Dear Clients and Colleagues,
Anyone who thinks self employed people goof off a lot and watch
soaps all day would be surprised at the month I've had. Here is
a sampling of what has been going on at SOHO It Goes!
Feature: The Golden Rule Online
Relationship building has
been a hallmark of both my businesses. Yet, sometimes business
people go in the opposite direction when they are online - they
launch a web site and then sit back and do nothing; they get an
email address and answer email when they feel like it; they make
a sale and don't even think to say thank you. This is a huge missed
opportunity - the web offers so many free chances to build relationships
with our customers. But many times, the sterility and anonymity
of this technology leads people to treat their customers in ways
that they wouldn't dream of in a real-space environment.
I have found that (assuming good boundaries and an open attitude),
being friendly, acting human, and genuinely getting to know your
customers and colleagues is invaluable. If your business relies
on word of mouth like mine does, you simply can't afford to operate
any other way.
Click to learn more...
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Introducing
Bill |
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I would like to reveal an alliance that SOHO It Goes! has
formed with a very talented programmer named Bill (I'm keeping
his last name to myself but no, it is not Gates). Bill is
a Microsoft Certified Visual Basic 5 programmer with extensive
web programming and database experience. In addition to
Visual Basic, Bill's programming skills include ASP, Perl,
PHP, and Javascript. He has developed websites and desktop
applications that use an Access Database and websites that
uses SQL server and MySQL databases.
I'm very excited about this alliance because it means there
are no limits to what SOHO It Goes! can provide in terms
of web development services. But more importantly, I've
teamed up with someone who demonstrates the same level of
customer service, quality work and reliability that I've
built my businesses on. Expect a lot of neat things out
of SOHO It Goes! in the future!
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Hair
Loss Infographics |
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I've just finished designing info graphics for a new client,
the Hair Loss Control Clinic (HLCCONLINE.COM)*.
The info graphics will be used in both print and web marketing,
and visually demonstrate the causes of hair loss and the
solutions which HLCC provide.
* SOHO It Goes! did not design the web site
Take
a look at the HLCC Infographics »
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Solo
Entrepreneurs Group |
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Since I believe so strongly in the concept of free agents
and independent professionals, I have decided to offer my
services pro bono to a relatively new group that has evolved
out of the Albany Colonie Chamber of Commerce called the
Solo Entrepreneurs Group (SEG). My personal goal is to see
the programming and benefits of attending become so interesting
and helpful to the time-strapped soloist, that our meetings
are packed. To that end, I've been developing a membership
database in Access for the group, and will be setting up
a small web site for them with an events calendar and other
resources. I also have joined the programming committee,
soon to start planning the monthly programs. If anyone out
there is running a business independently, is (or will become)
an AC Chamber member, and wants a good support group to
meet with bi weekly, you can come as my guest and check
it out.
Solo Entrepreneurs
Group Web Site »
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Fight
Spam! |
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Like all of you, I get tons and tons of spam. Until recently,
my web site host snagged a good percent of it in their spam
filters, but I still had to regularly log onto the site
to check that nothing important got stuck, and clean it
out manually. And I had no say in what was spam or not.
Recently, I switched to a new web host (more on that in
a future edition!) and lost that filter, so I started testing
other ways to halt, or at least detour, the deluge. I'd
like to share the solution I found, with you.
Spam
Inspector works right in Outlook or AOL, making it very
easy to manage and banish spam. It learns from your decisions
about what is spam, as well as other user's reports, so
as you use it, it becomes more effective. The spam just
goes into an Outlook folder where you can view it and delete
or remove things from the spam list. It is very simple and
unobtrusive to use once it is configured, and I like that
it automatically updates it's spam definitions from what
it learns from all the users of the software. Worth checking
out!
(Note - this software was purchased by Microsoft and is no longer available for download on my site)
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Let me count the whys... |
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It's
no secret I LOVE the web, especially for sharing information,
building membership and community, and doing good. So, I
would like to share some of the best, most useful, and most
informational sites with you - this month's sites are in
the spirit of summer adventure... so enjoy!!
Escape
Maker
This is a great site for weekend road trippers on the
East Coast -- full of ideas for places to explore and wander.
Click the Escape Maker link to narrow your possibilities.
Happy Summer!
Rent
Villas
Want to go a bit further afield? Or maybe just day dream
like I do these days? Rent Villas gives you a way to browse
and peek at hundreds of villas to rent in Europe.
Festivals.com
Summer is the season for festivals... and this is the
place to find out about them all over the world.
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The Legal Mumbo Jumbo |
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© 2003 All Rights Reserved - This newsletter
is intended to be read and passed around by entrepreneurs,
businesses and organizations interested in electronic communication,
design and technology. Please don't reproduce this document
or its contents without written permission from and credit
to Eileen Parzek, SOHO It Goes!
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