With Virtual Assistance, The Grass Can Be Greener!

Virtual Assistance is a highly digitized industry that does not require commuting to and from a workplace, in-person meetings or doing “lunch”. In a usual Virtual Assistant practice, it is not necessary to meet with clients in person. All communication can be done quite efficiently online or via telephone! Using email programs and online software whenever possible, to include cards & letters, is quite common practice. By utilizing these communication methods, the industry of Virtual Assistance is already contributing toward a greener environment. As we strive toward greener pastures, Virtually Ready would like to reflect on what additional steps we can take to improve our efforts, if we haven’t already, and provide a few tips on how you can too!

Using recycled paper products (including notebooks, printer paper, mailing products), pens & pencils, recycled printer ink cartridges, then recycling again is a great way to go green. Many office stores and drug stores accept your recycled cartridges and some will provide a credit or incentive toward another purchase. Don’t print when it’s not necessary. Always double-check your documents for errors prior to printing, but if they should slip by, you can use the mistake paper for writing notes. Copy & Print double-sided whenever you can.

How about using online faxing as opposed to print? Try voicemail combined with email communication to cut down on paper messages. Try digital filing options instead of bulky paper files (with back-up, of course)!

Always remember to turn off all of your office lights whenever you leave your office. Try using energy-efficient light bulbs for even greater savings!

Purchase and utilize energy-efficient office machines. Remembering to shut down your equipment when it’s not being used. Pulling the plug entirely can result in increased savings. Use the power-save features when “temporarily” inactive can help as well. If you need to upgrade your computer system, many of the major manufacturers now provide a recycling, “take back” or charitable donation program. Check with your manufacturer’s web site. Not everyone is aware of the options available, so here are a few sources that I found for you:

* Apple
- Recycling, Trade-In & Tack Back, Batteries

* Hewlett Packard / Compaq
- Recycling, Trade-in program & Charity Donations, Batteries

* Dell - (Small Business/Personal) - Dell (Large Business/Corporate)
- Trade-in program / Charity Donations

* Toshiba
- Trade-In & Recycling Program

* IBM
- Recycling & Asset Recovery

* Gateway
- Recycling & Trade-in program

When we work together, we can make even more of a difference!

Do you have additional business or office-related “Going Green” tips that you’d like to share? Please share - I’d love to hear them!
LisaDu
Virtually Ready

California Wildfires - Call For Volunteers

FYI, I received an email this morning from Listopica regarding the fires and how they have created a public service website to help all of those affected by the fires.

www.CaliforniaWildfires.org

They advise that the site contains info that is being constantly updated regarding emergency child care centers, evacuation centers, assistance for seniors, San Diego road closures, volunteering and donating, maps, lists of informational websites and more.

They are looking for volunteers to help with any of the following: editors, article contributors, post moderators, interviewers and reporters, first-hand stories from people affected, video & photo contributors. You may contact them via their contact form on the public service website if interested. I’ve sent my information to them to help however I can.

LisaDu
Virtually Ready