January 2010 Goals

Alrighty, we are nearing the end of the first month in 2010.  This is your status check/reminder for your January Goals – have you accomplished your goals as set out?  I have done remarkably well!  A couple of tools I feel have been tremendously beneficial are my planner, my weekly wall dry-erase calendar, and having my 2010 Goals posted on the wall near my desk. 

- My planner acts as an operational structure to keep me on course.
- The Weekly Dry-Erase Calendar is great for keeping me focused on weekly tasks and I check each item off when complete.  Detailing the week’s worth of items on Sunday reiterates the path for the week.  Checking off  the items completed provides visual confirmation, the sense of accomplishment, and drive to continue. 
- With my 2010 Goals posted on the wall, I can easily review them when I am on a stretch break.  This quickly clears my mind and enables me to switch gears to the next project.

Let me know what steps you are taking to achieve your goals for January.

Best to you,
Jan
EVA – Electronic Virtual Assistant

Goals 2010

Some people are “Goals People” and some are not.  I am.  If you are or want to be, here is your final reminder to make your list of Goals for 2010 RIGHT NOW if you haven’t already done so.

Here are a few reasons why it is important…

- you achieve more when focused on your goals
- accountability to stay on course
- a quick glance at the list as a great reminder (and we all try to keep too much in our heads these days  =)

To help you implement your list, fill in these blanks for each goal:
- number or categorize each goal
- state why it is important
- list the steps required to achieve the goal
- set a target date to reach the goal

It is also important to review your goals on a daily basis (preferably several times a day- think breakfast, lunch and dinner times).

If you need help planning, detailing, implementing, or reaching your goals, consider working with a virtual assistant, like me!  I have been setting and achieving my own goals for years and have helped others with their goals and have taken courses on the subject.

Let me know if you have any questions or comments.

Wishing you a very happy and prosperous 2010!

Best to you,

Jan

Shopping Amazon.com

Hello all!

If you shop Amazon.com for amazing deals on everything from electronics to potting soil to DVDs and, oh right, books! . . . please use my link

http://www.eva-colo.com/Amazon.html

Click on any Amazon.com logos on the page and you’ll navigate to their site to begin your shopping experience.  It is the real Amazon.com with all of the same pricing and special deals, but they give me a little monetary kick-back for sending them high quality shoppers.

Right now, you will find crazy deals for Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Let me know if you have any questions!
Thank you so much!

Jan

Facebook – Adding Pictures

A couple of people have recently contacted me because they couldn’t remember (or figure out) how to add pictures/build an album on their Facebook account.

Here’s the simple version:

1) Choose the pictures you want to upload into Facebook and save them to your computer Desktop (or an equally prominent location on your computer).

2) Log into your Facebook account and from your Profile page, select the Photos tab.

3) On the far right side on the page there is a Create an Photo Album button, click it.

4) Fill in the album name, description and privacy setting information.  Click the Create Album button at the bottom of the section.

5) Select the photos for this album per Step 1 above – you can select one photo at a time or a whole bunch!  Click Upload Photos.

That’s it!

You can further modify and organize the pictures in the album if you so desire.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Best to you,
Jan

Print Screen

Print Screen

I know you have seen the Print Screen button inthe upper right corner of your keyboard but have you ever used it?  I use it ALL the time.  When I work with clients on how to use their computer – Basics 101 – in my computer tutor training, I use the Print Screen to build a handout to leave with the client.

Print Screen is used with the Shift button to capture a snapshot of your computer screen or with the Alt button to capture a snapshot of your active window.  Take this snapshot and paste it into Word or another program.  Easy as pie!

EVA blog print screen

Contact me if you have any questions – hope this helps!

Jan

Website Content is KING! – duh

I was surprised at how many students in a recent website development class wanted to find the easy way to being ranked #1 in the search engines.   Funny thing is they weren’t looking at the obvious.  What was true before still holds true today – content is king!  You need good content that is relevant to your business endeavors.

There are additional steps you can perform to increase your rankings i.e. add meta tags, alt tags on images, and of course submitting your url to the search engine directories.   Don’t forget to list your business on Google’s Local Business Center.

And, don’t just let your website sit out there!  Freshen your content on occasion or have something to draw visitors back to your website because they want to read your …. a) events calendar, b) latest blog post, c) witty commentary on local happenings, d) your review of the latest great book or article you’ve read.  Make them want to come to your website over the websites of your competitors.

Want more ideas or have some suggestions – send me your comments!  Need help, I can assist you virtually – even if it is just to send you reminders to complete some of the steps above!

Best to you,

Jan

Advanced Access customers

Hello!

One of my Realtor® clients forwarded an Advanced Access e-newsletter to me that announced Single Property websites are now available to Advanced Access customers!  There was no mention in the e-newsletter that you must be a 4.0 user of Advanced Access.  It isn’t available to 3.0 users – OOPS!

In the case of this particular client, it doesn’t matter because he already uses Single Property Sites (which is a terrific program!) to market his listings!

It is still a good day to be a virtual assistant! :)

Jan

Your Pictures on Facebook

Facebook has agreed to let a third party advertisers use your posted pictures without your permission.  To opt out, click on SETTINGS up at the top where you see the log out link. Select PRIVACY SETTINGS. Then select NEWS FEED AND WALL. Next select the tab that reads FACE BOOK ADS. There is a drop down box, select NO ONE.  Then SAVE your changes.

Computer Tutoring

One of the services I offer is tutoring people on the basics of using the internet, their computer, and multiple programs.  Initially, they seem a bit embarrassed about contacting me, but after a quick discussion, they realize I’m not going to belittle them for not being super savvy when it comes to their computer knowledge.  I am t/here to help!

Most often my tutored clients start off thinking they are going to do irreparable damage and have ceased using their computer.  First of all, it is really hard to “break” your computer by clicking on the wrong file or in the wrong space.  Secondly, there are numerous avenues available to complete a task.  i.e.: cut and paste in Word by selecting the item/words then  a) use the edit drop-down menu, or b) right click for a pop-up menu, or c) use keyboard shortcuts Ctrl+x then Ctrl+v .

I encourage them to go about it the way that makes them the most comfortable and before long they wonder what they did before they used their computer for everything!  (Heck, I rarely use the telephone directory anymore – I go online to anywho.com).

Best to you,

Jan

Reclaim Your Desk

Lately things have been getting a bit chaotic and my desk was bearing the brunt of  being “put off”.   The stacks started off small – I call it “organized confusion” – I knew where everything was located but it was becoming more challenging as the weeks passed.

.:.Even in this economy, my virtual business is still chugging along and picking up a new project now and again!

.:.My son is now 15 months old and very active.

.:.Summer is beckoning with fabulous sunny days and the opportunity/neccessity to tend to landscaping duties.

I don’t know about you, but if I am disorganized in one area of life, it can really stress me out!  It was imperative to reclaim my desk space for me and my clients.

My wonderful sister took my son to her house one day and I jumped into my project to clear the clutter, organize all of the bits and pieces and regain control.  It is amazing how efficiently things run now – everything is in its place.   I love to work at my desk again and look forward to it – isn’t that the way it is supposed to be?

Best to you,

Jan