3. Software

Software usually comes bundled with your computer and in some cases you can save a few pennies by buying a machine that is filled with programs from lesser-known vendors. This may well prove to be a false economy. Like it or not, the world and its dog all use Microsoft Office products and if you do not then you are bound to get stuck sooner or later when a client sends you an extremely important Excel spreadsheet or PowerPoint presentation that you cannot read.

It is also not a good idea to assume you will be able to pick up a bootleg or cheap copy of whatever you need later on. First, bootlegs are illegal and your lawyer (if you have one) would probably recommend that you stay on the right side of the law if you want to run a successful business. Second, even discounted versions of stand-alone programs such as PowerPoint or Excel could set you back hundreds of pounds – more than it would cost you to buy the whole lot as a bundle when you first purchase your computer.

When you are looking at software, I would recommend you get Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel as a bare minimum, if for no other reason than your clients are likely to send you files in these formats. Outlook and Internet Explorer – Microsoft’s email and internet browser programs – will come as standard with any Office package.

Word processors, browsers and email

The three most important pieces of software you will use as a copywriter are a word processor (for writing), a web browser (for internet access) and email (for communicating with clients and contacts). Unless you have bought a computer from another planet, the chances are you will get all three bundled with your machine. If you are using a PC then you will end up using Microsoft Word and Microsoft Internet Explorer. If you buy an Apple, you will get Pages (which is compatible with Word) and Safari. Either way, you will be ready to go.

You will also, as likely as not, get either Microsoft Outlook or Mail, depending on whether you are using a PC or a Mac. Both will be fine, although when it comes to email you might want to remember that there is a wide range of options to choose from and you may want to take advantage of more than one. A webmail account, using a provider such as Hotmail, Yahoo! or Gmail, can be handy as a backup where you need to provide an email address but are wary of being spammed, or will need to access emails frequently while on the move. Another email system commonly found in large businesses is Lotus Notes from IBM, which is used by more than 120 million people worldwide, although you are unlikely to encounter it unless you are working for a client that uses it.

Security software

In this day and age, some form of software to prevent virus attacks should be viewed as a necessity rather than a luxury. Virus protection packages now come as standard with most computers and can be updated automatically over the internet; with new types of virus appearing almost on a daily basis, if a virus protection system is not frequently updated it soon becomes obsolete.

If your computer does not have a pre-installed virus protection system, you will probably need to pay an annual subscription and download one from the internet. The few pounds it will cost you a year is more than worth the investment.

At best, a virus attack is likely to hamper your work and could prove embarrassing if the virus is transmitted to clients. At worst, some viruses can wipe your computer’s hard drive or cripple the machine.

There is little to choose from between virus protection systems. The major suppliers, including McAfee or Sophos, are more or less on a par in terms of their effectiveness (in fact some of them are different brand names for the same companies), so you might as well choose them on the basis of price or recommendation from friends.

One thing that I have discovered, however, is that some of these systems can themselves interfere with the working of your computer and slow it down. If this happens, you will need to remove the program (using the ‘uninstall’ option within the ‘Add/Remove Programs’ file in the Control Panel folder of your computer, if you are using Microsoft Office) and try with a different vendor.

If your work is likely to involve handling or generating confidential material, you might want to consider installing a firewall, which acts like an electronic gatekeeper on your computer to prevent hackers from accessing it over the internet; if nothing else, it can help put your clients’ minds at ease. One will probably be bundled with your anti-virus system, but if not then a simple, effective and free firewall called Zone Alarm can be downloaded from www.zonealarm.com.