The Virtual Assistant Industry has grown in leaps and bounds this year and is soon on its way to becoming a household word. It used to be people would ask, “What is a virtual assistant?” Now, the question is more, “Who is your virtual assistant?” It brings to mind years past when if you mentioned you were starting a home-based business, people would look at you like you were nuts. Now operating a home-based business is not only accepted, but also highly regarded.
This past year, we saw amazing evidence of the power of virtual assistants (VAs) with more and more media coverage, well-known authors and celebrities singing our praises, and businesses and corporations alike commenting on how hiring a virtual assistant has helped them to achieve so much more success in not only their business, but personal lives as well. Thousands of qualified and dedicated entrepreneurs stepped up to meet that demand and now join the ranks of being one of us-a virtual assistant.
When thinking of the VA Industry, brilliance, cutting-edge technology, and enormous dedication comes to mind. This year lets take our Industry to new heights. Lets keep our proud tradition of being the best, and lets show the world, that they can’t do without us.
Here’s are several New Years Resolutions to help you achieve greater success with your business this year:
Resolution #1 -- Make a commitment to get to know two people within yourindustry on a more personal level every month. Answer back an e-mail addressed to a VA group with a personal, “Hi. How are you doing? I’m Diana.” Also, become active on VA boards. If networking locally, introduce yourself at a professional organization's meeting or a conference instead of just being in the background.
Resolution #2 – Take the time to organize your business and make it easier to run on a daily basis. If you haven’t done so already, invest in a 3-ring notebook and put all the valuable forms you use on a daily basis in there including all your marketing letters, follow-up client letters, proposals, portfolios, etc. By customizing these forms now, you have them available when a client contacts you and are then able to respond to that client immediately with the right professionalism that will convince them to use your services. Bottom line – You don’t have to reinvent the wheel each time.
If you’d like help on creating some of these forms, consider our latest book, The WordPerfect® OfficeReady® Virtual Assistant Solution Pack, available at http://www.corel.com in their Office Productivity/OfficeReady® Template Packs section. This VA Solution Pack contains a valuable 81 page e-book and over 70 templates you can use on a regular basis to start or grow a successful virtual assistant business. The Solution Pack was written by Diana Ennen with the help of several VA Industry leaders including Kelly Poelker, co-author of numerous other VA Books with Diana Ennen.
Resolution #3 – Define your definition of a virtual assistant. There is so much talk today on exactly what is a virtual assistant. Spend the time this year to focus on what you believe a virtual assistant is and what you believe your clients look for in a virtual assistant. Develop a mission statement with that definition. Try this, “At (insert your company name), we strive to provide you with the best (insert what that is) and to always meet and exceed your expectations. We are committed to (what?). This can be done while enjoying that eggnog this year, not too spiked of course. By developing your mission statement, you will find clarity, which will enable you to take your virtual assistant business to the next level. Also, if you have a mission statement from last year, it’s time to rewrite it and include where you are today with your business.
Resolution #4 – Get the steps to success down in writing. For those that have read our book, Virtual Assistant – The Series: Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA, you might benefit with our new VA The Series Workbook. It takes you step by step through operating a successful VA business, listing all your goals, development ideas, and also drives home exactly what you want your business to be. When you see it in writing, it helps you see where you want to go and how you want to get there.
Resolution #5 – Make an effort to keep your company name out there. Send out regular press releases, articles, newsletters, post cards, thank you notes, and frequent follow-up. Not only can this help your Google status, but it also gains you credibility as an expert.
As virtual assistants, being able to work without global boundaries has enabled us to work with clients anywhere. These steps can help you find the right balance for your business so that 2007 is more prosperous than ever.
We wish you the best of luck in the coming year. May it be your best year ever with success, happiness, and the right family/work balance that allows you to enjoy every day with peace and serenity. Stop by any of our sites for additional information on how you too can become a successful Virtual Assistant.
*****************
Diana Ennen, Author of numerous books including Virtual Assistant - The Series: Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA and New Accompanying VA The Series Workbook; WordPerfect® OfficeReady® Virtual Assistant Solution Pack, (http://www.corel.com) and Words From Home: Start, Run and Profit from a Home-Based Word Processing Business. Visit Diana at http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com and http://www.virtualassistantstartups.com. Free booklet available on starting a virtual assisting business, as well as several other great articles and tips.
Feel free to pass this article along as long as the author’s block is included.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Friday, November 10, 2006
Holiday Specialty Cakes
Holiday Gift Giving is Easy This Year with Specialty Cakes for All
Being in the Midwest, this time of year is just the greatest. As the days get colder and old man winter is on his way, we here in the Midwest get busy with shopping, baking, and planning for the Holidays. We make those lists and venture to the crowded shopping malls in the snow. It is always fun to search for the ideal gifts that your family members want or need. But what about when it comes to buying a gift for your busy co-workers, boss, employees, clients, and so on? Do you look every year for something unique and fun, yet practical? We have your answers.
Food and drink is the most appreciated gift you can give this time of year. At Make A Diaper Cake, we are always busy coming up with new treats and tips to perfect your gift giving. This season, we share some of cutest towel cakes that you can make for anyone on your shopping list. But don’t forget, we can save you time by making these wonderful cakes for you. Below are some of our neat ideas for your festive gifts.
1) Coffee Lovers Cake - Gourmet coffees such as Holiday blend, Cinnamon Hazelnut, Chocolate Caramel, Streusel Cake, French Vanilla Cappuccinos coolers, toss in a Holiday coffee mug, gourmet Biscotti’s, gourmet chocolates, and coffee hard candies. You’ll be a hit.2) Tea Lovers Cake - Cinnamon Apple Tea, Bing Cherry With Almond Tea, Cranberry, Orange Tea, Gourmet Honey, Teapot Cookies, Raspberry Tea Biscuits, Holiday Mug, and a favorite magazine. This tea towel cake will be sure to please any recipient.3) A Pancake Morning Cake - Gourmet syrups, gourmet pancake mixes, wild blueberries, a wire whisk, and yummy gourmet jams to delight the pancake lovers on your list. 4) The Baker’s Cake - Add gourmet cookie, bread, and cake mixes, a wire whisk, kitchen timer, and recipe cards will delight your baker this year.5) The Snack Attack Cake- Holiday colored popcorn, Summer sausages, Beef salami, gourmet cheeses and crackers gourmet snacks, such as mixed nuts, and walnut fudge. Almost all of the products can be purchased at online specialty stores or malls near you.For more information on making holiday cakes, diaper cakes, or any other specialty cake, stop by our website at http://www.makeadiapercake.biz. Not only do we have complete instructions for making cakes, but an e-book that walks you though each step. And if you'd prefer to have us make it for you, no problem. We specialize in making specialty cakes for all occasions. Make this holiday a time to remember. Also, don't forget to check back often to see what other unique creations we have developed for the rest of the year’s celebrations.
***********
Barb Ireland is the founder of Make A Diaper Cake Biz, www.makeadiapercake.biz. You can purchase a Holiday cake or learn how to make a diaper cake, or start your own diaper cake business at her site. For media interviews, contact Publicist, Diana Ennen at diana@virtualwordpublishing.com. Articles are free to be reprinted as long as author's bio remains intact.
Being in the Midwest, this time of year is just the greatest. As the days get colder and old man winter is on his way, we here in the Midwest get busy with shopping, baking, and planning for the Holidays. We make those lists and venture to the crowded shopping malls in the snow. It is always fun to search for the ideal gifts that your family members want or need. But what about when it comes to buying a gift for your busy co-workers, boss, employees, clients, and so on? Do you look every year for something unique and fun, yet practical? We have your answers.
Food and drink is the most appreciated gift you can give this time of year. At Make A Diaper Cake, we are always busy coming up with new treats and tips to perfect your gift giving. This season, we share some of cutest towel cakes that you can make for anyone on your shopping list. But don’t forget, we can save you time by making these wonderful cakes for you. Below are some of our neat ideas for your festive gifts.
1) Coffee Lovers Cake - Gourmet coffees such as Holiday blend, Cinnamon Hazelnut, Chocolate Caramel, Streusel Cake, French Vanilla Cappuccinos coolers, toss in a Holiday coffee mug, gourmet Biscotti’s, gourmet chocolates, and coffee hard candies. You’ll be a hit.2) Tea Lovers Cake - Cinnamon Apple Tea, Bing Cherry With Almond Tea, Cranberry, Orange Tea, Gourmet Honey, Teapot Cookies, Raspberry Tea Biscuits, Holiday Mug, and a favorite magazine. This tea towel cake will be sure to please any recipient.3) A Pancake Morning Cake - Gourmet syrups, gourmet pancake mixes, wild blueberries, a wire whisk, and yummy gourmet jams to delight the pancake lovers on your list. 4) The Baker’s Cake - Add gourmet cookie, bread, and cake mixes, a wire whisk, kitchen timer, and recipe cards will delight your baker this year.5) The Snack Attack Cake- Holiday colored popcorn, Summer sausages, Beef salami, gourmet cheeses and crackers gourmet snacks, such as mixed nuts, and walnut fudge. Almost all of the products can be purchased at online specialty stores or malls near you.For more information on making holiday cakes, diaper cakes, or any other specialty cake, stop by our website at http://www.makeadiapercake.biz. Not only do we have complete instructions for making cakes, but an e-book that walks you though each step. And if you'd prefer to have us make it for you, no problem. We specialize in making specialty cakes for all occasions. Make this holiday a time to remember. Also, don't forget to check back often to see what other unique creations we have developed for the rest of the year’s celebrations.
***********
Barb Ireland is the founder of Make A Diaper Cake Biz, www.makeadiapercake.biz. You can purchase a Holiday cake or learn how to make a diaper cake, or start your own diaper cake business at her site. For media interviews, contact Publicist, Diana Ennen at diana@virtualwordpublishing.com. Articles are free to be reprinted as long as author's bio remains intact.
Holiday Online Marketing
Marketing Tips for Starting Your Business On a Budget
I don’t know about you, but when I started my business and even today I don’t have a lot of money to spend on marketing. I need to make sure that every penny I spend is spent wisely, very wisely. Here are some tips that I have found that worked for me to get the word out about my business inexpensively.
Radio/Media - It’s not that hard. It’s important to get out there and get aggressive in marketing your business. Have a plan of action and stick to it. Each week decide to send out so many press releases, contacts to radio stations, local media, etc. You can get great media links at http://www.newslink.org/. Stay in tune with what’s currently happening in your Industry and see if it’s something that you can write about. With podcasting now and so many Internet Radio Shows, such as Jill Hart’s Christian Work at Home Mom’s, http://www.cwahm.com/loudblog, it’s easier than ever to get on the air.
Forums / Listserves - Being active in forums and listserves is so beneficial to your business. You establish yourself as an expert and also you gain friendships and alliances with others. Plus, it’s a great way to promote your business. Naturally you never want to blatantly advertise your business, but many forums will have special days set up where you can advertise your business and specials. Take advantage of these.
Market Research Your Webstats - Learn how to read, understand and make use of your web stats to properly market and research who is coming to your site. A good webstat service is often included with most hosting services. This is free information that your site gathers about your visitors and customers. It’s more than looking at hits or numbers of visitors. The information there will tell you who your customer is, where they're coming from, which days they do their surfing - even what time of day they do it. With that information you can coordinate better all your marketing efforts.
Cooperative Marketing - This process creates fellowship, alliances with others who are working hard to achieve the same goals, and exposure to your sites. This entails working with other groups, forums, virtual assistants, etc., and sharing together to build your business. You offer to exchange banners/buttons, newsletter ads, ideas, and more. It’s a win/win for everyone.
Writing Articles. Writing articles and submitting them to sites is an excellent marketing tool. Get expert status on places such as http://EzineArticles.com/ where you can submit multiple articles and become a recognized contributor. Once an article has been accepted, write a thank-you letter and then make sure you follow-up with additional articles.
**************************
Virtual Word Publishing, http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com/, http://www.va-theseries.com/, http://www.publicity-va.com/
I don’t know about you, but when I started my business and even today I don’t have a lot of money to spend on marketing. I need to make sure that every penny I spend is spent wisely, very wisely. Here are some tips that I have found that worked for me to get the word out about my business inexpensively.
Radio/Media - It’s not that hard. It’s important to get out there and get aggressive in marketing your business. Have a plan of action and stick to it. Each week decide to send out so many press releases, contacts to radio stations, local media, etc. You can get great media links at http://www.newslink.org/. Stay in tune with what’s currently happening in your Industry and see if it’s something that you can write about. With podcasting now and so many Internet Radio Shows, such as Jill Hart’s Christian Work at Home Mom’s, http://www.cwahm.com/loudblog, it’s easier than ever to get on the air.
Forums / Listserves - Being active in forums and listserves is so beneficial to your business. You establish yourself as an expert and also you gain friendships and alliances with others. Plus, it’s a great way to promote your business. Naturally you never want to blatantly advertise your business, but many forums will have special days set up where you can advertise your business and specials. Take advantage of these.
Market Research Your Webstats - Learn how to read, understand and make use of your web stats to properly market and research who is coming to your site. A good webstat service is often included with most hosting services. This is free information that your site gathers about your visitors and customers. It’s more than looking at hits or numbers of visitors. The information there will tell you who your customer is, where they're coming from, which days they do their surfing - even what time of day they do it. With that information you can coordinate better all your marketing efforts.
Cooperative Marketing - This process creates fellowship, alliances with others who are working hard to achieve the same goals, and exposure to your sites. This entails working with other groups, forums, virtual assistants, etc., and sharing together to build your business. You offer to exchange banners/buttons, newsletter ads, ideas, and more. It’s a win/win for everyone.
Writing Articles. Writing articles and submitting them to sites is an excellent marketing tool. Get expert status on places such as http://EzineArticles.com/ where you can submit multiple articles and become a recognized contributor. Once an article has been accepted, write a thank-you letter and then make sure you follow-up with additional articles.
**************************
Virtual Word Publishing, http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com/, http://www.va-theseries.com/, http://www.publicity-va.com/
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Smallpox is topic of this fiction thriller
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Diana – Diana@pauloreyes.com
954-941-4025
http://www.pauloreyes.com
Fictional Terrorists cause Mayhem when Smallpox and a Los Angeles ER collide
Los Angeles, CA, November, 2006: What happens in an ER when a patient presents with rash-like symptoms, and smallpox is thought to be the culprit? Two words-Total Chaos. The Emergency Room staff and patients alike are faced with the terror of this biological nightmare; a nightmare that has plagued man for thousands of years, causing more deaths than perhaps any other illness. In fact in the last century alone, it has touted to cause the deaths of some 500 million people. Summed up, total chaos.
Sci-Fi author, Dr. Paulo J. Reyes, an ER Doctor himself, vividly creates such a scenario in his fiction thriller, Sledgehammer, http://www.pauloreyes.com. Reyes takes readers inside an emergency room where one ER physician is faced with what he suspects to be the most lethal form of smallpox, Sledgehammer Smallpox. The plot thickens as the realization soon becomes apparent that the patient not only has smallpox, but he is part of a terrorist plot to spread the deadly disease to sport arenas, malls, and airports. The doctor must stop the deadly spread before it’s too late. This page turning, stay-up-all-night to find out what happens next, thriller leaves readers questioning. Could it happen today? Could it happen in their local ER?
So what exactly is smallpox? After extensive research, Dr. Reyes offers the following smallpox statistics:
¨ The killer disease is spread from one person to another by infected saliva droplets. The vaccine can lessen the severity or even prevent smallpox in people exposed if treated within a few days.
¨ The diagnosis of small pox is not difficult if the classic skin lesion is present and most physicians would probably be able to make the diagnosis when they are presented such a rash. However, many patients will present an atypical rash that is more like a red-spotted rash. This is more difficult to diagnose and thus can be far more deadly as it can go untreated and spread quickly.
¨ Smallpox represents one of the most devastating potential biological weapons ever conceived. The variola virus causes the lethal disease. The incubation period of smallpox ranges from 7 to 17 days following exposure. Its initial symptoms include a severely high fever, fatigue, and headaches. A rash, most prominent on the face, arms, and legs, is sure to follow in a couple days.
¨ There is no proven treatment for smallpox, but there is treatment for many of its complications, including dehydration and the treatment of secondary bacterial infections with antibiotics. Scientists are presently ongoing research across the globe to evaluate new antiviral agents.
Even though the topic of this book is frightening, the book itself is a magnificent read with plenty of suspense, action, and realistic characters that readers will grow fond of. Sledgehammer has received numerous five-star reviews, including one from the American Reporter’s Joe Shea. Shea states, “Sledgehammer is a gripping, powerful portrait of an American emergency room physician encountering the ‘index’ case of a national bioterrorist attack by Islamic terrorists. Dr. Paulo J. Reyes' novel of an American physician trying to deal with what presents as an ambiguous case of pox - monkey pox, chicken pox, smallpox, who knows? - is unnerving and engaging in the extreme. It is probably the best bio-warfare thriller of the dozen-odd I've read in the past 10 years.” Reyes’ medical career spans 25 years as an ER Doctor and First Responder to disasters in Los Angeles allows him to bring the fictional tale to vivid life. Sledgehammer is available at Dr. Reyes’ website http://www.pauloreyes.com and at Amazon and leading online bookstores.
##
Contact: Diana – Diana@pauloreyes.com
954-941-4025
http://www.pauloreyes.com
Fictional Terrorists cause Mayhem when Smallpox and a Los Angeles ER collide
Los Angeles, CA, November, 2006: What happens in an ER when a patient presents with rash-like symptoms, and smallpox is thought to be the culprit? Two words-Total Chaos. The Emergency Room staff and patients alike are faced with the terror of this biological nightmare; a nightmare that has plagued man for thousands of years, causing more deaths than perhaps any other illness. In fact in the last century alone, it has touted to cause the deaths of some 500 million people. Summed up, total chaos.
Sci-Fi author, Dr. Paulo J. Reyes, an ER Doctor himself, vividly creates such a scenario in his fiction thriller, Sledgehammer, http://www.pauloreyes.com. Reyes takes readers inside an emergency room where one ER physician is faced with what he suspects to be the most lethal form of smallpox, Sledgehammer Smallpox. The plot thickens as the realization soon becomes apparent that the patient not only has smallpox, but he is part of a terrorist plot to spread the deadly disease to sport arenas, malls, and airports. The doctor must stop the deadly spread before it’s too late. This page turning, stay-up-all-night to find out what happens next, thriller leaves readers questioning. Could it happen today? Could it happen in their local ER?
So what exactly is smallpox? After extensive research, Dr. Reyes offers the following smallpox statistics:
¨ The killer disease is spread from one person to another by infected saliva droplets. The vaccine can lessen the severity or even prevent smallpox in people exposed if treated within a few days.
¨ The diagnosis of small pox is not difficult if the classic skin lesion is present and most physicians would probably be able to make the diagnosis when they are presented such a rash. However, many patients will present an atypical rash that is more like a red-spotted rash. This is more difficult to diagnose and thus can be far more deadly as it can go untreated and spread quickly.
¨ Smallpox represents one of the most devastating potential biological weapons ever conceived. The variola virus causes the lethal disease. The incubation period of smallpox ranges from 7 to 17 days following exposure. Its initial symptoms include a severely high fever, fatigue, and headaches. A rash, most prominent on the face, arms, and legs, is sure to follow in a couple days.
¨ There is no proven treatment for smallpox, but there is treatment for many of its complications, including dehydration and the treatment of secondary bacterial infections with antibiotics. Scientists are presently ongoing research across the globe to evaluate new antiviral agents.
Even though the topic of this book is frightening, the book itself is a magnificent read with plenty of suspense, action, and realistic characters that readers will grow fond of. Sledgehammer has received numerous five-star reviews, including one from the American Reporter’s Joe Shea. Shea states, “Sledgehammer is a gripping, powerful portrait of an American emergency room physician encountering the ‘index’ case of a national bioterrorist attack by Islamic terrorists. Dr. Paulo J. Reyes' novel of an American physician trying to deal with what presents as an ambiguous case of pox - monkey pox, chicken pox, smallpox, who knows? - is unnerving and engaging in the extreme. It is probably the best bio-warfare thriller of the dozen-odd I've read in the past 10 years.” Reyes’ medical career spans 25 years as an ER Doctor and First Responder to disasters in Los Angeles allows him to bring the fictional tale to vivid life. Sledgehammer is available at Dr. Reyes’ website http://www.pauloreyes.com and at Amazon and leading online bookstores.
##
Holiday Happiness -- Organize and Have Fun
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Molly H. Gold
mgold@gomominc.com
http://www.gomominc.com
919/387-3848
FAMILIES FIND TIME FOR HOLIDAY HAPPINESS
GO MOM! Offers Shortcut Solutions for a Memorable Holiday Season
Apex, NC (November, 2006) – GO MOM !NC released fresh new strategies showing Moms how to make their 2006 holiday season one for the memory books. “Each holiday season becomes meaningful in its own way,” states Molly Gold, Founder of GO MOM !NC. “My role as a Family Scheduling and Organization Expert is to show Moms how they can stay focused on their family priorities during one of the most hectic, and overscheduled, times of the year. By tackling their schedule with a month at a time mentality, Moms will realize their goals to truly enjoy their family through the wonder of the season.” Take a look at our shortcut solutions for Family Holiday Happiness 2006:
The November Organized Mom - Grab your planner and map a Thanksgiving full of fun! First, don’t hesitate to delegate. Enlist complete menus from hospitality experts like Rachael Ray and assign specific menu items, recipes included, to each guest attending. Next, honor traditions that take you back to your roots. From pre-holiday decorating to a weekend full of football, day-after tThanksgiving shopping, or volunteering at a charity event, the tradition is yours and practicing it yearly provides our children a generational connection that can’t be found outside the clan. Finally, keep the fun in family. If this year’s kids table is bigger than the grown ups, make it central in your plans. Include colorful accessories to decorate through the day, which offers a way for kids to express themselves, such as a Giving Tree that you decorate with leaves stating their thanks, and always include a change in scenery to keep the mayhem at a minimum. Well timed activities like Legos or coloring in a playroom partnered with a spirited game of tag outside, kids against adults, is priceless for everyone, not to mention good for the china and crystal on display.
The December Organized Mom – If it’s Christmas you celebrate, you’ve got 23 days before 48 truly miraculous hours of wonder. Week 1 is meant to shop ‘til you drop, either in person or online, to accomplish this task before the holiday gets too close. Use a list to stay on track, compare prices, and take advantage of free shipping whenever possible. Kick off Week 2 by sending holiday greetings. Make it a family affair, enlisting helping hands to stuff, stamp and seal as you write. Update your address book and computerize for next year to cut your time in half. Week 3 is the official “12 Days of Christmas.” Work hard to make family traditions come alive by baking and crafting for others. Include your children and they will learn hands on the untold value of offering a humble gift from the heart. By the time you arrive at Week 4, you will have no problem spending down time with your family in the way that suits you best.
The Ready for Company Mom – Unexpected company can break your stride during a season full of events. First, tackle your house with short order cleaning. Consult the Mr. Clean line of products for a full array of options, with the Mr. Clean Magic Reach your fastest bathroom cleaning yet tackling 5 surfaces with one tool. Stock every bathroom with necessary supplies, including fresh seasonal hand towels, candles, and air fresheners. Assign last minute company tasks to each family member and you’ll master the scramble in style. Second, be ready for meals in minutes by visiting a group kitchen, the latest way to prepare a week or two worth of meals at one time so you can have a collection of delicious dinners to stock your freezer, ready to pull out anytime. If its hors d'oeuvres and dessert you need, go for the best in boxes, bags, and jars. Costco or BJ’s carries a huge selection of prepared items from meatballs to bruschetta, cheesecake to coffee. Shop on a Saturday to taste what you can, and enjoy your visitors without the worry. For a more simple approach, stock up on lots of hot chocolate, marshmallows, peppermint sticks, and holiday cookies. Finally, gifts galore can cloud our thinking. Choose a few signature items that truly express your personality and purchase ten to have in your gift closet, wrapped and ready to go. From favorite ornaments to hot cocoa kits, a good bottle of wine or a holiday CD, the gesture will reflect you and your family, and that alone is worth cherishing.
GO MOM !NC helps mothers make positive mothering a daily reality within the structure GO MOM!® Schedule. Organize. Grow.® GO MOM !NC is located in Apex, NC and promotes the use of the GO MOM!® product line which is based on unique scheduling solutions for everything family. The GO MOM!® product line is produced via license partnership with Mead Westvaco Consumer and Office Products and sold at major retailers nationwide, including Target, Staples, and Office Max.
GO MOM !NC Founder, Molly Gold, is a 40-year-old mother of three and the creator of The GO MOM!® product line. Gold is known for her keen insights into Family Scheduling and has been featured both in print and on air media alike. Gold currently serves on Proctor & Gamble’s Mr. Clean Team Expert Panel, Cartoon Network's Tickle U Advisory Board and as Family Scheduling Expert at both www.BlueSuitMom.com, and www.NewBaby.com. Gold’s work has been featured in both Parents and Parenting Magazines, Better Homes and Gardens, The Washington Post, ABC's Good Morning America, Most recently she appeared on NBC’s Today Show Weekend Edition, in Women’s Health Magazine, and is one of 100 nationally recognized experts in the new book released this fall, The Experts Guide to the Baby Years, by Samantha Ettus.
To learn more about GO MOM !NC, visit http://www.gomominc.com/ For interviews with Molly Gold, you can e-mail her directly at mgold@gomominc.com.
#END#
Contact: Molly H. Gold
mgold@gomominc.com
http://www.gomominc.com
919/387-3848
FAMILIES FIND TIME FOR HOLIDAY HAPPINESS
GO MOM! Offers Shortcut Solutions for a Memorable Holiday Season
Apex, NC (November, 2006) – GO MOM !NC released fresh new strategies showing Moms how to make their 2006 holiday season one for the memory books. “Each holiday season becomes meaningful in its own way,” states Molly Gold, Founder of GO MOM !NC. “My role as a Family Scheduling and Organization Expert is to show Moms how they can stay focused on their family priorities during one of the most hectic, and overscheduled, times of the year. By tackling their schedule with a month at a time mentality, Moms will realize their goals to truly enjoy their family through the wonder of the season.” Take a look at our shortcut solutions for Family Holiday Happiness 2006:
The November Organized Mom - Grab your planner and map a Thanksgiving full of fun! First, don’t hesitate to delegate. Enlist complete menus from hospitality experts like Rachael Ray and assign specific menu items, recipes included, to each guest attending. Next, honor traditions that take you back to your roots. From pre-holiday decorating to a weekend full of football, day-after tThanksgiving shopping, or volunteering at a charity event, the tradition is yours and practicing it yearly provides our children a generational connection that can’t be found outside the clan. Finally, keep the fun in family. If this year’s kids table is bigger than the grown ups, make it central in your plans. Include colorful accessories to decorate through the day, which offers a way for kids to express themselves, such as a Giving Tree that you decorate with leaves stating their thanks, and always include a change in scenery to keep the mayhem at a minimum. Well timed activities like Legos or coloring in a playroom partnered with a spirited game of tag outside, kids against adults, is priceless for everyone, not to mention good for the china and crystal on display.
The December Organized Mom – If it’s Christmas you celebrate, you’ve got 23 days before 48 truly miraculous hours of wonder. Week 1 is meant to shop ‘til you drop, either in person or online, to accomplish this task before the holiday gets too close. Use a list to stay on track, compare prices, and take advantage of free shipping whenever possible. Kick off Week 2 by sending holiday greetings. Make it a family affair, enlisting helping hands to stuff, stamp and seal as you write. Update your address book and computerize for next year to cut your time in half. Week 3 is the official “12 Days of Christmas.” Work hard to make family traditions come alive by baking and crafting for others. Include your children and they will learn hands on the untold value of offering a humble gift from the heart. By the time you arrive at Week 4, you will have no problem spending down time with your family in the way that suits you best.
The Ready for Company Mom – Unexpected company can break your stride during a season full of events. First, tackle your house with short order cleaning. Consult the Mr. Clean line of products for a full array of options, with the Mr. Clean Magic Reach your fastest bathroom cleaning yet tackling 5 surfaces with one tool. Stock every bathroom with necessary supplies, including fresh seasonal hand towels, candles, and air fresheners. Assign last minute company tasks to each family member and you’ll master the scramble in style. Second, be ready for meals in minutes by visiting a group kitchen, the latest way to prepare a week or two worth of meals at one time so you can have a collection of delicious dinners to stock your freezer, ready to pull out anytime. If its hors d'oeuvres and dessert you need, go for the best in boxes, bags, and jars. Costco or BJ’s carries a huge selection of prepared items from meatballs to bruschetta, cheesecake to coffee. Shop on a Saturday to taste what you can, and enjoy your visitors without the worry. For a more simple approach, stock up on lots of hot chocolate, marshmallows, peppermint sticks, and holiday cookies. Finally, gifts galore can cloud our thinking. Choose a few signature items that truly express your personality and purchase ten to have in your gift closet, wrapped and ready to go. From favorite ornaments to hot cocoa kits, a good bottle of wine or a holiday CD, the gesture will reflect you and your family, and that alone is worth cherishing.
GO MOM !NC helps mothers make positive mothering a daily reality within the structure GO MOM!® Schedule. Organize. Grow.® GO MOM !NC is located in Apex, NC and promotes the use of the GO MOM!® product line which is based on unique scheduling solutions for everything family. The GO MOM!® product line is produced via license partnership with Mead Westvaco Consumer and Office Products and sold at major retailers nationwide, including Target, Staples, and Office Max.
GO MOM !NC Founder, Molly Gold, is a 40-year-old mother of three and the creator of The GO MOM!® product line. Gold is known for her keen insights into Family Scheduling and has been featured both in print and on air media alike. Gold currently serves on Proctor & Gamble’s Mr. Clean Team Expert Panel, Cartoon Network's Tickle U Advisory Board and as Family Scheduling Expert at both www.BlueSuitMom.com, and www.NewBaby.com. Gold’s work has been featured in both Parents and Parenting Magazines, Better Homes and Gardens, The Washington Post, ABC's Good Morning America, Most recently she appeared on NBC’s Today Show Weekend Edition, in Women’s Health Magazine, and is one of 100 nationally recognized experts in the new book released this fall, The Experts Guide to the Baby Years, by Samantha Ettus.
To learn more about GO MOM !NC, visit http://www.gomominc.com/ For interviews with Molly Gold, you can e-mail her directly at mgold@gomominc.com.
#END#
Friday, November 03, 2006
Virtual Assistant Training - Momentum Builds
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Momentum Builds for College-Level Virtual Assistant Training
Margate, FL (November 2006): The momentum for college-level virtual assistant training programs is building across the U.S. and into Canada. With the rise in popularity for becoming a successful virtual assistant, colleges are recognizing the unique value of adding this type of training to their curriculum.
The textbooks of choice for these college training courses are two highly popular books specializing in VA training: Virtual Assistant – The Series: Become a Highly Sought After VA and Virtual Assistant – The Series: Workbook Edition, written by Diana Ennen and Kelly Poelker (Another 8 Hours Publishing). Combined, these books offer a step-by-step approach on how to start a VA business.
Since August 2004 Red Deer College’s VA Certification Program in Canada and other higher level learning organizations and colleges have been using Virtual Assistant – The Series to train their students. With a newly published Workbook Edition, a new dimension is added, allowing students to proceed step by step through the book. The workbook is used with the manual to help students set up their business along the way.
“The students find the workbook invaluable,” says Randi Tucker Hart, instructor at Raymond Walters College at the University of Cincinnati. “The content flows right along with the textbook, making it comprehensive, clear and easy to complete the process.” And several students have said the Business Disaster Plan section alone is worth the price of the Virtual Assistant –The Series bundle which includes the manual and the workbook.
For virtual assistants who have the manual, they find the workbook is an added touch that allows for documenting their business startup as they read through the instruction of the main manual. Together they are a must for the seasoned virtual assistants who want to take their businesses to the next level.
Virtual Assistant – The Series: Become a Highly Sought After VA 3rd Edition Revised (ISBN #0-9742790-5-6) is available at Amazon, Borders and online bookstores everywhere. The book and workbook are also available direct from the publisher at http://www.VA-TheSeries.com.
Margate, FL (November 2006): The momentum for college-level virtual assistant training programs is building across the U.S. and into Canada. With the rise in popularity for becoming a successful virtual assistant, colleges are recognizing the unique value of adding this type of training to their curriculum.
The textbooks of choice for these college training courses are two highly popular books specializing in VA training: Virtual Assistant – The Series: Become a Highly Sought After VA and Virtual Assistant – The Series: Workbook Edition, written by Diana Ennen and Kelly Poelker (Another 8 Hours Publishing). Combined, these books offer a step-by-step approach on how to start a VA business.
Since August 2004 Red Deer College’s VA Certification Program in Canada and other higher level learning organizations and colleges have been using Virtual Assistant – The Series to train their students. With a newly published Workbook Edition, a new dimension is added, allowing students to proceed step by step through the book. The workbook is used with the manual to help students set up their business along the way.
“The students find the workbook invaluable,” says Randi Tucker Hart, instructor at Raymond Walters College at the University of Cincinnati. “The content flows right along with the textbook, making it comprehensive, clear and easy to complete the process.” And several students have said the Business Disaster Plan section alone is worth the price of the Virtual Assistant –The Series bundle which includes the manual and the workbook.
For virtual assistants who have the manual, they find the workbook is an added touch that allows for documenting their business startup as they read through the instruction of the main manual. Together they are a must for the seasoned virtual assistants who want to take their businesses to the next level.
Virtual Assistant – The Series: Become a Highly Sought After VA 3rd Edition Revised (ISBN #0-9742790-5-6) is available at Amazon, Borders and online bookstores everywhere. The book and workbook are also available direct from the publisher at http://www.VA-TheSeries.com.
Office Ready Virtual Assistant Solution Pack
Contact:
Diana Ennen
diana@virtualwordpublishing.com
http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com
954-941-4025
A Complete Solution for the Busy or Aspiring Virtual Assistant.
WordPerfect® OfficeReady® Virtual Assistant Solution Pack
Margate, FL (November, 2006) For years businesses have complained of needing more help around the office to meet the ever-increasing demands of running a successful business. The answer finally arrived when highly skilled Virtual Assistants came on scene offering a global solution to the daily challenges of doing business. As the demand increased for qualified virtual assistants, so did the need for information on how to become a Virtual Assistant (VA). Corel® has stepped up to the plate to meet the demand with the release of their latest, WordPerfect® OfficeReady® Virtual Assistant Solution Pack, available at http://www.corel.com.
The WordPerfect® OfficeReady® Virtual Assistant Solution Pack enables entrepreneurs to successfully open their doors in no time, easily expanding their client base, and is ideal for those already in business who want to take their business to the next level. The unique combination of its 81-page e-book and coinciding templates enables entrepreneurs to quickly create everything from Corporate Brochures and Newsletters, to Consultation Forms and Marketing Letters. This ability to rapidly create impressive documents, spreadsheets, or presentations, hassle free makes this an exceptionally valuable tool. Also, its ability to work directly with WordPerfect® software provides WordPerfect® users an added tool in their ongoing quest to start a business or become more successful in their current business.
The Solution Pack offers advantages for both those wishing to start a virtual assistant business and word processing businesses alike. Those wishing to use their secretarial skills to start their own business will enjoy the detailed information provided as well as proven methods for success.
Just some of the benefits include:
1. The ability to establish themselves as an expert in the Virtual Assistant and Word Processing Industry.
2. The information to help them prosper in their own niche, such as publicity, medical or legal transcription, web design, bookkeeping, and so many more.
3. The access to all the tools they need to succeed right at their fingertips. No need to reinvent the wheel every time they need an example of an invoice, etc.
The WordPerfect® OfficeReady® Templates were written in conjunction with Corel to assist millions across the globe in the ever-growing virtual assisting industry. The Virtual Assistant Solution Pack was written with great care and precision by Diana Ennen, a VA Industry Leader and president of Virtual Word Publishing, http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com, with valuable contributions from several professional virtual assistants including her co-author of numerous other books, Kelly Poelker.
The OfficeReady® Virtual Assistant Solution Pack immediately gives its users the proper tools to turn their independent small businesses into successful enterprises. So start your business today or grow your existing business by ordering your copy today at the Corel site, http://www.corel.com under the Office Ready products.
Monday, July 10, 2006
Back to School -- Time to Prepare
Back to School Preparation for All Ages
If you have children, late August and September represent more than summer ending, cooler weather and fall foliage. School begins once again for millions of kids across the country. Getting your child prepared, regardless of whether they are in Kindergarten or a senior in high school, is a must. Here are some tips to make the transition from several weeks of summer fun to school days and homework easier.
Children in Kindergarten – 5th grade
1) About a week before school starts, have your children go to bed at the time they will when school begins. Set their alarm or wake them up early. It’s difficult for some kids to adjust to going to bed and getting up earlier after having an entire summer of sleeping in or staying up late. Many young children need to be on a schedule and preparing a week or so earlier will pay off, especially if you have a night owl or late sleeper.
2) If you have a school supply list (many school districts post them on their website or hand them out the last day of school), buy them early. For the child who is not organized, this is a good way to begin the school year off on the right foot. Label everything and get the backpacks ready the night before school starts. Buy some extra supplies to keep at home if your child is one to lose or forget their pencils or markers at school. They will probably need some basic supplies for homework time. Nothing if more frustrating than sitting down to do homework and discovering the basics are missing.
3) If you have a Kindergartener, walk to school two or three days before school begins (or drive if they take a bus or you will be driving them). This helps acquaint them with what they will actually be doing that first day and can work wonders for alleviating the first-day jitters. If your child is especially anxious, ask if you can let them visit their new classroom for five or ten minutes the day before school starts. Many principals will let the Kindergartens come to the campus prior to school starring.
Middle School
1) Many sixth graders will be attending a new school for their middle school years. Oftentimes, the campus is much bigger and can be intimidating. Of course pre-teens may not admit they are nervous, but most parents are! Suggest a bike ride over to the school sometime during August just to look around. Many middle schools conduct orientation anyway a couple of days before school actually begins, but an extra trip without all of their peers might be worthwhile.
2) Just as in elementary school, it is important, if not more so in middle school, to have all the school supplies ready, especially an organizer. Some schools make it mandatory for the students to purchase an organizer directly from the school. Get in the habit from day one of checking it and being sure homework assignments are recorded. Visit the school website and see if homework and grades will be posted on the site. This is an excellent way to stay involved with your child’s progress throughout the year.
3) If your student struggles with the basics; math or language arts, consider hiring a tutor for some review sessions before and during the first semester. It is quite common in middle school for students who are excelling to be moved to Honors classes sometime during the year. Being in an accelerated class is a good way to prepare a student for Advanced Placement (AP) classes in high school, which count as college credit.
HIGH SCHOOL
1) Find out when the PSAT and SAT exams will take place. If your student is not a good test taker, consider enrolling them in a test prep class. As colleges become more and more competitive, test scores make a difference. One can take the exam more than once if they are not happy with the score, so plan ahead and register early.
2) Stay tuned in to your student’s school and social schedule. There is a tremendous amount of freedom in high school and even the most academically gifted students can be distracted by all of the things that are associated with the teenage years. Establish a curfew for school nights and limit the amount of time that is spent at a part-time job or involved n sports, especially if time management and study skills are not your child’s forte.
3) If your son or daughter is college-bound, start doing your research and be sure to attend the college nights many high schools sponsor. Know what is expected on college applications. It is no longer a simple process like it was for the baby boomer generation. Test scores, a formal essay, class selection in high school are all important factors. Take advantage of the many companies that exist today solely for the purpose of assisting you and your student select the right college for them.
Regardless of the age and grade of your children, stay involved! Volunteering on any level, whether it be reading stories to your elementary aged child’s second grade class, helping in the computer lab in middle school or being on a committee for peer counseling in high school, it is important to know what is happening at the place your children spend a large part of their week. With so many parents working, many Parent Teacher Associations have their meetings in the evening, so more parents can attend. There are activities that need volunteers that do not involved daytime hours such as calling parents in the evening for a fund raiser or helping with a weekend car wash at high school.
Laurie Hurley is an educational consultant and mentor to small business owners. She was recently featured in Woman’s World magazine as a successful mom who started her own company. She will be also be featured this month in Entrepreneur magazine and several other publications like Redbook and Family Circle this spring. Laurie can be reached at www.hometutoringbusiness.com or 1.888.847.0033.
If you have children, late August and September represent more than summer ending, cooler weather and fall foliage. School begins once again for millions of kids across the country. Getting your child prepared, regardless of whether they are in Kindergarten or a senior in high school, is a must. Here are some tips to make the transition from several weeks of summer fun to school days and homework easier.
Children in Kindergarten – 5th grade
1) About a week before school starts, have your children go to bed at the time they will when school begins. Set their alarm or wake them up early. It’s difficult for some kids to adjust to going to bed and getting up earlier after having an entire summer of sleeping in or staying up late. Many young children need to be on a schedule and preparing a week or so earlier will pay off, especially if you have a night owl or late sleeper.
2) If you have a school supply list (many school districts post them on their website or hand them out the last day of school), buy them early. For the child who is not organized, this is a good way to begin the school year off on the right foot. Label everything and get the backpacks ready the night before school starts. Buy some extra supplies to keep at home if your child is one to lose or forget their pencils or markers at school. They will probably need some basic supplies for homework time. Nothing if more frustrating than sitting down to do homework and discovering the basics are missing.
3) If you have a Kindergartener, walk to school two or three days before school begins (or drive if they take a bus or you will be driving them). This helps acquaint them with what they will actually be doing that first day and can work wonders for alleviating the first-day jitters. If your child is especially anxious, ask if you can let them visit their new classroom for five or ten minutes the day before school starts. Many principals will let the Kindergartens come to the campus prior to school starring.
Middle School
1) Many sixth graders will be attending a new school for their middle school years. Oftentimes, the campus is much bigger and can be intimidating. Of course pre-teens may not admit they are nervous, but most parents are! Suggest a bike ride over to the school sometime during August just to look around. Many middle schools conduct orientation anyway a couple of days before school actually begins, but an extra trip without all of their peers might be worthwhile.
2) Just as in elementary school, it is important, if not more so in middle school, to have all the school supplies ready, especially an organizer. Some schools make it mandatory for the students to purchase an organizer directly from the school. Get in the habit from day one of checking it and being sure homework assignments are recorded. Visit the school website and see if homework and grades will be posted on the site. This is an excellent way to stay involved with your child’s progress throughout the year.
3) If your student struggles with the basics; math or language arts, consider hiring a tutor for some review sessions before and during the first semester. It is quite common in middle school for students who are excelling to be moved to Honors classes sometime during the year. Being in an accelerated class is a good way to prepare a student for Advanced Placement (AP) classes in high school, which count as college credit.
HIGH SCHOOL
1) Find out when the PSAT and SAT exams will take place. If your student is not a good test taker, consider enrolling them in a test prep class. As colleges become more and more competitive, test scores make a difference. One can take the exam more than once if they are not happy with the score, so plan ahead and register early.
2) Stay tuned in to your student’s school and social schedule. There is a tremendous amount of freedom in high school and even the most academically gifted students can be distracted by all of the things that are associated with the teenage years. Establish a curfew for school nights and limit the amount of time that is spent at a part-time job or involved n sports, especially if time management and study skills are not your child’s forte.
3) If your son or daughter is college-bound, start doing your research and be sure to attend the college nights many high schools sponsor. Know what is expected on college applications. It is no longer a simple process like it was for the baby boomer generation. Test scores, a formal essay, class selection in high school are all important factors. Take advantage of the many companies that exist today solely for the purpose of assisting you and your student select the right college for them.
Regardless of the age and grade of your children, stay involved! Volunteering on any level, whether it be reading stories to your elementary aged child’s second grade class, helping in the computer lab in middle school or being on a committee for peer counseling in high school, it is important to know what is happening at the place your children spend a large part of their week. With so many parents working, many Parent Teacher Associations have their meetings in the evening, so more parents can attend. There are activities that need volunteers that do not involved daytime hours such as calling parents in the evening for a fund raiser or helping with a weekend car wash at high school.
Laurie Hurley is an educational consultant and mentor to small business owners. She was recently featured in Woman’s World magazine as a successful mom who started her own company. She will be also be featured this month in Entrepreneur magazine and several other publications like Redbook and Family Circle this spring. Laurie can be reached at www.hometutoringbusiness.com or 1.888.847.0033.
Virtual Assistants can Revolutionize Your Business
10 Ways a Virtual Assistant can REVOLUTIONIZE Your Business
For those of you who are still in the dark, a Virtual Assistant, or VA, is an executive level, administrative professional who works from his/her own office to support clients using some of the latest available technology. The Internet has brought many skilled professionals out of the corporate environment and back into their homes, enabling them to create a better work-life balance, while still performing in the roles they love. The VA is one such professional. Working from their home-based offices and making use of the Internet, telephone, fax and email, VAs are able to offer small and medium-sized businesses a quality of administrative support, previously only available to the corporate giants, in a cost-effective manner.
A Virtual Assistant’s service offering may vary, but you are guaranteed to find one out there who is able to perform the exact functions your business needs. You will find that hiring a VA will REVOLUTIONIZE your business.
A VA brings invaluable work experience and training to the table. You may even find that they will teach you a trick or two. Be it software, hardware or grammar, you can be sure that your VA knows his/her stuff!
2. Because VAs run a business themselves, they have a unique understanding of what your needs as a small business owner are. They will be able to assist and advise you on matters pertaining to Marketing, Branding, Web Design and e-Commerce. What avenues of advancement have you not yet explored with your business? Are you sure that you have all your bases covered? Your VA can help.
3. Get organized. If you attend conferences and AGMs I’ll bet you have a ton of business cards cluttering up your desk. Let your VA scan and enter them into a database for you. Future mail campaigns will be a breeze with a ready-made contact list all neatly stored on a CD.
4. Is there a special project boiling over on the back-burner that you’ve been wanting to do? Your VA can help with research, planning and coordination, leaving you free to continue your focus on your core-business function.
5. If you’re too busy to remember important dates, anniversaries and meetings, your VA, with a tailored reminder service, can assist. From ordering flowers for your mother, to sending a thank you note to a client and even arranging gift baskets for investor, they aim to please.
6. Conceptualizing marketing items can be agonizing if you don’t have the know-how, equipment or creative flair. Most VAs have a wide range of software packages at their finger-tips, as well as experience in creating flyers, brochures and business cards for their own company’s. Put your ideas to your VA, they will dazzle you with the results.
7. Planning a much-needed break with your family? Let your VA take care of the details; flights, car hire, accommodation, even a list of “must-see” places of interest. Your VA can handle it all, down to the very last detail.
8. If you’re on the road a lot, chances are your cell-phone is often out of signal range and there is no one in your office to take a message should that all-important client call. With the call answering service provided by many VAs, you can divert your calls and rest assured that your client will receive the personal touch rather than dealing with an annoying automated answering device. Your messages will be passed on to you in order of importance and you won’t need to sort through lengthy messages on voicemail.
9. Conferences and networking functions can take a lot out of a small business owner. It is imperative that you attend and make a dazzling show of it, but in order to do so, you have to neglect existing clients. This will no longer be a problem with a VA. They can handle all your conferencing arrangements; table-hire, banner design and creation, even gift bags for client samples. It’s that easy!
10. If you have a lot of correspondence, and you’re a bit of a “keyboard klutz”, your VA can help. Many VAs offer a fully digitized transcription service. Simply record your memos/letters onto your computer and email them to your VA, s/he will have it neatly typed and ready for mailing in no time! Other VAs may provide dictated typing as a service, so that urgent e-mail is just a phone-call away.
Now that you’ve heard all that a VA can do, where can you find one? That’s easy. VANetworking at http://www.vanetworking.com/ is an invaluable resource when looking to partner with a VA. With over 2,300 professional VA members you are certain to find exactly the service you are looking for. According to Tawnya Sutherland, founder of VAN, and author of the Virtual Assistant Start-Up System states, “Our forum is leading the way in revolutionizing the VA Industry by offering expert advice to VAs on how to be the best VA they can be. That’s why partnering with one of our VAs can help your business grow and operate on a more proficient level.” And Diana Ennen, president of Virtual Word Publishing, http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com/ and Publicist for the site states, “Our team of VAs are varied with different skill sets and different visions for their business. That’s why teaming up with a VAN VA can give your business all the support it needs.”
So if you’re looking for a Virtual Assistant or want to start a virtual assistant business, now is the time to stop by VANetworking and see everything they have to offer.
***
Tawnya Sutherland, founder of Virtual Assistant Networking (VAN) (http://www.vanetworking.com/) and author of The VAS System, a Virtual Assistant Startup System, is a Certified Internet Marketing Specialist sharing much of her online marketing experience at VAN to help aspiring and successful VAs turn clicks into cash at their websites. Contact her at tawnya@mediamage.com or the Publicity Rep for VAN, Diana Ennen at diana@virtualwordpublishing.com.
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For those of you who are still in the dark, a Virtual Assistant, or VA, is an executive level, administrative professional who works from his/her own office to support clients using some of the latest available technology. The Internet has brought many skilled professionals out of the corporate environment and back into their homes, enabling them to create a better work-life balance, while still performing in the roles they love. The VA is one such professional. Working from their home-based offices and making use of the Internet, telephone, fax and email, VAs are able to offer small and medium-sized businesses a quality of administrative support, previously only available to the corporate giants, in a cost-effective manner.
A Virtual Assistant’s service offering may vary, but you are guaranteed to find one out there who is able to perform the exact functions your business needs. You will find that hiring a VA will REVOLUTIONIZE your business.
A VA brings invaluable work experience and training to the table. You may even find that they will teach you a trick or two. Be it software, hardware or grammar, you can be sure that your VA knows his/her stuff!
2. Because VAs run a business themselves, they have a unique understanding of what your needs as a small business owner are. They will be able to assist and advise you on matters pertaining to Marketing, Branding, Web Design and e-Commerce. What avenues of advancement have you not yet explored with your business? Are you sure that you have all your bases covered? Your VA can help.
3. Get organized. If you attend conferences and AGMs I’ll bet you have a ton of business cards cluttering up your desk. Let your VA scan and enter them into a database for you. Future mail campaigns will be a breeze with a ready-made contact list all neatly stored on a CD.
4. Is there a special project boiling over on the back-burner that you’ve been wanting to do? Your VA can help with research, planning and coordination, leaving you free to continue your focus on your core-business function.
5. If you’re too busy to remember important dates, anniversaries and meetings, your VA, with a tailored reminder service, can assist. From ordering flowers for your mother, to sending a thank you note to a client and even arranging gift baskets for investor, they aim to please.
6. Conceptualizing marketing items can be agonizing if you don’t have the know-how, equipment or creative flair. Most VAs have a wide range of software packages at their finger-tips, as well as experience in creating flyers, brochures and business cards for their own company’s. Put your ideas to your VA, they will dazzle you with the results.
7. Planning a much-needed break with your family? Let your VA take care of the details; flights, car hire, accommodation, even a list of “must-see” places of interest. Your VA can handle it all, down to the very last detail.
8. If you’re on the road a lot, chances are your cell-phone is often out of signal range and there is no one in your office to take a message should that all-important client call. With the call answering service provided by many VAs, you can divert your calls and rest assured that your client will receive the personal touch rather than dealing with an annoying automated answering device. Your messages will be passed on to you in order of importance and you won’t need to sort through lengthy messages on voicemail.
9. Conferences and networking functions can take a lot out of a small business owner. It is imperative that you attend and make a dazzling show of it, but in order to do so, you have to neglect existing clients. This will no longer be a problem with a VA. They can handle all your conferencing arrangements; table-hire, banner design and creation, even gift bags for client samples. It’s that easy!
10. If you have a lot of correspondence, and you’re a bit of a “keyboard klutz”, your VA can help. Many VAs offer a fully digitized transcription service. Simply record your memos/letters onto your computer and email them to your VA, s/he will have it neatly typed and ready for mailing in no time! Other VAs may provide dictated typing as a service, so that urgent e-mail is just a phone-call away.
Now that you’ve heard all that a VA can do, where can you find one? That’s easy. VANetworking at http://www.vanetworking.com/ is an invaluable resource when looking to partner with a VA. With over 2,300 professional VA members you are certain to find exactly the service you are looking for. According to Tawnya Sutherland, founder of VAN, and author of the Virtual Assistant Start-Up System states, “Our forum is leading the way in revolutionizing the VA Industry by offering expert advice to VAs on how to be the best VA they can be. That’s why partnering with one of our VAs can help your business grow and operate on a more proficient level.” And Diana Ennen, president of Virtual Word Publishing, http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com/ and Publicist for the site states, “Our team of VAs are varied with different skill sets and different visions for their business. That’s why teaming up with a VAN VA can give your business all the support it needs.”
So if you’re looking for a Virtual Assistant or want to start a virtual assistant business, now is the time to stop by VANetworking and see everything they have to offer.
***
Tawnya Sutherland, founder of Virtual Assistant Networking (VAN) (http://www.vanetworking.com/) and author of The VAS System, a Virtual Assistant Startup System, is a Certified Internet Marketing Specialist sharing much of her online marketing experience at VAN to help aspiring and successful VAs turn clicks into cash at their websites. Contact her at tawnya@mediamage.com or the Publicity Rep for VAN, Diana Ennen at diana@virtualwordpublishing.com.
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Thursday, June 29, 2006
Home Office Organization Tips
HOME OFFICE ORGANIZATION TIPS
By Laurie Hurley
Working at home is great, but has some definite drawbacks if you are not organized. Here are some handy tips to keeping the office neat, clean, and uncluttered.
1) KEEP THE OFFICE, THE OFFICE!
As tempting as it may be to bring non-work related materials into your office, don’t! Have a separate place for mail and paperwork that is not related to your job in a separate area of your home, away from your office. This approach helps to keep your personal life and all its paraphernalia isolated in a different location.
2) DON’T OVER FURNISH THE OFFICE
Most home-based businesses need the obvious – a desk and chair, telephone, filing cabinet, computer, printer, bookshelf, and maybe an extra chair for visitors (if you have them in your office for business meetings). The bare minimum, tastefully furnished is sufficient. Too many plants, extra knick-knacks, excessive art work, etc. only takes up valuable space. Utilize your space efficiently and you will be less apt to lose paperwork or misplace an important document. There will only be one or two places to look!
3) IF POSSIBLE, LOCK YOUR OFFICE WHEN YOU ARE NOT THERE
This is especially important if you have children or if your office is in a high-traffic area of your home (not recommended!). It is too tempting for others to walk into your private sanctuary when you are not there and plop down at your desk, “borrow” a pen or paper or use the computer. Before you know it, things get shifted around or your neat desk has an open soda can on it that you did not leave there. If you can’t lock the door, or don’t even have a door to your office, there should be strict rules in the house as to who has your permission to enter when you are not present – and they should be enforced!
4) EMPTY YOUR GARBAGE CAN NIGHTLY
This might sound like a lot of work, but it helps to maintain the cleanliness of your office. Have a wastepaper basket and a recycle box. If you have a shredder, even better. Shred and dispose of everything nightly. Take your small recycle box to the bigger recycle area in your home. If you print a lot of documents for your use only, recycle the paper and use that in your printer. It cuts down on paper costs.
5) END THE DAY WITH A CLEAN DESK
There is nothing worse than coming into your office at the beginning of your work day and facing a messy, disorganized desk. Schedule time every night to put everything away. Do not make exceptions to this rule because before you know it, you will have four days of unkempt papers lining your desktop and things WILL get lost or misplaced, just when you need them the most. Schedule clean up time on your daily calendar or to do list. This is one item that shouldn’t be postponed.
6) MAINTAIN APPROPRIATE ACCESSIBLE FILES
There will always be items you don’t get to finish at the end of your work day. Keep file trays on or near your desk labeled in the following way: (a)To Do Tomorrow, (b) Completed & Need To Be Filed, (c) High Priority – Do First Thing Today. Have one file tray for items that come up during the day that can be put in the (d) Future File that have a date on them. Some people call it a tickler file, but it is important to prioritize what needs your attention and when. Many items are probably stored on your PC, but most every business has paperwork associated with it and the visual filing system is a good one. Sticking things in drawers that you might not open because they are not right in front of you can spell disaster for any business.
Laurie Hurley is an entrepreneur and has worked out of her home for eight years. She runs a tutor referral service in Southern California. She also is President and Founder of Home Tutoring Business, her company that sells complete business packages to individuals who want to learn how to begin a tutor referral service in their community. She generates volumes of paperwork daily, but she goes to bed every night with a clean desk, and she doesn’t have a door to her office!
By Laurie Hurley
Working at home is great, but has some definite drawbacks if you are not organized. Here are some handy tips to keeping the office neat, clean, and uncluttered.
1) KEEP THE OFFICE, THE OFFICE!
As tempting as it may be to bring non-work related materials into your office, don’t! Have a separate place for mail and paperwork that is not related to your job in a separate area of your home, away from your office. This approach helps to keep your personal life and all its paraphernalia isolated in a different location.
2) DON’T OVER FURNISH THE OFFICE
Most home-based businesses need the obvious – a desk and chair, telephone, filing cabinet, computer, printer, bookshelf, and maybe an extra chair for visitors (if you have them in your office for business meetings). The bare minimum, tastefully furnished is sufficient. Too many plants, extra knick-knacks, excessive art work, etc. only takes up valuable space. Utilize your space efficiently and you will be less apt to lose paperwork or misplace an important document. There will only be one or two places to look!
3) IF POSSIBLE, LOCK YOUR OFFICE WHEN YOU ARE NOT THERE
This is especially important if you have children or if your office is in a high-traffic area of your home (not recommended!). It is too tempting for others to walk into your private sanctuary when you are not there and plop down at your desk, “borrow” a pen or paper or use the computer. Before you know it, things get shifted around or your neat desk has an open soda can on it that you did not leave there. If you can’t lock the door, or don’t even have a door to your office, there should be strict rules in the house as to who has your permission to enter when you are not present – and they should be enforced!
4) EMPTY YOUR GARBAGE CAN NIGHTLY
This might sound like a lot of work, but it helps to maintain the cleanliness of your office. Have a wastepaper basket and a recycle box. If you have a shredder, even better. Shred and dispose of everything nightly. Take your small recycle box to the bigger recycle area in your home. If you print a lot of documents for your use only, recycle the paper and use that in your printer. It cuts down on paper costs.
5) END THE DAY WITH A CLEAN DESK
There is nothing worse than coming into your office at the beginning of your work day and facing a messy, disorganized desk. Schedule time every night to put everything away. Do not make exceptions to this rule because before you know it, you will have four days of unkempt papers lining your desktop and things WILL get lost or misplaced, just when you need them the most. Schedule clean up time on your daily calendar or to do list. This is one item that shouldn’t be postponed.
6) MAINTAIN APPROPRIATE ACCESSIBLE FILES
There will always be items you don’t get to finish at the end of your work day. Keep file trays on or near your desk labeled in the following way: (a)To Do Tomorrow, (b) Completed & Need To Be Filed, (c) High Priority – Do First Thing Today. Have one file tray for items that come up during the day that can be put in the (d) Future File that have a date on them. Some people call it a tickler file, but it is important to prioritize what needs your attention and when. Many items are probably stored on your PC, but most every business has paperwork associated with it and the visual filing system is a good one. Sticking things in drawers that you might not open because they are not right in front of you can spell disaster for any business.
Laurie Hurley is an entrepreneur and has worked out of her home for eight years. She runs a tutor referral service in Southern California. She also is President and Founder of Home Tutoring Business, her company that sells complete business packages to individuals who want to learn how to begin a tutor referral service in their community. She generates volumes of paperwork daily, but she goes to bed every night with a clean desk, and she doesn’t have a door to her office!
Our client - Laurie Hurley with Home Tutoring Business
WHY IS HOME TUTORING BUSINESS AN EXCELLENT ALTERNATIVE TO BUYING A FRANCHISE?
Home Tutoring Business offers you the opportunity to establish a home-based tutor referral service in your community. A detailed business plan is already written for you. Your blueprint to success is thorough enough for you to be up and running quickly, while allowing you to add your own personal touches based on your business experience.
Home Tutoring Business
1) Low purchase price – packages are between $3995-$6495 with additional start up costs of approximately $1500-$3500.
2) Your revenue is not shared with HTB – no monthly fees of any kind – EVER!
3) There is no need to sign any contracts with us, thus no renewal fees or transfer fees if you sell your business.
4) We don’t ask you to prove your cash liquidity or net worth.
5) Grow your business – no geographical limits.
6) On-going support built in to each package price via email or phone.
7) Optional visit to our home office for training is provided but not required.
8) Personalized website is offered, not a corporate website.
9) Custom Accounting Software offered- written specifically for HTB.
10) Merchant Account provided – begin taking credit cards immediately.
11) Ad copy designed and provided for you, not only at the start-up phase, but throughout your tenure owning your business.
12) A comprehensive step-by-step manual is your guide, documenting exactly how to begin, maintain and grow your tutoring referral service.
13) Fulfill a niche in the tutoring industry by providing one-on-one in-home tutoring from the schools’ curriculum.
14)Work from home – you did not need an outside office or store-front which keeps your overhead low.
VS.
Franchise
1) Franchise prices begin at approximately $19K and can be as high as $100K. Additional start up costs are usually between $20K-$60K or more.
2) Franchises take a monthly percentage of your revenue. Some also take a percentage of revenue for national advertising which may or may not benefit you, depending on the market you service.
3) The typical franchise agreement is for a period of ten (10) years with a renewal fee due at the end of that period if you plan to continue operating your franchise.
4) Franchises want to know your personal financial situation. They often ask for proof of your liquid assets. If you don’t meet their requirements, you may be turned down for a franchise.
5) Franchises allow you to “buy” a protected territory. If you want more than one territory, usually defined by population, your franchise fee will be higher.
6) Support is usually promised when you sign your contract. When you are dealing with a large franchise corporation, it is infrequent that you will speak directly to the President or owner.
7) Many franchises require you to visit their corporate office for two-three days of training. You pay your own expenses.
8) A corporate website is powerful, however, not personalized to your business. Most franchises will provide your contact information and you receive any inquiries via an email.
9) Some franchises have Accounting Software programs and some don’t.
10) Merchant Accounts are rarely provided. If you want to take credit cards (which will substantially increase your revenues), you are on your own to find a vendor.
11) Depending on the franchise, you might be able to have ads designed for you specifically, especially at the beginning of your ownership. On-going ads are cookie-cutter because they apply to every franchisee.
12) Franchises usually provide a training manual, written by the training department, not the owner.
13) There are very few one-on-one in-home tutoring franchises in the marketplace. Most tutoring franchises are learning centers, which involves a huge capital investment.
14) Learning centers are obviously just that – a center – and that is where your office will be located. You will be responsible for rent, insurance, employees and everything else that goes along with owning a business outside of your home.
For many people, a franchise is the way to go. As an ex-franchisee for three years, I was very disappointed in my experience, and I was a top producer for the company. I owned one of the only major in-home tutoring franchises in existence eight years ago. There are a few others on the market now, but they are small and usually owned by a teacher or educator, not a business person.
Financially, HTB is offering more to the buyer – we are offering an opportunity to be a true entrepreneur backed by my knowledge, support and experience actually working in the field for eight years. HTB will help you establish your own company name and identity in the geographical areas you decide to service.
Personal experience, backed by individualized attention and knowledge of how to begin a lucrative tutoring referral service that is in high demand in almost every part of the country can be yours – without the steep financial investment.
Laurie Hurley is the Founder & President of Home Tutoring Business. based in Southern California. If you are looking to begin a tutor referral service in your community without the high cost of buying a franchise, contact Home Tutoring Business, http://www.hometutoringbusiness.com, at 1.805.376.0033.
Home Tutoring Business offers you the opportunity to establish a home-based tutor referral service in your community. A detailed business plan is already written for you. Your blueprint to success is thorough enough for you to be up and running quickly, while allowing you to add your own personal touches based on your business experience.
Home Tutoring Business
1) Low purchase price – packages are between $3995-$6495 with additional start up costs of approximately $1500-$3500.
2) Your revenue is not shared with HTB – no monthly fees of any kind – EVER!
3) There is no need to sign any contracts with us, thus no renewal fees or transfer fees if you sell your business.
4) We don’t ask you to prove your cash liquidity or net worth.
5) Grow your business – no geographical limits.
6) On-going support built in to each package price via email or phone.
7) Optional visit to our home office for training is provided but not required.
8) Personalized website is offered, not a corporate website.
9) Custom Accounting Software offered- written specifically for HTB.
10) Merchant Account provided – begin taking credit cards immediately.
11) Ad copy designed and provided for you, not only at the start-up phase, but throughout your tenure owning your business.
12) A comprehensive step-by-step manual is your guide, documenting exactly how to begin, maintain and grow your tutoring referral service.
13) Fulfill a niche in the tutoring industry by providing one-on-one in-home tutoring from the schools’ curriculum.
14)Work from home – you did not need an outside office or store-front which keeps your overhead low.
VS.
Franchise
1) Franchise prices begin at approximately $19K and can be as high as $100K. Additional start up costs are usually between $20K-$60K or more.
2) Franchises take a monthly percentage of your revenue. Some also take a percentage of revenue for national advertising which may or may not benefit you, depending on the market you service.
3) The typical franchise agreement is for a period of ten (10) years with a renewal fee due at the end of that period if you plan to continue operating your franchise.
4) Franchises want to know your personal financial situation. They often ask for proof of your liquid assets. If you don’t meet their requirements, you may be turned down for a franchise.
5) Franchises allow you to “buy” a protected territory. If you want more than one territory, usually defined by population, your franchise fee will be higher.
6) Support is usually promised when you sign your contract. When you are dealing with a large franchise corporation, it is infrequent that you will speak directly to the President or owner.
7) Many franchises require you to visit their corporate office for two-three days of training. You pay your own expenses.
8) A corporate website is powerful, however, not personalized to your business. Most franchises will provide your contact information and you receive any inquiries via an email.
9) Some franchises have Accounting Software programs and some don’t.
10) Merchant Accounts are rarely provided. If you want to take credit cards (which will substantially increase your revenues), you are on your own to find a vendor.
11) Depending on the franchise, you might be able to have ads designed for you specifically, especially at the beginning of your ownership. On-going ads are cookie-cutter because they apply to every franchisee.
12) Franchises usually provide a training manual, written by the training department, not the owner.
13) There are very few one-on-one in-home tutoring franchises in the marketplace. Most tutoring franchises are learning centers, which involves a huge capital investment.
14) Learning centers are obviously just that – a center – and that is where your office will be located. You will be responsible for rent, insurance, employees and everything else that goes along with owning a business outside of your home.
For many people, a franchise is the way to go. As an ex-franchisee for three years, I was very disappointed in my experience, and I was a top producer for the company. I owned one of the only major in-home tutoring franchises in existence eight years ago. There are a few others on the market now, but they are small and usually owned by a teacher or educator, not a business person.
Financially, HTB is offering more to the buyer – we are offering an opportunity to be a true entrepreneur backed by my knowledge, support and experience actually working in the field for eight years. HTB will help you establish your own company name and identity in the geographical areas you decide to service.
Personal experience, backed by individualized attention and knowledge of how to begin a lucrative tutoring referral service that is in high demand in almost every part of the country can be yours – without the steep financial investment.
Laurie Hurley is the Founder & President of Home Tutoring Business. based in Southern California. If you are looking to begin a tutor referral service in your community without the high cost of buying a franchise, contact Home Tutoring Business, http://www.hometutoringbusiness.com, at 1.805.376.0033.
Sledgehammer
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Diana - diana@pauloreyes.com
(954) 599-3067
http://www.pauloreyes.com
Terror Attack, Small Pox Threat, or Flu Pandemic – A Nation Prepares
Los Angeles, California, June 2006. In late September, Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt told members of Congress in a classified closed-door meeting that bird flu could conceivably kill hundreds of thousands of Americans. Within 24 hours, a $3.9 billion legislative proposal to buy and stockpile huge new quantities of vaccines and antiviral medications was designed and passed with almost no debate or discussion.
Mike Osterholm wrote in a July 2005 issue of Foreign Affairs, “If an influenza pandemic struck today, borders would close, the global economy would shut down, international vaccine supplies and health-care systems would be overwhelmed, and panic would reign. To limit the fallout, the industrialized world must create a detailed response strategy involving the public and private sectors.”
Pandemic viruses aren't the only threat facing our nation. Drug-resistant bacteria and terrorist attacks spreading anthrax, smallpox or other deadly substances are also concerns in Washington.
Dr. Paulo J. Reyes, an ER Doctor and first responder in California is the author of a book on bioterrorism, Sledgehammer. He strives to increase the awareness of this potential threat now. Reyes’ book, Sledgehammer, (ISBN #097713870-4) a fiction thriller, details an outbreak of smallpox and its devastating and fatal effects. Based on factual information and real life hospital settings, it portrays a terrorist attack utilizing smallpox and the struggles the medical profession must endure to get government acceptance that this deadly disease is once again a clear and present danger. The plot is well written and has received numerous 5 star reviews. You grow fond of the characters and long for a cure in time to save the hospital staff and the nation.
To learn more about the dangers of smallpox and his book go to Dr. Reyes website at http://www.pauloreyes.com. His book, Sledgehammer is also available at http://www.pauloreyes.com, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other leading bookstores.
Contact: Diana - diana@pauloreyes.com
(954) 599-3067
http://www.pauloreyes.com
Terror Attack, Small Pox Threat, or Flu Pandemic – A Nation Prepares
Los Angeles, California, June 2006. In late September, Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt told members of Congress in a classified closed-door meeting that bird flu could conceivably kill hundreds of thousands of Americans. Within 24 hours, a $3.9 billion legislative proposal to buy and stockpile huge new quantities of vaccines and antiviral medications was designed and passed with almost no debate or discussion.
Mike Osterholm wrote in a July 2005 issue of Foreign Affairs, “If an influenza pandemic struck today, borders would close, the global economy would shut down, international vaccine supplies and health-care systems would be overwhelmed, and panic would reign. To limit the fallout, the industrialized world must create a detailed response strategy involving the public and private sectors.”
Pandemic viruses aren't the only threat facing our nation. Drug-resistant bacteria and terrorist attacks spreading anthrax, smallpox or other deadly substances are also concerns in Washington.
Dr. Paulo J. Reyes, an ER Doctor and first responder in California is the author of a book on bioterrorism, Sledgehammer. He strives to increase the awareness of this potential threat now. Reyes’ book, Sledgehammer, (ISBN #097713870-4) a fiction thriller, details an outbreak of smallpox and its devastating and fatal effects. Based on factual information and real life hospital settings, it portrays a terrorist attack utilizing smallpox and the struggles the medical profession must endure to get government acceptance that this deadly disease is once again a clear and present danger. The plot is well written and has received numerous 5 star reviews. You grow fond of the characters and long for a cure in time to save the hospital staff and the nation.
To learn more about the dangers of smallpox and his book go to Dr. Reyes website at http://www.pauloreyes.com. His book, Sledgehammer is also available at http://www.pauloreyes.com, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other leading bookstores.
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Fourth of July Celebrations - Make a Party Cake
For Immediate Release
Contact: Barb Ireland
http://www.makeadiapercake.biz
800.738.5685
Fourth of July Towel Cakes – They are Fun, Easy, and A Real Party Hit
Waukegan, IL March, 2006. Everyone loves the Fourth of July. It’s the day when the whole family and extended family members get together to play. From cooking on the grill to the fireworks show at night, parties and picnics are abundant and leave lasting that rekindle the joys of summer.
Make a Diaper Cake Biz (http://www.makeadiapercake.biz) is famous for making “diaper cakes” from baby blankets and diapers. But at this time of year, it’s fun to get creative and make spectacular 4th of July cakes. Any party will be a sure hit when a beach towel theme related to the 4th of July or solid colors like red, white and blue.
Here’s how to create your 4th of July Cake that’s perfect for kids and adults too:
Supplies You’ll Need:
· Ribbon, or plastic wide ribbon they sell at dollars stores for outside decorating.
· Towel
· Shred
· Party Poppers
· Glow Sticks
· Sparklers
· Candy
· Snakes
· Cups Or Mugs ( Related to 4th of July)
These are just some suggestions. Use your imagination and create a fun filled Fourth Of July Cake.
Now follow these steps:
1. To start, fold the towel and shape it into a cake and then pin. To make your cake more stable, take some poster board and cut it the height of the cake. Make the poster board into a round circle and insert into cake center.
2. If you wish you could take more hand towels, cloth napkins, and roll them to fit inside your towel cake. In using cloth napkins you can then find napkin rings and use those to decorate the outside of your creation as well.
3. Fill center with shred. Pack this down well and take the ribbon and run it around the outside of cake, pin or glue ends in the back of cake.
4. Now the fun part. Take your other ribbon, the one with the blue stars and cut them into squares about 6 by 6 inches. Fan them and then wrap ribbon around the center. Pull tight and tie. Glue these onto the outside of cake.
5. To arrange items in your cake, make little holes in shred and began to insert items starting with heavy items in back of cake. Take out some glow sticks and stand them up like candles. Do the same with sparklers. Put poppers in front laying them down, and just fill in empty spaces with whatever else you have be it candy, cups and so on. Think about what your family and friends enjoy and include those.
That’s it. A perfect 4th of July cake can now be made for your family and friends. For more information on making a 4th of July cake, a diaper cake, or any other specialty cake, stop by the website at http://www.makeadiapercake.biz. Not only do we have complete instructions for making cakes, but an ebook as well that walks you though step by step. We can also design the cake for you. Whatever you need, you’ll find it here. Happy 4th!
Barb Ireland is the founder of Make A Diaper Cake Biz, http://www.makeadiapercake.biz. You can purchase a diaper cake, learn how to make a diaper cake, or start your own diaper cake business at her site. Articles are free to be reprinted as long as author’s bio remains intact.
Contact: Barb Ireland
http://www.makeadiapercake.biz
800.738.5685
Fourth of July Towel Cakes – They are Fun, Easy, and A Real Party Hit
Waukegan, IL March, 2006. Everyone loves the Fourth of July. It’s the day when the whole family and extended family members get together to play. From cooking on the grill to the fireworks show at night, parties and picnics are abundant and leave lasting that rekindle the joys of summer.
Make a Diaper Cake Biz (http://www.makeadiapercake.biz) is famous for making “diaper cakes” from baby blankets and diapers. But at this time of year, it’s fun to get creative and make spectacular 4th of July cakes. Any party will be a sure hit when a beach towel theme related to the 4th of July or solid colors like red, white and blue.
Here’s how to create your 4th of July Cake that’s perfect for kids and adults too:
Supplies You’ll Need:
· Ribbon, or plastic wide ribbon they sell at dollars stores for outside decorating.
· Towel
· Shred
· Party Poppers
· Glow Sticks
· Sparklers
· Candy
· Snakes
· Cups Or Mugs ( Related to 4th of July)
These are just some suggestions. Use your imagination and create a fun filled Fourth Of July Cake.
Now follow these steps:
1. To start, fold the towel and shape it into a cake and then pin. To make your cake more stable, take some poster board and cut it the height of the cake. Make the poster board into a round circle and insert into cake center.
2. If you wish you could take more hand towels, cloth napkins, and roll them to fit inside your towel cake. In using cloth napkins you can then find napkin rings and use those to decorate the outside of your creation as well.
3. Fill center with shred. Pack this down well and take the ribbon and run it around the outside of cake, pin or glue ends in the back of cake.
4. Now the fun part. Take your other ribbon, the one with the blue stars and cut them into squares about 6 by 6 inches. Fan them and then wrap ribbon around the center. Pull tight and tie. Glue these onto the outside of cake.
5. To arrange items in your cake, make little holes in shred and began to insert items starting with heavy items in back of cake. Take out some glow sticks and stand them up like candles. Do the same with sparklers. Put poppers in front laying them down, and just fill in empty spaces with whatever else you have be it candy, cups and so on. Think about what your family and friends enjoy and include those.
That’s it. A perfect 4th of July cake can now be made for your family and friends. For more information on making a 4th of July cake, a diaper cake, or any other specialty cake, stop by the website at http://www.makeadiapercake.biz. Not only do we have complete instructions for making cakes, but an ebook as well that walks you though step by step. We can also design the cake for you. Whatever you need, you’ll find it here. Happy 4th!
Barb Ireland is the founder of Make A Diaper Cake Biz, http://www.makeadiapercake.biz. You can purchase a diaper cake, learn how to make a diaper cake, or start your own diaper cake business at her site. Articles are free to be reprinted as long as author’s bio remains intact.
Miami Heat Makes us Proud
Well, Florida might have hurricanes and hot, hot, summers, but this year we have something Good to finally talk about. Our basketball teams. I thought it grand when the team where my son goes to college, The Florida Gators, won, but last night was even a greater thrill. When the buzzer rang and we realized the Heat had won, the entire family went nuts. What a feeling. Champions!! It reminded me of the night the Marlins beat the Cincinnati Red to win the world series and the great time my family enjoyed after that win. It was parades, a trip to the stadium to celebrate and just a week filled with family fun. Thanks Heat for bringing our family some great time spent together and memories that will last a lifetime. --- Diana Ennen
Friday, June 16, 2006
Article -- 10 Ways a VA Can Revolutionize Your Business
10 Ways a Virtual Assistant can REVOLUTIONIZE Your Business:
For those of you who are still in the dark, a Virtual Assistant, or VA, is an executive level, administrative professional who works from his/her own office to support clients using some of the latest available technology. The Internet has brought many skilled professionals out of the corporate environment and back into their homes, enabling them to create a better work-life balance, while still performing in the roles they love. The VA is one such professional. Working from their home-based offices and making use of the Internet, telephone, fax and email, VAs are able to offer small and medium-sized businesses a quality of administrative support, previously only available to the corporate giants, in a cost-effective manner.
A Virtual Assistant’s service offering may vary, but you are guaranteed to find one out there who is able to perform the exact functions your business needs. You will find that hiring a VA will REVOLUTIONIZE your business.
A VA brings invaluable work experience and training to the table. You may even find that they will teach you a trick or two. Be it software, hardware or grammar, you can be sure that your VA knows his/her stuff!
2. Because VAs run a business themselves, they have a unique understanding of what your needs as a small business owner are. They will be able to assist and advise you on matters pertaining to Marketing, Branding, Web Design and e-Commerce. What avenues of advancement have you not yet explored with your business? Are you sure that you have all your bases covered? Your VA can help.
3. Get organized. If you attend conferences and AGMs I’ll bet you have a ton of business cards cluttering up your desk. Let your VA scan and enter them into a database for you. Future mail campaigns will be a breeze with a ready-made contact list all neatly stored on a CD.
4. Is there a special project boiling over on the back-burner that you’ve been wanting to do? Your VA can help with research, planning and coordination, leaving you free to continue your focus on your core-business function.
5. If you’re too busy to remember important dates, anniversaries and meetings, your VA, with a tailored reminder service, can assist. From ordering flowers for your mother, to sending a thank you note to a client and even arranging gift baskets for investor, they aim to please.
6. Conceptualizing marketing items can be agonizing if you don’t have the know-how, equipment or creative flair. Most VAs have a wide range of software packages at their finger-tips, as well as experience in creating flyers, brochures and business cards for their own company’s. Put your ideas to your VA, they will dazzle you with the results.
7. Planning a much-needed break with your family? Let your VA take care of the details; flights, car hire, accommodation, even a list of “must-see” places of interest. Your VA can handle it all, down to the very last detail.
8. If you’re on the road a lot, chances are your cell-phone is often out of signal range and there is no one in your office to take a message should that all-important client call. With the call answering service provided by many VAs, you can divert your calls and rest assured that your client will receive the personal touch rather than dealing with an annoying automated answering device. Your messages will be passed on to you in order of importance and you won’t need to sort through lengthy messages on voicemail.
9. Conferences and networking functions can take a lot out of a small business owner. It is imperative that you attend and make a dazzling show of it, but in order to do so, you have to neglect existing clients. This will no longer be a problem with a VA. They can handle all your conferencing arrangements; table-hire, banner design and creation, even gift bags for client samples. It’s that easy!
10. If you have a lot of correspondence, and you’re a bit of a “keyboard klutz”, your VA can help. Many VAs offer a fully digitized transcription service. Simply record your memos/letters onto your computer and email them to your VA, s/he will have it neatly typed and ready for mailing in no time! Other VAs may provide dictated typing as a service, so that urgent e-mail is just a phone-call away.
Now that you’ve heard all that a VA can do, where can you find one? That’s easy. VANetworking at http://www.vanetworking.com is an invaluable resource when looking to partner with a VA. With over 2,300 professional VA members you are certain to find exactly the service you are looking for. According to Tawnya Sutherland, founder of VAN, and author of the Virtual Assistant Start-Up System states, “Our forum is leading the way in revolutionizing the VA Industry by offering expert advice to VAs on how to be the best VA they can be. That’s why partnering with one of our VAs can help your business grow and operate on a more proficient level.”
Diana Ennen, president of Virtual Word Publishing, http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com and Publicist for the site states, “Our team of VAs are varied with different skill sets and different visions for their business. That’s why teaming up with a VAN VA can give your business all the support it needs.”
So if you’re looking for a Virtual Assistant or want to start a virtual assistant business, now is the time to stop by VANetworking and see everything they have to offer.
***
Tawnya Sutherland, founder of Virtual Assistant Networking (VAN) (http://www.vanetworking.com) and author of The VAS System, a Virtual Assistant Startup System, is a Certified Internet Marketing Specialist sharing much of her online marketing experience at VAN to help aspiring and successful VAs turn clicks into cash at their websites. Contact her at tawnya@mediamage.com or the Publicity Rep for VAN, Diana Ennen at diana@virtualwordpublishing.com.
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For those of you who are still in the dark, a Virtual Assistant, or VA, is an executive level, administrative professional who works from his/her own office to support clients using some of the latest available technology. The Internet has brought many skilled professionals out of the corporate environment and back into their homes, enabling them to create a better work-life balance, while still performing in the roles they love. The VA is one such professional. Working from their home-based offices and making use of the Internet, telephone, fax and email, VAs are able to offer small and medium-sized businesses a quality of administrative support, previously only available to the corporate giants, in a cost-effective manner.
A Virtual Assistant’s service offering may vary, but you are guaranteed to find one out there who is able to perform the exact functions your business needs. You will find that hiring a VA will REVOLUTIONIZE your business.
A VA brings invaluable work experience and training to the table. You may even find that they will teach you a trick or two. Be it software, hardware or grammar, you can be sure that your VA knows his/her stuff!
2. Because VAs run a business themselves, they have a unique understanding of what your needs as a small business owner are. They will be able to assist and advise you on matters pertaining to Marketing, Branding, Web Design and e-Commerce. What avenues of advancement have you not yet explored with your business? Are you sure that you have all your bases covered? Your VA can help.
3. Get organized. If you attend conferences and AGMs I’ll bet you have a ton of business cards cluttering up your desk. Let your VA scan and enter them into a database for you. Future mail campaigns will be a breeze with a ready-made contact list all neatly stored on a CD.
4. Is there a special project boiling over on the back-burner that you’ve been wanting to do? Your VA can help with research, planning and coordination, leaving you free to continue your focus on your core-business function.
5. If you’re too busy to remember important dates, anniversaries and meetings, your VA, with a tailored reminder service, can assist. From ordering flowers for your mother, to sending a thank you note to a client and even arranging gift baskets for investor, they aim to please.
6. Conceptualizing marketing items can be agonizing if you don’t have the know-how, equipment or creative flair. Most VAs have a wide range of software packages at their finger-tips, as well as experience in creating flyers, brochures and business cards for their own company’s. Put your ideas to your VA, they will dazzle you with the results.
7. Planning a much-needed break with your family? Let your VA take care of the details; flights, car hire, accommodation, even a list of “must-see” places of interest. Your VA can handle it all, down to the very last detail.
8. If you’re on the road a lot, chances are your cell-phone is often out of signal range and there is no one in your office to take a message should that all-important client call. With the call answering service provided by many VAs, you can divert your calls and rest assured that your client will receive the personal touch rather than dealing with an annoying automated answering device. Your messages will be passed on to you in order of importance and you won’t need to sort through lengthy messages on voicemail.
9. Conferences and networking functions can take a lot out of a small business owner. It is imperative that you attend and make a dazzling show of it, but in order to do so, you have to neglect existing clients. This will no longer be a problem with a VA. They can handle all your conferencing arrangements; table-hire, banner design and creation, even gift bags for client samples. It’s that easy!
10. If you have a lot of correspondence, and you’re a bit of a “keyboard klutz”, your VA can help. Many VAs offer a fully digitized transcription service. Simply record your memos/letters onto your computer and email them to your VA, s/he will have it neatly typed and ready for mailing in no time! Other VAs may provide dictated typing as a service, so that urgent e-mail is just a phone-call away.
Now that you’ve heard all that a VA can do, where can you find one? That’s easy. VANetworking at http://www.vanetworking.com is an invaluable resource when looking to partner with a VA. With over 2,300 professional VA members you are certain to find exactly the service you are looking for. According to Tawnya Sutherland, founder of VAN, and author of the Virtual Assistant Start-Up System states, “Our forum is leading the way in revolutionizing the VA Industry by offering expert advice to VAs on how to be the best VA they can be. That’s why partnering with one of our VAs can help your business grow and operate on a more proficient level.”
Diana Ennen, president of Virtual Word Publishing, http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com and Publicist for the site states, “Our team of VAs are varied with different skill sets and different visions for their business. That’s why teaming up with a VAN VA can give your business all the support it needs.”
So if you’re looking for a Virtual Assistant or want to start a virtual assistant business, now is the time to stop by VANetworking and see everything they have to offer.
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Tawnya Sutherland, founder of Virtual Assistant Networking (VAN) (http://www.vanetworking.com) and author of The VAS System, a Virtual Assistant Startup System, is a Certified Internet Marketing Specialist sharing much of her online marketing experience at VAN to help aspiring and successful VAs turn clicks into cash at their websites. Contact her at tawnya@mediamage.com or the Publicity Rep for VAN, Diana Ennen at diana@virtualwordpublishing.com.
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Thursday, June 15, 2006
Marketing Tips - On a Budget
I don’t know about you, but when I started my business and even today with a son in college and two kids at home who love to shop as much as mom, I don’t have a lot of money to spend on marketing. I need to make sure that every penny I spend is spent wisely, very wisely. So when I market my business, I need to make sure that I’m creative and use all the tools I have available that don’t cost money. Here are some tips that I have found that worked for me.
Radio/Media - It’s not that hard. Have a plan of action and stick to it. Each week decide to send out so many press releases, contacts to radio stations, local media, etc. Look to woman’s networks, work-at-home networks, and others who actively look for guests.
Stay in tune with what’s currently happening and see if it’s something that you can share about. I’ve found that having an angle works. Once you have that angle write and pitch your angle hard.
Also consider starting your own radio show. Jill Hart and I do a weekly podcast and it’s a great way to network. Check it out sometime at http://www.cwahm.com.
Forums / Listserves - Being active in forums and listserves is so beneficial to your business. You establish yourself as an expert and also you gain friendships and alliances with others. Plus, it’s a great way to promote your business. Naturally you never want to blatantly advertise your business, but when you answer questions and show your expertise, people listen. I know I’ve found many a subcontractor this way. Take advantage of these. Remember you also establish those friendships that can last a lifetime. And then when you get the opportunity to meet them in person, you already have a bond.
Writing Articles - Submitting articles is an excellent marketing tool and I highly recommend it. Make sure you submit to your targeted market. Write on topics that you are familiar. Don’t just write for publicity --Give something back. Make sure that your topic and information is of value. Write articles using “The Top 5 or 10” or “The Best 5 Ways To Do Something.” Think about the magazines you buy at the stores, don’t you normally gravitate to those articles. I know I do. Get those keywords in the title. That’s where they count.
Also, plan, plan, plan. What are you going to do today that is going to gain recognition for your business?
Marketing a business doesn’t have to be expensive if you just remember to network and use all the tools available to you. In fact, it can be fun as you get to meet new people and develop new ways to sell you and your business.
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Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Fiction Bookstore - Ebooks
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Diana Ennen
954-971-4025
www.virtualwordpubishing.com
Online Bookstore Offers the Best Fiction and Non-Fiction Books
Margate, FL, June 2006. Do you love to read a good sci-fi book? Are you looking for information on how to start your own business? Then focus your sights on Virtual Word Publishing’s Online Bookstore. When browsing through the bookstore at Virtual Word Publishing http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com, you’ll find a variety of categories to suit your every need. From Science Fiction books, Cookbooks, Christian and Inspirational Books, to Business Books in Marketing/Sales, Word Processing, Virtual Assistance, Work at Home-Moms books, and E-books too.
Our fiction category features the highly acclaimed Sledgehammer, a gripping medical fiction thriller. This book sets theme in a Los Angeles emergency room where terrorists are using smallpox as a biological agent, with plans to release it into several sports arenas, airports and shopping malls to maximize its deadly effects. This book has received numerous five star reviews and begs to ask the question, “What if?” Its terrific plot and characters you grow to love, have you eagerly turning every page.
Words From Home gives you the steps to start, run and profit from a home-based word processing business or secretarial service, including typing, medical or legal transcription. You can also learn how to market your small business, make money and be successful with the best online marketing and web marketing books, which are written by industry experts. These books are a must for all entrepreneurs.
The Book of the Month is Virtual Assistant the Series, Become a Highly Successful Sought After VA; a complete reference guide that will lead you on your journey to running a successful virtual assistant business. The site also has the newly released workbook that goes along with the Series. Virtual Assistants are, highly skilled professionals, working as independent contractors, who provide publicity, administrative support and other specialized services to businesses, entrepreneurs, executives and sales professionals to name a few. Virtual Assistant the Series is the Bible of the VA Industry.
Our Christian Books and Inspirational Books provide you with the motivation needed to face your everyday struggles. And for you moms who love to cook, delicious recipes can be found in the BizyMoms Cookbook.
All this and more can be found there. Just type in www.virtualwordpublishing.com and click on your category of interest to purchase any of these books. You are guaranteed to experience some wonderful and informative reading. And in June, receive 10% off all books when you sign up for the Virtual Edge newsletter.
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Contact: Diana Ennen
954-971-4025
www.virtualwordpubishing.com
Online Bookstore Offers the Best Fiction and Non-Fiction Books
Margate, FL, June 2006. Do you love to read a good sci-fi book? Are you looking for information on how to start your own business? Then focus your sights on Virtual Word Publishing’s Online Bookstore. When browsing through the bookstore at Virtual Word Publishing http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com, you’ll find a variety of categories to suit your every need. From Science Fiction books, Cookbooks, Christian and Inspirational Books, to Business Books in Marketing/Sales, Word Processing, Virtual Assistance, Work at Home-Moms books, and E-books too.
Our fiction category features the highly acclaimed Sledgehammer, a gripping medical fiction thriller. This book sets theme in a Los Angeles emergency room where terrorists are using smallpox as a biological agent, with plans to release it into several sports arenas, airports and shopping malls to maximize its deadly effects. This book has received numerous five star reviews and begs to ask the question, “What if?” Its terrific plot and characters you grow to love, have you eagerly turning every page.
Words From Home gives you the steps to start, run and profit from a home-based word processing business or secretarial service, including typing, medical or legal transcription. You can also learn how to market your small business, make money and be successful with the best online marketing and web marketing books, which are written by industry experts. These books are a must for all entrepreneurs.
The Book of the Month is Virtual Assistant the Series, Become a Highly Successful Sought After VA; a complete reference guide that will lead you on your journey to running a successful virtual assistant business. The site also has the newly released workbook that goes along with the Series. Virtual Assistants are, highly skilled professionals, working as independent contractors, who provide publicity, administrative support and other specialized services to businesses, entrepreneurs, executives and sales professionals to name a few. Virtual Assistant the Series is the Bible of the VA Industry.
Our Christian Books and Inspirational Books provide you with the motivation needed to face your everyday struggles. And for you moms who love to cook, delicious recipes can be found in the BizyMoms Cookbook.
All this and more can be found there. Just type in www.virtualwordpublishing.com and click on your category of interest to purchase any of these books. You are guaranteed to experience some wonderful and informative reading. And in June, receive 10% off all books when you sign up for the Virtual Edge newsletter.
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Friday, June 09, 2006
Sledgehammer Review
Allbooks Review, May 30, 2006
Reviewer:
Allbooks Reviews - See all my reviewsOne of medicine's great success stories is the global eradication of smallpox. There have been no new cases of this once-dreaded disease for more than twenty-five years. But could bioterrorists bring back this killer virus? And how deadly might be its effects on an unvaccinated population? The medical thriller "Sledgehammer" presents just such a scenario. For the protagonist, emergency room director Dr. Kroose, smallpox is an important political issue. He wants assurances that his staff will be offered vaccination, while the parsimonious hospital administrators worry about the potential for litigation. Dr. Kroose is preparing to fight for his staff's welfare when Mr. Villalobos arrives in his emergency room. This obnoxious patient at first appears to have influenza. But does he? Could a hypothetical concern suddenly have become real and urgent? Dr. Paulo J. Reyes is himself an emergency room doctor in California with many years of experience. He has a thorough understanding of the risk posed by smallpox, and has been vaccinated against it. He includes enough medical details in this novel to give it authenticity, and in a useful preface explains the scientific and political background to smallpox bioterrorism. "Sledgehammer" offers a thought-provoking look at emergency-room politics and the smallpox risk, and it's also a fast-moving thriller. Share six days in the life of Dr. Kroose, and then decide for yourself about the threat of bioterrorism.
Reviewer:
Allbooks Reviews - See all my reviewsOne of medicine's great success stories is the global eradication of smallpox. There have been no new cases of this once-dreaded disease for more than twenty-five years. But could bioterrorists bring back this killer virus? And how deadly might be its effects on an unvaccinated population? The medical thriller "Sledgehammer" presents just such a scenario. For the protagonist, emergency room director Dr. Kroose, smallpox is an important political issue. He wants assurances that his staff will be offered vaccination, while the parsimonious hospital administrators worry about the potential for litigation. Dr. Kroose is preparing to fight for his staff's welfare when Mr. Villalobos arrives in his emergency room. This obnoxious patient at first appears to have influenza. But does he? Could a hypothetical concern suddenly have become real and urgent? Dr. Paulo J. Reyes is himself an emergency room doctor in California with many years of experience. He has a thorough understanding of the risk posed by smallpox, and has been vaccinated against it. He includes enough medical details in this novel to give it authenticity, and in a useful preface explains the scientific and political background to smallpox bioterrorism. "Sledgehammer" offers a thought-provoking look at emergency-room politics and the smallpox risk, and it's also a fast-moving thriller. Share six days in the life of Dr. Kroose, and then decide for yourself about the threat of bioterrorism.
Friday, May 19, 2006
New Workbook accompanies VA The Series book
Great News!!
After much hard work we're proud to announce the completion of the NEW Workbook which will accompany Virtual Assistant the Series, Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA! This Workbook takes you step by step through the book and having you set up your business along the way.
It's perfect for not only those starting their virtual assistant businesses, but also those seasoned VAs who want to take their business to the next level.
Purchase it separately or along with the book! Order your copy today!
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Virtual Assistants Day May 19th
For Immediate Release
Contact: Diana Ennen
http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com
diana@virtualwordpublishing.com
(954) 971-4025
The Virtual Assistant – Revolutionizing The Way Businesses Work
Margate, FL – May 2006: Have you heard about the new “kid on the block?” The one that is empowering businesses to do better, and revolutionizing the way work is being done today. Well, fasten your seatbelt and meet--The Virtual Assistant - The business support and Internet technology gurus that are quickly becoming the answer to many entrepreneurs and small business owners’ needs.
For years businesses have complained of needing more help in the office to meet the ever-increasing demands of running a business. They needed more time to devote to marketing and product development without the expense of hiring another employee. Now, with the help of a qualified Virtual Assistant, they are able to do this and much more.
So what is a Virtual Assistant? Virtual Assistants (VAs) are highly skilled professionals who take the time to excel in their given area of expertise. They provide extensive marketing solutions, creative and innovative advertising campaigns, administrative support, proofing and editing capabilities, and other specialized services for entrepreneurs, small businesses, authors, and others who want to bring their business to a new level, or market their books for greater results. VAs work globally, taking full advantage of all the connections of the online networks.
Diana Ennen, co-author of Virtual Assistant-The Series: Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA (http://www.va-theseries.com/) states, “The future has arrived, and with it a growing partnership that’s sure to last – The Virtual Assistant and Client Partnership.” Ennen and co-author Kelly Poelker of Another 8 Hours have just completed the Virtual Assistant-The Series: Workbook Edition that accompanies the main manual and are pleased to already be selling these at many colleges throughout the United States and Canada in addition to virtual assistants eager to start a business.
As Industry Leaders, Ennen and Poelker are proud to see that on Friday, May 19, 2006, Virtual Assistants will finally get the respect they deserve. That’s the day that the OIVAC assembly will salute the global VA industry during the International Virtual Assistants Day celebration. They will honor industry leaders and recognize VAs who have worked hard to bring our Industry to the forefront.
To learn more about what a Virtual Assistant can do for you or if you’d like to become a Virtual Assistant, stop by our site at http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com.
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Contact: Diana Ennen
http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com
diana@virtualwordpublishing.com
(954) 971-4025
The Virtual Assistant – Revolutionizing The Way Businesses Work
Margate, FL – May 2006: Have you heard about the new “kid on the block?” The one that is empowering businesses to do better, and revolutionizing the way work is being done today. Well, fasten your seatbelt and meet--The Virtual Assistant - The business support and Internet technology gurus that are quickly becoming the answer to many entrepreneurs and small business owners’ needs.
For years businesses have complained of needing more help in the office to meet the ever-increasing demands of running a business. They needed more time to devote to marketing and product development without the expense of hiring another employee. Now, with the help of a qualified Virtual Assistant, they are able to do this and much more.
So what is a Virtual Assistant? Virtual Assistants (VAs) are highly skilled professionals who take the time to excel in their given area of expertise. They provide extensive marketing solutions, creative and innovative advertising campaigns, administrative support, proofing and editing capabilities, and other specialized services for entrepreneurs, small businesses, authors, and others who want to bring their business to a new level, or market their books for greater results. VAs work globally, taking full advantage of all the connections of the online networks.
Diana Ennen, co-author of Virtual Assistant-The Series: Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA (http://www.va-theseries.com/) states, “The future has arrived, and with it a growing partnership that’s sure to last – The Virtual Assistant and Client Partnership.” Ennen and co-author Kelly Poelker of Another 8 Hours have just completed the Virtual Assistant-The Series: Workbook Edition that accompanies the main manual and are pleased to already be selling these at many colleges throughout the United States and Canada in addition to virtual assistants eager to start a business.
As Industry Leaders, Ennen and Poelker are proud to see that on Friday, May 19, 2006, Virtual Assistants will finally get the respect they deserve. That’s the day that the OIVAC assembly will salute the global VA industry during the International Virtual Assistants Day celebration. They will honor industry leaders and recognize VAs who have worked hard to bring our Industry to the forefront.
To learn more about what a Virtual Assistant can do for you or if you’d like to become a Virtual Assistant, stop by our site at http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com.
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Fiction Books - What Makes a Good One
In fiction, the writer’s job is to entertain, to draw an emotional response from the reader. The reader is often looking for suspense, action, and to go on a journey they have not been on before, one they will not easily forget. Readers want to get drawn into and experience the story for themselves. They want characters they can relate to and form a personal connection with. But most importantly, they want a good book. One that leaves them anxiously awaiting each turn of the page.
Here are three crucial elements of a good fiction book:
Well-developed characters: The characters in the book must be well developed and believable. The characters should remind you of your teacher, your lawyer, your doctor, or maybe even your best friend. Even though they are fictional, they come alive for us in the story.
Action: A good fiction book needs to be filled with action. The good guys are after the bad guys, the doctor needs to find a cure. From the beginning to the end, the reader can’t bear to stop reading because the action just keeps coming.
Great Plot: The writer keeps the reader guessing right to the end by using surprising, realistic plot twists. Just when we think we know “who done it” – bam – a new twist creeps up and a story involves more. As we near the end we wonder if there is time to solve it? Will it have a happy ending? Most readers long for a good ending to their story as they grow fond of the characters in the book and want to see the best happen to them.
For those looking for a good fiction book to read, one that stands out is the fiction thriller, Sledgehammer, by Paulo J. Reyes, M.D (http://www.pauloreyes.com/). This book has a well-developed story that takes place in an ER in Los Angeles. The author, an ER Doctor himself, depicts the ER setting perfectly as patients appear and seek treatment and case after case of medical drama unfolds. The story takes you hour by hour through life in this ER until the unthinkable happens and one of the patients appears with smallpox symptoms. What happens next is fiction at its finest and leaves you eagerly asking, “Could it happen today?”
Writers write about what they know. They can bring the sounds, colors, and images of their world to life in their story. Fiction is where writers get the opportunity to bring you into that world and keep you there until, “the end.”
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Diana Ennen is the Publisher of the fiction book, Sledgehammer, http://www.pauloreyes.com/ and http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com/. Article is free to be reprinted as long as bio remains intact.
Here are three crucial elements of a good fiction book:
Well-developed characters: The characters in the book must be well developed and believable. The characters should remind you of your teacher, your lawyer, your doctor, or maybe even your best friend. Even though they are fictional, they come alive for us in the story.
Action: A good fiction book needs to be filled with action. The good guys are after the bad guys, the doctor needs to find a cure. From the beginning to the end, the reader can’t bear to stop reading because the action just keeps coming.
Great Plot: The writer keeps the reader guessing right to the end by using surprising, realistic plot twists. Just when we think we know “who done it” – bam – a new twist creeps up and a story involves more. As we near the end we wonder if there is time to solve it? Will it have a happy ending? Most readers long for a good ending to their story as they grow fond of the characters in the book and want to see the best happen to them.
For those looking for a good fiction book to read, one that stands out is the fiction thriller, Sledgehammer, by Paulo J. Reyes, M.D (http://www.pauloreyes.com/). This book has a well-developed story that takes place in an ER in Los Angeles. The author, an ER Doctor himself, depicts the ER setting perfectly as patients appear and seek treatment and case after case of medical drama unfolds. The story takes you hour by hour through life in this ER until the unthinkable happens and one of the patients appears with smallpox symptoms. What happens next is fiction at its finest and leaves you eagerly asking, “Could it happen today?”
Writers write about what they know. They can bring the sounds, colors, and images of their world to life in their story. Fiction is where writers get the opportunity to bring you into that world and keep you there until, “the end.”
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Diana Ennen is the Publisher of the fiction book, Sledgehammer, http://www.pauloreyes.com/ and http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com/. Article is free to be reprinted as long as bio remains intact.
Sunday, May 07, 2006
Fiction Book - Sledgehammer
We had the privilege to publish this fiction book Sledgehammer. For those looking for a great science fiction book, one that has you anxiously awiating every page, look no further, this is is. Also, in the month of May we are having a May special -- only $9.95. Also, sign up to be an affilaite and sell Sledgehammer on your site.
Sledgehammer -- Medical Fiction Thriller At It's Best
Looking for a good fiction book to read? Look no further. This medical thriller will have you glued to every page as the drama unfolds and an ER doctor must stop a biochemical nightmare from happening.
6 days … 6 days to stop an epidemic and convince the government that terrorists have indeed used smallpox as a weapon against us. When one of the terrorists shows up in the ER with symptoms, time is of the essence to convince higher ups and the government that indeed this is the dreaded once thought eradicated disease smallpox. If not for the quick action and prior medical expertise of the main character, Dr. Max Kroose, fatalities could be in the millions.
What makes the book even more interesting is that the events unfolding in the ER symbolize real events that occur in emergency rooms daily. The author, Dr. Paulo J. Reyes, is a practicing Emergency Room Doctor and First Responder to disasters in Los Angeles, California with a medical career spanning 25 years. His medical expertise helped to create a medical environment that medical personnel, fans of medical TV dramas, as well as all science fiction fans will enjoy. Added to that, the characters are well developed and passionate in their quest for answers. Although the book is fictional, it’s based on extensive research and leaves you questioning-could it happen today?
With today’s ongoing terrorists’ threats, the growing concern of a biochemical attack, and the fear of a global pandemic, this book shows you how situations like this would be handled. Would the government be prepared? Do we have enough vaccinations for everyone? Should we have voluntary vaccinations now? Questions you will want answers for.
To add this book to your collection, stop by our site at http://www.pauloreyes.com/. The book sells at Amazon and iUniverse as well as other leading online bookstores. Also, sign up to be an affiliate and start selling Sledgehammer on your site now. Science fiction at its BEST! This book has gotten numerous 5 Star Reviews. Get it now and see why.
Dr. Paulo J. Reyes has previously appeared on CNN and is available for TV, Radio, newspaper, article quotes, and other media interviews. Please contact Diana at Diana@pauloreyes.com or (954) 971-4025. http://www.pauloreyes.com.
Thursday, May 04, 2006
American Inventor - Follow Your Dreams
How many are watching American Inventor? When it first began I thought, you've got to be kidding. I'll never watch this. But now it's about hopes and dreams, and being an entrepreneur, I can't turn it off. You watch everyone give it all for their chance at success. What really struck me is how fortunate us work-at-home moms are. We get to do this. We get to go after our dreams and achieve them. We get to be there for our kids and family, but feel the joy of having our own business. The next show should definitely be "The American Entrepreneur."
Diana Ennen
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Home Based Business Money Saving Tips
You might enjoy this article on Money Saving Tips for Home Businesses. Also, stop by HBWM.com this week and check out where you can ask experts their questions. It's an excellent resource for you to be able to get advice from experts. I had the priviledge of answering some questions this week.
10 Money-Saving Tips for Home Businesses by my GREAT friend Lesley Spencer of HBWM.
One of the most common obstacles many home-based working moms face is trying to start or run a new business on a limited budget. The first few years of a business are usually the hardest financially. Some moms leave full-time careers and substantial salaries to start a new business. Others start a home business as stay-at-home moms wanting additional income to support their family as well as a professional outlet to balance their diaper-changing days.
In either case, starting and running a home-based business takes money. How much money will depend partly on you and the type of business you choose to run.
Below are our top 10 tips to save you and your home business money:
1. Do your own market research by talking to potential clients or customers. Many new home business owners skip this step only to come back to it later (or wish they had). Those who start businesses without doing any type of research, risk the possibility of their target market not needing or wanting their particular product or service. The competition may be too fierce, or there may not be enough potential customers to support the business. Or perhaps, the product isn’t priced correctly. It is just as important not to price your product too low as it is not to price it too high. Talk to others in similar businesses as yours to see how much they charge and what they offer for that price.
2. Team up with other non-competitive businesses that target the same market to do some co-marketing. For example, desktop publishers and print shops can do a direct mail campaign together advertising both of their services or buy an ad in a local publication and split the costs. Neither is in competition with the other. They also can hand out business cards or flyers for one another as well as give word-of-mouth referrals. It’s a great way to double one’s marketing efforts while splitting any advertising costs.
3. When you have a satisfied customer, don't be afraid to ask for referrals. People like to help others especially new businesses trying to succeed. Show pride in your work and people are sure to notice, and when they do, ask if they know any others you can send a brochure or sample to. Another great way to encourage referrals is to offer a discount or special offer for any customers who are referred to you.
4. Barter or trade your services for other products or services you need. Associations and organizations are not only great places to network; they are also great for finding businesses that offer services and products you need. Look for businesses you could help with your product or service and offer to barter or trade for theirs. (Be sure to check with your tax professional for tax issues involving bartering and trading.)
5. Find another home-based working mom to swap babysitting with. All home-based working moms need some dedicated time to work on their business tasks. By swapping with another mom, each can work on their businesses without adding to their childcare costs.
6. When buying new office equipment, go to a place that offers a low-price guarantee. You can save time and money by shopping at places that will refund any difference in price if you find the product cheaper elsewhere.
7. If you are looking for computer equipment, consider buying used equipment. Look in the classifieds and talk to others that may know someone looking to upgrade. Ask for warranty information and make sure the machine is in good working condition. Also take a look at the computer companies offering refurbished machines. Some are priced accordingly and usually come with some type of warranty.
8. Send postcards for direct mail solicitation. They are cheaper to print and less expensive to mail. Another advantage is that they are more likely to be read since they take no effort to open.
9. If you hire sales help, pay by commission only so you only spend money if you make money. A salesperson can increase your sales without adding any up-front fees or salaries.
10. Use pre-printed design papers for letterhead, brochures and business cards if you only need a small amount. The papers can be found at most large office supply stores, and they are great for new businesses trying to get started on a small budget.
Lesley Spencer, the founder of Home-Based Working moms (http://www.hbwm.com/) has helped thousands of moms start their businesses in the 10 years that she has been in business. Their group provides networking, support, media opportunities, and more. By actively being involved in such a group you also increase your chances of success because of the power and support that she offers and the opportunity to network with other professionals. Getting connected with positive “winners” in the entrepreneurial world is just another way to succeed.
These money-saving ideas should help with your budget but new business
owners also need plenty of drive and determination to succeed. It takes time to develop and grow a business. So be patient and give it all you’ve got!
Affiliate Program for Books
Hi
I'm please to announce that Virtual Word Publishing has started up an affiliate program to sell the books on their site. You can earn up to 20% on books by signing up for the affiliate program. Plus ... we provide you press releases, articles, banners, buttons, etc. Everything you need to sell more books. If you want to make more money online, then stop by and sell our books on starting a business, our bizymom cookbook, our fiction thriller, Sledgehammer and so much more. E-mail me at diana@virtualwordpublishing.com if you have any questions.
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Administrative Professionals Day
This week is the time when we get to thank those who have made it possible for us. Those hard working administrative assistants, secretaries, personal assistants, whatever, who are making our business a bigger success because of them. Make sure you take the time to do this. Many look forward to this one week where all their hard earned efforts are finally acknowledged. Take them to dinner. Send a $25.00 bonus. Send them a giftcard to Amazon. Flowers. Anything at all to say, hey, I appreciate all you do.
Thanks -- Diana Ennen
Friday, April 21, 2006
Mother's Day Online Shop Offers It All - Mompreneurs Dream Come True
MOTHER DAY GIFTS—MADE BY MOMS
Looking for the perfect gift this Mother’s Day? Do your shopping online at the Mompreneurs® Marketplace—where all the products and services are mom-made. Not only will you be honoring the special mother in your life, but you’ll be saluting and supporting mom-owned businesses.
“Entrepreneurial moms know what other mothers need most,” say Ellen Parlapiano and Patricia Cobe, authors of Mompreneurs®: A Mother’s Practical Step-by-Step Guide to Work-At-Home Success. “They’ve started their businesses to attain family flexibility in their own lives, so it’s not surprising that their products and services are often designed to focus on the needs of moms and families.”
The authors started their Mompreneurs® Marketplace (http://http://www.mompreneursonline.com/) to showcase the creativity and resourcefulness of mom-owned businesses, a workforce they call Mompreneurs®. At the online mini-mall, shoppers can find anything from adorable baby accessories, to beautiful handicrafts, gift baskets, pampering beauty products, and custom-designed weekend getaways—all for that special mom in your life.
Here’s a look at what’s on the shelves at the Mompreneur® Marketplace.
GIFTS FROM THE GARDEN
Shop at: Michelle Masters Topiary Art
What you’ll find: Topiary-themed artwork, linens and stationery, featuring images of hats, birdhouses, sundials, weathervanes, and cute creatures, like leaping labs and trotting horses. There are sweetly scented monogrammed sachets, hand printed guest towels and aprons, and framed prints—all designed to bring a bit of the garden indoors.
The mom behind the biz: Michelle Masters left a promising career in computer graphic design to pursue her creative passion: painting. As she painted in her home studio in the Finger Lakes region of New York, her love of gardening and whimsy was reflected in her artwork—especially in creations like the Lady Lavender hat topiary, a design that remains her most popular.
GIFTS WITH A SOCIAL CONSCIENCE
Shop at: Mama Afrika
What you’ll find: Pottery, baskets, and other handicrafts made by African women in crafts cooperatives throughout the continent. Not only does Mama Afrika help African women earn a decent living through fair trade, but it also donates 10% of the proceeds to African non-profit groups that assist women and children. Informational letters are included with every product, so consumers learn about the country of origin, traditional uses of the item, and a little about the organization that will receive a donation.
The mom behind the biz: As a child growing up in Virginia, Ester LaPollo was always reminded by her parents of the hardships suffered by relatives and friends left behind in East Africa. But it wasn’t until she became a mom herself that she figured out a way she could help Africans living in poverty. While brainstorming ideas for a home business, so she could spend more time with her three kids, LaPollo realized that if she connected with small groups of craftswomen in Africa, she could help them sell their wares worldwide through fair trade. “I ask the ladies to tell me the price they want for their wares, and I pay it,” says LaPollo, who now lives in Lompoc, California. “All of the crafts cooperatives I trade with are women-owned groups who work at home around their daily village chores.
GIFTS FOR THE NEW MOM
Shop at: Lilypad Baby
What you’ll find: Stylish bibs, diaper covers, and baby blankets in fabrics that are fashionable and functional. Design-savvy moms will love the fabulous florals, funky prints, and trendy colors. Order a gift basket or set and have it personalized and customized for the new mom and her baby.
The mom behind the biz: Kathie Papera started sewing her own baby bibs after she discovered she was spending a fortune on baby shower gifts for friends and family members. But this savvy California mom decided that her designs should stand apart from the others on the market. Instead of pastel-colored bears and bunnies, she chose fabrics with bold florals and vintage prints. Her friends loved them, and begged for more. Now she has a staff of mom designers, who name each bib design after the special babies in their lives.
GIFTS THAT PAMPER
Shop at: The Balter Catalogue Company
What you’ll find: An array of soothing selections—from warming tea and coffee sets, delicious gourmet goodies, and specialty soaps for the bath. A sister site, called Balter Baby, offers an extensive array of natural products for the new mother.
The mom behind the biz: Gina Ritter certainly understands the needs of busy moms. Not only does she have three young boys, she juggles several work-at-home roles. She’s a cartoonist, children’s book author, and writer of screenplays and humor columns (you can read her blog at http://www.blamemama.com/). Her current project is moving her family cross-country from New York to California.
GIFTS WITH A SPRINKLING OF PIXIE DUST
Shop at: Magical Journeys online travel agency
What you’ll find: Affordable Disney getaways. Treat mom or grandma to a magical trip to Disney World during the month of May, when you can catch the annual Flower Show in Epcot and celebrate Mother’s Day with brunch in a flower-filled pavilion.
The mom behind the biz: Nancy Rossetti fell in love with Disney World on her honeymoon in 1984, but once she had kids she couldn’t afford a family trip to the land of Mickey. Determined to find an affordable Disney vacation for her family and learn insider strategies, Rossetti took travel agent courses and then started booking low-cost trips for families and friends. Today she has a staff of independent contractors across the nation—all of them Disney-loving moms who work from home.
About the Mompreneurs®
Ellen Parlapiano and Patricia Cobe are co-authors of the books Mompreneurs®: A Mother’s Practical Step-by-Step Guide to Work-at-Home Success and Mompreneurs® Online: Using the Internet to Build Work@Home Success. After coining and trademarking the phrase Mompreneurs®, which describes entrepreneurial mothers who start their own businesses, Parlapiano and Cobe have watched the movement grow. Their website, MompreneursOnline.com attracts mompreneurs from around the world.
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Tutoring Business - Home Based - News Release
For Immediate Release
Contact: Laurie Hurley
http://www.hometutoringbusiness.com
805-498-5669
Contact: Laurie Hurley
http://www.hometutoringbusiness.com
805-498-5669
Home-based Success Starts with Expert Advice and Financing Options
Newbury Park, CA, (April, 2006) Today, as more and more people want to join the ranks of the self-employed to make a better living, the question remains, how do I do it? What’s the magic ingredient that will allow me to work from home, leave corporate America, and finally make the kind of money I know I’m worth? With so much out there, how can I be assured this is right for me? The answer – consult an expert. Find someone who is doing it now and succeeding - someone who is walking the walk and talking the talk. Laurie Hurley of Home Tutoring Business is that person.
Hurley is a tutor broker matching qualified tutors with students for private, individualized in-home tutoring. Hurley founded Home Tutoring Business, http://www.hometutoringbusiness.com to fill a much-needed niche in the educational services industry. After realizing the success she achieved, which included earnings in the six digits, Hurley knew this was something that others would want: being a business that is in high demand nationwide, one that is easy to set up and requires little in the way of investment, and, most importantly, one that provides an enormous amount of self-worth. Corporate executives and those who once considered franchise ownership were some of the first to purchase this business package enabling them to start a tutoring business.
Everything one needs to succeed are included in Hurley’s business package, including a customized website and accounting software, a comprehensive business manual outlining what is needed to succeed, and what most packages leave out - financing options. As individuals looking to start a business realize, rarely is financing available for home-based businesses. Also, it’s difficult to obtain financing for smaller amounts of money at a reasonable interest rate. Home Tutoring Business offers what few do, including:
- Financing handled “in house” with no third-party lenders
- An easy application process
- Reasonable monthly payments
- Low interest rates
Home Tutoring Business is committed to helping people fulfill their dreams and visions of being independent or succeeding in a career change. Stop by http://www.hometutoringbusiness.com today to find out how you can be a one of the entrepreneurs of tomorrow.
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