@Maplewood_Ruth, @BarJD, @VAnetworking.com for virtual assistants. Jargon/junk language can damage or kill your business. http://ping.fm/CbUWf
Archive for August, 2009
Jargon is killer weapon in anyone’s language
August 20, 2009 at 6:08 pm · Filed under VAnetworking ·Tagged bar jd communications, vanetworking.com, virtual assistant
Weapons of Your Keyboard Damage Your Business
August 20, 2009 at 4:28 pm · Filed under VAnetworking ·Tagged bar jd communications, vanetworking.com, virtual assistant
@Maplewood_Ruth, @BarJD, @VANetworking.com for virtual assistants. Weapons of the Keys to maim or kill your business http://ping.fm/xINou
Death by Language – Weapons Include Jargon, Acronyms and Carelessness
August 20, 2009 at 4:22 pm · Filed under VAnetworking, barjd communications ·Tagged bar jd communications, vanetworking.com, virtual assistant, maplewood VA
Ruth Martin, of Maplewood Virtual Assistance (maplewoodva.com) wrote a post for Partnering with a Virtual Assistant, the official blog of VAnetworking.com about the fatal potential of poor language skills. She noted poor vocabulary, poor editing (spelling, typos and more), slang , profanity and thoughtlessness.
When we are writing for our websites or writing emails to our contacts, it seems so conversational. But, when someone is reading what we have written, their perspective is not as apt to be conversation, but PRINT. Print ’sounds’ different than conversation. Ruth’s points that the careless writer can be the gone-down-the-drain writer are totally RIGHT, pardon the pun.
In addition to the thoughtless, carelessness that Ruth writes about, other aspects which can pain our readers include the use of jargon (terms related to our business that the reader won’t be familiar with), or splashing our content with acronyms (letters that have specific representation requiring familiarity).
Writing: “We’re absolutely anal about getting the CMS right for your URL and SEO. Our skills will just blow your d—n minds away! Plus, we don’t blabbermouth your business all over the ‘net.”
Or
Writing: “We’re dedicated to providing accurate management of your website using a Content Management System (CMS) that lets you help maintain your site. Additionally, the search engines work well with the CMS process to make finding you easier. We are committed to maintaining the confidentiality of clients’ business and to maintaining the highest degree of internet security.”
The first might appeal to clients who are looking for a shock and who are ‘in-the-know’ about the acronyms. But, how many are there which are looking for you? Enough?
The second is close to” “Why use 10 words when 100 will do the job”. But, the piece does clarify some things that the client should know about using Content Management Systems and how professional the virtual assistant intends to be with confidential information.
At Particularly Virtual and on @ Bar JD Virtual Professionals, I try to land somewhere in between. Sometimes I will try to give the reader a mild shock; sometimes I will give them ALL of the information. You can download a FREE Internet Terms Brochure at my website to help you navigate the jargon you are almost certain to be exposed to online.
August 13, 2009 at 8:45 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
@BigCountry99 Nation plans Float Trip. Harvey’s Canoe Rental & Willow Springs BBQ. See more @ Ozarks Mystique 4 @BarJD http://ping.fm/Y4jeB
Alyssa Gregory wrote about Clients & Fries
August 13, 2009 at 7:51 pm · Filed under VAnetworking ·Tagged bar jd communications, vanetworking.com, virtual assistant
@AlyssaGregory 4 @BarJD Clients needs/wants are #1 as learned on @VAnetworking.com for virtual assistants. http://ping.fm/Ekfci
Client Service is Customer Service
August 13, 2009 at 7:43 pm · Filed under VAnetworking ·Tagged bar jd communications, vanetworking.com, virtual assistant
ParticularlyVirtual post about client service @VAnetworking.com and virtual assistants http://ping.fm/Z0uRW
Bar JD congratulates Trinity Jacobs on VAcollades
August 13, 2009 at 6:17 pm · Filed under VAnetworking ·Tagged bar jd communications, vanetworking.com, virtual assistant
@BarJD virtual assistant, Congrats to @ErinBanister of TrinityJacobs.com 4 @VAnetworking.com VAcolade award. http://ping.fm/f1uXK
VAcollades Entrereneur Award
August 13, 2009 at 6:13 pm · Filed under VAnetworking ·Tagged bar jd communications, virtual assistant
Particularly Virtual post:Erin Banister awarded by VAnetworking.com and virtual assistants.http://ping.fm/dQWty
Congratulations, Trinity Jacobs & Erin Banister
August 13, 2009 at 5:10 pm · Filed under VAnetworking ·Tagged bar jd communications, Trinity Jacobs, vanetworking.com, virtual assistant
Trinity Jacobs, the professional virtual business owned by Erin Banister, can be proud of Erin this week because she has been recognized by her virtual peers with the Vacollade Entrepreneur of the Week award at VAnetworking.com
With Trinity Jacobs, Erin has been serving virtual clients since 2000. She is a leader in the virtual assistant and virtual professional world. As a stellar example of what a virtual assistant can do for clients, she offers an ala carte list of services that reflect the administrative skills of so many virtual assistance and the base for the beginning of most, if not all, virtual practices. To continue the pattern, tho, we see Erin specializing in services to Coaches and Small Businesses with further specialization on marketing, particularly with articles.
I have watched numerous virtual practices evolve since I first began in 2003, including and primarily in my own practice at Bar JD. I welcome the growth, change, diversification and vitality of that evolution at Particularly Virtual and on @ Bar JD Virtual Professionals.
Congratulations to Erin and thank you for your contribution and leadership in the virtual community.
It is all about the Client!
August 13, 2009 at 5:00 pm · Filed under Uncategorized ·Tagged alyssa gregory, bar jd communications, vanetworking.com, virtual assistant
Alyssa Gregory, owner of Avertua, LLC, virtual assistance and more, writes very well at SitePoint.com. She posted a valuable article this week entitled, “Can I Have Fries with That?” where she discusses what a client really wants from a virtual assistant or other virtual professional offering services.
Topics such as respect, confidentiality, security, professionalism, economy, efficiency, and proficiency all point to GOOD customer services.
When we offer services, we are treading dangerous ground when we crave so much ownership in our work for the client that we forget to respect their position.
No question or request is ever too DUMB or is ever WORTHLESS at Bar JD. Clients ask me for things every day where they don’t have much realization of the true request. Of what sort of contortions I will have to perform to do it. Of whether it is wise for their project. Sometimes they ask as if they think I am working with a magic wand. Or at least that is how it sounds on the phone or in the plain black and white of email. Almost to the point that I don’t feel the respect coming back to me.
BUT…it is not all about ME, it is all about the client. It is my job to
- Be able to do the task (or I shouldn’t have taken it)
- Be able to explain the restraints that may make that task difficult
- Be ready to think how the task may be accomplished even if I wasn’t prepared to do it
- Be ready to offer alternatives
- Be ready to stand firm on the limitations of the working agreement…yes I can do it, but it will cost you more!
Never should any of the discussion be laced with impatience, disrespect or exasperation. NEVER! Take a deep breath and remember that there is no dumb question. It is my intent to educate and empower the client. Often I give them information that could lead them toward doing their own work. But, I want clients who BOND with me, not clients who are BOUND to me. I firmly believe in empowerment. If the client knows how to do the work, they have some understanding of the complications and level of difficulty. I can work just as easily for someone hiring me to perform a task they do not have time to do, but do have the skill as I can work for someone wandering around in low understanding and high dependence! Sometimes, even easier. At Particularly Virtual and on @Bar JD Virtual Professionals, I want to make this extremely clear to peers and to clients.
Alyssa’s topic is valuable information for me and my fellow virtual assistant members at VAnetworking.com.
