I have had an interesting morning today. I had breakfast with a biz friend to catch up on everything. We keep tabs on each other's progress. She has a well established retail specialty shop, so today we were talking about the economy etc.. I asked her about her social media. She knows about facebook and blogging but doesn't see how it could work for her business. I tried to give her some useful info without it looking like I was selling something. I don't conract with her because I will not cross the friendship line with business. She knows business well but isn't knowledgeable about social media or the Virtual Assistant industry, only what I have educated her on. How many more could be out there who don't know this stuff?

Then I got my eyes checked today (dilated and I am still blurry) and talked with my eye doctor about the VA industry. She thought that was an interesting way to go but because her business is face to face she couldn't see how it could work.

I have my work cut out for me! I will be attending a workshop next week about marketing your business that is given by our local chamber. It is geared toward retail, customer service type businesses but I hope that I can learn and gain connections (networking, yea).

I wonder if I should put on my own workshop that teaches businesses about the benefits of a VA. Has anyone done this. I love to give talks but this would intimidate me a little. I am sure that just talking to these two biz professionals today are not representative of the whole city but I am seem to run into a lot of people who clearly do not know how VAs or social media can help them.

Interesting morning and I am still blurry!
Have a good one,
di

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Diana Buchanan
When You Don't Have the Time

Hi Diana, at a local meet-up a few months ago one VA talked about how she and her husband got together and had a booth at a local large industry "trade show". Since he was promoting his company and she was promoting her VA business they were able to share the cost of the table. She had a great time leaning more about her niche and the industry more about VA's. Perhaps this could be a way for you to have your voice heard.



I have talked to my Dentist and Naturopath regarding the benefits of a VA. Isn't it up to us all to keep putting the message out there?

One by one we'll help them "Get It"!!

Cheers!!

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Bernice
Energy Virtual Assistant

Good throughts, ladies! I also think it's a great way to point out all the things that you could take off their plates, so to speak.

I recently had a medical procedure done and I had a 'preparation packet' handed to me prior to the procedure. The content was there but the information needed some updating and the paper copy I was given looked like it had been copied several times and I got the one that was the most archaic! It appeared to me to send my doctor a brochure, personal letter and business card to help her update her medical forms.

If you generally inquire about someone's business, you can gain a LOT of information of what your potential clients are expecting.

I think putting on a local workshop is a GREAT idea. If you wind up facilitating it, let us know how it goes!

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Kathya Kalinine
http://www.emeraldvirtual.com

Hi Diana,

That is one of the reasons why I started The Virtual Entrepreneur. It will show people who are unfamiliar with VA's what a VA is, what they do, how they do it and who uses them.

Once it is released on September 15th it will be printable and any VA will be able to package it with their literature as an informational booklet.

Here's to hoping

Andrea~

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Action Jackson Virtual Assistant|

Andrea,
I know and I am so excited to be a part of the ezine and in fact told my breakfast friend this morning all about it! She is interested in seeing it as well.
di

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Diana Buchanan
When You Don't Have the Time

I can't wait Andrea. Today I actually had someone ask me if I invented the occupation of virtual assistant??? He had never heard of the term at all!

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Kathy
www.theofficevirtuoso.com

Originally Posted by The Office Virtuoso

Today I actually had someone ask me if I invented the occupation of virtual assistant??? He had never heard of the term at all!

That is too funny You must have been like, huh? lmbo

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Action Jackson Virtual Assistant|

Originally Posted by ladydianab

Andrea, I know and I am so excited to be a part of the ezine and in fact told my breakfast friend this morning all about it! She is interested in seeing it as well. di

That is so cool! I am so excited as well. You are a fabulous contributor!

Andrea~

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Action Jackson Virtual Assistant|

Most people will say they never heard of a virtual assistant, but this is the first time I was asked if I invented it!

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Kathy
www.theofficevirtuoso.com

We are all ambassadors for the industry and it's fun educating people. I love doing it. I ask people if they understand how a secretary can still work for a boss if he's gone to another state or a country. That they can understand. So I tell them it's much the same thing - we communicate the same way, phone, fax and email and work for several clients rather than one boss. That usually gets their head around it.

I've educated many doctors and other business people about the virtues of a VA.