For me and you Skype is about being free. For Ike, well she believes people will pay her to use Skype.
I met this charming lady Ike (pronounced Eeka) sometime back (we are both denominated as Super Users on the Skype Forum. She resides in the Netherlands.
I spoke with Ike late today. Just a few hours before she was to launch her new web site.
Bill “Ike, you’ve done just about everything already. Now what are you up too? Many people I have met dream of making money around Skype. Are you one of those dreamers?”
Ike: Yes, Bill; I guess I am one of those dreamers.
Bill: “So tell me how your story started?
Ike: I fell in love with Skype. I learned so much about Skype as a Super User and Moderator on the Skype Forum. I first joined the Forum in July looking for answers. Soon I found I was able to give answers as well. I was appointed a Super User in August and Moderator in December. I like helping people.
Then I looked at me. Good foreign language skills: Dutch, Swedish, English and German. Skilled international operator. So there is was: a new Concept in Internet Secretary Services. Skype is being used big time in small business. Especially in one person companies. So to start these are my customers. I will offer─
• Skype-based answering service
• Secretarial services such as plan their calendars for meetings with others
• Translation services
As I learn more and more about the product and services of my customer I will be able to solve problems for their customers just like I do for people who drop by the Skype Forum.
Bill: So Ike, how will you learn about your customer’s products and services remotely?
Ike: I will use my second favourite toy. Unyte. It is another free tool integrated into Skype. Unyte allows users to share desktops and do web conferencing. Let me invite you to my desktop so I can show you my web site which will be going “live” in five hours on my magic February 1 date!
So Bill, as you well know, I can share my desktop and my clients and their customers can share their desktop with me. Files, PowerPoint's too. Unyte works for me.
(Here is the screen shot I took of Ike sharing her desktop.)
Bill: Do you have any clients now?
Ike: I sure do. A former employer has retained me to help organize an International boat show. Check my web site for others.
So it is not dream Ike. It is a reality. You get paid to use Skype. Good for you!
Bill: One last question, IKe. What does the name “Varras”mean? Dutch for what?
Ike: It is not Dutch!!! It is Finnish. A Varras is a long iron bar a farmer or home gardener uses to move big boulders.
So Varras Consultancy is all about leveraging your customers. Nice. Very nice name. I wish you luck Ike!
I hope readers will tell us their stories on how they make money using Skype.
. Nov 7-9. San Francisco. 
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