Welcome to the next issue of "The VAnetworking Newsletter" distributed twice a month to your inbox.

Virtual Assistant Shopping Network ~ Shop here for all your VA needs to help support and keep us free since profits go towards maintaining our VAnetworking Forum.

• Forum News
• Feature Article - Holiday Sentiments: The Perfect Opportunity to Boost a VAs Reputation
• Hot Techie Tip - How to Track Santa and See What's Going On at the North Pole
• VAccolade of the Year - Crystal Pina
• Forum Hot Discussion Topics
• Motivational Moment
• Ask Me Virtually Anything
• Last Minute Goodies
• Advertise With Us

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How to Track Santa and See What's Going On at the North Pole

All the preparations for this year are in place! Come back each day to receive updates from the North Pole and to discover new surprises in the Kid's Countdown Village

Santa's elves have been busier than usual this year preparing for Christmas Eve. Click Here to see what's been going on, and join in on the fun!

~ Courtesy of Norad

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VAccolade - Business Entrepreneur of the Month

Presentation of our VAccolade Business Entrepreneur banner on your website is an honorable recognition demonstrating to potential clients and site visitors your professional commitment to excellence as a Virtual Assistant (VA) business entrepreneur.

We will choose a VAccolade business entrepreneur each week at Virtual Assistant Networking Association and feature one of these VAccolade business entrepreneurs in our newsletter each month. Read more about the VAccolade and nominate a VA you think deserves recognition.

Congratulations to Crystal Pina ~ VAccolade of the Year

From all of our VAccolade Weekly Business Entrepreneurs, there is always one that stands out every year over and above the rest.

Click here to read the Congratulatories!

To see previous winners, click:
VAccolade of the Year 2007
VAccolade of the Year 2008

Other Recognized VAccolade's this past month:

Jenny McKinney of Offsite Office Professionals
Jan Clutter of Point & Click VA Services

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Do you know of a VAnetworking member that you would like to nominate for the VAccolade Award? Click here to nominate!

Forum Hot Topics of Discussion

Some very informative and interesting hot topics are currently happening at our VAnetworking Forum. Pop by and have your say. If you find you have troubles reaching any of the forum links below, make sure you are logged in with your username and password first.

Read the Top 10 Posts this very minute at VAnetworking's forum.

Everything Virtual Assistance > Social Media & Networking (Online or Off-line) > Twitter Lists ~ Anyone using Twitter Lists yet? Do you like them?? I think I see the benefits but every time I sit down to set-up the lists, I think, "this is going to take forever".

Everything Virtual Assistance > Communication Tips, Tricks and Questions > Blackberry Or ? ~ I've just completed Day 4 of the VBSS so I'm a long way off actually getting my VA business off the ground. However, I was thinking of asking Santa for a Blackberry this Christmas and wondered if it was a good idea or if I should ask for something different (I have been good, honest).

General Virtual Assistant Questions > Project Management Tools, recommendations for software ~ I think it was thru VANetworking I attended an event that was a project management software that seemed really great, but didn't need anything like that at the time. Now I need something and forgot - does anyone remember this or have a suggestion.

	Start Your Own PROFITABLE, Home-based Business with the . . .   Virtual Business   Startup System (VBSS) For Aspiring and Successful Virtual Assistants, Administrative Assistants and Home Based Business Entrepreneurs globally! Over 130 online business templates, business workbook, industry leader business books, website, hosting, domain name plus loads more... Written by Tawnya Sutherland ~ A Certified Internet Marketing Specialist and Virtual Assistant. Learn from one who has been there and knows what it takes to sell your services profitably online ... Click Here For More Information on how to get your business online easily and quickly ... 100% GUARANTEED" or Download a 48 page sampler of the VBSS Check out our NEW VBSS! VBSS NOW Available in 3 EASY PAYMENTS! Call Tawnya Toll Free at 1-866-943-6665 Check out Tawnya's New VA Startup Blog!

This is my wish for you: peace of mind, prosperity through the year, happiness that multiplies, health for you and yours, fun around every corner, energy to chase your dreams, joy to fill your holidays!
~ D.M. Dellinger

Visit our VAnetworking Forum for more motivational moments and inspirational stories

Ask Me Virtually Anything  

Yep, that's right. We want to gather REAL questions from REAL virtual business people just like you. So fire away about whatever is on your mind. As long as it's related to doing business online, I will try to help!

And if your question is selected for an upcoming edition of Ask Me Virtually Anything we will gladly give you credit. So be sure to include your name, company and URL with your question. (Unless of course you wish to remain anonymous in which case, please let me know!) Just send an email to Karri Flatla with "Ask Me Virtually Anything" in the Subject line.

Now let's get this show on the road …...

Question: I need a domain name for my business. How do I go about selecting and purchasing one?

Answer: Most businesses who hire a web marketing company or designer to put up a website are more interested in results than process. While that’s understandable, blind trust is a liability in any business transaction. By not taking the time to understand what’s inside the black box, you may be putting your business–and even your reputation–on the line. One of the most common “black box” issues I see is business owners entrusting their web designer or marketing consultant with the selection and purchase of a domain name for their website.

Now, don’t get me wrong. Lots of web marketers deal with this process responsibly. But a ton more don’t, including the ones who charge an arm and a leg for their “expertise.” Here are some things you need to be aware of when selecting and purchasing a website domain:

1. Select a domain that is easy to remember and even easier to spell. Long-winded or otherwise hard-to-spell domains frustrate users and make for clunky marketing messages, online and off. For the same reasons, go with a .com domain if you can. This is what people tend to default to when typing a URL into their browser or relaying a website address to friends and colleagues.

2. If you can use a relevant keyword or phrase in your domain, great. If not, don’t sweat it. Keywords only matter to domain name selection insofar that the people who maintain websites tend to link out to other sites using a site’s URL in the “anchor text” of the link. Search engines like this, and so do users. But there are other ways to get juicy anchor text into your backlinks. This method just happens to be a handy one.

3. If you’re struggling to choose a domain name because all the ones you want are taken, or you just can’t think of something simple and memorable that fits, go to InstantDomainSearch.com. I use this tool all of the time to brainstorm both domain names and names for entirely new websites or product offerings.

4. Purchase variations of the domain you will use for your website, but just the obvious ones. For example, I own the domain snap-va.com for this website, but I also own snapva.com (no hyphen). I’d just rather not have another website out there with a domain that is so close to mine. If you do purchase slight variations of your main domain, however, be sure to point the other versions to the main URL. That way, if someone types one of these other variations into their browser, the main website will still be called. Your hosting service should be able to help you with this.

You could also purchase the .ca, .biz, .net versions as well, but don’t go crazy with this either. The main thing is to find a simple .com domain that makes sense for your target audience. Everything else is gravy.

5) Make sure your domain is registered under YOUR name and YOUR business. I am blown away by how many marketers, web designers and IT consultants register client domains under their own name or business and not the client’s. There are 2 reasons this is problematic:

• A domain name is intellectual property like anything else you use to market and operate your business. Yet many businesses out there don’t even know that someone else owns their website domain(s). Moreover, they often don’t find out until the third party does a disappearing act with their precious domain(s) in tow. It’s a downright irresponsible business practice carried out by consultants and designers who either can’t be bothered to educate their clients or don’t understand online business fundamentals (but pretend they do)
• There’s a very good chance your website will outlive the relationship you have with your web designer or consultant. There’s an even better chance that such a person will go MIA when your domain comes up for renewal. (I’m being facetious here, but this happens so often it’s almost funny. Almost.) Domain registrars won’t hunt you down to make sure your domain gets renewed. The domain will simply expire when the renewal date passes without payment, and now your website will be missing in action as well. If you rely on your website to attract leads, generate sales, and keep the marketing pipeline humming along, having it go down for an extended period of time is bad for business.
• Bonus Tip: Make sure your hosting service is also in your name and not that of a third party. It’s a rude awakening to call your Internet service provider (ISP) for a password reset only to be told you are not the authorized account holder. Your name may be all over the website in question, but the ISP doesn’t know you from a hole in the wall. As such, they won’t give you any information. The only person they’re interested in talking to is the person who is paying for the server space. They don’t care that you paid Joe Designer for the hosting; they care that Joe keeps paying them. And Joe may be vacationing in Timbuktu right about the same time you want to make critical changes to your website. You won’t be happy, and your new web designer will be left twiddling his thumbs until you sort out the mess.

6) To ensure you always renew your domain on time, provide your domain registrar contact info that is unlikely to change often. I like to use my Gmail address as the email contact and my post office box as the mailing address. If you use your marketing consultant, IT consultant or web designer as the admin contact, be confident that you can remember to change that information should one of these people quit, get the axe, do something naughty, or otherwise scram.

• Domain Admin Tip: I buy all my domains through Netfirms.com. There are lots of great domain registrars out there, but this is one I’ve come back to over the years due to its user-friendly control panel. Pick a registrar you like and stick with it. It makes managing your domains much easier over the long run.

7) Don’t move an existing website to a new domain because your consultant or designer thinks you need a new one. Google likes to see a domain hang around for a while before indexing individual web pages and assigning them rank in the search results. Don’t go switching domains all willy-nilly because you found something sexier on the market. There should be a very good business case for moving an existing (read: aged) site to another domain. Even then, there are specific steps that will help you protect your rankings–and traffic–through the transition. If your web guy doesn’t know what I’m talking about, either keep the domain you’ve been using or give me a call.

It’s unfortunate that when you hire someone who is supposed to help you with your website, you risk doing more harm than good to your online presence. As with any transaction though, Buyer Beware. Take the time to understand the steps your consultant or designer wish to take, and speak up if something just doesn’t seem right. Know what will and will not be attached to your name, your business and your reputation when the transaction is complete. And understand that the law is still catching up with the Internet, so you are still your best advocate for the welfare and protection of your business’ web operation, and reputation.

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Karri Flatla is a business graduate of the University of Lethbridge and principal of snap! virtual associates inc., a virtual consulting firm providing business communications and Internet marketing services to the progressive entrepreneur. Karri also produces Outsmart, the email newsletter for small business with big purpose. Visit www.snap-va.com for more information.

Do you have a burning question about virtual business? Don't be shy! Send an email to Karri Flatla with "Ask Me Virtually Anything" in the subject line. Your question may appear in our next newsletter, along with a link to your website!

Last Minute Goodies

I always have last minute things to throw into the newsletter so this is where they will go.

Are you a Virtual Assistant like me sitting at your office desk most of the day?

Is your butt getting heavier and heavier each day to lift off your computer chair?

Have you been told by your friends that you are getting that "Secretary Spread"?

Do you find yourself STRESSED for NO apparent reason???

If you said YES to any of the above questions then...

THEN LISTEN UP!

I, Tawnya Sutherland, challenge YOU (your name goes here) to join in, at our office desks, for a fun fitness challenge to BE FIT and healthier in 2010!

Yes, I said at your office desk!

LEARN MORE about Tawnya's New Year Challenge by clicking here

Niche Affiliate Marketing Workshop in Atlanta

Registration for the Niche Affiliate Marketing Workshop in Atlanta this January is SOLD OUT!

The good news is that you can still:

1. You can receive all the recordings from NAMS 1 & 2 on a 2GB Flash Drive plus get access to NAMS 3 recordings when it's over. CLICK HERE

FREEBIE GIFT FOR YOU!

Karri Flatla, one of our Administrators at the VAnetworking Forum has graciously given everyone at the forum (yes that is over 12,000 people) her BRAND NEW ebook called: Alpha Wahm Blueprint (valued at $19.95)

I can't believe she is giving this away to our members and I thank you so very much for your generosity Karri!!!

Make 2010 Your Best Year Yet. Go Big. Stay Home.

Get Your "Alpha" On!

Download it here

Congrats to the Newest VAcertified Members

Congratulations and a big pat on the back go out to:

• Susan Gross ~ Australia
• Melody Parkes ~ United Kingdom
• Dianne McDonald ~ Canada
• Lori Isachsen ~ Canada
• Alison Fourie ~ South Africa

A global showing from around the world!

These Virtual Assistants from around the world were all certified based on qualities that matter most to the clients hiring them:

1. Professional experience and work history
2. Education and training, both government and private
3. Virtual assistance industry awareness and contributions
4. Level of experience as a business owner, online or off

Each VA, whatever his or her specialty, may now showcase our VAcertified logo on their website to demonstrate a level of commitment to his or her chosen profession in order to product optimal results for clients worldwide.

Learn more about the Virtual Assistant Worldwide Certification Program. Let clients know you're serious...GET VACERTIFIED!

Learn more about VAcertified by clicking here

When You Need Cash Fast …
You Need CA$H...FAST!

And the more time that goes by, the more
YOU feel the pressure right?

Ever been in this position???

Then you need to check out my NEW ebook for only $12! Over 200 hundred copies sold in the first week. Click here to get your copy today of 52 Quick and Easy Ways to Raise the Cash You Need Now!

VAinsider Club News!

We have a new look and feel for our VAinsider Club members and we'd love to hear your feedback! Also, watch for your President's Monday MotiVAtor News every Monday morning in your inbox to help you kickstart your week!

With almost 12,000 members and growing, VAnetworking continues to add to our VAinsider area. Keep watching for more exciting news and items to show up in the future!

Ride the Insider Track to Virtual Success ==>>> Become a VAinsider

For current VAinsiders requesting monthly renewals they are now available
(Click here to RENEW - Only for renewals)

What's the buzz at VAnetworking? It's the VAcommentators!

Tawnya has noticed your informative postings on blogs, forums, and the social sites mentioning VAnetworking.com and now Tawnya has given the “Go Ahead” to turn it up a notch and combine efforts.

Click here to see what VAnetworking has to offer VAcommentators

VAclassroom Holiday Special!

Even though holiday parties and shopping are on your mind right now, this is an important opportunity for you and your business that you won't want to miss...VAClassroom just launched a "Christmas Special" on all of their fabulous training courses! They are offering an additional 25% discount on all their main courses including Fantastic Facebook Fan Pages, Blog Marketing Tips and Tactics, Social Media Marketing Training and the Internet Marketing VA Program.

If any of these quality programs peak your interest, then now is the time to take advantage of their Christmas Special and save some money off their already reasonable courses.

Have a look at the courses below, and don't forget to include your 25% OFF Discount Code!

25% DISCOUNT CODE: BESTXMAS REGISTER TODAY

Want to market your wares to our 12,000+ member Virtual Assistant based database?  Consider donating some prizes to any one of VAnetworking's contests.

Our Virtual Assistant Networking Forum is mainly run by volunteers; and monies received through advertising help us host and maintain this FREE network. If you would like to advertise through us, becoming a sponsor or place a classified ad, please and we will contact you shortly. Also feel free to visit our advertising webpage for information on our demographics and banner ads.

Special thanks go out to all who have supported us this month.

The newsletter targets small businesses (specifically Virtual Assistant businesses) and is produced every month. Currently we have 19,000+ subscribers all related to the niche market of Virtual Assistants.

Read the VA Networking Forum Feedback from some of our happy members.

If you would like to be a Guest Columnist or submit an article, please feel free to at your convenience as feedback is always appreciated.  Joint Venture opportunities also available.

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