So many new Virtual Assistants are asking me for advice on blogging and where to get professional, and free, templates that I went on a hunt for free templates.  I use WordPress but was able to find a good linkfor Blogger templates at Gecko & Fly.

 For free WordPress templates try these sites:

AlexKing.org

Blogging Pro

Emily Robins.com

Weblog Tools Collection

WordPress.org

If you come across any great Blogger themes, please be sure to let us know.

Your Partner in Success!

Denise

One of the most asked for processes that our virtual assistance and web development clients ask for is for us to build and maintain one or multiple membership sites.  We use several different programs which I will be sharing with you here over the next few weeks.

One of my favorites systems is iGrOOps.com which is a pay-per-membership online group with web applications for collaboration. What does this mean for you and your virtual assistance clients?  Plenty!  Membership sites when properly built can maximize the sites potential through focused marketing strategies, membership building tips, membership participation and more.  A membership site allows you to protect premium content such as articles, video clips, course material, downloads and more in a password protected area of the site.  Paid membership websites are a dramatically growing part of online businesses and as a virtual assistant, you need to be able to work with your clients in this very important aspect of their business.

iGrOOP.com includes the ability to charge membership fees to your group with seamless integration with PayPal and AuthorizeNet.  You can use your own domain.  You don’t need to have a programming background or have run a membership site before.  You have unlimited storage space for your group videos, web pages, and other group related files.  Do you publish newsletters or ezines for yourself or your clients?  You can create and manage a list of your newsletter subscribers in your membership site.  The groups marketing efforts are kept private, and the administrator chooses who has access to the group information and applications.

iGrOOps.com has some quite incredible applications:

• Affiliate program module where you can create your own affiliate program to sell your products and services
• Audio and Video postcards
• Autoresponders
• Blogs
• Podcasts
• Articles
• Calendar
• Communication system: Discussion boards and private messaging
• File sharing
• Support and FAQ
• Members can build their own web page
• Photo gallery
• Reviews
• Teleconferencing
• Video / MP3 gallery
• Web audio chat
• Web video chat

Examples

Master Business Building Club

International Association of Solopreneurs

What is the cost of all of this? $99 per month with a $99 one time set up fee.  It doesn’t get any better than that!

I received an email this morning from my brilliant friend Tony Bodoh who wrote:

“I thought this article was important and insightful. As this ‘credit crisis’ has unfolded, I have not been shy about sharing my perspective that the use of creativity through the expansion of entreprenurship is the key to solving our economic situation.  This article makes it clear that we need to share alternatives to the use of credit for starting businesses.  Most people can’t see beyond a bank loan as a way to start their business. Capital investment is key.  Whether that capital is intellectual, relationships, or money. There is a huge abundance of capital in each f these forms available today.  Share this idea today with someone who is focused only on the ‘crisis.’ You may change their perspective and the world.

Survey: Entrepreneurship offers path out of financial crisis ~ Nashville Business Journal - October 1, 2008

If you missed my interview today with Tom Buford, founder of Charge What You Deserve.com you can listen to it here.  Tom gave very specific answers to my questions when I asked him about setting and raising professional fees even in a slowing economy and setting your fees too low.  He also gave some great tips on how to effectively communicate your fees with confidence.

As a result of our talks over the last couple of weeks Tom actually created a program just for Virtual Assistants that is aptly named “Charge What You Deserve Ultimate Fee Setting Blueprint for Virtual Assistants.  Not only is he coaching VA’s on how to get the fees they want, he is so sure of his program that if you don’t increase your fees at least 25% over the next 90 days he will refund the purchase price of $97.   At least that is the price until Sunday, September 28.  After that, the price is $147.  If you listened to the interview today you already know that what piqued my attention was his offer of a 20 minute laser coaching call with him for the first 8 people who respond.  I am one of those very lucky people who can pick up the phone and call Tom and I tell you from the heart, chatting just a few minutes with himabout any topic gets your mind working at full speed. If you are conflicted about your professional fees, Tom is very definitely the man to help you.