Virtual Assistants Have an Identity Problem - Your Virtual Wizard - Page 2 - Virtual Assistant Forums

dognose · #16 (**permalink**) 02-09-2010

Janine, I enjoyed your blog very much & have made note of your suggestion as I work on my own elevator speech.

I love, love, love your banner! It is . . . magical! It makes me think of possibility & opportunity. BTW, did you change your tagline? I thought it had the word 'wand' in it. Or maybe I'm thinking of someone else?

Your Virtual Wizard · #17 (**permalink**) 02-09-2010

Hi Everyone!

Thanks for the notes regarding this blog piece.

Lezly, yes, I did change my header both on my site and on my blog. However, the actual work was done by our own VAF member Jules of Sunrise Virtual Solutions. We are working on the header for my newsletter to brand with my site and blog so I'll roll that out for a big YEA shortly. Jules came up with the idea to add the 'pixie dust' and the wand in keeping with the magical/wizardy theme. I highly recommend her services...she's a real ideas person!

I was a bit reluctant to actually embrace the whole 'wizard' idea but I am much more comfortable with it now. Thanks to Jules!

I know it is not always good manners to answer a question with a question but it really has been the only way to really explain to people what it is we all really do.

Janine

dognose · #18 (**permalink**) 02-09-2010

Jules did a really nice job for you. The pixie dust was a nice touch & the whole banner looks great!

A wizard was the mascot for my high school. We were the Windsor Wizards. Wow, that brings back some old memories!

dlp1967 · #19 (**permalink**) 03-12-2010

That was a great explanation. I haven't started my business yet, but when I explain to people what it is that I'm going to be doing, I start stepping all over myself. This is a great way to approach it. Thanks.

Donna

StephanieP · #20 (**permalink**) 04-15-2010

Great post and definitely something I'll try to keep in mind. I live in a very small rural area as well and most of them know that I do "side work". When they ask what exactly I do, I've started telling them that I keep the books for so-and-so and that I'm helping another person write a book. They seem to be able to understand that, but if I go past that and say "I'm a Virtual Assistant" or I do various freelance work, they start to get that "glassy eyed" look again...lol

And, if you think about it, answering "I'm a Virtual Assistant" to the question, "What do you do?" isn't exactly answering it correctly anyhow because you're giving them a title rather than an activity.

Your Virtual Wizard · #21 (**permalink**) 04-15-2010

Stephanie,

I don't even use the term 'virtual assistant' in my explanation. If you ask a question, such as 'Have you ever?' then this engages the other party and they are prompted to continue the conversation.

Thanks for your comments.

Janine

VirtuallyAssist · #22 (**permalink**) 04-20-2010

Thanks for the wonderful blog post Janine and what a great idea. I am definitely going to use this technique in future!

Savvy Virtual Assistants · #23 (**permalink**) 04-21-2010

I loved your blog post, as this is something I am currently struggling with when attending networking events. Thanks so much for this great post and I will be trying this out.

lisa marie · #24 (**permalink**) 06-03-2010

This was a great post! I have been looking for ways to answer the "Virtual Assistant" question that makes the person asking the questions think of ways my services can be of service to them.This will definitely help in quick explanations in networking settings.
Thank you!

VAklett · #25 (**permalink**) 06-08-2010

Great post! giving a hint on how to face that question for us newbies
Thanks

wahmobx · #26 (**permalink**) 06-08-2010

Great job! I really enjoyed reading that and it gave me some ideas on how to 'phrase' my next response. Again, thanks.

Shellea · #27 (**permalink**) 08-16-2010

Very good post, I had a boring ho-hum speech that i don't fell really captures the listener, I think I am going to have to beef that up a bit!

VA Melissa · #28 (**permalink**) 08-16-2010

Really Good! Thanks for sharing! I will remember this approach.

Melissa

VirtualA · #29 (**permalink**) 08-24-2010

Super article Janine! I often find it difficult to explain to people what I do also.

THINK Virtual Solutions, LLC · #30 (**permalink**) 08-29-2010

Love your post Janine. I attend lots of networking events and every time I start explaining what I do, I know I've lost them as soon as I use the words, virtual assistant, work remotely... I will certainly give this a try. I'm sure it will prove to be successful. Thanks again!