Category: How to

  • Word processor wars: Microsoft Word versus Google Docs

    For many years now Microsoft Word has been the go to word processor but there is a new kid in town. In May 2021 Jake Anbinder a PhD candidate in US history caused a storm on Twitter after tweeting ‘Gen Z just does not use Microsoft Word, period. When you ask them to submit .doc…

  • A short guide to backing up

    Have you ever lost an important document you created on your computer or had a moment of panic because you thought you had? If the answer to these questions is yes, then you will understand the importance of backing up the data on your computer. Hard drive fail, accidental deletion, natural disaster, theft, ransomware, malware, they…

  • Questions for web designers

    The importance of having a website today is indisputable but if you are not a website designer by trade, creating one from scratch can be a daunting task. In this blog post I draw on my experience of working as a web editor and advise on questions to ask a website designer before you employ…

  • The rise and rise of the QR code

    Have you noticed? QR codes currently seem to be everywhere. Changing your bank, you might be asked to scan a QR code for information about your new account. Taking part in an online event, you might be provided with a QR code to give feedback. Watching a tv show you can vote using a QR…

  • Why your business needs a social media calendar

    Without a calendar or diary most of us would find ourselves in a bit of a pickle. They provide us with order and structure, stop us duplicating appointments and missing important dates, ensure we turn up to places on time and enable us to review what we have done and achieved. Similarly, if you are…

  • Managing emails

    Do you often feel overwhelmed by emails? An inbox overflowing with old, unopened or unwanted messages can be both frustrating and stressful. While having a completely empty inbox is unrealistic, there are things we can all do to keep our inboxes organised, so here are my tops tips for keeping on top of unruly emails. 

  • Make do and mend: how to repurpose blog posts

    Over the summer I decided to stop publishing new content on my blog for a time. For almost two years blog writing has been a big part of my strategy to promote the work I do. I have written about the services I provide as a virtual assistant, things I need to know about for…

  • How to write a marketing strategy

    Investopedia defines a marketing strategy as a business’s overall game plan for reaching prospective leads and turning them into customers. Much like a game of chess, marketing strategy is concerned with evaluation, positioning, control of key areas and setting goals. The word strategy comes from the Greek language (στρατηγία stratēgia) meaning ‘art of troop leader;…

  • How to keep your website looking good

    In a previous life, I worked as a web editor on a local government website, so for this blog post, I thought I would write about some of the ways you can keep your website looking good. My role involved writing, editing, proof reading and approving web pages prior to publication and educating people on…