Check out the new Instant Messenger feature at Virtual Assistant Forums!

[VAF Admin]

We've added a new Instant Messenger [IM] feature to VAF to allow you to communicate and share files more easily with contacts in your VAF network

A few quick bits of info and tips about the IM feature:

-- You can use the IM feature to chat and share files with contacts in your VAF network in real time.

-- You must be logged in to the forums in order to Instant Message. Like all features on VAF, IMing is secure. It is NOT indexed by the search engines, nor is it visible to non-members. No one but you and the person you are communicating with can see your messages, files, etc.

-- WHO'S ONLINE
The Instant Messenger only shows you who is online out of those members who are already listed in your network on VAF.
You can manage your existing contacts by going to your VAF profile page and clicking on the 'Network' box to the right.
You can add a new contact to your network by clicking on their VAF username, going to their profile page, and clicking the 'Add to network' option on their profile page. Once they approve your request you will be added to eachother's networks.

-- PRIVACY
The IM has basic privacy settings - you can set yourself as offline, or online, as well as turn off the sound at any time with the click of a button.
You can also type a message in the status field to let your contacts know what you're up to.
Look for the little round icon at the far right end of the bar - your options are available in there.
By default, you are automatically logged in to the IM when you log into VAF, unless you change your settings.
By default, the sounds are turned off until you turn them on.

-- OPTIONS
When you are IMing with someone you will notice a few icons. The options are:
----- Send a file [allows you to send a file to whoever you are chatting with - filesize limited to 2MB]
All filetypes are accepted, including: audio, video, word doc, pdf, txt, GIF, JPG, xl
----- Clear conversation [clears all text from the chat window]
----- IM history [which will open up a menu of all past chats with that user giving you access to full-text IMs from the past 24 hours]
----- Show/hide time [puts a timestamp next to each entry in your conversation]


We hope this new Instant Messenger feature proves useful to you in the growth and development of both your virtual assistant business and your relationships with fellow VAs! Enjoy!

If you have any questions or comments about the IM feature please feel free to reply directly to this thread.

[TargetStars]

It will be nice to chat with each other as we would on Facebook. Thanks for adding this feature, this is awesome!

[executive_assist]

Very very nice Tess! Just one more great feature on such a great site. You always provide us with such great resources!

[JoCarole]

How cool this is, love it!!! Thank you Tess and Hamid.

I appreciate all the work you both do to make VAF such an awesome resource for VAF members. Thank you.

[Action Jackson VA]

This is wonderful Tess!! Thanks so much! What would we do without the VAF?

Andrea~

[JKVirtualOffice]

This is awesome! You guys rock and just keep making this place rock even more.

[leedrozak]

Great asset on the forum. Thanks Tess and Hamid, you guys are awesome.

[D_Victoria_Virtual_Assistance]

This is super cool The thought and hardwork you put into this forum does not go unnoticed. Thank you!

[intercovbc]

That's a pretty cool feature. Looking forward to trying it out. Thanks.

[Office Goddess]

This will really speed up communications instead of PMing back and forth! Thanks for adding this!