Author Archive: Lisa Hendrickson

Lisa Hendrickson is the owner of Call That Girl. She is an Outlook Expert and Microsoft 365 Consultant.

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Is Microsoft Office 365 Right For Your Small Business

| January 19, 2015

office365Good question, isnt it? Years ago when I started getting involved with Office 365, it was the perfect solution for many small businesses, but in the past year…it has changed so much that now I question it when I do consultations with my clients. Not all clients need the full on “Office 365 Experience” and only need what they need…some of the products.

 

I’ll start with a simple explanation of the 5/6 products (I say 5/6 because Microsoft puts SharePoint and OneDrive in one category) There are 5 products sold under Office 365 for Business, I’ll explain (real name is in parenthesis)

  1. Full, installed Office applications (Office 2013)
  2. File storage and sharing (SharePoint and OneDrive) with 1 TB storage/user 
  3. Business class email, calendar, and contacts with a 50 GB inbox (Exchange)
  4. Unlimited online meetings, IM and HD video conferencing. (Lync)
  5. Corporate social network  (Yammer)

Here is the problem with techs like myself selling full Office 365 for Business to my clients and this is all based upon my past experiences.

  • There are way too many packages to sort through and figure out which one is best, which one will help you be efficient and save money.
  • Many people already have Office 2013 (Do you? If so, then buying Office 365 with Office included would be a waste of money)
  • If they have Office 2010 they don’t really need to upgrade unless they want to. If a client has Office 2010, I see no reason to spend the money on an upgrade.
  • Many small businesses already have a file sharing program (most use Dropbox)
  • Setting up and configuring SharePoint and OneDrive has become a technical synchronizing nightmare if you want it to work on the desktop, browser based is fine, but my clients don’t want browser based. (can’t attach a document if it’s browser based).
  • The whole “Office 365 Experience” is not working for all small businesses (from what I hear from my clients, their stories in the past and from other techs)
  • Email, calendar and contact synchronizing with multiple computers, devices and smartphones and team sharing is the most popular product “Business class email or “Exchange” (This is my best seller)
  • Most already have a chat module in place if they use it (Google hangout chat)
  • Only one of my clients has requested Yammer help

Here is what I help clients with now. Usually when they call in, I do my interview based upon a few factors. Please keep in mind that my target market is under 20 employees.

  • What Office version they are using now
  • If they need Exchange
  • Do they need file sharing
  • What is their backup solution

Then I build a solutions plan based off their answers. There are many companies like Call That Girl that do offer and support the full on Office 365 for Business “Experience”, many of those companies are also a managed service business and have retainers, monthly fee’s and other additional support options. Some of these companies also have their own inhouse programs that match very closely to Office 365.

Call That Girl is a break/fix company and we help on demand (by appointment too).

I hope this blog helps you understand if Office 365 for Business or just one product (Exchange, the product I do most support for) is right for you!

If you want to discuss what is best for your company, or would like a general consultation, please fill out the form below and schedule time with my online scheduler. Thanks!

Best Outlook Express dbx repair tool

| January 7, 2015

outlook express best repair tool dbxAs a Microsoft Outlook and email expert, I get many calls in from clients in email crisis. Yesterday, I had a client call in and low and behold…he compacted all his Outlook express files, found them in the recycle bin and some were too damaged to open. After I downloaded a few tools to try to repair the dbx files, I found this GEM. Works GREAT!!!!

http://www.recoveryfix.com/buy-outlook-express-recovery.html

Cost: $29

Quick install If you decide to buy, you have to reinstall the full version, the eval free download doesn’t work after you buy it. Fairly simple to run once installed.

If you need my help, feel free to call 612-865-4475

Computer Repair and Support Business Tools

| January 5, 2015

 

The Remote Support Guide Offers 

  • A step by step guide to setting up your business to have a successful remote support business
  • Tips and information on how to service your clients remotely
  • How to increase your daily sales with new services, prepay tickets and daily monitoring plans
  • Includes templates for email booking appointments, client & project agreement forms, terms and conditions, small business proposal, pricing guidelines and scheduling appointment forms.

The Manual of Operations Offers 

  • 40 page document
  • Delivered as a Microsoft Word Template, easy for “cut and pasting” your business name into the document
  • Standard operating procedures
  • Employee conditions for employment
  • Job descriptions
  • Human Resources policies
  • Much more…

The Social Media Guide Offers 

  • 29 page workbook style
  • Great tips and tricks that I learned the hard way
  • Easy to understand steps on how to push out social media messages
  • Newsletters, blogging and WordPress information
  • Toolkit information you will need and other things you will need to use social media
  • A social media to do list
  • How to do a social media blast

The Guide to Microsoft Exchange Migrations Offers 

  • 22 page PDF
  • Step by step instructions on how to do a migration without tools with screenshots
  • Learning how to back up current mailboxes, calendars and contacts
  • Learn how to update the DNS for migration
  • Importing mail/calendars and contacts into new server
  • Aftercare lists
  • How to sell administrative support tickets

How to Start a Computer Repair Business Offers 

  • 48 page PDF
  • Conversational Style Guide
  • Tips on Starting a Computer Repair Business
  • Deciding on What Type of Computer Repair Business you want to Start
  • What You Need To Start Your Computer Repair Business
  • Business and Legal Information for Computer Repair Businesses
  • Products and Services Your Computer Repair Business Can Sell
  • Tools You Need to Start Your Computer Repair Business
  • Guide to Pricing Your Computer Repair Business Services
  • Resources for Computer Repair and Support Businesses
  • Tips on Growing your Computer Repair Business
  • How to Start a Remote Support Business
  • Do You Need Certifications to Start a Computer Repair Business?
  • Free Marketing Advice for Computer Repair Businesses

 

Outlook Troubleshooting Videos for Technicians $199

Created just for technicians! Outlook is a program that contains a lot of data, lots of moving parts and offers 100’s of features which are all guaranteed to break at some point. As well, it’s the program most used with the Office 365 Business Plans. These videos will train you how to properly prepare, repair and learn Outlook in a 360 view.

What you get

  • 7 videos

  • 4 hours of intense training ~each made in short videos so you can stop & practice

  • Access to Lisa’s private Facebook group

SOLVED Outlook 2013 is stuck at the loading profile screen

| January 2, 2015

Outlook 2013 is stuck at the loading profile screenI had a client last week call in for some Outlook issues. I fixed those but in the troubleshooting phase, we decided to upgrade him to Outlook 2013. Mostly because he had a lot of mail, many email accounts and just felt the upgrade would help. Well, it did…but then his Outlook would not open, it got stuck  at the loading profile screen. It would not work in safe mode, or when I was remoted in. Very strange issue! So I did the basics of troubleshooting Outlook

  • Disabled all add-in’s
  • Turned off trend antivirus
  • Add Outlook to the firewall
  • Disabled start ups on computer
  • Removed reminders
  • Turned off graphics acceleration
  • Rebooted twice

still hung at loading profile…

Then I got to thinking, he said if I was connected to him remotely, it worked ok. I wondered why that was and then it dawned on me that when I remote into a computer, I disable graphics. I remoted in fresh and left the graphics enabled, and it got stuck at loading. Bingo! It’s a graphics issue! We installed the Nvidia Experience and it worked great after that.

Office365 Podcast

iPhone iCloud Outlook Expert

| December 12, 2014

iCloud iPhone

With technology offering us so many ways to synchronize… iCloud, iPhone, and Microsoft Outlook is a great easy solution, but often times clients don’t set it up right. Don’t worry you are not alone! I am an Outlook expert and have learned that many of my clients have many problems, but usually easily fixed with the right knowledgeable person. You need someone that knows how to set it up right the first time!

Sometimes going to the Apple store, doesn’t help. Those sales people don’t know Outlook very well, and it can be frustrating.

Calling Microsoft, can be even more frustrating.

Their first level techs usually don’t know all three technologies well enough to configure it for you over the phone or remoted in. My clients usually complain first that they called Microsoft, and then went to the Apple store, then found me online.I have patience. I understand your frustrations. Most importantly, I know all the technologies involved.

  • iCloud
  • iPhone
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Heck, throw in Gmail! I know that too.

Call me today and get on my calendar, I’ll have you fixed up in no time!

612-865-4475

or fill out this form

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