| When I first began to research the Virtual Assistant | | | | they write about. For example, if I write about home |
| (VA) industry a few years ago, I came across a | | | | business issues and about how to care for your horse, |
| reprinted article, written by an expert, which | | | | I might confuse my audience if I write for both fields |
| contradicted everything I had learned so far about | | | | under the same name. A reader could read one my |
| starting a Virtual Assistant business. | | | | horse articles thinking it was about her home business |
| I showed the article to some experienced VAs who | | | | and end up feeling confused. In that case, it would be a |
| were quick to express their displeasure with the article | | | | good idea for me to publish my home business articles |
| and assured me the writer was not the expert she | | | | under one name, like "Denise Willms" and my horse |
| espoused to be. No credible VA would say those | | | | articles under another, such as "D. L. Willms," to avoid |
| things. | | | | possible confusion. |
| Needless to say, I didn't read anymore of those | | | | But no matter how many pen names an author has, |
| writer's articles, nor did I revisit the website where I had | | | | each one should be a person's name - not a business |
| found it. How could I trust someone who would reprint | | | | name or a nickname - and should always have a first |
| an article without first checking if its content was valid? | | | | name (or initial) and a last name. |
| If you're using reprint articles in your own publications, | | | | Another important thing to look at when you're looking |
| or if you're reading online articles to learn something | | | | for an article to publish is the resource box at the end |
| new, it can be difficult to decide if an article author is | | | | of the article. This is where the article's author has |
| credible and the information true. | | | | hopefully told you a bit about herself and included a link |
| Here are some of the things you can look at when | | | | to her website. |
| deciding if an author and her article are to be believed. | | | | I usually look for articles with an informative resource |
| One of the first things to check is the author's name. A | | | | box that helps you get to know the writer. A reputable |
| reputable writer will want to receive proper credit for | | | | writer will want to tell you about herself and her |
| the article by having her full name associated with it. It | | | | business. |
| can be hard to believe an author who writes articles | | | | I have a hard time trusting a writer whose resource |
| under a nickname or who doesn't give a last name. | | | | box reads like this: |
| Why should I believe someone who won't tell me who | | | | "So-and-so sells blue widgets. To learn more about |
| they really are? | | | | blue widgets, visit " |
| There are some good reasons to use different pen | | | | Then when I follow the hyperlink, I'm taken to a page |
| names. Authors who write about various subject | | | | that's all about blue widgets, and why I need one... |
| areas often use a different name for each subject | | | | |