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January 2008

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Writing Wisely

The Virtual Alliance Magazine

Social networks starting to click

Studies show social networking growing in the b-to-b space, even as marketers acknowledge need for measurement
By Rebekah Tsadik
Story posted: January 14, 2008 - 10:45 am EDT

As b-to-c marketers dash ahead adopting new media platforms—blogs, viral videos and social networks—their b-to-b counterparts struggle with questions about the effectiveness of these same tactics. While some count the downstream benefits social networks are believed to provide, such as brand- and relationship-building, others wonder whether the efforts are worth the cost and warn about unrealistic expectations.

Are You an Expert in Your Field

The Alliance is looking for “experts”, virtual assistants and other business owners interested in presenting on topics relevant to virtual assistants. Presentations are free for all members to attend and last approximately 45 minutes with 15 minutes for questions and answers. Are you an expert in your field or know someone who is? Contact the Alliance today!

I Should Have Been on Oprah But There’s Still Nascar

I was watching Oprah the other day and all of the sudden there was Grammar Girl talking about sentence structure and using the right words in the right ways. I couldn’t believe it. I’d read about promoting yourself to such levels, but never, in a million years, thought Oprah would be interested in doing a story about a grammar book. Grammar Girl wrote one. I wrote one too. The difference is she probably sold thousands, maybe even millions while my book sales have yet to reach the hundreds. Why? Is it because her book is better than mine? Probably not – I mean we ARE talking grammar here. But Oprah endorsed her book, she didn’t endorse mine. So, I think the answer is – promotion.

Defining Your Niche as a Virtual Assistant

As a Virtual Assistant (VA), you know about filling a niche because you are already doing it simply by being a VA. You cater to the administrative, technical, creative, and financial needs of your clients by assisting them virtually. This itself is a niche.

If you’re like many entrepreneurs when first starting in business, you took every job that came along. You did it from a place of necessity. Even if you thought yours was the exception, no company can meet every need of every client throughout the life of a business. There is no doubt, however, that this approach serves us well in the beginning!

(Some of) The best things in life come in small packages

Just ask Kylie Short!

Kylie Short, president of Tilda Virtual Services, tells The Virtual Alliance Magazine, “I was 33 weeks pregnant with my third child in what was an extremely difficult pregnancy. I was studying full time at the university to become a Primary School Teacher; but, I wasn’t as passionate about my studies. I love my family, but I’ve always needed the mental stimulation that comes from being constantly challenged.

The Australian Virtual Business Network

Australia’s ONLY source of fully pre-qualified virtual businesses the Australian Virtual Business Network (http://www.avbn.com.au) was established to provide clients with access to the highest quality virtual assistant and other virtual support services Australia has to offer. Members undergo a rigorous pre-screening process to ensure they possess the fundamentals of experience, skill and professionalism. This includes reference checking and online skills testing. Once complete, members qualify for the CAVB (Certified Australian Virtual Business) designation.

The Alliance Kicks Off the New Year with Pamela Inventor Dick Schiferli

Dick Schiferli

On Tuesday, January 29, 2008 at 2 PM EST, The Alliance for Virtual Businesses is sponsoring an interactive discussion with Dick Schiferli about Pamfax and Pamela 4.0. Pamela 4.0 is the most widely used Skype add-on available on the Internet today. It allows users to record messages, video and much more. PamFax is, according to the product’s Web site, simple to use, is fully integrated with Skype, has a user friendly wizard that makes sending a fax a breeze, sends faxes from Word/Excel 2003/2007, and allows payment with your Skype Credit. VAs and small business owners interested in learning more about this option should visit the Alliance Web site for details on registering for this free event.

Time Management, is it real?

Time management and multitasking are buzz words that have been around in the business world for years. My question to my fellow business mums is, are they real? Everyday we deal with children, spouses, friends and our family and their needs. But how does this impact on the management of our businesses and in particular our time?

Working from home still has the image of women ‘playing at business’ and unless we manage our time effectively, this is exactly what we are. So how do we manage our time effectively to ensure our families are happy, that our customers are happy, but most important that we are happy too?

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