Archive for June, 2009
June 25, 2009 at 7:03 pm
· Filed under VAnetworking ·Tagged bar jd communications, vanetworking.com, virtual assistant
New people in the field of virtual assistance frequently come from a corporate situation where they performed certain professional tasks as assigned. They used the employers equipment and accounts while on the payroll, but some other part of that business handled the marketing of the product to make sure of income which would be available to meet payroll.
When we go into business for ourselves, the marketing and equipment and accounts for services become our responsibility. There must be a way, often before clients are on board, to purchase equipment, spread the news about our status and have service accounts such as Aweber.com Some of that can be done on a ’shoestring’ budget, but it is slower.
Too frequently, new members at VAnetworking.com post that they are struggling to get their business up and running with too little money or even, by their perception, NONE. Fellow members will answer questions that might cost them at support sources, joint venture occasionally, point out open source options when available, but mostly have only sympathy to offer.
When I began developing The TeaCup Bailout, a gathering of money saving and money finding suggestions, I was amazed at the little places we can look to find money for something we need. Visit BarJD.com and sign up for the TeaCup Bailout information. We may have to change our thinking about entitlements and necessities, but priority choices are going to be part of the game as long as we are in any business.
Here on @ Bar JD Virtual Professionals and over at Particularly Virtual, I will be writing about funding and training for virtual assistants. The funding part aims toward the debt-free.
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June 25, 2009 at 6:34 pm
· Filed under VAnetworking ·Tagged bar jd communications, vanetworking.com, virtual assistant
As the virtual assistance field becomes more popular with people, there are many ‘newbies’ who need to know who they are, what they have, how to offer it. Additionally, there are many more potential clients at the other end of the line as the business relationship develops who are wondering if this virtual worker knows apples from oranges.
At present, certifications for virtual assistant accomplishments have no regulatory status. However, they do mark acknowledgement for the encouragement of the virtual professional and the peace of mind for the client.
The next few weeks, @ Bar JD Virtual Professionals and Particularly Virtual will feature information about training, certifications and funding possibilities.
As a beginning, virtual assistant members of VAnetworking.com were recently informed of a new, powerful certification program at VAcertified.com
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June 25, 2009 at 6:10 pm
· Filed under VAnetworking ·Tagged bar jd communications, vanetworking.com
f course, when we discuss security, we are immediately reminded about the potential for hackers to get into our accounts online…how we should protect our user IDs and especially our passwords.
There are other security concerns for business files. What if the computer crashes tomorrow as it surely will some day if not tomorrow? What if you drop it on the floor? What if the airlines loses it for you?
What if your house burns down? What if a tornado strikes your house or office? Or the winds and floods of a hurricane? Or that pretty river (flood prone) that runs through your property.
We live in the midwest and Tornados are particular concerns. Recently, I realized that I had spent a morning poised to race to the basement in case the storms came closer, but didn’t have my laptop in my pocket! It was hooked up to the plugs and hadn’t been included in the trip plan.
I have been practicing better file management since. Some pictures that are important for a project I’m doing for my best client (DH) have been uploaded to online storage AND backed up on external sources such as flash drives and a hard drive. I think he needs to help me with better identity of each, but at least they are all safe.
Other pictures and files are on other flash drives and the external hard drives. A tote sits ready on that antique folding chair, waiting to be filled and packed with me.
Besides the photo resources, I’ve not had much experience storing files online. I know there are some things in email attachments that I could access in a pinch. Mostly, I prefer the confidentiality of my flash and external drives along with appropriate burning onto CDs and DVDs.
I find the security that I can control causes me more concern…”Will I be ready?” than the possibility that I will be hacked by someone wishing to violate my security. I’ve gained from discussing the matter with other members of the virtual assistant network at VAnetworking.com. Over on @ Bar JD Virtual Professionals andhere at Particularly Virtual, we consider The Act of God security is part of best business practices, but easy to put off. Try to avoid doing so.
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June 11, 2009 at 5:11 pm
· Filed under VAnetworking ·Tagged bar jd communications, blogging, vanetworking.com, virtual assistant
Cindy Helton’s blog at CreeksBend Media was recently named Blog of the Week at VAnetworking.com. The award is designated by peers in the virtual assistant career field.
The CreeksBend Media blog is an easy winner. Cindy writes for fellow virtual assistants, clients, REALLY anyone who would like to know more about social media such as LinkedIn and the potential of using videos in your profile to clearly outlined directions on how to set up your profile on Google.
I went to look at the winning blog and found myself kicking myself that I hadn’t seen this blog before. I made up for it by treating myself to a good long read and a FAVORITES tag for this blog.
Cindy offers a wide range of social media marketing services. She’d trained through VAclassroom and clearly has a sturdy grip on the process of using social media options for business purposes.
Check out the blog and other information about CreeksBend Media for yourself. Particularly Virtual and @ Bar JD Virtual Professionals are certain you will like what you find.
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June 11, 2009 at 3:56 pm
· Filed under VAnetworking, barjd communications ·Tagged bar jd communications, blogging, vanetworking.com, virtual assistant
Because she’s written BOOKS, you could have guessed that Diana Ennen of Virtual Word Publishing would have a kickin’ blog with lots of information on lots of topics. Good solid information on needed topics.
Diana was recently recognized by virtual assistant peers at VAnetworking.com for the quality of her blog and declared VAnetworking.com Blog of the Week.
As a coach for other virtual assistants, Diana represents the leadership of a rapidly growing career field. Diana maintains a separate website at Virtual Assistant Startups which is dedicated to the development of newer virtual assistants, plus maintaining rosters of virtual assistants who are ready to be put together with the right client.
As a publisher and publicist for a wide range of clients, Diana offers PR coaching to get the right package of press release and public relations set up.
Diana’s book Virtual Assistant, the Series includes both the informative book and a workbook about the field of virtual assistance. Diana and her co-author, Kelly Poelker have another book in the series about working virtually as an employee successfully for the employer and employee. Add other books for practical software and a Slow-Cooker cookbook and you find a small library that can be essential for the virtual assistant book shelf.
As a friend of Particularly Virtual and @ Bar JD Virtual Professionals, we recommend that you check out Diana’s blog for information that can be used to your benefit.
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June 9, 2009 at 5:43 pm
· Filed under VAnetworking ·Tagged bar jd communications, Michelle Colvin, MLC Business Solutions, vanetworking.com, virtual assistant
Michelle Colvin of MLC Business Solutions writes blog posts for the benefit of potential clients who are baffled by the mysteries and concerns of outsourcing to professional virtual assistants. Business people who are wondering if anyone is available to provide the services they need. Busy people who are trying to get the picture of Social Media options such as Twitter.
Michelle offers a variety of administrative services to clients from word processing to bookkeeping, all of which would fit many business scenarios.
Recently, her informative blog received the Vanetworking.com Blog of the Week award. In addition to offering a solid service to clients, Michelle is helpful to peers and her network of virtual assistants. She coordinates the VACommentators group…a team that posts and comments to promote the network of virtual assistants to the cyberworld.
Michelle is a growing, moving forward type of virtual assistant with skills to fit in. She’s an inspiration to us as we build the networking relationship that is so necessary to the success of the entire group at VAnetworking.com’s VAcommentators.
Congratulations, Michelle, from Particularly Virtual and @ Bar JD Virtual Professionals. You’re the right stuff.
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June 4, 2009 at 4:44 am
· Filed under VAnetworking, barjd communications ·Tagged bar jd communications, vanetworking.com
Ask the right first question about Bar JD.
- Can you do this (your task)?
- How long before you can work on this task for me?
- Can you give me a time/cost estimate?
Can you do this task? That question is a great opener. As we discuss your task and my skills, my experience will let me know very quickly if I can offer you the skill you need to get your task accomplished efficiently, economically and best of all, SUCCESSFULLY.
At Bar JD, I do many things, but not everything. Because of networks among professional virtual assistants such as VAnetworking.com, you can bet your boots if you can’t get that task performed right in our office, I know someone who has the skill and integrity to merit a referral to get your project accomplished. So, don’t worry about insulting me by asking about a service I don’t offer.
How long before you can work on this task for me? Oh, that kind of thoughtfulness will almost have me eating out of your hand! Thank you upfront for respecting the probability that I have a full schedule, but that I will also do my best to work with your project or ongoing task.
If I do not see an early opening for your project, I won’t leave you scratching in the dust to find someone else. I have the contacts with that same network of professional virtual assistants who will gladly step up to take the extra task. I do the same for many of them. One of my favorite networks is VAnetworking.com where the virtual assistants are taught the only stupid question is the question not asked. (Just as virtual assistants are encouraged to ask their peers for information, clients should be willing to ask a tough question now and then.)
Can you give me a time/cost estimate? You will be high on my list to get worked into my client base! Because of my skills and working situation, you can expect that your task will be accomplished using the least amount of time and be warranted against errors when using the information you give me. Done with less intensive labor and done right surpasses the issue of an hourly rate. Low rates to the unskilled can quickly cost you more in repairs and re-dos.
These three questions are only a few of the right questions that I love to hear from prospective clients. Go ahead and ask…even ask “What is it you do?”
On @ Bar JD Virtual Professionals or at Particularly Virtual, the contact information will give you a path to ask questions. Even the COMMENTS area will work.
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June 3, 2009 at 8:13 pm
· Filed under VAnetworking ·Tagged Having a Virtual Advantage LLC, Susan Myers, VAnetworking, vanetworking.com, virtual assistant
Susan Myers is the newest member of the VAcommentator team. VACommentators team up to write comments on other’s blog posts, write articles and blog posts about topics moving in and around VAnetworking.com and the world of virtual assistants. Susan works in Florida across a broad scope of services and client potential.
A visit to her website, Having A Virtual Advantage, LLC has told me that this virtual professional has the touch we are all proud to network with. Susan’s experience with telecommunications and real estate help her focus on niche clientele that ‘get’ the concept of working virtually. Susan is poised to offer her clients a true Virtual Advantage for their businesses.
Susan is an active member of numerous virtual networks online in addition to VAnetworking.com That translates to other virtual professionals as someone who knows her stuff and is willing to communicate with the other professionals in the virtual assistant career field. Because she understands, along with other virtual assistants that working virtually is compatible with local networking and support of one’s local community, Susan is an active member of the local Chamber of Commerce.
I especially agree with and endorse Susan’s perspective on the benefits of working virtually as a GREEN concept for the benefit of the planet.
Particularly Virtual and @ Bar JD Virtual Professionals welcomes Susan to the VAcommentator team.
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June 3, 2009 at 7:24 pm
· Filed under VAnetworking ·Tagged Teri Dempski, Valued Virtual Assistants, VAnetworking, vanetworking.com, virtual assistant
Members of VAnetworking.com who awarded their peer and networking friend, Teri Dempski the Vacollade of the week recently.
Teri is VALUED SERVICE VIRTUAL ASSISTANTS and operated from her office in Colorado. I haven’t been a client of Teri’s, but a peer at VAnetworking.com
Teri took a lead in learning how to get around in Social Media such as FaceBook or Twitter. She has held that lead while sharing with her virtual assistant peers and clients about these useful Social Media tools. She has tried the applications she would tell you about; she knows the ins and the outs.
Teri’s clients speak highly of her as you can learn at the website. Valued Service Virtual Assistants is a full service shop that can provide clients with winning assistance every day.
Congratulations from @ Bar JD Virtual Professionals and from Particularly Virtual, Teri, for the award. You represent VALUED SERVICE for our industry.
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