I love sharing my feedback with clients on my opinion of programs, including InfusionSoft. Coming from my extensive knowledge of 1ShoppingCart, I have to say there are several distinct differences. Both programs have pros and cons and I enjoy working in both of them. So…I have to say I haven’t decided yet which I would recommend over the other. But, I will share with you here what I tell my current clients when asked this question about what I have found that I like about and what I am not to crazy about with InfusionSoft.

PROS:

• InfusionSoft does has EXCEPTIONAL broadcast and segmenting abilities. That is what it is known for. I absolutely love the way it allows you to segment and send very very targeted emails. Let’s say you want to send an email to those on your newsletter list and EXCLUDE those who have signed up for your teleclass or product you are promoting already. Piece of cake.
• I love the way you can create a follow up sequence task. For example, you can create a “task” via an email that will prompt a team member or even yourself a to do item after a purchase has been made. Love that. Automation at its best.
• They have free technical phone support. Gotta give them thumbs up for that. Seriously. Especially as a Virtual Assistant and Online Business Manager it is critical to get immediate support…and FREE.
• Very detailed customer record section. You can see what emails were sent to each contact, which were opened by them and more. Very very cool.

CONS:

• Interface is a bit more confusing than most. It has a much harder learning curve (but then again, free support to help you with it!)
• Shopping cart is not as easy as I would like.  I find there are several steps to take in order to get it setup. (But love the fact that you have shopping cart abilities)
• Support documents are hard to read. Much easier to just call support again, which is free.

I will continue to share with you as I learn more. There is so much about this program – but for now, I am still on the fence as to which is the best…

About six months ago, something touched me – something moved me. A commercial – A Message. Now those who know me well can testify that yes, while up in the wee-hours of the night with any of my children, I have had a tendency to order infomercial products. But this is different. This makes a difference. It is not a CD collection, gadget that makes cool looking sandwiches with your leftovers or the air climber that is to help you lose weight (ok so I did get the air climber too). This was to help someone get the stuff they needed that could not be done on $25 a month budget. Yes, I typed that correctly, $25 a month.

That is how I met Mary and became her sponsor through Compassion International. I decided that while I sat here well fed – others were not and although I am one person, I could still help. Mary lives on the plains of Kiini, home to approximately 4,000 residents. Typical houses are constructed of earthen floors, brick walls and iron sheet roofs. Her diet consists of maize and beans and she is faced with malaria, a common health problem in her area.  She is supported solely by her mother who is a farmer.

My reason for this today is that I would like to send Mary a Christmas gift and provide her with more than just my monthly sponsorship fee. And – I have decided that all my clients can help!

For the month of September, I am sending Compassion International 5% of my earnings so that Mary can have a special Christmas gift. So, if you are a current client – nothing you need to do but know that I am doing this and for those of you who are thinking about having my team help – now is the month to get started!

About Compassion International. They exist as a Christian child advocacy ministry that releases children from spiritual, economic, social and physical poverty and enables them to become responsible, fulfilled Christian adults.

Founded by the Rev. Everett Swanson in 1952, Compassion began providing Korean War orphans with food, shelter, education and health care, as well as Christian training.

Today, Compassion helps more than 1 million children in 25 countries.

I was blown away when Dave shared these statistics with me:

- Most people lose 28% or more of their work day to interruptions and the recovery time from interruptions

- Most people can only work 11 minutes until being interrupted

- Most people report being stressed out and too busy, IN SPITE OF  the technology that was intended to give them more time

I wanted to let you know Dave is offering a FREE webinar this week and you can bet I’ll be on it!  I am continually amazed at how much FREE and useful content Dave always gives away.

Check it out! I’ve already saved my seat!

I multitask during many aspects of my life. Here are a few examples:

1) While cooking dinner I will open/review mail, load the dishwasher and make lunches. (Have always wondered why I burn the bread every single time!) Dave’s book clearly tells me why!

2) While driving I tell my kids to ask me their homework questions they have. Why not?  (I Wondered why my daughter received a “D” on her homework I helped her with.) Dave’s book clearly tells me why!

3) While sending an email I was also on the phone paying my water bill. Who likes to wait during those automated messages so why not compose an email. (Couldn’t figure out why later I sent the email to the wrong “Joe”.) Dave’s book clearly tells me why!

After learning about Dave’s book The Myth of Multitasking, I decided I had to go to the bookstore last weekend and get it. Let me tell you. I couldn’t put the book down and read the entire book on Sunday afternoon. Amazing. His book is amazing. He clearly shows me how multitasking is hurting me – way more than it is helping me.

Dave says in the first chapter of his book, “Your lack of effectiveness has everything to do with your multitasking”. Wow. Is he serious?

Still skeptical I continue reading – and by the time I got to his ” multitasking test” (which I LOVED!) I realized, Holy Cow! He is really on to something here.

I recommend you check out his book The Myth of Multitasking, or if anything, his free training videos that will for sure give you something to chew on if you think Multitasking is effective!

1) Customer support via telephone. Are you required to only use a help desk or email to get support? For me personally, I like to pick up the phone and talk to someone who can assist me.

2) CPanel – do they have CPanel or another user friendly control panel interface? This can be helpful especially for those who are not very technical.

3) Fantastico – or the ability to easily install wordpress and other ecommerce and blog applications.

4) Backups. Do they backup your server? If so, how often do they back it up, how long is the data retained by them and is there a fee for them to restore.

and newly added #5 – drumroll please….

5) Email distribution limitations…what are they? You may not have a large list now, but hopefully soon you will and then will your growth be at their mercy? (learned the hard way with this one )

To Your Online Success!

Amber

Elizabeth was looking for something that would allow us to actually set the time she was available – opposed to the times she was not available. Let me tell you, not too easy to do with some of the other online schedulers out there. Remembering Sarah’s suggestion a few months back, I decided to give Time Driver a try.

Wowzer! This system was a piece of cake!!! Love it. It allowed me to quickly and easily set up a specific group of times for Elizabeth that she is available for coaching – and then assigns a url for us to use in sending out to her clients for them to schedule. And, they offer a 90-day trial and does not require a credit card. Who does that anymore? Not 30 but 90 days…nice! And, get this. If you like it, after 90 days the cost is only $29.95 for an entire year!

The only thing I found a bit confusing at first was that Time Driver tries to be “smart” and uses the timezone that is set in your computer settings. So for me, as a VA, I wanted to set these times up for Elizabeth as Eastern, but I am in the pacific time zone. Once I figured out how it worked, I simply adjusted the times I entered to be pacific – and made a note to her clients that the times shown on the calendar were specific to those set up in their own computer system.

So far so good. I will continue to use it during the 90 day trial and continue to evaluate. If you use this, I would love to hear your comments and reviews!

To Your Online Success,
Amber

My 8 week old son is smiling…and I am home to capture it. Why? Because of my desire and determination four years ago to start my own business.

I became tired of dropping off my kids for others to raise and enjoy. I became frustrated working hard for those who reaped all the benefits and showed little appreciation for my dedication and continual sacrifices.

And now, with my latest addition to my family, I get to support and come along besides some amazing internet entrepreneurs and be able to capture moments like these!

You’re in good hands with my good friend the Deduction Diva as she guides you through the ins and outs of this rule laden area of business taxation. Here is just some of what you’ll learn:

Business Travel, Meals & Entertainment Defined
Specific Documentation requirements
How to be strategic while remaining legal with your tax deductions
Myths and Rumors about the deductions
What to do if you earn a trip or cruise
Making Family Business Travel deductible
and much more . . .

Date:  February 12th

Call time:  9:30PM Eastern Time / 8:30PM Central Time / 7:30PM Mountain Time / 6:30PM Pacific Time.

Act now – special pricing is available until midnight – February 12th.

Regularly priced at $27.95, you can attend the call live and get the download for only $15.95.

http://tinyurl.com/deductiondiva

Leaders are responsible for making their team feel supported. A leader must engage in five kinds of behavior that have been proven to be effective in the virtual working environment.

1.) Monitors the team’s work effectively and gives feedback and reactions to the problems by understanding the root.

2.) Provides support to a team member’s decision-making and actions

3.) Helps lessen the stressful situations for those working with them and socializes with the team members.

4.) Recognizes good works of the individual.

5.) Consults subordinates about their work and is open to the ideas and opinions of each.

A team’s interaction with one another is negative when the leader is engaged in the three kinds of ineffective actions which are

1.) ineffectively monitors the work and displays an inadequate comprehension of their team’s capabilities and provides negative and non-constructive feedback and delay on the checking of the status of work.

2.) failure to clarify objectives and roles by giving assignments that aren’t the responsibilities of a team member and

3.) ineffectively dealing with problems at hand.

Therefore, leader must be on top of his game when it comes to the responsibilities of each team member. By being updated on the situation, they will have an easier time coming up with a solution when a problem arises. This makes it easier for the team and the leader as well.

By supporting each individual member, they will be able to reach out to them in ways that they would like from a leader. By sympathizing with each member, the leader gets to know him and her on both a personal and professional level that will be beneficial to the team.