What is “data” in our lives today? Its documents from work, tax returns from last year, credit card statements with sensitive data, pictures from the summer vacation, rare MP3s you have collected, home videos i.e. our memories, identity, and assets. All these are our “data”, electronically stored in our desktops, laptops, PDAs, Servers and at the mercy of software and hardware glitches that can wipe out everything in a second. Do you have insurance on your data?

Most people don’t give data backup much thought until they actually lose everything to some technical failure. Unfortunately, no matter how much you think you can avoid it, the truth is that your laptops, desktops or servers are all machines and they will wear down one day. Even if your hard drive does not fail and motherboard does not short out, you can still have erased all your data by pressing the wrong key or downloading corrupt files into your computer by mistake. Worst of it is, even with expensive hardware and careful maintenance it only takes a power surge to fry your computer.

Apart from hardware failure, corrupt software and virus attacks are the most common causes for data loss. Unfortunately, the most common forms of data backup like USB drives, external hard drives and DVD/CDs are just as vulnerable. USB drives and external hard drives can become corrupt while CD/DVDs tend to get scratches that make then unplayable. Therefore, if you think you have fool proof backup in these— think again.

We don’t realize the cost of not taking backups until we lose the data we had so carefully stored in our hard drives. It is similar to losing your home to a fire or a natural disaster. You suddenly find that you have lost names, addresses, phone numbers, letters, and photos – things that are important and precious to you. But thankfully most people have insurance for their home and belongings.

Data backup is even more important for people who work from home. These days home based businesses are a rage and the accounts, tenders, agreements, vouchers – everything is probably stored in a system at your home and you take regular backup in an external hard drive. All it will take is a power surge or glitch during the backup process to corrupt the data on both your computer and external hard drive at the same time and you could lose everything pertaining to your business transactions in the blink of an eye.

The one and only way to avoid these mistakes is to keep your files backed up with a third party provider like Carbonite. For a fee of $54.95/ year, Carbonite can store unlimited data in its secure servers, with encryption for double security. Even if your computer crashes, you can login from any another computer to access all your data instantly. Make a smart decision, get some data insurance and back it up with Carbonite now to crash proof your life!

It is always exciting to uncover hot and profitable new niches to tap into for your Virtual Business. Well, Internet Marketing, Ecommerce Support and Social Media Marketing continue to be very in-demand” service niches and will continue to be for quite some time, I am particularly excited about this new niche emerging in the Virtual Event Industry.

I personally believe that the “Virtual Events” field is one of the hottest avenues to building your business right now, especially in this down economy. The statistics are clear: There is currently a significant increase in the number of participants attending virtual events such as webinars, tele-events, live podcasts and web TV shows.

However, there is a corresponding decrease in those attending offline events and conferences partly due to the economy, but for a host of other reasons as wells. The reality is that Virtual Events are more cost-effective to deliver and attend, have the capacity to reach a larger audience and can be re-broadcast for continued exposure.

Businesses are keenly interested in running Virtual Events right now, but many lack the knowledge and time to effectively set-up and implement the Virtual Events successfully. As a result, this has presented a very timely and unique opportunity for Virtual Professionals to position themselves as a “Virtual Event Specialist“!

On September 16th, VAClassroom will be hosting a “must attend” event with Craig Cannings and Virtual Event Expert, Michelle Schoen titled,

“Building a Profitable Niche as a Virtual Event Specialist (Even in a Down Economy)!”

They will be exploring the crucial skills required to effectively deliver Virtual Event Set-up and Management services to your clients. In addition, they will be sharing some exciting news on our upcoming training program: The Virtual Event Specialist Certification.

So, go ahead and click on the below link to watch a short 5 minute video and then sign-up to receive some special bonus information including more details on the upcoming event on September 16th!

Click Here: Virtual Event Specialist Video

Today is Earth Day and National Administrative Professionals Day. As I was trying to think of how to recognize both very important days, I started looking for the similarities. And this is what I came up with.

As you have probably already guessed, I used to be an Administrative Professional. I always felt it was my job to support my boss and be a trusted and loyal part of their team. If you see a successful business, just look behind the scenes and you will find a strong, supportive Administrative Professional. And when you see strong, green healthy land, there is someone who is protecting and providing for our future generations to appreciate the Earth.

Happy Earth Day!

and

Happy Administrative Professionals Day!

As a small business owner and entrepreneur, tension is in the job description. You are tense about getting clients, then you’re tense to complete the work in a timely and accurate way. You’re tense when your equipment doesn’t work properly and stressed when the end of the day comes and you haven’t accomplished what you set out to do.

It’s nice to find people who can help us with releasing tension and living our life more fully. My friend, Melanie McGhee of Illumined Life, LLC is celebrating her birthday today and she is giving instead of getting gifts. On her blog, Peacefruit you can download a free meditation recording and she is beginning a local class for anyone in the Knoxville or Maryville TN area on Meditation. Click this link for a flyer on the class and what you can expect to gain by attending.

I do want to release my tension and appreciate my life more, so I’ll be listening to Melanie’s gift and breathing a lot.

Calgon, Take Me Away!

Well, we do sort of look like Sonny and Cher!

Thirty-four years ago today, my sweet hubby and I said, “I Do.” No it wasn’t your traditional wedding, we actually went to the court house and got married by the justice of the peace, a real Andy Taylor wedding. It was snowing that morning, when I dressed for work, knowing all the time that I wouldn’t be showing up for work that day.

As we reminisced last night, about going to tell my parents that we were married, we both still shuddered at the thought! I was an only child for goodness sake! My parents could have killed him!

Our story begin on January 19, 1975 when we met at a local restaurant. Just six short weeks later, I become a wife and although it’s not always been a smooth ride, it has been one that I would do again in a second.

Now as we celebrate 34 years, people are asking, “What’s Your Secret?” And we tell them, it’s not a secret, just love God, keep Him first in your marriage, love and respect your spouse, never take the other for granted and start each day as if it was your 1st date! Keep the excitement going and your marriage will bloom and grow for a long time. Maybe even 34 years!

What’s this got to do with working with a virtual professional…nothing. I just wanted to share my happy day with you.

My husband says, I have been “running the roads” a lot lately. That’s a southern thing if you don’t understand that phrase. But he is correct. I have been going a lot of places in the last couple of weeks and according to my calendar, I’m not going to slow down until around Christmas.

Now for a virtual professional, that’s a bit of a culture shock to actually go outside of your virtual world. But I love getting out of here. I love to visit and talk with people and network everywhere I go.

I shared a booth with one of my clients at the National Philanthropy Day luncheon in Knoxville last week and enjoyed catching up with old friends and making new ones. And of course, sharing my business and the services I provide for administrative support and online marketing. I walked away with a great list of people to follow-up with this week.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, the East Tennessee Veteran’s Memorial was being dedicated this past weekend and I was honored to be invited to a reception and the dedication ceremony. The Mayor’s were there, as well as other politicians, high-ranking military personel and many familiar faces from my time with the organization. The ceremony was incredibly moving and I was proud to be an American and to have been involved in the early stages of the memorial’s planning. And it proved to be a great place to network. I was invited to be on a local radio show and several people are interested in learning more about my business.

I’m looking forward to the next couple of weeks and the many networking opportunties to share what I do and how I can help other business owners with their administrative and marketing needs.

So Honey, I have a few more “roads to run.”

My work as a virtual assistant began in 2003 with a local nonprofit organization, East Tennessee Veteran’s Memorial. When I was hired, I was the first and only employee and I worked from my bedroom office. I set-up a database, marketing materials, assisted with a website and ran the local office right out of my house. At the time, I had no idea that I was working “virtual.” I just thought I was lucky to be able to work from home and still accomplish the goals for erecting a memorial and learning center for the men and women of East Tennessee that gave their lives for my freedom.

I think back to this group and the man that made it his purpose in life to see that the memorial became reality. Retired Colonel J. William Felton, III, (The Colonel to me), is the man who walked on the beaches of Normandy with his wife Betty and reflected on the lives that were lost during WWII. As he returned to the hills of East Tennessee he wanted to thank the local men and women for their sacrifice, but could find no place in which to do that. Thus, the vision of the East Tennessee Veteran’s Memorial Association was born.

Saturday morning, November 15, 2008, the finished memorial will be dedicated in downtown Knoxville, TN. I am honored to be attending the dedication and also honored to have been involved in this extraordinary accomplishment to our brave service men and women.

Just to think, that my journey as a virtual professional began with one man’s dream of a Forever Memorial to our Forever Heros.

How many signs have you seen lately for Fall Festivals? In my neck of the woods, they are around every corner. Especially around Halloween. There’s apple festivals, tomato festivals, water festivals, you name it, there’s probably a festival for it.

I was blessed to be asked to coordinate our church’s Fall Festival and Trunk or Treat event last Sunday. As a former event coordinator for several non-profit organizations and a virtual event planner, it was a perfect fit for me. I love planning and coordinating events and working with the incredible volunteers. I had a fabulous team that helped with the event. Although many of the aspects of this event was “hands-on”, a large majority of the work was done virtually. We communicated through email and phone. We ordered supplies and this cute banner online and we submitted our press release through email.

I’m pleased that we had around 120 families attend our event and served more than 240 hot dogs, caramel apples, nachos and cheese, and popcorn. We had blow-up games, hayrides, pie throwing, bluegrass music, cake walks, Kids on Parade Costume Parade and great door prizes.

I love my virtual job, but sometimes it’s nice to be hands-on and work closely with others to make things happen.

Need help with an event? Contact A Virtual Business Solution

OK, I will admit that I’m not really much into politics, but I have to say that the debates have been pretty interesting only because I log into Twitter and watch all the comments that come through. It is hilarious!!

In the last presidential debate the Twitter community was actually keeping up with how many times Sen. McCain said, “my friends.” This time it was all about Joe the Plumber. Who is Joe the Plumber? Maybe is one of the “my friends” club.

Anyway, I loved keeping up with the debate through Twitter. How about you?

[polldaddy poll=1001237]

Do you love to network, but don’t have time to follow-up? You’re not alone. The majority of networkers love to mix and mingle with potential new clients at various events, but when they get back to their office, they toss those valuable business cards in a drawer and plan to follow up tomorrow. For most busy professionals, tomorrow brings its own new projects and before you know it, several weeks or even months have gone by with no follow up. Hundreds, or maybe thousands, of dollars in potential revenue has been laying in your top desk drawer!

We have the solution to keep you on top of your follow-up and make you a leader in business prospecting. Our Prospect Follow-up Service – Cards to Cash, provides a quick turnaround to those new business acquaintances and presents a professional image of your business.

Our package offers:

• Each business card scanned into a working database
• The design of a real Follow-up card with your logo or business card imprinted on the inside flap
• The card is mailed to the new prospect on your behalf
• One telephone call is attempted to the new prospect to set an appointment
• Business cards and database file will be mailed back to you for future reference
  

And the best part is that this service is very affordable, around the cost of a nice cup of coffee.

Are there business cards right now laying in your top desk drawer? Have you been too busy to follow-up with the contacts you made at the last Tradeshow? Contact us and we will get your name back in front of these potential new clients. Visit our website at www.avirtualbiz.com, or email to info@avirtualbiz.com.