Update Your WordPress Blogsite Permalinks and You Will Be Found
September 29, 2009
Lately, I’ve noticed quite a few established blogsites still using the standard WordPress permalink structure. By naming your permalinks well, you may find some of your posts successfully listed at number 1 in the search engines (Google loves blogs). What is a permalink, you ask? A permalink, aka permanent link, is a URL that points to a specific blog post. This looks like jibberish by default: http://example.com/?p=123. The ‘&p=123′ text is called the post slug (isn’t that an awful way to refer to it). The post slug will appear in your URL in place of the full title of your post. By incorporating keywords and shortening your post title, you will absolutely be found and can attract new visitors to your site.
From the WordPress dashboard, select Settings, then Permalinks. From the WordPress Common Settings, choose something like Month and Name or create your own. Personally, I customize the settings and use the year and the post name, like http://www.example.com/2009/sample-post.
Not only will you be found by the search bots, but humans will find the address more visual pleasing and informative, as well. Don’t let this wonderful SEO opportunity pass by. It is such an exciting moment to see a post brought up as number 1 following a Google search. Why not change your permalink structure now and remember to leave a comment after you see your name in Google lights!
Resending a 1ShoppingCart Email Broadcast to a Customer
September 26, 2009
There may be occasions where a few customers have missed a broadcast or autoresponder message with important sign up or purchase details. An easy way to resend the message to specific customers is by creating a new autoresponder group. In this way, you can broadcast only to those who missed the details.
Start by creating a new autoresponder and name it, for example, Resend 0901. View the Client Details for each customer who missed a message and subscribe them to the new autoresponder. Revisit the email broadcast list and select the message to be re-broadcast. The recipient(s) will be the Resend autoresponder group you have just created. Select the broadcast time and send the email.
If customers missed a previous autoresponder message, find the missed message and copy it to the new Resend autoresponder group, then set it to send out with 0 days delay. View the Client Details for each customer who missed the broadcast message and subscribe them to the new autoresponder. This will immediately send them the missed message. Once the re-broadcast has been successful, you can decide whether or not to keep or delete the Resend autoresponder.
Contact us if you need some help with the solution. If you try it out, be sure to stop back and comment on your success!
Email Marketing Gets Better With 1ShoppingCart
September 8, 2009
If you haven’t heard, 1ShoppingCart launched it’s improved email marketing system recently. My fellow virtual assistants and I have been anxiously awaiting this update to check out the now-included newsletter templates for broadcasts or monthly ezines. There are several well-designed format choices available depending on the type of message to be sent out:
- Welcome – clean and simple format for a quick message
- Invitation – single column format for a quick invitation to an event
- Single – single column format
- Right – right sidebar with a main column for articles
- Left – left sidebar with a main column for articles
- Coupon – used for product promotions and announcements
- Promotion – used for product promotions and announcements
The nice selection of templates are ready to use but can be easily customized for client branding, if needed. Here’s a great short video demo to learn more about all the updates … even more reasons why I love working with this shopping cart platform. Go see for yourself!
It’s Official…I’m Master Cart Certified!
July 17, 2009
As a Virtual Assistant, I have learned that the growth of my business truly relies on my ability to continue my education. When I review my goals and budget throughout the year, I incorporate training that reflects those goals for growth or expansion into complimentary areas.
Last year, several of my clients requested shopping cart and affiliate management assistance for their online businesses, as a companion to their bookkeeping tasks. I decided to educate myself beyond my self-starter adaptability and enrolled in several cart courses. I am proud to note that I have now completed Practice Pay Solution’s Cart Strategist and Cart Technician training to become Master Cart Certified in the 1ShoppingCart brand system. I am happily displaying their logo!
And very shortly, I will be even prouder to display another cart certification … but I’ll leave that a surprise. Go ahead … toot your own horn, and let me know what you have in the works.
I’m Excited About The Way WordPress v2.8 Handles Widgets
June 12, 2009
How exciting! WordPress version 2.8 is now available with many cool new features to simplify and improve our user experience. Notably, it is now possible to browse the theme directory like you can the plug-ins directory, all widgets are multi-instance widgets which allow use more than once, and screen options appear on every page to adjust for varying monitor sizes.
My favorite new feature is the ability to drop widgets into any one of your theme’s sidebars in a single screen, inactivate them, and save their settings. I know this would have come in handy when my blog page crashed this week because I used a one-time only widget that was suddenly invisible.
Watch this video for a nice overview of the new WordPress version 2.8.
I know it’s enticing to see that dashboard message “WordPress 2.8 is available! Please update now.” but do not select that link until you back up your database, widgets, your pages and posts and any customization you’ve done. Then, by all means, click away!
Carbonite is My New Best Friend
April 13, 2009
As a self-employed virtual bookkeeper, my system data and files are the life of my business. I decided it was wise to keep 2 backups: an external hard drive backup and an online backup to cover both internet or local emergencies. After much discussion among my fellow virtual assistants, I changed my online backup of choice to Carbonite. It’s been finished for less than a day and I’m thrilled with it already!
What makes Carbonite so much better? First off, it updates my backup automatically and absolutely works in the background, without having to change to low priority internet usage. It took a quick 2 days to create my initial backup and I love the little colored status dots displayed on files and folders letting me know which files are complete (green) or still scheduled for backup(yellow). This is in sharp contrast to my previous backup system, with system stopping usage, scheduled backups that canceled themselves, and a 5 day initial backup. Managing backups manually defeats the service’s purpose, but in my previous service’s defense, my older laptop has been struggling with system conflicts.
I decided to jump right in without the free trial and purchased the program using an internet coupon that left me paying under $50 for a year of service. My next step is to restore the laptop’s files onto our new desktop and I feel extremely confident that the process will be a piece of cake because Carbonite is my new BFF!
[tags]resources, web & technology, kellywilliamsva, kelly williams, carbonite, online backup, virtual assistant[/tags]
The Importance of My Network
April 7, 2009
After several years of owning and operating my small bookkeeping business from home, I have to say the most important key to my success has been the value of my networks. Being connected with various virtual assistant organizations such as IVAA, VANetworking, and A Clayton’s Secretary, has given me the amazing opportunity to interact with seasoned industry veterans and fellow newbies, alike. The discussion forums are full of advice, resources, and answers to any question I can imagine. As a work at home professional, I realize how important it is to cultivate relationships bigger than myself. In reflection, if I had started my business today I would’ve been much smarter in my organization because of what I have learned. I still believe I am better off with the knowledge I’ve gained in trying different phone/fax services or online collaboration sites, for example. But the difference today is that I have confidence in the tools I use daily, and the benefit is that I am increasing my productivity.
When reaching out to a network, it’s important to remember local organizations that can also provide support and knowledge on a more personal level. Our southern California VA group has monthly lunch meetings and the camaraderie that has been built is truly unmatched. Relationships will blossom and trust is developed. I am so thankful that our founder, Paula Farthing of Admin at Your Service, has stayed committed to this non-profit group. Just this week, I sought her advice about purchasing a new computer system. Her input is invaluable to me as is her willingness to stop what she is doing and offer assistance. Remember that you are not an island! Feel free to leave a note about what you are doing to combat this in your daily work life.
[tags]social networking, ivaa, vanetworking, a clayton’s secretary, bookkeeping, kellywilliamsva, kelly williams, resources, virtual assistant, web & technology, admin at your service, paula farthing[/tags]
Mozilla Firefox MeasureIt & LinkChecker Plugins
March 10, 2009
I found some wonderful tools recently to help me with my new WordPress site design. I exclusively use Mozilla Firefox for internet browsing, and I bumped into these 2 great plugins, both written by Keith Freitas.
MeasureIt – Draws out a ruler to get the pixel width and height of any elements on a webpage. This is extremely helpful, if for example, you are customizing your Twitter background or your site’s shopping cart.
LinkChecker – Checks the validity of links on any webpage. This runs through all the outgoing links on your webpages.
Now it’s your turn! I’d love to hear about some of your favorite browser plugins.
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!
