From: Microsoft [0_53297_24C635EC-7C5C-844E-8A60-382406CACFC5_AU@Newsletters.Microsoft.com]
Sent: Wednesday, 8 October 2003 12:38
To: The_Temporary_Alternative@tpg.com.au
Subject: Small Business Solutions E-Newsletter


Spring-clean your business!


Discover how to get yourself a new Acer PC, at no extra cost*, just by purchasing the latest software; visit a small-business seminar in your state; learn how to create slick proposals; and protect your PCs in 3 easy steps!

Here's to a successful business month,

Athena Thompson,
bCentral Manager.



In This Issue
> Your problems solved: Amazing PC deal; latest small business tools revealed; get a bonus software upgrade; boost your newsletter subscriptions

> News & views: Small business seminars now on; see the new Microsoft Office 2003 in action; $9,000 Office Blitz winners coming soon; new licensing instalment plan launched

> Business shortcuts: Track projects; create slick proposals

> Small business survivor story: Melbourne business averts payday pandemonium!

> Top tip of the month: Manage your daily reminder list

> Tech talk: Protect your PCs in 3 easy steps!

Your problems solved
> Amazing offer: Sick of working with slow PCs?
*Purchase Microsoft Office Small Business Edition 2003 and QuickBooks Pro 2003 for only $1,999 and Acer will give you a new PC, complete with a 17-inch monitor and 12-month warranty - for no extra cost! Use it to replace your old model, or set up an employee to be super-productive. Terms and conditions apply. Click here for more.
> NEW customer management and communication tools!
There's great news for small businesses with the upcoming launch of Microsoft Office Small Business Edition 2003! This latest version of Office features valuable tools to help you create your own professional marketing materials - at a fraction of the cost of using a designer.

Plus a new customer management tool lets you stay on top of opportunities by linking sales contacts with related e-mails, messages, telephone numbers and important information. Once you get to know it you won't know how you survived without it! Microsoft Office Small Business Edition 2003 will be launched on October 22, 2003. Click here for more.
> Upgrade from Microsoft Office XP to the new Microsoft Office 2003 for free!
Buy Microsoft Office XP before November 30 and you'll receive a bonus upgrade to Microsoft Office 2003 once it's released! Check out which Microsoft products are eligible. Terms and conditions apply. Click here for more.
> The rules of attraction
Tougher e-mail filters and overloaded audiences mean subscriber-burnout is a growing issue. Read our e-mail marketing guru's hints for attracting subscribers and reigniting that "sign me up" fire. Click here for more.

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News & views - the latest bulletins and information
>

Small business seminars - on now!
Want to get the inside word on QuickBooks 2003, and the soon-to-be-released Microsoft Office 2003? Quicken's popular seminars are currently touring Australia... If you're in Sydney or Melbourne it's not too late to register and get the chance to share in over $100,000 worth of prizes. Click here for more.

>

Microsoft Office System launch events: register today
See first hand what's different about the new Microsoft Office System, including the revamped Small Business Edition, at this exciting launch event! From a suite of familiar desktop applications, the new Office has evolved into a fully integrated system of programs, servers and services. Presentations and showcase demos will show you how to collaborate in teams across workspaces, gather and analyse data across applications and communicate more effectively with colleagues, customers and partners. Launch events run across Australia in late October and throughout November. Book your place today!

>

$9,000 Office Blitz winners
Thanks to everyone who recently entered our exciting $9,000 Office Makeover competition (and a big welcome to our new subscribers). Make sure you read our November newsletter when we'll be announcing the three lucky winners who are guaranteed to be the envy of their small business friends. Stay tuned.

>

New licensing instalment plan launched
Keep your cash-flow flowing, and enjoy the latest software on your business PCs with Microsoft's just-launched licensing solution: Microsoft Open License Value.

Suitable for businesses running five PCs and over, it offers you access to the latest innovations in Microsoft software products; the chance to make savings by spreading your payments over the year; and an effective way to consolidate software acquisition under a single agreement.
Click here for more.

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Business shortcuts - templates to use daily
> Track projects: Ensure you're sticking to your project's budget with this handy spreadsheet.
Click here for more.
> Create a slick proposal: Follow our instructions for making your first impression the right one.
Click here for more.

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Small business survivor story

Melbourne business averts payday pandemonium!

To celebrate small businesses across Australia, we're profiling local success stories. Read how Cathy Fanning's flexible approach helped a client get their wages out on time...

Name of business: The Temporary Alternative

Type of business: Provides IT solutions to small to medium-sized businesses.

Number of employees: 3

The problem: A customer was enrolled in a new payroll software training course but it was suddenly cancelled. Understandably, the customer went into panic mode as they were due to have a major upgrade of their payroll system the next week. Without the course they had little understanding of the new package and the changes.

The solution: The Temporary Alternative offered to buy and install the software and train the customer in their own premises. When it came to recreating and transferring all the data from the old payroll system to the new system, The Temporary Alternative was on-hand to combat any hiccups. When payroll day came around, the customer was ready to process the payroll on the new system and everyone got paid on time. Happy days.

Want to be profiled on bCentral?

Send us a short e-mail about your business. If you match our profile we'll do a quick interview over the phone at a time that suits you! Your business will be promoted in this newsletter and you'll also receive a FREE copy of Publisher 2002 and a brand-new Wireless Optical Mouse - worth over $350! Click here to email us.

 Terms and Conditions

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Top tip of the month

Manage your daily reminder list using Outlook 2002

Did you know that you can act on more than one reminder at a time in Outlook 2002? Your reminders are listed in the Reminders window, which is accessible from the View menu. From View simply open, dismiss, or snooze multiple reminders with a single click.

To work with multiple reminders:
  1. Select the first reminder.
  2. Hold down CTRL.
  3. Select any additional reminders.
  4. Click Open Item, Dismiss, or Snooze.

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Tech talk - how-to's from the experts

Protect and secure your PCs in 3 easy steps!

Q. I've heard about the recent security scares. How can I protect my business computers from worm attack? I use Windows XP.

A. Microsoft has set up a special Security and Privacy Web page with important protection instructions for all Windows platforms: from Windows XP to Windows 95. Follow the steps to activate your firewall and get relevant computer updates.

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