You may have seen or heard that Facebook has launched a redesign of its Business Pages, but do you know how the changes can benefit your business?  The changes enable Business pages on Facebook to be more dynamic and viral, enabling you as a business owner to interact more easily with your fans.  I wanted to learn more, so when I have a question about social media, one of the places I turn to is  Mashable, a wildly popular blog focused exclusively on social networking news.  Of course I found answers, as Curtis Hougland explains in detail what is changing, and the opportunities it poses for your business.  Also helpful is his explanation of challenges that will arise.  Read more about how your business can benefit with the new look of Facebook.
]]> http://vamanual.wordpress.com/2009/03/16/what-new-facebook-design-means-for-your-business/feed/ 0 vamanual http://vamanual.wordpress.com/2009/03/05/virtual-assistant-week-at-connecting2give/ http://vamanual.wordpress.com/2009/03/05/virtual-assistant-week-at-connecting2give/#comments Thu, 05 Mar 2009 15:42:12 +0000 vamanual http://vamanual.wordpress.com/?p=77 ]]> Amazing giveaways (including 10 copies of my ebook!) for aspiring Virtual Assistants during Virtual Assistant Week starting March 16th, 2009 at Connecting2Give.  Find out more here. Connecting2Give is an effort started by Gwynne Lacey to match people in need with those that have something to give.  What a big heart!!  She’s also a fellow VA and owner of The 25th Hour VA.  Mark your calendar and join in the fun.  Check her website to learn more about all the amazing giveaways, how you can enter, and what you can do to help others.

Tom Beauchamp, co-founder of 2 Minutes with a VA answers my question about where Virtual Assistants should spend their time networking – online or in the face-to-face world?

A note from Angie: I am excited to introduce this week’s guest blogger, Samantha Kulchar.  She is the Owner of The Next Level, offering Executive and Personal Support Services.  She specializes in providing high-level personal and business support services to executives and entrepreneurs with the cost benefit of a virtual office.  Samantha has over twenty years of experience in business management, Human Resources, marketing, public relations, estate management, personal support and more.

You can follow Samantha at:
Twitter – https://twitter.com/SkulcharTNL
LinkedIn – http://www.linkedin.com/pub/a/619/2a7 

Many Virtual Assistants, when starting their businesses, are advised by others to join a Chamber of Commerce. Many people don’t really know what a Chamber does or just how valuable a membership can be until they have the need for one. These networking associations can be an incredibly valuable way to take your business to new heights.

What’s in it for me?

Very often, a prospective member would come into the office to meet with the Membership Director and want to know, “So what’s in it for me?” Business owners need to know the value of what they are paying for. A Chamber that is in tune with what its members need will explain the value to you clearly, and take the time to advise you of the best way to maximize your membership for your specialty.

Chambers can offer a terrific variety of advertising options, in addition to the standard listings and networking opportunities that come with a membership. It’s wise to choose a one with a wide array of networking and marketing options. More importantly, choose a Chamber that is up to date in their offerings. Flyers in a newsletter are great, but if your business is more geared to the internet, or you are looking to expand your reach, make sure that the Chamber you choose offers options to that end, like a strong website and the ability to use advertising such as banners and email blasts. Use the tools offered – every Chamber member knows that vigorous marketing is the most effective way to retain business.

Interview your potential Chamber

As a matter of fact, interview several! It’s great to choose a Chamber with a hearty membership roster, but you want to ensure that the staff is very much in tune with its members. Request a meeting with the staff to see if you feel any chemistry with them. If you do, you’ll feel that you are in better hands when it comes to asking them to help you choose the best advertising mediums for your business. A knowledgeable staff can help you to connect with all of the right people, too. Most importantly, clicking with the staff will keep you at the front of their minds. When an opportunity arises, they will always think of you and be more likely to connect you with someone who might have a need for your services.

Attend events, create relationships

Most Chambers offer a monthly Breakfast, Luncheon and Evening Mixer as standard networking events. The wonderful thing about being a Virtual Assistant is that you can make your own schedule. There is no shop to mind, no office to lock up. You can attend all of these events! Make yourself seen and don’t go to plug your business. Go to create relationships. The more you get to know your fellow members, the more they will trust you and be likely to refer you. Most importantly, let other members know that you are eager to refer their services as well. People always respond positively when they see that you genuinely want to learn more about what they do. The upside to this is that the more you know about them, the easier it is to identify where they might have a need for a Virtual Assistant!

Volunteer!

I know that we are all pressed for time. Being business owners, moms, wives, we are often stretched to the limits. It is, however, worth it to invest even an hour a week volunteering for a Chamber. It’s a great way to test it out and see how things are run, and once you’ve joined, it’s a wonderful way to be seen and gain a level of trust within your new Chamber. Sitting at the check-in desk at events will guarantee you an instant introduction to everyone coming through the door. As the voice answering the phone, members calling in will always want to know who you are. Once you tell them you’re volunteering, it will show them that you are dedicated to the organization…so you must be dedicated to your business and your clients, too.

Donate your services

Give away a 3 hour project, a database cleanup, a Search Engine Optimization evaluation….anything that will give attention to your services. Donating a door prize at a breakfast or a raffle prize at a mixer will put the spotlight on you and get others wondering what you can offer their business, as well. Doesn’t everyone want to be more efficient?

Strategic Alliances

I’m a big fan of these relationships. Why not partner with another member to offer enhanced services? If your strengths lie more in the administrative arena, perhaps you could partner with a Web Developer to run a promotion of some kind. Everyone you meet is not necessarily just a potential client, but a potential partner. Nearly every business owner you encounter through the Chamber will need more than one type of service to enhance their business, and by partnering with other experts, you can be their one-stop-shop.

Be Remembered

People talk about things they remember. Innovative and creative methods stay on their minds. Things I still remember from members of the Chamber? A digital business card with blinking lights. A wonderful photographer who volunteers to take all of the photos for events in exchange for photo credit from the Chamber. The amazing neck pillow I still use from a sleep and wellness store that was given to everyone who came to their ribbon cutting. I even went back and got one for every member of my family and they all rave about it. The giveaways, volunteers who took some stress off of our hands, and friendships forged are all things that resonate in my mind when I think of how a Chamber of Commerce membership is so incredibly valuable.

I hope that these suggestions will be helpful to you in your endeavors, and if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me!

Samantha Kulchar

The Next Level

Executive and Personal Support Services

samantha@thenextleveltoday.com 

In this self-guided, online class you will follow a proven 4-step action plan to get your VA business off the ground, and receive expert instructor guidance along the way.  The cost is only $149, which is a small price to pay for individual instruction and guidance, and a 4-step action plan to get your business jump-started and on it’s way. 

Ready to get started?  You can enroll here.  Hurry!  Class size is limited to 10 so everyone want can receive the maximum benefit of 1-on-1 instruction and feedback.

There has been a recent increase in new members to the Virtual Assistant industry. Wikipedia estimates that there are as few as 5,000-8,000 or as many as 35,000 Virtual Assistants worldwide. According to a new article at Reuters.com there has also been a boom in businesses’ interest due to the declining economy. Now businesses are becoming more educated about the industry and its advantages. You may already know and understand this. You may be one of the newer Virtual Assistants that after months of researching the industry you have decided to take that plunge. Finally after sleepless nights and endless cups of coffee your website is up. Now you are actively marketing yourself. So what is next? You need clients!

I would like to offer the following encouragement to other new Virtual Assistants. I suggest you that you apply the following 3 principles: People, Patience and Perseverance.

People      

Surround yourself with great people. This may include your family, friends or fellow Virtual Assistants. Only include people that are encouraging, supportive and offer constructive criticism. Join an online and/or local Virtual Assistants organization.

Patience           

What I have learned from others is that you have to patient. Patience comes with the belief that all your start up, networking and marketing efforts are not in vain. Also understand that successful businesses are not built overnight.

Perseverance           

You have to be persistent. You have to continue your efforts in building your business and marketing yourself. Research and learn more about the industry and how to reach your niche market. Also learn new skills to make yourself more marketable. Do not become discouraged when clients are not knocking down your virtual doors.

I am applying these 3 principles to my current Virtual Assistant business. I remain optimistic about the future. I know my hard work and dedication will pay off.

If you would like to be a guest, please email me at angela@vostrategies.com with:

1. one (or more!) topic ideas.  All ideas are welcome!
2. the week you would like it to be posted (I do posts every Monday morning).
3. your name, company name if you have one, and website if you have one.

Blog posts can be short or long…or anything in between.  I look forward to hearing from you!

• cut costs;
• be more efficient;
• focus on cash flow;
• continue (or increase) marketing efforts; and
• offer top-notch customer service.

Virtual Assistants are in a unique position to help a small business stay competitive in the coming year.  By anticipating needs and presenting solutions to the unique challenges that a business owner will face this year, a VA can make herself an invaluable partner.  Whether you are an aspiring Virtual Assistant ready to find your first client or a veteran VA ready to make this your most profitable year yet, use the following points to convince prospects that hiring you is vital to their success in 2009. 

Virtual Assistants can help a small business cut costs

In and of itself, using a Virtual Assistant will help a business cut costs.  A VA is flexible, typically working on an hourly basis, and only as much as you need her that month.  By using a Virtual Assistant instead of hiring a full- or part-time administrative professional, there are no overhead expenses such as benefits, taxes or office equipment to purchase or maintain.  Once hired, a Virtual Assistant can help an owner analyze other expenses and make smart purchasing decisions.

Virtual Assistants can help a small business be more efficient

A Virtual Assistant can help identify and implement ways to operate more efficiently and maximize productivity.  This could include office management procedures, phone and email message management, and efficient use of technology. 

Virtual Assistants can help a small business focus on cash flow

Any task that takes a business owner away from selling needs to be automated or outsourced to a Virtual Assistant or other expert.  These tasks include (but are certainly not limited to) bookkeeping, correspondence, marketing, and web site maintenance.   If a small business owner can’t answer “yes” to the question, “Is this the best use of my time right now?” then he or she needs a Virtual Assistant!

Virtual Assistants can help a small business increase their marketing efforts

A savvy business owner needs to market on many fronts to compete this year.  Local media continues to be important, but in addition some businesses must also leverage their website, draw readers to an electronic newsletter, blog or podcast, and make use of social networking media.  A Virtual Assistant can help  manage or implement these efforts.

Virtual Assistants can help a small business offer top-notch customer service

It is increasingly competitive for a small business to keep customers buying from them.  Virtual Assistants can help by conducting satisfaction surveys, analyzing trends or needs, or offering customer appreciation gifts.  With the phone technology available, a VA can guarantee that a businesses phone is personally answered during business hours and customers will never have to reach voicemail.    More importantly, Virtual Assistants can give business owners back the TIME they need to be responsive to customer needs.