Kathy Colaiacovo |

May 18, 2009 By Kathy Colaiacovo 2 Comments

I can't join another Facebook group or page!

It’s a comment I hear a lot lately, people are getting ‘grouped out’ on Facebook. Personally, I don’t see the issue and there is a simple solution.

Let’s look at the problem first. What happens when you join a group or page?

Well.. for starters, you are now connected to many more people through the group. hmmm… that was kind of the point in ‘working’ Facebook for your business wasn’t it?

Then you start to receive updates or invites to events. Let’s see… if you respond, your update goes out to all the members… again, your name in front of many.

Now, when someone posts a note, wall post or link, on any of the groups or pages; their post will show on your wall. Which also means, if you make a comment on another group’s wall or page, your comment will be seen by all the group members or fans. Wow, so many people you are talking to.

The issue everyone seems to have is when they start to RECEIVE all these notes, invites, links and more on your Facebook homepage…that’s when most people become overwhelmed and stop joining anything.

Well… if you are like me, and have more than 100 friends on Facebook, you probably have lots of stuff already being posted on your wall from actual friends – not to mention the flower gardens, butterflies, IQ challenge tests, TV quizzes etc, etc, etc. Do you read all those? Probably not… that’s why everyone skim-reads now. Way too much to take in. You skim and only look further into items that catch your eye.

So… long before you joined any groups you had trouble brewing already. How do you deal with it and still remain connected to all the groups and pages? [Read more...]

Technorati Tags: facebook, Social Media, social networking, Time Management

Filed Under: Forums, networking, Social Media, Time Management Tagged With: facebook, Social Media, social networking, Time Management

May 12, 2009 By Kathy Colaiacovo Leave a Comment

Have you looked at your signature lately?

One very good place to market your business is right in your email signature line, yet many people never use this to their fullest. That’s right, this simple act of placing your information in there and having it automatically go out in every email you send, can actually bring you business.Emails, even personal ones, should should always be seen as a way to network and tell someone new about your business and how you help your clients. They are your elevator speech included in every email you send.

You’d be surprised how often people will make comments or ask you about your business when you do have something unique at the bottom of each email. I personally have had at least 10 inquiries this past year on what I do for a living, all from email contact.

Filed Under: Business planning, Entrepreneurs, networking, Small business, virtual assistant Tagged With: networking, promote business, Small business, social networking, virtual assistant

May 8, 2009 By Kathy Colaiacovo Leave a Comment

One of the better Facebook changes

… but I don’t want to mix my personal Facebook with business.

This is one of the most common statements I hear when clients are talking about expanding into Facebook for their business.

You should know however, when Facebook made their upgrades and changes in February, they did some great things with their Business Pages.

They now run as a separate page from your own personal page. There is no longer a crossover and you do not see your name on the Business Page activity. Your personal page can remain very separate from your business.

To make it work well, you should try to move your ‘business friends’ over to your Fan Page by sending them a note and an invite to join you there.

The Pages have so many benefits for businesses; no limit to the numbers of fans who can join you, the ability to import your blogs, post events, send updates to all fans, have discussions, post videos, links to your YouTube account, badges and links for your Linked In or Twitter profiles and the list goes on…

Some businesses work with Facebook more than they do their website…and for some people that works well. It’s all dependant upon your business, your marketing plan and your ability to take some time and join in social networking.

If you need help setting up a proper Business Page, please get in touch with us and arrange a no fee and no obligation consultation.

Technorati Tags: facebook, promote business, Small business, Social Media, virtual assistant

Filed Under: Entrepreneurs, networking, Social Media, virtual assistant Tagged With: facebook, promote business, Small business, Social Media, virtual assistant

May 3, 2009 By Kathy Colaiacovo Leave a Comment

Follow Up ~ a vital task for any business

Following up is often one of the most overlooked tasks with a business. It’s easy to put follow up on hold because, as a priority item, it tends to lose out over doing ‘work’ for an upcoming client or meeting.

Sometimes this can be a grave mistake. One phone call, email, or contact of any method, can make or break your relationship with a client or joint venture partners. Keeping in touch keeps your name in the minds of others. When it’s time to do business again, if your name is in someone’s mind they are more likely to contact you. If they have forgotten all about you and your service, they may not think to call you again.

I am reminded of a mortgage broker I spoke with last summer. One of her main issues was that she had no time for contact management of her clients; no time to keep in touch. She worked on current files and clients and kept up with those, the list of names to email and call kept growing. One day she had time and spent an afternoon calling clients to say ‘Hello. How are things?’.

What she got that afternoon was an eye opener. [Read more...]

Technorati Tags: Customer Service, Follow up, office organization, office solution, office support, Small business, virtual assistant

Filed Under: Business planning, Entrepreneurs, Organization, Service, Small business, virtual assistant Tagged With: Customer Service, Follow up, office organization, office solution, office support, Small business, virtual assistant

April 25, 2009 By Kathy Colaiacovo 1 Comment

Networking and Conferences ~ a Perfect Match

FOVA (Forum on Virtual Assistance) is only 5 weeks away, and I CAN’T wait! I’m ready to learn and network and this conference is a perfect place to do both.

I think I am most anticipating all the people I know I will be meeting. Since last summer I have been very active with my online networking (primarily at VAnetworking, CVAC and VAClassroom) and I am going to meet several of these people face to face. I love connecting a face with a name or a voice!

Generally you don’t attend any conference unless you have an interest in the topic and there are always many sessions available to learn new skills, ideas or trends and more. The agenda that Barb Lang and her organizers have prepared is chock full of great topics and speakers from all over the world, and topics that will help us Virtual Assistants in our daily work. However, in my humble opinion, the biggest benefit you get from a conference is the networking aspect of it.

So many opportunities are available at conferences to meet and talk with new people, to match a face to a name, or connect with old friends. Being virtual, a large part of our daily work is done online and by phone, Instant Messenging chat or email. To be able to meet in person all the “usernames” I deal with on a regular basis, really adds another foundation block to our relationship.

I almost feel like I need to make a list of all the people I anticipate meeting in order to ensure that I don’t miss them as to me that would be a tragedy.

No matter what your line of work, and especially if you work from home, I urge you to find a conference in your industry and attend it every year. You’ll return rejuvenated and having met many new contacts and with a brain full of new information relevant to your work. ALL of this will help you excel in your job and your life.

Technorati Tags: conference, event, networking, seminars, Small business, virtual assistant