On one of the forums I participate a member was asking how to market their VA business and get work. I joined in the conversation and highlighted the importance of networking. My response is below. Networking is a key to developing business and a big part of it. I believe you should be networking both online and offline. I started with offline networking in the early days of my business because there was no Internet then but online networking today is just as important - you need a mixture … [Read more...]
Is there room for me in your network?
I recently met a copywriter at a business breakfast I was speaking at and she was keen to talk to me after the event. She was looking for more ways to get clients and was wondering if I accepted copywriters into my Virtual Assistant network. I told her I would send her some suggestions that would help her with her business and then I realised that it might help some who read this blog as well. We met at the breakfast last Tuesday and you were wondering if my Virtual Assistant network would be … [Read more...]
Victorian Bush Fires and the Need for Tourism
Last year I wrote about two different situations where the VA community grouped together to help one of its own. One was when a VA shared on her challenges and others rallied round to help her. The other was when I, myself, was going through a family tragedy and so many once again, rallied round to support me and let me know they were there in my time of need. Well, another need has been highlighted by one of my team today and it relates to the Victorian bushfires that most of the world now … [Read more...]
Mistakes VAs Make
I hope you like the series I've been doing on the mistakes VAs make in operating their businesses. I've been getting great feedback - both here at the blog and via email from various people and the list has been growing as I've been thinking about it when away from my office and doing other things. So, where did I get the idea to do this? Twitter. What Twitter? Yes. I saw someone post some weeks ago the number one mistake in their industry - it was just a single post and didn't continue on, … [Read more...]
Are you Twittering yet?
If not, then you could be missing out on a potential client base. I've had a Twitter account for sometime now and it really took me sometime to understand what it is about. But now I'm hooked! I couldn't understand what people were doing or going on about and there are some mundane things there. But amongst all that is some really useful information and people willing to lend a hand. You can literally tweet events such as blogradio, podcasts, teleseminars, webinars, or you can tweet for … [Read more...]
Your Home Business Magazine out today!
I was recently interviewed for a brand new magazine launching this month in Australia. This magazine is about profiling businesses that have been around for sometime and are successful, rather than focusing on start-ups. The first issue is out today and if you live in Australia you should be able to get a copy at a local newsagent. Peter Switzer, of Switzer Media & Publishing, sums the magazine content up like this: "The biggest mistake any home business owner can make is to think they … [Read more...]
Are You Becoming a Hermit?
I don't know about you, but I'm a homebody - I love being home and I am reluctant to go out. Many who know me will probably wonder if I'm speaking about the same 'Kathie Thomas' as I'm known to be sociable, outgoing, happy and good company (so I believe). But I assure you I am - speaking about the same person, that is. When I make the decision to go out and actually push myself to do it, I do enjoy myself and love meeting new people, but it is really easy to feel comfortable in my chair, and … [Read more...]
Update on my Facebook activity
Many of you know that I've been experimenting with Facebook and have set up a business page, separate to a personal profile. I wrote about this previously in September and have also been sharing about it on another blog. I was discussing Facebook with a guy at my husband's mountain bike race on the weekend and he mentioned something I'd not thought of before. He said it was the new way of developing a mailing list and when he said that, it made me realise he was probably right in that … [Read more...]
Marketing Your Virtual Assistant Practice
Have you thought about all the ways you market your business? I was recently chatting with a group of women in a mastermind group I belong to and we were building a list of the ways we promote our individual businesses. I was quite surprised when I saw my own list. I thought I'd share it with you all. Newsletter - I've been publishing one since 1995, originally in print form, but now by email. It is often being passed on to others and it brings me new contacts. Yellow Pages - the nature of … [Read more...]