**********************************************
The Virtual Consulting Discussion List [VCDL]
http://www.TheVCF.com/vcdl.phtml
Friday, March 12, 2004 Digest #13
**********************************************
----------------------------------------------------------------
List Moderator: Michael S.DeVries DeVries@cris.com
----------------------------------------------------------------
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<------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS ...
---> [NEW] <---
#1 Living, Learning and Working Online
- Michael S. DeVries
#2 Online Tutorials Build Computer Skills - FR^EE
- by Jim Edwards
#3 Your Wireless Internet Connection Recommendations?
- Michael S. DeVries
#4 What do you recommend / use for Web Conferencing,
etc.?
- Michael S. DeVries
#5 Global Seminar Calendars now available!
- Michael S. DeVries
---> [CONTINUED] <---
#6 How do you Network Virtually? –
Ok, I Found My Prospect Base Online- Now What?
- Nancy Roebke
#7 An Ounce of Prevention …
- Michael S. DeVries
---> [RESOURCES] <---
#8 Resources for your Search Engine Optimization
and
Pay-Per-Click Search Engine Ad Campaigns
- Michael S. DeVries
#9 Tired of Pop-Ups?
- Michael S. DeVries
---> [NEWS] <---
---> [INTRO] <---
---> [HELP WANTED] <---
#10 Additional Freelancing Sites
- Michael S. DeVries
---> [ADMIN] <---
************* [NEW] ***************
#1 Living, Learning and Working Online
-----------------------------------------------------------
From: Michael S. DeVries <DeVries@cris.com>
Reply To: Virtual-Consulting@topica.com
Date sent: Thursday, March 11, 2004
Dear Fellow Virtual Consultants,
This Digest of The Virtual Consulting Discussion
List (VCDL) includes
several articles, discussions, requests for your
input and references to
many resources available to help you “Live”, Learn
and Work effectively
online.
We have a Great article on Fr^ee online tutorials,
by Jim Edwards, whom
we recently met at a conference in Orlando and
whom among other things
does some really Cool! B-) multi-media “stuff”
with his “IgottaTellYou”
newsletter, which “yougottasee” for yourself!
;)
We have the next in our series of helpful articles
on Virtual Networking
by Nancy Roebke.
We really want to hear your feedback on how you
connect wirelessly to
the internet from around the world?! And how you
“meet with” others
“realtime” online?!
Finally, we have a number of resources, many
for Fr^ee, for you to help
you (“safely”) conduct, market and grow your business
online! :)
We, as always, would Love to hear your feedback
and recommendations for
other Topics / threads regarding Living, Learning
and Working Online
that you would like to discuss and hear more about
in The Virtual
Consulting Discussion List!
We hope that you find all of this information
helpful and beneficial! :)
Your "Virtual" Moderator,
- Michael S. DeVries
-----------------------------------------------------------
#2 Online Tutorials Build Computer Skills - FR^EE
-----------------------------------------------------------
From: Jim Edwards
Reply To: Virtual-Consulting@topica.com
Date sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2004
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Online Tutorials Build
Computer Skills - FR^EE
- by Jim Edwards
© Jim Edwards - All Rights reserved
http://www.IGottaTellYou.com
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
It's a problem as old as computers...
Trying to read, understand, and use a software
manual to
quickly learn how to operate a new software program
rates
one of the most frustrating experiences you can
face.
If you browse the computer section of the local
book store,
Amazon.com... or even look at a Video Professor
disk on TV
to try accelerating your learning curve, you'll
soon find
that a book (usually thicker than the original
manual!)
costs at least $29-59 and a simple tutorial on
CD-Rom costs
a minimum of $59 plus shipping and handling.
Learning how to operate you computer and basic
software can
be very frustrating, not to mention expensive!
But what most people don't realize is that basic
computer,
software, and other training is readily available
online,
some of it as good or better than those introductory
courses that cost you a chunk of money.
Would you like to learn how to set up a web page?
Do you want to learn how to use your word processor
for
accomplishing more than just typing simple letters?
How about learning to buy and sell like a pro
at online
auction sites like eBay?
** Find Tutorials **
Log on to www.findtutorials.com
and browse through hundreds
of tutorials!
Want to learn how to use Microsoft FrontPage?
Do a quick search for "FrontPage" and
up pops a number of
free tutorials to teach you everything from creating
basic
hyperlinks to working with javascript.
Though not all the tutorials are free, many of
the
tutorials listed come free of charge since the
sites
hosting the classes contain the usual advertising
most of
us have come to expect online.
After plowing through the site, you'll find some
categories
contain more available classes than others, but
this site
rates a serious look and a bookmark so you can
check back
on a regular basis.
Investigate here first before spending money
on training,
especially for introductory software help and
general
computer instruction.
** Learn To Use eBay **
If you want to learn how to use eBay, instead
of spending
money on a book or online course, why not go straight
to
the source?
Log on to http://pages.ebay.com/education/
for the best
free education available when it comes to learning
how
to buy and sell on eBay.
Let's face it: the more successful you are as
a buyer or
seller, the more money eBay makes!
It makes sense that they should provide a very
detailed and
helpful overview, as well as an extensive help
section.
If you want a free "basic training"
on eBay, start with
eBay's site, then move on to third party information
products if you want to expand your education.
** Microsoft Office Training **
Most people really have no clue how to use most
of the
features that come built into Microsoft Word,
let alone the
rest of Office.
You can do some really impressive stuff with
Office, if you
know what it can do.
Log on to www.computertim.com
for an extensive collection
of articles to help you learn how to operate various
Microsoft Office programs more efficiently, including:
Windows, Word, Outlook, Excel, and FrontPage.
Some articles might need updating periodically,
but most of
them make an excellent starting point when exploring
new
features.
** More Sites **
The following sites also offer free online training,
however, understand that many of them use the
introductory courses as a lead-in to get you to
purchase
additional books, classes, or other advanced instruction.
www.lgta.org
Land-Grant Training Alliance - teaches you how
to use
various software packages online and even has
an
interesting tutorial on how to use the Internet
as a
teaching tool to help others.
www.trainingtools.com
Offers a variety of introductory training courses
for
software packages dealing primarily with website
creation, installing scripts and making your website
do
cool things!
www.learnthat.com/courses/
Offers a variety of courses on everything from
computer
training and software packages to even dealing
with some
hardware issues and how to purchase the right
digital
camera.
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-=-=-==-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
[ For your future reference and convenience,
we have also included all
of the Training site links referenced in the above
article, and more we
have found, all in the new Training Section of
The Virtual Consultants’
Resource Center at:
http://www.thevcf.com/vccenter.phtml#TRAINING
Please let us know of any additional Training
Resources of which you may
be aware and would be suitable for inclusion in
the Training Section of
The Virtual Consultants’ Resource Center for the
benefit of all of your
fellow Virtual Consultants! :) ]
-----------------------------------------------------------
#3 Your Wireless Internet Connection Recommendations?
-----------------------------------------------------------
From: Michael S. DeVries <DeVries@cris.com>
Reply To: Virtual-Consulting@topica.com
Date sent: Thursday, March 11, 2004
Dear Fellow Virtual Consultants,
One of the (ideal) benefits of being a Virtual
Consultant is being able
to work from wherever and whenever! ;) right?
However, in order to be able to do so effectively,
most of us are still
(very) reliant on our internet connectivity, yes?
Therefore, we also need to be able to reliably
and cost effectively
connect to the internet from wherever, right?,
so …
How do you wirelessly connect to the internet?
Do you use / have you used a cell phone / modem
type connection and
service?
If so,
- Which one(s) have you used?
- Have you used them with a laptop(s)? And/or
PDA(s)?
- What types of hardware and/or software did you
have to purchase,
install and use to make this all work?
- Do they have / offer international internet
connectivity /
coverage?
- How is their customer / technical support?
- How are their cost(s)?
- Which cell phone / modem type connection and
service would you
recommend? Why? Or Why Not?
Do you use / have you used a satellite type connection(s)
and
service(s)?
If so,
- Which one(s) have you used?
- Have you used them with a laptop(s)? And/or
PDA(s)?
- What types of hardware and/or software did you
have to purchase,
install and use to make this all work?
- How is their customer / technical support?
- How are their cost(s)?
- Which satellite type connection(s) and service(s)
would you
recommend? Why? Or Why Not?
Do you know of any other and/or better alternative
solutions to having
internet connectivity pretty much from wherever
and whenever to help us
all realize the ideal of Virtual Consulting?
Please share with us all your thoughts, experiences,
and recommendations
for any kinds of wireless internet connectivity
solutions for the mutual
benefit of all of your fellow Virtual Consultants!
:)
Thank you for your help and participation!
Your "Virtual" Moderator,
- Michael S. DeVries
-----------------------------------------------------------
#4 What do you recommend / use for Web Conferencing,
etc.?
-----------------------------------------------------------
From: Michael S. DeVries <DeVries@cris.com>
Reply To: Virtual-Consulting@topica.com
Date sent: Thursday, March 11, 2004
Dear Fellow Virtual Consultants,
We are currently looking for a good system for
conducting a number of
distant learning / online training courses / webinars
and would be very
interested in hearing your experiences with and
recommendations for any
systems suitable for these needs!
So …
Have you ever used any kinds of Web Conferencing,
Webcasting, webinar,
web-based / online training and/or meeting systems?
If so, …
Have you ever used any of the following Web Conferencing,
Webcasting,
webinar, web-based / online training and/or meeting
systems, for which
we have received some references thus far from
some of your fellow
Virtual Consultants?
· http://www.mayeticVillage.com/
· http://www.WebEx.com
·
http://www.WebTrain.com/
Which of these and/or any other similar systems
have you used?
- What did you use these systems for?
o Distant learning / online training / webinars?
o Meetings?
o Collaboration?
o Other uses?
- Did you conduct the web conference(s) using
this system? Or
participate in it?
Which ones would you recommend? And Why? Or Why
Not?
We have listed the Webcast, Web Conferencing,
Webinar, Web Meeting
resources, above, and will add any additional
ones you refer us to /
recommend at:
http://www.thevcf.com/vccenter.phtml#WEBCAST
Please share with us all your thoughts, experiences,
and recommendations
for any kinds of Web Conferencing, Webcasting,
webinar, web-based /
online training and/or meeting systems for the
mutual benefit of all of
your fellow Virtual Consultants! :)
Thank you for your help and participation!
Your "Virtual" Moderator,
- Michael S. DeVries
-----------------------------------------------------------
#5 Global Seminar Calendars now available!
-----------------------------------------------------------
From: Michael S. DeVries <DeVries@cris.com>
Reply To: Virtual-Consulting@topica.com
Date sent: Thursday, March 11, 2004
Dear Fellow Virtual Consultants,
With all of the seminars, conferences, training
classes, teleseminars,
webinars, etc. going on nowadays! …
Have you had the same problems we have in keeping
track of whom is
holding which seminar(s)?, with whom else?, where?
and when? And where
do we go to and how do we register for / participate
in it?
Well, these are exactly the reasons for which
we are have created and
are offering (free access to everyone to) our
Global Seminar Calendars
to hopefully help solve all of these problems
for all of us! :)
We invite you all to visit our Calendar at:
http://www.thevcf.com/postnuke/index.php?module=PostCalendar
Where you may find (Search for) Seminars on your
topics of interest and
Add Events for all of the various forms of seminars
of which you are
aware, for everyone to see!
You are also invited to Post an announcement
in, the appropriate
Category / Topic of, the Global Seminar Calendars
Forum, at:
http://www.thevcf.com/postnuke/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewforum&f=31
with similar information as in the Calendar Event,
and any additional
pertinent detailed information, e.g. agenda, speakers,
registration
instructions, etc., for all of the various forms
of seminars of which
you are aware, for everyone’s further reference
and benefit!
Please read the FAQs Topic at the top of the
Global Seminar Calendars
Forum for more information regarding how you may
add your seminars to
the Calendar and Post your seminar announcements
in these forums.
Please feel free to share this Global Seminar
Calendar information with
anyone and everyone you know who may have a seminar
to share and/or are
looking for seminars in which to participate.
We hope that this all helps everyone find, keep
up with, participate in,
and benefit from more of all of the various seminars
going on all the
time around the world! :)
Your "Virtual" Moderator,
- Michael S. DeVries
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...
************* [CONTINUED] ***************
#6 How do you Network Virtually? -
Ok, I Found My Prospect Base Online- Now What?
-----------------------------------------------------------
From: Nancy Roebke [execdirector@profnet.org]
Reply To: Virtual-Consulting@topica.com
Date sent: Wed 3/7/04
Ok, I Found My Prospect Base Online- Now What?
Nancy Roebke mailto:execdirector@profnet.org
Ok. You found 'em. You know what lists and newsgroups
your
prospect base frequents. You found trade associations
on the
web. You have a great new sig and you are reading
everyone
else's as well. You've gotten yourself 5 autoresponders.
And
you joined an on-line lead generation group. Now,
how do you
make contact with them in a professional, courteous
way so
they will respond to you AND perhaps do business
with you??
We'll take each avenue of contact separately and
discuss
contact methods for each arena.
1. Lists and newsgroups. These can be handled
in pretty much
the same way. The philosophy of giving before
receiving works
best here. Read the interactions going on and
contribute
positive, helpful information in the open forum.
You will be
AMAZED at the people who contact you saying "I
saw your
post on the microbiz list. How can your services
help my
firm?" And your post wasn't even an advertisement
ABOUT
your firm. It was just help for someone.
Now, a quick editorial about lists and newsgroups.
They are not
all the same. It is as important that you give
as that you receive
in return. But you MUST receive or your list/newsgroup
participation is a drain of your resources, not
a good source of
new business for you. You should be able to tell
which is
which within a brief period of time of participation
on the
forum. Sometimes it is best to cut the losses
and look for
other forums.
2. Trade associations appeal to a lot of people
because of the
volume of businesses associated with the trade
associations.
Remember that EVERYBODY feels that way about
associations. EVERYBODY wants this BIG account.
So what
do you do? Remember the WIIFM philosophy. What's
in it for
me? Your approach to associations needs to revolve
around
what the Association will get as a benefit from
their
relationship with you.
A helpful hint- once you have one association
as a client,
similar associations are more likely to give you
an audience.
And one of the things associations like MOST for
their
membership is information. If you have written
an article or
published a booklet or book, these are a great
start when
working with associations.
3. When it comes to YOUR sig, the addition of
an
autoresponder address will SERIOUSLY increase
the request
for information about your firm. It is a way for
people to
obtain information about your firm without you
having to do
anything and without these prospects feeling any
pressure to
make a buying decision. See #5 for how to respond
to
autoresponder inquiries.
4. When responding to other people's signatures,
ask about
their firms. Ask how you would know that someone
YOU were
communicating with would be a good client for
them. Check
out their websites and offer suggestions. Request
reciprocal
links and tell them WHY you and they would be
a good link
match. Ask for advice. Give advice. All these
begin the
relationship-building process.
5. AUTORESPONDERS AUTORESPONDERS
AUTORESPONDERS!! I can't say enough about them!!
I have
25 of them running right now and have had almost
200
requests in the last 24 hours. What happens now?
These people
have requested information. I will contact them
to see if the
information has answered all of their questions.
Others will be
contacted with updates on the information THEY
requested.
Some will be asked questions about how helpful
the
autoresponder information was. Others will be
offered a
paying position with the company. ALL of them
will be
contacted with a THANK YOU for their request.
6. On-Line lead generation groups designed JUST
for lead
generation are few and far between. Look for one
that has a lot
of experienced personnel handling the group. Be
VERY
specific in the group about your needs. And once
you get a
referral, follow up on it IMMEDIATELY. Online
resources are
so plentiful, leads vanish very quickly. Be sure
to use the name
of the person who referred you and give enough
information in
your introduction so that people you are contacting
feel
comfortable with you. Ask the person referring
you to send an
introduction in advance of your contact.
Copyright c Nancy Roebke
[In the next VCDL Digest we will learn more from
Nancy on Virtual
Networking regarding “Breaking into Email Cliques”.
To learn “tons” more about Networking both online
and offline …
We Highly Recommend! That you subscribe to Nancy’s
NetworkInk networking
newsletter by emailing to: networkink@aweber.com
]
-----------------------------------------------------------
#7 An Ounce of Prevention …
-----------------------------------------------------------
From: Michael S. DeVries <DeVries@cris.com>
Reply To: Virtual-Consulting@topica.com
Date sent: Thursday, March 11, 2004
In VCDL
Digest #12 nakosy wrote “"MyDoom"
virus and how to protect your
computer from it.” And Raza Jaffri wrote “The
New trend in computer
viruses you MUST know”
And since these articles were published we all
have been “hit” with even
more “deadly computer viruses” and we keep hearing
more and more on the
news about “identity theft” and “hacker attacks”!
:( right?
Further, we keep receiving reports from people
whose important
information and/or software has been lost or corrupted!
:( and when we
ask them about recovering it from their backups,
the response we get is
something to the effect of “what backups”?! :(
We (should) all know that “an ounce of prevention
is worth a pound of
cure”! and …
“It’s always better to be safe, than sorry!”,
Right?
We certainly hope that you are all also protecting
yourselves already
from all of these types of viruses and potential
“attacks” through the
effective use of anti-virus software, virus scanning
software,
firewalls, and making regular backups of all of
your critical
information!
You all already know not to open any email attachments
you “recognize”,
receive that comes from someone you do not already
know and trust, and
reasonably expect! Right?
If “in doubt”, either confirm that the person
from whom it appeared to
have been sent actually sent it to you or delete
it!
If you aren’t “clear” as to what role each of
these types of prevention
/ protection play and/or how to effectively utilize
them in your overall
“computer protection strategy”, Please ask! Ok?
…
Before it’s too late! :(
If you do not already have and are effectively
utilizing each of these
components as part of your overall prevention
and protection strategy,
we are collecting links for each of these types
of prevention and
protection tools for you at:
http://www.thevcf.com/vccenter.phtml#ANTIVIRUS
And …
http://www.thevcf.com/vccenter.phtml#SECURITY
Please don’t delay in immediately protecting
all of your critical
computer resources today!
We hope all of this helps!
Your "Virtual" Moderator,
- Michael S. DeVries
*************** [RESOURCES] ****************
#8 Resources for your Search Engine Optimization
and
Pay-Per-Click Search Engine Ad Campaigns
-----------------------------------------------------------
From: Michael S. DeVries <DeVries@cris.com>
Reply To: Virtual-Consulting@topica.com
Date sent: Thursday, March 11, 2004
Dear Fellow Virtual Consultants,
One of the critical success factors in good Search
Engine Optimization
(SEO) / placement and maximizing the effectiveness
of your Pay-Per-Click
Search Engine (PPC SE) Ad Campaigns is finding
and then using the
Keywords / Search Terms in your web pages and/or
ads for which the
members of your target market(s) are actually
searching, right?
Therefore, for your convenience we have collected
links directly to
several of the best KeyWord / Search Term Tools
for you, at:
http://www.thevcf.com/vccenter.phtml#KEYWORDS
Then once you have identified the “best” Keywords
/ Search Terms for
your web site(s) / page(s) ...
If you really want to “drive some traffic” to
your web sites, you may
wish to use Pay-Per-Click advertising with one
or more of the number of
Search Engines which offer such Pay-Per-Click
advertising. Therefore,
again for your easy access and convenience, we
have collected these PPC
SE links for you at:
http://www.thevcf.com/vccenter.phtml#SEARCH
Several of the PPC SE listed herein also currently
offer you a Free
credit to your account for signing up through
these links right now! :)
We hope this all helps!
Your "Virtual" Moderator,
- Michael S. DeVries
-----------------------------------------------------------
#9 Tired of Pop-Ups?
-----------------------------------------------------------
From: Michael S. DeVries <DeVries@cris.com>
Reply To: Virtual-Consulting@topica.com
Date sent: Thursday, March 11, 2004
Dear Fellow Virtual Consultants,
Are you tired of getting “hit in the face” with
all of the pop-ups while
you are “surfing the net”?
Have you tried other pop-up blockers, but they
block things you don’t
want blocked, like opening MS Outlook email messages,
etc.?
Well, we have found one that allows you to block
the pop-ups you want to
block, allow the ones you want to see, and doesn’t
interfere with
opening other windows, like MS Outlook email messages,
etc.! :)
And this pop-up blocker / manager is included
as one of the many useful
features available in the Alexa toolbar! :), which
you may download and
install for Fr^ee now from:
http://www.thevcf.com/vccenter.phtml#BLOCKPUS
We hope this all helps!
Your "Virtual" Moderator,
- Michael S. DeVries
************** [HELP WANTED] ****************
#10 Additional Freelancing Sites
-----------------------------------------------------------
From: Michael S. DeVries <DeVries@cris.com>
Reply To: Virtual-Consulting@topica.com
Date sent: Thursday, March 11, 2004
Dear Fellow Virtual Consultants,
To help you all find more paying work, clients
and projects, and more
help on / resources for your paying client projects!
:) …
We have recently added, and will be adding, more
"freelance job /
project board sites" at:
http://www.thevcf.com/joblink.phtml#FREELANCE
including some which your fellow Virtual Consultants,
referred us to! J,
some we have found ourselves, and will likely
continue to do so and post
these updates there, so ...
Please check back there frequently to find all
of the “latest and
greatest” "freelance job / project board
sites".
You may both list yourself as a Freelancer, find
and “bid on” projects,
Post and find additional “freelance help” for
your projects in many of
these "freelance job / project board sites"
via the links referenced
above.
Please share the link / site referenced above
with your fellow Virtual
Consultants so that they may also find more paying
work, clients and
projects, and more help on / resources for their
paying client projects
as well! :)
Please also let us know of any additional "freelance
job / project board
sites" of which you are, but we are not,
currently aware and we may add
them in this Section of our Job Link web page(s)
for everyone’s mutual
benefit!
We hope this all helps!
Your "Virtual" Moderator,
- Michael S. DeVries
--------> [The VCDL Digest is Sponsored By:]
<-------
--------------> [Please Support Our Sponsor]
<------------
