Originally Posted by CYMMTJ

PS - I have always been drawn to this forum as it is more personal and interactive. The other one feels so alien and impersonal - no offense.

Yvonne - I completely agree! I joined VANA as a free member late last year. I only posted once with a few questions about the start-up phase, and some of the responses were discouraging and somewhat cold. I honestly felt that they were shooting down my business goals as unattainable. Not that starting a business is all sunshine and roses, but I have never received any form of discouragement from this site. I was just telling my husband the other night that the VA forums are great because you get loads of support and encouragement, but fellow members are also quick to offer constructive criticism and honest feedback that will help run your business. I haven't so much as visited the VANA forums since I've been actively involved in this site because frankly, I have access to all the info that I need right here!

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Tammi Metzler ~ The Write Associate
Free call: "How to Write Email Subject Lines That Grab Attention!"

Hello,

I've been a member of VANA since the first couple of months after it opened and will say without hesitation that it has helped many, many startup VAs. The information shared there has been invaluable to the industry, and more often then not, has help tons get over humps, solve problems and helped many VAs form relationships they would not have had before.

That said, I am also a member of VAInsiders, and although I don't have an inordinate amount of time to spend on any groups, I try to visit at least over the weekends. VAInsiders can be a great resource for those who need assistance with internet marketing, since Tawnya is an internet marketing specialist. It also offers other benefits as described previously.

Worth the cost, that's a decision each has to make on an individual basis. But, I caution, "everything ain't free", and frankly, you shouldn't expect to grow a thriving, sustainable business just from your experience on boards and list servs. So I suggest that as part of business planning that members set aside funds (or plan in their budget) to join a group/groups targeted specifically to your niche service so you can move your business to the next level (whatever that may be). VANA and VAInsiders can be a great resource, as others are too.

Regarding VAAS, I actually reviewed the workbook when it was first released a few years ago, and it is a good resource for individuals just starting out and wanting to launch a VA business in 30 days. It takes a lot of work, but can be done and Tawnya's product is helpful. Since I did the review, I understand it has been updated, so I can't comment on the current edition.

Just my $.02 worth.

I really have to agree with Sharon's above response.

I have been a member of VANA since I started my business over 3 years ago and it has been one of my favorite places on the net (next to this one of course) ever since. I have really enjoyed the support and resources from there even before the Insider Membership was created. I only have time to visit a couple times a week now, just like many of my forums I belong to.

I did join on on the Insider Membership on the earlybird pricing but I honestly don't think I would have joined if I had to pay the $249 that is costing now. I like the benfits of things like the insider seminars, Tawnya is a Internet Marketing Pro and when she talks, I listen. But the RFPs are not that valuable to me as I deal only with real estate clients, and those types of RFPs don't come around in VANA that often. Will I renew? Possibly, but I haven't made up my mind yet.

But a majority of the VANA forums are still free and the members there are are wealth of support and information.

As far as the VBSS, I did buy the system when it first came out, and I can honestly say that my business would be no where without it. When I bought it, I was already in the first few months of my business, but I really needed something to help me organize my busines right and give me that extra push to go to the next level. It was the best investment in my business that I ever made. And I do recommend it to many new or emerging VAs that want to start their business right and in a quick time period. And if I remember right, I believe you can now also buy pieces of the system, like the template cd for example, instead of the whole thing.

Now some programs or memberships are not for everyone. As one's budget allows, I do agree that is important to join organizations that pertain to your niche, or will help improve your education, exposure and general success. No need to join everything at once, but pick and choose the right ones for you as money allows you.

Megan Barber

VANA was the first VA networking forum that I joined and they are a source of great information. Since discovering this forum though, I haven't been over there much. I have found a more personal experience here in these forums. Just my opinion.

I've been a member of VANA since early 2005, and like Sharon I've watch it help new and experienced VAs. VANA has wealth of information contained within the forum, a simple search can usually answer most questions.

I opted not to sign up for the VA Insiders membership in October. Like many of you, I think the $249 price tag is a little steep for a forum with resources, but it helps a lot of newer VAs with issues they may not otherwise have the resources to fix.

I became a member at VANA years ago when I was making my VA business completely virtual. I really enjoyed the site. When they went to the paying membership I sort of dropped off of there. I thought the price was a little steep for what I was getting out of it (even the early bird pricing). I'm not saying it's not a valuable resource, it just wasn't valuable enough for me to spend the money.

But, I do still get their newsletters and if I were more organized I'd go to more of their talks.

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Lanel Taylor, CVA ~ Virtual Bookkeeper
Taylored Office Solutions
Custom fit solutions for all your office needs.

When I first began two years ago I found the seminars and chats very informative. I still have a binder full of the information I collected from those seminars. That said, I was a member of whole stack of forums, some paid and some freebies. My business took off and I had to make a decision, either spend time on my forums or spend time on client work. Client work won out. Because my needs changed I started to visit VANA only sporadically. I won 6 mths membership as a VAInsider and so I am back at VANA to get the most out of my prize but for me it isn't the RFPs that come through or the resources, its very much what is in it for me. How can the forum support me in my current phase of business.

I've started to hang out online again but each instead of joining blindly to any forum I can find, I assess the forum and how it could help me meet my current business needs. If it's free - coolies. If it's paid and it meets my needs - coolies.

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Kylie Short
Tilda Virtual Services - Making virtual personal

I just found this discussion and am glad I did. As a newbie or emerging VA, the VANA forums were the first that I found and thought they were great. I did find the web site itself a little "busy" and actually a lot of it overwhelming. Then I found this website......this is much better for me personally as a forum. Because I do need to spend time on marketing and getting my business going, while I would love to read every thread on every forum, just for the great information.....I just can't. The same with the money. I suspect that VANA has some great things to offer, but right now, it is just too much money. I do appreciate everyone's opinion here, though, because it does help to hear what is good about VANA and that as I get going, it might be a good possibility. I know I have gotten a lot out of the webinars they do on Wednesdays.

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Denise
www.officeassistancepro.com

I know this is a little bit of a delayed response but thought it was a great topic to reply too. I have been a free VANA member and a paid member for a few other Assocations and all I have to say is that this forum is like no other. I do not like the way other forums are run and the people here and awesome! I feel like I can actually get answers here and quick too. I was curious about the paid membership for VANA myself a few weeks ago and they are having a birthday bash. They are offering birthday bash members to view RFP listings for the month of September. I am so happy that they did this because in all honesty I would have kicked myself in the you know hwat if I paid $249 for the RFP's that get listed. I have nothing bad to say about VANA and do think it is great however in all honestly nothing beats this forum. I am sure to come to this forum atleast a few times a day and the other forums I go too very seldom. I just LOVE everyone here!The support and knowledge I have is all from here.

In regards to Erin's programs she is fantastic. I have been a part of 3 of her training programs and because they are so thorough I am able to help new VA's get started too (along with all the research online, reading from this forum and other resources)

VAF you rock!!!!!

Originally Posted by scarcasole

They are offering birthday bash members to view RFP listings for the month of September. I am so happy that they did this because in all honesty I would have kicked myself in the you know hwat if I paid $249 for the RFP's that get listed.

In defense of VANA, I would like to point out that you get a lot more than just access to the RFPs for $249. The part of the promo that Tawnya is running for September is to give non-member VAs a chance to respond to the many RFPs they post, but it doesn't give you access to all the other benefits of being a VAInsider.

However, I do agree that VAF is a great place to be and I love the membership and all the support here that is given.

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Kate V. Kerans
Kerans Virtual Assistance