The Value of a Word Press Blog Site for Virtual Assistants
Here is another business challenge posted by one of our VAClassroom subscribers last week: “Ongoing difficulties in website maintenance and updates”
There are a few primary benefits for choosing a Word Press Blog over a standard site for your Virtual Assistant business:
- Google (and other major SEs) LOVE blogs as you will most definitely see faster exposure in the Search Engines then over a regular static site. Of course, it is essential to continually add new and relevant content to your blog site to keep your Search Engine listings strong.
- Blogs can position you as an authority and enable you to publish content in your areas of interest or expertise. For example, ou might write blog posts on productivity tips, time-saving business tools, or creating a stress-free work life. Internet Business Owners like myself might find these posts appealing. So, the key to a successful blog is to write content that appeals to the audience you target.
- Blog is an ideal avenue for connecting with prospective clients. The beauty of blogging is facilitating two-way communication with your audience as they share feedback and comments on your blog posts. That allows valuable dialogue and a natural way to connect with prospective clients who may be interested in your specific skills and services.
Also, there are now some very compelling and cool blog designs and formats to chose from. Check out this blog site design from the company that will actually be doing the design for VAClassroom Contest winner.
If you are “in the dark” regarding the VAClassroom Contest, just visit VAClassroom.com to sign-up and get all the details!
Is the future bleak for Virtual Assistants in North America?
I want to feature another business challenge put forth by one of our subscribers:
The growing challenge of offshore competition
This has become a topic of interest across a number of blogs, so I thought I would attempt to tackle this one myself!
I am not sure if you have accounts at Elance or Guru, but it is a known fact that Western Virtual Assistants ( residing US, Canada, UK, Australia etc….) are competing against $2-$5/hour VAs in such countries as India and the Phillipines. It is also a known fact that more and more companies are starting to outsource internationally in order to cut costs and grow their profits. So in light of these trends, what is to become of Virtual Assistants in places like North America, UK and Australia - will they simply not be able to compete in this new global marketplace?
I am sure this concern has crossed the mind of many VAs especially if they are browsing Virtual Assistant profiles in Elance and Guru. Well, there is HOPE and let me tell you why…
The Virtual Assistant industry while technically founded in 1995 (by Christine Durst) is still a relatively new industry. Stats have estimated there are currently about 20,000 Virtual Assistants working worldwide. However, that is a very small number considering the increasing amounts of small and medium sized businesses seeking to hire Virtual Assistants over the next couple years. It is estimated that by 2009, 80% of all small and medium businesses will have a web-presence and be marketing online - that is over 20 million companies! Many of these companies will be building Virtual Teams in order to manage their business and online efforts. It is predicted that there won’t actually be enough Virtual Assistants to meet the demand!
Furthermore, based on my own experience in outsourcing internationally and in-country, there will always be certain tasks that are better suited to a western Virtual Assistant. For example; in a previous company I worked with, we had hired a Virtual Assistant to research, recruit and manage affiliate partner relationships. This individual was required to keep regular North American hours and converse on the phone with partners. We would not have outsourced this virtual position internationally. There are many more examples. The reality is that there will always be a certain part of the business population that prefers a more local virtual presence as opposed to offshore VAs. So, while outsourcing offshore is on the rise, so is the potential client base VAs can market to!
Secondly, there are oodles of opportunities for Virtual Assistants to establish in-demand niches and become specialists in such areas as Blogging, Social Media, Shopping Cart Set-up, Autoresponder management and so much more! I firmly believe that those Virtual Assistants who continue to adapt their business and tap into new “in-demand” niches will thrive even in the midst of growing offshore competition. Personally, I would much rather hire a “Specialist VA” at a higher hourly rate to accomplish a particular task as they will likely take less time and be more proficient.
Michael Russer, author of The Obsolete Employee, says “…To be consistently successful as a VA, one needs to specialize rather than run ragged trying to be everything to everyone.”
This is key - the important piece is to know what tasks are in demand and what to specialize in. There is a BIG market for VA Specialists - Blogger VAs, Social Media VAs, Online Event Planner VAs, Affilate Marketing VAs… the list goes on.
Finally, there is an unprecendented number of networking opportunities for Virtual Assistants to connect with their target audience through such sites as Linkedin.com, Facebook Groups, Ryze and so much more. This is networking on steroids! Those virtual assistants that consistently tap into these many targeted networking channels online and build a rapport with the small/medium business community will position themselves well for a steady stream of new clients and income opportunities.
Futhermore, it is essential that Virtual Assistants also educate local businesses on the immense value of hiring virtual staff. There is certainly good value in connecting with local business associations to raise awareness as well. I firmly believe that if you can market and network well, you will never have a shortage of work, irregardless of the offshore outsourcing trends.
This is a very interesting topic - please join the discussion! I would be interested to get your own personal take and feedback on the whole offshore Virtual Assistant trend.
The “Time Tracking” Challenge for Virtual Assistants
Over the past couple weeks, we have received many responses to our question (on the optin form at VAClassroom), “What is the greatest challenge facing your Virtual Assistant Business today?” We will be reviewing these common challenges in the next few posts to come.
A couple subscribers admitted that one of their ongoing challenges is effectively tracking time for the different clients they work with. You might be thinking… tracking time is a piece of cake - just wear a watch, use a stop clock and you should be fine…
Yes, it may seem simple, but with short Instant messenger chats, calls on your cell phone, quick email questions from clients, the tracking of time can start to become a little murky, especially if you are a busy VA with multiple clients and projects on the go simultaneously! I know with the VAs I work with, I will often “Skype” them a quick question and have a little chat - they need to keep track of these little chats, calls, emails that they do on a daily basis for many different clients.
Well, here are three ideas to help manage this time tracking challenge…
1. I would recommend being upfront with your clients on your minimum time intervals for any task or inpromptu question they may have. In other words, you might set a minimum time interval of 10 minutes (or whatever you decide), so if you have a quick skype chat with a client, you will bill them at a minimum of 10 minutes of work. Again, it is important to be clear on this with client’s upfront so they don’t think you are padding the invoice:).
In the name of building long-term relationships with clients, you might also consider not charging for that occassional quick chat - that could go a long way to keeping a happy client as along as it does not become too frequent!
2. Another strategy for managing the time tracking issue is to shut off MSN, Skype, Cell Phones, PDAs when you are working on a specific client’s project in order to make your time tracking a little more cut and dry. I know this is easier said than done at times, but do you best to focus on one project or task at a time - this will help to maximize your productivity as well.
3. Invest in a Time Tracking Solution. There are a number of cool time tracking applications you can use to keep track of clients’ works on a minute by minute basis. I personally like FreshBooks as it also offers the billing and payment features for managing your clients invoices and payments.
FreshBooks enables you to track time across specific client tasks and projects as well as tracking the time of any staff you may have working on the same project. This is particularly useful for Multi-VA firms. I also like the accountability piece in which you can provide your client access to your Freshbooks account so they can monitor their budget and project activities. I think this adds a level of professionalism and credibility to your business efforts.
If you haven’t already, be sure to sign up for our “VA Business PowerPack Contest” at VAClassroom.com as we have included a one year subscription to Freshbooks!
Virtual Assistants “Lessons Learned” -Interview #1
I want to introduce a new interview series we are launching called : “Virtual Assistants - Lessons Learned“. This series will feature experienced Virtual Assistants discussing their current successes, challenges and the lessons they have learned along their Virtual Journey thus far.
Now, I don’t know about you, but I never get tired of listening to industry peers share some of their successes, failures and lessons they have been taught. I have personally been involved in Internet Marketing for the past five years and I love to listen to webinars or podcasts from other marketers sharing their stories - some of the best “ah hah” moments I had in my business came from hearing others talk about your experiences and challenges!
So, without further adieu, I want to introduce our first Interview with the founder of UltimateBizAssistant.com, Frances Palaschuk. Frances has been working in her Virtual Assistant business for less than one year, but has been able to quickly build a thriving business due to a couple key strategies she discusses in this interview. So, take a listen to the below interview and please leave all your comments and feedback - we love to hear from you!
Win a VA Business PowerPack Contest
As some of you may know, we are currently running a special contest for Virtual Assistants right now at VAClassroom.com. Watch the below video to get the inside track on the contest details and how you can participate!
We would also like to give a special thank-you to our sponsors, Freshbooks and 37 Signals (Basecamp) for providing their valuable time-saving products in our “VA Business PowerPack”!
NOTE: The Contest Winner will be announced here at the blog the day prior to the launch of VAClassroom in the second week of May.
The Intrinsic Qualities of a Successful Internet (Virtual) Business Owner
In my previous post, we talked about the wonderful freedoms of being a Virtual Business Owner. While we have certainly enjoyed many freedoms, there have also been a good share of challenges and “gut-check” moments that have stretched my skills and intestinal fortitude beyond what I thought was possible.
I am always fascinated by the rise and fall of Internet Start-up companies and why some succeeed and others fail. The same applies for Virtual Assistant Business Owners - why do some VAs seem to experience a continual dose of growth and success in their business where as other flounder and float along? Well, there are certainly many reasons for this, but today I want to specifically look at a few of the intrinsic qualities or elements that are commonly held by successful Internet (Virtual) Business Owners. (Again, there are ALWAYS exceptions to the rules, but this is what I have seen based on my own observations and experiences).
1. A Significant Purpose
For those embarking on the volatile journey of starting an Internet Business (Virtual Assistant Business), I believe there has be a highly significant purpose, motivation or expected outcome for starting this new business. Without a clear purpose or motivation driving the Internet Entrepreneur, I believe that when the “storms hit”, they will be more likely to crumble, then the entrepreneur that has a clear purpose that defines what they are doing.
For example; your purpose might be tied to the new found freedoms and opportunities a Virtual Assistant Business might have for you and and family. You might see this Internet opportunity as providing some financial stability in your current situation. A significant purpose whatever that might be will give you what you need to successfully navigate the stormy waters that often comes with new Internet Businesses. Again, with no significant purpose, I think the endeavor is more likely to falter. (IMHO!)
Now, here’s an interesting debate…..Is the desire to be filthy rich and famous a significant purpose that drives the succesful Internet Entepreneur? While I am sure that some Internet Business Owners have been driven to success solely by their ambition for wealth and fame, no doubt…. I personally don’t classify the ambition for wealth as a significant purpose. Furthermore, I think that many Internet Entrepreneurs with that sole focus of making money may not effectively handle the stormy waters when they come, as they won’t have any significant purpose that propels them to rise above their adversity. Again, people might disagree with me on this, but that is my perspective and experience.
2. An Extraordinary Portion of “Sticktuitiveness”.
Now, this certainly can be tied to #1, but from my own experiences, I believe the successful Internet Entrepreneur has an extra measure of perseverence (sticktuitiveness) to overcome the obstacles that can often come with starting a new virtual business. “I give up” is not really apart of their vocabulary and they seem to actually have the ability to increase their focus and intensity when the going gets tough.
I am an avid sport fan and love watching athletes that have the rare ability to elevate their game to new heights when faced with adversity. If you have ever watched Tiger Woods go into the 4th round behind at a major PGA event, you will see a mental toughness and focus like very few people have as he single handedly propels himself to the winner circle. Similarly, I believe that successful Internet Entrepreneurs have an extra measure of mental toughness and focus to effectively manage the set-backs, disappointments and everyday adversity they experience in their businesses.
3. Clear Recognition that Pitfalls are a part of the Journey.
A successful Internet Business Owner does not have a “pie in the sky” mentality, but is realistic about the inevitable pitfalls that will come along the journey. For many, their ability to overcome some of the big pitfalls or setbacks has served as a springboard, catipulting them towards great success. I know from my own experience, the set-backs we have overcame in early days of our first Internet Business were real milestones and “defining moments” in our journey.
It is important to keep clear mental notes of the little and big victories you experience in the early months and years of your Virtual Business as they will help to sustain you during future set-backs and disappointments.
4. Ability to Adapt on the fly.
A successful Internet Business Owner needs to be pliable like clay and easily adapt to new challenges, changes and opportunites in a rapidly evolving Internet Landscape. This rings true for the Virtual Assistant industry as the needs of your Internet Clients continue to evolve at rapids rates and you need to continually learn new skills in order to remain competitive!
5. Adopting a Internet Business Champion
So, what do I mean by that? Well, from my own perspective, I believe that Virtual Business Owner needs at least one person that champions their business endeavor. This person will be their #1 encourager, supporter and regular supplier of “reality checks.” For myself, this person is my wife. I certainly have a share of family and friends that have been hugely supportive, but my wife has been the stabilizing force and champion for our business endeavors especially during a few of the dark days. While some entrepreneurs maybe so independent they don’t require a “Champion”, I think the average person needs a sounding board or individual they trust that will give the encouragement and support they need to endure some of the difficult times. I can honestly say that without my “Internet Business Champion”, I am not sure I would have been able to overcome a few of the obstacles we experienced!
So, those are just a few of the Intrinsic elements that make up a successful Internet Business Owner. I am sure there are many more and I would love to hear from you as to some of the other qualities and characteristics that should be added to this list.
The Freedoms of Virtual Business
Check out our video on some of the freedoms we are currently enjoying in our Virtual Business. Send us your thoughts!
What is a Internet Marketing VA?
Well, if you had already had an opportunity to view our 26 minute preview video, you will likely know the answer to this question by now! For those that have not yet seen the video, an Intenet Marketing VA is a niche specialization for a Virtual Assistant that encompasses a variety of crucial support tasks for a company’s web marketing endeavors.
The cool thing about the Virtual Assistant industry right now is there are all sort of avenues to provide “in demand” specialist services that will distinguish yourself from the growing base of VAs joining this virtual labour force!
So, if you haven’t already, take 25 minutes and view the below video that outlines what an Internet Marketing VA is and also previews the upcoming certification program to be offered by VAClassroom here shortly.
Internet Marketing VA Preview Video
Please do send us your comments, thoughts and questions on this video when you have a moment!
Okay, before I sign off here, I want to give you a good sense of what you can expect by tuning into this blog over the next couple weeks…
We will be providing some important content that will add value to your new or existing Virtual Assistance business such as:
- Key Interviews with Business Owners who regularly hire Virtual Assistants as well as experienced Virtual Assistants talking about their “lessons learned”.
- Informative Videos with myself and others!
- Key updates and information pertaining to the upcoming launch of our Training and Job Center for Virtual Assistants.
- More details on the Internet Marketing VA Certification.
- Special Announcements on our VA Business Power Pack and some other giveaways we have planned - stay tuned!
Ten Marketing Strategies for your Virtual Assistant Business
Hi everyone and welcome to our inaugural first post of the VAClassroom Blog!
If you haven’t already, then make sure you’ve signed up at VAClassroom to get notified of important updates and news including a 26 minute preview video we made on our upcoming Virtual Assistant Training and Job Center.
As promised, we want to pass along an informative ebook today that will significantly boost the marketing efforts for any new or existing Virtual Assistant business.
FREE 26 Page PDF Ebook - 10 Sure-Fire Strategies for Marketing your VA Business
We would love to receive all your feedback and thoughts on this ebook and any other marketing strategies you think should make this top 10 list (or at least an honorable mention). Just pass along your comments here at this blog post.
Be sure to subscribe and check back regularly at this blog over the next couple weeks as we will be discussing some interesting things you won’t want to miss!
