Ask Denise Griffitts » Productivity Tools

Free Press Release Generator

Denise Griffitts — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 13:50:25 +0000

Weekly Recommended Resource

Lisa Manyon of Write On Creative created a free press release tool called Write On Creative Press Release Producer that I use and recommend. This wonderful tool requires just two easy steps:

Input your information in the required fields.
Hit “Display My Press Release” and your draft release can be viewed and copied on the following page.

And don’t forget to click on the “Grab Your Free Stuff “ icon at the top of the page to receive your free copywriting action plan from Lisa.

I recently had the great pleasure of interviewing Lisa on my BlogTalkRadio Show, “Your Partner In Success“. She gave our audience some really terrific tools, tips and advice about copywriting and how to get people to pay close attention to the message that you are delivering. If you didn’t have an opportunity to listen and download yet, you can listen here.

Those Ubiquitous Yellow Stickies

Denise Griffitts — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 15:35:08 +0000

Stickies. Those ubiquitous rectangular yellow pieces of paper that we all use to keep track of what is going on with our lives and our businesses. The eternal “to do” reminder.

We all use them either physically or in my case, on my various desktops. Truly, I would be lost without them!

Why you should download this FREE program.

Once on screen, stickies will remain where placed until closed, even through reboots

Stickies appearance can be customised; fonts, colours and buttons may be changed, and styles saved. Stickies can be resized.

Stickies can store text or images

Stickies can snap to each other and to the sides of the screen to keep them neatly lined up

Stickies can be attached to a web site, document or folder so they only show when it’s on screen

Stickies can be transferred from one machine to another either over a TCP/IP network connection, or by using an SMTP mail server or MAPI client:

Hierarchical friends list, which may be automatically transferred from other friends
Play a sound file on receive
Signature for transmitted or emailed stickies
Favourite friends, and custom lists can be made

Stickies can be hidden for a certain period, until a specified date and time, or to wake every day, week or month, to act as reminders.

Stickies can have alarms set to ensure you notice them at a point you choose

Stickies can be transferred to and from your Palm or PPC PDA.

International language, Unicode and RTL text support

Stickies works with Windows Vista and Windows 7

Stickies is small and simple, it writes to a single text file, and does not alter the registry

AD network administrators can use Group Policy to control settings

API to allow integration with other applications

…and Stickies is completely free!

To train with Denise Griffitts to become a highly technically savvy, highly paid, highly sought-after Virtual Assistant please visit Virtual Assistance University.

Weekly Recommended Resource

Denise Griffitts — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:53:58 +0000

I get so many requests for tips and advice on the resources that my Virtual Assistance and Web Development companies use that it seems a great idea to publish a weekly resource.

These are online resources that will help you develop, gain knowledge, find new information and absorb new ideas.

Enjoy!

This Weeks Recommended Resource

WordPress Tip of the Day is a free video podcast from the “Internet Genius” Ben Cope that delivers high-quality video training for WordPress in 5 minutes or less every day in a format that is easy to follow, easy to understand, and always free!

Critical Tools for Building an Online Business

Denise Griffitts — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 22:11:48 +0000

I am regularly asked what tools and resources we can recommend to help people build their online presence in a linear and logical fashion.

Some time ago we created a PDF that our web development and virtual assistance clients have access to at Your Office On The Web on the client document password protected page.

As there is nothing client sensitive in this document I wanted to share it here with you along with a few more resources that are not currently listed in it. As you can imagine, it is a “living” document and updates regularly.

Here is it’s most recent incarnation.

Click here to download Recommended Resources. Some of these resources are coded with my affiliate links, some are not.

Other resources that we use and recommend.

Video Resources

Easy Video Player

Instantly and automatically send your video viewers to any website, shopping cart or affiliate promotion after your video stops playing.
Embed “buy now” buttons directly into videos.
Embed opt-in forms inside your video and capture email addresses for list building purposes
Create and protect “member only” videos thereby ensuring that only paid customers can gain access to your exclusive content.
Publish your videos on any website in seconds.

You will also need to signup with AmazonS3 to host your videos for pennies. Very affordable!

WordPress Themes and Plugins

Elegant Themes

Each WordPress theme comes expertly coded in valid XHTML and CSS, and all are made compatible with the latest version of WordPress. DeniseGriffitts.com uses the Who’s Who Theme.

WP WishList

WishList Member is a powerful membership script that can turn any WordPress blog into a full blown membership site. Your Office On The Web is expert at installing and configuring this very powerful plugin.

WordPress Dream Theme

An excellent theme that is not only easy to learn and use, but you also get have the option between self-service and full-service. The full service option gets you free phone support, free setup, free installation, and 1 hour of customization. Plus, you can use the theme on multiple sites.

WordPress Tip of the Day

WordPress Tip of the Day is a video podcast that delivers high-quality video training for WordPress in 5 minutes or less every day in a format that is easy to follow, easy to understand, and always free!

Other

Overnight Prints

I use Overnight Prints for all my print collateral and most of my clients do as well. The paper stock is excellent and the free online designer allows you to create your own custom business cards and other print collateral with their Interactive Designer. Or you can choose from 1000’s of designs by using the Classic Design feature. Trust me when I tell you the quality is superb!

PayPal

You can absolutely use your Paypal account either directly from your website by using “Buy Now” or “Add to Cart” buttons or you can use Paypal as your only payment provider in 1shoppingcart. It is not mandatory these days that you have a merchant account if you don’t need or want one. My web development site has a Paypal payment page that you can see here. This is an easy solution that allows you to take payments for services without having to log into your account to send invoices or payment requests.

Does Your Small or Online Business Have a Toll Free Number?

Denise Griffitts — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 19:34:09 +0000

One thing we always recommend during a web development project is that the client consider obtaining a toll free number. Having a toll free number on your website while offering credibility, also offers the opportunity to not publish to the world your home or cell phone number. In this day of work-from-home entrepreneurs, this is an important consideration.

My office uses Grasshopper which used to be called GotVMail. Grasshopper is very easy to set up. Just pick a toll free number for your business, or transfer your current number. Then record your main greeting. You will also have the opportunity to have it professionally recorded if that is your preference. Add departments and employees, choose what phone number you want your calls to terminate to and you are done. I actually don’t have my toll free number ring to my office as it can be terribly disruptive. What we have done is to create mailboxes and departments and have the voice messages emailed to the proper department as an .MP3.

There is also a “Read Your Voicemail” function available for an additional $10 a month. If you are on the run a good bit, the voicemail transcription will be emailed to you as readable text. You’ll be able to stay connected when you can’t listen to the .MP3 file of your voicemail. You can also listen to your messages on your Blackberry or iPhone. Just click the “Play It On Mobile” link in the notification email and you’ll be listening to your voice mails without dialing or logging in to your account. For those of us on the run, this is a great tool.

Another really great feature is that you have unlimited extensions for your small business. Each extension has its own call forwarding, voicemail and message delivery settings. Even if you’re the only employee, by utilizing unlimited extensions you are giving your small business the big business sound that it needs.

Truthfully, there are too many features for me to list here. What I can tell you is that we use it, and love it. It is also very affordable to have a toll free number these days. Plans start at $9.95 a month and there is a $25 activation fee. My monthly bill seems to hover around $25 a month which given all that the system offers is remarkably affordable. Be warned though, if you make a habit of answering the calls that come through on your toll free number you will run your bill right up through the roof. I strongly recommend that you treat this strictly as a voice mail system and return the calls at your first opportunity.

To train with Denise Griffitts to become a highly technically savvy, highly paid, highly sought-after Virtual Assistant please visit Vitual Assistance University.

**You have permission to reprint in your publication or to your website/blog any articles by Denise Griffitts found on this Website as long as Denise Griffitt’s name and contact information is included. Denise Griffitts, Virtual Assistance Industry Expert, http://askdenisegriffitts.com, info @ virtualassistantindustry.com, 888-719-6711.

FREE Online Press Release Tool

Denise Griffitts — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 17:50:44 +0000

I love to share tools that make our workloads easier!

I will be interviewing Lisa Manyon of Write On Creative next month on the Your Partner In Success Radio Show. Lisa shared a wonderful online tool that she has created that helps you create a professional press release for you and your clients.

Lisa’s free online tool Write On Creative Press Release Producer gives you a beautifully formatted press release in two simple steps. All you have to do is imput your information in the form fields and hit the “display My Press Release”. Lisa also gives you some great free goodies when you use her free press release tool.

Lisa Manyon Press Release Case Study

Where To Post Your Press Release

There are several free and not so free press release sites that can drive a lot of traffic to your website. Just Google the phrase “press release distribution” and you will find links to free and paid services. Here are a few that we use.

Free Press Release — Be sure to read their tips page before posting.

PR Log

PR Web – Sign up is free, but press release distribution is not. See this page for pricing information.

I get a lot of targeted responses from press releases that we post on Fast Pitch! It is free to join Fast Pitch, but to use some of the tools such as press, events, etc. you do need to upgrade to their paid subscription. I highly recommend upgrading!

I would love to see press releases you create with this tool so please feel free to come back here and post a link to it!

To train with Denise Griffitts to become a highly technically savvy, highly paid, highly sought-after Virtual Assistant please visit Virtual Assistance University.