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
add a comment
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.
Two puzzles in one box November 7, 2008
Posted by Terri Brooks in Business, Efficiency, Home-based business, Online Marketing, Outsourcing, Virtual Assistant, Women Entrepreneurs, Women-owned Business, Work at Home, clients, marketing, small business owner.Tags: puzzles, projects, unexpected, outcomes
add a comment
Have you ever bought a puzzle at a yard sale? And when you got it home and began putting it together you realized that you had two puzzles in one box?
That’s how projects can be. Maybe you get all the pieces from a client to pull together a great end-product, and things flow smoothly. But sometimes you get more than you expect and it takes a little longer to put all the pieces together. But as long as the client is pleased and you have a quality outcome, then the challenge is worth it.
I love a good challenge. That’s what makes my work as a virtual professional exciting. I love working for different groups of people and helping them with a variety of tasks and projects.
Sometimes you get exactly what you planned for, and sometimes you get even more!
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
6 comments
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?
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
add a comment
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.
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: sales, sales professionals, tradeshow, business cards, Follow-up, scanned, service, Cards, Greeting Cards
add a comment
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.
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.
We Have Feelings Too. July 8, 2008
Posted by Terri Brooks in Business, Efficiency, Family, Health, Home-based business, Life, Networking, Online Marketing, Outsourcing, Technology, Virtual Assistant, Women Entrepreneurs, Women-owned Business, Work at Home, entrepreneur, holidays, marketing, respect, small business owner.1 comment so far
After a wonderfully long weekend where I didn’t step foot into my home-office, I re-entered my virtual 
workplace this morning and visited several of my local hangouts. One is VAnetworking.com. We have an incredible forum where we can share ideas, ask any question without the fear of feeling stupid and on occasion, VENT!
This morning as I weaved my way through the threads of the weekend, I came upon one by a fellow VA who had encountered a terrible experience with a client. As most of us in the US know, this past weekend was Independence Day…July 4th. We typically don’t work on July 4th. Which is exactly what this VA had in mind. Not to mention that she was feeling under the weather too. However, she had a client call her at 11 pm on July 4th! If she had been feeling OK, she would have been out enjoying fireworks at this time of night, but because she was sick, she was asleep. But wait…the story doesn’t stop there.
The next day, she was feeling better and went to see a movie with her children. This same client called her six times and the last time with some pretty colorful language included in the voice mail.
Needless to say, she is terminating the contract with this client. What this particular client didn’t understand or appreciate is that Virtual Professionals are real people with real feelings and real lives!! We are small business owners, who just happen to work from home. We can be the best partner a small business or entrepreneur can have. We are dedicated, hard-working, motivated and knowledgeable in our specific area of expertise. We respect each of our clients, their time and their business, and we expect that same respect back.
I’m very proud of my fellow VA, for taking a stand and not accepting this kind of behavior. She has no regrets and by sharing her ordeal with us, we can better prevent this from happening in our business.
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.
