Intuit Small Business Town Hall on Using Social Media
June 23, 2009
I am happy to say Intuit, makers of QuickBooks software, is continuing to improve. They are building their Small Business Community with town hall events, webinars, training, conferences, Ask the Expert events and more. This Thursday, June 25 at 9am PT (12pm ET), the Town Hall topic will be Using Social Media to Grow Your Business. Join Michelle Long, CPA and the following guests as they discuss how to use social media such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, for effective marketing.
- Scott Wilder – Small Business Group at Intuit
- Chris Kim – Senior Marketing Manager with Intuit
- Dante Layton – Owner of Dante Layton, Inc.
- Ruth Perryman – Owner of the QB Specialists
Cost is free and there will be a Q&A session following the discussion. Hope you can make it!
Remember to Send Your Second Quarter Tax Payments
June 12, 2009
If you are required to send in quarterly estimated tax payments, June 15 is the due date.
- Individuals - Pay your 2nd quarter estimated tax for 2009
- Corporations – Deposit the 2nd installment of estimated tax for 2009
Networking In Person at IVAA
May 10, 2009
I recently attended the International Virtual Assistant Association live Summit in Montreal, Canada. What a fabulous experience, I had! First off I was able to visit a city I had never been to and that is always a treat. A group of us had the wonderful opportunity to take a bus tour of the city and that certainly was a highlight. I especially enjoyed overlooking the city and could image it a beautiful sight at night with the city lights and stars glowing.
My favorite part of the trip was actually meeting and greeting others, in person, who absolutely understand what I do and the challenges I face working on my own. The blank stares of my husband are understandable when I begin speaking in techno-geek or trying to problem solve challenges with my business.It was a tough to commit the resources for attending but the networking and knowledge I gained was money very well spent. I met and networked with fabulous fellow VAs and opened doors of possibility. I came away recharged, solidifying the vision I have for my business. I highly recommend attending a live event with your professional organizations and networks. You will truly never be the same. [tags]networking, events, IVAA, kellywilliamsva, kelly williams, virtual assistant[/tags]
My New Twitter Hashtag
February 10, 2009
I created my first hashtag on Twitter today. Of course I know this means nothing to those around me, but I felt like an innovator and was very excited nonetheless. I decided to tweet a tip about the QuickBooks software I use and thought it would be nice to have a place to search for tips by other users as well. The Twitter hashtag allows you to basically mark the tweet with a hashmark and quick tag that becomes searchable, for example #QBTip. I was amazed that no one had created this particular tag yet considering all the tweets about various accounting software options.
What makes this tagging so great? It is actually possible to search the tweets using Twitter’s own search feature, and subsequently through the search engines. This is a great way to create real-time conversations about a particular topic and follow them through RSS. I also use the popular hashtag #TCOT which stands for Top Conservatives on Twitter. Users can tweet about an event they are attending, too, and this is a wonderful way to connect with those you wouldn’t otherwise meet. I’ve seen chats about the Super Bowl, the Inauguration, and even Girls Night Out #GNO which is extremely popular . There are a few male Tweeters that crash those chats, if you can believe it.
We’ll see where my new hashtag leads. The cool news is that it was immediately noticed by Tweeters at Intuit. I can now look forward to their tips on how to better use my QuickBooks software. What Twitter conversations are you following?
The Power of Social Networking For A Cause
January 7, 2009
If you ever doubted that one person can make a difference in our world, I’d like to show you how David Armano did just that last night. I was working late with my trusty Twitter companion by my side (my favorite social network), when the following post came out from an Australian fellow I follow:
@problogger: I love when social media makes an impact like this and this on people’s lives
David Armano, VP of Experience Design with Critical Mass, wrote a compelling post on his personal blog entitled “Please Help Us Help Daniela’s Family.” The purpose of which was to enlist us ALL to help a very brave woman, Daniela and her 3 precious children, move forward from domestic abuse.
It really does take that one person to stand up for the cause, someone to take the lead for us. And then we feel empowered to stand with the cause and together we become a village. Many of us gave last night, far exceeding the original contribution goal, bonded to our cause. I’ve never been to David Armano’s blog before and am truly amazed at the power Twitter has to virally spread the word. I am even more amazed at the compassionate responses from our community to help a stranger in need. We are living in difficult times and each one of us has our stories to tell, but we gave what we had to be part of a solution that is so much bigger than ourselves. It was extremely moving to visit David’s blog and refresh the screen to watch the ChipIn! counter grow. Thank you for letting me be part of this important cause. Twitter Power!
You can still make a difference for this courageous family … go now and give what you can!
My LLC is Formed!
December 29, 2008
It is with great excitement that I announce I have taken my bookkeeping service to the next level and have formed an LLC. Woo Hoo! This is part of my many plans brewing for 2009 as I welcome 2 more new clients in to the new year. We are poised and ready for what this year may bring. Oh, and not to mention my husband is relieved to have that personal asset protection of the LLC.
The coolest news of all is that I was able to process my LLC at MyCorporation by Intuit. Of course as a bookkeeper, I am a huge QuickBooks fan, so I was thrilled to hear that their maker, Intuit, is currently offering Incorporation and LLC processing free of their $149 fee. I feel relieved to have some help preparing and processing those required documents; and free makes me want to share their promotion with everyone. What plans do YOU have for the new year? If your changing your business structure, checkout MyCorporation before their F*R*E*E promotion ends on December 31!
Proud Recipient of VAccolade
November 19, 2008
I am so very proud to have been selected this week to receive the VAccolade Business Entrepreneur Award from the Virtual Assistant Networking Association (VANA) for demonstrating professionalism on the Web. To qualify for this award, I would have been nominated by one of my clients, colleagues, or peers which is very exciting and I am truly honored.
I was able to make my start as a Virtual Assistant after hours of perusing the VANA forums for knowledge. The community is very warm and extremely helpful. The posts, seminars, resources, and RFPs that Tawyna Sutherland shares are unmatched which is also why I decided to upgrade my free membership to become a VAinsider. If you haven’t had the opportunity to check out VANA, this is an amazing social network of virtual professionals with over 10,000 members. AND it was just announced that VANA is the 2008 winner of StartUpNation’s top ranked home-based business contest in the Boomers Back in Business category. Woo Hoo!
Help Eliminate Poverty with World Vision
October 15, 2008
Today is Blog Action Day and thousands of bloggers are uniting to discuss the issue of poverty. We are so blessed in this country and there is definitely something we can do to help fight poverty in our world. An organization that has been making such an important difference since 1950, is World Vision. I encourage you to visit their site and look at the Gift Catalog Giving items. You will certainly be amazed. In our society of excess, we wouldn’t dream of giving these kinds of gifts that are available for donation: a goat, chickens, share of a deep well to ensure safe drinking water, seeds, food, blankets, and the list goes on. It is even possible to help the millions of American children experiencing poverty today.
Who They Are: World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice.
Let’s be part of the solution. Won’t you help break the cycle of poverty for those in need in our world?
