Windows 7 Desktop Gadgets
I reluctantly bought a new PC loaded with Windows 7. My tech guy insisted! (just like he did when I bought my last laptop with Windows Vista 
)
This time I am glad I listened. I am loving Windows 7. Although Vista has many of the same features, the upgrades that came with Windows 7 just seem easier and more fun. (Or maybe I just have more time to play????)
One of the kewlest features of Windows 7, is the ability to display a bunch of Gadgets on the desktop. They appear in little windows which display the relevant information for the gadget and, you can keep an eye on stuff like sports scores, your local weather and traffic, a quick and simple to-do list etc., without having to open your web browser or any other application. (You do have to have an active internet connection to use most of the gadgets).
Create a Distribution List using categories in Microsoft Outlook
So you have several categories set up in Microsoft Outlook Contacts and every time you want to send an email to that group of contacts, you go into the contacts menu, search for the category then use the action tool to create a new email message to send to the group. Good for you. But, wouldn’t it be a whole lot easier if you could just select the list from within the email address field itself?
You could off course set up your distribution list the traditional way by selecting each contact one at a time to be added to the list but, who has time for that????? Read the rest of this entry »
How to Interview a Virtual Assistant
Although it is true that a professional Virtual Assistant is not typically an employee, it does not mean that you should skip the interview process, when trying to select the right one to begin a partnership with. Since most interviews of Virtual Assistants will not be face-to-face, here are the three most likely options you will use for the process:
ONLINE INTERVIEW
There are some very successful Virtual Assistants who do not have an online presence. However, since your partnership will be a “virtual” one, it is a very good idea to consider Virtual Assistants who have a website, since it gives you the ability to learn things about them that you would not, if there is no website. Once you’ve located the website, here are some clues you will want to look for: Read the rest of this entry »
Are you maximizing the Category feature in Outlook?
If you use Microsoft Outlook, chances are you are like a lot of people who do not take advantage of many of the features that are available.
As s Virtual Business Support Professional, one such feature that I find many people overlook is OUTLOOK’S 2007 CATEGORIES feature. Categories provide an efficient way for you to manage several functions like mail merge, distribution lists etc., messages, etc
For example, using Categories, you can send personalized emails (using documents or plain email) to a group of contacts at once. You can also create Distribution Lists using Categories.
To make the most out of the Outlook Category feature, you should assign every contact in your Outlook address book to a Category. Some categories might be: Family, Clients, Prospects, Acquaintances, East Coast, etc. Additionally, you can assign categories to e-mail messages, meetings, appointments etc. Read the rest of this entry »
Liven up your links!
Are you wondering why your links are not “live” like the ones you see all over the internet in articles, social network posts etc.?
The answer is simple: you did not use an actual Uniform Resource Locator, more commonly known as a URL and although a simple www.expertbusinesspartners.com entry will work in some environments, many platforms (like Facebook and Twitter) will not make the site name live without an actual URL.
So what is a URL? According to the WEPOPEDIA, it is the global address of documents and other resources on the World Wide Web. The first part of the address is called a protocol identifier and it indicates what protocol to use, and the second part is called a resource name and it specifies the IP address or the domain name where the resource is located. The protocol identifier and the resource name are separated by a colon and two forward slashes.”
What’s up with Facebook Fan Pages?
In a recent exchange on FB and in another forum to which I belong, it became apparent to me that many FB Fan Page owners and Users may not know how the whole Fan Page thing works so I thought I would share this with you: (I do not purport to be a FB expert (although I do know so stuff 
but have become quite enthralled with FB Fan Pages and have been using my own to grow my business).
Like most of us who have created a Fan Page one of the things that had us salivating at the mouth with this whole concept, was the ability to send updates to the droves of fans we attract. Well, I hate to burst that bubble but, when you send an update to your fan list, IT DOES NOT PLACE AN EMAIL IN THEIR IN-BOX , like the messaging and comments features do. Instead, it places them in a folder called UPDATES, which is hosted in the FB users FB in-box and is accessible by clicking on the UPDATES LINK at left.
Playing tag on your Facebook wall!
Facebook recently released a feature that allows you to tag “friends” in your posts, which will show up on your wall. This is different from the original tagging feature which gave you the ability to identify and reference people in photos, videos and notes. The new tagging feature gives you a way to tag people and other things you’re connected to on Facebook — in status updates and other posts, which will appear on your wall.
It’s another way to let select “friends” know what you are writing about right away, instead of them having to wait to see it when they view your wall.
The way the new feature works:
“When you are writing a status update and want to add a friend’s name to something you are posting, just include the “@” symbol beforehand. As you type the name of what you would like to reference, a drop-down menu will appear that allows you to choose from your list of friends and other connections, including groups, events, applications and Pages. Soon, you’ll be able to tag friends from applications as well. The “@” symbol will not be displayed in the published status update or post after you’ve added your tags. Friends you tag in your status updates will receive a notification and a Wall post linking them to your post. They also will have the option to remove tags of themselves from your posts.
“
Happy tagging but please do not annoy your friends!!!!
99 days and counting……
In 99 days, it will be the start of the year 2010!!!! Can you believe it? Remember when that seemed like such a long ways of?
How will 2010 find your business?
If you don’t know, then now is the time to begin thinking about it and taking steps to ensure it finds it the way you want it to. Will you have met your goals for 2009? If not, why not? What are you goals for 2010?
Here are a few things you should be paying attention to now if you want to greet 2010 with a smile or, you can ignore the opportunity to take action now then be filled with regret when you realize you let it slip away………..again!!!!
Are You Exploiting The Internet?
So you have a website or are thinking about getting a website. Now what?
Email marketing has become a vastly popular and beneficial direct marketing tool.
It is primarily being used to provide subscribers with information on service and product offerings but it has also been particularly useful in building a loyal customer base.
Today, more and more online business owners are turning to email marketing as their primary means to generate sales leads not only because the results are easily tracked but also because it is an inexpensive platform to market services on a large scale.
Because of the minimal costs involved, online business owners have a greater chance to generate a profitable return on the money they invest.
Are your exploiting this affordable took to market your business and grow your prospect/client/subscriber database?
The many off the shelf applications on the market make it seamless and affordable for any sized business.
Two that we recommend and are fully versed in utilizing (requires monthly subscription):
Or, if you already have a list or database but just need an email marketing tool and prefer to “Pay-As-You-Go”, we offer our own affordable email campaign solution. To test drive our solution sign-up below and stay tuned for an exciting ride!
To Squeeze Or Not To Squeeze
In one of the forums to which I belong, one of the members posted a request for assistance with creating a Squeeze Page. (Sometimes referred to as the Opt-in Page or the Landing Page.)
In response, a vigorous discussion ensued. Some folks hated them while others loved them. Some did not quite understand the difference between a squeeze and a sales page, while others think they do but offered varied definitions. And of course the debate goes on…………. So who’s right? Should you “Squeeze?”
Facebook Feature to stop unwanted feeds
OK, so if you are on Facebook, you have seen all of the “fun” applications that continue to clog up your wall. For some of us, while we like fun things, we prefer not to see then splattered all over our walls. So, just how do you prevent them from showing up. It’s easier than you think.
Anytime one of these show up and you prefer not to see it ever again, you can use the hide feature to keep them hidden from your wall. To see the hide feature, place your cursor near the top right corner of the post.
Twitter 101 – According to Twitter!
Millions of people use Twitter every day to share ideas with others, find information and create applications. From many well established, national brands to recent online start-ups, many business are turning to Twitter as an effective way to reach out to employees, customers and prospects.
Are you Tweeting?
Like many of you, I was skeptical about jumping into the Twitter pool. But I am so glad I did and encourage you to take the plunge!
Why you need a Facebook page
Everyone has to have a profile to be on Facebook. However, having a Facebook page is optional.
Spinnable Welcome Text for Twitter
If you use Tweet Later to manage your Tweets, there is a great tool to help you create and send a variety of messages when Tweeps follow you, instead of the same generic message each time. This feature is called
SPINNABLE WELCOME TEXT
Facebook Photos
Apparently, Facebook has agreed to let a third party advertiser use your posted pictures without your permission. Here is how they describe it:
Facebook occasionally pairs advertisements with relevant social actions from a user’s friends to create Facebook Ads. Facebook Ads make advertisements more interesting and more tailored to you and your friends. These respect all privacy rules. You may opt out of appearing in your friends’ Facebook Ads below.
Shopping Cart Improvements
Our favorite Shopping Cart application 1SHOPPINGCART.COM just announced some long overdue improvements. The have finally responded to their customer’s request for improvements to their broadcast feature. The announcement indicates that in two weeks, the following new features will be available:
Ways a VA can help
There is an exhaustive list of ways a VA can help you with your business. Many people still struggle with the concept of working with someone “sight unseen” since many partnerships will exist without either party ever seeing the other!
Enter the remarkable technology and tools on the market today which makes it not only possible, but absolutely effortless!
Cost Comparison
Hiring a Virtual Assistant Professional (VAP) brings many benefits, including:
- versatility in one source
- flexibility
- resourcefulness
When there is no money in the budget to hire another assistant or pay for traditional marketing expenses, partnering with a Virtual Assistant Professional is an affordable way to ensure your business is not left behind!
