Author Archives: Jessica Granish

Solstice Wisdom: 7 Strategies to Leverage the Solstice Metaphor for Business Growth

Amidst the festive cheer and holiday greetings, there’s an astronomical event that quietly takes the stage—the winter solstice. Beyond its celestial significance, this natural occurrence holds a powerful metaphorical weight, symbolizing the transition from darkness to light—a metaphor that can be harnessed to not only renew team spirit but also propel your business towards greater success.

The Solstice: Cosmic Inspiration for Business Leaders

The winter solstice, occurring around December 21st in the Northern Hemisphere, marks a pivotal point in Earth’s orbit around the sun. As we experience the shortest day and longest night, this celestial event becomes a metaphor for the ebb and flow of challenges and triumphs that businesses face. It’s a reminder that even in the darkest times, there’s the potential for renewal, hope, and the promise of brighter business days ahead.

Building Business Momentum in the Light

Just as the solstice heralds longer days and increased sunlight, the metaphor of moving from darkness to light can inspire business leaders to cultivate a dynamic and productive work environment. Here’s how you can leverage this metaphor to illuminate success in your business:

1. Renewal of Business Objectives

Much like the solstice serves as a reset in nature, take this time to reflect on your business’s past achievements and challenges. Encourage your team to leave behind any lingering difficulties and approach the upcoming days with a fresh perspective. Use this renewal of purpose to redefine and refine your business objectives.

2. Infusing Positive Energy and Optimism

As the days grow longer, a natural boost in energy accompanies the increased sunlight. Translate this positive shift into your business culture by fostering creativity, enthusiasm, and a collective can-do attitude among your team. A positive work environment is a breeding ground for innovative solutions and increased productivity.

3. Setting New Business Milestones

The solstice, as a metaphor for progress and achievement, is an ideal time to set new milestones for your business. Work collaboratively with your team to outline clear, attainable goals that align with the overarching vision of your organization. These milestones become beacons guiding your business towards success.

4. Elevating Morale and Team Dynamics

Seasonal changes influence individuals’ moods, and the transition to longer days is often associated with improved well-being. Leverage this positive shift to cultivate a business culture where team members feel valued and supported. Elevated morale contributes to stronger team dynamics, fostering a collaborative and productive atmosphere.

5. Enhancing Business Collaboration and Communication

The metaphor of moving into the light signifies increased visibility and clarity. Capitalize on this by enhancing communication and collaboration within your business. Clear communication channels enable seamless information flow, facilitating better decision-making and overall business efficiency.

6. Adaptability and Resilience in Business Operations

Nature’s adaptability to changing seasons serves as a powerful lesson for businesses—embrace change and cultivate resilience. Equip your business with the ability to adapt to market shifts and emerging trends. A resilient business is not only productive but also capable of navigating challenges and emerging stronger.

7. Celebrating Business Achievements

Finally, the transition from darkness to light is a reason to celebrate business achievements. Recognizing and celebrating success motivates your team and creates a positive atmosphere. Regular acknowledgment of achievements instills a sense of pride and commitment among your team members, fueling continued business success.

Conclusion: Guiding Your Business into the Light

As the holiday season unfolds, let your business celebration extend beyond festivities. Embrace the solstice metaphor not just as a cosmic event but as a guiding principle for building and growing your business. The solstice symbolizes that even in the darkest business challenges, there is the promise of light and renewal. Align your business goals and mindset with the natural rhythm of this metaphorical journey, and watch as your business shines ever brighter in the coming year. Merry Christmas, and may your business journey be filled with the light of success!

If this is something you are interested in learning more about, we would be happy to chat. We have limited spots available, but go ahead and book a free, no strings attached strategy call with us today while spots are still available.

10 Strategies for Thriving as a Business Owner Despite Silent Health Challenges

Living with PCOS, a silent and invisible disease, has been a relentless battle. This hormonal imbalance, triggered by insulin resistance, has left me in constant pain and fatigue. The pain, concentrated in my lower back, and the unyielding exhaustion have stolen precious moments from my life and stifled my adventurous spirit.

As a business owner, this silent disease has posed an even greater challenge. The toll it takes on my health has rippled into my professional life. I’ve lost clients, and friends have distanced themselves, unable to comprehend the magnitude of my struggles. The weight of this invisible burden has led to deep depression, affecting both my relationships and my business.

But amidst this darkness, a glimmer of hope has emerged. I’ve taken control of my health, assembling a dedicated team of professionals who address my physical, emotional, and mental well-being holistically. While I still consult with doctors, this integrated approach has allowed me to reduce medications and turn to natural remedies like Turmeric for pain relief and Vitamin D/B injections to combat fatigue.

I also extend my hand in support to those enduring similar silent battles. The isolation and misunderstanding that accompany silent diseases can be overwhelming. If you find yourself in a similar struggle, please seek help without shame. I wish I had prioritized my well-being sooner. If sharing my story can help just one person, it will be a triumph. Love yourself, build a strong support system, and remember, relief is attainable. Together, we can conquer the darkest of days.

In this blog, we’ll explore 10 ways to navigate these issues while maintaining your role as a business owner.

Acknowledge Your Reality:

The first step is recognizing that you’re dealing with a legitimate health condition. Silent diseases can be isolating, but understanding and accepting your situation is crucial.

Seek Professional Help:

Consult with healthcare professionals who specialize in your condition. As you’ve experienced, having a dedicated team can make a world of difference.

Embrace Holistic Healing:

Explore complementary therapies that address the physical, emotional, and mental aspects of your health. Integrative approaches can be highly effective.

Optimize Your Diet:

Pay attention to the foods you consume. Certain dietary changes, such as incorporating anti-inflammatory foods like turmeric, can alleviate some symptoms.

Prioritize Rest:

Don’t underestimate the power of quality sleep. Develop healthy sleep habits to combat chronic fatigue.

Stay Active:

Regular physical activity, even in moderation, can help manage pain and improve your mood. Consult with a professional for suitable exercises.

Manage Stress:

Stress can exacerbate symptoms. Incorporate stress-reduction techniques such as meditation, yoga, or mindfulness into your daily routine.

Set Realistic Goals:

Understand that your condition might limit your activities at times. Setting achievable goals will help you avoid disappointment.

Communication is Key:

Maintain open and honest communication with your friends, family, and clients. Educate them about your condition to foster understanding and support.

Self-Compassion:

Love yourself and be patient. Remember that you’re not alone in this journey. Seek out and lean on your support system when needed.

By implementing these strategies, you can work towards balancing your health while continuing to thrive as a business owner. Remember, it’s okay to lean on others for support, and your journey can inspire and help others facing similar challenges.

And in closing, I want to express my profound gratitude to those who’ve stood by me. Please, continue to invite me and support me, for I am on the path to recovery. Even on my toughest days, I’ll be living vicariously through your adventures and will be joining you soon.

Why Marketing and Tech are Better Together: The Role of a Tech & Marketing Manager

In today’s digital age, technology has become an integral part of marketing efforts. As such, it’s becoming increasingly important for businesses to have a Tech & Marketing Manager on their team. This is because a Tech & Marketing Manager possesses a unique set of skills that can help businesses to leverage technology to enhance their marketing efforts and drive growth. In this blog, we’ll explore why a Tech & Marketing Manager is what a company needs and why.

What is a Tech & Marketing Manager?

A Tech & Marketing Manager is a marketing professional with a strong technical background. They possess both marketing and technical skills, which allows them to develop and execute marketing strategies that incorporate digital technologies. They specialize in leveraging technology to enhance marketing efforts and create more effective campaigns. This can include managing website content, developing email marketing campaigns, and utilizing social media platforms. A Tech & Marketing Manager is responsible for driving brand awareness, generating leads, and increasing sales revenue through digital channels.

Why does a company need a Tech & Marketing Manager?

Technical expertise

One of the primary reasons why a company needs a Tech & Marketing Manager is for their technical expertise. A Tech & Marketing Manager possesses a deep understanding of technology and how it can be used to enhance marketing efforts. They are knowledgeable about various digital tools, such as marketing automation platforms, email marketing software, and social media management tools. With this expertise, they can effectively use these tools to streamline marketing processes, optimize campaigns, and generate higher returns on investment.

Improved efficiency

Another reason why a company needs a Tech & Marketing Manager is for improved efficiency. With their technical skills, a Tech & Marketing Manager can automate various marketing processes, such as email marketing campaigns, social media posting, and lead nurturing. This automation allows for greater efficiency and saves time and resources, enabling the marketing team to focus on other critical tasks, such as content creation and campaign analysis.

Targeted audience reach

Ah, the Tech & Marketing Manager – the elusive unicorn of the marketing world. With their unique blend of marketing and tech skills, they are the magical beings that can bring a company’s marketing efforts to the next level. So, why do you need one? Well, let me break it down for you.

A Tech & Marketing Manager can also help a company to reach its target audience more effectively. They are skilled in using digital tools to identify and segment audiences based on demographics, behaviors, and interests. This enables the marketing team to create targeted campaigns that resonate with specific groups of people. By using digital tools to understand the behavior of the target audience, Tech & Marketing Managers can craft campaigns that are more likely to convert prospects into customers.

Greater ROI

In addition to improved efficiency and targeted audience reach, a Tech & Marketing Manager can also help a company to generate a greater return on investment (ROI). They are able to measure and analyze marketing metrics such as website traffic, engagement rates, and conversion rates, to determine the effectiveness of marketing campaigns. With this information, they can adjust marketing efforts accordingly to optimize results and increase ROI.

In today’s digital landscape, businesses need to embrace technology to enhance their marketing efforts and drive growth. A Tech & Marketing Manager possesses the technical expertise, efficiency, audience reach, ROI, and innovation that a company needs to stay ahead of the competition. By leveraging digital tools and insights, a Tech & Marketing Manager can help businesses to optimize their marketing efforts, engage with target audiences more effectively, and generate higher returns on investment. Therefore, it’s clear that a Tech & Marketing Manager is an essential asset for any company that wants to succeed in the modern business landscape.

Innovation

Finally, a Tech & Marketing Manager can bring innovation to a company’s marketing efforts. By staying up-to-date with the latest technology and marketing trends, they can introduce new and creative strategies that can set a company apart from its competitors. This can include new methods for engaging with customers, innovative campaign ideas, and creative uses of data and analytics to inform marketing decisions.

Why Hire a Tech and Marketing Manager?

First and foremost, a Tech & Marketing Manager can help your company navigate the ever-changing landscape of marketing technology. Let’s face it, the marketing tech world is a bit of a circus. There are so many tools, platforms, and apps out there that it can make your head spin. But fear not, a Tech & Marketing Manager can help you cut through the noise and find the tools that will make the biggest impact on your marketing efforts.

In addition to helping you find the right tools, a Tech & Marketing Manager can also help you use them effectively. I mean, what good is a shiny new marketing tool if you don’t know how to use it? A Tech & Marketing Manager can train your team on how to use the tools properly, so you can get the most out of them. Plus, they can help you integrate the tools into your existing workflows and processes, so you can work smarter, not harder.

But wait, there’s more! A Tech & Marketing Manager can also help you measure the impact of your marketing efforts. You know that old saying, “you can’t manage what you can’t measure”? Well, it’s true. And a Tech & Marketing Manager can help you measure everything. From website traffic to social media engagement to email open rates, they can help you track it all. And not only that, but they can also help you interpret the data and make informed decisions about how to optimize your marketing efforts.

But perhaps the most valuable thing a Tech & Marketing Manager can bring to the table is their ability to speak both marketing and tech fluently. Let’s face it, marketing folks and tech folks don’t always speak the same language. Marketing folks are all about the creative, while tech folks are all about the data. But a Tech & Marketing Manager can bridge that gap and help everyone get on the same page. They can translate marketing-speak into tech-speak and vice versa, so everyone can understand what’s going on.

And let’s not forget about the innovation factor. A Tech & Marketing Manager is like a mad scientist, always tinkering with new ideas and ways to make your marketing efforts more effective. They’re always on the lookout for the next big thing, whether it’s a new platform or a new way of doing things. And they’re not afraid to experiment and take risks. After all, that’s where innovation comes from – taking risks and trying new things.

Now, I know what you’re thinking – “Wow, a Tech & Marketing Manager sounds too good to be true. Do they really exist?” Yes, they do! But like all unicorns, they’re a rare breed. They’re not just marketers who know a little bit about tech or tech folks who know a little bit about marketing. They’re a special breed that combines the best of both worlds.

So, why should you invest in a Tech & Marketing Manager? Well, they can help you cut through the marketing tech circus, use your tools effectively, measure your impact, bridge the marketing-tech language barrier, and drive innovation. They’re like a one-stop-shop for all things marketing and tech. Plus, they’re just really cool people to have on your team.

In conclusion, if you want to take your marketing efforts to the next level, you need a Tech & Marketing Manager. They’re like the missing puzzle piece that makes everything fit together perfectly. So go ahead, take the leap, and invest in a Tech & Marketing Manager. Your marketing efforts.

If this is something you are interested in learning more about, we would be happy to chat. We have limited spots available, but go ahead and book a free no strings attached strategy call with us today while spots are still available

Tech VA vs. Marketing Manager: The Battle of Business Titans

Let’s face it, the world of business is filled with all sorts of characters, each with their own unique skill sets and roles. Two of these characters are the Tech VA (Virtual Assistant) and the Marketing Manager. While they may sound like a dynamic duo, they actually perform very different tasks within a company.

First up, the Tech VA. These virtual wizards provide administrative or technical support to a business or individual remotely. They specialize in various technical tasks like managing websites, databases, software applications, and social media platforms. Think of them as the behind-the-scenes tech geniuses that keep your business running smoothly.

And then there’s the Marketing Manager. These brave souls are responsible for creating and implementing marketing strategies that promote a business’s products or services. They work closely with the sales and advertising teams to identify target markets, develop campaigns, and monitor the effectiveness of marketing efforts. They are responsible for driving brand awareness, generating leads, and increasing sales revenue. Think of them as the smooth-talking, fast-thinking marketing gurus that put your business on the map.

Now, let’s talk about the differences between the two. The Tech VA is like your favorite IT guy, only virtual. They’re the ones you call when your website crashes or when your social media accounts need a little love. They work on a project basis, which means they’re always there when you need them, but you don’t have to pay them when you don’t. Plus, they’re usually pretty tech-savvy and can help you navigate the complex world of technology.

On the other hand, the Marketing Manager is like your favorite hype man. They’re the ones who get people excited about your business and make sure your brand is reaching the right people. They work on an ongoing basis, which means they’re always there to help you promote your products or services. Plus, they’re usually pretty creative and can come up with all sorts of wacky ideas to get people talking about your business.

So, what’s the verdict? Well, it all depends on your business needs. If you’re constantly running into technical issues, then a Tech VA might be just what you need to keep things running smoothly. But if you’re looking to expand your customer base and drive sales, then a Marketing Manager might be the way to go.

In the end, both the Tech VA and the Marketing Manager are valuable members of any business team. They bring their own unique skills and expertise to the table, and they’re always ready to help you succeed. So, the next time you’re struggling with a technical issue or need some help promoting your business, just remember that there’s a Tech VA or Marketing Manager out there ready to lend a hand (or a brain).

3 Crucial Hurdles Before You See Your First Client

Congratulations! You have decided to become an entrepreneur. It is a big step and if you are unfamiliar with the process, it can be very daunting. We are going to look
at the steps of starting a virtual assistant business, but these guidelines can apply to any other field. Making sure you have cleared these hurdles will help you plan, prepare, and manage your business more effectively.

Game Plan

If you are serious about starting a business you have to have a plan, specifically a business plan. Even if you don’t need outside funding to get going, you will want to have a plan to get your focus on what your business is and know what you are really going after. Your business plan should have an executive summary, a business description, a market analysis, a competitor analysis, a design plan, a management plan, and a financial summary. Your game plan is your focus. This is your map and directions to achieve your dream.

Legal

Every business requires legal paperwork to get started and legal considerations in operations. A virtual business carries an even heavier burden when it comes to privacy, security, copyright, and taxation. There are many things you must do before you can ever even call yourself a business and this can vary depending on where you live, so make sure you are paying attention to the details and get everything you need. Here is a quick list of the type of legal documentation that must be in place. This is not exhaustive by any means make sure you check with your local governments about all requirements.

Decide on a legal structure: Is your business sole-proprietorship, partnership, or LLC, etc.? If you are not a sole-proprietorship, everything other structure needs additional legal formation.
Register your business name with the local state government.
Register for state and local taxes, including getting a tax identification number if necessary.
Apply for your business license and any permits needed in your location.

Your First Client

Now things are really exciting! You are all set up and you are ready to take on your first client. Here’s the kicker. How exactly do you do that? A virtual assistant is likely contacted by the potential client via email or maybe a phone call, and you will want to have all you ducks in a row when that first client contacts you. There are a few more things you will want to have ready.

Pricing structure: You will need to know what you charge for what services. Do you work hourly or by package? Do you charge different rates for different projects? Have this set and formatted where you can provide it for any potential client.
Hours: If you ask any entrepreneur, they work all the time! And so will you. Your unbillable hours will likely be more than your billable hours as you get your business going. But even though you are up working until midnight, you don’t want clients contacting you at all hours. Set a schedule where you will be available to your clients and make them respect that.
Account and business management: For your own sanity, you will want to set up some form of business management software. Use something to take care of the business end of things, accounting and bookkeeping, but you should also implement something that will be your project manager. This will help you track hours, due dates, and statuses of all your projects. You don’t want to let anything slip through the cracks.
Legal contract: You need something to help protect you. You need to have your contracted hours, tasks, wages, and length of contract described and include subjects such as copyright, privacy, time off, payment options, etc. This would be something good to have a lawyer look over, as you will want to implement it with every client.
Get to know you: As a virtual assistant it is harder to get to know you clients. You are not working with them daily or face-to-face. You will also work with many businesses that may not be in a field that you are familiar with. Make a questionnaire that you can have clients fill out about themselves and their business to help you understand them and their goals to better help their business.

Make sure you do your research. You don’t want to just jump in over your head. If you have everything lined out early, you will have less headache and stress down the road. After you clear the planning, legal, and your first client hurdle, you will have the confidence you need to make your virtual assistant business a roaring success.

25 Ways A Virtual Assistant Can Help Grow Your Business

2013 is a year for huge goals and even bigger execution. Just as the saying “It takes a village to raise a child”, the same goes for the growth of your business. To grow to the next level you need to enlist a team and practice the art of teamwork to help build a meaningful business. The problem is many new businesses do not have a full bank account and are often times working a second job or running their businesses off their credit cards. They just don’t have gobs of money to throw around….YET!

When I first started my own business, I too was working a second job and was just taking on small administrative assistant type of projects here and there to help support my family and my crazy shoe fetish. After a year or two went by of doing this, I realized that there was a viable market for what I was already offering. At this time, way back when, the term “Virtual Assistant” was not a main stream term. When I said Virtual Assistant, I would often get the cocked headed looks, just like what a puppy might do the first time it hears a peculiar sound. People would often times give me that tilted head look and followed up with many questions on what a Virtual Assistant actually does. To this day, 9+ years later, people are still intrigued what a Virtual Assistant does and how they can help their business grow. You may still be asking yourself what the heck is a Virtual Assistant exactly and if you need further explanation, please check it out here.

So, lets get to the nitty gritty and the real reason you have landed on this blog. My first guess why you are here is because you are a small business owner, entrprenuer, soloprenuer, momprenuer or a “preneuer” of some kind and are looking for ways to get everything done and still maintain a healthy work/life balance. You also have likely heard somewhere along the way that if you are in business for yourself you really should look at partnering and aligning yourself with a top-notch Virtual Assistant. Because there is no way you can do it all on your own, stay sane, continue to love what you do and most importantly still be profitable. You know what? Whoever they are, they were right, you can’t do it all on your own.

Remember at the beginning of this blog I referenced “it takes a village to raise a child” well it holds true for your business as well. I am not going to lie, a Virtual Assistant can be your saving grace and best friend. It truly is a method to help you stay on the right path and to take the burden of every day mundane tasks off your to-do list and fill your action item list with revenue generating work that you have a passion for. I mean the whole reason you went into business for yourself was because you have a passion for something, right! You never want to lose that zest! So to hold onto that zestiness, a Virtual Assistant is a great resource and guide to help your business grow to the next level, while still staying in love with what you do and as a bonus, stay within your budget. The best part is that as a Virtual Assistant we get it…we too are entrepreneurs offering a service to other entrepreneurs. We get what it takes to run a business.

To demonstrate what a great asset a Virtual Assistant can be, my team and I have compiled a list of tasks and projects that a online business manager can do to help you and your business grow. All this added value will generally only cost pennies on the dollar compared to a traditional assistant that requires an office, insurance, supervision, management, taxes and legalities…just to name a few.

How can a virtual assistant help your business grow? Well check out these 25 ways a Virtual Assistant can help grow your business.

Business Plan Development
Small Business Coaching and Guidance
Marketing Plan Development and Management
Project Coordination & Management
Event Coordination & Management (Teleseminar, Webinars, Seminars, Retreats, and other live events)
Social Media Marketing and Management
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Keyword Discovery
Competitor Analysis
Writing of Press Releases
Writing of SEO rich Blogs
Customer and Client Care and Support
Online and Offline Research
Word Processing and Data Entry
Prepare and Create PowerPoint Presentations
Update and manage your website
Copywriting
Proofreading
Graphic Design
Create and Prepare online Opt In Gifts
Create and Prepare Auto Responder Series
Travel Arrangements & Logistics
Affiliate Membership Site Setup
Online Store Management
Executive Scheduling

AND SOOOOO much more! If a task or service is not listed above, just ask. This list is just the tip of the iceberg. A well oiled Virtual Assistant who is a leader in their field will always cater to their clients needs and come up with the best solution for you and your business. If you are a over tired, over worked and unbalanced entrepreneur that is looking for more information, look no further and reach out and contact us today.

How Do I Give Someone Access to my Facebook Ads Manager Account

There may come a time when you will want help with your Facebook advertising. Instead of handing over the keys to your entire Facebook account you can give someone access to your Facebook Ads Manager account in less than 10 steps.

Log in to your Facebook account as your personal Profile.
Click the Ads Manager link on the left sidebar.
Click Account Settings at the top (next to billing)
It may prompt you to enter your password, if Facebook does, enter your password
Scroll down to Ad Account Roles
Click Add a Person
When you start typing the name of the user you want to add, a list of your Facebook Friends appears; select the name of person you want to add from the drop-down list. Note: If you are not friends with them on Facebook they will not appear, but you can enter their email and invite them to access your Facebook ads manager account that way too.
Select the access level. You can change this at anytime. I suggest Ad Account Advertiser.
Click Submit – The person you add will immediately have access to your ad account according to the role you chose for them

It really is as simple as that. You can get help, guidance and feedback on your facebook ads that you are running. In my opinion, having a few awesome and educated collaborators who know Facebook Ads and to give them access to your Facebook Ads Manager is something so very important to your social exposure and growth is PRICELESS!

And as always, if this stuff makes you dizzy and you just don’t want to take the time to learn all the ins and out Facebook ads, remember that Alpine Small Business Solutions, is your one stop shop for all your social media management and business building needs. We got your back, so give us a jingle or shoot over an email anytime we’re here to help.

Thank you for visiting our blog. We hope you enjoyed it. As a friendly reminder don’t forget to share this blog on your social networks and please comment, we love hearing from you!

This blog is brought to you by Alpine Small Business Solutions, Your Virtual Assistant and Online Business Manager Solution.

Bring Business to you through YouTube

Are you looking to increase your online visibility, build trust, and convert prospects into customers, then online video and YouTube marketing need to be part of your online marketing activity.

Why is YouTube so important? Today we enjoy faster connection speeds, unlimited hosting, and a video camera in every pocket or purse. That makes creating and sharing videos incredibly easy and affordable.

In addition, videos often appear on the first page of search results, and even when they don’t, people often go directly to YouTube to conduct a search. In fact, YouTube is the second most popular search engine in the world behind Google, which owns it.

YouTube also gives us advanced annotation tools that allow us to create clickable calls to action within our videos to encourage engagement and subscriptions. With promoted videos you can even create links that take viewers to your website or other web property.

Make sure you are creating compelling videos. Most of us will never create a “viral” video with millions of views because we don’t own a piano-playing cat or a sneezing baby panda, but thankfully those aren’t required for success. In fact, most of us couldn’t handle a million new customers all at once, anyway. Instead, you should create content that addresses your audience’s needs. Your goal should be to create videos that are helpful, valuable and compelling to your prospects and clients. If you can blog about it, you can create a video about it. Your video content may consist of how-to’s, answers to frequently asked questions, expert interviews, screen video captures, slide shows and much more.

Work your keywords into your video. There are four obvious places to use your keywords in each video:

Title: Just like your blog posts, make sure the title of your video includes your keywords. Twice is nice.
Description: Don’t scrimp here! Too many people ignore the description, or just write a one-sentence description. Feel free to write a blog-post length description, working in your keyword phrase(s) multiple times.
Tags: Make sure you use your keywords and variation of those keywords in the tags section.
Narrative: YouTube is listening! YouTube takes your audio and creates an automatic transcript and uses this as part of their algorithm. So bake those keywords into the narrative as well.

Include a call-to-action. Want people to take an action at the end of your video? Tell them what to do. “For more on virtual assistants visit us at alpinesbsolutions.com.”

You can also include a clickable link in your description. Best practice is to start your description with the URL you want to drive traffic to and make sure you include the http://…otherwise the link won’t work.

Leverage social media to attract more eyeballs. Once your video is live, you can create a surge of traffic by posting links to your social media outposts, such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Make sure you write a blog post with your video embedded in the post. And don’t forget about Google+, which, like YouTube, is part of the Google empire. Every view counts towards your total view, whether your viewer is at YouTube or not.

While YouTube is very helpful don’t expect one video to change your business. As mentioned before: forget about your dreams of creating a viral video. Instead, focus on creating a steady, consistent stream of helpful videos that address your ideal customer’s biggest problems.

That will help you increase your online visibility and drive more qualified traffic to your website.

Be unique but be concise with what you have available and who you are. In the end, this will be one of the most helpful tools you have for your business.

And as always, if this stuff makes you dizzy and you just don’t want to take the time to learn all the ins and out of YouTube, Remember that Alpine Small Business Solutions, is your one stop shop for all your marketing, Virtual Assistant, Online Business Manager and business building need. We got your back, so give us a jingle or shoot over an email anytime we’re here to help.

Thank you for visiting our blog. We hope you enjoyed it. As a friendly reminder don’t forget to share this blog on your social networks and please comment, we love hearing from you!

This blog is brought to you by Alpine Small Business Solutions, Your Virtual Assistant and Online Business Manager Solution. Delegate. Grow. Prosper

8 Steps to Save You from Computer Hard Drive Doom

My affair with laptops has not been a smooth road. I have gone through four laptop computers in the course of a year and a few months. I wasn’t careless or doing anything really cool, it has simply been a matter of unfortunate luck. Now let me make this clear, all you Mac and PC lovers, this is not a duel of which is better because it has happened on both systems and each time it equally sucked. On the up side though, through my own trial and error, I have learned enough to feel that I have good advice to give regarding protecting yourself from a computer hard drive crash. Despite the fact, I just yesterday, had yet another hard drive crash, I feel that I have learned from each instance including the most recent mishap and have goodness to share. This time my computer hard drive failure was due to an overheating issue. I lost a full days’ worth of work, but would I have not taken certain precautions I would have lost more than that, including my sanity.

8 Steps to Save You from Computer Hard Drive Doom

1. Create a backup recovery disc. Most computers have this function and by doing a backup of your system it will save your booty if and/or when a hard drive crash happens to you or someone you love. This is not a quick process, but it is a MUST. A back up disc saves all your factory settings and system keys. If you are not sure how to do this on your computer, look it up in your computer manual or use good ol’ google to do a search on your model and follow the instructions. A back up will typically take about 3-5 DVD discs, please note that you will need to use DVD’s not CD’s. DVD’s have more storage and will take fewer discs to create the back up. Carve out about 1-2 hours of your time to do it. You will need to be attentive enough to change out DVD’s so I suggest, keeping the computer close, pop some popcorn, put in a movie and let the system do its thing.

2. Make sure you have a file box that houses all your computer manuals, warranties, as well as hard copies of your software programs. If you have downloaded software from the internet, print a copy of the software keys and credentials and place it in the box. You will need this when you reload all of your software programs.

3. YOU MUST, MUST, MUST, open a Dropbox account and use it. If not Dropbox then something similar, but I am a huge supporter of Dropbox and I think everyone should be using their service. Dropbox is free up to 2gb of storage and is super cheap for up to 50gb of storage. I cannot tell you how much Dropbox has saved my life when my computers crashed. If you are in business for yourself or are a student and you don’t have a system to load documents and images virtually this is an AWESOME and cheap solution. Check it out and take a tour. Can I just say – I love you, Dropbox.

4. Be sure to have a saved list of all your logins and passwords in a folder in your Dropbox. Trust me you will be happy you did. Don’t name the file something obvious, but rather something dry and dull, so if someone finds their way into your Dropbox or computer they won’t be drawn to it. You can also password protect the document or excel workbook, just to add an extra layer of security. If you aren’t sure how to password protect a Microsoft Word and Excel document click here.

5. Export your internet bookmarks. If you are like me you probably save your most frequented and used websites in a bookmark folder or on a toolbar in your internet browser. Now just think, what if your computer crashes? You will lose all the bookmarked pages and information and all the invested time that you might have spent bookmarking them. I bookmark all kinds of great stuff all the way from songs I like to play on my mandolin, my scrabble dictionary, my favorite recipes, work related research and of course my favorite sites like Facebook. OMG, the thought of losing all of it makes me cringe, so I highly suggest saving the headache and doing a simple bookmark export, NOW! Click here for instructions from Chrome on how to export your bookmarks. Click here for instructions from Firefox on how to export your bookmarks. Pick your pleasure.

6. If you deal with any overheating issue, which was my problem this time, I highly suggest buying a cooling unit for your laptop. When a laptop overheats it will eventually be doomsday for your regular hard drive, unless you have a Solid State Drive, which I will talk about next. If you are not sure if you have overheating issues do a temperature test. You can use a free utility like SpeedFan to let you know if you are in trouble and need a solution. If you need to cool your baby down you can get a cooling station anywhere from $10 – $60 depending on your budget. You can even get one at Walmart if you need to do it today.

7. Opt for a Solid State Hard Drive (SSD). This may be a new term that you may not of heard before, but it is truly the wave of the future in the computer hardware world. Of course I want you to do your own due diligence, but I am telling ya, if you are in the market for a new computer or you are looking to replace your hard drive a SSD is the smart direction to go.

What is a Solid State Drive you might ask? A Solid State Hard Drive doesn’t contain any moving parts and therefore does not suffer from the common hard drive problems when dropped, banged or shaken. In addition a Solid State Drive is nearly impossible to overheat unless it is being deliberately or accidentally heated through a source other than the computer itself. Bottom line is that the old traditional hard drives are MORE likely to fail and create stress than a Solid State. With no moving parts, the device has fewer opportunities to break down. The down side is they are a newer technology, are expensive and you will get less storage for more money, but I am telling you it is well worth the investment.

Guess what hard drive I have in my computer now? Yes a Solid State and it is running faster than ever. Check out this youtube video showing the comparison of a regular hard drive versus a Solid State to see what I mean about faster.

8. Find yourself some computer geek friends. They have tons of wonderful information they can share and also direct you to the best forums, software secrets and other nifty stuff on the net. Without their expertise and knowledge I would have been crawled up in the fetal position more times than I would like to admit. I want to send a special shout out to all the computer nerds in my life. Thank you for all your help, advice and patience. You rock.

Imposter Syndrome and How to Overcome it as a Virtual Assistant

Have you ever thought to yourself, “I can’t actually do this”? Or, “People think I’m good enough, but if they only knew. It’s not that I’m qualified, I’ve just been lucky before and that’s why I appear successful.”

These are the lies that imposter syndrome tell us. And these lies keep us from taking that big step (like becoming a virtual assistant) and rob us of potential happiness (like the freedom of life a virtual assistant enjoys). But, once you recognize imposter syndrome in your life, you can work towards taking down that beast and living confidently as the treasure you are.

Putting a Name to the Monster

Isn’t it funny how just having a name for something instantly makes it less scary? Shout out to psychologists Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes, who came up with the term imposter syndrome in the 70s. At the time, Clance and Imes believed the feeling was a uniquely female experience. Of course, since then the psychological community realized men absolutely can feel imposter syndrome (but it is much more common in women than men).

Clance and Imes described it as that feeling of “phoniness in people who believe that they are not intelligent, capable or creative despite evidence of high achievement.”

This terrible sinking gut feeling is found in highly successful people who are motivated to achieve, but live in fear of being exposed as frauds.

Do you see the irony here? It’s those who should be the most confident that doubt themselves the most.

Imposter syndrome is often confused with a few other things, so let’s clear that up right now. Imposter syndrome is not humility (which is an accurate view saying your worth isn’t more than someone else). Imposter syndrome is a warped and false view of your “lack” of success and ability. You’re not failing to express your talents out of humbleness, but out of self-doubt. You believe your talents aren’t worth talking about (even though they are).

Imposter syndrome isn’t just being a realist (which involves a calculated hesitation to taking a chance by weighing the risks and benefits). Imposter syndrome is a paralyzing fear preventing you from acting, which undermines your own success because you’re convinced you can’t (even though you can).

Imposter syndrome rears its ugly head to keep you from being all you can be. It stops you from expressing initiative at work, pitching ideas, or even starting a new career. It’s like a bird who clips her own wings before she has a chance to fly because she’s falsely convinced she can’t.

Imposter Syndrome and Success

Remember, imposter syndrome occurs in highly successful people. Our brains have to reconcile the poor view of ourselves and our objective success, and it does so in two ways.

It tells us we just got lucky. It wasn’t our hard work, talent, and ambition that got us that success. We just happened to be at the right place at the right time (which, by the way, is why you shouldn’t take a chance now because your luck may run out).

Or, it tells us our success is overblown. Our hard work, talent, and ambition aren’t really that great. Other people make a way bigger deal than they should (and because of it, you should really feel like a fake and an imposter for believing you’re capable of achieving more).

Imposter syndrome is a terrible, agonizing feeling. And the worst part is we don’t (and shouldn’t) have to feel this way!

Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

Here’s the good news about imposter syndrome: you don’t have to live with it! It will take a bit of time and effort, but you can live a life free of imposter syndrome.

Recognize you’re not alone. Please, take comfort in the fact that you’re not the only one struggling here. Heck, even famous people like Maya Angelou, Kate Winslet, and Tina Fey all vocalize to the media that they deal with imposter syndrome. You’re definitely not the only one feelings these feelings right now. And there are plenty of people who came before you, took on the beast, and came out the other side victorious.
Don’t try to fix it with success. Sometimes people think the way to overcome imposter syndrome is to pursue more accomplishments. But, the underlying root of imposter syndrome is not being able to accurately internalize your own success and abilities. Simply piling on more success won’t do anything to make imposter syndrome go away.
Stop telling people in your life what you think they want to hear. Part of imposter syndrome is feeling like a fake. When you give the answers to your boss, co-workers, family members, etc. that you think they want to hear, you just add to feelings of being a phony.
Identify when you fall into the trap. If you start thinking imposter syndrome thoughts, take a moment to stop, recognize it, and then re-frame your perspective. Maybe you’re thinking “there’s no way I can become a virtual assistant. Who would hire me with my lack of experience? I know a business has so many people to choose from, and I simply can’t compete.” Take that thought and shift it to be more accurate, like “While I haven’t done a specific virtual assistant job before, I completed very similar work at my old job. I do have the writing and analytical skills needed to do this type of work. And with this course, I’m getting the job-specific information I need. I can do the work of a virtual assistant, and do it well.”
Read through others’ experiences. It’s important to not fall into the “I’m the only one feeling this way trap”- it leaves us feeling powerless and stuck. Read books like “Lean In” by Sheryl Sandberg, which discusses common fears of women in the workplace. Or read these celebrity quotes on imposter syndrome.
Physically write your success. Make a list that you can re-read when you’re experiencing imposter syndrome thoughts. Include not only your success, but what you did to achieve them in order to combat any “it was just luck” false thinking.
Place yourself in positions of applying your expertise. By actively sharing and discussing what you know, you’ll be able to see that you know more than you give yourself credit for. Volunteer as a mentor to someone else in your industry (or even someone interested in your industry). Join industry-focused Facebook groups and answer questions and offer advice. You’ll quickly see that you know more than you realized.
Reach out to loved ones. It’s scary, but it’s important to share with others what you’re going through so they can be a support system. Try to find people in your life who feel the same way. It’s therapeutic to talk with others who understand from experience how it feels. Get one or two cheerleaders who can talk down your negative self-talk with reminders of your capabilities and successes.

Imposter syndrome is a terrible thing to feel, but it can get better! Know that you are capable, you are smart, and you can do this!

Until next time,

Jessica