Computer security, and antivirus software in particular, is driving me nuts! This summer my laptop had been slowing to a crawl, then it actually froze to a complete halt. Finally, I couldn’t even boot it up at all.

I rely solely on my laptop when I’m in Northern Virginia visiting my husband. We’d done this several times over the summer and it’d been a frustrating experience trying to work on a computer that works V-E-R-Y slowly, if at all.

During one of its “working, but slowly” episodes I got the dreaded “Blue Screen of Death” (or BSOD) a couple of times. I proceeded to search the Internet for more information and possibly find a fix for this problem. I found lots of information about the BSOD but the recommended fix was somewhat complicated and involved using another computer which I couldn’t do until I returned home. Since I’m no computer geek, I was feeling a little overwhelmed by having to follow the intricate instructions. At home the kids are the ones using the laptop, so it hasn’t been a priority to fix it. That is, until it I lost my Internet connection.

When my Internet connection and cable are down, I have to take my laptop down to our local Taco Bell to get online. Our provider, Comcast usually can’t fit us in for at least a week. This wasn’t too big a problem until the laptop stopped working all together. When that happens, I’ve go to share my college-age daughter’s laptop with her at Taco Bell until I can either take our laptop to a professional such as the Geek Squad at Best Buy or Comcast fixes our cable issue, whichever comes first. After all, my livelihood revolves around computers and the Internet and I’m in big trouble without it.

I forgot to mention that while all this was going on, I read in the IVAANet forum about other VAs having similar issues and they blamed it on their antivirus software. I then started doing some digging and found whole forums dedicated to discussing their woes involving Norton Antivirus (the antivirus software I was using). I decided that must be my problem too and promptly removed it and replaced it with McAfee (offered free as a service to Comcast subscribers). It didn’t seem to make much difference so I researched McAfee and, lo and behold, others were having problems with this software, too.

In the IVAANet forum, a couple of VAs touted the performance of the free version of AVG antivirus. Although it’s a little tricky to find the free version, I removed McAfee and installed AVG. I stopped having problems with my PC and the laptop started working a little better. However, a week or so later it caught a Trojan Horse virus but there was no way to remove it, quarantine it or anything. I thought to myself, what good is antivirus software if you can’t get rid of the viruses it detects? So I reinstalled McAfee on the laptop and tried to remove AVG. Couldn’t do it.

By the way, I’d also finally, after several attempts, successfully used a previous restore point to a time when the laptop wasn’t having so many problems (It wouldn’t let me restore it to any of the several dates that had restore points created when I knew the computer worked perfectly). I thought this had worked but it hadn’t.

I’m hoping my trials and tribulations with computer security will help others in similar situations. One thing I learned — besides the fact that the old adage, “a little information is a dangerous thing” is definitely true with regards to me and computer technology — was that, through research, you can always find others that are having the same computer problems you are and they are willing to share their experiences as well as what worked for them.

Also, if you get nothing else out of this blog, you’ll realize that whenever you search for information on any software there will always be plenty of those who either intensely love it or hate it vehemently. You have to decide for yourself — or from the advice of a trusted professional — which software you should use.

I have seriously considered using Open Source software and switching to the Linux Operating System. I am entertaining this idea because of the inundation of viruses and other attacks on Microsoft software and its operating system. Mind you, I know Macs and Linux are not exempt from attack; however, they have a bigger, fatter target in Microsoft.

After reading in the latest issue of Information Week’s (August 14th edition), “Security — Myth Versus Reality,” I’ve realized switching operating systems isn’t as easy as it may sound. I’ve definitely got more research to do.

Marketing is essential to a successful business. In fact, without it a business cannot survive. It doesn’t have to be elaborate or costly; it just has to reach the appropriate market. Your target market is anyone that could use your services. By marketing specifically to those most likely to use your services, you can direct your message to reach them most effectively.

As I said, marketing doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact, you could take out a $15,000 ad in The Wall Street Journal and not be as effective as a well-targeted networking event that costs little or nothing. Some of the most successful marketing I’ve done has cost nothing - except my time. It just takes a little creativity and perhaps, acting on an opportunity when it presents itself.

Here’s an example of creative marketing that has been successful for me. Early in my Virtual Assistance career, I was featured in a popular national e-zine. This put me in touch with a very successful marketing coach to real estate professionals. Since 99% of my clientele are real estate agents, this gave me tremendous exposure to my target market. However, the marketing didn’t stop there. I signed up for his e-zine and started receiving his notices for seminars. I noticed that one was being held in Charlotte, only about three hours from where I live. Since he is a HUGE advocate of virtual services, I e-mailed the speaker and asked if I could attend. I explained that it would be beneficial for his attendees to actually meet a VA who could be there to answer any questions they might have. He agreed to let me attend. I met several potential clients, networked with other VAs and learned a lot.

During the presentation, the speaker showed an example of an impressive e-mail he got from one of his students. I noticed in the e-mail that the coaching student was looking for someone to create a newsletter for him. So when I got home, I e-mailed him and told him I could do it and he hired me!

Those creative marketing techniques were very successful. Not only did I get exposure to the attending realtors - and obtained several long-term clients - but it went a step further. I was able to network with the speaker and his personal assistant. Because of that first meeting, I got subcontracting work from his assistant, invited to participate in the National Association of REALTORS® “Meet the VA of Your Dreams” conference and later, invited to author a new column for the marketing guru’s e-zine - which currently has over 10,000 subscribers who are mostly in my target market. All this from a little creative marketing.

When doing research into this industry prior to forming my own business, I ran across the Military Spouse Virtual Assistants program. I wanted to join, not only because of the Request for Proposals (RFPs) that members receive but also for the networking opportunities. The problem, I found was that in order to join you had to complete the MSVA training. Not only that, but to attend the training it must be offered at the military installation at which you are currently stationed. So I had to contact my post’s Army Community Service office (ACS) to see if they would be willing to offer the training. Let me tell you, that was easier said than done! After repeated attempts to call and e-mail the appropriate person at ACS without any luck, a fellow VA finally succeeded in contacting a representative. Once that was set in motion, we just had to wait for the ACS representative to finish the MSVA’s T3 (Train the Trainer) course. Then they finally scheduled the training so we could attend.

Although I knew most of the material provided in the training, it was helpful in that I had the opportunity to network with some important people in the industry. Christine Durst and Michael Haaren are credited with starting the VA industry and they are often asked to do interviews. When this happens they offer a chance for VAs to “tell their story.” I never pass up the opportunity to answer their questions or provide insight into the industry. Because of that, I was included in their best-selling book on Virtual Assistance called “The Two-Second Commute.” There have been other publicity opportunities that I have taken advantage of and been included.

I cannot stress enough how important it is to network. It’s not only free but also, in my opinion, it is the best marketing you can do for your business. Volunteer in national organizations. This piece of advice is important not only by providing name recognition with your peers but could possibly provide an opportunity to learn a new skill. Many organizations will train you for a volunteer position with their organization. I would have to say that volunteering with a major organization in the industry was one of the best decisions I’ve made in my business. I got to know several people and gained a mentor as well. She has taught me more about the industry, marketing and business than anyone I’ve ever met. My relationship with her is the key to my current success.

Now that I’ve offered you a glimpse into some successful marketing techniques I’ve used, here’s a review of what you too can do to market your services successfully.

• Network with everyone and anyone
• Volunteer with industry organizations
• Join and participate in industry organizations
• Start a weblog (blog)
• Create an e-zine

These ideas can help you market your business. Along the way, try to add some creativity. Do something a little different from someone else. Act on opportunities and, most importantly, don’t ever stop marketing.

For the first 10 years of my life as a military spouse, I was not employed outside the home. I felt it was crucial to my children’s well-being to stay at home with them. I did not return to the workforce until the youngest of my three children started school. When I reentered the workforce – armed with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university and past work experience – I was only offered entry-level administrative positions. That was all well and good – I was willing to pay my dues and work my way up – but no matter how hard I worked or tried to advance, I found no one was interested in helping me succeed. They were content keeping me doing the job I apparently did so well. I finally figured out that I was the only one that cared whether I succeeded or not. So, for my graduate thesis I completed a feasibility study on the Virtual Assistance industry. While finishing my Masters degree, I started my own business. I now specialize in desktop publishing and professional writing services.

Defining success
Am I successful? According to my own definition of success, yes I am. I do work that I love so much it doesn’t even seem like work most of the time; I get to make my own hours (even though they are sometimes very long hours) and I am available to my family as necessary and I bring in another income. These are the issues most important to me and how I quantify success.

Real estate professionals and VAs: the perfect match
So who hires VAs? As most of you already know, real estate professionals have really embraced the virtual industry. Their profession seems well-suited to having an assistant on hand when needed. They need to be out of the office showing homes or aquiring listings; they aren’t making the best use of their time sitting in the office doing necessary, but time-consuming, administrative tasks. That’s why a Virtual Assistant is the perfect match for the busy professional. They pay the VA for only the time they actually spend doing the work, freeing the agent up to get out of the office to make money.

Why Virtual Assistance is ideal for military spouses
It’s really hard for military spouses to have a career. Sure, they can get jobs but, because of the inherent transient lifestyle of the military family, no one really wants to hire them for anything more than a “job.” One of the first questions asked in interviews is “Oh, you’re military. How long will you be here?” And then look for the next applicant.

I was amazed when the Military Spouse Virtual Assistant training came to our post and only three people, myself included, were interested in attending. Didn’t all the other spouses realize how important it is to have a career that could move with them? Maybe ACS didn’t publicize it well enough, I don’t know. I just know that it is one of the best moves I’ve ever made.

Words of advice
My advice to new VAs is to network and be life-long learners. Networking is the most cost-effective way to market your business. Join VA associations and volunteer in those organizations. Get your name out there. When other VAs need to pass along work, they’ll remember names they have become familiar with through those associations. And I truly believe that you must continually update your skills or add new ones. We all know how fast technology changes, so change with it. Learning new skills means you have more to offer current and potential clients. It makes you more valuable.

These are the things I’ve learned along the way in the four years I’ve had my own business. I’d love to see more military spouses interested in the wonderful opportunities this portable career offers. You can work anywhere as long as you have a phone line and an Internet connection; you can live on top of an isolated mountain or in the middle of a big city, all without the hassles of commuting to work!

All persons — including U.S. citizens — traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport. What’s more, as early as January 1, 2008, all persons traveling between these same countries by land or sea (including ferries), may be required to present a valid passport or other documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security.

According to the U.S. Department of State website (http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html) , the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004’s goal “is to strengthen border security and facilitate entry into the United States for U.S. citizens and legitimate foreign visitors by providing standardized, secure and reliable documentation which will allow the Department of Homeland Security to quickly, reliably and accurately identify a traveler.” More…

If you’ve decided to jump on the bandwagon and start blogging, consider why it is you’re doing it. Is it because it’s the latest trend? Everyone else is doing it? Or is it for Search Engine Optimization (SEO)? Perhaps you just want a venue to speak your mind. Whatever your reasons for blogging, you should start with a purpose. Decide from the beginning what it is your blog is intended to do.

There are probably as many reasons for blogging as there are bloggers. People blog to establish credibility in their industry, build brand awareness, discuss hot topics and much more. It’s not so much a matter of why you decided to blog but what you plan to get out of it. This will help to inspire ideas for subsequent posts after those initial ones that came rapid-fire fast and easy. I know this from experience; my first few posts practically wrote themselves but it got harder and harder to write and manage everything else in my life too.

I decided to set aside a certain time each week solely for blogging. This will help me establish a routine and get into the swing of blogging regularly. If you’re having a hard time coming up with ideas on what to blog about, just do what I did: think about the things that are important to your world and your business. I’m sure that each day you come across a topic that you have an opinion about. Blog about it. More…

A brochure can be one of the most effective pieces of printed marketing material. They, as stand-alone marketing collateral, can persuade a customer to buy your product or use your services. However, it takes only a few seconds for a potential client to decide if they want to read your brochure or throw it in the trash. You need to be sure yours stimulates your target market’s interest so they will read it, keep it and share it with others.

If your brochure includes information that your audience finds valuable, they are likely to save it and refer back to it often and, even better, pass it along to others. You can make yours most appealing by including helpful tips, answering questions, providing strategies and more. Most importantly, it should always answer the unasked question, “What’s in it for me?” This will make your audience sit up and take notice and further investigate your product or service. More…

Have you ever really thought about how important the Internet is to you and your business? Well, I got a real lesson in that recently. All day yesterday and most of the day today, my Internet was out. I could barely do any work at all! I never really realized that for just about all the work I do, I use the Internet in some way. From emailing clients to research to updating and maintaining client work to IMing, I use the Internet. Without it and I’m stuck! I wonder if Comcast knows how indebted I am to their services?! I just wish they could be more reliable.
A while back, I had to schedule a service call and they couldn’t get to me for a week! A WEEK! For someone who uses the Internet for almost everything she does for her business, I cannot be without Internet service for an hour let alone a week. So what did I do? I packed up the laptop and drove down to the local Taco Bell. Their Internet was working AND it was free (not counting the food I felt obligated to buy while I was there taking up their table space). All I’ve got to say is “thank you, Taco Bell!”
There are several national franchises out there that also offer free WiFi; you just have to look for their signs offering this service. Boy, that’s excellent marketing! Think about it; you go in there to use their WiFi service and feel awkward just sitting there taking up space so you naturally buy something (although it is not required). And you know you can do it anywhere in the country at that franchise. I think it’s brilliant marketing on their part; they offer a necessary service and promote goodwill to their customers. They know that those grateful customers will return, not only when they need to use the Internet but also the next time they’re out and hungry.
Being without my Internet has really helped me see how important it is to my web-based, home-based business. What could I possibly do without it?

Thank you, Kandra, for inviting me to join. I think this is going to be a great way to get to know other VREAs!

As an introduction, let me tell you a little about myself.

I’m a married mother of three teenagers (actually, our oldest will be 20 in March!). My husband is a “geographic bachelor” since he took a job with the government in the D.C. area after retiring from the Army. He commutes home every other weekend. We are still in Augusta, GA until our middle daughter graduates from Davidson Fine Arts School in May.

In my business, Brochures by Design, I “design marketing materials to sell homes!” I specialize in graphic design and professional writing services. I have been in business for four years and have over 16 years of experience in marketing and administration. I have a Masters degree in Administration with a concentration in Human Resources Administration.

For my clients, I design all kinds of marketing collateral including property flyers, brochures, newsletters, postcards and more. I also write web copy, email drip campaigns, property descriptions for Realtor.com, MLS, advertising, etc.

Well, that’s enough about me. If you’re interested in seeing samples of my work, just visit my website at www.BrochuresByDesign.com.

I look forward to the camaraderie that is apparent in this group.

Evy