Today we used passwords everywhere, to access our email accounts, files, mobile applications, etc. and it is not easy to retain so many passwords. It is important we all know how to stay safe online and avoid online identity theft. Simple passwords are not good enough to keep your online accounts. In order to help you create quality password here are some important tips.

Length of Password – Make your passwords long with eight or more with mixed types of characters.

Complexity of the Password – Always ensure to combine letters, punctuation, symbols and numbers in your password combination. The more complex your password the more difficult it will be for any password hacking program to attack.

Variation of the Password – Change them often. This is a safe password practice every internet user should follow.

Variety of Password – Don’t use the same password for everything. If someone steals a password to one of your accounts, then they use that same password and user name on your other accounts.

Do not share your Password – Never disclose your passwords to anyone else. If you think that someone else knows your password, change it immediately.

Always Log Out – Whenever you use a computer that is not your own, remember to log out and immediately change password once you get on your own computer.

And lastly, memorize all your passwords. By having unique passwords you can also make sure that even if someone finds out one of your passwords, the others are still safe. If you can’t remember all of your passwords, you can store your passwords in an encrypted cloud storage space. The only password you will ever have to remember is the one to your encrypted application. However if you do not think you will remember your password, you can write it down. If you must, though, do not label it as your password and keep the note somewhere safe rather than stuck right to your computer screen. Always create a strong password to protect yourself from cyber criminals.

The devastation caused by the Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in the Philippines will take years to repair. More than a week after Typhoon Haiyan left, we still don’t know how many people died. Food, water, clothing, medicine, and toiletries are much needed as they start to rebuild their life again.

While we will be celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas together with our loved ones, most of them will be staying in the evacuation centers alone, mourning, and still figuring out how to start their life all over. Hundreds of children without parents, parents without their children, no homes, no school…limited help.

We, The Help, are reaching out to everyone who are able to give support for these victims in need. As we organize our outreach program to the victims, our mission is to get them their basic needs.

This coming holiday season, instead of having a company Christmas party, we are going to an evacuation center to volunteer and provide our services. We plan to also provide the children a day of learning as all of them are missing school right now.

Let us help the victims of typhoon Haiyan. Please click this link or the widget on the right for your donation- big or small, it will surely make a difference.

For more information about our organization and our outreach program, please call 360. 440. 5795.

How effective is it really – hiring a virtual assistant? Will it cost more? Can increase in productivity be expected? These are just the common questions that we usually encounter in employing an additional helping hand.

Never underestimate the power of teamwork. Instead of worrying on how to accomplish all your tasks on your own, why not hire helping hand. This is the main reason why most clients prefer Virtual Assistants.  The distraction of multiple tasks is eliminated and can actually increase productivity with the VA on board. We have to admit, two heads is better than one.  With this said, clients will have more time to focus on what is the most important such as growing the business.

Acquiring virtual assistance will actually lessen the stress and pressure that can eventually lead to multiple errors or complaints if deadlines are not met. But we also have to consider several factors before obtaining virtual assistance. Is the person capable of handling multiple tasks at the same time? Do they possess a positive attitude towards work? Will that person help motivate the other staff members and know how to accept criticism? Are they professional enough to meet company expectation?

If all of these questions are answered while interviewing a virtual assistant, then there might be a modicum of guarantee that you will be able to employ someone who can provide quality customer service a client pays for. An assurance that production could increase and possibly a more harmonious working environment could come about.

Productivity of the company actually depends on how people are able to communicate and understand the roles of each individual in the team. Coordination is a big factor in nurturing an increase of productivity within your group of virtual assistants. It is essential that the person leading the group is focused and very reliable for his/her team members.

Issues must be resolved as this is the main reason why a VA is hired in the first place, to monitor big or small problems that may occur. You have to make sure that a possible solution is provided to and approved by the client before taking any action.

To sum it up, a Virtual Assistant’s excellent skills, positive attitude along with coordination and good communication with the client can lead to an increase in production and a chance of boosting the stability of the company. Teamwork and perseverance should also be practiced at all times. We always have to keep in mind that No Man Is an Island, that means the need for virtual assistance will always be there as long as you possess the right qualities and can deliver output that will help increase production.

Written by Ria C- The Help