Ready - Set - VOTE!!

I want to encourage you to exercise your right to vote this next week. And, pass it forward to encourage your co-workers, friends and family to do the same.

In our state, there are several hot issues on the ballot. I have my opinions and there are equally strong ones for the other side. I am honored, proud and plan to act on my right to hold and express my opinions at the ballot box.

I first 'voted' in a 'straw vote' in high school. I was 'hooked', but had to wait until I was 21 to express my opinion. It was great when some of my kids could vote at 18 and an honor to help them register to vote.

We're getting some controversial campaign recordings on the phone. At first they are kind of annoying, but they don't last long. One of the ones that came in here sounded like a person, so I found myself 'participating' in the survey. When the recording asked me how I was going to vote, I just popped back -- That is none of your business. The recording was set up to analyze YES or NO, not a phrase. It was sort of messed up!

The Missouri State Attorney General says the calls do not violate the Do Not Call Rules. Some are concerned that the recordings often do not let the connection go when you hang up. They say that if you had an emergency, you couldn't use your phone until the recording released the connection. This seems a bit of a stretch, but does give someone something to argue about.

We figure that the elections are the life blood of small media services like Radio, TV and newspapers.

No matter what, don't get too annoyed to vote.

Do you need your own website?

A website can give your clients and customers one more opportunity to learn more about your product or services.

You don't need to sell a tangible item or a service on the website for it to have value to your business and those with whom you do business.

A small, two or three page website need offer little more than contact information and a brief history of your business or declare your mission statement for that website to have value for you and customers. The customers who need last minute contact information can quickly find it at your website. You have little idea just exactly who would benefit from your business information. So, it is difficult to send ads to everyone or be certain they will see your information in other media which would be more expensive than a website.

You can buy a domain that reflects your business name or type for a very reasonable price in one year to ten year increments. Hosting packages which offer ample bandwidth for your business needs are very inexpensive; much less than the cost of many other media forms.

Many hosting packages offer a 'do-it-yourself' program for building crisp, attractive websites. You can use templates and add pictures or more pages as you need to.

After you have your website designed and online, the search engines will be finding you so that other customers and clients who search for terms or types that fit your business can find your pages. The easiest way to make sure your website appeals to the search engines and will show up in searches is to have realistic and appropriate content. The search engines have equipment and software that reads your information and connects your website with the search terms that a user types in the search blank.

There are more assertive things you can do, but we will begin with the items mentioned and let you have a chance to savor them. As you become more comfortable with a web presence, you can do many more things that help your business and people who want to know more about you.

One resource for a domain name and hosting packages is: http://www.ozarksdomainstation.com

The prices at Ozarks Domain Station are very reasonable and the service is excellent.

Think about it -- do you need your own website? It won't put much of your business capital at risk to try one for a year to see.

Virtual Assistance for You?

Why would you want to have a virtual assistant? Now you would have to go get your own coffee?

A virtual assistant is someone who operates an office to provide services for companies who choose to have duties performed off site. Some call this service outsourcing and I suppose that word, while gaining poor connotation in our society, does offer a clear description.

Virtual assistants are usually independent contractors who can actually save the company costs because the VA pays the employee expenses such as taxes, benefits and office space or equipment. The company can also avoid costs of training employees, substitutes for those employees or replacements when an employee quits or is terminated.

Virtual assistants strive to be specialists in the services they offer. The practical view of business prevents employers from having specialists for each and every office task. The possibility of finding the perfect employee who can skillfully perform all tasks is not encouraging. The VA you choose may be skilled in duties that you do not need; but VA's are often eager to expand their skills and recognize office services that can be of value to you. Services which you may not be familiar with, but the VA has had an opportunity to learn how to work new software in beta format or has worked with other clients to obtain expanded skill.

IVAA (International Virtual Assistants Association) is a networking organization of virtual assistants. IVAA members offer support for one another to make a brain trust of information. IVAA operates an extensive directory for potential clients to learn about members and services offered, plus a platform to post requests for proposals which members can access and use to connect with clients. At Bar JD, we also belong to several other VA support groups that extend our research skills phenomenally.

Please feel free to contact us about any other questions you may have about Virtual Assistants and our services. Check out the link to Bar JD Communications.