During my sponging I've seen some business tools mentioned that I didn't know about. What is your favorite tool, what all does it do, how did you get it, what's your favorite way to use it and why? If it costs, how much?

Since I'm still an >employee< (ugh) I'll give you an example from there to get us started. The company I work for won't allow us to add software for IMing to our computers. To me this is silly because it definitely takes me less time to send my husband a quick note at my convenience that he can read just as quickly at his convenience. It would take me much longer to call him - yet I digress! While reading a Wall Street Journal article I found out about meebo. It is my favorite four letter word, which is FREE. You sign up at meebo and can log onto and access several IM systems (msn, aol, etc) through one place and here is the best part. There is no software to download because it runs through a browser window. See meebo.com.

OK...please tell me about the service/tool you love the most that will make my new second (someday to be my first and only) career easier.

Thanks,

Sundi

Hi Sundi

I can't use an IMing software either. I use www.ebuddy.com at work during the day. It's probably similar to meebo.

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Maria Quick Link Virtual Assistant Services
www.getquicklink.com
Let Quick Link be your link to today's virtual world

I love all of the google tools. Google docs, calendar, etc. I do a lot of in-office work for local clients so these tools are a great way to keep on top of everything no matter where I'm at. I also use myhours.com to track my time and logmein free for remote access to my home computer.

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Rebecka Melson ~ Virtual Business Services

Hi Sundi, forgive me for taking the 'easy' route here but I'm going to link you up to a similar thread where you'll find a few suggestions from me! I hope this helps.

Hi Sundi!

Here are a few of my favorites:

- Google Docs / Mail / Calendar / etc.
- Basecamp
- WordPress (blogging)
- MyHours.com

They all help me daily with my work and with productivity.

Hope this helps!

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Sincerely,

Erin Blaskie of Business Services, ETC

Cool! I am going to try meebo now. Thanks for the tip.

Try www.jott.com. Very cool tool to help you remember things when you aren't in your office!

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Brianna Young, VA and Graphic Artist
www.virtualsolutionsadmin.com
"It's not the piano that makes beautiful music. It's the person sitting AT the piano!"

I have just discovered OnStage - which is similar to Basecamp as a project management tool. Again - no software to download and you can control who has access to what project. So each client can have their own login to their own projects. You can upload files (including audio files) from whatever computer you are on. My client uploads from his office - I get an email - I retreive the file and do the transcription, then upload the finished report - he gets an email - I send an invoice - too easy! It's made our lives so much easier and my client now doesn't have to drop in discs of audio files for me.