Here it is folks… as promised, round two of the Top 5 Tools that I couldn’t live without (check out part one here) I guess this makes it my Top 10 Tools then right?

Wonder what we use here in the OBM offices? Here is a list of more of my favorites – the ones that I truly could not live without – and why I love them so.

* In the spirit of full disclosure there are affiliate links within this article, as indicated by a lovely little * beside the link.

6) Infusionsoft* – Ecommerce, Broadcasting and CRM
This tool is truly the hub of our business these days (it really should be #1 on the list) – it’s ecommerce, email marketing, automated follow-up and CRM all rolled into one. If you aren’t familiar yet with Infusionsoft you need to get this on your radar… and a warning, as awesome as it is, Infusionsoft is not very “user-friendly” to learn. Don’t try to figure it out yourself or you might go batty, get help from someone who is trained in the system.

7) WishList Member* – Membership Management
This is a powerful WordPress plugin that allows you to create a private “members-only” site for any of your programs – trainings, memberships, associations, you name it. I’ve used WishList for years now for all of my sites – it’s simple to learn, simple to use and makes a lovely protected member site in a snap. (Because it’s a WordPress plugin, you need to have a WordPress based site to use it, but of course.)

8 ) AudioAcrobat* – Recording & Hosting
An oldie but a goodie (if you consider 7 years old, hehe) – I know there are loads of different ways to host and record audios these days but I still always come back to AudioAcrobat. I love that I can record any call, anywhere, anytime simply by dialing into the AA recording system by 3-way calling. And I ESPECIALLY love that AA hosts all the recordings and gives you lots of lovely options for sharing your recordings – cool play buttons, download links and the like. Easy to use, customizable and affordable.

9) VirtualPBX – Virtual Toll-free Number
I know there are lots of great toll-free and virtual phone services out there, this is the one I’ve used for years now. We don’t get a lot of phone calls, but I do like giving people a toll-free number to use if they want to call. You can set up calls to be directed to whomever you like, and also get copies of voicemail messages sent to you via email (which I LOVE). Plus it’s inexpensive, I don’t think I’ve ever paid more than $15/month.

10) Amazon S3 – Big File Hosting
This is a super dreamy tool if you have large files to host – like videos for example. I remember back in the day when I started in this biz, you used to have to pay ooodles of money to be able to host video. Amazon S3 does the trick and literally costs just dollars a month. We host all of our training videos here for all of our programs – also great to host audio files, PDF files and anything that you don’t want to put on your own servers.

There you have it – my next top 5 favorites.

And being that I’m such a tool geek please tell me – what are your favorite tools and why?

Here’s my “plan to plan” for next year, care to join me? (Click video to play)

We get started on December 13th – just click the button below to join us and you are set!

Here’s to planning for (and getting) everything you want in 2011

~ Tina

Nothing makes me happier than finding a cool new tool that make my business (and life) run more smoothly. Yes, I’m geeky that way.

Wonder what we use here in the OBM offices? Here is a list of my favorites – the ones that I truly could not live without – and why I love them so.

* In the spirit of full disclosure there are affiliate links within this article, as indicated by a lovely little * beside the link.

1) TimeTrade (formerly TimeDriver) – Calendar & Scheduling Management

The day I started using TimeTrade to help schedule appointments was one of the best days of my business life. Instead of having to do that annoying “back and forth dance via email” to find a time to schedule meetings, I connect TimeTrade to my calendar and send folks a link with open times. They simply pick a time that works for them and voila! You are set… it’s dreamy, you must sign up for this, I insist. And at $29.95/year you can’t say no.

2) EchoSign* – Electronic Signature Service

Yes folks, there is a way for people to sign documents without having to fax or scan them in – woo hoo! We discovered this one just a few months back and were jumping up and down in glee. Instead of asking people to “fax back their agreements” for our courses and programs we send them a copy online and they do a virtual signature – it’s all legit and is SOOO much easier all around.

3) Dropbox* – File Sharing and Backup

I don’t know about you but I struggled to find a good backup service for years – I would either forget to use the service (if it wasn’t automatic) or it would hang up my system each time it was doing a backup. Enter Dropbox, which does a seamless “sync” of your files to their online servers – not only is it a backup, it also becomes a way to access your files from anywhere you like. You can also share folders with other people on your team (vs. always trying to send stuff via email). Love love love this tool, I would sing it from the mountain tops.

4) Instant Teleseminar* – Bridgeline Service

I will admit, I was a free bridgeline user for years. I had of course heard of Instant Teleseminar but was too cheap to fork out the $97/month… until I started using it and became hooked. I love how you can see who is online during the calls, you can mute/unmute individual folks easily and record calls with a click of the button. There is a webcast option that people love and even a way to share powerpoint presentations during a call. Plus it’s a paid service, so if you have trouble with your bridgeline you can call someone and say “help!” – which you can’t do with the freebie lines. Believe me, it is well worth the investment.

5) Central Desktop* – Project Management & Virtual Office

Ah the world of project management systems – there is a plethora of choices out there and I feel like I’ve tried them all. I started using Central Desktop a couple of years ago and it remains one of my favs. We use it for project management (keeping track of who is doing what) and also for all of our company files & information (how to do stuff aka SOP guide). It’s a pretty comprehensive system all around and functions very much as a virtual office space – plus they are great at tweaking/improving the system based on user feedback. I give this one a thumbs up.

You know what? I could keep on going as there are lots of other tools that I use and love so I’m going to do a Part 2… stay tuned for that.

What are your favorite tools? Do tell.

We are doing a free call on November 8th re: video… and what better way to invite you to attend than by video!

>> Click here to register for this free call

I’m tickled pink to introduce you to the amazing gals in my Online Business Manager Mentorship program. Each of these ladies has invested a significant amount of time, energy and heart in becoming an Online Business Manager and serving their clients in the best way possible.

I’ve done a short video interview with everyone in order for you to see a “smiling face” and get to know them a bit better. And of course for you to be able to connect with your ideal OBM should you be looking to hire someone to provide this high-level of support for you and your business.

>> Click here to meet them 

Have you heard of the story of the Cobbler’s Children? It refers to the fact that a busy cobbler is so focused on making shoes for his customers that he has no time to make shoes for his own children.

There is a bit of a Cobbler’s Shoes epidemic going on when it comes to our websites… as Online Business Managers, Virtual Assistants and other online support professionals, we are so focused on finding and working with clients that our websites often fall to the bottom of our lists!

As much as we love our clients, it is important to also set aside some time for US – to work on our websites and get them into tip-top shape so they can do their job in attracting our ideal clients.

Yet the thing is that I know this is easier said than done… and if we don’t purposely set aside the time to work on our own websites it probably will never happen. This is exactly why we created our latest program:

“Write Your Site in a Week”
September 13 – 17th

A Get-it-Done Program Exclusively for Online Business Managers,
Virtual Assistants and other Online Support Professionals

If you are struggling with your website copy in any way this is the course for you… don’t let your ideal client slip through the cracks because your website isn’t doing it’s job (eek!)

>> Click Here for full Details

We start next week, see you there?

Tina Forsyth

PS – Just to be clear, this is not a training program… this is a “get it done” program where we take you by the hand and give you exactly what you need (including fill in the blanks templates) to get the 3 key pages of your website done in a week. Woo hoo!

So, are you ready to stop settling for this frustrating, crazy-making approach to running a business? Are you itching to get back to doing what you love for the people who really need you?

Because the THRIVE Hiring System is finally here.

Learn proven strategies and tools for finding, hiring, and working with support teams that bolster YOUR success – consistently and reliably.

Click here to register: THRIVE Hiring System

We’ve got your hiring needs covered, from soup to nuts…

6 LIVE training calls, including:

• Team module: Who You Need and When
• Hire module: Find and Hire the Right People
• Release module: Letting Go So Your Team Can Support You Effectively
• Incentive module: Compensating Your Team to Contribute to the Bottom Line
• Validate module: Building Long Term Relationships With Your Team
• Expand module: Next Steps as Your Business Grows

• PLUS 2 “open mike” Q&A calls with me, Tina Forsyth
• PLUS 1 year of access to the THRIVE Directory & Job Board 
• PLUS a 1-year membership to the THRIVE Community Discussion Board (online)

For just $497, you can END the outsourcing misery for good and start THRIVING as an entrepreneur.

Click here to register: THRIVE Hiring System

Can you imagine? In less than 2 months, you could have a team of professionals who rally to SUPPORT YOU, exactly how you need it.

No more babysitting. No more drama. No more running for cover when something blows up. (Even better … how about no more stuff blowing up in the first place!?!)

Start LOVING Your Business Again…

Because when you have the right team in place, living that 6- or 7-figure dream no longer seems impossible but very realistic.

Our video series re: the Top 10 Questions about how to find, hire and work with a virtual team is complete – missed any of the videos? Not a problem, you can check them out here. 

Just to recap we covered:

1. How do I know who I need to hire in the first place?
2. What attributes should I look for when hiring someone?
3. What do I delegate vs. keep to myself?
4. How to know if someone can actually do what they say?
5. Where is the best place to find the people I need?
6. How can I afford the help I need?
7. How to know when to fix something vs. fire the person?
8. How can I get great people to stay with me?
9. I think I’m a control freak, yipes! What to do?
10. How can I make sure I’m not settling?

As mentioned in the videos we are putting the final touches on the new THRIVE Hiring System – which is a complete step-by-step program to take you through the hiring process from start to finish (it will open up for registration next week.) 

If you would like to take this further and get this team thing figured out once and for all let me ask you… 

What would you like me to cover in this new program?

Just post your comment below or send me an email if you prefer. I want to make sure to include as much as possible for you to get the right team in place. 

Many thanks!

My friend Sheri McConnell has a brand new book out today - Smart Women Know Their Why. I got a sneak peek at this book just last month and it was very timely for me as I was at the point where I needed to reconnect with my WHY (don’t you love when the answer shows up right when you need it? ) Really great read and I highly recommend it. Here is an excerpt for you from the book…

Authenticity or the state of being real not only feels good, is easy to manage (let’s face it, you don’t have to remember who you were pretending to be!) and more importantly, it leads to new levels of awareness and growth.  When you are willing to just be yourself in your relationships (business and otherwise) everyone wins because the energy vibration is much higher.  When we give into the expectations of others, we begin to die.  So authenticity is really about being faithful to the internal rather than external.

So many of my customers and yours really want to do business with people they like, they know, and most importantly trust.  Being authentic is peaceful and profitable. Follow the four part path below to become more aware and practice authenticity:

One—Decide
Before anything and before everything comes decision.  Let the universe know you are ready to be real and to grow. Trust me, you will be heard.

Two—Focus on the “Why”
After decision, remember to stop and take time for the most important question of all.  Why?  See chapter two for help during your journey along this part of the path.

Three—Commit and Recommit
Did I mention that you would have to decide over and over again and well, you never get to stop asking “why?”  Not if you want to grow.

Four—Let the Universe Flow Through You
Ahhh. The entire reason you are taking your journey is because of this part of the path. Bliss and joy are your rewards. This part of the path is what makes being an entrepreneur somewhat of a manic experience because the highs can be addictive and all consuming. When the universe flows through you, time literally disappears and you forget about all the other parts of the path.

Want to learn more about Sheri McConnell and her new book, Smart Women Know Their Why? Visit www.smartwomenwhy.com

You know me – when something starts to annoy me I have to tackle it head on.  

And i’m hearing from many of you about your hiring woes and how you are struggling to find the right virtual team for you and your biz. I’ve been talking to business owners about this stuff for years now and it’s still a hot topic (and a headache for many of you!) 

I have some thoughts about what is going on here that i’ve crafted into a cool new report called: 

The Stop Settling Manifesto

Taking a stand on creating the best virtual support team for you and your business

Go ahead and grab your copy here:

Sign up now to receive this free PDF, along with our monthly newsletter First Name Primary Email We won’t share your info ever – my promise!

In this short (I promise!) report I cover a few key things that you need to know in order to create the best virtual support team for you and your business, including:

• the one thing that is hurting most business owners who are struggling with their team (and it’s not what you might think!)
• the hiring approach that I see many business owners doing (and which is almost guaranteed to fail)
• a formula for ensuring you create a successful team (just two simple things)
• how being an ostrich or a control freak can stiffle your team (and subsequently your business success!)
• the ONE question that you need to ask in order to know if you have the right team in place

Go ahead and grab your copy at the link above, and be sure to let me know what you think!