FAQ
MyVBO is the first in a class of revolutionary new web-based applications known as “Centralized Information Management” (CIM) Software. MyVBO (pronounced VEE-bow) pulls all the business data, information, news and critical business tools you use together in one incredibly well-designed and intuitive web portal. There are four easy-to-learn modules that allow you to shop competitively for products, monitor business stats, gather news and video specific to your business, and network/communicate with other business owners. MyVBO also provides a variety of pre-selected services that any small business needs to operate efficiently, such as accounting, payroll, online meetings, e-mail marketing and more. MyVBO includes a powerful internet search tool that allows you to narrow in on search results, rate web sites, and see the ratings of other VBO users. An additional module is under development (due in the first half of 2010) that will allow you to market your products and services to potential customers. All of these modules can be set up to feed data for viewing to the VBO Dashboard, allowing for continuous monitoring of your business. Now all the tools you need to run your business efficiently are together in one web-based super tool -- MyVBO.
Start at the log-in page to create a user name and password. Next, head to the “Account Info" tab and fill out some basic information about you and your company. Then navigate to each module (Products, News, Business, Connecting) and quickly set them up to perform to your specifications. Connect MyVBO to your QuickBooks application, Google analytics reports, and coming soon, CRM software. Create lists of products that your business buys—and rebuys—regularly – MyVBO surfs the web for best pricing, saving you money each time you shop. Access your Twitter account, blog, and all your favorite web links. Select from a wide variety of news, video and information sources. Start networking with other business people with similar interests and challenges. All of these business-critical operations are at your fingertips, accessible anywhere you can reach the internet.
NOTE: For details on how to perform each of these functions, please see the Module-specific FAQ’s below.
MyVBO is designed for entrepreneurs in start-up mode, owners of established businesses, as well as office managers, buyers, accountants and other key personnel who help a small business run and grow. Because these people often must juggle so many roles, the ability to perform many functions with fewer tools is key. MyVBO is that centralized hub of tools and accessible to anybody, from anywhere, at any time, saving time and creating efficiency. Anyone who is interested in running a business as intelligently and effortlessly as possible should use MyVBO!
How much time does it take to begin using MyVBO?
It all depends on how much time you wish to give it, and how you choose to use it. You can start out with minimal data in the MyVBO “Account Info” screens to get up and running quickly, but the more you add, the bigger the benefit. And our super-easy tutorials inside each module will teach you how to use them quickly. So set up your account, customize your modules, start using and modify as you go!
How much does MyVBO cost?
Right now, there is no fee for registered users who want to take advantage of the rich set of tools in MyVBO. As the site evolves, we may offer certain premium features at a charge, but it is our intention to provide basic services for small business owners at no charge.
Review our
Terms of Service for further details.
Absolutely. MyVBO is hosted on one of the largest, most secure hardware platforms ever created, the "Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2), or the Amazon "cloud". All sensitive data is encrypted in MyVBO's databases, and we utilize the industry-standard HTTPS protocol when communicating sensitive data over the Internet. The MyVBO application does not store personal or sensitive information on a user’s computer.
Can I become a MyVBO partner?
If you have products and services geared toward small businesses that you can offer on a large geographical scale, send an e-mail to
partners@MyVBO.com.
Can I advertise on MyVBO?
For information on how to advertise your products to our small-business audience, send an e-mail to
advertising@MyVBO.com.
Who are you guys, anyway?
We are a programming, marketing, sales, and business operations team creating a repository of tools and data—from the Web, from years of business experience, and from you, ALL ROLLED UP into a better way for your business to connect with information and suppliers. Our team includes executive entrepreneurs who have started up many companies, sold them or taken them public. We work in the virtual world and use MyVBO to help us run MyVBO.
Go to
www.MyVBO.com and click on the "Sign Up" button. You will be asked to create a user name, password, and fill out a few lines of information. Assuming your user name and password are unique, you will be logged in and taken to the MyVBO “Dashboard” module. MyVBO keeps you logged in unless you specifically log out after each session. If you choose to log in for each VBO session, bookmark
www.myvbo.com/app. Here (after the initial registration process) you can log in each time with a quick user name and password, and then get going! Make MyVBO your browser’s home page – all the news and info you need to move through your day is at your command!
How do I personalize MyVBO?
The “Account Info” area is where your company comes to life for other VBO users. Fill out as much information as you possibly can! Move through the sections quickly – add logos, company videos, add other employees, hook up your Twitter account (this will allow you to tweet and view tweets through the MyVBO app), blog and more! The Account Info module has two sections – Company Information and Personal Information.
COMPANY INFORMATION:
Company Set-up: First fill in your company name and job title, then click on “Check Company Listings”. MyVBO searches the Directory to see if your company is already listed. If not, you will be given approval to go forward by pressing the green “Create It” button. You are now the MyVBO group manager for your company, responsible for inviting new members to the application and ensuring that the company profile is accurate. Next, enter your company contact information via the links on the left hand side of the window. If your company is already established on MyVBO, you will need to ask the company administrator (first name listed) to invite you to participate.
Company Contact Info: Here is where you add the spice to your company listing. After entering the basic info – address, phone, e-mail, web address, upload a company logo by clicking the “Upload logo” button, searching for the appropriate file, then clicking “ok”. MyVBO supports the following file formats: jpeg, .gif, and .png -- as long as the file does not exceed 1 MB in size. Add the company tag line and mission statement, then press “Save changes”. Your company set-up is complete! Click on “Show in Directory” and your company will become searchable in the “Directory” area of the “Connecting” module. For more info on the Directory and Connecting, see the Connecting FAQ section below.
Manage People: To add a person, click the “Invite new users” button. In the pop-up window, enter up to 10 e-mail addresses, separated by comma or return, then press “ok”. MyVBO will send invitations via e-mail to the people you invite. They can easily join the group by clicking on the link and following the simple instructions provided.
NOTE: Only the company administrator will be able to add and remove people from the company listing.
Social Networking: Here you can access and link your existing Twitter account and blog to the MyVBO application. To link an existing Twitter account, enter your Twitter user name in the space provided. You will be directed to Twitter, who will ask you to confirm that you do want to make this connection. Just follow the simple instructions. Don’t have a Twitter account? Click on “Create a new Twitter account” and set one up! Link your existing blog to VBO by entering the web address in the appropriate space. When done, press “Save Changes”. You have now connected your Twitter page and your blog to the MyVBO portal! Both can now be updated from the same window. You will find your Twitter timeline in the Connecting module under “Messages”. You can read and send tweets from there, as well as the “Connecting” pod in the Dashboard module. Your blog entries (and associated posts) appear in the “Connecting” module in the Messaging section (under “Sent”).
Company Video: Create a link to your company video hosted on either YouTube or Vimeo. Simply add a link in the box provided and press “Save Changes”. You can preview the video here, and remove it here also.
PERSONAL INFORMATION:
Required Information: Here we require just a bit of personal information – name and e-mail address, and if desired, geographic location and zip code. MyVBO uses this information when you are looking for partners, products and services – we try to offer things that are readily available to you, geographically. At no time will MyVBO divulge your personal information to any third party.
More About Me: Here we dive a little deeper – birthday, gender, industry and coming soon, a picture.
NOTE: Avatar support coming in next release.
Change Password: Need to change your password? Do it here – enter the old one once, the new one twice, click “Save Changes” are you are done!
MyVBO User Survey: The more we know about you and other VBO users, the better we can serve you! To that end, we ask MyVBO users to fill out a quick survey, to assist us in the product development area. Our user surveys may change over time. We will notify you when a new one is posted, you can then choose to participate, or not. The more info you provide, the more targeted information and services we can provide for you.
Subscriptions: With so much information available, wouldn’t it be great to choose the articles and tips you want to receive – and leave the rest out? MyVBO provides a menu of content topics – articles, blogs and special promotional offers – for you to choose from. We will send you only what you ask for – and none of what you don’t! Click on the topics of interest to you – My VBO, on occasion, will send you info, news and offers based on your selections.
NOTE: Please see our HYPERLINK "privacy.html"Privacy policy to see how your professional and personal information will be, and won’t be used.
What does the Dashboard do?
The Dashboard gives you a glimpse of all the MyVBO modules on one page— Business info, product alerts, web links, web stats; it’s home to a Twitter reader and the My VBO Tools pod; it hosts basic services such as weather, and will soon be home to other great info sources like sports, finance, and more. Everything you need to access is here – in one easy to read and organized window. Make the VBO “Dashboard” Module your browser’s home page – everything you need to get you through the day will be at your fingertips!
First, click on the “Customize” icon in the upper right hand corner. You will be given a menu of pods to choose from –add/remove them here. Customize the layout by placing the small pods on the left or right-hand side of the page – pods can drag and drop in their own column (up and down), but not from left to right.
Individually, each pod has a “Settings” gear (where applicable) in the bottom right corner. Click on each one to customize pod views. To delete a pod, click on the “X” in its upper right hand corner.
Weather: To set up the Weather pod, click on the Settings button – add a zip code and name of the location you would like to track, then click “Add”. Continue this way until all postal codes are entered. When done adding zip codes, press “close”. All of the weather zones will appear in the order they were entered. To rearrange the order, drag and drop from inside the “settings” window, click “save” and then “close”. The weather module displays a three-day forecast via easy-to-read icons; click on “Details” for any particular zip code for a forecast from the National Weather Service.
NOTE: Currently the weather module supports numeric zip codes only. We will be updating the zip code functionality in the near future to include alpha characters/international codes.
To set up the Weather pod, click on the Settings button – add a zip code and name of the location you would like to track, then click “Add”. Continue this way until all postal codes are entered. When done adding zip codes, press “close”. All of the weather zones will appear in the order they were entered. To rearrange the order, drag and drop from inside the “settings” window, click “save” and then “close”. The weather module displays a three-day forecast via easy-to-read icons; click on “Details” for any particular zip code for a forecast from the National Weather Service. NOTE: Currently the weather module supports numeric zip codes only. We will be updating the zip code functionality in the near future to include alpha characters/international codes.
Web Links: My VBO manages all of your favorite web links (bookmarks) in one easy to use pod. There are two ways to add links to the VBO Links pod. First, you can use our Firefox or Explorer Web Links/Ratings Tools from the MyVBO Tools pod. These tools not only bookmark your favorite web sites, but also allow you to rate the sites from best to worst. Download the appropriate tool depending on the preferred browser and computer operating system. You may be asked to over-ride the browser’s security system – please select “Allow”. Once installation is complete, install the MyVBO tool in your browser toolbar by following the instructions in your browser’s help file (customize toolbar/toolbar options). Now, whenever you are browsing the web, you can add or rate links with a click of the MyVBO icon in your browser’s toolbar.
To manually add your favorite web sites to the MyVBO Web Links pod, click on “Settings” and then “Add”. Fill in “category”, then tab to “Description” to enter the name. Lastly, you will be asked to enter the actual URL address for the link. After filling in the info, press “close”. To remove a web link, enter “settings” and click on the remove button. To re-order your web links, simply drag and drop each one to the desired spot – again, from inside the “settings” view.
Web Stats: The Web Stats pod allows you to see your Google Analytics reports – assuming you are using the Google Analytics connector functionality contained in the Business module. If in fact you have connected Google Analytics to MyVBO, there is no set up necessary for this pod – simply select to view it in the “Customize” window, and the data will automatically flow from the Web stats area in the Business module.
QuickBooks: The QuickBooks pod gives you access to selected QuickBooks reports – assuming you are using the QuickBooks connector functionality contained in the Business module. To set up the QuickBooks pod, go to the Business module and click on the “QuickBooks” sub-menu. Open a particular report you want to see in the Dashboard and click “Add to Dashboard”. The report will now be visible in the QuickBooks pod.
Product Alerts: Product alerts are set from inside the “Products” module. All alerts that you have set will appear in “Product Alerts” pod in the Dashboard module. When a product hits a price at which you would be interested in buying, click on it from the Dashboard view to go to the Products module, where you can evaluate the new pricing and make your purchasing decision. If you are ready to buy the product, click on the cart icon next to it; then go to “Products” and head to the Shopping Cart to complete the transaction.
NOTE: For specific instructions as to how to set an alert, please go to the “Products” FAQ.
MyVBO Tools: The “MyVBO Tools” pod contains a collection of easy to install tools that allow you to link your QuickBooks to the MyVBO Business Info module (run multiple QuickBooks reports without ever leaving VBO), connect your Google Analytics account to MyVBO (run your Google reports from inside MyVBO), rate web sites from within a variety of browsers, and test the speed of your internet connection. Many more tools are scheduled for addition to the Tools module, so keep an eye out for them! For instructions on how to use the various connectors, please see the “Business” Module FAQ’s. For instructions on installing the Web Ratings tool, see “Web Links” above. To run the other tools, download and launch each one, following the simple instructions carefully.
If you have other Dashboard questions, please send an e-mail to questions@MyVBO.com.
What does the "Products" Module do?
The “Products” module allows you to purchase products on a one-off basis, and create lists of products you buy and re-buy regularly. Enter a product name, part number or UPC code in the search bar -- MyVBO constantly scans the Web for the best pricing on that particular product. The results appear in a grid format, or list view, depending on your selected preference. Choose the product you are looking for from the displayed results – MyVBO provides product descriptions and pricing in an easy to read format. Add the product to a product list (if you plan to re-buy at a future date) or add to your shopping cart. When it is time to check out, you can order from the lowest-priced supplier(s), your preferred supplier(s), or many different suppliers based on lowest line-item pricing, usually with one-click shopping.
The Products module also allows you to view pricing history on any selected product, as well a track your actual purchase history over a period of time. These tools allow you to forecast pricing trends, buy at the right time, and discover pricing patterns on particular product sets.
How do I search for a product?
Go to the Products module and click on “Find Products”. Enter the product name, UPC code, or manufacturer’s part number in the Search window, and if desired, add the name of a list you would like to add the product to from the provided pull-down menu (to create your own list, see the next FAQ). The first 50 results will be displayed in your chosen view. Click on the result that most matches what you are searching for, and a product image, description, list of merchants, along with pricing and availability, will appear in the product window on the right hand side of the page.
How do I create a Product List?
To create your own product lists, go to “Manage Product Lists” from inside the Products module. MyVBO has populated the application with some default product lists – Office Supplies, Cleaning Supplies, etc. All existing lists will appear along the left side of the window. To add a new list, click “New List”. Name it, and then press “OK”. You can also create sub-lists from master lists – categories of office supplies such as consumables, paper good, for example.
How do I delete a Product List?
To delete a list, highlight the list – an “Edit” button will appear. Click on “Edit” where you can re-name or delete the product list. NOTE: Once a list is deleted, it, and the products it contains, are permanently deleted. Be sure to move any products in the list that you would like to keep BEFORE deleting the list!
How do I add a product to a Product List?
After finding a product via the VBO product search tool, select a list from the pull-down menu, and then click “Add to list”. The product is automatically added to the desired list, located along the left-hand side of the application window in the “Manage Product Lists” view. Each time you shop from a saved product list, MyVBO will update the product(s) to be purchased with the latest prices from the Web. We will always default to the lowest-priced vendor—but you choose whether to shop by price or vendor during the check-out process.
How do I move a product from one list to another?
To move a product from one list to another, first select the list the product currently appears in – its contents will appear in the window to the right. Drag and drop products into another list. To remove the product from the original list, please read below.
Once I have a shopping list set up, what do I do next?
You have four main options from inside the “Manage Product Lists” view:
Purchase one product, a few products, or the entire list: From inside of a list, highlight a product you wish to purchase. It will appear at the top of the second window, with several options: buy now, remove from list, adjust quantity, set alert. Select how many you would like to buy, and then press “Buy Now”. The products(s) will be added to your cart. Continue until you are done. The Shopping Cart tab will show how many items you have accumulated in your cart at all times.
Delete a product from a list: Select a product you wish to delete from a list. It will appear at the top of the second window. Press “Remove from List”.
Set an alert price: In the same view as above, enter a price at which you would like to be alerted for a product or products in the “Alert Price” field. When MyVBO finds the product at that alert price, it will highlight the item in red on the list and will notify you via the "Product Alert" pod on your Dashboard.
Evaluate your purchase history and market pricing with a 30-day look back: This can be done in the “Pricing History” section at the very bottom of the second window (remember, all views above it are collapsible for better viewing with less scrolling). Clicking on “My History” will display the various price points at which you have purchased this product; clicking on “Market History” will display the lowest market pricing on the product over the past 30 days. To alter the time frame, click on the calendar and enter a different start date – you will then see the 30-day price history in the graph at the bottom of the window starting from your new date.
For more detailed purchase history info, visit the “Purchase History” tab, where you can set the date ranges with more variety.
I am ready to check out. What are my options?
Once you have added all of the products you wish to buy into your Shopping Cart, navigate to it by clicking on the Shopping Cart tab. You are now ready to choose, customize and buy your cart.
The first image you will see is a menu of carts spelling your total savings based on the checkout you choose. More often than not, you can save significant amounts of money by purchasing your cart from a variety of vendors based on lowest price – and MyVBO does all the hard work for you! We search the web for the best pricing, and by utilizing Amazon 1-click, one checkout process often places your order with numerous vendors, reaping you big discounts! For the more adventurous, go with different merchants and multiple checkouts, but be sure to estimate the shipping charges from each transaction to ensure you are really saving (MyVBO is working on including shipping costs in the multiple checkout process, but for now, be sure to add shipping estimates per transaction!). You can refine your results by clicking on “Amazon 1-click”, which will restrict your choices to only that particular option. Click on “Single check-out” to bring up a merchant other than Amazon that may also offer all of the products in one transaction. Or, click “None” to see all of your shopping cart options at once.
Once you decide on the best pricing/check-out combination, highlight it by clicking on it. The details will appear in a window below. Now you can customize further, if desired. To customize quantity and reseller, click the “Customize” button. To increase or decrease the quantity of a particular item, use the toggle arrows to move the number up or down. To change the reseller, click on the icon to the right of the reseller name -- a menu of other resellers who carry the product, along with price and in-stock status will appear. Click on a new reseller and press “OK”, or press “Cancel” to keep the existing merchant in place. To clear the cart, press the “Clear Cart” button.
Once your cart is where you want it, press “Buy Now”. You will still have an opportunity to review and/or change items in the cart – just in case – but for our purposes, we are ready to go! Press “Start Purchase”. You will be taken to either the Amazon log-in page, or to the check-out pages of your selected merchant(s).
Is the checkout process complicated?
No. MyVBO has partnered with Amazon Partner Program and the Google Shopping Network to make your checkout as smooth as possible. If your products are coming from an Amazon partner, and you have an Amazon account, you may utilize Amazon’s one-click shopping feature. If the products are coming through a Google Shopping Network partner, you will be directed to each Google partner’s Web site to complete your order. After each order is completed, you will return to MyVBO to mark it as complete, and then place the next order. Other MyVBO vendors that work outside of the Amazon and Google networks may ask you to fill out their order screens as you would for any other Web-based purchase. Use the same care and discretion you would use if purchasing online outside of the MyVBO purchasing tool. MyVBO cannot guarantee all of the vendors returned through a product search. At any point in the checkout process, you may switch vendors to utilize ones you are more familiar with or that work through Amazon or Google.
Why do I have to go to each Google partner’s checkout, when orders placed through the Amazon partner network only require one checkout for multiple vendors?
Our ultimate goal is to provide a single checkout for multiple vendors. The process we have established with Amazon allows us to do that today, and we hope to provide a similar experience with Google’s (and other) checkout procedure in the future.
Why do I need to hit the "Order Complete" button on the MyVBO site after I finish completing the/each order?
By clicking this button, you are telling us that you did finish the order. We then record the vendor through which you placed the order, along with the date, time, product ID, and price paid. We use this information to help you track your order/purchasing history over time. It also helps you keep the check-out processes organized!
Will I receive order confirmations and tracking info?
You will receive shipping confirmation and e-mail tracking directly from the vendors you purchase from, according to their standard business practices. Remember, MyVBO performs the search and alert features for you; the products come from the vendors themselves, and MyVBO is not directly involved in the purchasing process in any other way.
What does the "Purchase History" feature do?
The Purchase History feature allows you to analyze your purchasing and spending habits by category and over time. Get a list of the items you purchase the most, the price range you have paid, and the resellers you have used. View trends and fine-tune your purchasing practices for the greatest efficiency and return on investment!
If you have other Product List questions, please send an e-mail to questions@MyVBO.com.
What type of business data can I see inside the “Business” module?
We currently support QuickBooks and Google Web Analytics. We will be adding SalesForce support, followed by another Web tracking tool and accounting package in the first quarter of 2010. To connection your accounts to the Business module, you will need to use a dedicated VBO connector tool, located in the Toolbox pod in the Dashboard module.
How do I connect MyVBO to QuickBooks?
This process should take no more than five minutes. First, within MyVBO, go to the Business Module and click on the QuickBooks sub-menu. Next click on Settings -- this is where you can define which companies and reports you would like to see in MyVBO. Once you've added a company, click the checkbox "Show IDs". This will show you the secure key used to protect data transfers between MyVBO and QuickBooks. You will need this key when setting up the QuickBooks sync. Next, you (or your designated accountant) should download the "QuickBooks Web Connector" found in the MyVBO Tools pod in the MyVBO dashboard. The Connector will install and then automatically run. Within the connector, add whatever companies you would like to sync with MyVBO by selecting the correct QuickBooks file and supplying the access key you obtained earlier.
That’s it! Every time you open your QuickBooks application, it will automatically update the information in the Business Data area and on the "Business Data” Dashboard window in MyVBO. You will be able to run all of your QuickBooks reports on the fly, with up-to-the-minute info!
Is my QuickBooks data secure on MyVBO?
Yes. The file is encrypted during transfer and stays encrypted on our site. And only you can see it. We are required to followed strict guidelines by Intuit in order to provide this service. If at any time our secure (https) connection is not functioning, your data will not be transferred into your account.
Can I make changes to the QuickBooks Data in MyVBO?
No—this is a one-way view. It’s like running a report—you can read it but you can’t make changes. This preserves the integrity of the data in QuickBooks.
Why would I want my QuickBooks Data in MyVBO?
Accessing QuickBooks data alongside all of your other critical business info in MyVBO saves you time and creates efficiency. MyVBO enables you to view financial information in the context of other data (like Web analytics) to get a better perspective on how your company is doing.
Does MyVBO store QuickBooks account numbers and passwords?
No. MyVBO simply stores the names and business data associated with each QuickBooks account.
How do I connect MyVBO to Google Analytics?
If you have already have a Google Analytics account, and have installed Google Analytics tracking code on your web site, you are almost done! Simply go to the Business module, click on the “Web Stats” sub-menu, and then click on “Settings”. In the spaces provided, add your Google Analytics user name and password, then click “Save”. Your web account and associated user name will appear in the grid. If you have more than one web site, they will both appear (if you have a different user name and password for each site, you will need to set each one up separately).
If you do not have a Google Analytics account, you will need to establish one. Please visit Google Analytics at http://www.google.com/analytics/discover_analytics.html and follow the instructions on setting up an account and installing tracking code into your site (you may want to have your web site administrator do this for you).
Once you are set up, you can view a variety of stats on your site over various periods of time – visits, page views, bounce rate, new visitors, and more – all without opening a new application, and in the context of your overall business.
Can I connect MyVBO to other open API sources?
Technically, any data source that utilizes "open API" can be linked into the Business Data module, but you would need a specialized connector tool. API stands for "application programming interface," and it allows two computer systems to talk with each other in a common language. Many business applications utilize this open source language, including QuickBooks and other accounting programs, most Web analytical programs, some banking sites, sales-team tracking applications, and others. We currently offer connectors for Google Analytics and QuickBooks, and will be adding others as we move forward. Every connector we make will be posted in the MyVBO Tools Pod in the VBO Dashboard.
If you have a Connector suggestion, please send an e-mail to questions@MyVBO.com.
If you have other Business Data questions, or Connector suggestion, please send an e-mail to questions@MyVBO.com.
What types of news sources are available on MyVBO?
MyVBO has formed relationships with news and video providers (coming soon) from around the globe, offering the best in business, world, national and local news, economic, travel, leisure and more. Select only the sources that you want, and leave out what you don’t —MyVBO helps you get to the point!
How do I select the news I want?
First, navigate to the “News” module and find the two available sub-menus, “Articles” and “Video”. To select and organize your print news feeds, go to the “Articles” view and click on “Settings” in the upper right hand corner. From the “Browse Feeds” view, on the left will be a window, with lists of news feeds to select from. Click on the arrow next to “All News/Blog Categories” to reveal a long list of news categories from which to choose. Double-click or drag and drop the categories you like to the list along the right hand side of the window. Or, highlight the item and click “Add Feed” at the bottom of the window.
MyVBO also provides a host of industry-specific news feeds for you to search from as well. Select a desired industry from the pull-down menu at the top of the left-hand window. A list of news feeds pertinent to that industry will become available for download.
Can I add a new feed not already listed?
After all of these choices, you may still wish to search for and add different or more specific feeds to your “Articles” news section. Click on “Search Feeds” and enter a search term. The results are your new news feed, with stories pertaining to, or containing, your search term. The more specific (and correctly spelled) your search term is, the better the results! To add this feed to your list, simply click the “Add” button directly below the search window. The new feed will appear in your list of feeds in the right hand window.
How do I add a link to a specific RSS feed?
If there is a feed where you have the direct RSS link, you may enter it as directed at the top of the right hand window. Add the complete and correct address, then press “Add”. Your feed should now appear in the list below it.
Is there any way to organize the various news sources?
Yes—again, in the Settings window, drag and drop the list of feeds in the right hand window into the order you prefer.
What about the video links?
The Video links module will be operational in the next few weeks, please come back then for specific instructions.
If you have other News Sources questions, please send an e-mail to questions@MyVBO.com.
What does "Connecting" do?
Connecting is our social networking area, where you can list personal and professional information in the VBO Directory, Tweet, blog, chat, private message, participate in peer-to-peer business forums, share business intelligence, search for business resources and more.
To set up the “Connecting” area, you need only take a few steps – much was done during the initial Account Info set-up.
Messages: MyVBO facilitates private messaging to and from any other MyVBO user, as long as you know each other’s VBO user name, which becomes your messaging address. Messages you receive will appear in your Personal Messaging “Inbox” – click on each one to read the text in the corresponding right hand window. To send someone a VBO message, go to “Messages” and select “Personal Messages” from the left hand side window. In the window directly to the right, you will see a “Compose Messages” button. Click on it to enter the VBO user name of the intended recipient(s), Subject and Text of the personal message. When you are done, click “Send Message”. The sent message should appear in the “Sent” area, under “Personal Messages”. VBO does not currently support the sending and receiving of messages via traditional e-mail, but may do so in the near future.
Community Forums: MyVBO has a variety of forums already underway on a variety of topics. Feel free to participate in any that appeal to you by highlighting the topic and finding the particular thread you wish to comment on. Toggle through to newer and older responses to read the complete thread. To join in the conversation, click on “Compose Message”. Add a subject line, compose the message, then press “Send Message”. Your post will appear at the very top of the window.
Twitter Timeline: Since you have connected your Twitter account to MyVBO in the Account Info module, you can now read your Twitter timeline from the Inbox view of the Connecting module. You can also send tweets from your “Sent” box via the twitter timeline view. Highlight it, type your 140 characters and click “Send Message”. You can also tweet from the VBO Dashboard, assuming your have selected the Connecting pod to appear in the Dashboard module. For instructions on how to set up and link a Twitter account to MyVBO, go to the Social Networking area of “Account Info” and follow the instructions.
Company Directory: The Directory is the area where you can see and be seen by VBO members --- search for a particular company in the Directory sub-menu under “Connecting”. You can enter a partial or full search term – MyVBO will return all matches, along with the Industry the company is in.
Once you find the company you were searching for, click on it – the company details will appear in a window to the right – address, phone number, along with logo, tag line, link to company video, Twitter account (where you can even choose to follow that person!).
Do I have to participate?
You don’t have to participate —but you should! The Connecting module can help you promote your business and "connect" you with potential partners and other business people that share the same challenges that you do.
If you have other Connecting questions, please send an e-mail to questions@MyVBO.com.
What’s available in the "Services" area?
MyVBO has gathered a selection of products and services that all businesses may eventually need –payroll, travel, e-mail marketing, online meetings and more. Choose from the VBO-approved product and service providers – we provide links to the individual web sites to make things easy for you!
If you have other Services questions or would like to suggest additional service categories, please send an e-mail to questions@MyVBO.com.
What does the MyVBO Web Search Tool do?
The MyVBO web search tool offers variety and efficiency by utilizing the power of Yahoo, Google and bing, plus the recommendations of you and other VBO users. Choose the search engine you prefer – or try more than one and see the difference! Rank the web sites you use and view the ratings of other MyVBO users. The MyVBO rating system allows you to cut through the clutter of millions of search results and focus on those with higher rankings by you and others.
Enter your search term in the space provided, then select the search tool you want to use. The results will automatically appear in the window below. Click on the arrows to reveal the next round of results, or to toggle backwards to the previous results.
How do I rate a Web site?
To rate Web sites, you must first download the MyVBO ranking tool from the MyVBO Tools pod in the Dashboard module. Download the tool appropriate for the browser and operating system you use—Firefox or Explorer, Mac or Windows. Once the MyVBO ratings tool is installed in your browser, go to the VBO icon, scroll down to Options, and enter your VBO user name. You are now ready to search and rank, using the same scroll-down menu. Rankings range from one star to five, with five being the best.
NOTE: for detailed instructions on how to download the VBO Web Tool, see the Dashboard module FAQ section.
How do I view my and other people’s rankings?
All rankings appear in the VBO search results, in columns labeled "my ratings," "VBO ratings," and "www ratings." To view your search results based on any of these three views, click on the category and the results will sort accordingly.
I like your search results better—do I always have to come to MyVBO to use your search?
No. You can use the MyVBO search function from within your browser. From MyVBO.com, go to your browser search bar and select the MyVBO search icon as your default. You will then be able to use MyVBO’s rankings from inside your browser.
Why do I have to be on the MyVBO Web site when I first select the MyVBO search tool to use in my browser?
Without going into the tech stuff, you just do. But you only have to do this once, and the tool will then be available to select from your browser wherever you’re surfing.
Why use the MyVBO search; isn’t Google better?
Not necessarily. You have the option of using the Google search engine, plus Yahoo and bing. Isn’t three better than one? Also, now you can actually rank those search results. Ranking the sites you go to will improve your results over time—all without having to give up using your favorite search tool. Cool!
If you have other Search questions, please send an e-mail to questions@MyVBO.com.
How do I communicate product feedback?
To contact us with product suggestions, send us an e-mail at
customerservice@myvbo.com. We do not guarantee a response, and all feedback becomes the property of MyVBO LLC.
