Survey software available online is not restrained to the use of business providers. The corporate organizations often use the tool to survey the employees. The human resources department is entitled to collect data regarding to employee satisfaction, employee engagement and annual reviews. The tasks become easier with the implementation of the software. You can even make use of the software to process the job application forms or the exit interview proceedings.

The free survey site is beneficial for the Information Technology team of the organizations. You can find if the end users, whether the clients or the employees of your organization are satisfied with the efficiency of the IT department. You can gather feedback on the IT products and even find possibilities for technological developments. The easy to use software facilitates communication with your clients and employees.

When you’re searching for the right online survey tool, there are hundreds of free online survey tools you can choose from. It can become dizzying trying to figure out which of these tools really has the best survey software — let alone try and figure out which of them can do exactly what you need to do for free.

SurveyExpression’s Free Survey Tool

SurveyExpression’s free online survey tool is ideal for anyone from the occasional blogger looking to embed a survey onto their website to a market researcher looking for a high quality, advanced survey tool that can handle the most complex survey logic. We give you access to 18 different question types including essay boxes, multiple choice radio buttons, checkboxes, ranking, continuous sum, and many more. We also allow you unlimited number of questions per survey, as well as an unlimited number of total surveys you can send out at our free level.

Here are the main features that you can access for free using SurveyExpression:

- UNLIMITED Surveys
- UNLIMITED Questions
- 200 responses/survey
- Easy-to-use survey editor
- Professional reports
- Ad-free surveys
- Data export
- Print reports to pdf
- Email notifications
- Survey library
- Customizable look & feel
- Survey folders
- Hidden fields
- Advanced question types

No other major survey software provider will allow you to create unlimited surveys with unlimited questions, gather 200 responses/survey for free and allow you to download your results for offline analysis. That makes SurveyExpression the best free online survey tool. Sign-up now to take advantage of SurveyExpression.

That is why it’s incredibly important for any business wishing to conduct a customer survey to put a lot of thought into designing it properly. The most effective customer surveys ask questions that are clear, concise, and that prompt the person taking it to give frank and honest responses; they don’t tire out survey takers, or annoy them, but simply serve the simple function of gathering data.

Designing an effective customer survey is actually more difficult than one would initially think. It is advised to do some Internet research for a great survey sample online. If you look at more than one survey sample, you will notice certain patterns in the types of questions asked, and the way they are worded. You may need to look for a survey sample that is reflective of the industry you are in, as an ideal example for how your survey should look.

Putting time into creating great customer surveys can prove a great benefit, in the long term, for improving your business.

Setting up an effective online survey does not have to be expensive or complicated. In fact, if your goals are modest, it can cost you only your time. Many businesses do not need the elaborate precision required for formal surveys. It is enough to ask a chosen group of customers what they think about a product or service.

Finding the Best Survey Tool Online

Asking the right questions can be hard when it comes to your search for the best free online survey tools. If you have an idea of what you are going to be using the survey tool for, it will be easier for you to decide which one will be the best for you.

Starting Your Search

To start your search for an online survey tool, it is easiest if you have an idea of the types of surveys you are going to be conducting and what question types you are going to need to accomplish your goals. Most free online survey tools give you access to a limited number of question types, so it is important to figure out which questions you are going to need for your survey.

It is also important to figure out how many questions you plan on needing to conduct your survey. Many of the more limiting survey tools out there only allow you 10 questions or less per survey at the free level, and many people find that quite restricting.

SurveyExpression’s Free Survey Tool

SurveyExpression’s free online survey tool is ideal for anyone from the occasional blogger looking to embed a survey onto their website to a market researcher looking for a high quality, advanced survey tool that can handle the most complex survey logic. We give you access to 18 different question types including essay boxes, multiple choice radio buttons, checkboxes, ranking, continuous sum, and many more. We also allow you unlimited number of questions per survey, as well as an unlimited number of total surveys you can send out at our free level.

SurveyExpression’s free account is one of the best free survey tool accounts around. And the best part — it’s completely free! Use it for however long you want and we won’t delete any of the data you collect, or put a limit on how many surveys you can put out per month, or how many questions you can put into a survey. Also, you can export your data without any problems. It’s just that easy! Create a free account today and start using the best online survey tool around!

Answering customer questions and resolving issues is a complicated process, prone to glitches that lets customers slip through the cracks. Help desk support provides resources to keep track of contacts, making sure each customer gets the attention required to make sure their experience, and thus their image of the company and its customer service operation remains as positive as possible. It helps customer service agents remain organized and productive by prioritizing their activities and making sure nothing gets forgotten. The best such systems allow queries to reach agents through a variety of communications channels and help the agent leverage resources within his own company to assist the customer.

Support Ticket Management

Zendesk employs tickets, or records of all the interactions related to a specific customer and a specific problem, to manage the quality of customer experience. A ticket can be initiated by a phone call, a tweet or Facebook update, by email or face to face. However a client chooses to ask for help, whether for further training or resolution of a problem, the result is a ticket. When a it first appears, a ticket is New. After an agent accesses it, it becomes Open. If it needs a response from the customer or someone else like a regulator, it becomes Pending, and then Open again when it comes back. When the issue is resolved, the ticket is designated Solved. It then ages for a designated period to allow the client to follow up if necessary before being closed.

Multi-channel support

Zendesk allows clients to track all customer interactions in a single consolidated environment. Whether a customer contact occurs through email or chat, through a mobile app or social media, it is visible from within Zendesk. Not only can any email become a support ticket with a single click, but tweets can also be converted from a public interchange on twitter into a ticket enabling private interaction with the customer. Clients can allow their customers to chat on line with a representative, search a knowledge base or interact with one another on community forums.

Forums and Community Support

Zendesk implements message board functions that allow users to set up forums as part of their support effort. Community support operations can be peer to peer forums in which users share their own experiences, or they can be managed by moderators employed by the company. Variations on the same functionality allow the construction of a knowledge base which the company’s clients can access on a self-service basis. If the need arises a forum topic can be promoted to ticket status.

Custom branding

Customization of a customer service portal allows an organization to brand it so that the portal looks just like the rest of the operation’s web presence. Control of Zendesk pages through Cascading Style Sheets allows customers to tailor their colors, fonts, menus and layouts. Logos can be added and any language employed within the portal. Zendesk’s standard offering allows the use of HTML templates and the specification of customized email addresses and domain names, and the Enterprise addition can handle multiple branding of a single centralized help desk.

Zendesk Enabled Applications

Integration with other applications is a Zendesk specialty. Almost any device or software a company uses can be configured to work with Zendesk to complement help desk operations.

* Android/iPhone integration unchains help desk personnel from the office, permitting them to handle tickets on the go.

* Basecamp project management software can access new feature requests submitted through a Zendesk operation for evaluation and possible inclusion in new versions of software.

* Beanstalk revision control software can be integrated with Zendesk to allow tickets to be linked with the software changes that resolved the situation.

* Campfire chat rooms are a natural adjunct of Zendesk. They allow customers to enter a chat room and interact with customer service personnel.

* Clickatell can be configured to let Zendesk operators send text messages from within Zendesk

* Twitter integration allows Zendesk users to turn tweets from customers with problems into customer service tickets, called Twickets, and address them through the Zendesk system.

* Facebook users can sign into the social network with Zendesk’s single sign in capability to monitor their company’s page and address customer service issues that may be voiced there.

* FreshBooks lets users of Zendesk track the time they dedicate to customer services and, if necessary, produce invoices based on those figures.

* Google Analytics integration allows Zendesk users to track the way customers navigate their pages

* MailChimp mailing list software can be configured to provide help desk customers with informative newsletters.

* OpenID can be set up to allow users to log into Zendesk with its identity verification.

* WordPress integration allows a company to make its blog an actual part of its customer service effort. A blog question can be assigned a support ticket directly from WordPress.

* CRM (Customer Relationship Management) and Help-desk support goes hand-in-hand. For any organization both the applications are backbone of their customer experience enrichment. And Zendesk has done fantastic job of integrating with two of the best CRM solutions – Highrise and Salesforce.

Zendesk is a great help desk offering for businesses of any size ranging from single person to enterprise. Around the globe 10,000+ businesses are using Zendesk to support customers and resolve issues quickly. You can try it for free and if you like it, you can buy any of the plans offered from $9 Per agent/month to $99 Per agent/month pricing. Better support ticket management, multi channel support, forums, custom branding and awesome integrations with other applications put Zendesk forefront competitors in help-desk solutions.

For more details about help desk support tools and online ticketing systems, visit www.web-based-soft.com.

Helpdesks have been traditionally used as call centers. Helpdesks are now fundamental and key aspects of good business service and operation. Helpdesks can provide both internal and external users the ability to ask questions and receive effective answers. Helpdesks play a key role in modern business organizations.Support your customers regardless of your or customer’s location.

Web-based help desk software is simply call tracking software that people use over the Internet or through an intranet. Web-based help desk software is located on a web server and can be accessed in any place with an Internet or intranet connection. Web based software enables a business to grow as it helps potential and existing customers to communicate with the business or supplier and smoothens problems faced in customer service. Web based helpdesk means an interface where the clients are provided help with respect to spam mail, web forms, etc. Service Level management is often crucial to the helpdesk process as a measure of its success.

Selecting a proper help desk software is essential for any company which really wishes to provide best possible customer support. When you have implemented the correct solution, you will see better results because of reduction of response and resolution times, but also increase customer satisfaction rates and customer retention. Select a proper help desk software for your company to maximize your profits and reduce your IT costs.

Here is a list of some good it help desk software tools (in random order).

ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus – www.manageengine.com
 

ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus is a Web-based, easy to use Help Desk and Asset Management software whose features include contract management, software license management, network inventory management, purchasing, active directory & LDAP integrations and knowledge management functionalities. ServiceDesk Plus is a highly customizable, easy-to-implement help desk software with best ITIL practises. It also provides Hosted, SaaS Help Desk with Asset Management Suite, ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus On-demand.

Zendesk – www.zendesk.com
 

Zendesk is the web based help desk software with support ticket system and a self-service customer support platform. Combining the fields Priority, Type (Question, Incident, Problem, Task), and Status (New, Open, Pending, Solved), and age, ZenDesk creates a score that places that ticket in order.

Sysaid – www.sysaid.com
 

SysAid is a suite of web-based IT software tools. It automates your processes for help desk, hardware configurations, asset monitoring, software licenses, tasks, projects and much more. By automatically scanning and testing your network, SysAid provides you with the necessary details about each machine and lets you control each one remotely.

H2Desk – www.h2desk.com
 

H2desk is the powerful way to provide online support to your customers. From small businesses to larger corporations, the help desk will streamline your online communication with your customers – your business will save time and money. Create, manage, and overlook unlimited staff members, departments, and tickets.

Web Help Desk – www.webhelpdesk.com
 

Web Help Desk is a web-based help desk software that empowers IT help desk technicians with email-to-ticket conversion, trouble ticket email notifications, track work time, a self-service knowledge base, LDAP & Active Directory integration, and much more.

Helpdesk Pilot – www.helpdeskpilot.com
 

HelpDesk Pilot is web based, php & mysql driven support / trouble ticket solution. Turn customer emails into tickets and each email id as a deparment. Add support members (staff) to a department. Each ticket (issue) is grouped by responses and each activity is tracked.

Numara Track-IT – www.numarasoftware.com
 

Numara Track-It is a comprehensive IT help desk software and asset management solution that allows you to cost effectively implement industry best practices, including ITIL . It helps you manage all aspects of help desk and asset management functions.

For more details about online helpdesk systems and help desk software tools, visit www.web-based-soft.com.

Online surveys are a great option for business owners who would like to conduct their own research, and online survey tools make it possible for these business owners to perform market research at a fraction of the usual cost. The list below explains ten benefits of using online surveys as a way of researching your target market.

1. Faster

The time span needed to complete an online survey project is on average two-thirds shorter than that of a traditional research method. Because the information is being gathered automatically, you don’t have to wait for paper questionnaires to come back to you. The response rate is almost instant. Online marketing experts say that more than half the responses are in within the first three days of the research project.

2. Cheaper

Using online questionnaires can halve your research costs. Your business can save money on postage, and you don’t have to allocate part of your staff to enter the information into a database. The responses are processed automatically, and the results are accessible at any time.

3. More Accurate

There is a smaller margin of error because participants enter their responses directly into the system. Traditional methods rely on the attentiveness of staff to enter all details correctly, and naturally human error can creep in whenever a person has to perform a repetitive task.

4. Quick to Analyze

The results of the online survey are ready to be analyzed at any time. The data can be presented in graphs or tables, and most online survey tools also offer cross tabulation analysis tools to create contingency tables.

5. Easy to Use for Participants

Ninety percent of people that have access to the Internet prefer to answer surveys online instead of using the telephone. With an online survey participants can pick a time that suits them best, and the time needed to complete the survey is much shorter. Questions that are not relevant to a particular participant can be skipped automatically.

6. Easy to Use for Researchers

The main benefit of online surveys for researchers is that it saves time. The data is instantly available and can easily be transferred into specialized statistical software or spreadsheets when more detailed analysis is needed.

7. Easy to Style

An online survey can be styled to match your business website and your brand. You can choose the colors and layout of your survey, and you can add your company logo. You can also add images, audio, or video to the questions in the survey. Be careful though because sometimes this can lead to long waiting times between questions, when pages are slow to load. This can be potentially off-putting for some participants.

8. More Honest

Market researchers have found that participants in online surveys usually provide longer and more detailed answers. Because participants feel safe in the anonymous environment of the Internet, they are more likely to open up and give a more truthful response.

9. More Selective

With an online survey you can pre-screen participants and allow only those who match your target profile to complete the survey. This way of working allows you to really target specific issues and questions about your business by asking only those who can give you the answers.

10. More Flexible

The order of the questions in an online survey can be changed, or questions can be skipped altogether, depending on the answer to a previous question. This way, a survey can be tailored to each participant as he or she proceeds.

To sum up, online surveys are less time consuming, they are cheaper, you get the results faster, and you can transfer and use the data in other business applications. The results of the survey can be used to answer important questions about your business. As a business owner you can design your own online survey with one of the many free online survey tools.

Survey software can be used to obtain feedback from your employees or from visitors to your website, and from your customers, who can give their opinions on your business and your products.

Getting client feedback and finding out information about customer preferences can make the difference between the success and failure of your business. With the internet so widely available, web surveys are an easy way to gather information from your customers or potential clients. The first step in using web-based surveys is to select software to create surveys and analyze the data. There are a dizzying number of options available, and it can be difficult to know which survey software to choose.

If you’ve found yourself with the daunting task of researching survey software, we feel your pain and we’re here to help. Web-based-soft.com has developed a simple, logical and objective 3-step guide that will help you and your organization make the right survey software choice.

Step 1: Compile a Comprehensive List
 
Create a list made up of all potential candidates. Take to the streets (literally and figuratively) and scour search engines, ask friends and colleagues, and use online business directories that list survey software providers. When using search engines, be sure to specify the most relevant keyword phrases that appeal to you and your organization; this will help narrow down your search. For instance, you might use long-tail keyword phrases like ‘Microsoft-based survey software’ in order to find a survey tool based on a Microsoft platform or ‘customer satisfaction survey software’ to find one specific to customer feedback. Include every option you come across, even if you know you will quickly eliminate many of them. Including obvious  ‘no-good’s’ will often help you hone in on the attributes that are must-haves, as well as the ones that aren’t as critical.

Step 2: Compare Basic Attributes – It’s Spreadsheet Time
 
Now it’s time to create a spreadsheet that will become your ratings guide for product comparison. Use your spreadsheet rows to lay out the product attributes and features that are important to you. For example: Price Range, Support Options, Delivery Options, Architecture, Security, Question Types and Advanced Features (i.e. Ratings Scales, Matrix Questions, Skip Logic, Piping, Etc.), Branding Options, Invitations Options, Number of Users, User Management Options, Multilanguage, Reports, and Integration. To make scanning your grid easier, group together and highlight the attributes that are most critical to your project and your decision.

Survey software company websites should provide most of the information necessary to populate your grid, but you may need to make a few phone calls or send a few emails to sales departments to fill in the blanks. While not always the case, keep in mind that a transparent and well organized website with a wide variety of information and resources related to the product often speaks volumes in terms of a company’s commitment to customer service and support.

You may also want to fill in your grid with information you gain first-hand through a software trial or free account. Most survey software products offer a limited time free trial or free basic account to let you kick the tires and experience what the product looks like, feels like, and delivers. If available, a free trial is also a good time to evaluate the company’s support options, documentation, and training options. If customer support isn’t available with your free account, give the sales department a call with a sample support question – their willingness to help a potential client with a free account is often a good indication of the service you will receive in the future.

Step 3: Narrow it Down & Analyze Top Candidates in Depth
 
After compiling your spreadsheet, testing some of the software, speaking with the companies, and checking out what kind of resources they have available, you probably have a pretty good idea of your top three to five contenders. Before you make your final decision, it’s time to dig a little deeper.

Compare your most critical attributes side by side among the survey tools on your short list and make sure you fully understand the differences between each one. For instance, when evaluating software based on cost, take a hard look at how your needs line up with their offerings and be aware of any incremental costs you may incur. Many ‘value-positioned’ software tools are a great deal for occasional users or survey projects with low response needs, but the incremental costs of adding additional surveys, responses, or users can often surpass the cost of purchasing a higher priced tool with higher or no limits.

Your final choice should do the best job balancing price, having the most features on your critical list, being scalable if your needs change, and having adequate resources to get you going including self-service training resources and a friendly, helpful sales and support staff. Online surveys are critical to so many areas of a successful business including customer retention, employee satisfaction, and more; spending enough time doing your due diligence to make sure you have exactly the right survey product for your needs will come back to you many-fold in the value a good survey tool will bring you.

For more details about online surveys and survey software tools, visit web-based-soft.com.

Project management continues to become an important and popular topic today. This is understandable because project management done correctly will help an organization get better at what it does, and make it more competitive. Project management software is one of the tools that organizations use to help implement project management. This article provides a five step process for choosing the right project management software.

Step 1: Determine the goals that you are trying to accomplish

 
It is vitally important that you determine what it is that you are trying to accomplish. Implementing project management software is not the same as implementing project management. You will need to identify what you are trying to accomplish so that you can not only choose the right software, but also implement the right processes to accomplish those items effectively in conjunction with the software.

One of the best ways to do this is to get feedback from others and identify two to three key problems that you need to solve, such as a lack of communication, key items slipping through the cracks, a lack of innovation, or constantly “fighting fires.” After that, create some key business cases that will help you solve these. A business case is a process that you will perform, in this case with the software tool (i.e. “create a project from a standardized template to reduce missed steps,” or “viewing all active projects to foster communication”). A good vendor will give you guidance on matching your problems with good business cases if you are having trouble.

Step 2: Generate a list of products

 
Despite the breadth of available tools, project management software can be broken down into the following four main categories. Determine the appropriate tool category, and then generate a list of products in that area by performing an Internet search and reviewing web sites.

1. Existing in-house software: this refers to existing in-house tools such as Microsoft® Excel that could be used to facilitate project management.
2. Individual software: this refers to purchased tools to manage individual projects by an individual person.
3. Medium-sized systems: this refers to tools that are designed to be a central project management system for small to medium sized organizations that contain some of the features, but not all of the complexity of a high-end system (these may be hosted by the vendor or installed by you).
4. High-end systems: this refers to systems that are designed to be a central project management system for a large organization, such as an entire Fortune 500 company.

You can find on our site a list of free project management tools if you need.

Step 3: Perform Evaluations

 
Once you have generated a list of software tools, you can begin your evaluation process. Be sure that you answer the following key questions in your evaluation:

1. What does the software do? How will it facilitate your key business goals and cases?
2. Is it easy to work with the vendor? Do they focus on your project management needs, or are they just interested in selling software?
3. Will the software be used? How easy will it be to perform the relevant business cases for your average team member?
4. How much does the software cost?
5. What training options are available? Is there online training? Is there personalized training from the vendor, either remotely or onsite?

These are some of the methods that you can use to answer those questions:

1. Obtain a feature list from the vendor.
2. Ask the vendor (if they have not already offered) for a phone consultation. Use this as an opportunity to communicate your key needs and goals to the vendor, and find out how the vendor recommends using their software to meet those goals.
3. Ask for a personalized demonstration. This can often be done remotely and will enable you to learn more about how the software works, and how it specifically addresses your key business goals and cases.
4. Download or sign-up for an evaluation. You may be able to download a trial version of an individual product, but you will more than likely have to sign-up for an online evaluation of medium-sized products. Regardless, do this and run through the business cases and perform your own hands-on evaluation.
5. Ask for a written cost summary from the vendor, and ensure that it includes the initial purchase, any recurring maintenance and support fees, as well as any implementation and training fees.

Step 4: Make your selection

 
Based on what you have learned, make your selection. It is sometimes helpful to create a matrix of the systems you are looking at with key information about each system, such as business case execution, ease of use, how well the vendor works with you, pricing, and other information.

Conclusion

 
Once you have made your selection, that is just the beginning. You are now embarking on the process of implementing the software you have selected, learning how to use it in relation to what you are trying to accomplish, and incorporating it into the day to day operations of your organization. Installing project management software is not a magic solution, but it can be a very helpful tool in the overall quest to help your organization perform better, and be more competitive through better project management.

For more details about online project management tools and collaboration software, visit www.web-based-soft.com.

One of the most fundamental parts of customer interaction is communicating with the client about resolving issues. This usually involved a lot of paperwork and a team of people to accomplish, but not anymore. Customer support software, also called IT help desk software, is here to simplify customer interaction.

Web-based IT help desk software allows clients to save time by avoiding lengthy phone calls made even longer by being switched around from one department to another. Now, a client can submit a set of questions and get along with life while the support staff compile quality answers in a timely fashion. Since the service is email and web-based, customers can submit questions via online forms 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The majority of customer issues can usually be solved in a matter of minutes. This is where knowledge base software comes in handy. The knowledge base contains articles and instructions that answer a client’s questions or solve his problems without even having to contact the support staff in the first place.

Using the knowledge base is as simple typing in a question or a short description of a problem and instantly getting answers. This feature allows both parties to save time and money while still getting an issue resolved. An employer may open the system to his own employees, which means a more efficient and faster system to handle any internal inquiries ranging from company policy to technical support.

The most important part of help desk software is the automation of work. The trouble ticket software will quickly and easily convert question emails into tickets which allow tracking of each customer’s problems with ease.

This streamlines the whole support process and rules out any chance of mistakes or delays. Also, the customer support software keeps a record of all tickets created, thus providing the support staff with a history of each client’s interaction with the company.

To top it all off, it is possible to simply purchase a web-based software solution from a professional company. This way, the people that know everything about running customer support software are in charge of security, uptime and keeping everything running smoothly.

To summarize, web-based IT help desk software is the product of the future. It allows clients to receive help irregardless of where they are or what time it is. It also automates and normalizes the whole process, saving time and money for all parties involved, while providing a high quality support service to the client and ensuring a long and healthy business relationship.

Top help desk software

For more details about help desk software, visit web-based-soft.com.

Websites, no matter what they are for or who runs them, may sooner or later run into problems. For example, the web provider that is hosting the site could experience some down time. There could be an error that causes a certain product to become unavailable for a short time. However, not everything that happens is a result of the overall site experiencing an error. In some cases, customers may simply be confused about a certain page or feature on the site. With such a narrow and individual field, help for this customer can be difficult to tackle, making both the company and customer unhappy in the long run.

How can a business give their customers quick and easy assistance without cutting into the productivity of their employees? The answer sits with IT help desk software. With knowledge base software, all a company needs to do is install it, and the support software will help customers when needed. A worker that has to spend most of their time answering phone calls and emails is less likely to be productive for the well-being of the company. With something else to handle it for them, they can get back to what is important for them to accomplish.

Selecting the right software solution will take time and the decision should not be taken lightly. However, there are several points that any company, regardless of its size or budget, should consider prior to settling on a solution:

1. Decide whether a cloud-based or self-hosted solution is right for you – For smaller organizations and those on tight budgets which need a solution that works right out of the box, a cloud-based system is usually the best choice. Companies with dedicated IT support staff who can handle the implementation and management of new software and hardware will be able to freely choose between the cloud and self-hosted systems.
2. Set a budget – The cost of a help desk varies widely and can range anywhere from $0 to well over $1,000 per agent. Set a budget and allow it to guide the purchasing decision. Be sure to pay close attention to how each solution prices its services; some services charge monthly fees, while others charge one-time-only fees.
3. Make a list of required features – Each help desk solution offers a wide variety of features and it is vital to a company’s success to choose a solution that offers every function that is essential to running a successful support desk. Gather the support team and have a discussion about the current challenges they are facing. Be sure to ask them what they need to overcome those challenges and streamline the support process.
4. Figure out how much storage space you need – When creating a database of articles and other support materials, it is important to choose a solution that offers more space than you think you actually need. This will ensure that the help desk is able to grow with your company. Fortunately, there are solutions that offer unlimited storage space to all of their customers.
5. Check for compatibility – Ensure that any solution you choose displays correctly on the Internet browsers that are used at your company and by the majority of your clients. Also check that the email submission system works with your current email server.
6. Choose the right ticket management features – All ticket management systems are not created equally. While some offer automatic ticket assignments based on rules, the ability to close and reopen tickets at will, and unlimited access to a full history of every ticket that has ever been created, others do not. Never settle for a solution that fails to provide the level of control your company needs.
7. Always be branded – Branding your help desk is crucial to clients recognizing and trusting that their requests are reaching your company. Find a solution that allows you to easily add your logo, color schemes, and fonts to the help desk’s layout as well as to email templates.
8. Opt for security – Dealing with support issues often requires clients and companies to exchange private and sensitive data with one another. Find a system that uses a secure connection, such as SSL and other encryption forms, for all communications and data transfers.
9. Think about using a Web interface – Some ticketing systems allow clients to create tickets via email and a Web-based system, while others do not. Take some time to consider which submission systems will benefit your clients and company before settling on a help desk.
10. Consider deployment – While some help desks require dedicated staff with advanced levels of technical knowledge to create and maintain them, others can easily be maintained by nearly anyone who knows how to use a computer and the Web. Think about who will be deploying the help desk for your company, what equipment may be needed, and how long the deployment will take. For quick and easy deployments, choose a system that does not require any HTML, CSS, or JavaScript coding knowledge.
11. Take a test drive – Most, if not all, help desk software companies will allow you to take a video tour of their software or use the software in demo mode for a limited period of time. Never spend a penny on any software solution until you’ve tried it or seen it in action.

For more details about help desk software and online support ticket systems, visit www.web-based-soft.com.