  on a mobile device, with more than half confirming their smartphone is their primary device for opening emails.
• For respondents ages 30 to 39, 85 percent open emails on their mobile device with nearly half – 48 percent – claiming their smartphone is their primary device for email.
• For respondents ages 40 to 49,  74 percent confirmed they read emails on their devices, but only 35 percent of this age demographic said that their smartphone was their primary device for reading emails.

Regardless of the size of your business, the industry you work in, or the audience you serve — mobile is already influencing your email marketing and will have an even greater influence in the years to come.

That’s good news for small businesses and organizations, says Jim Garretson, mobile product manager at Constant Contact.

“The fact of the matter is that consumers are opening emails on their phones first with increasing regularity,” Jim explains. “The great thing about mobile emails is that shorter content and fewer calls to action actually perform better than complicated and dense messaging. By simplifying email marketing campaigns, marketers can take an essential and effective step towards becoming mobile-friendly.”

Shortcut to Viewing Your Selection in Microsoft Excel 2010

When working in an excel spreadsheet it can be rather frustrating when you have made a selection of cells and then accidentally scroll away from your selection.  I have done this many of times by accidentally touching the track pad on my laptop, then trying to carefully scroll back without undoing my selection.  This shortcut will make that mistake much easier to recover.  Simply press CTRL+BACKSPACE and your selection will be back in view! 

Excel 2013: Charts in Depth with Dennis Taylor - Lynda.com

Charts allow you to communicate information visually, in a way that's more impactful than raw data, and they happen to be one of the most powerful and easy-to-use features in Microsoft Excel. Let Dennis Taylor show you how to create different kinds of Excel charts, from column, bar, and line charts to exploded pies, and decide which type works best for your data. Plus, learn how to fine-tune your chart's color and style; add titles, labels, and legends; insert shapes, pictures, and text boxes; and pull data from multiple sources.

Conversation Clean up in Microsoft Outlook 2010

When you have a long conversation going through email, you can right click on your email, click Clean up Conversation and then Ok.  This will delete any repetitive emails in your conversation that have been sent through replies.  Also, if you would prefer that the duplicate emails do not go into the trash, you can click on the File tab, then Options and scroll to Conversation Clean Up.  Here you can select a specific folder for these duplicate messages to go into until you are ready to delete them.

LinkedIn for Business- Lynda.com

Leverage LinkedIn to promote your business, foster community in your field, and attract talent. Learn how in this course with business strategist Richard Colback. Richard begins with a look at setting up a basic business profile and then walks you through promotion activities, group creation, and best practices for recruiting and hiring talent.

He also shares smart strategies you can employ to keep your company profile up to date and how to implement a LinkedIn use policy that works for you and your employees. The course wraps with a look at integrating with other platforms and accessing the application on the go.

Welcome

LinkedIn for Business | by Richard Colback

View this entire LinkedIn for Business course and more in the lynda.com library.

Translator in Microsoft Office2010

You can use the translator in Microsoft Word, Excel, OneNote, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Publisher. If it is just a couple words that you need translated into another language, just make a selection by highlighting, right click and then click translate. This will open up your research pane where you can select the language you would like to translate to.  Also, if you need a whole document translated you can click the Review Tab, in the Language group click Translate, and lastly select Translate Document.  Now a popup window will appear asking for permission to send your document as an HTML file over the internet to be translated.  Once you have selected OK your file will open up in your internet browser in the language you have selected.  As always with translation services, it is best to have someone who is fluent in that language look over the document to check for any translation errors.  

Up and Running with LinkedIn- Lynda.com

Join author Richard Colback as he shows you how to get started with the world's largest professional networking site, LinkedIn. The course demonstrates how to build a profile that will get the attention of employers, recruiters, fellow professionals, and potential clients. Richard walks you through creating an account, adding pertinent information such as skills and work experience, making connections and joining groups, accessing LinkedIn from apps, and monitoring your stats to continuously build a better profile. Along the way, learn to grow your personal brand and become a more visible community member by participating in group discussions, asking and answering questions, and engaging in other ways that add to your profile's integrity.

Welcome

Up and Running with LinkedIn | by Richard Colback

View this entire Up and Running with LinkedIn course and more in the lynda.com library.

Using Microsoft Word 2010 to Edit Photos

Many of us do not have photo-editing software on our computers, but have the occasional need to do some basic editing.  Well as I learned this week, when I found myself in this situation, you can use Word to help.  First insert the picture or pictures that you need to edit into a Word document, and edit your pictures to your liking.  Then right click on your edited picture and click copy.  Now open up your Paint program and Paste your picture, and finally click Save As.  Make sure to select JPEG in the drop down list labeled “Save Type as.”   Now you have a new picture with the edits you wanted!

App for a Traveler – Google Translate (iPhone & Android)

Both versions allow you to type or speak a phrase in English that Google Translate will then convert into any one of the 43 languages it works with. The Android version goes an extra step to give you a translation of a sign you aim your phone at.

Download Android App

Download iPhone App

Pointer Options in Microsoft PowerPoint 2010

Did you know that you can easily illustrate your PowerPoint presentations? When you are in presenting mode, if you right click and scroll down to Pointer Options you can change your pointer to a pen or highlighter to easily emphasize on a certain aspect of your presentation.

Google Calendar Essential Training with Jess Stratton - Lynda.com

"Manage your personal and professional schedules better with Google Calendar. This course shows you how to get started scheduling events, keeping track of your to-dos, and accessing it all on the go. Author Jess Stratton first shows you how to change the way the calendar looks and acts to make it better suit your needs, and then moves straight into creating single or repeating events, inviting guests, and adding rooms and resources to an event. Then learn how to respond to invitations and the ins and outs of pop-up reminders and email notifications. You'll learn how to create an additional calendar and share your calendar with others, as well as create a task list where you can assign tasks to others. The last chapter of this course covers Google Labs as well as accessing your Google Calendar on your phone or tablet."

Shortcut to Time/Date Stamp in Microsoft Excel 2010

Here is a quick short cut you can use to add a time and or date stamp into a cell in Excel.  For a Date Stamp, first select your cell and then press CTRL+; (Control Key and the Semi Colon key).  For the Time Stamp, once again select your cell and then press CTRL+ SHIFT+: (Control Key, Shift Key, and the Colon Key).

New Website for Author

One of the many benefits of a WordPress site is its ability to grow with your company, your budget and your needs.  Your Computer Lady built a two page site for author, Mary Simonsen.  Mary has written three books in her new Patrick Shea Mysteries series. All she needed right now was a small site and a blog.  But we have a plan in place for the future!  We can add a page for each book that will offer excerpts. We can add pages for new books. We can add additional social media connections.  Mary has already used the site for an Amazon promotion.

Check out these excellent books!

App for a Traveler – Pocket Guide (iPhone & Android)

There are hundreds of self guided tours for cities around the globe. The tours are free via a data connection or for a few dollars you can download the tour in advance.  It’s important when you travel to allow yourself time to visit the city. Smell the roses!  Often your host for the meeting will be willing to be your guide. If not, Pocket Guide will help you.

Click here to learn more about Pocket Guide

Using Spike in Microsoft Word 2010

Many of us have used the clipboard to copy and paste information.  There is also a very similar tool you can use called Spike. One of the differences with Spike is that you can Cut multiple sections of text without having to paste in between, and have no fear of losing data.  Then when you do paste what has been Spiked, it pastes in the order it was Spiked which makes it much easier to rearrange large sections of text.  So, now that you know why you would want to use Spike, here is how you can use it. To add text to Spike first highlight your text and then press CTRL+F3 (Control key and F3), and you can continue using this step until you have Spiked all your content in the new order you would like it to appear.  Then to Paste all your information and clear your Spike simultaneously, press CTRL+ SHIFT+F3 (Control key, Shift Key, and F3).  If you would like to paste your information without clearing Spike, so that you can paste it again, you can type the word Spike and then press F3 and your information will paste where ever your selection point is.

Having Difficult Conversations with Britt Andreatta- Lynda.com

"Leadership coach and lynda.com director of learning and development Britt Andreatta shares her tips and strategies for having difficult conversations. In her four-phase model, you'll discover the situations that lead up to difficult conversations, decide when the conversation is warranted, prepare for the interaction, and monitor outcomes to ensure success."

Auto Sum Short Cut in Microsoft Excel 2010

Auto Sum is one of the most used formulas in Excel, so it is nice that is has a short cut on the keyboard. Just press ALT + = and Excel will suggest the data to sum. Press enter if the selection is correct, if not simply highlight the correct cells and then press enter.

Revit Architecture 2014 Essential Training with: Paul F. Aubin- Lynda.com

Build your competency in Autodesk Revit from the ground up. In this course, Paul F. Aubin teaches you the core building information modeling (BIM) skills you need to complete solid architectural drawings in Revit 2014.

Automatic Borders in Microsoft Word 2010

Here is a great short cut to create Automatic borders that can be used at the top or bottom of a page or even as a section break.  There are several different options, but with each choice you will type the specified character 3 times and then Enter.  For a straight line use the Hyphen key (---), for a double straight line use the Equal Sign(===), for a bolded straight line use the Underscore (___), and lastly for a dotted line use the Asterisks symbol (***).  Now there is no need to even move your hands from the keyboard to enter a border.

Teens & Texting

According to Verizon, 63% of teen communication is still text messaging. Note that that said communication. As in phone calls, in-person conversations, emails, letters, grunts and smoke signals.  That is just plain scary.

Easily Remove Formatting in Microsoft Word 2010

While we can use paste specials to remove formatting when copying and pasting information from the internet to a word document, sometimes we just forget. Rather than starting over or spending tedious time reformatting, you can highlight your pasted text and press CTRL+SPACEBAR and it will remove all formatting, hyperlinks and reset to your default font.

Video SEO Basics with: Ian Lurie - Lynda.com

"How do you attract more traffic to your videos when Google can't search them? SEO expert Ian Lurie shows how to optimize your YouTube and other video listings for search engines and convert that traffic to achieve your business goals."

Always Start Right Where You Left Off in Microsoft Word 2010

As many of our documents can be a work in progress, it is nice to be able to open your document and go back to right where you left off. With this tip you can do exactly that every time.  Just press SHIFT+F5, and your cursor will move to where it was when your document was last saved.  So even if it has been a few days, you can open your document and be able to start right where you left off.

7 Social Media Trends that Will Dominate 2014

Read this article as you start planning your marketing efforts for 2014.

The Top 7 Social Media Marketing Trends That Will Dominate 2014

Inserting the Exact Data into Numerous Cells at the Same Time in Microsoft Excel 2010

Many of us have used the great auto fill features that Excel has to complete a list, but what about those few times when we need the exact same information in each cell?  Here is how you can do that without all the copy/ pasting.  First highlight all the cells you need to have the same text, and then just start typing the information you would like to have in all the cells (note: DO NOT try and click in a cell before typing this will just un-highlight all your cells.) When you have finished entering your information instead of hitting Enter, press CTRL+ ENTER and it will fill into all your highlighted cells.  This also works if you need the exact same formula in several locations of your spreadsheet.

Your Computer Lady Completes New Web Site - Mesa Market Place Swap Meet

A retail shopping mecca with 1600 merchants at high season, Mesa Market wanted a site to better display their upscale location and high end merchants. This is not your grandmother's swap meet.  We're talking screen doors, clothing, flooring, jewelry, binoculars, artwork and so much more.

Social media is a big part of the marketing plan. Your Computer Lady designed a page to pull together Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to strengthen each social media effort.

As a retail site, it is important to make critical information such as maps, hours, dates, special events front-and-center. The new site layout does this while keeping a clean, comfortable appearance.

Many entertainers are so popular that they have return engagements. Many events like the annual classic car show are annual.  The WordPress site allows Mesa Market to create an event page and re-use it year after year making simple updates.

Mesa Market Place Swap Meet web site.

Your Computer Lady Completes New Web Site - The Z Group

The Z Group is a site for a manufacturers' representative company.

• Lots of links to manufacturers' sites. They already have technical data on their sites so there is no need to re-invent the wheel.
• We used a lot of photos from the manufacturers. Good photography is an expense for a site. As a rep company, The Z Group has permission and is encouraged to use manufacturers' photos. Big cost savings!
• More technical data. Your website should be the repository for the technical data and information your clients ask for regularly:  a handing chart, industry standards, etc. Why email a piece of information 50 times a week when you could email a simple link to the data on your site? That's a great way to increase traffic on the site.
• Information your staff needs. You can store a tremendous amount of information on a website. You can have private pages that only staff have access to. Keep policies, forms and how-to documents accessible and consistent.

The Z Group web site.

Vimeo Essential Training with: Jason Osder- Lynda.com

Vimeo is the high-quality video hosting and sharing solution for independent filmmakers and artists. Discover how you can find a creative outlet and audience for your videos on Vimeo.

Short Cut For Reorganizing a List in Microsoft Word 2010

Many times, I will get a list typed up only to realize that the information in numbers 5 and 2 should be switched.  Well this tip will save you all the copy/pasting or retyping when we make those kind of mistakes.  Just click anywhere in the list item that you would like to move, and then hold down ALT+SHIFT and simultaneously use your arrow keys either up or down to move the item where you would like it to be in your list.  

Up and Running with Evernote for Windows with: David Rivers- Lynda.com

Harness the power of Evernote for Windows, a popular cloud note-taking and note-sharing tool. The course begins with a look at ways Evernote can help you note and track important items and then build and work with notes and collect notebooks for sharing.

Change Case Short Cut in Microsoft Word 2010

Have you every accidentally typed up your information in Word and accidentally left the Caps Lock on?  With this tip, you won’t have to retype your information.  Just select the text you need to have the case changed on and press SHIFT+ F3, and each time you press this combination it will toggle between the different case options.

Up and Running with Online Social Video with: Jason Osder- Lynda.com

"Millions of people use it every month to watch and share videos online, but YouTube isn't the only game in town. What are the strengths of YouTube compared to Vimeo and other platforms, and how do you get started with online video in the first place? Jason Osder answers these questions and more, as he explores the fundamental concepts of online video services and options that will impact your decision when choosing the service that is right for you."

Select Text Short Cuts in Microsoft Word 2010

Here is a quick short cut that you can use when selecting a paragraph without having to drag your mouse over the paragraph, which sometimes can prove to be difficult ending your selection exactly where you would like. Next time, just triple click anywhere inside your paragraph and the whole paragraph will be highlighted.  Also, if you just need a sentence highlighted, hold the CTRL key and single click anywhere in the sentence. 

Building an Integrated Online Marketing Plan with: Matt Bailey- Lynda.com

"Learn how to integrate all the moving parts of a successful marketing strategy—email, social media, search, and more—without diluting your message is a critical skill for businesses large and small."

Password Protect Documents in Microsoft Office 2010

There are many reasons to password protect documents, and fortunately Microsoft Office makes it very easy to do so.  While in the document you would like protected, click on the File tab and then click on Info in the list on the left hand side.  Under Permissions, click the button that says Protect Document, and in the drop down list click Encrypt with Password.  Now enter the password you would like to use.  Make sure and note the point of Caution Microsoft gives you when creating your password, there is no way to recover your password if you happen to forget it, so make sure and note your password in a safe place. 

Flickr Essential Training with: Derrick Story- Lynda.com

"Venture into an entire world of captivating imagery and learn how to organize and share your best shots with others online. In this course, professional photographer Derrick Story guides you through the popular photo-sharing site Flickr, first introducing the Flickr mobile app, then demonstrating how to set up an account and upload images from your phone or common image editing applications such as iPhoto and Lightroom."

Bookmarks in Microsoft Word 2010

Do you have a place in your document that you scroll to often? So much so, that you even know exactly what page it is on. Well, by using the Bookmark tool you can forget about remembering that page number anymore.  Simply place your cursor in the location you would like to bookmark.  Then click on the Insert tab, and in the Links group click on Bookmark.  In the pop up window type in a name for your bookmark, and then click Add.  Now, the next time you would like to go to that place in your document just follow these same steps, except when the pop up window opens select the bookmark you want to go to and click the Go To button.

Windows 8.1 Preview First Look with: Doug Winnie- Lynda.com

"Windows 8.1 is on the horizon. Learn what to look for in this new release of Windows, which offers a few small changes that amount to big news. Staff author Doug Winnie reviews the Start screen enhancements, with a return of the Start button and the ability to customize the organization of your apps; the new search functionality; and other features of this preview."

Repeat your Last Action in Microsoft Office 2010

This is a neat little shortcut when you need to repeat your last action and or command; just press F4.  It is a quick and easy way to quickly copy formatting and also many other actions in Microsoft Office.

Designing a Presentation with: Justin Seeley- Lynda.com

"Whether you're pitching an idea to the boss or delivering a speech at a conference, an engaging presentation will help you reach your audience and emphasize your message. Join lynda.com staff author Justin Seeley as he explains what goes into a great slideshow—one that aids, not detracts from, the story you want to tell—and shows you how to create your own."

Backup Your Customizations Made to the Ribbon in Microsoft Office 2010

If you work on multiple computers at your office, or if you would like to have the same customizations set up at your office as you do at home or visa versa, you are going to love this tip.  You can save your customizations and export them to a USB, so you can import them on another computer without having reset everything manually.  First, open your favorite Microsoft Office Program and click on the File tab.  Next, click Options and then Customize the Ribbon.  Now look toward the bottom right for the button that says Import/Export and click it.  In the drop down list click Export all Customizations, and then select the location you would like to save to.  Now on your other device follow these same steps except click Import Customization File this time instead.

You can use these same steps to back up your Quick Access Tool bar as well, just Click Quick Access Toolbar under Options.  Unfortunately though, whether you are saving settings from the Ribbon or Quick Access Toolbar you will have to save your settings separately for each Microsoft Office Program.  

How to Write Good Content

 PLEASE read this article!  The question I’m asked most often about websites and social media is “What do I write about?”  This article gives you a step-by-step guide!  Read it over. Give me a call about we can have an editorial content meeting to kick around ideas!  Then we’ll fill out your Marketing Calendar and you are good to go!

9 Steps to Creating Engaging Content

Dock to Desktop View in Microsoft OneNote 2010

The Dock to Desktop view makes this program much more practical and easy to use. When using this view, it changes your view from taking up your whole screen to a small column on the side of your screen.  You no longer have to switch back and forth between programs to add your notes!  Both windows can now all be open at the same time. To switch to this view, just click the Dock to Desktop View button in your Quick Access toolbar.

Building Creative Organizations with: Nancy Napier- Lynda.com

Have you wondered how you can be creative on short notice and sustain that spark throughout your organization? Creative principles like imagination, innovation, change, and play enhance a business's productivity, its marketability, and the bottom line.

Templates in Excel 2010

There are many different projects that I have done in Microsoft Word where I have used Templates to save myself some extra work.  But did you know you can do the same thing in Excel? The next time you open up Excel click on the File tab and then New, and in the second half of your screen check out all the different templates you can use in Excel to help save you some time.  There are templates to help save you time on business projects and personal ones alike.  Depending on the template, some even have formulas already inserted and just ready for data to calculate.

How to Put an End to All the Incessant Facebook Games Nonsense

Finally help for the noise on Facebook!

Text to Speech in Microsoft Word 2010

Here is a great tip I came across when reading this article “Proofreading by Listening: Text-to-Speech”, by Lynn Gaertner-Johnston. 

She talks about how there are many times when proofing our own writings we can fill in words we may have missed because we know they should be there, but with this tool in Microsoft Word you can have Word read back your document to you exactly as it is.  Here is how you can use this great proof reading tool.

1. First click on the File tab, and then Options in the list on the left of the screen
2. In the new pop up window click on Quick Access Tool Bar; once again in the list on the left of the window
3. In the drop down list under Choose Commands From select All Commands, and scroll all the way down to Speak and then click the Add button
4. Now in your Quick Access Tool Bar (Which is located above the ribbon) you will see a speech balloon with a little play symbol next to it, this is your Speech to Text Button
5. Lastly highlight the text you would like word to read, and then click the Speech to Text Button

Migrating from Windows 7 to Windows 8 with: David Rivers- Lynda.com

"Upgrade to Windows 8 quickly and securely. David Rivers takes a step-by-step approach to transferring files, saving settings, and determining the best data migration option for any system."

Easily Check Microsoft Excel 2010 Formulas

Many times with Excel Spreadsheets we are double and triple checking our data and formulas.  For me, sometimes it’s easier to get a visual picture when checking my formulas.  To do this, simply select the cell that contains your formula then press CTRL+ [ (open square bracket key). This will high light all the cells that are contained in that formula, so you can easily see them without having to scan through them using cell references.  You can also press the Enter key to scroll through all your referenced cells.

Mobile presents a huge opportunity for small businesses marketing

This is an article from Constant Contact blogs that talks about this great opportunity.

http://blogs.constantcontact.com/fresh-insights/mobile-marketing/

Skip to a Specific Page in Microsoft Word 2010

Many of us work with large documents on a regular basis, and many times we become so familiar with a document that we know exactly what page we want to go to. Here is a tip that will help save you time from scrolling all the way through to that specific page each time.  You can use the shortcut F5 to open up the Find/Replace/Go To window, and make sure you are clicked on the Go To tab.  Then just enter the page number you would like to go to and no more scrolling. 

Blog for your business- Lynda.com

"In social media, there’s a fine line between what's acceptable for individuals and what’s expected of businesses. In Blogging for Your Business, author Morten Rand-Hendriksen walks through the goals and strategic reasons for engaging your audience, and shows how to create a content strategy, determine the best location for your blog, and use it to foster meaningful conversations with your customers."

Blogging for Your Business | by Morten Rand-Hendriksen

Built in Thesaurus in Microsoft Word 2010

Did you know that Microsoft Word has a built in Thesaurus? This is a great tip to help you from repeatedly using the same word in a document, or if you just need a word that fits better with the same meaning.  It is super easy to use, just place your insertion point at any point in the word you would like to look up and right click.  Towards the bottom of the drop down list click on Synonyms and you will see a list of synonyms for your selection.

Instapaper App

This is an app that Harry McCracken talks about in Time Magazine, April 8, 2013. Ask the Expert.

“Instapaper (3.99 for iPhone, 2.99 for Android). When you come across something interesting to read on the Web but don’t have time to read it, use Instapaper to save it for later perusal.  The app strips out ads and other detritus and renders everything in crisp typography that makes even epic-length articles easy on the eyeballs.”

Remove Duplicate Cells in Microsoft Excel 2010

When compiling data from several different locations we are bound to end up with duplicate information.  Instead of scrolling through this data trying to find and delete the duplicate data, Excel now has a tool to help you do this with just a few simple clicks! First select all the data you would like Excel to check.  Then click the Data tab, and in the Data Tools group click Remove Duplicate Cells.  In the pop up window add a check box next to the column(s) that might contain duplicates. If your data has headers, make sure that box is checked and then click ok.  Lastly a pop up screen will appear telling you how many duplicates were removed.

Understanding How Your Emails Make it to the Inbox

“Every day, 14.5 billion spam messages are sent globally, and nobody wants those messages in their inbox. As an email marketer, the thought that your recipients might think your message is spam is even worse. Once you click "send," you're often left wondering whether or not your message ever arrived. In this 35-minute webinar, we’ll show you how to improve your email marketing results by discussing:”  This article and video are from Constant Contact Blogs.

Pinning Recent Documents in Microsoft Office 2010

There are certain documents that all of us use more than others, so wouldn't it be nice if there was a quick and easy way to get to those documents, and still have them nicely organized in their correct file? Here is how you can do that using the Microsoft Office Suite.  First, click on the File tab and then in the list on the left hand side click Recent.  This will show you a recent list of your opened documents, now to the right of each document there is a little push pin.  If you click the push pin, it will keep that document at the top of that list forever, or until you remove the push pin.  

Tripit Pro App

This is an app that Harry McCracken talks about in Time Magazine, April 8, 2013. Ask the Expert.

“Tripit Pro ($49 per year, iPhone, Android, Windows Phone, BlackBerry). As with Evernote, this travel-info organizer has a free version.  But frequently flyers will go gaga for the Pro edition’s instant alerts about flight delays and gate changes—and the feature notifying you when you are entitled to a post-purchase fare reduction might actually save you money.”

Keyboard Shortcuts for Microsoft Outlook 2010

We all use our basic keyboard shortcuts every day for things like copying and pasting, but did you know there are some great shortcuts that you can use for your everyday tasks in Outlook? Here are a few that you can use every day while using Outlook.

• Press CTRL+D to delete the current e-mail message
• Press CTRL+R to reply to the current e-mail message
• Press CTRL+F to forward the current e-mail message

Shoebox Report Tracker App

With Shoebox you can easily keep track of all your receipts from your last business trip.  Simply snap a picture using Shoebox and then you can add all the information you need to view later to submit expense reports or reimbursements.  With Shoebox you can add notes to your receipts to categorize them appropriately.  To learn more about this app click here.

Restart Page Numbering in Microsoft Office 2010

There are instances where you may want to restart your page numbering for different sections of a document.  And yes, you can do this without having to manually enter in all your page numbers. First insert your page numbers as you normally would by clicking Page Number under the Insert Tab.  Next, place your insertion point at the place in your document where you would like to restart your page numbering, and click on the Page Layout tab.  In the Page Setup group click Breaks, and under Section Breaks select Next Page.  Now without moving your insertion point, go back and click on Page Number again, but this time click Format Page Numbers.  In the pop up window select the option “Start At” under Page numbering and select the page number that you would like to start with at your new section.

Scanner Pro App

This is an app that Harry McCracken talks about in Time Magazine, April 8, 2013. Ask the Expert.

“Scanner Pro($6.99, iPhone). This program lets you snap pictures of printed documents with your phone’s camera then upload crisp, cleaned-up digital versions to cloud services like Dropbox.  I use it for every receipt I submit as part of an expense report, and it’s the least onerous part of that dreaded process.”

Using Jumplists with Microsoft Outlook 2010

Did you know that Outlook was incorporated to work with Windows 7 Jumplists? Sometimes when you open Outlook it takes it several minutes to load and do a send/receive of emails.  If you have a quick email you need to send or event to add to your calendar, you can use Jumplists without having to fully reopen Outlook.  When you right click on your Outlook Icon on your tool bar you will see a list of tasks pop up. Just select the task that you need, and now you can easily send an email, add a new appointment, meeting, or contact without having to fully open up Microsoft Outlook.

Mint App

Here is another great app you can use to keep track of your finances.  With your free account you can add all your bank accounts, credit cards, home loans and investments, to easily see all of your accounts in one place with one log in.  Mint uses bank level security so all your information is safe.  Mint also categorizes all of your spending so you can see where exactly you are spending all of your money. Click here to learn more about Mint.

Re-send an Email Message a Different Recipient in Outlook 2010

Sometimes we need to re send a message to different person.  Outlook has an easy way of doing this without the extra steps of copying and pasting information.  Just follow these easy steps.

• First go click on your Sent Items Folder, and then double click the message you would like to resend.
• Select the Message tab and in the Move group select Actions, and in the drop down box select Resend This Message.
• Now you have a new window open up with your original message in it. From here you can easily change your recipient, and edit your email before re-sending it.

Tweetbot App

This is an app that Harry McCracken talks about in Time Magazine, April 8, 2013. Ask the Expert.

“Tweetbot  ($2.99, iPhone). My go to Twitter app, Tweetbot is a better looking more potent alternative to Twitter’s official client.  Still a cinch to use, it’s got industrial strength options like the ability to temporarily mute a person’s tweets—handy if someone you follow for sports commentary suddenly starts blathering about politics or vise versa.”

Transpose a Table in Excel 2010

Many times when creating a table in excel and trying to decide the best way to present your data, it would be easier to transpose your table rather than recreating a second table.  Good news is that you can there is no need to do double the work.  Just select and copy the table you would like to transpose. Then select the place on your spreadsheet you would like your second table to appear. Next click on the Home tab, and in the Clipboard group select the drop down arrow underneath the Paste option and when you hoover over the 3rd icon on the 2nd row you will see it says Transpose. Once you click this icon you will see your transposed table.

Easy Envelope Budget Aide

 Did your parents ever sit down with some envelopes with you when you got your first allowance? Did they explain why you needed to separate your money into categories such as savings and spending?  In today’s world where everything is paid for with plastic and all our money is deposited at the bank, this system isn’t really practical anymore.  Easy Envelope Budget Aide is a way that you can still use the lessons your parents taught you about budgeting, but with using today’s technology.  With this app you can create a budget, and also note when money has been taken out so you know when to stop spending in a certain category.  With the free account, you can sync your account to a second user so you don’t have to worry about double spending.  With a paid account there are additional features like the ability to have more users and more envelopes/ categories.  Click Here to learn more about this app.

Delay the Delivery of Sent Email in Outlook 2010

There are times when you would like to purposely delay the sending of certain emails, but you don’t want to sit around at your computer to send it at that later time.  Simply get your message ready to send and in the message window select the Options tab, and in the More Options group select Delay Delivery.  In the new window that opens up, look in the section labeled Delivery Options.  Mark the box next to Do Not Deliver Before, and select the date and time you would like your email to be sent.  Now once you click send, your message will stay in your Outbox until the time you have designated.  It is important to remember that if you are using a POP3 or IMAP email account, Outlook has to stay open until your message is sent.

Evernote App

This is an app that Harry McCracken talks about in Time Magazine, April 8, 2013. Ask the Expert.

“Evernote Premium ($5 per month or $45 peryear, iPhone, Android, Windows Phone, BlackBerry). The basic, free version of this tool for collecting notes, images, audio recording and other bits and pieces of information is a gem.  It’s also a gateway drug for the paid upgreade, which caters to serious note takers; with features like the ability to upload massive quantities of high resolution photos.”

Using All Your Paste Options in Microsoft Office 2010

We all know how easy it is to copy and paste information from a documents, websites ect., but many times when we paste our information it does not have the formatting we would like.  An easy way to have a little more control of the formatting of the content you paste is to select the drop down arrow underneath the Paste option (Found in the Home tab in the Clipboard group).  When you hoover over the icons, you can see the different formatting options you have when pasting your content.  Also, when here you can choose to Set a Default Paste (only in Microsoft Word), this allows you to use your shortcut keys hassle free. 

Email Vs Social Media

"The thought is that, just as we've moved away from paper memos, we'll eventually move away from email because social media simulates a much more natural conversation. And media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn presently and frequently communicate with their audience using…wait for it…EMAIL!"

Click Here to read the rest of this article

Convert your PowerPoint Presentation to a Video

Many times we have these great power point presentations that can easily be used to promote your product and/or business, but are limited to showing these presentations in locations where PowerPoint is available.  Here is a tip to show you how to save your presentation as a video, so you can show your presentation anywhere you can play a video.  Simply open your presentation and click on the File tab, and then select Save and Send. Lastly, in the left hand column, select Create a Video and then select the specific options that you would like your video to have, click the Create Video button, and you can now save your newly created video.

Fantastical App

This is an app that Harry McCracken talks about in Time Magazine, April 8, 2013. Ask the Expert.

“Fantastical (4.99, iPhone).  An elegant replacement for the iPhone’s stock calendar app, Fantastical lets you type or speak items in plain English, like ‘Dinner with Marie at 7 p.m. on Friday’ Then it unerringly figures out what you meant and pencils in an appointment at the appropriate day and time.”

Specify a Certain Data type for your cells in Microsoft Excel 2010

A tool that is especially useful when multiple people are working on the same document and you want to make sure that the correct type of data is going into the correct cells. An easy way to do that is to highlight the cells you would like to designate for the same type of data.  Next, click on the Data tab and in the pop up window you can select what type of data you would like to allow in those cells.  

7 Tips for Making Other People Feel and Insightful

Sometimes I get so focused on getting the meeting started, getting tasks completed, being on time for the next appointment that I forget I am working with people. This article from Gretchen Rubin’s The Happiness Project website is a good reminder that I need to take time to make the people I work with feel important. Hmm. Maybe it would even be a good idea for friends and family!

 Click Here to Read the Article

Automatically Delete Your Trash in Outlook 2010

Here is a way that you don’t have to manually empty your Trash in Outlook.  First, click on the File Tab and then Options.  In the list on the left side of the Options window click Advanced.  Then in the section labeled Start and Exit click to add a check mark next to Empty Deleted Items Folder when Exiting Outlook. Now you never have to go back and empty your trash again.

Photoshop App

This is an app that Harry McCracken talks about in Time Magazine, April 8, 2013. Ask the Expert.

"Photoshop Touch($4.99, iPhone, Android).  The phone-size edition from the most famous name in image-editing software retains a startling percentage of the desktop version’s power.  You can crop, re size and retouch photos and apply fancy filters to make your pictures look like watercolor paintings or pencil sketches."

Add a Business Card to your Signature in Microsoft Outlook 2010

Here is a way to help an email signature be more professional and also make it very easy for others to insert your contact information into their address book.  The first thing you need to do is to add yourself as a contact to your contact list,  and make sure that all the information you want to show on your electronic business card is listed in your contact.  Note that you can also add a picture/ company logo to your contact as well.  Next go the File tab and click on Options.  Then in the Options window click Mail and in the Compose Messages section click on Signatures.  Now click New and give your Business Card signature an appropriate name, and in the tool bar underneath the Edit Signature section click Business Card and select your contact information.  Lastly, in the upper right corner make the appropriate selections in the drop down boxes as to which emails you would like your new business card signature to be applied to.

Hone your site's content- Lynda.com

On the web, content is king; it conveys your message, dictates the categories for your site’s navigation, and establishes your brand. InFoundations of UX: Content Strategy, Patrick Nichols demonstrates how to strategically assess your website’s content and audience, and build an online experience that efficiently reflects your unique brand and voice.

Automatically Close your Message after you Reply in Microsoft Outlook 2010

After you respond to an email what is the next thing that you do? Close the message right?  Here is neat trick that you can use to have Outlook automatically close your email so you don’t have to take that extra little step.  First click on the File tab, and then select Options.  In the Options window, click Mail and then scroll down to Replies and Forwards.  Then click the box to add a check mark next to Close original message window when replying or forwarding, and now you are done once you click Ok. 

App Prices

These are some interesting statistics that might contradict what you think about free apps vs. paid apps. 

Statistics are from Harry McCraken’s article “Some of the best things on smartphones aren’t free” found in Time Magazine, April 8, 2013