Virtual Assistant Forums | Work from Home

Your Virtual Wizard · #1 (**permalink**) 01-05-2010

Greetings and Happy New Year to All!

Exciting News! We now have a new blog recognition challenge program open for all VAF members.

The Rules

Every month a new challenge question will be posted on the Blog Challenge Group page. The due date for your blog response will be the last day of that month, 12 pm EST. A winner will be selected and announced the following week.

You must be enrolled in the Blog Challenge Group to be eligible. If you are not a Blog Challenge Group member, please enroll here.

You can post up to two blog challenge entries per month. The contest will run from January 2010 until December 2010.

Recognition Badges

When you post 6 blog challenge responses (whether you are the monthly grand prize winner or not), you will receive a 6-post badge that can be used on your website, blog and in your profile on VAF.

When you post 12 blog challenge responses (whether you are the monthly grand winner or not), you will receive a 12-post badge that can be used on your website, blog and in your VAF profile.

Winners of that month's blog challenge question will receive the Monthly Winner 2010 Badge in addition to a book of your choice from the extensive VAF library.

Each award badge will accompany basic code with instructions for how to change the link back location to your blog post posted on the Blog Challenge Group. This is great promotion for your own business and a remarkable means to show off your work.

Badges can be used in your VAF signature using the image icon in the text editor provided on the 'edit signature page' to link to and display the image and/or your avatar can be replaced as well. The choice is up to you.

Recognition and Monthly Winner Badges can be seen here and below in this post http://www.virtualassistantforums.co...ggroup/all.jpg

Remember, you need to be in it to win so please link your VAF profile to the Blog Challenge Group page http://www.virtualassistantforums.co...ing-challenge/

Monthly blog challenge questions will be posted only on the group page.

Good Luck!

Janine Gregor
VAF Blog Challenge Group Moderator
www.YourVirtualWizard.com

Your Virtual Wizard · #2 (**permalink**) 01-07-2010

Hello All!

The January 2010 blog challenge question has been posted on the Blog Challenge Group site here.

You have until January 31st to post your blog entry.

Looking forward to reading everyone's submissions! This is a great way to practice your blogging and gain exposure for your own business. The monthly winner receives a *fantastic* book from the VAF library, the honorary badge...and, bragging rights!

A side note: when I won the February 2009 challenge, I promoted that win on my blog and in the social networking sites. I included the book that I won on my 'reading list' on LinkedIn. I added the link back to my winning blog entry in my email signature and I proudly promoted my win to my newsletter subscribers and clients. From that, I was able to pick up some extra work.

Happy Blogging...

Janine

Your Virtual Wizard · #3 (**permalink**) 01-13-2010

We have two new posts entries for the blog challenge for January!

Serita Diana of Executive @ssist
Lee Drozak of My Office Assistant

Take a peek..

Thank you!
Janine

executive_assist · #4 (**permalink**) 01-13-2010

lol. I've only ever done my own personal blog, so mine isn't half as good as Lee's, but thanks

D_Victoria_Virtual_Assistance · #5 (**permalink**) 01-13-2010

I just wanted to pop in here and say that I love the new badges for the Blog Challenge. VAF continues to build upon its already great foundation. I look forward to reading the posts on the VAF blog.

leedrozak · #6 (**permalink**) 01-13-2010

Janine and Tess, I am so glad that you are building on blogging. This gives me a chance to be more relaxed when posting the blog. Loved the topic.

Serita, your blog was wonderful. This was a subject that was very near to my heart so it was easy to write. I have a huge mental block with blog writing not all my posts are like this one.

executive_assist · #7 (**permalink**) 01-13-2010

Thanks Lee. I'm usually pretty good at writing and blogging, but I feel under pressure when ever I sit down to write for my business. I guess it's just because I know how important it can be in starting my business. I think maybe I'll try my tried and true method of just writing what comes to mind and then go back and edit it later.
I can see your topic was close to your heart. I had thought of writing one about my dad, and may still do it, but it is almost the one year anniversary since he passed. And of course it didn't happen at a completely unimportant time, it happened right before our birthdays. Last year was the first year I spent without celebrating with my dad. So yeah, I understand how important family members that have passed can cause a big impact on our lives, even without having met them.

Your Virtual Wizard · #8 (**permalink**) 01-19-2010

Yea! The January Blogging Challenge if off and running!

We have a new post from Mary Ruth of Virtual Writing here

Thank you to those who have joined the Blogging Challenge Group and have submitted their entries thus far.

Only 12 days left to submit your own challenge response.

The winner of the January 2010 Blog Challenge will receive a *fantastic* badge to proudly pin on her/his website or blog AND a choice of a business book from the VAF's extensive library.

Every submission, whether chosen the winner or not leads all entrants one step further toward receiving the first '6 Posts' Badge. (See lead post above for details and links.)

The winner of the monthly challenge will also bestowed the honor of judging the following month's challenge. It's a tough job given all the great responses but this will give winners a chance to use their blogging expertise to help others along.

Thank you!

Janine

Your Virtual Wizard · #9 (**permalink**) 01-29-2010

Hello!

This is a reminder that the deadline of January 31st, midnight EST to submit your blog challenge response is approaching. The winner will be announced the first week of February. All participants will be one step closer to receiving the first 6-post badge. So please join the Blog Challenge Group to participate.

We have some new submissions so I would like to thank the following VAs for their posts:

Stephanie Fish of Buckeye V.A.

Darlene Victoria of D. Victoria Virtual Assistance

Lisa Olinda of Olinda Services

Tina Hilton of Clerical Advantage

Serita Diana of Executive @ssist - a second post

Janet Barclay, Organized Assistant

Also, I have listed 2 terrific book titles which will be the prizes for January's blog challenge winner. See those here

Thank you!

Janine

Your Virtual Wizard · #10 (**permalink**) 02-03-2010

The winner of the January 2010 Monthly Blog Challenge is…

Lee Drozak of My Office Assistant

Congratulations, Lee!

You can read the winning post here.

Lee will receive a wonderful book title for her office library. In addition to her prize, Lee will also be awarded the VAF Blogging Challenge Winner Badge to proudly display wherever she chooses.

Thank you to those who participated this month. You are one step closer to receiving the VAF Blogging Challenge 6-Post Badge.

Badges can be linked back to your blog post on VAF, which is a great way to promote your businesses.

Thank you all again for your participation in the January Challenge.

Look for February’s Challenge Post and if you have not joined the Blog Group, please do so here.

Regards,

Janine