Greetings! I find it hard to believe it is Autumn already. Like Joelle, living in a place where there isn’t much “fall” going on besides the overwhelming Halloween costume display at Target, I still like this time of year. Thinking about it makes me dream of cinnamon pumpkin smells and makes me want to roam around in Williams Sonoma sipping hot mulled cider dreaming up my next pregnant cooking frenzy. Ask any of my friends, I have been craving pumpkin flavored anything for weeks. And candy corn? Bring it on. 

The season this year also means I am at the point of no return with regard to my schedule. I am packed to the gills and cannot take any new work due to my impending maternity leave in December. Officially my maternity leave will start probably a week before Christmas and last through April 1st of 2006, though we will be informally “closed” during December wrapping up client work and of course Christmas presents. I’ll be coming back part time in April while I adjust to the new schedule of a working mommy. But never fear, I will return and hopefully with some overflowing new creativity. As for my day to day schedule right now, I am here my usual full time hours.  I will be out of my office next week from October 13th - 14th and then will be working remotely for a good portion of the following week October 17th - 20th.  I will be immediately available by email during that time. 

Thank you to all my clients for the well wishes with my pregnancy and for keeping me occupied with great projects!

It’s Fall… hooray!  Fall is my favorite time of year, I think — the colors, the smells, the bite in the air… Of course, living in San Diego doesn’t warrant too much “bite”, but I can’t complain about that!  I can, however, complain about candy corn.  It’s just not ok. Of course, that doesn’t mean if you put a bowl in front of me I won’t eat them. Let’s not get crazy.

I wanted to take a moment to keep everyone abreast of my schedule.  Currently, I’m not accepting new clients until 2006.  We will be closed for most of December for the holidays, as well as the arrival of Kathy’s wee pod person.  I’ve got so many great clients and I’m excited to be launching several new sites this month!  Some of these include Active Women, a fun, informative and huge site which will be featuring the work of Derek Yaniger (our favorite illustrator!). There’s also a complete overhaul for The Mommy Blog and several others, including (but not limited to) a wine columnist for Slate, an author of several novels, a congressional hopeful out of Texas and an interior architecht.

I’m hoping to wrap my current clients as of October 31st, early November at the very latest. We have some exciting projects and ideas we’re hoping to get off the ground in November, so stay tuned!  You won’t want to miss it!

Happy Fall everyone!

We’ve recently done a little housecleaning!

Please note: Emails ending in @blogmoxie.com have been discontinued and are no longer in effect. We were just getting too much spam.  If you would like to reach us, please drop us a note here. 

Thank you!

As you probably know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Robyn of Shutterblog has been raising money for Susan G. Komen by organizing a fundraiser every October in which bloggers (and non-bloggers alike) take tasteful photos of their breasts and share them.  Dubbed the Boobie-Thon in it’s 2nd year, most photos are free (please give anyway!), but donations of over $50 will grant you access to the “uncovered gallery” where it’s a little bit more naked!

While some consider it lewd, (as Robyn says they get the “same complaints every year"), it’s truly a wonderful, fun and motivating way to celebrate the breasts we’re trying to protect. All photos not in the “uncovered gallery” are anonymous, cover their “unmentionables” either with wet t-shirts, bras or other ... *ahem* creative means (like food, toys, Post-Its...).  Submissions are accepted from both men and women and those who have been affected by breast cancer are encouraged to participate… to remind us all why we’re doing this. 

Boobie-Thon is in it’s 4th year and has been featured in various press and last year, raised $8696.00 for the Susan G. Komen Foundation. This year, partial donations will also go toward victims of Hurricane Katrina. To read more about the Boobie-Thon, please visit their site (this link IS work-safe).

Moxie proud to be a supporter of Boobie-Thon for our 3rd year in row.  We hope you will be, too.  Now… show us your tips!

It isn’t enough for us to tell you how much blog software can enhance your business website.  Sure I could go on all day about the benefits of using it and about the affordability, but we thought letting you hear it from clients would pack more of a convincing punch.  I spent some time chatting with Anne Ferguson, a Certified Professional Virtual Assistant who is working with the authors of Market Busters.  Together we launched the Market Busters website this spring.  Using MovableType we developed a website that provided Anne easy access to the site’s content for updating and keeping it current with news, press, and events to aid in promoting the book.  Here is what she had to say:

Q: How has your clients website benefited from using blog software as a way to manage their content?
A: Ease of use comes immediately to mind.  I was able to (with some patient coaching by Kathy) to maintain the website within a short time of its launch.  My client is able to blog without having to learn a whole new skill.

Q: What do you think your clients can benefit from adding a blog to their business web site?
A: Blogs are a convenient, less labor-intensive way to market a site and a client.  There are no problems w/avoiding spam-blocked e-mails, the posts are noted by search engines, blogs can be shorter and posted randomly, rather than on a set schedule.  Clients love it because they don’t become slaves to a weekly or monthly eZine.

Q: As the industry grows, do you think blogging will become an important way to communicate to potential customers?
A: Absolutely.  I think the popularity of blogs will increase exponentially. 

Q: As a Virtual Assistant, how has blog software made your job easier? or harder?
A: Certainly easier.  Kathy introduced me to blogging software when she designed my clients website, because we specifically requested a design that would be easy to maintain.  It has proven to be that, and more.  Blogging software has not detracted from the overall appearance of the website which itself has received many compliments. 

Q: What advice do you have for business owners/clients who want to enhance their site using a content management system such as blog software?
A: It’s state-of-the-art software and well worth serious consideration.

About Anne Ferguson:  VA Anne (Anne Ferguson) is based in San Francisco, California and is a Certified Professional Virtual Assistant trained through AssistU.com.  VA Anne has been in full-time practice for more than 5 years and her clients include authors, academics, coaches and consultants.  The best part of being a VA:  contributing to the success of my clients’ businesses and constantly being challenged to learn new skills and trends.  To learn more VA Anne and virtual assistantship, visit www.va-anne.com.

Thanks Anne!