Stephanie, you've made some great points there.

Lindsay, your website homepage looks great and, as Stephanie said, it's a great starting point for your elevator speech.

Just remember to keep the emotion in there. Just look deep inside yourself and ask yourself, "Why do I want to be a VA? Why do I believe I can benefit this person?"

One bit of homework that my mentor got me to do was to think about my Vision (Where I want to go. What I want to see. What I really want for my customers), my Mission (What I do. What my business goals are) and my Purpose (My calling - e.g. my creativity. What's my driver? Where do I get my buzz from?)

This has really helped me to get my business objectives in focus and to put some emotion - my emotion - my heart & soul - into my business.

Hope this helps.

Regards,

Jason

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Jae Alexander Linsey
Creative Design & Business Support

Thanks, Stephanie, for your comment about my website opening. I have found I am much better at expressing myself in writing then speaking out loud. I think I also just need to work on believing in myself (the confidence factor). It has always been a hard thing for me and it's really not based in reality because when I do the work for people, they tend to love what I'm doing, I am great with deadlines, and everything goes well. It's just the initial selling myself factor... or something that I can't quite put my finger on.

I actually am going to *try* out toastmasters because I think if I got better at expressing myself that other people would notice as well. And i would be so freaking excited to be able to give speeches and interact more in group settings.

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Lindsay
www.writingthatsizzles.net

Jason, thanks for posting these great tips. I feel these are things I can begin applying right away. The more confident you are in what you do, the more people are attracted to you. It all begins with the elevator pitch. Your comments are right on!

THANK YOU FOR SHARING!

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Prins Cowin, CPS/CAP, Virtual Business Manager
www.KingBusinessManagement.com

Thanks Prins for your kind comments.

Regards,

Jason.

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Jae Alexander Linsey
Creative Design & Business Support

That is a lot of great information. thank you for sharing.

I have several people ask me what is a "VA" and I stumble on how to explain it. I work from home.. and then I get the look... "she is in her pj's and haircurlers...drinking coffee".. And then I get flustered and can't think straight... so I need to concentrate on a good elevator pitch..

Thanks

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Tamera
“Let me manage the daily tasks for you.”

This is just a suggestion but when you start to explain it don't say that you work from home. Instead pitch it as an assistant that does not cost your client any overhead. Just my 2 cents.

Amanda

Hmm, yeah, there must be a better way to say "I work at home." I am still working on this too! I kind of like, "I work with people from any location," so I'm focusing on who I'm helping, not myself in pjs.

I am amazed at how hard it is to get the elevator speech down. I think I need two speeches. I need one for when I'm meeting someone in a professional setting, and I need one when I'm out with my friends and say, meeting someone at a bar. People always ask me what I do and I get really flustered still. I think if I have one shortened version for casual meetings and one for professional meetings I would do better.

I want to get it memorized, like Jason had said earlier-- like I want to be able to say it to anyone, at any time. This thread has been especially helpful.

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Lindsay
www.writingthatsizzles.net

I've been saying to anyone who asks "I am a Virtual Assistant. I provide administrative assistant services to business owners and entrepreneurs on a contractual basis from my own office." Everyone always gets it and says "how cool is that."

I don't "need" to explain my own office just happens to be my home...though I have mentioned it when the conversation goes beyond that 30-minute elevator "ride." People think what I/we do is really unique and a great idea!

~ Kim

Originally Posted by KKissel

I've been saying to anyone who asks "I am a Virtual Assistant. I provide administrative assistant services to business owners and entrepreneurs on a contractual basis from my own office." Everyone always gets it and says "how cool is that." I don't "need" to explain my own office just happens to be my home...though I have mentioned it when the conversation goes beyond that 30-minute elevator "ride." People think what I/we do is really unique and a great idea! ~ Kim

Sounds like you have a great elevator, Kim. I really like it, it's so straight forward. I like the bit about working from your own office and also the contractual basis bit. Well done!

Regards,

Jason.

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Jae Alexander Linsey
Creative Design & Business Support

This particular thread is like candy to a baby. I very much needed this at this point in my new business. I love this forum and appreciate the participation of it's members. This is one of the most helpful threads I have come across. Thanks you guys for the valuable information.

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Tracey R. Banks
www.VirtuallyEverythingVA.com

Jason,

Your suggestions are very helpful in helping me create my elevator pitch. Thanks for the insight. I've been "starting" my business for a while now but always seemed to struggle when describing what I do. I will be perfecting my presentation this weekend.

Jason,

What a fantastic list of ideas and hints. Thanks so much for sharing!

The elevator pitch isn't something that comes easy to me. I hope to coordinate my general pitch with the "What is a VA?" section on my website (still in development). I love the suggestion of various pitches.

Cheers,

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Circle Assistants

Very nicely put Jason! Thanks
My coach wants me to put something together this week. I had been thinking about it for a while now, but now I can't put it off any more...
All this info will make my homework soooo much easier. Thanks again for sharing!

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Rebecca Brackney
Virtual Personal Assistant

Great thread. Thanks to everyone for their suggestions. One more thing to add to my to do list.

Yet another term I've never heard of. Now that I know, I definitely see the benefit of having this ready! Thanks all for the tips!