I was concerned recently when I received several emails from a lady who had registered for my VA Trainer course but hadn't heard from me. I had responded to every single email she had sent me but still her emails kept coming, upset that I'd not responded. This concerned me a great deal. There was no other contact information with her emails and she'd just signed off with her name. I looked up her phone and fax number from the form she'd filled out and tried to ring and fax her - with no … [Read more...]
Email etiquette and autoresponders
As a Virtual Assistant I manage a number of autoresponders, both for my own business and that of my clients, mainly through shoppingcart services such as 1shoppingcart.com. What amazes me is the number of recipients of these emails who don't realise that they can update their email address or remove their addresses simply by clicking on one of the two links at the bottom of the emails they receive. I receive numerous requests, almost on a daily basis, for me to update this person's email … [Read more...]
Has the spammer done me a favour?
I noticed this afternoon that someone has chosen to use my old email address to spam people. I got the first hint when a bounce back came to me saying it was stuck in a loop - it was addressed to my old address. Checking my spam filter shows there are heaps of returned messages there. Such a pain because it wasn't me sending them and I hate people thinking I'm responsible for them. I was checking my stats for the day and noticed a big spike in hits today - I wondered what brought that on? I … [Read more...]
A time for being aware
At this time of year of seasonal celebrations there are going to be a renewal of old hoaxes with new ones thrown in. Before forwarding on emails that request you to give to a worthy cause, pass on an email to help find a missing child, or open a Christmas card or other card without really being sure who is sending it to you, then it's worthwhile first checking sources like the ones listed below. Many emails, particularly the 'worthy causes' ones play upon the good natures and minds of those … [Read more...]
Watch your language – you never know who might see it!
I got the most astounding and rude email this week. I sent out a follow up email to a number of people who had filled out the application form to join my Virtual Assistant team but never took it any further. Basically I was just making sure they had realised there were more steps - I wasn't sure if they'd seen the autoresponder messages (only 2 of them from a new service) after they'd filled out the form. One response came back very quickly with two very loud and bolded words telling me where … [Read more...]
Message for my subscribers
Every blogger loves to have readers and subscribers and I really do appreciate you all. But please, if you subscribe, do not do it with an address that has to have an autoresponder attached to it. By that I mean, consider having a separate address for subscriptions to blogs, newsletters, listservs and forums, and so on and keep your main address for your business. I get heaps of autoresponders every single day to say that Jane, or John, have received my latest post, or that they've received the … [Read more...]
Looking For Work Online – A Message For New VAs
I received a poorly written email a couple of days ago from a young person seeking to join my team. I wrote back to them saying I did not believe they had read my website and that their email demonstrated a lack of ability in being able to type properly and that our clients would require that. They wrote back and said I was unfairly assessing their written English and that their skills were good and I shouldn't base it on just an email. I wrote back again and explained that their email was … [Read more...]
What Does Your Email Address Say About You?
Saw a great message in a forum last week. It was a sample of email addresses and what they say about the sender. It backs up my own thoughts about email. There is a place for 'cute' and 'silly' email addresses but when you are operating a business and participating in business forums, it's time to put away the 'cute' and 'silly' and start using 'business' or 'clever' email addresses. To quote some of what I saw: Your email address says a lot about you.... Details are key when you are … [Read more...]
What’s in a Name?
It could be the difference between whether or not you get the client! I've lost count of the number of times that people spell my name incorrectly when responding to an email I've sent - either directly to them, or via a discussion forum. And many of these people are VAs - it makes me wonder how much care they take in their own business practices. People's names are so important to them and when someone cannot spell their name correctly (not just a typo but an outright incorrect spelling) it … [Read more...]
