Festivals of Fall October 28, 2008
Posted by Terri Brooks in Family, Home-based business, Technology, Virtual Assistant, non-profit.Tags: church, community, event planners, events, fall, fall festivals, festivals, games, planning, Virtual Assistant, virtual event planner
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How many signs have you seen lately for Fall Festivals? In my neck of the woods, they are around every corner. Especially around Halloween. There’s apple festivals, tomato festivals, water festivals, you name it, there’s probably a festival for it.
I was blessed to be asked to coordinate our church’s Fall Festival and Trunk or Treat event last Sunday. As a former event coordinator for several non-profit organizations and a virtual event planner, it was a perfect fit for me. I love planning and coordinating events and working with the incredible volunteers. 
I had a fabulous team that helped with the event. Although many of the aspects of this event was “hands-on”, a large majority of the work was done virtually. We communicated through email and phone. We ordered supplies and this cute banner online and we submitted our press release through email.
I’m pleased that we had around 120 families attend our event and served more than 240 hot dogs, caramel apples, nachos and cheese, and popcorn. 
We had blow-up games, hayrides, pie throwing, bluegrass music, cake walks, Kids on Parade Costume Parade and great door prizes.
I love my virtual job, but sometimes it’s nice to be hands-on and work closely with others to make things happen.
Need help with an event? Contact A Virtual Business Solution
October 24, 2008
Posted by Terri Brooks in Virtual Assistant.add a comment
just finished personalizing cards for people I met at a networking event tonight. Easy!! SOC! www.sendoutcards.com/virtual
A Virtual Shut Down October 20, 2008
Posted by Terri Brooks in 10392516, Business, Efficiency, Home-based business, Internet Marketing, Online Marketing, Outsourcing, Technology, Virtual Assistant, Women-owned Business, Work at Home, back up, back up plan, clients, computer hardware, computer repairs, marketing, potential clients, small business owner.Tags: backup plan, computer, computer problems, hardware, virtual, Virtual Assistant, virtual office
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Oh, that makes my skin crawl just typing it! But it happened to me last Friday. I had a computer tech out to my virtual office for some repairs and I noticed he kept rubbing his head and was on the phone quite a bit and finally I ventured in to ask how it was going and he said, “I have some news and some not so good news.” Those are just not comments you want to hear when someone is working on your computer, your livelihood!
So basically he was trying to do something that required my product key from my computer and it wasn’t accepting it, which made the computer unavailable for use. That’s my best description. I’m a virtual assistant, give me a database or some websites to design or social media sites to update and I’m your gal! But this hardware stuff is way over my head. I just know I turn it on in the morning and it usually does what I need it to do.
As I watched him drive away Friday afternoon with my computer on a gurney, my thoughts were, “will I ever see it again and will I ever work again?” Now I did have the good sense to recently buy an external hard drive and all of my client files reside there, and I have another laptop that came over on the Mayflower that I was able to check some emails and not feel so isolated from the world. So I knew I wasn’t completely dead in the water, but just the thought of reloading my programs and re-setting all of my passwords on my main computer just made me sick.
Well, there is a happy ending to this story. Late Sunday evening I got the call that my computer had survived the surgery and was doing well. I am happy to say I am writing this blog on it even now and I believe it is going to make a full recovery.
In my virtual world, having a virtual shut down is a potential death sentence to my business, but because of 
a few systems I had put in place I was able to have a little peace knowing that I could still function until all was well again.
What’s your plan when the “Grim Computer Reaper” comes calling?
Joe the Plumber’s Debate October 16, 2008
Posted by Terri Brooks in Business, Family, Networking, Technology, Virtual Assistant, Women-owned Business, debate, election, vote, voters.Tags: debate, election, presidential election, presidents, twitter, vote, voters
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OK, I will admit that I’m not really much into politics, but I have to say that the debates have been pretty interesting only because I log into Twitter and watch all the comments that come through. It is hilarious!!
In the last presidential debate the Twitter community was actually keeping up with how many times Sen. McCain said, “my friends.” This time it was all about Joe the Plumber. Who is Joe the Plumber? Maybe is one of the “my friends” club.
Anyway, I loved keeping up with the debate through Twitter. How about you?
Are you addicted to technology? October 14, 2008
Posted by Terri Brooks in Business, Efficiency, Home-based business, Internet Cafe, Live Streaming, Live Web Streaming, Networking, Online Marketing, Outsourcing, Radio show, Technology, Virtual Assistant, Web TV, Women Entrepreneurs, Women-owned Business, Work at Home, entrepreneur, marketing, non-profit, sales, sales professionals, small business owner.Tags: Technology, Virtual Assistant, WebTv
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I was asked that question today when I was the special guest on the Cherries For Life WebTV show at Cherries Internet Cafe in Knoxville TN. My answer…YES! MY name is Terri and I’m a technology junkie! There I said it. I love technology. Granted, I don’t always understand all of it, but nonetheless, I love it!
As a virtual assistant, I couldn’t work without technology. Check out my interview. I come on the show at 21 minutes in, if you want to fast-forward. But if you want some strange but yet unique trivia, just watch from the beginning.
October 14, 2008
Posted by Terri Brooks in Virtual Assistant.add a comment
preparing to be on WebTV at www.cherriesinternetcafe.com 11 am est Today! Hope you will watch.
Cards to Cash – Prospect Follow-up Service October 7, 2008
Posted by Terri Brooks in Business, Cards, Efficiency, Follow-up, Greeting Cards, Home-based business, Insurance, Online Marketing, Outsourcing, Referrals, Technology, Virtual Assistant, Women Entrepreneurs, Women-owned Business, Work at Home, career, clients, entrepreneur, marketing, non-profit, philanthropy, potential clients, prospecting, prospects, sales, sales professionals, small business owner, speakers.Tags: business cards, Cards, Follow-up, Greeting Cards, sales, sales professionals, scanned, service, tradeshow
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Do you love to network, but don’t have time to follow-up? You’re not alone. The majority of networkers love to mix and mingle with potential new clients at various events, but when they get back to their office, they toss those valuable business cards in a drawer and plan to follow up tomorrow. For most busy professionals, tomorrow brings its own new projects and before you know it, several weeks or even months have gone by with no follow up. Hundreds, or maybe thousands, of dollars in potential revenue has been laying in your top desk drawer!
We have the solution to keep you on top of your follow-up and make you a leader in business prospecting. 
Our Prospect Follow-up Service – Cards to Cash, provides a quick turnaround to those new business acquaintances and presents a professional image of your business.
Our package offers:
- Each business card scanned into a working database
- The design of a real Follow-up card with your logo or business card imprinted on the inside flap
- The card is mailed to the new prospect on your behalf
- One telephone call is attempted to the new prospect to set an appointment
- Business cards and database file will be mailed back to you for future reference
And the best part is that this service is very affordable, around the cost of a nice cup of coffee.
Are there business cards right now laying in your top desk drawer? Have you been too busy to follow-up with the contacts you made at the last Tradeshow? Contact us and we will get your name back in front of these potential new clients. Visit our website at www.avirtualbiz.com, or email to info@avirtualbiz.com.
