Virtual Assistants and Online Business Managers …. It’s time to take note of a new trend in the virtual world.
The topic?
Compensation.
Traditionally, us virtual professionals have stuck to the “time for money” compensation model. Meaning we charge an hourly rate or retainer fee based a block of time to complete our client work.
It works great in many ways … but after building great relationships, taking on more tasks, owning more responsibility in the business and then getting too busy, feeling exhausted, letting things drop and eventually wondering if it’s all really worth it …. You realize it isn’t so great after all.
Why?
Because there are only so many hours in a day you can work. And there’s only so much you can charge per hour.
Online ‘old-timers’ Tina Forsyth and Andrea Lee are taking a stance on breaking free from the time for money trap. They’re inviting Virtual Assistants and Online Business Managers to join a conversation about incentive based compensation.
My $ecret too! I’ve been utilizing their compensation method for many years within my Virtual Assistant business. You don’t think I bought all my favourite toys from working just 9-5 on my hourly rates in my home office do you? 
On October 20th, you can join Tina and Andrea for a FREE call about what incentive based compensation means, the options available, how to implement, why to consider it and much more. This is critical stuff … if you try to introduce incentive based compensation without hearing what they have to say – it may ultimately destroy your client relationships.
Give yourself the opportunity to break free from the time for money trap. Start by joining Tina and Andrea for their fre’e call on October 20th.
CLICK NOW to Register for this free call on >>>
Incentive Based Compensation For YOUR Virtual Assistant Business
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As you look at the current Social Media frontier in the latter part of 2009, it is clear that there are two particular channels that have become “shining stars” among the business community.
Any idea what those two channels might be? Let me tell you…
Twitter & Facebook Fan Pages
Facebook Fan pages are one of the hottest pieces of Real Estate on the Web today especially since Facebook made some positive changes back in February of 2009. Presently, over ten million users become fans of Facebook pages each day. There are essentially five reasons why Facebook Fan pages are such a compelling channel to increase your business visibility:
- Fan Pages facilitate greater interaction with a target audience.
- Fan Pages are very SEO friendly and well indexed in Google.
- Fan Pages allow you to build and connect with an unlimited fan base.
- Facebook Applications enable you to now create visually appealing FB landing pages.
- Fan Pages are a powerful viral marketing tool. As users interact with your page, this shifts to their walls and news feeds leading to increased exposure!
Our colleagues at the training center, VAClassroom seem to have the knack for creating training programs just at the right time when the market demand is on the rise. Businesses are ultra motivated to create compelling Facebook Fanpages, but either lack the time or expertise to pull it off. VAClassroom has recently launched a new two-week mini-course called: ‘Fantastic Facebook Fanpages”.
In this short mini-course, they going to cover such topics as:
- How to design, develop and market your fan page with a user-friendly step by step guide
- How to create visually appealing Facebook landing pages
- Success strategies for leveraging Facebook applications to increase the visibility of your business
- Simple SEO tips for helping your pages get more traffic from the Search Engines
- Practical tips for building a targeted email list with your fan page.
And so much more!
Registration is officially now open for this new mini-course starting on October 19th!
Just click on the link here -> to learn how to create a facebook fan page to grab your seat today!
Interesting enough, we just had this thread topic in our forum at VAnetworking.com, the FREE Social Network for Virtual Assistants. This week we had our 12,000th member register for our network and answers are always readily shared to any question.
Some of the things suggested were:
- Develop a business plan. The research to produce this document will help you understand so many hidden crevices that you may never have even thought of surrounding your Virtual Assistant business. (I share my completed Virtual Assistant Business plan together with sample financials in the VBSS System to help you write yours.)
- Get a website online right away! Either learn how to get it ranked high in the search engines or source out this aspect, so you start generating lots of traffic to it.
- Network, network and network more!
- Stay positive! There will be naysayers and there will be days you want to throw in the towel, but you have to be strong enough to move on and keep growing your business. Stay focused on your goals, believe you can reach them and you will.
- If you have a reasonable grasp of legalese, develop your contracts from templates (provided in the VBSS System) and then go see a lawyer to fine tune them.
- Do your own due diligence. Educate yourself and do your research on the Virtual Assistant industry before you set up business. Again, I am going to highly recommend joining my FREE Virtual Assistant Networking Association at www.VAnetworking.com. This forum is the largest online meeting place for successful and aspiring Virtual Assistants worldwide. You can ask whatever questions about the VA industry you like here since there is always someone who will offer their VA knowledge and experience to you. Our motto is: “Remember, no question is ever stupid, stupidity comes from not asking when you have the opportunity (www.VAnetworking.com) to do so”
Finally, whether you are a Veteran VA or a VA looking for help starting up your Virtual Assistant business, I highly suggest investing in my Virtual Business Startup System. It has a full 45-day money-back guarantee. Have a look and, if you don’t think it will benefit your VA business, send it back for a full refund with no questions asked.
To Your Virtual Success!
We have all heard the adage “YOU have to spend money to make money”. Although starting a Virtual Assistant business can be relatively inexpensive, it is important to spend money on those things that will create opportunities for you and your business.
Many forget to weigh the possibilities and simply write off spending money on their business.
Before you say “I can’t afford that” remember, the biggest key in spending money on your business is knowing what you want and the best avenue to get it.
- Attending a Virtual Assistant conference or tradeshow will create relationships with peers, open possibilities for joining a multi-VA team, open doors to learning from others who have been where you are. Examples are VAvirtuosos Seminar Series, FoVA, IVAA Summit & OIVAC.
- Signing up with a Virtual Assistant Coach/Motivator or mentor will get you over a hurdle in your business that is holding you back from reaching your full potential.
- Joining a Virtual Assistant association or membership group such as VAinsider Club will give you the opportunity to learn and provide you with RFP possibilities and invaluable templates.
- Joining a Virtual Assistant networking group will provide you with the opportunity to meet potential clients.
- Having you website designed by a professional will provide you with the professional image that will attract the clients you yearn to work with.
Before you say “I can’t afford it” consider how can you not afford it?
Take some time to create a yearly budget and invest in yourself and your business.
Why is a website essential?
There is no question that having a website is the most important ingredient in an e-marketing strategy. Your website is the online face of your Virtual Assistant business; it is where people get to see your brand, view your offerings, read about your company, view your privacy policy or business protocols, look at your picture and read about you.
Does a Virtual Assistant have to have a website?
These days, what Virtual Assistant doesn’t? We are virtual aren’t we? Saying that they’re not all created equally. Since the goal is to get your potential clients into your marketing funnel so that you can market to them over and over again, it is important to have a website that conveys professionalism, security, and trust.
Getting Started
Remember that your website is a living document and will undergo many changes. So keep it simple when you’re starting out and avoid investing a lot of time and money into the latest technology that may be difficult to revise or update. Don’t think “state of the art”; think, “state of the market.”
On the other hand, avoid the temptation to use free websites with flashing banner ads or to hire your teenage nephew to throw something together for you over a weekend.
You want a professional, error-free site that is easy to navigate and you can accomplish that simply and inexpensively.
I highly recommend a WordPress website like the ones we include in our VBSS.
Now, you may struggle with deciding the best content, colors and font size. The easiest way around this is to step back and design your site from the standpoint of what your clients would like to see. Would your clients want to know which programs you are familiar with? Would they want package deals or a la carte services? Looking at your website from the perspective of your clientele, you can never go wrong. 
5 things you must include on your website
1. Your contact information. It’s essential to provide a way for your clients and potential clients to contact you, and it also shows that you are a legitimate business. A phone number easily visible on every page is an excellent CALL TO ACTION! An “About You” page with your picture will also create a sense of trust to your potential prospects.
2. Privacy policy. People are feeling insecure about the Internet, because of cases of identify theft and unscrupulous marketers who sell private information and don’t provide a secure environment for online transactions. Your visitors need to be reassured that they’re safe at your website and in doing business with you.
3. Your rates and/or prices. If you’re selling products, by all means list your prices. If you’re providing a service, you may choose to wait until you’ve had a chance to meet with a potential client and tell them more about the value you can offer. However, I must say that it’s my personal preference to see the costs of a service professional up front, before I choose to make contact and I recommend putting your retainer packages online for your prospects to see.
4. A sign-up box on EVERY page. Every page of your website is a potential entry point for a new client to sign-up for your newsletter, e-course or special report and not just your home page. Remember that a website visitor may click away and never come back, and you’ll have lost your chance to help them. So get them on your mailing list and keep in touch with them regularly.
5. The most current information. Nothing looks more unprofessional than outdated content and broken links. Keep the content fresh! Your customers and clients will thank you and the search engines love updated content.
