Lee Drozak of My Office Assistant is a Virtual Events Specialist; offering virtual event services to her clients. During our conversation Lee shared tips for presenters – including ways to add some interest to content, what to do when everything seems to go wrong and more. She also shared some greats tips for moderators, as well as, tips for virtual event attendees.  This is one full hour of great information for virtual event presenters, moderators and attendees alike and is 110% worth the listen!

Show Links:

Lee Drozak’s website: http://www.myofficeassist.org
GotoMeeting: http://www.gotomeeting.com/fec/
FreeConferenceCall: http://www.freeconferencecall.com/

A Virtual Perception podcast is sponsored by:

Virtual Assistant Forums: http://www.virtualassistantforums.com

Virtual Assistantville: http://www.virtualassistantville.com

A Virtual Perception podcast is produced and hosted by:
Darlene of True Harmony Media, LLC: http://www.yourtrueharmony.com

The blog is an inside look at life as a work at home mom told through the words of two successful and super cool moms. In fact, when I stumbled across the blog and read posts with such titles as: “What I Learned About Parenting Last Year”, another with a recipe for Chile Rellnos Casserole and “No Guilt for this Mom-preneur”; I knew I had to find out who was behind this insightful and mom-inspired blog.

Another delightful surprise came my way, because the two ladies behind the blog are none other than very talented Brianna Young of Mad Hatter Design and Media, designer of my website Your Blooming and Shari Sultana, owner of Modern Marketing Support also a past guest on a VA Round Table episode of AVP.

If you are a mother that runs your own business or are a woman who runs your own business with hopes of being a mother some day, then Applesauce and Email is a blog you should most certainly check out.

They say first impressions are most important and the very first time I visited the directory site, I was pleasantly surprised. First by the design… simplistic and then by the functionality, it is very easy to use.   I did ask myself..well, what is different about this particular directory for VAs? The two biggest things I noted about Virtual Assistantville are the extensive use of SEO and how easy it is to use the site (in relation to creating your own profile).  Extensive SEO is something Virtual Assistantville has said they implemented on the site. When running a search for my site on Google, my Virtual Assistantville listing comes up on the first page results. In fact, it is the second search result that appears in the listings.  I also receive Google alerts from time to time referencing my directory listing. So whatever they are doing, it is working.

I think the directory is a nice solution for Virtual Assistant’s just starting out, as it is a great way to get an online presence without having a website.  Even if you have a website, the directory is SEO driven and is a great way to get seen by the search engines.  Also, there is a contact form right on your directory profile. So, when a prospective client does find you and is interested in your services, they can contact you directly, right from your listing.

There are four packages to choose from, starting at just $2.99.

To learn more visit http://www.virtualassistantville.com.

Hope Springs Eternal … that was the title of an email I received this week from a client. Not only did the title of the email exude positivity, the irony wasn’t lost on me either, given the fact that Springtime is right around the corner.  To celebrate the welcome of Spring, I thought it would a neat idea to launch AVP’s first official Facebook Fan Page contest.

To participate you simply need to be AVP’s Fan on Facebook and answer the following question on the Fan Page Wall:

Do you practice Spring cleaning in your business? If so, what do you do? If you don’t, why not?

Answers could be anything from — Yes, I do practice spring cleaning — I go through a year’s worth of email and archive the ones I no longer need (if you are a VA … then this task alone may take months… yikes!).

Or: No, I don’t practice spring cleaning … ever. I hate cleaning… period.

Or:  I am super organized, yay me! (and if this IS your answer, please contact me … I may have some work for you ;) ).

The point being…  there isn’t a wrong answer here… simply participate on AVP’s Facebook Fan Page and be entered into a drawing to win one of two super cool books.

Because Spring is a time of new growth, the two book choices are:

The Happiness Project: Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun
by Gretchen Rubin

Linchpin: Are You Indispensable?
by Seth Godin

The winner gets to pick which book they want.  So, head on over to the AVP Facebook Fan Page and share your thoughts about Spring cleaning.

The contest ends on March 31st.

Thank you to everyone who submitted a ballot and included AVP on it for the Business Category. My listeners totally rock! Daily voting is now open  and ends on November 30th, 2009.

To vote – click here and then select A Virtual Perception in the business category.  Don’t forget to vote for your other favorite podcasts in a variety of other categories!  Once you have made your selection, scroll down to the bottom of the page and complete your ballot. Be sure to include a valid email address with your vote.

Thank you for your continued support! Let’s take this one home!

I recently had a chance to sit down and read through the book and boy, does it touch on so many different topics a mother that wishes to work from home will need to get her business up and running.  First, I need to preface this by stating, I myself am not a mother. However, being in the virtual assistant industry for almost two years now, I have formed friendships with virtual assistants that are work-at-home mothers. The topics in this book are not only great for those who want to be work-at-home moms, but for other women who wish to build a home based business as well.

Such topics that Jill and Diana cover are choosing a business type, business management, marketing, press releases and more.  Some notable mom-worthy topics include Telephone Basics — how to handle interruptions from your children when you are on the phone. Come on, you know these types of interruptions are bound to happen! While I don’t have any children of the human variety,  interruptions from my cat and dog (my children at the present time) have occurred in the past!

There is one topic that was included in the book that I was very very happy to see. And that topic is Podcasting! Thank you Jill and Diana for including the topic of using Podcasting to market and grow your business in your book. As a podcast producer, I am always thrilled when this topic is included in business books.

For me, the gold in the book are the chapters and topics devoted to working at home with children. Like I said before, I am not a work-at-home mom currently, but if someday I am – knowing what to look forward to and how to handle certain situations that may come up throughout the course of the day (like entertaining a child while working, naptime, sick children, etc.) is a resource like no other.

Overall, the book is a great primer for work-at-home mothers in training. Nice job Diana and Jill. I am going to go pull my high-heels out of the closet now and dress for success! (A reference to Work-At-Home Fashion Tips on page 206 of the book ;) )

To learn more about this book visit: http://www.soyouwanttobeawahm.com

Also, find out who the winner is of AVP’s Co-Host/Hostess with the Mostest Contest.

Listen in Live on September 23rd – Click here to Listen

Entrants simply have to submit their entry as video or video – then simply tell me why they want to be my co-host. The contest is still open and the deadline is September 22, 2009. On September 23rd, during the next live airing of  AVP on Blog Talk Radio, I will announce the winner.  Speaking of the winner, maybe you are wondering why you should enter? Well, if you like to talk, want to share your insight and expertise, have fun while doing AND learn about hosting your own show…then this is an opportunity you really shouldn’t pass up. Totally not hype, just telling you how it is :)

Now, I have a treat for you. Rikki Green of Time for Life Concepts (@TimeforLifeVA on Twitter) sent in an entry for the contest, a good entry at that. And,  I must tell you, Rikki’s closing is classic (and made me laugh out loud)! Listen to Rikki’s entry by clicking on the play button just below.

Now, you have until September 22nd to get your entry in too. So what are you waiting for?

Final thoughts: I really like the simplicity of Hootsuite (less is more, right?). So, I have been using Tweetlater to get the email digests sent to me and Hootsuite to schedule tweets. The best of both worlds! Tweet yah later!
[tweetmeme]

After the first episode aired and I said that I would be doing VA Round Tables in the future, Tahneesha (owner of A Virtual Blessing) suggested that I ask virtual assistants and listeners to submit their questions for possible inclusion and discussion in future round tables. I kept that in the back of my mind, because I thought it was a fabulous idea (thanks Tahneesha)! And so, here is your chance to ask your question about Virtual Assistance, business, being a work at home mom or dad, technology, or anything else that may be heavily weighing on your mind.

All you have to do is add your question in a form of a comment to this post or send it via the contact form.  It is as simple as that!

Also, if you are interested in participating in a future Round Table as a guest, please contact me.

Thank you for listening!

Darlene