What To Look For In A Reliable Internet Connection

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A strong foundation is necessary for your home business’s success. And a part of this foundation is your internet connection. Yet, how do you choose a dependable internet connection?

This post will discuss the speed, dependability, and availability of four types of internet connections. We’ll then direct you to the best providers for these internet connections.

Connection Types:

1. DSL Connection:

Description – DSL, or Digital Subscriber Line, is an internet connection that works from telephone lines. It is a feature of telephone services such as AT&T.

Speed – Speed is the greatest drawback for DSL. With a top speed of 100 Mbps, it comes in last among the four types of internet connections.

Reliability – In general, DSL and cable are equally dependable. But, the service provider will determine how reliable and fast the connection is.

Availability – Availability will be dependent on your location. AT&T, once a primary provider of DSL, has phased it out. But it is still widely available where other providers offer it.

Recommendations – DSL would not be my recommendation for the home business unless it is the only alternative. While it may be a good choice for individual use, it is too slow for the demands of a business.

2. Cable Connection:

Description – You get a cable connection from the same service that provides your cable television service. If you already have cable TV, you will only need to add internet service to your plan. If you do not have cable TV, you can order only the internet service from your local cable provider.

Speed – Cable internet can deliver up to 1,000 Mbps. This makes it ten times faster than the maximum speed for DSL.

Reliability – Both cable and DSL are equally reliable. 

Availability – when it comes to availability, cable wins over fiber, but fiber is catching up. Depending on your location, you may only have cable as an option. If you choose cable, you may have only one cable provider available for your area.

Recommendations – For business use, I am not recommending DSL. This leaves cable, fiber, or mobile hotspot.

A recommendation is meaningless unless there is a selection. But, you may not have a choice. If you have the option of one or the other, the expense will come next on your list. Fiber might be more expensive by way of comparison. Is it worth paying extra money for faster speeds?

3. Fiber Optic:

Description -Fiber optic is a method of sending data signals over long distances with little loss of strength. Both DSL and cable connections use wires that have many points along the route to your modem, which can reduce their strength.

Speed – Fiber can reach top speeds of 10,000 Mbps, making it 10 times faster than cable. As with DSL and cable, the actual speed will depend on your service plan.

Reliability – Fiber optic cabling is more dependable and secure than cable or DSL. This is due to the fact that data is transmitted via light on fiber. The type of cable used in fiber has no signal deterioration issues.

Availability – Availability can be an issue. Even if your location is in a metropolitan area, there is no guarantee that fiber service will have made it to your neighborhood yet.

Recommendations -If there is a suitable alternative, and the price difference isn’t huge, fiber is my clear choice. I’m paying $5-10 more per month for twice the speed of cable via AT&T Fiber. For me, this difference is worth the speed increase.

4. Mobile Hotspot:

Description – A mobile hotspot is a technology that allows you to use your phone’s cellular data connection to establish a Wi-Fi network. This may be useful for home businesses that require a stable internet connection but do not have access to cable or DSL.

You may be able to setup a mobile hotspot using your current phone depending on the plan you have with your provider. Most providers offer a mobile hotspot option that allows you to utilize the internet by connecting your PC to your mobile hotspot. Please note, though, that even if your phone plan has unlimited data, your hotspot allowance will likely have a limited to the amount of data used by the hotspot at full speed. Beyond that limit, it may have unlimited data at a slower speed.

You can also buy a hotspot device to connect to your plan and provide WiFi for multiple device users even when your phone is not present.

An advantage of a mobile hotspot is that you can have an internet connection for your computer anywhere mobile phone service is available.

Other Hotspot Considerations

Speed – The mobile hotspot will have slower internet connections than the connection types. For example, if you’re using a phone with 4G support to connect to the hotspot, you’ll get maximum speeds of around 25–30 Mbps. Depending on location and signal strength, 5G phones can provide speeds up to 1,000 Mbps. If you can get 5G with 1,000 Mbps, you will be on par with a cable connection.

Reliability – A mobile hotspot will be as dependable as your phone connection. However, if your phone cannot connect, neither will the hotspot. This is somewhat self-evident, but sometimes we can overlook the obvious.

Availability – Mobile hotspot connections will benefit from having more alternatives. Even in locations where cable or fiber isn’t available, mobile phones will be accessible. The trick is to get a plan that includes a mobile hotspot with your phone service. Or, you can buy a hotspot device.

Recommendations – Mobile hotspot is becoming more and more a viable option for a home business. While fiber remains the fastest connection, it is possible to have a hotspot equal in speed to cable. As you will find in the next section on providers, cost for hotspots are not out of reason. The biggest factor to consider is the amount of data you will need. You will have limits on data usage and will pay more to get more.

To me, the greatest advantage with a mobile hotspot is flexibility. Depending on your data usage, it is possible to use a hotspot for your office internet connection and also take it on the road with you to use wherever you are.

Internet Providers

We’re now ready to look at internet service providers. To do so, I’ll use data

from  highspeedinternet.com as a reference point. Drawing on an article titled, “2021’s Best Internet Providers in Customer Satisfaction,” by Bison Messink. I’ll give a brief rundown of key facts from the article. If you want to get down into the gritty details, here is a link you may use:

• https://www.highspeedinternet.com/resources/customer-satisfaction-survey

High-speed Internet Review

Highspeedinternet.com did a survey of 12 internet providers rating them on customer satisfaction in five areas:

• Overall satisfaction
• Internet speed
• Reliability
• Price
• Customer Service

I will list the top three providers in each of these five categories. If none of the top three providers in these categories are available in your area, go to this link to find other providers that ranked well.

Overall satisfaction: In terms of overall customer satisfaction, the top three internet suppliers are:

1. Earthlink
2. AT&T
3. Verizon

Internet speed: The top three recipients for internet speed customer satisfaction were:

1. Earthlink
2. Verizon
3. Cox

Reliability: Top customer satisfaction for reliability went to:

1. Earthlink
2. Verizon
3. AT&T

Price: Customer satisfaction for price recipients was:

1. Earthlink
2. Verizon
3. AT&T

Customer Service: Finally, the top three for customer service were:

1. Earthlink
2. Cox
3. Verizon

Providers of Cable and Fiber Internet

I will again reference a report from highspeedinternet.com by Rebecca Lee Armstrong and Kevin Parrish, titled, “Fiber vs. Cable Internet: Compare Options and Providers.”  You can access the report using this link. This information is current as of April 15, 2022.

The Best Cable Internet Providers

1. Xfinity
50–1,200 Mbps
$25.00–$79.99/mo.

2. Spectrum
200–1,000 Mbps
$49.99–$89.99/mo. for 12 mo.

3. Cox
25–Up to 1,000 Mbps
$29.99–$109.99/mo.

4. Optimum
100–940 Mbps
$29.99–$49.99/mo.

5. WOW!
100–1,000 Mbps
$19.99–$64.99/mo.

6. Astound Broadband
Up to 50–Up to 940 Mbps
$19.99–$49.99/mo.

The Best Fiber Internet Providers

1. Google Fiber
1,000–2,000 Mbps
$70.00–$100.00/mo.

2. AT&T
100–5,000 Mbps
$55.00–$180.00/mo.

3. Verizon
300–940 Mbps
$39.99–$89.99/mo.

4. CenturyLink
200–940 Mbps
$65.00/mo.§

5. Frontier
500–2,000 Mbps
$49.99–$149.99/mo.

Mobile Hotspot Providers

PC Magazine labels the following hotspot providers as “The Best Mobile Hotspots for 2022.” The list below is not their full list, but is the top three. This link will take you to the article.

1. T-Mobile Hotspot
   • Hotspot device – $299.99 (at Amazon)
   • $50 per month for 100GB
   • 5G
2. AT&T Hotspot
   • Hotspot device – $499.00 (at Amazon)
   • $50 per month for 40GB
   • 4G
3. Verizon 5G Hotspot
   • $399.99 (at Verizon)
   • $60 per month for 100GBunlimited lower-speed data
   • 5G

Conclusion

It can be intimidating to figure out what the best internet service is for your needs. There are numerous variables to consider, including price, speed, dependability, and customer support. We hope that we have been able to assist you in your search for a trustworthy internet connection! 

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Mobile Hotspot – Amazonxxx

3 Simple Steps to Secure Your Home Business Online

No matter the size of your home business, you are always at risk of a cyber-attack. By taking some simple steps to secure your business online, you can protect yourself and your customers from the devastating effects of a cyber breach. As a home business owner, you are likely always looking for ways to cut costs and increase efficiency. When it comes to cybersecurity, though, skimping on protection can cost you a lot more in the long run. A cyber attack can disrupt your business operations and lead to the loss of sensitive customer data. To protect your home business from the growing threat of cybercrime, follow these three simple steps:

Step 1: Use Strong Passwords

As more and more people work from home, home businesses are becoming increasingly common. While there are many advantages to running a home business, there are some security risks to consider as well. One of the most important things you can do to protect your home business is to use strong passwords.

While a weak password might be easy to remember, hackers can also easily guess. If a hacker gains access to your account, they could change your password, lock you out of your account, or even use your account to send spam. To avoid becoming the victim of a hacking attack, use a strong password.

A strong password should be at least eight characters long and include a mix of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and symbols. If you’re not sure how to create a strong password, many online tools can help. A great tool I have used for years is Keeper Security. It will create passwords for new accounts, then store them for recall when you log back onto that account. You can permit it to automatically insert your username and password when you log in again.

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Another safety measure is to change your passwords regularly and avoid using the same password for multiple accounts.

An added layer of security with online accounts is using two-factor authentication. Two-factor authentication (also known as 2FA) requires you to confirm your identity to gain access to an account or system. With 2FA enabled, you will need to enter both your password and a one-time code generated by an authentication app on your mobile device.

Step 2: Avoid Phishing Attacks

Phishing attacks are a common threat to home businesses. These attacks occur when a malicious individual sends an email that appears to be from a legitimate source, such as a bank or online service. The email may contain a link that leads to a fake website. On the website, the intent is for the user to enter sensitive information. This could be, for example, login credentials or a credit card number.

There are many different ways to mount a phishing attack. But home business owners can take a few simple steps to protect themselves and their businesses. First, be vigilant about checking any email or message sender before opening it. What should you do if the legitimacy of an email? Contact the supposed sender using a verification method other than email. Additionally, never click on links or attachments from unknown or untrusted sources.

Some red flags that an email or website may be part of a phishing scam include:

• The email or website has poor grammar or spelling errors
• The URL is slightly different from the legitimate company’s URL (e.g., “https://www.paypal.com” vs. ” https://www.paypall.com“)
• You are asked to enter sensitive information on a website that does not have an “https://” in the URL
• If you receive an email or see a website that seems suspicious, do not click on any links or enter any information. Instead, contact the company directly to confirm that the communication is legitimate.

Did you know that about 90% of successful data breaches start with a phishing attack? Training yourself to avoid these attacks can be the most effective step to ensure your cybersecurity.

Step 3: Keep your software up to date

Home businesses often rely on technology to help them run smoothly and efficiently. But if this technology is not kept up to date, it can quickly become outdated and ineffective. One of the essential pieces of technology for a home business is software. Software programs constantly make updates with new features and security patches. So, keeping your software up to date is necessary to get the most out of it. This will ensure that you have the latest features, but it will also help protect your business from security threats. You can configure most software programs to install updates automatically. 

Another simple step you can take to protect your home business from a cyber attack is the use of security software. There are many options available, and it is essential to choose the one that best fits your needs. You can install some security software on your computer, while others are available as Cloud-based services. There are also different levels of protection. So choose the level that best suits your home business. By using security software, you can help to protect your home business from viruses, malware, and hackers.  This protection comes in two forms:

• Preventing malware from being installed on your computer
• Removing any existing malware that may have already made its way onto your system.

This can help to keep your business safe and secure and ensure that your customers can trust your home business.xxx

https://digitalchowder.com/kl50

A suite of software I have used for years comes from IObit. IObit is a comprehensive cybersecurity solution that helps to protect home businesses from a variety of threats. These threats include malware, phishing attacks, and more. Besides protecting you against malware attacks, IObit’s software suite can:

• Keep your computer clean and
• Keep software and drivers up to date.

The following apps from IObit will give you comprehensive protection:

• Advanced Systemcare – the ultimate PC tuneup
• Uninstaller – Gives a cleaner PC with safer browsing
• Smart Defrag – Faster file accessing
• Driver Booster – Keeps your PC running smooth
• Malware Fighter – Detects & removes threats and prevents unknown access to online privacy while also blocking ransomware attacks.
• Software Updater – Automatically updates software.

Each of these comes with licenses for three computers.

Conclusion:

If you take these three simple steps to protect your home business, you’ll be well on your way to fending off any potential cyber-attacks. Using strong passwords, avoiding phishing scams, and keeping your software updated is vital in protecting yourself online. So make sure to implement these tips today!

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Solving the Inventory Management Dilemma of A Home Business

Assessing your inventory storage needs

So you are the owner/operator of a home business that is  getting started. Since your business sells physical products, inventory storage is a growing concern. In the beginning, you may have stored inventory in your garage or basement or even a spare bedroom. But fortunately, your business is growing, and storing inventory at home is no longer an option. So, what are you to do? Paying for more storage will present a hardship on finances. Now is an excellent time to assess your storage needs. What are the breakeven points of profit versus storage costs?

 In the beginning, there were so many details to traverse, you took the most straightforward route to storing your inventory. But now, your storage needs have outgrown your home, and it is time for a more comprehensive plan. Here are some thoughts to consider:

• You can’t afford much, but you need something. Self-storage may be the best first step.
• If you choose self-storage as a first step, for how long will it be the answer? This is an excellent time to do some calculations and develop a progressive plan for storage.
  • What level of sales will take you to the limits of this first-step storage solution?
  • Will this level of sales afford a move to an adequate storage solution as a second-step? A solution that will enable you to grow for a sufficient length of time?  
  • It would be wise to calculate the sales thresholds that push you to move to the next phase of storage capacity. Don’t wait until you are at the limit of your current storage capacity.

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Inventory Management Software

To help project and manage this growth plan, you need a good Inventory Management App (IMA). An IMA will help to determine the growth and storage thresholds.  

Before listing Inventory Management Apps, I want to emphasize that I am writing with a home business in mind. These are small businesses, and most, if not all, will have limited budgets. Each, however, has a wish to become larger. For the small business that sells physical products, storage is necessary that . . .

• . . . is within the limited budget 
• . . . will allow for significant growth before upsizing

To consider Warehouse Management Apps (WMA) would be overkill for the small business. The cost for WMAs would eat up the budget for storage, leaving nothing for storage facilities. Plus, warehouse management involves so much more than your inventory. What the small business owner needs to know is:

• What length of time can I go before having to restock products?
• How much of each product should I have on hand for this period? 
• How much space will be adequite to store this much product?

An Inventory Management App can handle this information at a much lower cost. 

When considering an Inventory  Management App, I point to Adam Uzialko’s article in the Business News Daily. He says, “most experts recommend cloud-based apps that do not require you to maintain servers or an IT staff . . . Instead, cloud-based software is managed by the software company.” 

The following table lists Inventory Management Apps and a comparison of features and cost.  

Comparison of Inventory Management Apps

The following table lists Inventory Management Apps and a comparison of features and cost.  Click on the table image for a better view. You can also use this link to download a PDF of the table. below – (Download PDF of Inventory Management Apps)

Here are the links for each of the apps:

• Katana
• Shipstation
• Zoho
• Boxstorm
• Salesbinder

It is difficult to make an item-by-item comparison with these apps. There are too many variations with each. Consider the table a starting point for your research. It gives five affordable apps for the small business and an overview to help kick-start your research.

In my next article, we will consider storage alternatives.

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Solving the Physical Address Dilemma for the Home Business

Operating your business out of your home, as great as it may be, does have several challenges to overcome. One of these challenges has to do with your physical location. What should you do about the physical location of your business? Should you —

• have a non-existent physical location,
• list your home address,
• or find a different solution?

In this blog, we will consider virtual solutions to address the problem of a physical location. In my next blog I will weigh in on solutions for the storage of inventory.
We will break the information into two sections:

• Virtual mail
• Virtual Office

Before starting, you should consider two questions:

• What is wrong with not having a physical address?  This may not be a problem if your business operates online and all your products are digital. But if you have non-digital products, it may be necessary to list a physical address. This will help to provide legitimacy for your business.
• Why should I not use my home address as the physical business address? There are several downsides to using your home address as your physical address:
  • Security and privacy of your home
  • Lease or homeowners association rules
  • Zoning regulations
  • Liability concerns

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Virtual Mail

Before getting to the virtual solutions, there are some simple, longstanding physical alternatives you may want to consider. These are standard mailbox services:

• USPS –  Renting PO Boxes from the US Postal service has been around for decades. Though a PO Box is not new or virtual, it is still an alternative.
• UPS  – Securing a mailbox from UPS is also an alternative that has been with us for years.
• FedEx – Yet another mailbox rental option.
• Local Options – Search your local area, and you are sure to find several more options.

If you want an excuse for a break from your home office, these options may serve you well. But, convenience will not be their strong suit. They do require you to retrieve your mail.

The following table gives you a quick reference to the benefits offered by five virtual mail services. You will note that they all provide a physical address with the mail service. To enlarge the table use CTRL & + keys together. To return to the default size, use CTRL + 0 keys. You can also use this link to download a PDF of both tables below – (Download PDF of following tables)

Using the table reference, you should be able to quickly select the features you want. From there you can go to their websites to look more closely at their information. Each service will have differing details about charges you will incur should you go over the allotted amounts. Links for each product is below the table.

• Anytime Mailbox
• Traveling Mailbox
• PostScan Mail
• iPostal1
• Digital Mailroom

Virtual Office

The virtual office is an expansion of the mail service. It amounts to a suite of virtual services, including mail, phone, and fax. Unlike virtual mailboxes, the virtual office packages cannot be listed in a table showing how they compare. Since each virtual office package is unique, I have listed each one individually.

• Start Hub Centers
• iPostal1
• Alliance Virtual Offices

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Digital Chowder: A Home Business Guide to Digital Resources

What sets Digital Chowder apart?

This blog is intended to get you up to speed on Digital Chowder. What exactly is Digital Chowder? We are “The home business guide to digital resources” as our slogan states. But, what exactly does the name “Digital Chowder” imply? It’s based on the notion of a “Digital Soup,” which was inspired by Jon Gordon

Soup, Inc is a soup company that has been around for decades. Nancy, the firm’s new CEO, learns the secrets to resurrecting her company. It becomes her recipe for success. The term “digital Chowder” refers to the home business and, in particular, to digital features. What are the components of a successful house-based business’s online presence? To put it another way, what makes up the digital soup? Instead of soup, though, we use chowder to describe something richer and thicker in nature. As a result, our objective is to provide rich digital resources that may serve as “digital chowder” for your home business.

Digital Chowder is a community dedicated to helping home-based businesses develop and succeed. We want to make your job more efficient and effective. I combine decades of study with my own experience managing a home-based business office. To learn more about the growing variety of digital resources available, please visit digitalchowder.com frequently. We provide a bi-weekly email delivered to your inbox with our latest findings. You may sign up for this blog by using the contact form in the right column of this page. My blogs will offer helpful hints while searching for new resources since they will be based on an objective and honest point of view. My aim is not to be a resource reviewer

I’d want my blogs to go beyond my personal discoveries and concentrate on issues that you, as a reader, may be dealing with. I’d want to hear about readers’ discoveries and the challenges they’re attempting to tackle. As a reader, what would you want me to research about digital resources for the home-based business and include in a blog? I invite you to use the form in the right column of this page to send an idea or a research request.

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Digital Challenges of a Home Business

Home-based businesses fall into two main categories: 

• Those with one employee: This category addresses businesses with one employee who must wear many hats. This individual is the entrepreneur, marketer, secretary, and so on. The list of hats may be endless, and it seems never-ending. Solo business owners are constantly looking for methods to automate or subcontract portions of their job in order to free up time for other responsibilities. They must identify those tasks that only they can do and for which they are gifted. Then, learn methods to address additional tasks under a restricted budget. How do I know if the money is limited? Because the owner is flying solo. There would be other workers if the budget permitted. How can I assist those in this area who are having difficulties finding solutions to automate or outsource their work? It’s an important aspect of my study

• Those with one or more employees: Employees of a home-based business with several people will operate out of home offices. On the one hand, these companies may have some of the same concerns as single-employee businesses. However, they will also have problems associated with enterprises that work in a single physical location. Such difficulties as integrating their digital assets are an example. How can I help those in this category? I’ll be addressing some of these issues in my study. And for this need, I’d like to collaborate with you in finding answers to your digital difficulties. I will not only report what I learn but will also share it on my blog so that others may benefit from it.

Qualifying Digital Topics

Topics I plan to address include but are not limited to the following list. Keep in mind, though, that these topics only qualify as they apply to the home-based business:

• Software/Apps
• Hardware such as computers, printers, networks, etc.
• Electronic devices
• Online solutions. I consider almost any online solution to be digital.

This list covers four main categories of digital topics I will address. Still, it isn’t easy to list all the possibilities, especially with the continual development of new solutions.
With my emphasis on the home-based business, topics may come to mind that is not digital, and I would not include them in my blogs. Examples include:

• Personal development or Lifehacks.
• Best business practices
• How to’s
• A particular business model or type of business
• Etc.

Personal Invitation

If you have checked my website, which is the home of my blogs, you will see that I am just getting started. So far, I have addressed only a few topics. I understand that this might discourage you from staying around or returning. But, my encouragement is to return as I might be addressing your need soon. My invitation, on the other hand, is to offer you my services as a free ‘personal assistant.’ To submit an issue for which you want me to assist you or discover a solution, use this form in the right column of this page. My decades of expertise as a home worker have involved technical issues. These experiences include: 

• Web design and development, 
• Working in PHP and MySQL, 
• Working in Python, 
• Networking solutions, 
• Computer troubleshooting, etc. 

So, I may already know an answer but have not yet mentioned it in a blog. 

If I don’t already have a solution for you, I’ll look into it for you. Yes, you can conduct research just like I do, but I may save you some time. Furthermore, because of my technical knowledge, I may be able to break through the jargon and understand the advantages and disadvantages of one option versus another.

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Finding the Right Computer for Your Home Business

In this blog, I will be discussing considerations to help impact your computer choice. I’m not referring to a brand choice, but the type of computer. And in particular, which kind of computer will best suit the needs of the home-based business. Is it a desktop, laptop, or all-in-one computer? In case you are not familiar with the all-in-one computer, it is one in which the monitor and computer are one unit. 

I should emphasize that this is not an assessment of which is the better computer in general. Such efforts will likely end in a draw. This old debate between desktop and laptop has become pointless. Laptops have improved to the point of being equal to the power of the average desktop computer. So our question is about which computer best meets the needs of your home-based office?

Step One – Computing Location:

Stationary or Mobile – Let’s begin with the question,  “Where will you be using your computer  most of the time?” Will your answer to this question need a stationary or portable computer? Or might it include both?If your answer is ‘stationary,’ all three options are still in the running.  Skip Step Two and proceed to Step Three to consider your computing requirements.

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Step Two – Computing Location Part 2:

If your answer in Step One was ‘mobile,’ your next question is, “How much of your work is mobile and how much is in the office?”  

• If one-half or more of your work is in the office, move on to Step Three. 
• If less than one-half of your work is in the office, selecting a laptop may be your best choice. In that case, and you can stop here and begin shopping for your laptop computer unless you want to continue.

NOTE:  If more than one-half of your work is away from your office,  I’m assuming that your computing requirements are lite. So they will not go beyond the capabilities of a laptop. If I am wrong in this assumption about your work, you will need to continue with Step three.

Step Three – Computing Requirements:

Now our questions change direction. No longer are we talking about the location of your work, but of usage. For what functions do you use your computer most often?

Standard processes:

• Word processing & spreadsheets?
• Are we accounting with QuickBooks or similar software?
• Web design?

More demanding processes:

• Graphic design?
• Video editing?
• Photography?

Is more than one-half of your work outside your office? Does your computer usage fall within the standard processes? A laptop computer should be a good fit for you. Regardless of your computer choice, you still want to avoid a low-end computer. You do not want to be spending a lot of your time watching wheels spin as you wait on your computer. Here are some recommended minimum specifications:

• At least 8 GB of RAM 
• An Intel Core i5 or equal processor
• An 802.11ac 2.4/5 GHz wireless network adapter. 

Do your regular tasks fall within the more demanding processes? Your computer may need some extra specifications not found in the list above. If you are an experienced graphic designer, for instance, you may already know what you need. But a beginning graphic designer needs to get input from those experienced in design. I will not try to address the specifications of these specialties. I wish to point out that specific computing tasks may need more specifications. So I recommend that you explore those specifications based on your computing requirements. If you need beefed up specifications in your computer, your choice may need to be a desktop. A desktop will allow greater flexibility and capacity. 

Step Four – Desktop vs Laptop vs All-In-One vs Docking Station:

By this point, we may have left mobile users behind. A laptop is the best, and may be, the only choice. There is no need to consider anything else.
If the bulk of your work is in the office, all three computers can compete for your choice:

• In-office & standard usage – If most of your work is in the office you need not default to a desktop computer. Particularly if your computer usage falls within normal processes. A laptop or even an all-in-one may be the best choice for you.
  • You may prefer the simplicity of the laptop. Set it on the desk, plug it in (or not), and you are ready! The same goes for the all-in-one. The only difference is that the keyboard is not built-in.
  • Or, your desk may be too small to squeeze a monitor and keyboard on it along with everything else. And where will you set the case? This same argument may apply to the all-in-one, or it may not. It will save space over a desktop computer but not over a laptop.
  • Even if your work is not mobile, you may want to take your work to the patio or elsewhere on occasion. This argument doesn’t work well for the all-in-one. It is not hard to move but will not fit on your lap. It will also need a power source which is not true of a laptop.
  • Screen size is a significant advantage for the all-in-one over the laptop. All-in-one computers come with up to 27-inch screens. Of course, this is no advantage over the desktop.
• Docking Station – A docking station can serve as an alternative to the all-in-one computer. It is a good solution for the person who prefers a laptop but also wants a larger screen. When in the office, connect your laptop to the docking station. The docking station will, in turn, connect the laptop to one or more screens of whatever size you want.
• In-office & more demanding usage – Does your work stay in the office and is your computer usage of a more challenging nature? If your work needs fit this description, I am not attempting to address your needs in this blog. The possibilities are too many and diverse. 

The Best of Two Worlds:

There is one last consideration in your choice of computer. This consideration has been on your mind throughout this blog if you are like me. Why not have the best of both worlds and choose a desktop AND a laptop? That is my choice. More than one-half of my work is at my desk, and I like a little more power and larger, dual screens. So I invest a little more in my desktop and not as much in a laptop. If less than one-half of my work was at the desk, I would invest more in the laptop than the desktop. Using two computers can also be a solution for the person who needs to be mobile while needing a more powerful computer for graphics work.

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4 Recommended Content Writing Apps for the Home Business

Here are my recommended writing apps for the home-based business. There are many good writing apps available for creating good content. In this article, I want to emphasize that I am writing with a home-based business in mind. If you have a home-based business, the odds are that you are the only employee. You are owner, CEO, CFO, copywriter, secretary, to name a few of your titles. The point is that writing content may not be one of your primary skills. But content writing is a must for any business. Writing website content, promoting products, or writing proposals are all examples of this. And yet, if you are like me, writing clear and grammatically correct sentences is not in the skill set.

So what are you to do? No doubt you will do as I did – go looking for help. So I am sharing with you some of the fruit of my effort. Two of the apps I’m recommending in this blog are apps found in my toolbelt of necessary apps. Others come from research results.

Grammarly:

Grammarly is my primary writing tool. As its name suggests, it monitors grammar. The free version scans grammar, spelling, and punctuation. If you step up to the Premium version, for $12 per month, you will also get:

• Clarity-focused sentence rewrites – Automatically rewrite hard-to-read sentences.
• Tone adjustments– Eliminates unnecessary qualifiers to sound more confident
• Inclusive language – Assure your words are respectful and current
• Word choice – Find vivid words to enliven each message
• Formality level – Write with the appropriate tone (formal, informal, casual, and so on)
• Fluency – Ensure your word choice sounds natural and fluent

My writing puts each of these features to work. Giving Grammarly a whirl was a no-brainer for me. I started with the free version and soon recognized I needed extra help. So I upgraded to Premium.

You can work online with Grammarly or install the desktop version. The desktop version will work inside your writing apps. As you use your word processors, or email clients, Grammarly is there to help.

The Premium version uses a browser plugin known as the editor. The editor gives a more comprehensive experience. I will use the desktop version in my first draft when I’m writing a publication. Next, I copy and paste the content into the editor to check clarity, engagement, and plagiarism.

If content writing is not a natural skill for you, this is hard work. But the outcome will be worth it. The more you use it, the more you begin to recognize your errors on your own.

As a disclaimer, I should add that Grammarly will not create engaging content. That is on you.

Check Out Grammarly

Hemingway App:

Some think of Hemingway App as a competitor to Grammarly. I have seen some reviews arguing about which is best. Such approaches miss the point of each app, though. Whether one app is better than the other depends more on the user’s needs. Each app has different emphases. I have already described Grammarly as having grammar, spelling, and punctuation emphases. The Premium version expands to include clarity, tone, word choice, and other features.

In contrast, Hemingway App concentrates on readability. It will rate your use of adverbs, passive voice, and simple phrases and sentences. Since I need considerable help in writing, I use Hemingway App alongside Grammarly. So I start by writing a draft in Evernote using Grammarly. I allow it to check my grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Then I copy the draft into Grammarly Editor to pick up on clarity, tone, word choice, and fluency. Before I found Hemingway App, my writing task was complete at that point.

I copied a finished text into the editor when I first tried Hemingway. Remember, this text had already been through two drafts with Grammarly. The result shocked me. My writing masterpiece was full of adverbs, passive voice, and complex sentences. I had some hard work ahead determining how to reword these complex sentences. How was I to remove the unwanted wording? At a one-time cost of only $19.99, adding Hemingway Desktop to my toolbelt was well worth the price.

Hemingway includes more than writing features. It also has HTML formatting such as bold, italic, H1, H2, quote, bullets, and links. So after cleaning up your content, you can prepare it for viewing in four different formats. Or you can publish it to WordPress.

What are your writing needs? Is it related to grammar or readability? Knowing this will help you know which app is best for you. Both apps are available for use without cost. You can take trial runs without making a commitment.

I hope this information will help you in choosing.

Check Out Hemingway App

Verblio:

Another content writing resource for you is Verblio. It is a much different alternative from the two already discussed. Verblio’s self-description says, “On-demand content creation to power digital marketing and SEO.” As this description suggests, Verblio is an on-demand service that provides content creation. This on-demand service can be an excellent solution for the home-based business owner. If you don’t have the time or don’t like to write, you can have a writer on retainer at less cost.

So how does this work? There is a monthly fee based on the size and number of content pieces you want each month. First, decide the length of content pieces you want. Do you want a microblog post or website content with no more than 300 words per piece? Your cost per piece will be $34.95. But what if you wish to have content for short blog posts, newsletters, or website Content? You could need as many as 600 words at $69.95 per piece. Should your need be for Blog Posts, eBook Chapters, or even more Website content, you could be up to 1,000 words per piece. Your cost will be $119.95 per piece.

Verblio has content categories of up to 2,000 words per piece and beyond that, check for custom lengths. You get the point. It is more affordable than having a content writer on staff.

But that’s not all. You can also sign on for extra services. It breaks down like this:

• Basic – This level of service is for content only. There is no regular monthly fee. You are paying for each content piece.
• Photo – Photo service adds $19.95 to the cost of your content piece. For this, you receive two hand-selected stock photos per content piece.
• Optimize – Optimize gives you proofreading, CMS formatting, and SEO optimization. This service costs $39.95, and the cost of your content piece.
• Verblio Complete – Verblio Complete moves you into a completely new dimension. You will pay $149.95 for this service and the cost of your piece. The bottom line is that Verblio will pair you with a “Hubspot,” who is your account manager. This person will manage the whole project for you.

There is one more option. The list above is for pay-by-the-piece services. But if you need regular monthly content of a more lengthy nature, you can choose to pay a monthly fee. Fohttps://www.verblio.com/r instance, you can get four 1,000 word pieces with optimization included. This cost is $639.60 per month. Pay by the year, and you will save over $1,200.

Check Out Verblio

Sqribble:

As I introduce you to Sqribble, I will take you in another direction from where I started in this blog. We haven’t left the topic of content writing. But we are no longer suggesting apps or services that help you write with clarity or to use correct grammar. Sqribble is about how to deliver your content. This app is an eBook creator. As a home-based business owner, you may have never considered producing an eBook. So I should start with why you might want to do so.

As business owners, we are always trying to expand our customer base. Why do you create content even though you may not enjoy it?

Is it not because of your need to reach out to new and old customers? Publishing an eBook is another way to do this with effectiveness. Here are a few reasons why:

• You might want to publish an ebook because it is an effective way to promote your product(s). How are you doing it now? An attractive flyer? A brochure? A webpage? Email? An eBook can contain the same content, be as attractive, and you can share it with ease. Offer it with a link in an email promotion or on a webpage. Once it is in the hands of a potential customer, they can open it on any mobile device for viewing.
• eBooks can help attract new leads. Offer it in an email or website as a free item in exchange for a person’s email address. Besides building your contact list, you add contacts interested in what you sell.
• An eBook can be a marketable product. Add it to your products for sale. The use of eBooks is on the rise.

In the world of eBook creation, I am recommending Sqribble. If you do an internet search for eBook designers, you will get many results. A large number of these will say they are free. But when you go to their website, you will see a menu tab for pricing – a good clue that they are not free. Sure enough, they are not. A free version is available but with limited options. Then there will be 3-4 paid versions with monthly charges. Often a free version of an app will give you all you need for a particular tool. You must ask yourself if a free version of one of these eBook designers will provide all you need.

Next, you will want to check out what end product you will be getting with a particular designer. Often the ‘designer’ converts your PDF file to a flipbook or EPUB file. Is this what you want? And is it the outcome for which you are paying?

In your internet search results you will see comparisons between Designrr and Sqribble. Why these two? Designrr has been the leading eBook designer for the past 2 to 3 years. Sqribble has arrived on the scene with competing features and value. In these comparison articles or videos, writers have drawn different conclusions. Some prefer Designrr and others prefer Sqribble. Here are the main reasons I recommend Sqribble:

• Better template design choices: Designrr and Sqribble use templates for their eBook designs. Select a template, import your content, click create and your eBook is born. It is a simple, straightforward approach. I find Sqribble’s templates to  offer a wider variety and more attractive selection.
• Free Content: Both eBook creators give several options to import content. These include file upload, copy/paste, and import from web page. Only Sqribble has the option to provide ready-made content. This content comes from a wide variety of topics and is free for use without copyright issues. They have done the research for you.
• Better Value: The reason I find most compelling in favor of Sqribble is its value. Designrr has four plans starting at $29 per month and going up to $99 per month. Each has a seven-day free trial period. Sqribble offers a one-time fee of $67. While there is no trial period, the risk is low. You can find sale prices for less. Once you sign up for Sqribble, you will see extra features, but each will have a one-time cost. After a year of Designrr on the $29 plan, you will have paid $348. You may not need to design an eBook every month, but you still pay for the service.

Check Out Sqribble

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