How to Grow Your Small Business with Microsoft 365

More than 3.5 million companies worldwide use Microsoft 365 to speed up business processes and boost productivity. And according to a recent report, LinkedIn revenue increased by 27% thanks to Office 365 marketing solutions. The productivity software helps you work smarter and keeps your productivity at its peak. Here are five ways to get the most out of Microsoft 365.

  1. Leverage Focused Inbox

Microsoft’s Focused Inbox sorts your emails into two categories—Focused and Other. Important emails that require immediate action go to the “Focused” section, while less important emails like newsletters go to the “Other” tab. Emails are categorized based on their importance.

The software sorts your emails by analyzing the people and businesses you interact with regularly and the nature of the discussions. It saves you a lot of time you’d spend sifting through emails, letting you manage your workload more efficiently.

  1. Improve Your Presentation Skills with AI Coach

Enhance your presentation skills with Microsoft’s Presenter coach. Click on the rehearsal mode and learn the proper pronunciation of words, tips on pacing, linguistic choices, and the proper use of culturally sensitive words. After each rehearsal, a report is provided with statistics and suggestions for improvements.

The report may also recommend the best synonyms that make your speech more precise, like using the words dually truck instead of a dual-rear-wheel truck. Check the detailed report at the end of your rehearsal to find out what you need to change or improve.

  1. Plan Meetings with Scheduling Assistant

Scheduling Assistant helps you plan meetings better based on everyone’s availability. The feature is built into the calendar to make the software more efficient. To use Scheduling Assistant, create an event on the calendar and add those you want to attend the meeting.

The Scheduling Assistant has a time selector that allows you to drag and drop the time on the calendar until it turns green. Green indicates everyone is available, while red indicates unavailability. All dates should be white before you drag and drop your preferred time.

  1. Collaborate with Your Team

Microsoft Teams allows teams to work together on the same project in real time. It eliminates the tedious back-and-forth sharing of files that usually happens via email. The feature offers unlimited group meetings with up to 300 participants per meeting.

Real-time collaboration ensures all team members work on the most current project version and reduces the risk of errors and duplication. Users enjoy up to 10GB of cloud storage and unlimited chats, even on the free version. They can offer virtual team training sessions and even host interactive webinars with over 1000 attendees.

  1. Stay Organized with OneNote

OneNote is a productivity app and a digital notebook. The note-taking app lets you keep your notes, plans, research, and anything you want to remember without running out of paper. 

You can organize your to-do list based on priorities such as work meetings and doctor’s appointments. The app may send you email notifications about recent notebook activity to communicate any changes and additions that people make to your shared notebooks.

Apple is a good alternative to Microsoft for those who prefer a different operating system or want to use Apple-specific applications. Be creative when it comes to getting the right devices.  Consider buying refurbished devices like iPhones, iPads, and Macs.  These devices go through rigorous testing, cleaning, and repackaging to ensure that they meet the same standards as new devices. If finances are an issue, consider using creative financing solutions by searching for personal loans, title loans, or even angel investors. Buying refurbished devices is a great option for those who want to save money while still enjoying the benefits of using Apple products. Refurbished devices from trusted sources come with a warranty, giving you peace of mind that you are getting a quality product.

By utilizing the features of Microsoft 365 effectively, you can optimize your productivity and overcome financial challenges in your business. Remember to leverage focused inbox, improve your presentation skills, plan meetings efficiently, collaborate with your team, and stay organized with OneNote.