Virtual Assistance Business Briefs » technology tips http://www.accbizsvcs.com/blog Tue, 24 Jan 2012 21:39:04 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 12 Technology Tips to Support Your Goals (Part One) http://www.accbizsvcs.com/blog/12-technology-tips-to-support-your-goals-part-one.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=12-technology-tips-to-support-your-goals-part-one http://www.accbizsvcs.com/blog/12-technology-tips-to-support-your-goals-part-one.html#comments Mon, 29 Nov 2010 16:57:23 +0000 Jeannine Clontz http://www.accbizsvcs.com/blog/?p=314 12 Technology Tips to Support Your Goals (Part One) is a post from: Virtual Assistance Business Briefs

]]> Technology – everything from our computer to our cell phone – seems to have invaded every area of our modern lives. But we often do not take full advantage of the features and benefits that can really make our lives easier. Use these technology tips to help you achieve your goals:

Set alarms.
 
Use the alarms on your computer or cell phones to keep you on task and concentrating for specific blocks of time you’d like to set aside to work on your goals. Search for free online software programs that allow you to set alarms and timers right on your computer. Or keep it simple go get the trusty kitchen timer and get back to work!
 
Track your hours.
 
Want to know how much time you’re REALLY utilizing on activities like email, online shopping, and Farmville? Use an online service like RescueTime.com to track time on different activities. You’ll be surprised at the end of the day how much time you spend on non-productive activities when you’re not paying attention.
 
Aside from keeping you honest about this wasted time you can flip between two or three real projects and be able to see where your focus has been on those projects. So even time well-spent can be tracked for the purpose of staying ON track.
 
Join a group.
 
Join a forum or email list of people who are working on similar goals as you are. I’ll be starting one for my Virtual Assistant Coaching clients in a month or so, stay tuned. Do a search at Groups.Google.com or Groups.Yahoo.com to find email lists on literally every topic you can imagine Whether you’re starting a company, founding a non-profit, trying to lose weight, or writing a book, you’ll find a group that’s right for you.
 
Keep in mind, you don’t want these groups or forums to take your focus away from your daily tasks and goals, but the information and support of a group of like-minded individuals can be invaluable.
 
Track your progress.
 
Use Excel’s charting option to create an ongoing chart or graph of your progress. Print it out or use it as your screen-saver for extra motivation. If we maintain accurate measurements as we move along toward our goals, simply jotting down this measured progress in notebooks is fine, but why not use technology to expand your knowledge, tweaking data to give you even more information that can be helpful in the future.
 
Set reminders.
 
You can set reminder emails on your computer or calls on your cell phone. When the email or call comes in, you know it’s time to break away for a planning session, or perform the next step on your list. Don’t try to keep your schedule in your brain. Let technology do it for you and free up your brain for the real work… achieving your goals!
 
Brainstorm.
 
Mind mapping software like FreeMind, MindGenius, MindManager, VisualMind, and VUE allow you to brainstorm and capture your ideas in a visual format. Mind mapping is a great way to figure out steps towards a goal, determine priorities, and even write blog posts, books, and more. There are plenty of brain-flexing capabilities programmed into this software, so have fun with it. Explore your thoughts right there on your computer screen.
 
Check back next week for our final six tips!
 
Jeannine Clontz, IVAA CVA, MVA, EthicsChecked™, provides marketing and social media support, training and consulting to busy entrepreneurs. For information about finding a VA, download her FREE 10-Step Guide to Finding the Right VA, or to learn why Social Media should be an important part of your marketing plan with her FREE Report, Social Media Marketing Benefits, visit: http://www.accbizsvcs.com, or contact her at info@accbizsvsc.com
 
 
 

12 Technology Tips to Support Your Goals (Part One) is a post from: Virtual Assistance Business Briefs

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]]> http://www.accbizsvcs.com/blog/12-technology-tips-to-support-your-goals-part-one.html/feed 1 Top Five Reasons I Prefer 1ShoppingCart http://www.accbizsvcs.com/blog/top-five-reasons-i-prefer-1shoppingcart.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=top-five-reasons-i-prefer-1shoppingcart http://www.accbizsvcs.com/blog/top-five-reasons-i-prefer-1shoppingcart.html#comments Mon, 28 Jun 2010 21:30:35 +0000 Jeannine Clontz http://www.accbizsvcs.com/blog/?p=256 Top Five Reasons I Prefer 1ShoppingCart is a post from: Virtual Assistance Business Briefs

]]> Thanks to my coaching and speaker clients, I have been exposed to several shopping cart options. While each of them has similar features and benefits, I have found 1ShoppingCart (1SC) to be THE most effective system with all the best options for most of my clients who have products and services to sell.

Here are five reasons I prefer 1SC:
 
Ease of Use
I have found 1SC to have a very high level of support and video training options, and the software is much more user friendly making it easy to build the database, handle autoresponders and broadcast emails.
 
Setting up products is a breeze, however, I do suggest that if you have a lot of advanced needs, please hire someone to help, or get some training yourself. 
 
Missing a check box for a recurring payment, or not properly attaching a download, could prove disastrous and cause a lot of additional work, and embarrassment.
 
Merchant Account Integration
Some systems provide PayPal as your ONLY option to take credit card payments. 1SC integrates with your merchant account allowing you the freedom to take the credit card information and enter it into a virtual terminal at any time.
 
Database Access/Export
1SC allows you to segment your list, as well as, export multiple groups into one file. Other systems, like aWeber, require you to export the individual ‘lists’, which is much more time consuming.   In 1SC you can export lists by groups, by the products/services they’ve purchased, by the specific autoresponder series they’ve received, and more. 
 
Cart Customization
This is where I believe 1SC really excels. The Options, Customization, and Branding far exceed other systems I’ve worked within. There are scads of options for coloring, background, button size, shape and copy.
 
Affiliate Options
Having the ability to create an affiliate program right in 1SC is a real time saver. No more separate software, no additional monitoring required, and the system pays your affiliates automatically. Nice bonus to this platform.
 
And of course, you can be a 1SC affiliate, too – like me! If I’ve convinced you to give 1SC a try, please feel free to use my affiliate link, and thank you!  I get the 1SC system under the private label, Kick Start Cart (they have stellar service, too!) http://www.kickstartcart.com/app/?pr=31&id=144690  
 
These are just a few of the ways that I believe 1SC excels over the competition. Please share your thoughts on shopping cart software by leaving a comment below.
 
Jeannine Clontz, IVAA CVA, MVA, EthicsChecked™, provides marketing and social media support, training and consulting to busy entrepreneurs. For information about finding a VA, download her FREE 10-Step Guide to Finding the Right VA, or learn why Social Media should be an important part of your marketing plan with her FREE Report, Social Media Marketing Benefits, visit: http://www.accbizsvcs.com, or contact her at info@accbizsvsc.com
 

Top Five Reasons I Prefer 1ShoppingCart is a post from: Virtual Assistance Business Briefs

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