With the advent of Windows 7, most PC users have to update their system, something that you’ve surely done in the past and will inevitably have to do again in the future.  With all the software, browser, and operating system updates that are continually being released, it’s not unusual to find yourself falling behind, especially if you’re not one of those techie geeks who watches Mac Rumors religiously or could tell me Bill Gate’s favorite breakfast cereal.  You may not see the necessity of staying on top of computer updates, and in fact, you may not see how this topic relates to online business or dropshipping at all.  But a simple software update could have a far greater impact on your online business than you imagine.  In the e-business world, the march of technology has a butterfly effect: each change creates a ripple that grows larger and larger as it spreads through the virtual realm.

Why are computer updates important? If you’re not using the most current versions of software like Microsoft Word and browsers like Mozilla Firefox and Internet Explorer, you don’t know what you might be missing.  If you send an outdated Word file, the recipient likely won’t be able to open it.  The supplier you emailed or the customer you’re communicating with may well drop the conversation entirely rather than struggle to open the file or ask you to send it again.  If your browser is outdated, you probably won’t be able to view most graphics and videos properly, and you may not be able to visit some sites at all.  Staying on the current edge of technological updates is important for convenience, communication, and professionalism in the online business world.

How can you stay up to date? Most systems have an option to continually search for and download updates.  Also, it’s a good idea to have a techie clean up your computer regularly, checking for viruses, making sure everything is current, streamlining your system to run more efficiently.

Other things to consider: Other common problems we encounter in e-business communication are spam filters set so tightly that legitimate business emails can’t squeak thorough, and firewalls so intense that a customer can’t log into the Wholesale Match website or other sites that require passwords.  You want to protect your computer, but you also want to make sure you’re not locking out valid communication.  To avoid the virus paranoia you could always do what I did and switch to a Mac

dropshipping, online business