Are you just waiting for the New Year ball to drop?

• The champagne cork to pop?
• The calendar to roll?

No matter what part of the world you’re in, now could be a good time for some business housekeeping.

You know – those tasks you should do, but often put aside.

The following are 5 quick housekeeping chores that help start off the new year right.

#1 – Back up Your Computer

Hopefully, you already employ online backup.

I love that my Carbonite account works behind the scene so my boomer brain has one less thing to think about.

There are many options for online backup. These are a few other resources.

• Crashplan
• Mozy
• SOS Online Backup

You have no shortage of opinions on the best online backup system.

I eliminated a few from the above list simply because they did that aggravating freezing of your computer with a Wait, don’t go.

The point is – have an online backup system.

• If you don’t have one – your year-end task is get one
• If you do have online backup – consider also doing an external hard drive backup

Call me paranoid.

Do you remember when you did your last external hard drive backup?

#2 – Back up Social Media Profiles

This suggestion is probably best-suited for a platform like LinkedIn or Google+.

• You worked hard at getting your profile just right
• Have you ever thought about retaining a copy?

Yes, I know the platform has it, but data can be lost. Okay, so maybe my paranoia is kicking up again.

LinkedIn makes retaining a copy simple – and you know I love simple.

1. Go to your profile
2. Click on the dropdown menu for Edit Profile
3. Select Export to PDF

 

#3 – Upgrade Your Software

WordPress 3.5 has been out for a while now. Hopefully, long enough for the plugins to catch up.

Have you upgraded yet?

• If some plugins aren’t good with keeping up, do you really want those?
• Do you have other software upgrades you haven’t gotten around to?

Most upgrades take little time. Why not get this pesky task out of the way?

#4 – Unsubscribe to Unwanted Newsletters

You get the same email newsletters in your Inbox.

• Month-after-month
• Or worse – week-after-week
• And you never read them

Plow through those menacing missiles of marketing mishaps to Unsubscribe.

Ah, the power.

#5 – Change Your Passwords

You know you’ve been meaning to do it.

If you can’t face the thought of changing all 5,452 of them, pick as many as you can.

The following are recommendations for strong passwords.

• Length should be 8 characters or more
• Mix it up with a combination of letters, numbers and characters
• Don’t use personal information, such as nicknames, birthdays, etc.
• Do not use the same password for multiple platforms

Don’t start off the new year by being hacked.

Auld Lang Syne

You’re back-upped, upgraded, unsubscribed and you’ve changed.

Now, don’t you feel better?

What business housekeeping tasks are on your year-end list?

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Helping you Keep it simple, clear & uniquely yours – contact me for help with your business writing needs.

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