Faxing without a fax machine:

I don’t have a fax machine in my office because I get very few requests to send or receive faxes. Most of the time, I’ll scan the kinds of documents I would have traditionally sent by fax in the past, and email the PDF file that scan produces.

That said, the government sometimes requests I send them a tax slip by fax, and I have worked on a couple of projects over the last few months where it was more convenient for me to receive a fax.

While I don’t intend to get a fax machine anytime soon, or pay for another costly phone line to keep it connected to the outside world, I do have a solution for anyone who finds themselves in a similar position, or is thinking about getting rid of their fax machine altogether.

I recently discovered a company based in California called OneSuite that offers a number of neat business solutions. Aside from offering pre-paid long distance calling plans and VoIP communication (broadband telephone services), they will also set up a fax line for you for just $1 a month.

The fax line is virtual, so a fax that is sent to your fax number automatically generates a PDF file that is then emailed to you from that fax number. So, there is no need for a fax machine or a new phone line. What’s more, you can request a fax number in almost any U.S. city, state or area code and have it up and running in seconds, and the phone number you are assigned is private, secure and only connects to you.

There is no charge for setting this up or for receiving faxes sent to your number — your dollar a month provides you with unlimited service — but sending faxes through your computer involves an additional $2.95 charge plus 2.5 cents per page sent.

Are you a MOOFer?

If you’ve ever left the office midday to escape your cubicle and co-workers, and prefer to get your work done at the nearby Starbucks, you’re part of a new trend called MOOFing, or Mobile Out-of-Office Working.

An article in the Chicago Tribune looked at how James McCarthy, a 33-year-old Microsoft employee in the U.K., spends about two days a week working from home, but can be contacted by his clients just as easily as anyone else in his office.

Moofers who choose to work at the cafes and java joints near their offices find they are more productive because they are not dealing with in-office distractions such as gossip and chatter, while those who work from home find they can work during the time they would otherwise be commuting.

Some moofers are using mobile technology (such as BlackBerry phones and video conferencing) to maintain a virtual office presence while traveling the globe, while others are using it to bolster their corporate image on a very small budget.

A few reasons to pack courier supplies:

When packing for a business trip, you might want to consider adding a few pre-printed FedEx air waybill sheets and pouches to your luggage.

This makes it easier for you to ship any hard to carry items or heavy packages you might have to unexpectedly bring back with you, as not every hotel’s business center is always fully equipped and a Kinko’s might be hard to find.

This was the case at a Doubletree Hotel in Boston, where the business center was somewhat bare during a holiday weekend.

Those FedEx waybill pouches are also wonderful multi-taskers, should you ever find yourself without a lint brush.

Simply slip your hand into one of these pouches, wearing it like a baseball glove or an oven mitt, peel it to reveal the adhesive backing, and pat any lint or pet hair off your clothes. This works better than any lint brush I’ve ever used.

Changing Focus:

I have been talking to a few of this site’s regular readers in an effort to get a better idea of what they like (and dislike) about this blog, and what kind of content they would like to see in the future.

Our articles about running a small business, working remotely, and traveling and working on-the-go have gotten the highest marks, while our secondary focus on the marketing research profession and its events were thought to be less pertinent (as this information is readily available elsewhere, and is usually communicated to industry professional by the associations themselves). This is good to know, as this will also make this blog much more accessible.

That said, I have taken all of this into account and have decided to relaunch this blog effective immediately.

As I am swamped over the next couple of weeks, I will kick things off by reposting the best and most relevant posts I have written over the last two years in the coming weeks, updating them and adding some new content along the way.