I’m QuickJumping and Togglin’ Along

Filed Under Home Office Basics

Since I’ve got a little time while Vanessa thinks about her next e-book and Mrs. Malapert is researching her next tutorial, I want to talk about a couple of great productivity tools that I’ve found.

The first one is called QuickJump and that’s the perfect name for it cuz that’s exactly what it does. With a few keystrokes, the QuickJump screen pops open, you enter in a few letters of the folder you want to get to, hit enter and voila!- you’re there! 

And it works for “File Open” and “Save As” windows in any application. I’ve just started using it and it’s saved me a bunch of time all ready! It’s especially useful if you’ve got an organized hard drive, which I’m sure my favorite organizer, Janet Barclay, has.

Laurie, from TechHit, was nice enough to give me a link so you can save 20% off the regular low price of QuickJump. This offer only lasts until October 5th, so go here and check it out!  

The next tool I’m lovin’ these days is Toggl. Finding a timer that let me keep track of client’s projects/tasks easily and on my desktop has been a quest of mine for a few years, but I never found the right product until now. Toggl is perfect! I can have as many clients/projects/tasks as I want – it’s a web-based tool but has a cool pop-out timer that I can have sitting on my desktop – I can print out each day’s report with a click of my mouse – and it’s FREE! It doesn’t get much better than that. Try it out yourself – here.

(These are not affiliate products – but I may add them to the “My Favorites” list in the sidebar which are my affiliate links. I only become an affiliate to products that I use and recommend to my clients.)

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Vanessa Determines Her Services, Niche and Rates

Filed Under Baby Boomers, Home Office Basics, Vanessa Andruz

Vanessa Andruz and I are excited! Book 4 of “The Adventures of Vanessa Andruz, Virtual Assistant” is now available. And it’s a doozy!

Ever wonder what types of services Virtual Assistants can provide? Or how to find your niche? Or, and this is the BIG question for most VAs – how to decide what to charge for your services?

Vanessa had those same questions when she was starting her VA business. Each VA is different – there’s no absolute answer that will apply to all, but reading how Vanessa answered those questions may give you some help in answering them for own business.

Not only does Vanessa Determines Her Services, Niche and Rates include a listing of 300 services that VAs can provide (with the appropriate training, of course), but she’s also included a template of her Client Contract – ready for you to use with your own clients (after checking with your lawyer, of course).

It wouldn’t be a Vanessa e-book without her suffering some angst over her family. You’ll never guess the niche her mother suggests Vanessa pursue! Or, maybe you can guess, if you’ve read the first three e-books in the series.

Anyway, it’s fun – it’s informative – and it’s a great buy. That reminds me – it’s also on sale! Through September 30, 2009, Vanessa is giving a 10% discount on your total order of her e-books. So get them now and save!

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How to Create a Gravatar

Filed Under Home Office Basics, Mrs. Malapert

Ah hem! Let’s settle down, class. It’s time to get down to work. My name is Mrs. Malapert. I’ll be your instructor today.

Raise your hand if you’d like to have your photo or logo appear with your blog comments like this:

Everyone? Good. That image is called an avatar. The type of avatar I’ll be discussing today is a photo or drawing which represents you when posting a comment on a blog or in a forum.

One of the easiest ways to create an avatar is through a free service like Gravatar. Your image is linked to your email address and will appear on gravatar-enabled sites.

No, Chad. A gravatar is not a ride at an amusement park. That’s a “Gravitron.”

Today I’ll show you how to create your very own gravatar.

Pay attention everyone!

Select the email address you want to attach your gravatar to. We’ll be adding just one email address and image during this lesson, but you’ll be able to add more addresses with the same or different images later.

Find an image on your computer that you’d like to upload.

Do you have a question, Janet?

No, it doesn’t matter how large the image is. Gravatar will automatically reduce it to a size which will work.

Now, I want everyone to go to www.gravatar.com.

Hover your mouse over the “Log in to, or Sign up for, Gravatar” text on the blue bar at the top of the page. A menu will drop down.

Click on “Signup”.

You’ll be taken to the Signup page. Is everyone there? Good!

Enter your email address then click the “Signup” button.

A confirmation email will be sent to the email address you entered.

When you receive the email, click on the enclosed link or paste the link into your browser.

You’ll be taken to a page to finish creating your Gravatar account. Are we all there?

[Sigh] All right, Rachel. Have Jessica help you…the rest of us will go on.

Enter a nickname. This will be your Account ID. Gravatar will let you know if someone else has the same nickname and will ask you to enter a new one.

Now enter your password twice and click “Signup.” Write down your nickname and password in a safe place in case you forget them.

I said a safe place, Daniel! That does not include the back of your hand. For heaven’s sake!

Now we’re going to add an image. Click on “Add one by clicking here!”

You can select images from a number of places. For today’s lesson, click on “My computer’s hard drive.”

Click the “Browse” button, and select the image file you’d like to use.

No, Janet, it doesn’t have to be an image of you. It can be any image at all, but remember, anything you put on the Internet may be seen by your future employers so I suggest you represent yourself with dignity at all times!

When you first get to this page, the dotted box on your image will probably be small and won’t cover your whole image. Click and hold each handle, moving it until you’ve selected the desired portion of the image. Do the same with the other handles until the previews shown on the right-hand portion of your screen are correct.

Yes, Dixie, you’re doing it correctly. There’s a limit on the size of your image, so when you’ve hit the limit, the handles won’t move any more.

[Sigh] That’s all right, Rachel. Just click on your “back” arrow and upload the correct image.

No laughing, people! It’s not nice to laugh at other people’s images!

When you’re satisfied with the preview, click “Crop and Finish!”

Now you’ll choose how your image is rated. Click on the rating at the top of the page that’s appropriate for your image. Obviously, all of your images will be rated “G.”

Chad! Change your rating to a “G” right now or I’ll be talking to your mother later!

You’ll be taken to a page where you could add another email address or select a different image for the email address that you just used.

If you hover your mouse over “My Account” in the top blue bar, you’ll see that you can select to “Manage” your account, “Add an Email Address”, “Add an Image”, “Change Password”, or “Log Out”. Select “Log Out.”

You’ve done it! Now leave a comment on this blog post and see how your avatar appears. Isn’t that fun?

If you’d like to download my free instructional complete with easy-to-follow screen shots, enter your name and email address into the form in the sidebar of this blog under “Sign up for free articles!” You’ll get a link to download the full instructional as a PDF.

That’s it, everyone! I’ll see you at our next class.

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Organizing Your Life, Your Way! E-book

Filed Under Books R Me, Home Office Basics, Virtual Assistance

Virtual Assistant Janet Barclay of Organized Assistant is a qualified Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® practitioner. She used her knowledge of Personality Type analysis, statistics from two surveys, as well as data collected from her workshops to compile the information provided in a very interesting e-book: Organizing Your Life, Your Way!

What Type are You?

In the first part of the e-book, Janet gives an overview of the 4 personality type preference areas which combine to form the 16 Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® personality types.

I was sure I could pick out my preferences easily. After all, I’ve spent over 50 years becoming acquainted with myself.

Extroversion (E) or Introversion (I)?

Prefer written communication (I)…avoid crowds and seek quiet (I)…Introversion, obviously.

Sensing (S) or Intuition (N)?

Live in the future (N)…enjoy new experiences (N)…Intuition, of course!

Thinking (T) or Feeling (F)?

Analyze information (T)…task-oriented (T)…this was easy – Thinking.

Judging (J) or Perceiving (P)?

Orderly lifestyle (J)…enjoy starting things (P)…work before play (J)…desire to have many experiences (P)…hmmm, this wasn’t quite as easy as the others.

Fortunately, Janet goes through each of the 16 personality types, listing their strengths and challenges. And – what I like best – she lists comments from real people within those personality types. After reading the comments, I knew my final preference was – Judging.

That makes me an INTJ. Cool, huh?

So What?

Now that I knew my personality type, I could look over Janet’s suggested “Preferred Time Management System” for that type and adjust my own system to be more effective.

Get yourself a copy of Organizing Your Life, Your Way! then stop back and let’s compare personality types :-)

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Vanessa Sets Up Her Home Office

Filed Under Home Office Basics, Vanessa Andruz, Virtual Assistance

Are you thinking of becoming a Virtual Assistant?

Would you like some help in starting your VA business?

If so, go to www.VanessaAndruz.com and check out the first three e-books I’ve written in The Adventures of Vanessa Andruz, Virtual Assistant series. The series takes you step-by-step through the process of starting a home-based business. By the end of the series you’ll have a completed business plan and be well on your way to having a successful VA business.

The e-books also chronicle the journey of Vanessa Andruz – an Executive Assistant who became a VA – and all the adventures she had while setting up her business.

Vanessa Andruz, owner of Andruz Business Solutions LLC, joins me today to talk about the third e-book in the series which was just released. Vanessa, why don’t you tell my readers about it?

I’d love to, Melodee! It’s called Vanessa Sets Up Her Home Office. Think your readers can guess what it’s about? (laughs) Just kidding. It’s about how I created a well-equipped VA home office, of course.

I’d never started my own business before so I spent a lot of time researching things like – the type of business structure I should use, what equipment I needed, the best internet access for where I lived, how to arrange the room to make it feng shui compliant, and lots more. The e-book contains all my research notes and links to the websites I used for my research. It even contains a link to download my notes for easy reference while setting up your own office!

I’m so glad you let me help you with this e-book, Vanessa. It’s very instructional. And it’s fun to read about the other things that were happening in your life during that time.

Oh, Lordy. You’re talking about the “gift” I got in the mail from my mother, and the heated conversation I had with my ex-husband, aren’t you.

And don’t forget what happened to your father at the Sedona Retired Welders Golf Invitational.

I felt so sorry for him! (giggles) But it was kinda funny.

Thanks for stopping by, Vanessa. I know you have a Virtual E-book Tour to organize so I’ll let you go. Send me your Tour schedule as soon as it’s available and I’ll post it here for my readers.

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Meet Mrs. Malapert – the “How To” Lady

Filed Under Home Office Basics, Mrs. Malapert, Virtual Assistance

When I need to learn how to do something on my computer and I don’t have time to find an answer myself, I ask Mrs. Malapert (see photo). She’s the “How To” computer expert for my business.

She really knows her stuff. [Aside: She's also a bit of a know-it-all. She reminds me of my high school English teacher who had a real knack for making me feel like an idiot. Ever know anyone like that?]

As I said, she knows her stuff, so I’ve asked her to Guest Post for me occasionally. She’ll be giving us tips on how to care for, and efficiently use our computers.

Thank you for being part of my VA blog, Mrs. Malapert.

Thank you, Ms. Patterson. I’m sure my expertise will be a welcome change from your usual posts.

Yes…well. What topics will you be including in your posts?

I’ll be providing your readers with some fascinating “how-to”s which I’m sure will be very helpful to them in their Virtual Assistance businesses.

Could you give us some examples?

No need to rush me, dearie! I was just about to enumerate them.

Some upcoming topics include:

  1. How to create and use an avatar
  2. How to find informative business blogs
  3. How to remotely connect to your client’s computer
  4. How to get website statistics with Google Analytics
  5. How to send large files to your clients
  6. How to organize your incoming emails in Outlook
  7. How to use Google Alerts effectively
  8. How to create a PDF file
  9. How to clean your computer
  10. How to back up a hard drive

Those all sound very interesting, Mrs. Malapert!

Of course they do, dearie. I’m sure you understand that those are just a sampling of the posts that I have planned. I want you to read all of the posts carefully, Ms. Patterson. I’m sorry to say, your knowledge of some of those topics is sorely lacking.

Ummm, yes, I’ll do that. Thank you, Mrs. Malapert. I’m sure everyone is looking forward to your insightful postings!

If you have any “how to”s that you would like Mrs. Malapert to discuss, just leave a comment or email me. I’m sure she’ll be happy to oblige :-)

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Introducing: Vanessa Andruz, Virtual Assistant

Filed Under Baby Boomers, Home Office Basics, Vanessa Andruz, Virtual Assistance

I wasn’t sure if this day would ever get here, but it’s finally time to introduce everyone to Vanessa Andruz, Virtual Assistant!

Vanessa was an Executive Assistant at the SafeRight Insurance Company in Washaketa, Wisconsin for over 20 years. She decided that she had enough of “corporate life” and decided to start her own business.

Vanessa asked me to help her create a series of e-books chronicling her amazing journey from employee to successful businesswoman and I am thrilled to do so.

Vanessa, is there anything you’d like to say to other women who are thinking of becoming a Virtual Assistant?

Yes, Melodee, I know that even though we’re going through some difficult economic times at the moment, the Virtual Assistance industry is a viable business path and it’s growing every day. I’m so glad I started my business, and I hope that these e-books will prove to be a resource for all of you who are thinking of starting your own.

Can you tell us a bit about the first two e-books that are now available?

I’d love to! The first book in “The Adventures of Vanessa Andruz, Virtual Assistant” series is called Vanessa Has a Dream. It tells what happened one winter day which started me on my wonderful entrepreneurial adventure. I’m not advising anyone else do what I did that day, but sometimes you’ve just got to do what you’ve got to do! You know what I mean?

Actually, I think I do. What about the second e-book?

The second e-book is called Vanessa Becomes a Virtual Assistant. This is where I describe how I named my company – which my mother actually helped me with, if you can believe it! – and about the legal structure I chose. I also discuss how to research licensing and zoning issues for creating a home-based business.

That sounds very helpful. What type of information will be in the rest of the series?

It’s going to be so great! I’ll describe how I chose my niche market, how I’m marketing my business, tips on networking, and a bunch of other interesting stuff!

How can people download these e-books?

All they have to do is go to my website and select the e-book that they would like to download. The first e-book is FREE! And the second is only $4.95, which I think is an economical way to learn about the legalities of setting up a business.

I think so too. Is there anything else you’d like people to know?

Oh, yes! I almost forgot to say that each e-book has a number of Internet links to some practical and constructive information. The links go to websites and e-books that I used to research each leg of my journey and I’m sure they will be helpful to everyone.

Thanks for stopping by, Vanessa. I’m looking forward to assisting you with the rest of the series.

Thank you, Melodee, for helping me to write the e-books. And I have to thank Rachel Rasmussen of Rescue Desk for her wonderful research assistance, and Dixie Lang of Dalton Unlimited for her amazing editing. I couldn’t have done this without you all. Bye!

I hope you enjoy the series and that it’s useful to you. Vanessa and I would love to hear your comments and suggestions.

Oh, and do me a favor? Don’t say anything to Vanessa about her being a fictional character -  she’s a bit touchy about that.

Thanks! :-)

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Home Office Basics: Stuff

Filed Under Home Office Basics, Virtual Assistance

Are you still waiting to start your Virtual Assistance business because you don’t have all of the stuff (furniture, supplies, hardware, and software) that you think you’ll need? Well, you won’t know what you’re going to need until you have clients. And those clients are each going to have their own special needs.

Home Office Basics: Stuff

There are some basics that you can’t be without if you’re going to be a VA.

Computer:

Printer:

Software:

Furniture:

Supplies:

That’s it! This stuff will get you started, and you can add on more stuff when you find out what your clients need from you.

Oh, yeah. I forgot one thing…

Money:

And don’t forget – being knowledgeable, enthusiastic, approachable, and willing to learn will get you further than all that stuff!

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