In This Issue

Letter from the Editor: What a Difference a Day Makes by Sharon Williams

Beyond Paying the Bills: 8 keys for taking your business to the next level by Dawn Nichol

Survey Results: Overcoming the Reluctant Prospect by Sharon Willians

Unleash the Potential of Booklets to Promote Your VA Practice by Paulette Ensign

20 Creative Ways to Use Online Web Conferencing in your VA Practice by Dennis Gerik, Voxwire

Sound Marketing Strategies Make Good Business Sense by Sharon Williams

Working at Home but not in the Backyard by Kathie M. Thomas

When Working Out isnt Working for You--Part 2 by Heather Moreno

Cruise to VA Excellence(SM) by Sharon Williams

Client/VA Spotlight with Angee Robertson and Dawn Nichol

Regular Departments:

History of Technology

The Virtual Commute by Laura Armbruster

Tech Tools and Tips by Kathie M. Thomas

Just Ask Ms. Virtual

Jokes

PDF version for screen

PDF version for print

Letter from the Editor: What a Difference a Day Makes! by Sharon Williams

I hope I'm not dating myself, but I remember a song recorded by Aretha Franklin in 1964 entitled "What a Difference a Day Makes." This title epitomizes how in one day we dawned from a nonentity to a strong and viable voice of the VA industry. Our website has received over 50,000 unique visitors in 2-months and has had press releases read by more than 100,000 individuals. Congratulations!

Beyond Paying the Bills: 8 Keys for Taking Your Business to the Next Level by Dawn Nichol

Congratulations, you've now been in business for six months to two years. You've established yourself, have a few or even several clients, and are making enough to pay the bills. It's been tough, but rewarding. You've heard that a lot of Virtual Assistants don't make it, so you feel pretty happy with where you are.

But there's a nagging feeling in the back of your mind. You love being self-employed, and certainly don't miss working for a big company, but you never realized it would take this much work just to pay the bills. You silently wonder if you'll ever make more than you did working for someone else. "What will it take?" you ask yourself.

Overcoming the Reluctant Prospect by Sharon Williams

During the month of December 2003, the Alliance's Survey Committee created a survey entitled "Identifying ways you can overcome the reluctant prospect." We asked Virtual Assistants to share how they overcome objections of a reluctant potential client and to provide examples of information they share with their clients. Below are some of the questions and responses. This information can be used as one of many resources to assist a VA when formulating a strategy to approach a prospect.

Unleash the Potential of Booklets to Promote Your VA Practice by Paulette Ensign

You are an expert as a Virtual Assistant, regardless of the specific services you provide. And you are eager to share your expertise with as many people as possible. Writing a book may have crossed your mind. Who has time for that? Consider writing informational tips booklets instead, a format that conveys much of your valuable expertise, with a lot less effort on your part.

20 Creative Ways to Use Online Web Conferencing in your VA Practice by Dennis Gerik, Voxwire

Virtual Assistants, looking to better serve their clients, are beginning to turn to a new kind of creative solution: using Online Meetings and Web conferences to stay in contact with their clients.

A number of innovative companies have begun offering simple and affordable web-based meeting capabilities. One such company offering this technology is Voxwire. You can learn more about them by visiting their website at http://www.voxwire.com. Here you will find web conferencing technology that is both easy to use and very affordable.

Sound Marketing Strategies Make Good Business Sense by Sharon Williams

This column's main area of focus is marketing. However, without a good business plan, a sound marketing strategy cannot be developed - and if a good strategy is created - it will eventually falter because it does not have the correct foundation, a written and thoroughly researched business plan as its anchor. Therefore, this edition's marketing strategies focus is creating the foundation -- the essential elements of a business plan.

Working at Home but Not in the Backyard by Kathie M. Thomas

Home-based businesses sometimes have the stigma of being called 'backyard businesses' and I recall during my first year receiving a phone call from a lady who'd seen a flyer in her letterbox, asking for some typing to be done. She was quite indignant when I told her how much I charge. The lady asked 'but, you're working in your home, aren't you?' and I gave her the reply, 'yes, but I'm not a backyard business'. Her question astounded me. I had thought of myself as a professional and didn't like that being questioned. But it goes a little farther than that so let's explore it.

When Working Out Isn't Working for You--Part 2 by Heather Moreno

In Get Motivated: Part 1 I talked about how good exercise makes us feel (I mean, did you ever say after a workout, "gosh, I wish I hadn't done that"?). I also shared some of the health and financial benefits as well as the main reason I think that everyone is not exercising: motivation, or lack of it.

This month I will cover the second of the four points to getting and staying motivated…

Cruise to VA Excellence(SM) by Sharon Williams

Join Janet L. Jordan, MVA, PREVA and Sharon Williams, MVA, PREVA on the first Cruise to VA ExcellenceSM Retreat and donate $10 of the seminar enrollment to The Alliance. Limited space is available for an exclusive opportunity to spend quality time with these VA industry leaders as you cruise from Miami Florida (USA) to Nassau Bahamas over the weekend. Ms. Jordan will present an informative seminar discussing Globalizing Technology for a Worldwide Marketplace and Ms. Williams' presentation will encompass Marketing to a Global Audience.

Client/VA Spotlight by Sharon Broughton

Featuring Dawn Nichol and Angee Robertson

Dawn Nichol and Angee Robertson have been working together since early last year. They truly enjoy working together and have great fun every day. Dawn shared with me that she is amazed at Angee's ability to anticipate what she might need and her talent for looking ahead at how to make her business run even better. "She treats my business like her own. I'd be lost without her....!" said Dawn. Dawn and Angee connected a while back when Angee took a class Dawn taught that was specifically for VAs.

History of Technology

See the latest technology and learn about how the Cell Phone has evolved!

The Virtual Commute by Laura Armbruster

Recently I've noticed an increased understanding of what a virtual assistant is. This is excellent news, particularly since we are part of a rapidly growing segment of work-at-home independent contractors. However, I've also fielded a swell of questions like "Well, aren't you part of a franchise?" "Don't you all work for the same company?" "I met a virtual assistant the other day. Do you work together?" Hmmmm…..

Tech Tools and Tips by Kathie M. Thomas

One of the best known sources for Tips for Microsoft products is Woody's Window Watch at http://www.woodyswatch.com. There are a number of newsletters for which you can register to receive excellent up-to-date information on the use of various programs and their idiosyncrasies.

Just Ask Ms. Virtual

Jokes

Come see our jokes of the month!

The Virtual Alliance is published by the Alliance for Virtual Businesses™. All facts, opinions, and statements appearing within this publication are those of the writers and editors themselves, and are in no way to be construed as statements, positions or endorsements by the Alliance for Virtual Businesses™ or its Leadership Team.

Information in The Virtual Alliance is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.
© 2004 Alliance for Virtual Businesses™