ASAP Utilities contains over 300 useful and powerful utilities to fill the gaps in Excel, and automate frequently used tasks. Tasks such as:

• Convert to upper/lower case
• Delete all page breaks in active sheet
• Sort all sheets in alphabetical order
• Paper saver by splitting columns when printing
• Merge row/column data
• Convert percentages to numbers
• and so much more ...

You can get this nifty program at www.asap-utilities.com/. I've been using it for years and it is a very reliable program. Best of all, it's free.

1. Have them professionally printed
2. Have 5 ways to contact you
3. Don't use clipart as your logo
4. Use your card as a name tag
5. List services on the back
6. Scan it to use in emails
7. Keep the information current

Love Comments Like This...

Being a SME, it is decision time when it comes to 'special projects'. Either:

1. allocate an employee to be taken away from their present productive duties and the disruption that comes with that, or
2. look for an outside contractor to fill this niche.

We chose 2., found Anita and haven't looked back. No hesitation in recommending AKA Virtual PA to all.

Peter Flanagan
Mortgage Operations
Money Ideas (www.moneyideas.com.au)

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• Welcome to Our First Edition!
• Making the Most of Networking Events
• What is a Virtual Assistant (VA) Anyway?
• Downloads - ASAP Utilities
• Business Card Essentials
• Love Comments Like This...

Welcome to the inaugural issue of The AKA Advantage. It has been a long time in the making and I am excited to send you your very own Winter 2005 issue.

This bi-monthly newsletter will include up-to-date information on topics of interest which may assist you to work more effectively on your business, rather than continually in it.

To celebrate the launch of The AKA Advantage, I would like to give away a copy of "Network or Perish. Learn the secrets of networking masters". To be in the running for a copy, reply to this email with your best networking tip.

Get your tip in by 14 July 2005. The winner will be announced in the next issue. The most creative ones will be also be published with full credits.

Good Luck and enjoy...!

Anita Kilkenny

What is the most cost effective way to market your business these days? Personally, I cannot go past the tried and true practice of NETWORKING. It is absolutely amazing how much work you can generate via word-of-mouth and referrals.

The following are some tips that I have found to be very useful in my experience at networking events:

1. Decide why you want to attend a particular event. What do you want to get out of it? Are you looking for a particular service provider or just wanting to network with industry peers? Be clear on this as you'll have a better chance of achieving it.
2. Take heaps of Business Cards. Nothing worse than forgetting them in the car or at the office. Make sure you have all your contact details on them - give people the best chance to be able to get in touch with you.
3. Prepare your elevator speech. You have 5 seconds to create that impression, so be ready to tell something interesting about yourself.
4. Have quality conversations. Passing out 30 business cards at a function won't win you clients. Stop and chat. Get to know the person you are giving your card to. Collecting 5 quality leads is much more effective than 30 empty ones.
5. Maintain eye contact. Nothing worse than chatting to someone who keeps looking over your shoulder to see if there's someone better to speak to. That person you're speaking to just may be the CEO of a large organisation who might need your services. Be interested in what people have to say.
6. Have fun. Networking = Socialising, just that we don't call it that. Be yourself and build relationships with others. Relax and enjoy.
7. Follow-up. This is most important and the one that most people find very difficult to do. Don't throw those business cards in the bottom drawer to collect dust. Use those contacts. Send them a card. Add them to your newsletter database and be in touch at least every 90 days.

Here are some great regular networking events you might want to check out:
www.abn.org.au
www.breakthroughforbreakfast.com.au
www.bni.com.au
www.centrumevents.com.au
www.aiop.com.au/vic