While marketing efforts are often directed externally at prospects and customers, they can benefit your internal team as well. An easy way to improve information sharing and collaboration within your organization is by developing an intranet (an internal web site restricted to those within your company).

Here are a few tips for creating a user-friendly intranet that provides your employees with organized information and tools for success:

• Create a list of goals that you want your intranet to achieve. For example: improve communications with posted announcements, schedules, and calendars; increase efficiency with an organized file structure; and advance teamwork collaboration by sharing files, pictures, and information on projects in a single location.
• Focus on usability. Remember an intranet is a content-focused tool for internal use and does not require a flashy layout.
• Design a simple, flexible page layout that is suitable across most departments and web parts.
• Allow a scaling layout that will adjust to small net books, large monitors, projectors, etc.
• Set your intranet's front page as the homepage in your company's browsers.
• Ensure that your intranet is the main place to access information by transferring all information from your server or directory to your intranet.
• Consider integrating a search engine that not only indexes web pages, but also reads the content of documents such as PDF, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Try using Lucene or running a Google App to search your intranet.
• Add a few fun features your employees will enjoy using, such as creating a bulletin board where employees can post family news, for-sale notices, and other information.
• Excite employees about the launch of your intranet by offering an overview and training session. Provide a go-to person who can answer questions or provide one-on-one training later if needed.
• Encourage feedback and suggestions, since an effective intranet constantly evolves to meet the needs of its users.

An easy-to-understand warranty can be an effective selling tool that creates confidence in your product and your company. Warranty documents benefit both your business and your customers in resolving problems quickly and efficiently, as well as reducing consumer complaints.

Here are a few tips for creating simple, straightforward warranty documents (such as brochures, flyers, and pamphlets) that define your policy and tell customers what steps to take if problems arise:

• Define what product parts and issues the warranty covers (for clarity, it also helps to define what parts or issues it does NOT cover).
• Explain the period of warranty coverage, such as "Warranty expires one year after purchase date."
• Describe how your business will correct warranty issues. Will you attempt to fix parts in-house, send them to a manufacturer, offer a replacement, etc.
• Define your policy for DOA (dead on arrival) products, such as "We will provide an immediate replacement for any products that arrive DOA."
• Organize your document using clear headings, such as "What Does this Warranty Cover? What Does this Warranty Not Cover? What Is the Period of Coverage? How Do I Make a Warranty Claim?"
• Explain your warranty process with the necessary steps needed to make a warranty claim (such as a phone number to call, what information is needed when you call, how long you can expect to wait for a replacement, etc.).
• Ensure your warranty information is available to your customers before the sale, and educate your sales team on your warranty policy should questions arise during the sale.
• Use easy to understand language – avoid acronyms and technical verbiage.
• Use legible fonts and type sizes for comfortable reading. While many companies like to use fine print for details, it can be difficult to read, frustrating for customers, and cause misunderstandings.
• Provide photos and illustrations that are relevant to the product. If you want to highlight one part of a product or explain something about it (such as the coils of a refrigerator or the location of a serial number on an appliance), a line drawing may be helpful.

Quality warranties are often a key selling point for many types of businesses. If you need help creating professional warranty documents that will highlight the quality of your products and services, stop by today!

If you're looking to cut down on tangled cord clutter and go wireless with your keyboard and mouse, here are a few tips to consider:

• Determine how you want to use your keyboard and mouse. For example, if you want flexibility to use a wireless mouse and keyboard in a large conference room that is located far from the machine, you will need greater power and range than if you sit at your desk within reach of your computer. The further from your workstation, the more interference your wireless device will experience.
• If you like to work in the dark, check out back-lit wireless mouse and keyboard options that ensure you can find the right keys.
• Upgrade the default features on your wireless keyboard. Many have multimedia features that allow you to control music and videos on your computer from anywhere in the room or access multiple programs with the push of a button.
• Extend the uses of a wireless keyboard and mouse by connecting your computer to your HDTV and use a keyboard/mouse to browse the internet from your couch. You can even use your wireless mouse as a remote control when watching movies.
• If you are sick of using a traditional mouse, consider a wireless keyboard option that includes an integrated touchpad or mini joystick.

Like a helpful keyboard and mouse, our team of printing experts is nearby to help you accomplish tasks faster and make your life easier. Give us a call today if we can help with anything!