Comments for VA Classroom Training Blog http://vaclassroomblog.com Fri, 05 Sep 2008 21:49:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 Comment on Is The “Virtual Assistant” Title Really That Important Anyways? by Tina Forsyth http://vaclassroomblog.com/is-the-virtual-assistant-title-really-that-important-anyways#comment-140 Tina Forsyth Thu, 28 Aug 2008 05:02:58 +0000 http://vaclassroomblog.com/?p=70#comment-140 I also find too that - outside of my virtual community - people don't know what a VA is anyways. My parents still don't have a clue how I make a living, LOL! So when i'm asked the 'what do you do?' question I tend to say either Internet Marketing Consultant or that I help people build their businesses online. That seems to make sense to most people, online or off. I agree that it is so much more effective to tell people 'how you help' as opposed to giving them your title. <em>Tina Forsyth's last blog post..<a href='http://www.onlinebusinessmanager.com/blog/archives/200' rel="nofollow">If it’s not broken, don’t fix it!</a></em> I also find too that - outside of my virtual community - people don’t know what a VA is anyways. My parents still don’t have a clue how I make a living, LOL!

So when i’m asked the ‘what do you do?’ question I tend to say either Internet Marketing Consultant or that I help people build their businesses online. That seems to make sense to most people, online or off.

I agree that it is so much more effective to tell people ‘how you help’ as opposed to giving them your title.

Tina Forsyth’s last blog post..If it’s not broken, don’t fix it!

]]> Comment on Is The “Virtual Assistant” Title Really That Important Anyways? by Theresa Scholes http://vaclassroomblog.com/is-the-virtual-assistant-title-really-that-important-anyways#comment-139 Theresa Scholes Thu, 28 Aug 2008 01:18:12 +0000 http://vaclassroomblog.com/?p=70#comment-139 Great post Craig. I think Virtual Assistants feel like they are at grad reunions everyday when they field that awkward question, "what the heck is a VA?" - "assistants at a distance" I say... but they still look like a deer in the headlights. It's all in the description of the tasks you can do for them that really gets their eyes to widen and clarity to set in. The concept of a VA, the ideals and the help we bring to people certainly overshadows the name. Theresa <em>Theresa Scholes's last blog post..<a href='http://clickva.com/video-marketing/video-marketing-in-the-web-20-world/' rel="nofollow">Video Marketing in the Web 2.0 World</a></em> Great post Craig. I think Virtual Assistants feel like they are at grad reunions everyday when they field that awkward question, “what the heck is a VA?” - “assistants at a distance” I say… but they still look like a deer in the headlights. It’s all in the description of the tasks you can do for them that really gets their eyes to widen and clarity to set in. The concept of a VA, the ideals and the help we bring to people certainly overshadows the name.

Theresa

Theresa Scholes’s last blog post..Video Marketing in the Web 2.0 World

]]> Comment on Is Your Virtual Assistant Glass Half Empty or Half Full? by Karri Flatla http://vaclassroomblog.com/is-your-virtual-assistant-glass-half-empty-or-half-full#comment-126 Karri Flatla Sat, 23 Aug 2008 03:56:45 +0000 http://vaclassroomblog.com/?p=67#comment-126 I'm with the majority of Commenters so far. I started out as a Virtual Assistant and, over time, moved my business to a consulting model (Internet marketing). However, to this day, I am a deeply loyal fan and supporter of the VA industry and suspect I always will be. Thank you Craig for bringing to light via this discussion; it shows the importance of accountability and an entrepreneurial spirit over "what the media says." Do check out this post as well - it's a good and related discussion http://bsetc.ca/blog/2008/08/21/the-future-of-the-virtual-assistance-industry-an-open-conversation/ Cheers. <em>Karri Flatla's last blog post..<a href='http://www.snap-va.com/virtual-assistance/marketing-semantics-the-virtual-professional-whats-in-a-name-and-other-bla-bla-bla/' rel="nofollow">Marketing, Semantics & the Virtual Professional: What’s in a Name? And Other Bla Bla Bla</a></em> I’m with the majority of Commenters so far. I started out as a Virtual Assistant and, over time, moved my business to a consulting model (Internet marketing). However, to this day, I am a deeply loyal fan and supporter of the VA industry and suspect I always will be.

Thank you Craig for bringing to light via this discussion; it shows the importance of accountability and an entrepreneurial spirit over “what the media says.”

Do check out this post as well - it’s a good and related discussion http://bsetc.ca/blog/2008/08/21/the-future-of-the-virtual-assistance-industry-an-open-conversation/

Cheers.

Karri Flatla’s last blog post..Marketing, Semantics & the Virtual Professional: What’s in a Name? And Other Bla Bla Bla

]]> Comment on Is Your Virtual Assistant Glass Half Empty or Half Full? by Sherra Scott ~ Virtual Assistant http://vaclassroomblog.com/is-your-virtual-assistant-glass-half-empty-or-half-full#comment-124 Sherra Scott ~ Virtual Assistant Fri, 22 Aug 2008 23:32:25 +0000 http://vaclassroomblog.com/?p=67#comment-124 I must admit that when I first took the survey I too got booted after the first page. But, I began to wonder what the other 90+ questions were, so after a day or two I went back and retook the survey, changing one or two of my answers on the first page to see if I could get to the rest of it. I don’t think it will be a truly accurate representation of the industry, but I am still interested to see what some of the answers are. I AM a virtual assistant and I provide my clients with a multitude of solutions to their needs ~ admin, bookkeeping, desktop publishing & Internet marketing assistance. My personal opinion is that the MORE services you can provide your clients actually qualifies you more as a VA. I must admit that when I first took the survey I too got booted after the first page. But, I began to wonder what the other 90+ questions were, so after a day or two I went back and retook the survey, changing one or two of my answers on the first page to see if I could get to the rest of it. I don’t think it will be a truly accurate representation of the industry, but I am still interested to see what some of the answers are.

I AM a virtual assistant and I provide my clients with a multitude of solutions to their needs ~ admin, bookkeeping, desktop publishing & Internet marketing assistance. My personal opinion is that the MORE services you can provide your clients actually qualifies you more as a VA.

]]> Comment on Is Your Virtual Assistant Glass Half Empty or Half Full? by Jena http://vaclassroomblog.com/is-your-virtual-assistant-glass-half-empty-or-half-full#comment-123 Jena Fri, 22 Aug 2008 21:18:57 +0000 http://vaclassroomblog.com/?p=67#comment-123 Your blog post is very insightful, Craig. I think that, especially in an emerging field that's new and innovative and even a bit mysterious to some people, it's important to let the quality of a VA's work speak for itself rather than waste valuable energy trying to make people understand everything right away. If VA's are visible and out there with quality work, understanding will come and misconceptions will gradually fade away. Your blog post is very insightful, Craig. I think that, especially in an emerging field that’s new and innovative and even a bit mysterious to some people, it’s important to let the quality of a VA’s work speak for itself rather than waste valuable energy trying to make people understand everything right away. If VA’s are visible and out there with quality work, understanding will come and misconceptions will gradually fade away.

]]> Comment on Is Your Virtual Assistant Glass Half Empty or Half Full? by Craig http://vaclassroomblog.com/is-your-virtual-assistant-glass-half-empty-or-half-full#comment-122 Craig Fri, 22 Aug 2008 18:59:06 +0000 http://vaclassroomblog.com/?p=67#comment-122 Hi Pat and Deb, Yes, after further review and dialogue with others about this survey, you are right - this survey offers a narrow focus and does not take into account the rich diversity that we find in the VA world today such as Blogging, Social Marketing, copywriting, Website maintenance etc.... I don't really understanding the limitation with the "Mult-VA" firms. As an Internet Marketer myself, if I went and started an Internet Marketing firm, would I not still be considered an Internet Marketer? Thanks for your comments! Hi Pat and Deb,

Yes, after further review and dialogue with others about this survey, you are right - this survey offers a narrow focus and does not take into account the rich diversity that we find in the VA world today such as Blogging, Social Marketing, copywriting, Website maintenance etc….

I don’t really understanding the limitation with the “Mult-VA” firms. As an Internet Marketer myself, if I went and started an Internet Marketing firm, would I not still be considered an Internet Marketer?

Thanks for your comments!

]]> Comment on Is Your Virtual Assistant Glass Half Empty or Half Full? by Pat http://vaclassroomblog.com/is-your-virtual-assistant-glass-half-empty-or-half-full#comment-120 Pat Fri, 22 Aug 2008 16:47:31 +0000 http://vaclassroomblog.com/?p=67#comment-120 Ah, but here's the rub - that survey doesn't actually produce a viable statistic of the industry, in my opinion. You are restricted from completing the entire survey if you are a Multi-VA practice or if you offer ANY services that are not considered "administrative" in scope, such as website maintenance, ezines, blogs, etc. With this ever-growing industry, and evolving technology, why is an "assistant" that works "virtually" not a VA if they perform these tasks to help their client grow their business? Just my two cents. Ah, but here’s the rub - that survey doesn’t actually produce a viable statistic of the industry, in my opinion. You are restricted from completing the entire survey if you are a Multi-VA practice or if you offer ANY services that are not considered “administrative” in scope, such as website maintenance, ezines, blogs, etc. With this ever-growing industry, and evolving technology, why is an “assistant” that works “virtually” not a VA if they perform these tasks to help their client grow their business?

Just my two cents.

]]> Comment on Is Your Virtual Assistant Glass Half Empty or Half Full? by Deb http://vaclassroomblog.com/is-your-virtual-assistant-glass-half-empty-or-half-full#comment-118 Deb Fri, 22 Aug 2008 06:20:15 +0000 http://vaclassroomblog.com/?p=67#comment-118 In response to Donna C. I would gladly take the survey however, like so many of my peers, I got booted out after the first page as I don't fit the 'criteria'. :( In response to Donna C.

I would gladly take the survey however, like so many of my peers, I got booted out after the first page as I don’t fit the ‘criteria’. :(

]]> Comment on Is Your Virtual Assistant Glass Half Empty or Half Full? by Craig http://vaclassroomblog.com/is-your-virtual-assistant-glass-half-empty-or-half-full#comment-113 Craig Wed, 20 Aug 2008 15:45:10 +0000 http://vaclassroomblog.com/?p=67#comment-113 Good points Stacy. I think you are right about the media - our focus should really be on educating the prospective clients through small business forums, events, online communities etc.... I also agree that the lack of standardization in the Virtual Assistant Indutry does create ambiguity, given the many different perspectives within the industry. I think the VA industry might be about as difficult to standardize as it is to create a fair judging system for Olympic Gymanastics:) Couldn't leave that one alone! Good points Stacy. I think you are right about the media - our focus should really be on educating the prospective clients through small business forums, events, online communities etc….

I also agree that the lack of standardization in the Virtual Assistant Indutry does create ambiguity, given the many different perspectives within the industry. I think the VA industry might be about as difficult to standardize as it is to create a fair judging system for Olympic Gymanastics:) Couldn’t leave that one alone!

]]> Comment on Is Your Virtual Assistant Glass Half Empty or Half Full? by Stacy Brice http://vaclassroomblog.com/is-your-virtual-assistant-glass-half-empty-or-half-full#comment-110 Stacy Brice Wed, 20 Aug 2008 03:49:42 +0000 http://vaclassroomblog.com/?p=67#comment-110 As to agreeing with Danielle--I most certainly do. I also agree that there's no such thing as bad publicity. The problem with much of the publicity about our profession is that it doesn't present a clear picture--to anyone. And it doesn't, because industry leaders are not in agreement about the industry (nor do I think we're ever likely to be). And, given that the media doesn't really care what the "truth" is, and only wants cogent sound bites from us, I don't know that trying to educate them with positive or negative messages is a worthwhile pursuit. I don't know what the answer is, or if there's even an answer to be had. But thanks for broaching the topic, Craig! As to agreeing with Danielle–I most certainly do.

I also agree that there’s no such thing as bad publicity. The problem with much of the publicity about our profession is that it doesn’t present a clear picture–to anyone. And it doesn’t, because industry leaders are not in agreement about the industry (nor do I think we’re ever likely to be).

And, given that the media doesn’t really care what the “truth” is, and only wants cogent sound bites from us, I don’t know that trying to educate them with positive or negative messages is a worthwhile pursuit.

I don’t know what the answer is, or if there’s even an answer to be had. But thanks for broaching the topic, Craig!

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