Networking All The Day Long November 18, 2008
Posted by Terri Brooks in Business, Family, Follow-up, Home-based business, Internet Marketing, Networking, Outsourcing, Radio show, Talk Show, Veterans, Virtual Assistant, Women-owned Business, Work at Home, entrepreneur, fundraising, marketing, non-profit, philanthropy, potential clients, prospecting, prospects, small business owner.Tags: Networking, Referrals
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My husband says, I have been “running the roads” a lot lately. That’s a southern thing if you don’t understand that phrase. But he is correct. I have been going a lot of places in the last couple of weeks and according to my calendar, I’m not going to slow down until around Christmas.
Now for a virtual professional, that’s a bit of a culture shock to actually go outside of your virtual world. But I love getting out of here. I love to visit and talk with people and network everywhere I go.
I shared a booth with one of my clients at the National Philanthropy Day luncheon in Knoxville last week and enjoyed catching up with old friends and making new ones. And of course, sharing my business and the services I provide for administrative support and online marketing. I walked away with a great list of people to follow-up with this week.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, the East Tennessee Veteran’s Memorial was being dedicated this past weekend and I was honored to be invited to a reception and the dedication ceremony. The Mayor’s were there, as well as other politicians, high-ranking military personel and many familiar faces from my time with the organization. The ceremony was incredibly moving and I was proud to be an American and to have been involved in the early stages of the memorial’s planning. And it proved to be a great place to network. I was invited to be on a local radio show and several people are interested in learning more about my business.
I’m looking forward to the next couple of weeks and the many networking opportunties to share what I do and how I can help other business owners with their administrative and marketing needs.
So Honey, I have a few more “roads to run.”
Kick Start Your Blog Posts November 10, 2008
Posted by Terri Brooks in Blogging, Business, Internet Marketing, Journaling, Online Marketing, Outsourcing, Technology, Virtual Assistant, Women Entrepreneurs, Women-owned Business, Work at Home, Writing, blogs, marketing, small business owner.Tags: blog ideas, Blogging, blogs, ideas, posts, writing blogs
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I don’t know about you, but when I get ready to write a new post on my blog, more times that not, I can’t think of a single thing to write about. I want it to be good, valuable information that you, the reader, will appreciate and apply to your personal or business life. So when I found this great site, I wanted to share it and let you check it out for yourself.
The BlogEnergizer is a site that offers some great ideas to “kick start” your blog posts and much more. I have already been “energized” just by visiting and now I have so many ideas for future posts. I’m excited about finding BlogEnergizer. I hope you will be too.
Take a look and let me know what you think.
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?
Simple, Practical and Easy Fundraising Tips August 19, 2008
Posted by Terri Brooks in Business, Home-based business, Internet Marketing, Networking, Technology, Virtual Assistant, Women Entrepreneurs, Women-owned Business, Work at Home, author, entrepreneur, fundraising, marketing, mentor, non-profit, philanthropy, seminar, small business owner, speakers, trainer, training.2 comments
Wouldn’t it be great if someone could help all those struggling non-profit organizations with their fundraising program? Just to find someone who understands their needs and can offer a simple plan for meeting and exceeding their goals?
Well, I know of just a person. She is an incredible teacher, coach, mentor and Master Trainer for non-profit fundraisers and I have the privilege of working with her as her virtual assistant. She is Sandy Rees, Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and one of 125 Master Trainer’s in the world for the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP).
Typically, as a virtual professional I don’t leave the “virtual office” very often, however, I have had the opportunity to travel with Sandy recently to other AFP chapters in the South and watch her in action. To say she is awesome, is truly an understatement. She is captivating, funny, knowledgeable, engaging and right-on with her information. People comment as they walk away from her training sessions that they can’t wait to get back to the office and implement the ideas Sandy gave them. Now just how many times have you been anxious to get back to the office?
This is me at Sandy’s table at the Chattanooga Center for Nonprofits Philanthropy Institute
Sandy is a published author of Fundraising Buffet, A Heaping Helping of 101 Practical Ideas to Increase Donations and Deepen Donor Satisfaction. If you are looking for a dynamic speaker, an engaging trainer or a practical, step-by-step approach to fundraising, then look no further than Sandy Rees, CFRE or check her out at GetFullyFunded.
I’m currently out of the office, and won’t be returning August 14, 2008
Posted by Terri Brooks in Blogging, Business, Efficiency, Ezine, Ezines, Family, Home-based business, Internet Marketing, Life, Networking, Online Marketing, Outsourcing, Technology, Virtual Assistant, Women Entrepreneurs, Women-owned Business, Work at Home, blogs, career, entrepreneur, job loss, laid off, marketing, retirement, small business owner.add a comment
That is an autoresponder I received from a friend of mine when I recently sent out my ezine Gifts. At first glance, I thought that was the funniest thing I had ever read. I thought, how clever she is. She has decided to retire early from her job and has left a comical message for her co-workers and friends.
Well, unfortunately, that was not the case. She happened to call me that same week and after laughing hysterically about the autoresponder, she told me that she had been laid off from her job because of what else? Downsizing due to a lost contract (she works for a governmental agency). She had been with this company for 18 1/2 years! She was devastated, but I told her to stay positive, that God was in control of this situation.
As more and more people are “downsized” and asked to take early retirement, home-based businesses will become increasingly popular and almost the norm. When I decided to start a home-based business more than a year ago, I had no idea if it would work, if I can handle the stress of running my own business and taking care of my family from the same space and if the services I provide would be needed. But I’m happy to report that all is good in my virtual world! My business is growing day by day. I am providing a very beneficial service to other business owners, freeing them up to manage their business. And my plans are to utilize the services of other virtual professionals to assist and support my business as part of my virtual team.
If you have been thinking of starting a home-based business, I would highly recommend it and there are many great resources out there to guide you along the path. If your background is in administration, like me, check out
or visit our website at www.avirtualbiz.com for other links and resources to help with your online success. Take charge of your career, and always be In The Office and In Control of your future.
Newsletters - Easy as 1,2,3 July 1, 2008
Posted by Terri Brooks in Blogging, Business, Efficiency, Email, Ezine, Ezines, Follow-up, Insurance, Internet Marketing, Journaling, Networking, Online Marketing, Outsourcing, Technology, Virtual Assistant, Women Entrepreneurs, Women-owned Business, Work at Home, Writing, blogs, email newsletters, marketing, non-profit.1 comment so far
I work for several clients that produce an email newsletter, or better known as an Ezine. I have helped them to set up the layout and design, and input content and images for publication. But…I had never done one for myself and my business.
Oh my gosh, can I just tell you how much fun I had? Of course I gave myself a deadline, which was yesterday, to have the first one out and that became a little stressful at 11 pm last night when I still hadn’t hit the Send button. But I met my goal and it was out of my inbox and into the outbox of more than 300 contacts in just a matter of minutes!
I searched for the best techology to use for my Ezine and I selected Constant Contact. They have more than 300 templates to choose from, great reporting features to see who opens your email, how many bounced because of bad addresses and who just didn’t want to hear from you. (That was a little tough, but I’m trying not to take it personally) 
In addition to the excitment of fulfiling a goal and utilizing a great tool, I have received many compliments, one much appreciated critique and several inquiries for my services. BINGO! Feedback, just what I was hoping for.
I know the next one will be much easier and I won’t put so much pressure on myself to make it perfect (which it wasn’t). But it was easy, fun and fast, three things we need more of. If you need to boost your business, consider Constant Contact it’s a great tool to market your business and services and if you don’t want to do it yourself or don’t have the time to do it, check with a Virtual Assistant to take care of it for you.
How many hands do you have? June 25, 2008
Posted by Terri Brooks in Business, Efficiency, Follow-up, Internet Marketing, Networking, Online Marketing, Outsourcing, Referrals, Technology, Virtual Assistant, Women Entrepreneurs, Women-owned Business, Work at Home, non-profit.add a comment
If you are a small business owner or a solopreneur, just how many hands do you have? You have a great product or service and you are an expert in your field, but are you spending all of your time telling others about what you do and not really doing it? That’s called marketing folks! Congratulations, you have just become Director of Marketing for your company, but what about the work that needs to be done to keep the business going?
That’s where most of us get bogged down. We have a great idea or product. We decide to start a business to help others with our services and we begin the process of business cards, brochures, websites, networking groups, signing up for all the social media sites and talking to everyone we know about our great new business! But wait…who is doing the work? You are now in charge of marketing the business, AND doing the work. After a long of day of marketing, you get to put on the worker hat and spend the rest of your night doing the actual work. Sound familar?
There is a solution. You can outsource those marketing tasks and free yourself up to do what you really wanted to do in the beginning. You have an extra hand…just reach out and take it. Visit www.avirtualbiz.com to review virtual services available and for many other resources that can put you back in your business.
Just another way to save gas June 17, 2008
Posted by Terri Brooks in Business, Cards, Efficiency, Family, Follow-up, Greeting Cards, Internet Marketing, Life, Networking, Online Marketing, Outsourcing, Technology, Virtual Assistant, Women Entrepreneurs, Women-owned Business, Work at Home, Writing.1 comment so far
As a virtual professional, I am very thankful that I can get up every morning and make the long trip down the hall to my office…and I don’t spend a dime in gas!! When I first started this business gas was a mere $2.50 per gallon, which was bad enough, but to think of the millions of people whose job requires that regular morning fill up…I’m sorry.
Working as a virtual assistant or in some other type of home-based business is just one of the ways to relieve the pressure of today’s high gas prices. Another one is the ability to purchase items online. You can buy just about anything online, even greeting cards.
I have found an incredible system called 
. I log into my account, select the card I want, write my heartfelt text to the person I’m sending it to, upload my personal signature and click send. Taking maybe 5 minutes and no gas, out of my day! I can even upload photos, attach gift cards to places like Wal-Mart, Barnes & Noble, and Starbucks, or I can attach a wonderful basket of gourmet treats, including a box of mouth-watering brownies! It’s a one-stop shop!
I have found that I use Send Out Cards for my business to follow-up on leads, remind potential clients that I’m available to assist them and to thank my current clients for their trust in me and my business. I also use it to send cards to family and friends for birthdays, anniversarys, holidays and when someone is under the weather.
You know, most people have a kind heart and would send a card if they could remember to pick it up the next time they went shopping. With Send Out Cards, you can go shopping anytime; day or night and you have more than 10,000 cards to select from, right at your fingertips.
I love it so much, I’ll give you two free cards to send to anyone you wish. Just click here Send Out Cards and see what you think. And you don’t even have to start your car.
Blog Recognized by VANetworking May 27, 2008
Posted by Terri Brooks in Blogging, Business, Internet Marketing, Networking, Online Marketing, Virtual Assistant, Women Entrepreneurs, Women-owned Business, Work at Home, blogs.1 comment so far
What a great surprise when I received a congratulatory email from another virtual assistant today regarding my blog. The Virtual Assistant Networking Association (VANA) has recognized my Blog as the “Blog of the Week.”
What a great honor and I so appreciate the recognition. I love posting to my blog with helpful resources and tips to assist busy professionals, small business owners and Internet business professionals with their daily operational tasks.
Thanks VANA!
