If you use Google Desktop, iGoogle or My Yahoo this is a great plug-in from Affirmation Planet. I really enjoy these and I know you will too. Have a fantastic weekend!

You may have noticed the CopyScape buttons on my website at the bottom of each page next to where it says, "Copyright 2007 The Edge Virtual Assistance". I put these up there to remind visitors that all content on my site is copyrighted and that I retain the rights to all of my original, carefully thought out website copy.

I belong to a very active forum of Virtual Assistants where we share information and ideas and help each other with new systems and processes, etc. About a year ago I came upon a post on the forum by a fellow VA who had discovered that her website text had been copied by a new VA. This "newbie" had stolen her entire "About Me" page and had just replaced her name. Can you imagine someone doing something so stupid? Another VA had discovered someone had copied a testimonial from her website verbatim, even keeping the testifiers name in tact!

Since then I regularly check my website using this helpful site http://www.copyscape.com. I have had a few pages come up with similarities, but these could easily be dismissed as similar thoughts and I let sleeping dogs lie.

Today however was different. It has been a few months since I last checked my site. The VA industry has had a lot of media coverage recently and there are newcomers hanging out their shingles every day. Today I discovered three different new sites all with very similar content on their rates pages. One VA had adjusted my words slightly and made them more "her own" which I do not have a problem with. The other two had literally copied and pasted my rates page and added a sentence here and there. It just makes my blood boil. One VA had a "Code of Ethics" page linked to her services where she waxes lyrical about her impeccable character and conduct. Phrases like these:

I shall always exercise integrity, honesty and diligence in carrying out my professional duties and responsibilities.

I shall refrain from conduct or action which would detract from the reputation of the IVAA or the profession of Virtual Assistance as a whole.

I shall be mindful at all times of my responsibilities as a professional to the community at large.

... in big bold type for all the world to see as she blatantly steals content from my website and passes it off as her own.

What gets me is that I spent a lot of time on my site. I have worked on it and tweaked it and reworded sections constantly over the past year to get it just right, to make sure that it accurately and succinctly reflects who I am as a Virtual Assistant and business owner. These ladies are kidding themselves if they think that they will make it out there on their own if they can't even come up with honest web-copy on their own. I would be willing to bet that they pack up, give up and go back to the corporate world in a matter of months.

There... rant over now... back to work! Do yourselves a favor and regularly check your websites against CopyScape, you may have a nasty surprise waiting for you!

Today I stumbled across this incredible resource for new bloggers.  The site is mostly aimed at those hoping to eventually be paid to blog, however there are some great tips and advice regarding site registration, set up etc, that we can all benefit from. Enjoy! Blogging for Beginners

Today I celebrate my 29th birthday and I couldn't be happier.  We are moving to Austin in 2 weeks.  My business is growing steadily each month.  I am married to a wonderful man.  There are so many good things happening soon and I am excited to see what else this next year will bring!! Now please excuse me... I am off to do something totally immature and ridiculous... this is kinda my last chance ya know! ;)

(Crossposted from View from The Edge)

I just popped in to visit the VANA Forum and check for new posts and found that I have been awarded blog of the month!

I am really happy! The blog is less than a month old and will be honored with this title for a month!

Thanks VANA!

(Crossposted from View from The Edge)

We recently spoke about press releases and how they can be an inexpensive way to increase your web presence and can increase traffic to your site. I am in the process of distributing a new press release for The Edge, announcing both our new focus on coaching professionals as well as the news about our relocation to Austin. (*Yay!*)

I realized that while I already have a fairly comprehensive list of Free Press Release sites, I am not sure how many of you do. So I thought I would post my list in the hope that someone else might find it helpful. Please note these are all free press release sites. I know that there are some paid sites out there but I honestly don't feel that the exposure gained from press releases justify the often exorbitant fees charged by some of these paid sites.

PR Web
Press Release 365
Business Wire India
i-Newswire
PR Leap
1888-Press Releases
PR Log
PR Free
Click Press
NewsWire Today
PowerHomeBiz
Press Method

I have a few more and I will continue to add to this list over the coming days, but there are a few to get you started.

(Crossposted from View from The Edge)

I just stumbled across this great blog where the blogger provides some great tips for do-it-yourself search engine optimization. Definitely worth a read through. I have a bit of a quiet afternoon ahead of me and so plenty of time to start implementing some of these ideas. Enjoy!

The Web Marketing Blog

You've heard it all before, leverage your network and grow your business. It sounds simple on the surface but the rules have changed in the last few years. Emerging research shows what we've known all along,  people aren't interested in the hard sell.  Instead the trend now is to form strategic partnerships as a means to grow your business, or as David Teten and Scott Allen put it,

"For the business development professional, though, the relationship is an end, not just a means, i.e., that signed contract and joint press release mean that you, individually, have accomplished something. You continue to work with that partner to achieve other objectives for your business, but the relationship itself is your primary objective."

Strangely enough, I found this article through a link on a networking forum for Virtual Assistants... enough said! ;)

I feel like I have been running around like a headless chicken this week. Between a sick husband, plagiarism of my website, my birthday, work, packing for the move and a HUGE mistake I made last night on my blog I feel like a hamster in a wheel. This zaadz quote caught my eye today and reminded me of the value of focus:

Concentrate all your thoughts on the task at hand. The sun's rays do not burn until brought to a focus. -- Alexander Graham Bell

Well, the final few days are upon us.  We are almost all packed up and I don't have much more to do personally. My clients are all almost set up and ready to go it alone over the next two weeks.  I have found a wonderful VA partner to work with those that cannot be without assistance. I am so pleased that everything has gone so smoothly.  I planned this move very carefully to ensure that it goes off with as little disruption as possible for my clients and I am very proud that so far everything is going to plan. There are a few little bits and bobs that need sorting out before we leave and so I will most likely be quiet here on the blog for a while.  I will check in as much as possible over the next couple of weeks and promise to be back online on August 13th with pictures of both the trip and the new headquarters of The Edge. Have a wonderful summer! Ros