I picked up my biz cards & postcards today & the postcards rock! Even the woman who checked me out commented on how cool they look! I'm sooooooo happy with them! Tomorrow I'm going to the library & checking out Reference USA.

Thanks Lily for all the great info you've provided on postcards & mailing lists!

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Lezly Harrison
Laserdog Productions - Code that Doesn't Bite

Ok, I have to see these postcards. BTW, where can I see Lily's info.? Can't wait to see these.....

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The Doctor's Rx
"The Doctor's Prescription for Success"

Any way we can see them? Can you scan them in?

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April Sullivan
The REVA Academy

Okay..You need to share... We need to see these awesome postcards!

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lisa

I agree, I'm so curious to see them too! Please post back

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Yes, please! My friend and I are discussing postcards, which I've never done before, so I would really LOVE to see yours!!

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Pam Deyerle - Transcriptionist in the Richmond, Virginia area
The Perfect Word Transcription Services

Originally Posted by dognose

I picked up my biz cards & postcards today & the postcards rock! Even the woman who checked me out commented on how cool they look! I'm sooooooo happy with them! Tomorrow I'm going to the library & checking out Reference USA. Thanks Lily for all the great info you've provided on postcards & mailing lists!

You are, of course, very welcome! I can't wait to see the finished postcards, either!

For those of you who are interested in the info I have posted, search for "postcards" and/or "mailing lists" on VAF - some GREAT resources from lots of VAs on here, not just me!

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Lily Chambers, The Virtual Office Goddess, LLC
Author "How to Do Your Own Small Business Bookkeeping"

Lezly,
I also use postcards to mail to potential clients. Cheaper postage then regular mail (only $.28). I would love to see your postcard, they sound wonderful. Personally I design and print my own, but I would love to see yours.

Also a note on Reference USA. If you already have a library card, most libraries let you log in online then access Reference USA for free. This is how I create my mailing lists. By logging in online I can download the lists directly to my computer. This saves a lot of data entry time. With a library link you can only download 25 records at a time, but there is no limit as to how many times you download. Therefore I just download one page at a time until I have all the requested records. (This still saves time over manual data entry.)

Simply log onto your local library
Search for Reference USA
Click Access Online
Click Go to Residential Phone Directory - Reference USA Website
Click on one of the databases (US Businesses, US New Business, etc.)
Enter your Custom Search Criteria
Create Search
Sort Records and Download

Julie

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Julie | Virtual Resource Services, Inc (VRSI)
http://www.vrsioffice.com

Julie, thank you for that! I will be checking this out today!

As for the postcards, I created them in MS Publisher & I wasn't too thrilled with the graphic quality. The graphic artist at the printer did a spectacular job sharpening the image & made some other adjustments that enhanced the whole card.

Turns out, it wasn't that expensive. They charge $75 an hour with a 15 minute minimum. Since I had already designed the card, he just performed some mechanics & viola! For less than $20 I got a beautiful card with nice sharp images!

Unfortunately, my online photo album doesn't let me upload a PDF file, & the two packages I have that can manipulate graphics even a little, don't open PDF files.

I'm really excited to start sending these out! I need clients!!

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Lezly Harrison
Laserdog Productions - Code that Doesn't Bite

Originally Posted by dognose

Unfortunately, my online photo album doesn't let me upload a PDF file, & the two packages I have that can manipulate graphics even a little, don't open PDF files.

You can convert pdfs to jpegs in adobe acrobat pro (assuming you don't just use reader?) - do a "save as...". I use photobucket for my online photo album and it handles jpegs well...

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Lily Chambers, The Virtual Office Goddess, LLC
Author "How to Do Your Own Small Business Bookkeeping"

Make a video reply and show them off that way

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Tony Thomas - Social Media
Download Your Free Copy of Market Samurai

Ooh... I'd love to see them as well! I uploaded my design on Vista Print. Next time I think I will just have them printed at Kinko's or something, as Vista Print was a bit pricey for my liking. Where did you go to have yours printed?

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--Leigh

Originally Posted by Gal Friday

Ooh... I'd love to see them as well! I uploaded my design on Vista Print. Next time I think I will just have them printed at Kinko's or something, as Vista Print was a bit pricey for my liking. Where did you go to have yours printed?

I take mine to OfficeMax whenever I get a coupon for discounted color printing (they do this fairly often). I also joined their rewards program and get $3 credit for each toner cartridge I bring in and get points for every dollar I spend on office supplies there. It adds up pretty quickly!

The month before Christmas I received $63 credit from my points which I used for a couple of movie DVDs, some Xmas music cds, and some mini-watering globes that I gave out as gifts (they always have cool stuff like this for sale at Christmas!)

The rest of the year, I use my points for replacement toner, paper, printing, etc.

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Lily Chambers, The Virtual Office Goddess, LLC
Author "How to Do Your Own Small Business Bookkeeping"

Originally Posted by Office Goddess

I take mine to OfficeMax whenever I get a coupon for discounted color printing (they do this fairly often). I also joined their rewards program and get $3 credit for each toner cartridge I bring in and get points for every dollar I spend on office supplies there. It adds up pretty quickly! The month before Christmas I received $63 credit from my points which I used for a couple of movie DVDs, some Xmas music cds, and some mini-watering globes that I gave out as gifts (they always have cool stuff like this for sale at Christmas!) The rest of the year, I use my points for replacement toner, paper, printing, etc.

From what I gather from your posts, you truly are queen at multi-tasking! Now why didn't I think about that before? I have a Staples reward card already (they have a similar points system I believe)... I wonder if they have discounts on their printing as well. Food for thought!

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--Leigh

Originally Posted by Gal Friday

From what I gather from your posts, you truly are queen at multi-tasking!

Why, thank you! I think all of us VAs have learned to expand our skills, whether or not we wanted to , in order to provide the best value and service to our clients and to make our own work easier in the process.

I have over 3 decades of office experience, nearly 3 years as a VA, and have simply adapted/adjusted and learned new skills as they either a) presented themselves and looked interesting and/or useful or b) became required by my jobs/clients.

I consider Goddess to be one of my clients and therefore treat my business the same way I do my other client's businesses: how can I do [whatever the process is] cheaper, easier, faster to spend less money, make more profit, take down my stress levels, etc. This requires multi-tasking. And, at least in MY world, 34 software programs!

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Lily Chambers, The Virtual Office Goddess, LLC
Author "How to Do Your Own Small Business Bookkeeping"