Learning Website Design and Promotional Marketing

Hi lovelies,

Just a quick update.  As a Virtual Assistant wanting to increase my capacity to offer clients a greater range of services, I've been very busy learning Website Design, some HTML, Promotional Marketing and quite a few other things this last week.  Finding all the excellent resources and having a great company teaching it all has been a fantastic upgrade in my skill set.  One of the niche markets I have worked on and produced just for growth purposes is a site based on Uterine Fibroids.

Currently working on backlinks and SEO with a great internet marketing company that excels in disclosing all those tips, tricks and secrets that others tend to use as their campaign to get you in.  These guys don't even mention the word "secret".  Everything they use to market, they share, teach via video modules, provide all their inhouse tools and yes, I know what you are thinking.  Every internet marketer promises you that - right?

Yes, I know.  Trust me, I have spent enough money on them finding that out for myself.

Having been down THAT road so many times, as impressed as I was with what they presented, reluctantly I navigated away and instead of offering me the usual discount if I stay on the page, they offered me a course of theirs to do.  So of course I accepted it, opened it up... and started on it.

I couldn't believe what I was seeing and hearing.  All that terminology that no one else would explain or teach was right there.  Keywords, backlinks, SEO, Page Ranks, CPA, Network Marketing, and much much more.  That was all I talked about to my husband all week.  Why?

Because as I spent the next week signing up for the freebies from all the others and checking them all out, I'll give you one guess who's I kept going back to as I built the Uterine Fibroids site.

But I had already made THIS site right here.... yes, I had.

But there is something a little different that I want to offer as a Virtual Assistant aswell, this site here is a personal product, a personal service I am providing myself in assisting other businesses and UF is a promotional site (more of a test really) with all the keyword rich content, backlinks, social bookmarking etc etc.,  the one that I'm monitoring and learning with.  Gotta start somewhere right?

As a Virtual Assistant I want to offer clients diversity and a strong Internet Marketing background.... starting to get the picture?

The other one I just started on which I'm making a hub site - basically it will be bigger, much more diverse in what it has to offer people and a great place to come to just catch up on the latest more personal benefits that women will love... here it is Coffee Time Girls

I haven't done much on that one just yet.  But it will be growing as I grow and fast forward a year and that site will be burning hot.

Anyway, that's it for now lovelies.  I hope this stirred, motivated, drives you further and keep watching this space, its going to heat up!

Remember always SMILE - it's free AND it's healthy!

Fantastic Business Links for Virtual Assistants

Ive been extremely busy this week setting up some other sites, obtaining my own domain name and organising an "official website".  Basically I will be transferring everything I have posted so far to my new domain in the next couple of weeks and will redirect my readers to that site.

In my extremely busy week this week, (which is why my blogs have dropped a little) I have been doing a lot of training on internet marketing, but on my new website, I will be specialising in assisting business' to grow and expand their web presence for increases in sales.

This will take a fair bit of work on my part in refining the whole process, as right now, I'm spending a LOT of time researching the absolute BEST directories, forums, article marketing websites, keyword research tools and SEO tools to ensure a top quality service for my clients.

If this goes where I think its going to go, it could be a new trend in online business for offline niche business'.

I will also be eventually producing an e-book on the setup of the whole procedure so that others may reproduce what I have done and make a business out of it.  I have found, literally stumbled across an AWESOME Internet Marketing Company that just immediately opened the internet world up to me from the first sight of one of three free gifts they offered to me as I navigated away from their site.

I just couldn't believe it when I opened it up, how well organised, VERY well presented, and in step by step videos how easy it was to follow.  What amazed me more than anything else though was that if they were offering me all this detailed technical knowledge in such a professionally presented and detailed account for free.... what on earth is their paid instruction going to show me?

Well, that's what I'm about to find out.  Make no mistake folks, I want to build something spectacularly unique and THIS, what you are reading right now is where it all began.

Follow me on Twitter to keep track in brief of where I'm at with everything and how its going.

I will have email newsletters going out soon if you would like updates in your inbox.

And...... SMILE : )  Its Free !

Setting up Business and Administration Systems for a Perth Cafe

Well, I have just spent a wonderful week travelling to a Cafe in Perth and spending the week there setting up some, not all, systems and procedures in order to facilitate process that was needed.  Lightening the workload for any business owner is imperative as they always, not usually, but always have a LOT to do.

Streamlining processes is a specialty of mine.  I have successfully streamlined for mining companies, government agencies, small business and even a charity.  Once we know what kind of result or outcome we want or need, then we design the process to achieve it.  Some take the long way around and a few can develop a procedure with the minimum amount of time and cost.

I am one of those few.

I was advised recently to consider providing a phone consultation service to business owners, especially small business owners to provide formatting techniques and constructive practical recommendations to empower the business owner, reduce their overload, increase their down time and reduce their overall cost by either introducing new processes into their business by obtaining the information, formatting the plan, creating the process and implementing the whole system, OR, by streamlining an existing process or several processes into one.

One such system as a focus point for you to imagine for a moment is highly beneficial for any restaurant or cafe where the case in point is simply stock.  Identifying stock needed in a timely manner by one person or many, regardless, its a headache if there is nothing on paper, and even if there is, the question begs to be asked.... is it a systematic (literally automatic) process that can be done in 5 minutes or is it a verbal "let me know if you're running low on anything" situation that often sees food business' in an embarrassing, "sorry we've run out of......." situation?

Imagine for a moment that with a bit of data and a format in place, 5 mins of an employees  time followed by 15 mins of your time to update the Master Stock Inventory and then call your suppliers, would you consider that a time saver?

"Absolutely".

And I agree.

This is what I do.  Find a stronger, faster, more efficient process to ease the load on EVERYONE's shoulders, not just yours.

I will be putting my contact details up soon on my new website with all this information and more.  Check back here soon for more.

Having said that, its great to be back home and back to my family - AND computer!

And remember - SMILE - ITS FREE : )

Testing Posting from IPhone

Hello lovelies

I'm testing the ability to post from my mobile for when I am on long trips.

Yet another fantastic advantage from technology!

Sent from my iPhone

Business for Business

It just goes to show you know.....

For those of you following my Liquor Licence Application man story... WATCH THIS SPACE!

Remember I mentioned yesterday that I took on a pro bono Liquor Licence Application and trust me, we are talking about a document that you don't see the end of for weeks of work, no, this document is not just a "type it up and return it", not at all.  Regional Statistical Data, Forecasted Populations for the targetted area, links to supporting documentation and council strata plans etc etc etc.

Well, this morning, it all happened, as quick as that.  I'm off to Perth tomorrow night for a week to set up a business' administrative procedures from top to bottom.

Sowing.

Reaping.

There it is and this is ONLY the start.

WATCH THIS SPACE.

If you really, honestly, truly want badly enough to have a flourishing business, this is the principle of sowing.

Invest your time, energy and resources into one business that actually needs you.

A worthy business.

Watch what happens.

You see its really busyness for business.  There is no trade off.  Its just you.  Giving.

Try it.  You will be working the principles of sowing that I have seen happen in my life many times.  That's why I believe it.

So keep WATCHING THIS SPACE & checking on my Current Projects over the coming weeks.

I dare you.

You know what to do - SMILE - ITS FREE!!

Tonia : )

Invest in Your Business - IT IS GOOD BUSINESS CENTS!

Now wait a minute.... I don't mean "go out and spend more money, buy this or purchase that"....


No no no, I mean invest as in SOW into your business.

You know that Liquor Licence Application I told you about yesterday?  The first job?

Well, it was a pro bono job - a favour for someone I used to work with and for, and it still is pro bono, but today something SPECTACULAR happened.

After a telephone appointment today with the man that asked me if I could do it for him (he had NO idea I was now a Virtual Assistant either I might add) to go over a couple of area's regarding district census data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, he took note of just how much work and time I was putting into the job by researching and collecting relevant data for his cause.

He then had it in his heart to offer me a substantial sum of money - I mean - large, not small to do the job.  I very kindly declined his offer, some may think that was stupid, but I had it in MY heart to support him in his cause to save the destitute which has always been his dream and vision... now you may be thinking, wait a sec, a liquor licence application & saving the destitute - together??

Yes.  Exactly that.

You see this mans cafe is not just you're run of the mill cafe.  He and his wife just recently bought it after nearly a whole year finding the perfect location within a particular problem suburb where druggies and streeties and drunks are commonplace, and their dream has ALWAYS for as long as I have known them (which is a very long time as he is my brother in law) been wanting to reach out to those whose path have kept them from their purpose in life.

So he placed himself and his wife (after establishing a HUGE educational institutional network of learning facilities throughout the city for teens that cannot attend main stream school for one reason or another and providing them with mentors as well as a safe place to learn)  right in the absolute CENTRE of where all the problems are, and the service is FIVE STAR, but they don't just serve, they serve PEOPLE, there is a big difference.

And yes, the liquor licence is to encourage those very people to come on in, and, if I know his generous heart as well as I think I do, even to invite them in for a good free meal and a drink or two so that they are comfortable, so that they get to know each other, so that these people come to trust him and his wife, because that's what they do, that's what they're great at, building, encouraging, steering, mentoring and most of all loving.

They would have to be the most non-judgemental people I know. Period.

So now, you will perhaps understand why, when I thanked him for the very kind offer and told him that I would rather SOW into his life and my future, and he had already told me that he was going to network my info out (he's lived in the city of Perth all his life and you can't go out and have a coffee with him somewhere without anywhere between 3 to 5 people stopping to talk to him - his house for coffee if you want a great chat is the best place trust me) to all he knows that needs this kind of administrative, secretarial and clerical assistance.

Now I know, that with the heart of a generous man and his gorgeous, smart, innovative, very lovable yet funky wife (my sister - the one and only bubble of fizz you will ever meet) behind me supporting me, my business is going to BOOM.

He's pretty much so appreciative and humbled by my contribution he assured me he is going out of his way to promote my service and THAT my friends IS THE MOST VALUABLE RESOURCE a building business or service can have from someone as connected as he.

There's another man in the picture though that I haven't mentioned yet that has a lot to do with this scene.

God.

He is at work.  Always.

HE says - and I quote - "You shall reap what you sow one hundred fold".

And I believe Him.

Remember to SMILE - its FREE !!!
Have an awesome day!

Tonia.

Teenagers are Absolute Gems at Times

I was having a conversation with my two younger teenagers, one 19 and the youngest 14 yrs old, both boys, and I was telling them about how this guy on the internet had made something like $940,000 from Adsense over two months, and my 14 year old son Daniel looked at me with this serious face, he was so quiet when he said "Well, I made $2.00 once mum" TALK ABOUT LAUGH MY HEAD OFF.... I was laughing for quite some time I can tell you.  You gotta love em when you dont want to hang them from the washing line.

Anyway, in the wonderful light nature of that I got my first job today from a cafe in Northbridge in Perth.  It was to completely reformat a Liquor Licence Application and what a job it is.  Adding in Automated Table of Contents, Hyperlinking and researching census data for area stats its FUN!!!  The whole thing had been copied and pasted bits and peices and I sorted it all out.. almost.  Finishing it in the morning.  But its my FIRST job - *clapping*.

Exciting stuff.

Have a great day or night and SMILE - ITS FREE !

Tonia

24 hrs with Internet Guru Joel Comm

Wow, what a whirlwind 24 hours its been too.  I have just spent the last day and night basically reading and learning everything I can from Joel Comm on site monetisation and what an eye opener it is.

I started to get into affiliate marketing last year and kind of lost my way because of time consumption and in some cases, concepts I didn't understand.  Lost in the mix I became.  So I did exactly what he reports he did.  I stopped doing it.

NOW...... I find out what backlinks actually are, gee, why didn't those guys tell me last year, trying to get that kind of information was like trying to squeeze blood out of a stone.  Not the kind of thing you would find in a dictionary.  Trust me I tried. Anyway, so now I have gone ahead and started down the road again simply because he identified one very important element that "those guys" didn't do when I needed it, content, participation, basically - investment into everything.

So now, Im going to do both Virtual Assistant work as well as work on a new website and a few more subsequently after researching the area's that I already know well.  A few "collective" websites that people will want to visit and enjoy the information.  And monetise them.

If you are unaware of Adsense Secrets 5 and Joel Comm,  look him up.  It will be well worth your time and trouble.

If you subscribe to this site and check back on me in 6 months or even 3 months time, I will be reporting back on how I am going frequently, in between the Virtual Assistant work.

Smile at someone, its free!

Tonia : )

How are your Information Gathering processes for your business faring?

After reading this, you may want to review what your procedures and processes are actually costing you because whether its collecting information from employees or customers, there are dynamically efficient ways to do it.

Take a look for example at the information you need from an employee when something happens.  Sick leave, Annual leave, Bank account information or change of Bank information, training course information for subsidisation, change of address, vehicle use, and the list goes on.

What about customer information?  You can learn a lot during the making of a sale and establish a secondary target market (if there is enough target support) to generate return customer revenue.  A simple checking of a few boxes on a sales review form on completion of a sale provides the business with invaluable information, while leaving the customer feeling that you are actually interested in making more than THAT sale.

So, back to the employee information gathering.  While I was working as a temp for a major coal mining company, I took the initiative and turned their huge paper munching time consuming employee information gathering process into one page, back and front, gathering all information necessary for any given purpose in one swoop.  One form for everything.  This alleviated time spent looking for a particular form for the particular purpose, eliminated massive amounts of form monitoring and photocopying to ensure forms were available, yes they had one for every need for information, and totally reduced the amount of paper needed, let alone photocopier power, usage and ink or toner.

When I presented the "new all-in-one form" to the Personnel Officer, he took one look at it and the first thing he said was, "Hmm I don't know why this hasn't been done before now, thats smart, very smart, thankyou Tonia".  Needless to say, the Payroll Officer, Administration Officer and the Human Resources Manager just loved the new form.  This was a MAJOR mining company.  You would expect these kinds of processes to exist in such a company.

So my thoughts are;  if a major mining company didnt have such a time and cost efficient process in place, how many small independent business' are there out there that are unaware of such simple time and cost savers just by reviewing their processes regularly and simplifying them?

I hope this helps a business or a company out there, drop me a line or a comment and let me know if it helped.

Have a GREAT day !

Online Marketing?

Its a common story I know.  Research, click links, spend time, go to this Affiliate Site, setup with Clickbank as an Affiliate, join brand new abounding unfailing number crunching sales sites that make it so easy for you to just type a few things into a few boxes and make money.

MONEY.

Time really IS money.

While YOU and I have been busy searching and Re-searching and clicking away, guess who's making THE MONEY?

You got it.  Not you.  Not me.

EVERYONE ELSE!

Firesales, E-books, Lists, backtracks, Niche marketing, even Forex have affiliates that promote their failsafe try before you buy game to get to the MONEY.  Well... I don't know about YOU but I simply had enough.

Here is the simple but very realistic truth.  And no.  I'm not going to hype it up and give you all these stats and "facts" and figures, I'm just simply going to tell you what I did.  Its what I'm doing right now.  Writing this.  On my blog site.  Promoting what I CAN do and will do.  I actually came across something quite by accident.  No. I wasn't actually looking for it, I stumbled across it just by typing one word into the Search Engine and that word was "VIRTUAL".  The rest is history.

From there, the first thing that popped up was "A Claytons Secretary" once I added my country into the mix.  I realised that because I have years of clerical experience, I could actually do it.

Kathie Thomas, the founder of ACS, (A Claytons Secretary) had set her entire business up online for all Virtual Assistants to repeatedly access and resource with all connections to all VA networks, blogs, directories, yahoo groups and VA products.  It was all there.  I couldn't believe it.  So to prove my disbelief, I started on the track.

I set up this blog site which blogger makes so absolutely easy its a joke.
Then I connected with all the VA networks.  Just like that.
Then I started blogging. Just a couple of posts to start with.
After that I realised how easy Adsense made it to start earning money even before I start earning money from my business.

I STILL couldn't believe it.

So then I made a Promotional Flyer with MS Publisher (visible on my Work Samples page) and I'm about to start distributing them 10 at a time to targeted local business's that advertise jobs and work in tomorrows local paper.

In the meantime, I've joined so many networking groups that are all there to support, advise, feedback, suggest and accompany me in my journey that I haven't yet had the time to read them all, in fact, very little.  I have made the time though to setup my profiles in each of the groups, networks and sites that I have joined and guess what?  THEY ARE ALL FREE !

Cant believe it?   I'M STILL having trouble believing it - especially after spending 18 darn months looking, searching, re-searching, buying, spending, believing, hoping and yes... just like you probably were and still are.

Well, there's the cold hard truth of it.  You can stop now.

I have excitedly slapped the logo's concerned on this site and monetised it with Adsense and now Im just going to get out and do the legwork in distribution, keep blogging, read all the forums, blogs, networks and groups I've joined and get the heck on with it.

Join me!  This is actually FUN... and STILL - U n b e l i e v a b l e

What can I do for you?

Ease your workload by taking administrative, clerical or secretarial tasks off your hands and taking care of them for you.

By working from my home office, I am able to handle anything for you from telephone calls, appointment making, travel/training management, document production, formulating spreadsheets, data entry, proof reading, writing blogs or advertisements, pretty much anything you need to do that you have a time problem with.

I'm in the process of putting together a Services Schedule, which will be consistently updated with work orders completed and current work orders, and, with the employers permission, will provide work order employers contact details for reference.

Reference, feedback and promotion is something I value highly, my reputation depends on it.

Virtual Personal Assistants

Well, this is the beginning of the start. Im looking forward to my new online "virtual" career and performing my job from the comfort of my own home.  I just joined A Claytons Secretary and Kathie Thomas, the owner of the website, from what I have seen and received so far, has been surmountingly efficient in her quest to advance and enhance the online career path of this wishing to pursue it.

There is an accepted presence in virtual work in so many different ways, I have explored many of them, but I have to say that this kind of work is industry specific and seems as though Im going to thoroughly enjoy doing it.  I will document my journey, both highs and lows, just in case anyone else may be considering pursuing becoming a virtual assistant.

Have a great day!

Tonia.