You know the drill….I’ve been busy; I haven’t had anything much to say; I’ve been dead….well maybe not that excuse.  The point is, there ARE no excuses.

The simple fact is that I think I lost my way for a bit. 

Being a Virtual Assistant is hard work.  Not the work that I do for clients, that’s actually the fulfilling part.  What’s hard is getting the clients to begin with.  It’s not that I didn’t have the “want”, but after so many years of marketing and hitting a wall, I got a bit frustrated.

I can see you nodding your heads.  You have probably all been there.  But all it takes is that one big break to push you over that invisible line from struggling and frustrated to comfortable.  Somehow, I hit that invisible line.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m not as busy as I want to be at this point, but it’s SO much better than it was.  And my virtual business is looking much more promising.

So, I’m back.  I figure, now that I’m feeling much more positive, I will be able to post again, and not depress anyone.

Keep checking back, hopefully I’ll have something to say you might want to read!

I’ve joined LinkedIn and Twitter so far, and keep going back to them, but I really have to figure out exactly how to use them effectively.  I haven’t quite figured that out yet.  Perhaps reading some of the “experts” will help me.

Anyhow, today I decided to post a question on LinkedIn.  Trying to phrase the question was interesting.  I didn’t want to be viewed as job searching, but I also wanted to make sure people knew that I was posting the question as a marketing tool.  I guess everything you do is a very fine line.

I’m hoping to get some good responses, but my biggest hope is to get people interested enough to contact me.  Is that the way virtual networking is suppose to work?  I’m betting so.

Anyone out there that has used LinkedIn and/or Twitter to their advantage?  How did you do it?

Here’s hoping!

Kathy

I usually choose things and then promptly forget about them.  I’m sure I’m not alone in that!  However, this year, in my most recent newsletter, I vowed to only make resolutions that I will TRY to keep.

So some of the things I put on my list, that I will strive to keep:  updating more often….this blog; twitter; facebook; linked in; and all the other networking opportunities I signed up for and really never figured out how to effectively use.  Honestly, how can I help my clients market if I don’t make more of an effort myself?

Also on the list is finally finishing my business and marketing plans.  I started them both when I first started my business, and really never finished them.  That’s a really bad move on my part.  I feel strongly a good business plan is essential to a good business, so if I’m going to get more serious about my business, I absolutely have to finish those!

And the last business related item on my resolution list:  marketing!  I know….marketing is ongoing, but I need to make more of an effort to get new clients onboard.  My business definitely won’t grow if I don’t grow it.  It’s my business after all, it’s my responsibility to make it work.  And I want to make it work!  I want to be busy, I want new things to occupy my time.  I love new challenges.

I’m not saying these are the only things on my list, just the ones I can think of at the moment that are foremost in my mind.  And I reserve the right to add things whenever I want!  I just don’t want to delete anything from that list.

Happy Holidays everyone!  And make sure you are able to keep your resolutions this year.

Kathy

Sometimes the internet can be so very annoying you want to log off and never log back in again. 

I know coming from me, who makes her living using various forms of the internet, this must sound strange.  But, really, think about all those times you log into your email and all you get is a TON of spam.  And how about when your computer just suddenly loses it’s mind and you can’t seem to make it work, and you  have this HUGE presentation to finish for the next day?  I’m sure everyone has had those “I hate this computer” days!  I’ve certainly had my share.

But recently, something happened that made me realize just how wonderful PARTS of the internet can be.

I lost touch with my best friend (at the time) about fifteen years ago.  He moved, I moved, we just lost each other’s phone number, and address….you know how that is.

However, I’ve been thinking about him alot recently, and decided I needed to find him.  So I started searching on the internet for him.  Through a people search, I located a strong possibility, and decided to send an email to this person.  It’s really  interesting emailing someone that you are not really sure you know.  The first challenge is to put in a subject line that will actually get the email read.  I went back and forth on several ideas, but went with just his name.  Now….the thing about this person is that he uses his middle name and not his first name.  So I put into the subject line his full name….first, middle and last.  I explained who I was and who I was looking for and asked that he email me one way or the other so I know whether I have to continue looking.

And wouldn’t you know it….my very first try contacted him!  Hearing his voice again for the first time in fifteen years was amazing.  It sounded so familiar. This was a person who knew me better than anyone else alive (my husband now has that dubious honor!).  It was SO remarkable to actually talk to him after all this time.  So many things have happened in both our lives since we last spoke….marriages (both of us), new children (his), grandchildren (mine), moves, new jobs, and on and on.

I just sent him a VERY long email, all the things that have happened to me since I last spoke with him, and received one back from him.  It actually made me cry!  Remembering all the crazy things we did, the times he was there for me whenever I needed him, and vice-versa.

I can’t wait for my husband to meet him.  I know he will love him as much as I do.

So, right now, as far as I’m concerned, the internet is the best thing since sliced bread!  It brought back a wonderful friend.

I’ve been working very hard at developing my business; making my website attractive; answering questions on the message boards I read, etc, and it’s really wonderful to have that all acknowledged by this award. 

I’m feeling like I have “come of age”; like I know that I am doing exactly what I should be doing with my work life, and all the struggles that I had and continue to have getting clients into my business has been for a reason. 

I honestly am having trouble putting my feelings about this into print.  The fact is, someone had to nominate me for this, and really, that right there is such a rush for me.  The thought that someone, someplace thought enough of me to nominate me, and I was selected just gives me such a warm feeling.  I had seen the previous winners, and been very envious, wondering how I could get myself nominated. 

I vow to continue to be worthy of the honor that’s been bestowed upon me.  And a HUGE Thank you to the VA community!

My favorite VA forum that I read is celebrating 5 years!  That means that they are going to be having a wonderful celebration for everyone.

Not that I’ve been reading/participating in the forum for 5 years, but still, it’s such a remarkable thing to be in business for five years.  I can’t wait until I celebrate five years.  Hopefully by then I will be crazy busy with tons of wonderful clients.

I honestly don’t know if I would be a VA if I hadn’t found the VANA forum.  Every single question I could possibly have regarding working virtually, becoming a VA and even how/where to find clients were answered by the wonderful VA’s on this forum.  Even questions I thought were pretty stupid were answered.  Now I don’t know whether or not there was laughter as the stupid questions were answered, but the fact is, they were answered!

Seriously, it’s such a wonderful feeling to have this group behind me. 

So, the fact that this celebration will be starting tonite is very exciting to me.  I get to log into “party central” and virtually raise my glass in celebration to VANA’s 5 years of helping the VA community!

My husband laughed when I told him I was going to a virtual anniversary party tonite.  He thought that was about the silliest thing I could have told him.  But when you are used to doing things virtually, it’s not such a silly notion to have a virtual party.  I’m looking forward to “meeting” all the wonderful VA’s that I’ve talked to in the year and a half I have been participating in the forum.  Perhaps thanking them for helping me so many times.  But certainly to have a slice of virtual cake and raise my glass to the VA community!

And by the way, if you are interested in the celebration, perhaps to go meet some wonderful people, here is the link that will tell you about it…. http://www.vanetworking.com/birthday.html

Look forward to seeing you at the party tonite!

As in….putting my business out there in front of as many people as I possibly can so I can get some business in.

So this week in marketing is a new promotional postcard.  Actually I created two new ones, one targeting newsletter creation, and one more general.  It’s the general one I am sending out in the next few weeks.  I will send the newsletter one out after that.

My husband suggested sending 200 postcards from my 500 person list, which I created from a variety of sources; like the phone book, the Chamber membership list, etc.  It all took me forever to type up, but I now have 500 local names to target.

Anyhow, my husband suggested sending postcards to 200  people, then waiting a few weeks and sending another postcard to the same 200 people, then again.  I thought that was a really good suggestion, since I read someplace it takes up to seven times getting your name out in front of someone before they actually notice you. 

I have a LONG way to go!

The next marketing “event” this week is a table at my local bank.  One of the things I honestly would never have even thought of.  My bank has what they call “business of the week”; although you are allowed the table for two weeks.  My two weeks started yesterday.  I have a large 20×30 poster up on the table with a cute graphic of a man buried under a ton of paper, with the caption “Overwhelmed with paperwork?”  (which just happens to be my newest postcard campaign!)  It’s a catchy graphic, and hopefully will draw people to my table.  The table is set up with my two latest postcards, my business cards and my brochure.  I thought about some sort of “give-away”, but really couldn’t come up with something that jumped out at me.  I’m taking suggestions, if anyone has one!

My next marketing event a few weeks from now…..an 8-minute presentation to my BNI group.

Onward!

Kathy

I honestly don’t know what exactly I will find to write about, but I decided I should try anyhow.

The reason I’m doing this is not because I’m trying to catch up on technology.  Simply because I was asked by a client to research blogging, and figured the best way was to actually create a blog myself.

So a little about myself.  I am a Virtual Assistant.  Actually, I am a NEW Virtual Assistant.  I opened my business officially around August of last year, and am busily trying to get marketing out there so I can get some clients in.  I have a few small clients, but nothing major at this point.  But I know they are out there, and I will find them!

Seriously, I’m working two part-time jobs at the moment as well as trying to do marketing for my new business, writing a business plan, making up flyers, brochures, postcards and all the other wonderful things that go along with marketing a new business.

I feel like I know all about marketing at this point.  In fact, one of my very good friends, who is a coach, whom I just started working with, told me I should become a Marketing VA.  I really don’t konw if I have enough experience Marketing just yet to council anyone, but it’s an interesting thought.  Maybe down the road.

So, why did I decide to become a VA?  I think the thing about me is I like to help people.  I have such a strong background in administration and office management that I can just “see” the bigger picture.  I can “see” what a business needs to do to take care of itself.  I’m good at putting policies in place, and seeing that the business owner understands the new policies and practices.  In the long run, a well organized business will do so much better, financially, than a business that’s just floundering and has no true direction.  And that’s what I love doing.

I think back on the jobs I have had (and there have been many of them).  I think eventually I got bored with them because I took control, got them up and running efficiently, then had nothing worthwhile to do anymore.  It’s tough watching your “baby” after it’s all grown up knowing that it no longer needs you.

I have so much to give so many businesses. 

Anyhow, that’s who I am and why I became a VA.  And I’m sure you will hear more about me and my business in other posts.

So, welcome, and I hope to entertain you more later!

Kathy