authoritative, informative, and educational on all things online entrepreneur related
I get so many requests for tips and advice on the resources that my Virtual Assistance and Web Development companies use that it seems a great idea to publish a weekly resource.
These are online resources that will help you develop, gain knowledge, find new information and absorb new ideas.
Enjoy!
This Weeks Recommended Resource
WordPress Tip of the Day is a free video podcast from the “Internet Genius” Ben Cope that delivers high-quality video training for WordPress in 5 minutes or less every day in a format that is easy to follow, easy to understand, and always free!
Rebecca Quinn is an online business manager, virtual assistant and business advisor who works with small business owners, solo-entrepreneurs, service professionals. We will be speaking about organization, specifically systems and processes. Once you set up systems for everything in your business you free yourself up to be creative and build the part of the business that you are in love with and passionate about.Basic Systems: Why set up systems in your business? Where to start and what systems you really must have in place.
Emergency Preparedness: Why is this so important? Most business don’t survive disasters and information losses. Rebecca will give you tips on how to create a quick and easy mini-disaster plan for your business.
Systems for Getting Business, Marketing & Social Networking. Everyone needs more business; everyone has unprecedented access to get their information out in the world due to internet and social networks. We will discuss how to use systems to simplify your social networking.
When: Friday, February 26, 2010
Time: 9 am PST, 10 am MST, 11 am CST, 12 pm EST
Where: Your home office telephone or computer.
Website: Your Partner In Success Radio Show
Call-in Number: 347-843-4988
Please be sure to login to the chat room to ask questions during the interview.
We look forward to “seeing” you!
I am regularly asked what tools and resources we can recommend to help people build their online presence in a linear and logical fashion.
Some time ago we created a PDF that our web development and virtual assistance clients have access to at Your Office On The Web on the client document password protected page.
As there is nothing client sensitive in this document I wanted to share it here with you along with a few more resources that are not currently listed in it. As you can imagine, it is a “living” document and updates regularly. Here is it’s most recent incarnation.
Click here to download Recommended Resources. Some of these resources are coded with my affiliate links, some are not.
Video Resources
You will also need to signup with AmazonS3 to host your videos for pennies. Very affordable!
WordPress Themes and Plugins
Each WordPress theme comes expertly coded in valid XHTML and CSS, and all are made compatible with the latest version of WordPress. DeniseGriffitts.com uses the Who’s Who Theme. This website is currently using the Cherry Truffle Theme.
WishList Member is a powerful membership script that can turn any WordPress blog into a full blown membership site. Your Office On The Web is expert at installing and configuring this very powerful plugin.
An excellent theme that is not only easy to learn and use, but you also get have the option between self-service and full-service. The full service option gets you free phone support, free setup, free installation, and 1 hour of customization. Plus, you can use the theme on multiple sites.
WordPress Tip of the Day is a video podcast that delivers high-quality video training for WordPress in 5 minutes or less every day in a format that is easy to follow, easy to understand, and always free!
Other
I use Overnight Prints for all my print collateral and most of my clients do as well. The paper stock is excellent and the free online designer allows you to create your own custom business cards and other print collateral with their Interactive Designer. Or you can choose from 1000’s of designs by using the Classic Design feature. Trust me when I tell you the quality is superb!
You can absolutely use your Paypal account either directly from your website by using “Buy Now” or “Add to Cart” buttons or you can use Paypal as your only payment provider in 1shoppingcart. It is not mandatory these days that you have a merchant account if you don’t need or want one. My web development site has a Paypal payment page that you can see here. This is an easy solution that allows you to take payments for services without having to log into your account to send invoices or payment requests.
One thing we always recommend during a web development project is that the client consider obtaining a toll free number. Having a toll free number on your website while offering credibility, also offers the opportunity to not publish to the world your home or cell phone number. In this day of work-from-home entrepreneurs, this is an important consideration.
My office uses Grasshopper which used to be called GotVMail. Grasshopper is very easy to set up. Just pick a toll free number for your business, or transfer your current number. Then record your main greeting. You will also have the opportunity to have it professionally recorded if that is your preference. Add departments and employees, choose what phone number you want your calls to terminate to and you are done. I actually don’t have my toll free number ring to my office as it can be terribly disruptive. What we have done is to create mailboxes and departments and have the voice messages emailed to the proper department as an .MP3.
There is also a “Read Your Voicemail” function available for an additional $10 a month. If you are on the run a good bit, the voicemail transcription will be emailed to you as readable text. You’ll be able to stay connected when you can’t listen to the .MP3 file of your voicemail. You can also listen to your messages on your Blackberry or iPhone. Just click the “Play It On Mobile link in the notification email and you’ll be listening to your voice mails without dialing or logging in to your account. For those of us on the run, this is a great tool.
Another really great feature is that you have unlimited extensions for your small business. Each extension has its own call forwarding, voicemail and message delivery settings. Even if you’re the only employee, by utilizing unlimited extensions you are giving your small business the big business sound that it needs.
Truthfully, there are too many features for me to list here. What I can tell you is that we use it, and love it. It is also very affordable to have a toll free number these days. Plans start at $9.95 a month and there is a $25 activation fee. My monthly bill seems to hover around $25 a month which given all that the system offers is remarkably affordable. Be warned though, if you make a habit of answering the calls that come through on your toll free number you will run your bill right up through the roof. I strongly recommend that you treat this strictly as a voice mail system and return the calls at your first opportunity.
To train with Denise Griffitts to become a highly technically savvy, highly paid, highly sought-after Virtual Assistant please visit Virtual Assistance University.
**You have permission to reprint in your publication or to your website/blog any articles by Denise Griffitts found on this Website as long as Denise Griffitt’s name and contact information is included. Denise Griffitts, Virtual Assistance Industry Expert, http://internetmasteryblog.com, info @ virtualassistantindustry.com, 888-719-6711.
Denise Griffitts, Founder and CEO of Your Office On The Web and Your Virtual Assistant, along with her team of highly sought after web developers and virtual assistants share insightful tips and tools that you can use immediately to build and grow your online presence.
Denise is a nationally recognized Virtual Assistance Industry Expert, Thought Leader, Coach and Mentor. She also trains and coaches virtual assistants at Virtual Assistance University, a leading provider of training and coaching for the virtual assistance industry. Whether you're just looking to get started as a VA, or you've already got a strong client base, VAU will help you skyrocket your success as a Virtual Assistant.
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