Sometimes you get a document from a client in a newer file format like .docx from Microsoft Word 2007. And you can’t open it with your older version of Word – and whoever sent it just didn’t know to back save the file. There’s a couple of things you can do; call the client back and ask them to back save it and send it again so you can read it, or, if you’re in a pinch, you can open it up in Google Docs. You’ll probably lose some formatting, but you’ll have the information, and that’s all that matters. You can cut and paste to make a new document if you need to. Plus, if you’re using a mobile appliance like a Blackberry, IPhone or other and you're on the road and you don’t have Word handy you’ll be able to read the document no matter where you are. For basic document preparation Google Docs is tailor made for a small business that hasn’t budgeted for Microsoft Office. The best part – Google Docs is free. Google isn’t just about search, they have a lot of tools to help small business. All free of charge.

So, how do you start with Google Docs? Easy, just sign up for a Gmail account, it’s free. All small businesses should have an alternate Gmail account. And a Gmail account helps with Search Engine Optimization (a post for another time).

By the way; to back-save a document made in the newest version of Word, just click on the little round button in the very top left of Word 2007, hover over Save As in the drop down menu, select “Word 97-2003 document” and your all done. There, now you know something that a lot of professionals don’t know and you can pass it on to your peers and friends.