What does a virtual marketing firm do?
We thought we’d share our latest video with you to (hopefully) shed light on what virtual assistants or virtual marketing firms like ours can do for your business. It’s long, so we don’t expect you to sit through the whole thing…but we’d be thrilled if you did. Not only do we provide video / slideshow development support, but we can help you promote products, real estate listings and more with them through the various outlets available.
Let us know what you think – the good, bad and ugly by commenting below.
How to Avoid Overwhelm When Starting a New Project
You’re just back from your conference, and boy, are you excited! For the past few days, ideas for new projects and collaborations were flowing, and on the flight home, you filled several pages with notes about a new product you want to launch.
You arrive back in your office, and your desk is covered with notes, messages, and things that need doing…NOW! Just how do you keep this big new project of yours off the back-burner, and NOT get overwhelmed?
Here are a few ideas:
1. Harness your momentum. You’re excited about this new idea NOW. Take an hour to write down your goals for the project as soon as you arrive home. Post them in the most visible spot in your workspace to give the project priority status.
2. Tell your team, your family, and colleagues about your project to signal your commitment to the project a nd make it “real.” Once people know about your plans, they exist somewhere outside of your own head – the first step toward making it happen!
3. Create opportunities for “quick wins.” Think about your project as a series of easily achievable goals that lead to your desired end result. Take your big goal, and divide it into manageable action steps to complete each day/week/month, then address them one at a time.
4. Get a new perspective. Sometimes it is helpful to start with your end result and plan backward. This new view can help you see the big picture, while shedding light on details you may otherwise overlook.
5. Enlist help. Get your team on board! Determine what their responsibilities will be, create an action plan for each, and schedule regular meetings to stay on track and address a ny issues that happen along the way.
6. Use technology to stay on track. It’s easy to use a web-based project management and collaboration tool, such as Basecamp. It allows you to upload and share files, track to-do lists and milestones, and communicate effectively throughout the course of a project.
7. Make it fun. It’s easy to be excited about a project when you’re just starting out. Over time, you are bound to hit snags and stressors here and there. Rally your team with incentives, social outings and rewards for meeting goals throughout the course of the project – not just when it’s completed. And once it is complete, reward yourselves again for a job well done!
Donna Toothaker is CEO and founder of 1st VA the highly sought-after online marketing and consulting company. 1st VA specializes in providing online marketing support and services to entrepreneurs and solopreneurs who wish to effectively build or improve their online presence. To discover how 1st VA can help your business – visit http://www.1stva.com.
Thanks Giving – 11 Reasons To Be Thankful
Okay, this post is less about public relations, copy writing or editing and more about being thankful for what we have; having a sense of peace and contentment with where we are today. A colleague and friend recently published a book that speaks to this message — one day can make a difference in rediscovering dreams by gaining new perspective, modifying priorities and knowing your purpose.
So in this time of giving thanks, I thought I’d share what I’m thankful for. I wish all celebrating the U.S. day of Thanksgiving a safe and happy holiday!
1. I am grateful for client partnerships and collaborations this past year and those that are growing and will flourish in 2010. This past year I’ve returned to the life of a virtual professional by default (a product of a lay-off) and have continued working relationships with past clients and have built new ones. I’m grateful for each and every client this past year and am in a place where I can say I love all of my clients.
2. I am grateful for my partner and best friend, Peter. We’ve weathered some pretty serious storms — the premature death of my mother, my chronic back problems, and other challenges (ones that we all face at some point in our lives). I’m grateful every day for “my rock”.
3. I’m grateful that the sun rises and sets each day. There’s nothing better than watching a beautiful sunset. Having the time to watch a sunrise or sunset is rare, but when it comes it’s so peaceful and relaxing. As business owners dealing with several client needs at a time and our personal commitments, it’s so hard to practice being in the moment. My hope is that there is more of a commitment to that in the New Year.
4. Are you grateful for the mistakes you’ve made this past year? Why should we be? For one, it’s an opportunity to learn and grow, right? When we make mistakes we’re proving that we’re human but also giving ourselves an opportunity to learn and improve. So I am grateful for the large and small mistakes I’ve made this year.
One large mistake I made recently was to lift too much weight when I knowingly had a bulged disc in my lower back. This simple, or what I thought was simple, act of working on a home project with my husband is part of what led my bulged disc to become herniated…so badly that the orthopedic surgeon I am considering was shocked I was walking with no pain. So, the consequence of that mistake is requiring me to be more mindful of my limits and get surgery to prevent anything worse happening to my body. The consequences of this could be serious (especially if I do not get surgery), but I’m not letting it get the best of me. I’m owning up to that mistake, recognizing my limitations, and pledging to myself to never, ever sacrifice my health and well-being again. I’ve got big, muscular friends that can come by and help with the heavy lifting projects!
5. I am so grateful for the ability to help “create positive buzz” for my clients. I love writing; extracting ideas from clients and turning them into concise communications pieces. I am thrilled when a client gets exposure for their products or services. It’s not about the money; it’s about “creating positive buzz” and helping others achieve their dreams and goals.
6. If I were placing these 11 reasons in order by importance this would be #1. My daughter makes me grateful every day. Life changed completely once I became a mother and I would never change it for the world. I have a new source of laughter and inspiration every day and it’s all wrapped up in a 3+ foot tall, giggly, smiley package.
7. Philadelphia, “the city of brotherly love” is my home away from home. I’ll always consider Maryland my home, but for some reason I was always drawn to Philadelphia. I love this city, I love the diversity and its culture and I love living close enough to hop on the train to grab lunch with my husband or meet a prospective client.
8. I’m grateful for the ability to work from anywhere. As virtual professionals we often have the opportunity or even necessity to work outside of our home offices. I have worked from my back patio overlooking my yard, in the car, at Panera, at clients places of work, at the beach and at family members’ homes. You can be super-productive with a change of scenery from time to time.
9. I’m grateful to have the opportunity to work at developing other dreams and interests. We don’t necessarily have to be tied to one thing always…I’m sure all of us have varying interests and aren’t solely tied to our virtual businesses. Being friendlier to the earth is one of my interests which is why I developed weeBGreen, with the help of a close friend, in April of 2009. My hope is that it grows to be a sought out source for shopping locally and regionally for earth friendlier products for “wee ones”.
10. I’m grateful for the lessons learned from my mother. I had 22 years with her and she is still guiding me today. She was a firm believer in following dreams and often referenced a poem by Louise Driscoll:
Hold fast your dreams!
Within your heart
Keep one still, secret spot
Where dreams may go,
And, sheltered so,
May thrive and grow
Where doubt and fear are not.
O keep a place apart,
Within you heart,
For little dreams to go!
Think still of lovely things that are not true.
Let wish and magic work at will in you.
Be sometimes blind to sorrow. Make believe!
Forget the calm that lies
In disillusioned eyes.
Though we all know that we must die,
Yet you and I
May walk like gods and be
Even now at home in immortality.
We see so many ugly things -
Deceits and wrongs and quarrelings;
We know, alas! we know
How quickly fade
The color in the west,
The bloom upon the flower,
The bloom upon the breast
And youth’s blind hour.
A place apart
Where little dreams may go,
May thrive and grow,
Hold fast – hold fast your dreams!
11. I am grateful for my membership to the organization for virtual professionals, IVAA. I’ve made great connections and have developed lasting client and collaborative relationships through this organization. I’m happy to serve as a volunteer staff writer for the IVAACast and hope to see many of my colleagues at the live summit in April!
What are you grateful for this year?
Share your comments here or on Twitter using #gratitudemonth.
Copyright 2009 Innovate Services & Teresa H. Berger
K.I.S.S. Tip – Best Places to Market Virtual Assistance Services.
Recently I was asked, “where are the best places to market Virtual Assistance services?”
This varies by niche, industry and what your personal interests are. The real question is:
Who is your ideal client?
- A corporate executive?
- A local business?
- Chefs/restaurants?
- Real estate professionals?
- Non-profits?
- Fitness professionals or “Fitpreneurs” as I like to call them?
- Women entrepreneurs?
- Travel organizations?
- A specific trade industry?
- Anyone that understands the value of a virtual assistant?
The possibilities for industry focus in the virtual assisting industry are endless. And as we approach 2010 and remain in economic turmoil here in the U.S., I’m guessing our industry will be gaining even more exposure and interest from organizations that want to work with highly skilled professionals while not having to endure the traditional hiring process; especially if a full-time employee is unnecessary.
Again, where to best market virtual assistance services is going to vary from one virtual professional to the next. My ideal client is not necessarily your ideal client. My comfort level with certain networking situations is not the same as others; to be honest I hate high-pressure situations…so organizations where leads are a requirement are not best for me. But I thought I would share where I communicate with others about my virtual marketing & PR services:
- local networking organizations
- chamber events
- business card exchanges
- Twitter
- online forums
- the gym (if the topic of work arises)
- LinkedIn groups and networks
- special holiday networking events
- moms groups (if the topic of work comes into play)
This list is not all inclusive and may not jive with your interests. It’s just to give you an idea of potential outlets for growing your business connections and building interest in the virtual assisting industry.
Where do you market your virtual assisting services or the industry as a whole? Please comment and share.
And if you have any questions you’d like answered here on the IS blog, send them my way – tchberger@InnovateServices.com.
Copyright 2009 Teresa H. Berger & Innovate Services
Infuse fitness into your business: test your comfort level
As entrepreneurs and virtual professionals, all of us have one thing in common…we have an entrepreneurial spirit or at least the strong desire to own our time. In that desire to own more of our time, make our own schedules, we might have imagined that we’d spend more time reading, exercising, taking care of ourselves physically, mentally and spiritually more than we might have working in a traditional brick and mortar employment situation.
Finding other virtual professionals that have clearly grasped the need for set boundaries and “ME” time is inspiring and motivational. Whether you know of them or have had the privilege to meet them in person, Caroline Wright of Wright Solution and Carla Wilson of Wilson Virtual Assistants have successfully infused fitness into their businesses. They have clearly set boundaries, are open and honest with clients from the get-go and have implemented systems and support that help their businesses operate smoothly even when they’re off walking 190 miles Coast to Coast in England raising money for cancer research.
Carla and Caroline were gracious enough to answer some questions for us about their 190 mile walk, the effect, if any it had on their businesses, and what it meant to them to have the time away from the business.
What was the reason for planning this trip?
Caroline: I had always had the personal goal of completing a long distance walk, but wasn’t sure where or how. About 18 months ago I had made the decision that the time was right; and this was always a deep personal goal, not about my business or my family…just about me achieving something I’d always wanted to. Because Carla has a positive “can do” attitude and I knew how physically fit she is, I thought she was a great person to experience this journey with.
Carla: I was thrilled to have the opportunity to share this dream of Caroline’s with her.
How did you prepare for this trip?
Caroline: With regard to the physical training, I am typically at the gym three times a week, so I added daily walking around my neighborhood in addition to my normal exercise routine. Then I gradually increased my walks from five miles to 8, 10 then 15 and more.
Business-wise, the preparation was much easier because I am out of the country for the month of August each year. I communicate this to clients well in advance and remind them on a regular basis throughout the year so we tie up any lose ends prior to August. I don’t disappear throughout this month, but clients do know I will not be keeping normal business hours. This year, I just told them (with a grin) that I’ll be off the grid for two weeks on vacation; something I’m sure they’ve heard of before. Having this time away with family and friends is my way of staying connected; it’s a huge part of who I am.
Carla: I typically exercise three to six times a week, so to train for this it consisted of adding in several mile walks each day. It was an interesting challenge to fit it in and keep up with all of the other commitments we have each day. We had 18 weeks to train and Caroline had found a good training program to follow. We reported our progress to one another, keeping each other accountable.
With respect to preparing my business for this it was my first extended time away from it, so I made sure I had adequate coverage by communicating with the VA project manager on my team. Any client work, emails or phone calls were handled by her. Having her up to speed with my business and client work helped me avoid worry about clients calling or needing anything.
What was the greatest challenge in keeping up with your business while on the road?
Both Caroline and Carla knew that having reliable Internet access would probably be the most challenging piece of staying connected. But they also had systems in place that gave them peace-of-mind that things were being handled while they were away. Both mentioned that the magnitude of the walk itself kept them from focusing on business or anything else other than staying on track and getting to where they needed to go.
Did this trip energize you and give you time to reflect on your business goals/dreams?
Carla: A month or two before leaving for our trip I thought we’d have time to talk business, organize and implement whatever I dreamt up on this trip. But once we started our Coast to Coast walk, I quickly realized that we had to concentrate on not getting lost and keep track of our task at hand. For me there was no epiphany on the trip, but when I returned to the states I had a clear head; figured out questions I had about my business. I did realize through this trip that I am much stronger mentally and physically than I thought I was. I’ve also come up with a new mantra, “It is what it is.”
Caroline: For me, business and self are not separate entities; my business is me and I am my business. My level of confidence definitely increased throughout this trip. I learned to be afraid of the unknown or the challenge but to do it anyway. We need to be able to face fears in order to succeed in any aspect of life.
What changes if any did this trip motivate you to make business wise and on a personal level?
Caroline: This trip gave me the opportunity to step outside of my business. It was a hugely intense experience; it took me outside of everything else. On a personal level I know I will do something like this each year, challenging myself physically even if it is a small challenge.
Carla: My confidence level definitely increased throughout this trip. It’s given me the insight to stop over thinking things and I’m going to refine who I am marketing my business to. I also decided to let go of a not so ideal client the Monday I returned to the office. Lastly, this proved that I am definitely up for more physical challenges; Caroline mentioned the Himalayas but I’m not so sure about that one; may be too snowy for me!
What advice do you have for others that may want to commit to taking time to “infuse fitness into their business”?
Carla: Do it! It will expand your comfort zone and you grow when you are outside your comfort zone. Besides the physical benefits by challenging yourself you’ll become much more confident.
Caroline: Start out slow if you want. Walking is a good, easy activity to sneak into your daily life. In 45 minutes you could walk three miles. Plan to close your office at a specific time each day and choose cathartic activities like walking that can be a good stress reliever and allow you time to work through problems in your head. Just getting up out of your chair and getting some fresh air can help you think about things differently.
Caroline and Carla are two amazing business owners that took time out and time away from the business to challenge themselves and came away with greater confidence levels and renewed energy. Their trip was not only a way for them to challenge themselves but also to raise money for cancer research. To find out more, please visit http://wrightsolution.wordpress.com/.
Just as corporate employers sometimes take their employees out for ropes courses or white water rafting, we need to devote time to feeding our minds, bodies and spirits. It will not only benefit our bodies and minds but our businesses.
Copyright 2009 Teresa H. Berger, MBA & Innovate Services PR|Editorial
Creating Positive Buzz: The Online International Virtual Assistants Convention
Since 2006 the Online International Virtual Assistants Convention has grown by leaps and bounds. Not only can attendees learn from experienced professionals, but also have the chance to network with like-minded individuals from all around the globe.
As a virtual business owner and Virtual Public Relations Assistant, I will be attending the 4th Annual Online International Virtual Assistant Convention (OIVAC), held this year from October 1-3, 2009.
The list of tangible and non-tangible benefits associated with hiring a VA is extensive and all-inclusive. The biggest advantage is the elimination of the accumulation of costs associated with providing employee benefits, paying taxes, purchasing furniture and equipment, the additional costs often associated with training opportunities, and the burden of overhead for additional office space. “As Independent Contractors and Entrepreneurs, Virtual Assistants are responsible for paying their own benefits, insurance, taxes, and other associated costs.
“A VA works from a fully-functional, furnished office, and provides their own equipment, technologies, software, etc. VAs are paid only for time spent on a task and utilize time-tracking software that records duration and billing information associated with the assignment. As a result, the client is not charged for downtime, breaks, lunch, or time away from the office when emergencies occur, etc.” shares Sharon Williams, OIVAC founder. It’s clear that small business owners can experience significant savings both in time and money by hiring a Virtual Assistant.
Further, says Williams, “The 4th annual OIVAC is an event held completely online that offers educational seminars, workshops, an international exhibition and networking opportunities for aspiring and veteran VAs. It also allows VAs to experience, first-hand, examples of how effective and efficient communication and use of technology can launch a practice.”
Worldwide, thousands of office support providers have joined the ranks of work-from-home, full-time, business owners. By attending the Convention, I have access to industry-recognized experts, as well as a wealth of knowledge, experiences and information specifically crafted to benefit me and my business. If you have questions, you’ll find the answers at OIVAC!
About Alliance for Virtual Businesses
Established in June 2003, the Alliance for Virtual Businesses™ is volunteer-directed organization, whose primary mission is to promote the growth of free enterprise between virtual assistants, entrepreneurs, small businesses, corporations, associations and other business entities. At the Web site client-related case studies, industry-related demographics, and a wealth of other types of information are available to facilitate learning about our industry. Visit the Web site at www.allianceforvirtualbiz.com.
About Online International Virtual Assistants Convention
The OIVAC is an online, interactive, “live” yet virtual environment Convention of Virtual Assistants, eager to “Enhance Their VA Practices By Using the Latest in Technology and Communication.” Visit the Web site at www.oivac.com.
Creating Positive Buzz: Two Women. 190 miles.
Carla and Caroline take on 190 miles coast to coast.
Philadelphia, PA – This past July Philadelphia area business women, Carla Wilson and Caroline Wright, trekked 190 miles coast to coast in England. Their journey began as a physical challenge putting themselves to the test and ended up as a unique way to raise money for the American Cancer Society.
Carla Wilson and Caroline Wright, a native of England, set out on a 190 mile hike from St. Bees along the Irish Sea to Robin Hood’s Bay along the North Sea. Each day the hike was in the range of 15-20 miles and at times they hiked through non-stop hail and rain. Both are Philadelphia area business women and were able to take two weeks away from their businesses without skipping a beat. The goal of this trip was two-fold. First it started out as a life-long dream of Caroline’s to complete a long-distance hike and Carla was her chosen sidekick for the adventure.
The second goal only seemed natural to the two area women; raise funds for cancer research with each mile walked. For the 190 miles walked Carla and Caroline set out to raise $1,900 or $10 per mile. To date they are at 78% of their goal and are back on American soil. Carla mentions, “…my cousin passed away from cancer – specifically melanoma. And since I never followed through in making the donation in her name that I had wanted to do, I thought I’d set up a fundraising effort to raise important funds for research for the cure of this disease – and dedicate my walk to her and others. Unfortunately, so many of us know folks who are living with or have battled cancer. We need to help kick cancer’s butt.”
With cancer touching so many lives in various ways these days, it’s hard not to take notice of those putting their bodies to the test to raise awareness and funding. Carla and Caroline completed their journey and would love to help in the fight against cancer. For more information on their story and cause, please visit http://wrightsolution.wordpress.com/.
What do smores have to do with public relations?
I went camping recently and the yummy smores my family and I made by the camp fire are still on my mind. The fact that I’m a chocoholic doesn’t help either.
What do smores have to do with public relations? This may be a stretch but here goes:
1. Patience. Smores take patience to make because you have to first roast the marshmallows to the exact temperature of your preference. Some people like their marshmallows golden brown while others like them crispy on the outside and melted on the inside. Public relations, done properly, takes patience as well. Patience in crafting your message the right way to reach the right people. Patience in getting a response to your first attempt or follow up. Patience in the amount of time and frequency required to spend on generating buzz. You may not create positive buzz after that first or fifth press release or story pitch, but have faith it will come!
2. Organization. Crafting the perfect smore takes organization. You have to have your supplies ready at hand – the marshmallows, the graham crackers, the chocolate and of course a napkin or paper towel to keep the gooiness at bay. Crafting a simplified, yet effective public relations plan takes organization as well. Whether you’re developing an editorial calendar for your ezine or blog, or crafting a quarters worth of story pitches or press releases, your information must be organized. You should have the Who, What, When, Where and Why clearly mapped out and your contact information must be organized and easy to find as well. It’s also notable to have your follow-up plan and strategy for what happens once you generate buzz organized.
3. Slice of heaven. Smores (if you like them as much as I do) can be a slice of heaven. They can help you be in the moment, having fun with family and friends, and can remind you of fun times as a child. Generating positive buzz around you, your business, your events, products or services can be a slice of heaven. When you get noticed for the hard work that you do, or your community involvement you can be in the moment, relish it, be giddy like a kid and do your happy dance. It’s amazing when we get noticed after a lot of effort. It’s what life is all about. Being appreciated, being in the moment, appreciating others, and paying it forward.
Who knew smores and PR had so much in common!?
Professional Virtual Assistants – Does PR Have a Role in Your Business?
Recently I’ve been toying with the idea of developing something (product…book…seminar) that would help promote the use of authentic, simplified Public Relations in business; especially for the virtual assistant / virtual professional industry.
Over the years, I’ve seen many a company (large and small) throw money into fruitless advertising campaigns that didn’t fully communicate the voice and philosophy behind the company. Sure there is a time and place for advertising, but you cannot put all your eggs in one basket and expect the leads to flow in. And it is so easy to choose advertising over developing a sound public relations and grass roots plan because it can be less time consuming.
With public relations you have to answer at minimum the “who, what, why, when, where” questions readers, editors and other media contacts will be asking. But that is not enough. You have to delve into what your ideal clientele or target market want to hear. What is their interest these days? How does your news tie into their needs or wants? What does your philanthropic act have to do with them? Why would someone want to read about your new joint venture, e-book, certification, etc. It takes a lot of thought, creativity and putting yourself in others shoes to develop a strong PR plan.
So virtual assistants / virtual professionals inquiring minds want to know…
Does PR have a role in your business?
If you are willing to take 1-2 minutes of your time and help us out, please take our survey.
Click Here to take survey
Copyright 2009 Teresa H. Berger, MBA & Innovate Services PR|Editorial
Innovate Services & Client Media Mentions…
http://www.business-opportunities.biz http://blog.cristinafavreau.com http://www.ivaa.org/pdfs/latestcast.pdf http://www.toiletpaperentrepreneur.com/blog
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