Productivity – Content Hub

Technology might be moving at a fast pace, but sometimes your Internet connection loves nothing more than slowing down. This can occur for a variety of reasons, from viruses to broadband configuration errors. We suggest you go through the following troubleshooting steps to ensure your internet speed is running at the optimum level.

1. Test your speed

Test your broadband speed

When you are experiencing lagging web pages or it’s taking a long time to download files, check your broadband speed using speedtest.net. This online tool helps to accurately measure network speed. Simply complete a click test and you ’ll be shown what download and upload speeds are. You can also determine your ping time, this means how long it takes to get a signal to your nearest location and back.

To put this into perspective, you’ll need 0.5 megabits per second (minimum) to watch Netflix in real time. DVD quality episodes of your favorite shows, you’ll need three megabits per second.If you’re watching in HD, you’ll need five megabits per second. Just remember not to compare your actual results with your ISPs maximum expected speeds. Depending on where you live (e.g. far away from a node or in a congested area), you might not always be able to get the best speeds possible – especially during peak times.

Understand Internet shaping

Your Internet is slower when your downloads exceed your monthly internet bandwidth allowance. Once you go over the limit, your internet service provider (ISP) either charges extra money on per-megabyte basis or slows down the internet speed to 64Kbps.

How much data do you need? How important is it to have a realistic estimation of your monthly data usage? Think carefully about your downloading habits and consult your broadband providers for the best option. In general, having 10-20GB per month is suitable for those who do general activities, such as web surfing, checking social media, watching Youtube. But if you are a heavy downloader and enjoy watching live stream TV, it is safe to go with 50-100 GB plans.

Check NBN connection

For those who have a real need for speed, having NBN is the best option to ensure your speed needs are met. It is consistently fast and more than capable of providing a faster speed than other broadband options. However, as noted, it is only available in certain areas. Check here to see whether NBN has been made available in your area.

Home desk with modem & devices / Source: Tattwa Networks

2. Free up some space on your computer

Remove unnecessary programs on your hard drive

Are there any programs you installed but haven’t used for a while? Now it is the time to hit the uninstall button. Not only will removing unnecessary or old programs free up space on your hard drive, but it will also improve the overall health of your computer – including your Internet speeds.

Installed programs can run on the operating system even if they’re not being used. The more connections there are, the more work your OS (Operating System) has to do. Computers are certainly advanced, but just like us, multitasking can slow things down.

Use 3rd party installer to remove stubborn programs

A good rule of thumb: the leaner the better. If you’re having trouble removing certain software, it might be a smart idea to find a dedicated third-party installer that allows you to scan quickly for programs and delete at the click of a button. Problem solved.

3. Conduct a computer health check

Invest in a reputable anti-virus program

If you don’t have one already, it’s time to invest in an antivirus program. While Mac and Windows have their own inbuilt virus protection (which often does the trick), it’s still worth considering an extra/alternative option. There are many to choose from, but going with a reputable program such as Norton, McAfee or Kaspersky is your best bet.

Run a anti-virus program on a regular basis

When was the last time you ran an antivirus scan? If the answer is, “I can’t remember,” – then it’s probably time to do something about it! There are viruses, worms and bugs that often perform malicious acts, such as deleting files, accessing personal data, or using your computer to attack other computers. And the truth is, malicious software can hijack your network and slow your connection.

Contact local computer repairers

4. Seek and destroy adware

Check your cookies to spot adware and spyware

Ever been bombarded by pop-up windows after clicking a link? Or installed a free download and noticed your computer has slowed down? Welcome to the frustrating world of adware and spyware. These programs range from being mildly annoying to completely invasive – and they always hijack your bandwidth.

Install programs and extensions with care

Prevention is better than fixing a problem once it is there. It is important to take extra caution when you decide to install a free tool. Legitimate sites will not force their users to install a “toolbar” or any other extra program as part of a file download.

5. Extend your Wifi network by boosting router

Tweak software to maximise performance and speed

Upgrading your firmware depends on your device manufacturer and model. Most up to date routers have the process built right into the administration interface, so it’s simply enabling the firmware upgrade button. However, older models you need to first find and download the firmware from the router manufacturer’s website. It’s tedious, but the benefits really do outway the work required.

The faster the better

While it’s a sad thing to say, many people’s lives now revolve around the Internet – researching, buying things, booking travel, setting up businesses, finding work, developing our skills. Productivity is the key to organise our busy lives. So, when we can’t do these things efficiently, it can be frustrating. If your connection is jumping about or your speed is slowing you down all the time, look to need the following steps to troubleshoot and speed things up.

If the problem has gone beyond your control, speak with a computer repairer to solve it immediately.

Running a small business often means doing several jobs at once.

As the business owner, you are simultaneously the employer, employee, accountant and admin as well as anything else that pops up during the course of a job.

If you feel like your time is constantly being pulled in multiple directions, and it is hard to stay on top of your tasks, don’t worry, we have a curated series of apps to help get your time back under control.

General productivity

Google Keep – iOS/Google Play

If you find that you are always misplacing notes, then Google Keep is for you. Keep’s strength comes from its simple design and tagging system. Quickly jot down a note and then either colour code it to the job it is related to or add a label for easy searching at a later date.

Keep also has a handwriting to text feature. Which, while admittedly not perfect, is an excellent way to save your pen and paper notes to the cloud!

You can also add photos, audio files and video to your notes as well, ensuring you have all of your information readily accessible no matter where you are.

Time management

Toggl – iOS/Google Play

With the press of a button, Toggl will track your time down to the second. This app is useful if you have billable hours that you need to account for, as well as getting a measure of how your time is spent. You can track different activities, and, importantly multiple employees which you can then break down into smaller groups as needed.

Ensuring that you are making the most of the time you have on a project is an excellent way to minimise stress and manage your workload.

Toggl is free for up to five users. The paid version, however, allows an unlimited number of users to log time as well adding rates and sub-projects.

Project management

Trello – iOS/Google Play

If you work in a highly visual manner, then Trello is the to-do app for you! Trello is a digital version of the Kanban system. You create a board with a series of cards to move across the different stages of a project. From quoting, to in progress, to complete. You can also assign cards to employees ensuring that everyone knows what part his or her role is in the project and who has dependencies at the different stages.

Having an overview of the project’s progress will give you a much clearer idea of the remaining time and costs involved and ultimately keep you and your staff on task.

Trello is free for personal use but does incur a fee if you are signing up multiple people under the one business.

Accounting

Invoice2go – iOS/Google Play

Invoice2go makes your accounting simple. With a few swipes you can invoice a client on the spot. Either by emailing them or exporting a PDF and printing.

It also keeps all of your accounts in the cloud, meaning wherever you are you can access your invoices, estimates and purchase orders from your office.

Users, reportedly, spend an average of three hours a week less on their accounting, meaning that you can devote more time doing what you do best – helping the customer!

If you are feeling overwhelmed at the thought of all you have to do, being able to keep all your notes in the one place, track your time, plan and manage projects and invoice on the go by downloading a few apps to help streamline your business will ultimately save you both time and money.