Timely Tips September 2014:

Smart Tip for Sent E-mails and File Retention from Your Smart Phone

* Plus, big announcement on new streaming program options coming online from yours truly

September 2014

Hi Everybody!
Hope you all have been having as beautiful a September as we've been having here in the Upper Midwest. We didn't have much of a summer, but then summer decided to come early this fall. It has been absolutely gorgeous. And that is part of the reason this Timely Tip is coming out at the very end of the month - I decided to get out and enjoy it with my kids!

I have also been traveling extensively this month for client work, and it helped me think of this month's timely tip. This is a tip that may help you when dealing with email and file retention on your smartphone devices when away from the office. Enjoy!

This Month's Timely Tips: Using BCC to Yourself for E-mails Sent from Phone

This is where you can always find your Timely Tip.

So, you are away from the office, and only have your smartphone with you. You have received an important email from one of your key clients, customers or coworkers. You need to send an important reply message. But you want to keep a copy of that sent message for later retention and documentation purposes.

Here is a very simple tip to allow you to do just that: once you create the email reply, simply put your own email address in the BCC field. By doing that, once you hit Send, that email will not only go to the intended other party, but you will also get a copy of it into your inbox on your primary work computer. That will allow you to then file that email for appropriate later reference and documentation once you are back in the office. And, of course, when using BCC, your key client, customer, or coworker will not see that you have BCC'd yourself on this message .

This is a very simple way to use your smartphone as a proper response device for important emails when away from the office, yet still keep appropriate documentation when necessary.

Exciting News! Streaming Programs Info

Here is a bit more information on my new streaming programs options. As with anything new, it always takes a bit longer to get things posted and available than anticipated. I do have two current programs available on BizYeti.com based in Atlanta, Georgia, and will soon also have programs available, in different formats, on both Proformative.com and Avanoo (both firms based in Silicon Valley). I expect to be announcing new additions to my streaming program catalog every month for the next several months.

To read the information release on this announcement (including info on how to stream the first programs available now), click here.

To note: I am overdue for a full client/subscriber database cleanup. You will likely be receiving an individual e-mail from me or someone on my team in coming weeks to both verify your subscription status/e-mail, as well as give you a bit more info on these new programs as they come online.

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So, I haven't been busy at all (yeah, right!) And, yes, this is my busiest client season too. But I wouldn't have it any other way. If you decide to try one of these streaming program options, please drop me a note and let me know about your experience.

And keep enjoying this beautiful autumn weather! Until next month, Stay Timely!

Sincerely,

Randy Dean
Randall Dean Consulting & Training, LLC
http://www.randalldean.com

PS: Please consider joining my networking list on LinkedIn -- http://www.linkedin.com/in/randydean (would love your recommendation!) and/or becoming a Taming E-mail fan on Facebook here. Follow me on Twitter @timelyman. (And I'm on YouTube & Google+ too.) ;-)

App of the Month

RING

RING -- available both on ITunes and GooglePlay, but to learn more, click here .

Last month, I shared the TrackR app that will allow you to keep track of all of your frequently lost little items. This month, I want to share with you an app and peripheral devices that I think are utterly amazing for peace of mind and home security. (Notice that these last two recommended apps have peripheral devices that allow you to extend the capabilities of your phone/tablet AWAY from your phone or tablet -- this is a great new wrinkle in the usability of these devices!)

The Ring smartphone doorbell app allows you to set up a video monitored doorbell on your house that allows you to answer anyone at your door at anytime from anywhere. In essence, even if you are away from home, it makes it seem like you are at home.

And, it also provide you with motion detectors, that will let you know if someone is on your property even if they don't ring the doorbell. And it even has an option to video record what is happening when those motion detectors or that door doorbell is activated.

I do not see this as a replacement to a traditional alarm system, but an amazing supplement to that traditional alarm system. And, depending on how far you want to take this, the costs seem quite reasonable for setting up a very powerful security addition to your home and/or business. Check it out at https://ring.com.

I have a new Surface Tablet running Outlook/Office 2013

Every year or so, I have to test out new software and technology, and this year, I'm testing out the new Surface tablet running Office/Outlook 13. So far, so good!

It still has most of the best capabilities of previous versions of Outlook, and is obviously a much lighter device than a traditional laptop. (And YES, you can drag & drop with your finger!!!) ;-)

If your firm has recently upgraded, keep in mind that I can now do programs for clients using Outlook 2010 OR 2013, as well as obviously the Google productivity suite.