Magic Satchel, Inc. » work smarter

Social Media: You have to jump in even if you don’t understand it

Kim — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 05:10:17 +0000

I know everyone is tired of the “what is social media” question, but I found this article to be a great quick-and-dirty argument for embracing social media as it happens. It really nails down how the internet became an essential part of business (apparently sometime in late 1997) and concrete examples of how companies jumped in or got left behind.

It’s not just about having a site, or even having a good site- what you say and how you interact with clients, customers and other businesses always, consistently- that is what now defines your brand. Before we had cameras, image wasn’t as important. Now that the Internet is what it is, it’s crucial to manage the perception of you, your brand and your company, or someone else will end up doing it for you.

It may seem like a lot more work (though it really doesn’t have to be) but it’s really amazing how many levels you can reach people on with the widespread usage of social media.

In a test run by BazaarVoice, Rubbermaid discovered that adding customer reviews to their website increased sales and decreased returns of their products. Skeptics said sales of low-rated products would crater. What actually happened is that sales of low-rated products increased. When shoppers were questioned, they explained that when they read why someone else maligned the product, often they disagreed or didn’t care about that particular problem. If the price was right, it was worth buying anyway.

Why you have to engage in social media, even if you don’t want to.

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For Your Magic Laptop Bag: Microsoft Optical Wireless Mouse 3000

Kim — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 06:09:37 +0000

My Former Flame: The Logitech Trackman

I’m kind of embarrassed to be writing this. I’m a design and productivity fetishist. Design nerds buy Apple machines and peripherals and try to use the word “Microsoft” sparingly, so truly off their radar the general consumer computing experience exists. I even use the whole Open Source set of design nerd programs because I’m clued in and Inkscape, Gimp and Open Office rock. Or I don’t want to give Adobe the better part of a grand for markedly similar functionality. Anyway.

While purchasing my new laptop, I impulse bought one of these little dudes and immediately decided to return it. But it was red, which I liked- even with it being 15-minutes in a catcher-stance next to the display waffling over red or green. But I really had my heart set on a Trackball. I love those. I got one by accident and I’m a total computer geek so it saved my wrist a lot of static. Before I cease digressing, I do recommend these if you prefer a more manly mouse or if you like wires.

The product at hand. Late one night in a trackpad-induced schlump I decided to liberate it from its clamshell prison and give it shot before sending it back to Staples. Wow- this thing is so smooth and light. It kind of almost hugs your hand, cutely, with very little commitment for your thumb and ring fingers to cling back. The two button scroll wheel layout is highly intuitive. I feel like my fingers just have to tapple over it. And having the mouse in your hand is just more integrated to your movements.

Setup is easy- just plug in the little stick (and keep your knees away from it, it confuses the mouse to get tapped on the USB stick) and it starts working. My aunt waved it away at first but ended up liking it more than the YouTube clips we were using it to locate. I have a Magic Peripherals Satchel, and when I work off-site, the charger, little wee mousie, USB stick and headset coil neatly in together so my office can be everywhere.

And just in case you were thinking it runs on palm perspiration and Cheeto-crumbs, it does require a single AA battery that I’ve read lasts a month or two. Excellent functionality, worth a look.

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Virtual Assistants: Everything but the coffee

Kim — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 04:12:53 +0000

And with a VA, you’ll have more time to nip out to Starbucks. This article, via the Examiner, goes through some more basics of finding and using a VA.

My favorite points from the article, quoted below, address the versatility of a Virtual Assistant versus having on-site staff.

I will admit that previously visions of Sci-Fi men and women danced through my head at such a statement only months previously. So how does it work? A virtual assistant is more than just outsourced administrative help. Many assistants offer services to include; hiring, recruiting and marketing. What this means for a sole proprietor or small business is the opportunity to outsource your entire human resource or marketing department in a cost-effective manner. This person acts as an independent contractor thus avoiding payroll costs. Additionally, most virtual assistants will let you know ahead of time how much a project will cost and work with you to stay within budget. In difficult economic times, predictable expenditures and the ability to offload non-revenue producing activities is not just necessary-it’s critical for survival.

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Inspiration, Incoming

Kim — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 06:42:42 +0000

Virtual assistants, virtual workers, home office pioneers- your space is really your space, and these are some inspirational home-work spaces. Check it out!

WebWorkerDaily » Archive 5 Inspirational Workspaces «.

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Welcome to the age of Gigonomics

Kim — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 08:14:43 +0000

Interesting piece on Web Worker Daily on how smart talent is adapting hard and fast to the changing economy and career trajectory they inevitably face. This post dubs the phenomenon “Giganomics.”

Most of the web workers I know tend to be college educated people with reasonably good incomes, and I suspect that most of the people described in the group above are web workers. Many web workers, and I include myself in this group, would never have become freelancers or otherwise left traditional jobs to telecommute from home without the rise of ubiquitous online technology. Fifteen years ago, many of the careers that web workers now enjoy didn’t even exist or would not have been possible given the technology available prior to the early to mid-1990s. While some early versions of the technologies we now take for granted existed back then, the adoption was still very low. Many companies weren’t online at all, and email was used by some people, but not everyone.

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From Web Worker Daily: The Value of a Mentor

Kim — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 16:12:02 +0000

Interesting thing about mentor-types, in my experience. They are more than willing to share knowledge and experience merely because it moves them. While the position of consultant is necessary and worthy, the experienced entrepreneur who enlightens the young upstart is an amazing resource. I’ve learned things through various means, but no lessons were as practical, useful and comprehensive as those I learned working alongside or consulting with those who had been where I was and moved forward. Even the knowledge gleaned in off-hand comments about what doesn’t work (don’t bother with that, what a waste of time!) has come back to help me personally time and time again.

A not-too-far in the past co-worker used to admonish me sometimes for my tendency to sort things out alone, always reminding me ask the question. But sometimes it is that simple, and everyone starting out should think about adding a few seasoned contacts to their address book or Twitter feed.

If you don’t already have such a network, don’t despair. The great thing about the Internet these days is that you have unprecedented access to experts in your field, and chances are good that you’ll find some who are generous enough to share. You may find the info you need just by reading their blogs, but you can also establish relationships with these virtual strangers by subscribing to their blogs and actively participating in the conversation.

via WebWorkerDaily » Archive Web Work 101: New Web Worker? Who’s Got Your Back? «.

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Telecommuting trumps temping

Kim — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 08:04:31 +0000

I’m still amazed corporations aren’t luring top talent like this in droves- staffing firms can serve a purpose, but focused virtual workers and virtual assistants are infinitely more economical for big and small companies in this economic flux period. And, as the writer below keenly observes, perhaps when the dust settles we’ll all be left with more efficient employment options.

If you haven’t sourced a good Virtual Assistant yet, now is a great time to find someone who truly can service the needs of your business.

It all makes me wonder: As the recession continues, might we see more telecommuters? These are talented, hard-working people flocking to temp agencies. It woudn’t be surprising to see many of them decide to go into business for themselves, and to set up their home offices. Many might turn themselves into freelancers, hiring themselves out for consultants for businesses that have already slashed their payrolls of full-time employees.

And when the recession ends, these workers might decide that they like the life of a work-at-home telecommuter. They might realize that going into a traditional office every weekday is a drag.

I certainly hope so. The more employers who understand the benefits of telecommuting and employees who work from home, the better.

via Chicago Telecommuting Examiner: Temp jobs on the rise. Will we see more telecommuters, too?.

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Workspace inspiration: Cool Cubicals

Kim — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 03:50:53 +0000

Spending days on the cubefarm getting you down? Via Lifehacker, this stunning cubical (yes, cubical) is much less soul-sucking than any I’ve seen. Cute lamps and darker walls create a soothing, un-Office Space like environment, and a small selection of nice personal pics replaces the usual mishmash of random photos.

Like most cubicles across the land, Brad’s cubicle was a bland affair of generic speckled-gray modular panels. He tacked black fabric over the paneling—easy to do, since the walls of most cubicles are essentially giant bulletin boards—and added two small accent lamps with bold red shades. The black fabric does enough to dampen the overhead lighting, so the lamps have a chance to really add a visual punch to the workspace. Originally supplied with only a laptop, Brad further tweaked his workspace for comfort by bringing an LCD monitor from home and adding an ergonomic keyboard.

Featured Workspace: The Noir Cubicle.

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An efficiency that’s not possible in most physical offices…

Kim — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 02:01:08 +0000

“I had an admin assistant that wasn’t doing a very good job and wasn’t working fast enough,” Lee recalls. “To take on other projects, I needed to find other resources.”

So she started e-mailing out work for the GlobeTask team to do – PowerPoint presentations, online research requests, weekly reports on Web traffic, and a laundry list of various tasks she used to rely on her in-office administrative assistant to perform. She was soon able to offer her employee to someone else in the department and rely on GlobeTask for her daily workflow.

“Pretty much anything that could be done online or via e-mail, I farmed out to them,” Lee recalls. “There’s an efficiency that’s not possible in most physical offices.”

I read so many articles selling the concept of Virtual Assisting as a career path. What stuns me is that more articles don’t focus on the potential benefits for existing business owners who need a VA.

I’ve had the unpleasant experience of working for employers who couldn’t afford the staff they have, and would cut and rehire staff as funds fluctuate. The costs in retaining and retraining staff are high, and I empathize with employers who struggle to make payroll each week. Musical Office Chairs is no fun for anyone, and it kills morale.

A virtual assistant is a better option because not only are they generally more experienced, all you pay for is the work we do for you. Not benefits, not breaks, not staffing bounties. And when business is slow, we can help you pick it up or be waiting when you need us again.

via Firms using “virtual” office assistants worldwide to get the job done

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Virtual Assistants: Write Them Off!

Kim — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 07:57:56 +0000

Via Lifehacker, this handy post on making the most of your indie business expenses lists several tax tips to boost your yearly net. Don’t forget to write off your Virtual Assistant! (Via Lifehacker.)

Virtual assistants and other freelancers

You’ll want an invoice from whoever you work with, as well as a record of when you paid the invoice.

Subcontracting part of a project to another freelancer or hiring a virtual assistant can be an easy way for a freelancer to take on more work and make more money – and the expense to do so is tax deductible. You’ll want to document any such transactions carefully so that you can prove that your use of freelancers and virtual assistants is purely a contract arrangement, rather than employment – which you would have to pay extra taxes for. You’ll want an invoice from whoever you work with, as well as a record of when you paid the invoice.

10 Tax Deductions Freelancers Can Make – FreelanceS

witch – The Freelance Blog.

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