Originally Posted by scarcasole

I have to say the best networking is online networking. We are a virtual business and the people that require our services are also virtual or home based businesses. There are obviously many out there that have medium to large buisnesses that could use our services however the networking online is much more successul than networking offline. I have not handed out any brochures or attending any events. I have been able to successfully find business all online. Even my very reputable and successful business coach said that she found networking "offline" does not work or does not work as well as "Online". Needless to say I do still leave business cards around. You just never know. The issue is that Virtual Assistance is not known or understood as much in the outside world so people are reluctant to give it a try. I have heard this being said from several VA's. The only offine networking I have done is going to the Ladies who launch event. It was a lot of fun and majority of th women networking were small home based businesses or growing home based businesses.

Thanks for telling us this. Just this past week i was trying to find events that i could go to in my area that i can promote my services and i hardly found any great fits. But the idea of online marketing is great i will get started on that this week once i strategize the best way to promote my services.

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Miranda
My Busy Assistants

I never thought of it that way. I guess that's right, if you operate a business that is mostly done online, you would need to reach mostly people who operate their business online. How exactly do you advertise your VA business online? I know about the ezines, pay per click, adwords, adsense, online groups, and banners. Thanks for your help.

Cindy Freland
Maryland Secretarial Services, Inc.
www.webmss.com

This helps me out a lot. I was recently invited to join a networking/referral group in my local city and it sounds like a great opportunity, however the dues and fees are pretty expensive. It's $150 to join and $5 a week, plus if you don't make any referrals for anyone in the group or bring a guest on any given week, you have to pay $1 for each. It seems to work well for the other businesses and professionals in the group, but I've been contemplating as to whether it's the right kind of group for me as a virtual assistant. But I think I just found my answer. I would probably be better off taking that money and using for online ads!

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Cortni Marrazzo
www.essentialexcellence.com

My theory for marketing/advertising my business is to try anything and everything and be persistent! You don't know what is going to work without giving it a go! I'm very much a newbie and got my first "gig" by looking around the local Uni and seeing that they did a "Typing Service". I found out their email address and offered my services. Initially they said not much work came their way but a week later I was asked if I was in a position to an urgent job?! I said I could and delivered it on time. Extra "Brownie points" for me and now they know I do a good standard of work. I was told that they would use my services again!

I've also done some work for a group I belong to who (bless them) knowing that I'm now doing some freelance asked me how much I would charge. I said I would do it for free but would be very grateful if they could give me a reference. I think when you are starting out a good reference is going to be worth its weight in gold!

Avocet

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Secretarial Service with a Smile!

I agree that you have to try just about everything and see what works. It's not really one particular way of advertising that gets you work, but a combination of ways. You can advertise online, in telephone directories, website, networking, grocery store receipts, bar association directories and newsletters, movie theaters, and many more. I've tried just about everything and nothing works like a website. If you don't do any other advertising, get yourself a website.

Cindy Freland
Maryland Secretarial Services, Inc.
www.webmss.com

Great ways to network online are as follows:

Social Networking on the most popular networks Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter

Getting as many links to your site as possbile by submitting your business to as many online directoires as possible.

Set up a Blog and start blogging and posting in forums

Article Marketing

Email Marketing

Responding to RFP's

There are many great ways of advertising online however do not stop networking offline either. If you can find any great business start up events such as Ladies who launch (they are great I always end up with a few clients and great contacts) or woman can do anything you will have great opportunites to get your name out there. Great target groups are coaches, authors, speakers, internet marketers etc.

Hope my info helps.

One of my first plans of action is to send a PR notice to our local radio station and newspapers. The smaller towns are quite likely to pick up something about my business especially since it's pretty unique in this area.