Thanks to desktop publishing, producing and designing newsletters, brochures, magazines and other print and online media have gotten easier and cheaper. This is an excellent career, particularly for people who love working with computer software, copy and graphics – mostly virtual assistants. It’s one of the businesses that are cheapest to start as well.

If this is your idea of a perfect job, here are some things you need to know about desktop publishing:

Education and training
Generally, you do not need to complete a college degree just to get hired as a desktop publisher. Many professionals in this field obtained their expertise through interest and practice. However, obtaining a certificate, a bachelor’s or associate degree will help, particularly because these qualifications often lead to the best jobs.

Knowledge in the appropriate computer software is also required. Since you will be working with computer peripherals such as scanners, cameras and printers, it’s also important that you are comfortable using these accessories.

What the job entails
As a desktop publisher, it’s important that you know how to use the appropriate computer software. Having good artistic skills and knowledge in visual aesthetics are also key to success.

Other than that, you also need to be capable of making critical decisions regarding certain elements that affect the final product. Being able to identify strong and weak points in a presentation and give alternative suggestions and approaches are also vital to your work.

Since you will be working with a computer, expect to be spending most of your work hours sitting in front of a monitor. Expect to be working and communicating closely with clients during projects and job assignments.

Job prospects
In 2006, over 30,000 people worked in desktop publishing and the figure continues to rise. Many of these individuals work independently either as self-employed workers who own their own firms or work-from-home contractors. It’s important to create a strong portfolio and obtain excellent reviews from past clients. Build your network and market your skills to gain more projects. Do research so you can price your services appropriately.

So where exactly can you find desktop publishing gigs? You can start looking for this type of job through visiting job boards, online marketplaces, social networks, and oftentimes by simply asking for referrals.

image from sxc.hu

This post is originally from Just Make Money Online. Please respect copyright.

Make Money Doing Desktop Publishing: A Career in Digital Arts and Media

To all of those who are making money online through helping netpreneurs manage their businesses in various ways – Happy Admin Assistant’s Days!

If you’re planning to be a virtual assistant, here are some helpful resources and associations for new VAs:

VANetworking – one of the largest virtual assistant’s associations with one of the most helpful forums.

International Virtual Assistants Association – a non-profit association for VA education and certification, they’re currently having their Annual Summit.

Online Tools of the Trade – Google Docs and Spreadsheets, Zoho, BaseCamp, and many other virtual tools.

Freelance Marketplaces – oDesk, RentACoder, and ScriptLance are just a few of the places that’ll help you land your first few VA gigs.

Got other useful resources for newbie VA’s?

image credits to klsanderson

This post is originally from Just Make Money Online. Please respect copyright.

Happy Administrative Assistant’s Day

Just a few hours ago, one of my clients introduced me to the use of Google Apps. I’ve been using gazillions of Google products but most of those I use are free.

Google Apps comes with a hefty price tag ($50/year) so although I was so excited to use it, I kept my calm and gingerly checked out the product. What I’ve started toying with is its Start Page since that’s what my client asked me to set up first.

The personalized start page is a syndicated version of iGoogle, allowing you to set up dynamic homepages for your users that bring together your content, Google services, and the best of the web.

I have an iGoogle page but I don’t really use it so I don’t know the difference between the Start Page and iGoogle. But I definitely enjoy adding all the Google gadgets that are designed to make life more enjoyable for online workers like me.

My only problem right now is I don’t know how to import my BlogLines feeds. Anyone who can help me with this?

Also, I’m looking for a similar online collaboration software program that comes for free. If you are using anything similar, I’d appreciate it a lot if you can tell me something about it.

This post is originally from Just Make Money Online. Please respect copyright.

Google Apps for Online Collaboration

Finding online jobs is not an easy feat if you don’t know where to look. But it’s not all about just knowing where to find freelance job marketplaces. The right combination of luck, bidding prowess and the ability to deliver plays a major role in landing freelance gigs.

I’ve tried quite a few of the most popular freelance job matching services such as GetaFreelancer.com, RentaCoder.com and Scriptlance.com but I’ve won no projects using them. Either that I’m no good in bidding or the competition was just too stiff or a combination of both.

But just recently, I’ve learned about oDesk and tried my luck. After two applications, I was able to get a data entry project! I thought that the stars have finally granted my wish and let me win one project from a freelance project bidding site.

However, while working on the data entry project, I was alerted by the service buyer that to get paid, whenever I work on any project I need to be logged in to a certain oDesk application called oDesk team.

I looked up the said online app and I’ve found out that this program includes a feature that I’m not so comfy with, whenever I’m logged in, the app will take screenshots of my monitor every few minutes or so. Called Screensnaps, these screenshots will be seen by the service buyer to verify work time and to collaborate more easily with the service provider.

I’m still in the process of completing the project and I’ve just started to use oDesk team. Although I can always delete anytime those screenshots that I don’t want my client to see, I’m still trying to get the hang of it and all, you know… I still get startled a bit whenever I see the small screenshot prompt which signals that my monitor is about to get captured for the whole world to see! Ok just my clients.

Now how about you? Would you mind being required to use those software programs that take screenshots of your monitor every now and then for monitoring purposes? Why and why not?

This post is originally from Just Make Money Online. Please respect copyright.

Do You oDesk?

It’s just been months since being a virtual assistant took most of my time. Within this short span of time I became acquainted with so many software programs that I’ve never used for my web content writing projects.

Here are three of those virtual assistant’s tools that I now can’t live without:

TimeStamp – a time tracking freeware from Syntap

Zoho Wiki -  aside from being a great spot for your online to-do lists, you can make use of it as a word processor

BlogDesk – desktop publishing software which facilitates things for me blogging for a number of blogs

I know that more experienced virtual assistants out there have a wider variety of more advance online tools that make their online career a lot fun.

It’d be really helpful if you can share about those online apps and downloadables that help you make money online.

image from logodesignweb.com

This post is originally from Just Make Money Online. Please respect copyright.

Virtual Office Freeware

DoMyStuff is getting running errands use a Web 2.0 form. Seriously, it’s an online service site that offers an easy way for bummers, er, too busy people to find businesses and individuals to do their tasks.

I think freelancers can include it in on their list of websites when searching for gigs since I’ve seen some of the errands there can easily be carried out by contract workers such as..

• Business Plan Writing
• Script Writing
• Wedding Photography
• Anniversary Planning
• Document Translation

Assistants as how users who signed up willing to perform outsourced tasks are required to bid on posted chores.

However, I find DoMyStuff’s tagline – Outsource Your Life! a bit sarcastic. I mean, do you really want to outsource your life? I think Get More Free Time sounds better, what do you think?

via Lifehacker

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DoMyStuff: Get Paid to Run Errands

“Even if yours is a one-person business, you don’t have to go it alone. Find capable professionals, consultants and assistants and treat them as your virtual staff. Voila! You’re now the CEO of a great team,” said Rhonda Abrams in this article at Tucson Citizen.

At this time, I mostly run my businesses alone. I wear the different hats of publisher, proofreader, editor, writer, marketing specialist, tech guru and troubleshooter, admin, bookkeeper, web/graphic designer… You get the picture.

But, as tasks increase and time becomes more scarce, I know that I will have to outsource certain things at some stage. The said article by Ms. Abrams offer the following tips:

1. Identify the key functions you need to address.

2. Evaluate whether some “positions” can be filled by companies instead of individuals.

3. “Recruit” service providers.

4. Keep your virtual “staff” on call.

5. Recognize that this is going to cost money.

I’ll be following this process – or something akin to this anyway – and sharing some of my findings and experiences.

What about you? Do you have a virtual staff just yet?

This post is originally from Just Make Money Online. Please respect copyright.

Assembling a Virtual Staff