Well, it doesn’t really have to be an income generating business for seniors to take advantage of these awesome online tools; it can also be a venture, or a cause you’ve been trying to raise awareness of or perhaps a project you’re working on such as an extensive family tree or simply a way to connect with your loved-ones. Whatever it is, it is still good to know some online tools recommended for seniors to use since these tools are really easy to use and understand – you don’t even have to be a tech-savvy to use them!
* Google Apps. If you are housing 50 staff or less, and you need customized email addresses to look professional but don’t have enough funds for a fully functional IT department, then Google Apps is for you. You can also reserve a domain name to use if you still don’t have one by now for a small fee. Google Apps comes with Gmail account, Gdocs and calendar, all synchronized with your staff. Not much difference actually from your standard-issue Gmail however, you won’t see that @gmail.com anymore which tends to turn some clients off. Also if you go for Google Apps for Business, you get Google video and Google groups alongside other very useful features. Get Google Apps here.
* Dropbox. Tired of spring-cleaning your storage ever so often? Or perhaps you don’t have enough space in your computer to save all your important documents? Or maybe, just maybe, you are looking for a way to just make a file, save it and it will show on your staff’s folders and computers without you having to send them over? Dropbox can do all of this, not to mention sharing large files which undoubtedly your email service won’t be able to handle. Get your dropbox here.
* OpenOffice. OpenOffice works very much like Microsoft Office but without the hefty price tag that comes with it. So if you are looking to install such thing to several computers but don’t have the budget to do so, this is a great alternative for you. Get your OpenOffice here.
* Mailchimp. While Mailchimp cannot be installed into your computer and runs solely online, it is worth mentioning here as it can be your greatest pal in promoting your product, business or cause. If you must know, Mailchimp is a bulk email service which means you can send out newsletters and email updates just by signing up with an email address. It is so simple to use that even a newbie senior won’t have a hard time sending out “pro” looking emails. Get a Mailchimp account here.
* Skype. I will assume that you are familiar with Skype as I don’t know of anybody who doesn’t right now and if you tell me you are not aware of what Skype can do for you then you’ll be the first on my list. Skype is great – not only can it send instant messages to your staff but you can start a conference chats in there. Also, their screensharing feature proves to be really valuable if you are operating far from each other. Download Skype for your computer here.
