If you’d like to break away from using Outlook, try setting up your Gmail account to retrieve up to five existing email accounts and drop them into your Gmail inbox.

Simply go to the Accounts and Import tab and enter your account details.

You’ll need to set up the “Import Mail and Contacts” and “Send Mail As:” settings if you want to make it appear to be sending your domain emails with your Gmail email address appearing on all outgoing emails ( e.g.  “sent via xxxx@gmail.com”).

If you’d like to send an email from your domain email address and make it appear like yourname@yourcompany.com without the gmail.com account attached to your outgoing messages, you’ll need to set up the POP3 settings (“Send Mail As:” settings) to do so.

Click on SEND MAIL FROM ANOTHER ADDRESS and a window will pop up and guide you through the process.

You’ll see this pop up window.

When you’ve properly set up both “Import emails and contacts” and “Send mail as:” settings, you’ll be able to send and receive emails without the hint of it coming from your Gmail account.

You’ll be able to pull down a menu bar and select which account you’d like to send an email from before sending the email out.

Check out this brand new video I created with http://animoto.com. It was fast, easy, and free.

This morning, I had the pleasure of being the guest expert on Blog Talk Radio: Secrets of Her Success.

Darcy Volden Hoag, the Founder of Secrets of Her Success, graciously asked me to explain the virtues of Virtual Assistance and how delegation can help business owners prosper.

It was a great experience and I enjoyed conveying all of the benefits of working with a Virtual Assistant and answering some great questions about this burgeoning industry.

Technorati Profile

The majority of my clients find me through my Social Networking efforts.

I implement New Marketing techniques and Web 2.0 etiquette to attract like-minded people and potential clients.

In learning how to do this for myself, Social Networking has become my #1 client service. At this moment, I use Facebook as the corner stone for building a solid online presence for my clients.

I customize and maintain Facebook Profiles by pulling in additional online components to create a continuum of information.

I use a combination of professional and personal details to create an in-depth online presence, helping clients stand out in a sea of faces.

This is a summary of what I do for my clients on Facebook:

SET UP

The set up process of a Facebook Profile page can be a little confusing. There are a lot of behind the scenes settings that need to be adjusted in order to maximize professional exposure without offending a list of Friends. I adjust settings and notifications to avoid that virtual overwhelm.

I strategically place a limited amount of links throughout clients’ Profiles in order to maximize click-thrus to their websites.

I minimize the information throughout their Profiles so visitors don’t get overwhelmed with details, but rather, stay focused on pertinent links.

I craft HTML OPT-IN BOXES to increase sign ups and build lists. I use RSS FEEDS to pull in blog posts and increase exposure and blog traffic. I create and link a TWITTER account to enhance the opportunity and disseminate information. I use the status bar to promote websites, blogs, and events without being tacky in the process. I create GROUPS AND PAGES to further extend clients’ professional presence. I use a select amount of APPLICATIONS to reach out and engage interest.

I set up and PROMOTE TELESEMINARS using a simple and straightforward approach, minimizing details so that attendees understand how to properly register. Facebook doesn’t have autoresponders so I use an effective timetable to ensure attendees show up and show up on time.

MAINTENANCE

Daily maintenance is essential to create online energy around a website and a blog. Clients need to settle in for the long haul to yield optimum results. Consistent maintenance ensures networking success and creates more traffic around a website and a blog.

Social Networking success is more about a proper mindset, than it is about technology. It’s about reciprocity and providing useful information in a permission-based manner. I maintain virtual energy around my clients’ online presence by managing all of the steps involved in the process.

If you have the time and interest to set up and maintain your own Facebook profile, I’ve created a free e-book filled with step by step instructions on how to do it yourself.

If you’re a business owner or a Virtual Assistant and you’d like to find out how I can help, I encourage you to email me so we can discuss some options.

I wish you the best of luck in 2009!

I entered myself into StartUp Nation’s 2008 Home-Based 100 Competition about a month ago.

Events like this are great for a little startup business like mine (or yours, for that matter!).  And there’s nothing better than a whole lot of free exposure, right?

I would love your clicks in order to make it to the finals.

You are allowed to vote once a day and voting continues well into the month of October (**sigh**).  If you hear me asking a few more times before the end of October, thanks in advance (big grin).

To vote, click here ==> ACUMEN WORKS – 2008 StartUp Nation Home-Based 100 Competition <==

Your support is greatly appreciated.

Hello. My name is Mia Chambers and I work with business owners who have an online presence and are struggling to get it all done.

In January 2007, I opened my virtual doors for business and signed my very first client, Mr. Corey Miller. (Thank you for being my guinea pig, Corey.)

I had been working 16+ hour days in episodic television production and hated it. I knew there had to be more.

I created my business specifically to help my clients maintain energy around their online world.

I manage all of the facets that go into a thriving online presence.

I streamline efforts, keep motivations on track, and move intentions forward into actions.

I work entirely in a virtual setting, making the cubicle outside of the office obsolete.

I created this blog as a way to clarify what I do and how I do it.

If you’d like to set up a consultation, please visit my online calendar to do so: http://acumen-works.genbook.com

Tell me what’s not working for you and what you’d like to achieve. I’ll explain how I can help.

Thank you for your interest!

Best,

m.