Category Archives: Great News

January 15, 2010 – 10:00 am

Where Do You Get Stuck in Your Consultations?

I’m working on putting together a special learning module that expands on the concepts for conducting consultations that I share in my guide, “Breaking the Ice: A Step by Step System for Confidently Navigating the Consultation Conversation and Converting Prospects into Retained Clients.” Right now, I’m a bit stuck trying to figure out what should be included, how many sessions are needed to cover all the material and how to organize the outline, and I thought you all could really help me out.

If you are a Virtual Assistant/Administrative Support Consultant still growing in your consultation skills and would welcome some additional hands-on help, I need to get a gauge about where you are specifically getting stuck. Do you feel like you’re doing well in consultations, but then not getting the clients? Are there particular parts or topics in the consultation that you struggle with? Is lack of confidence your stumbling block?

Please email me at [danielle at virtualassistantnetworking dot com] with any of your stumbling blocks and where you’d love to get help. I’m working on something really great for you!

Give to Haiti Disaster Relief!

By Danielle Keister | Also posted in Business Savvy, Virtual Assistant/Virtual Assistance | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)
December 8, 2009 – 10:00 am

Want to Know How NOT to Sound Like Every Other Virtual Assistant?

38gdeOne of the biggest complaints I hear from clients is that all the Virtual Assistant sites they visit say the same thing. There are a number of reasons for this.

For one thing, it seems to me that many people attracted to this industry somehow get the idea that it’s a sort of club to belong to instead of a business or profession. They see that the majority of other sites are all saying the same thing, which leads them to think that’s what they are supposed to be saying as well to show that they belong to the “tribe.” So they simply parrot what they see on every other site or, worse, copy and paste it verbatim. Which, in turn, continues the cycle of miseducation for the next wave of new VAs.

Then there are those who do get that this is a business, not a club, but they just don’t know how to even begin coming up with their own message. They write about what they do in only the most general sense, and because they don’t want to miss out on any opportunity, they write to an audience of anyone and everyone. Which gives their message no real clarity or compelling resonance–to anyone.

The problem with this is none of this differentiates them in any distinguishable way from their competition. They don’t give clients any reason to choose them over anyone else because they all sound the same. They become just another invisible, unmemorable drop in a sea of generic blandness.

The trick is to 1) get a different perspective about what you are really in business to do, 2) stop talking about yourself, and 3)  figure out who you are talking to and then start talking about them.

It is absolutely possible to craft a unique marketing message all your own! Every single Virtual Assistant, including new VAs, can do this. It’s not difficult once you are shown the keys. In fact, once you know the keys, it becomes incredibly simple and easy to come up with your own unique value proposition. You’ll wonder why on earth you struggled so much with your message before. With the keys, you’ll never need to parrot or mimick or copy or use anyone else’s sample marketing language again because you’ll know how to think for yourself.

This is exactly what I’ve done with my guide, “Understanding Your Value: How to Craft Your Unique Marketing Message and Make More Money with Alternative Billing Strategies.” You really get several guides in one. In it, I take you through the Fit – Focus – Value process with exercises for identifying your target market, profiling your ideal client and then identifying your true value proposition.  But we don’t stop there. I also give you a primer on alternative billing methodologies and give you ideas for packaging up your support in innovative ways that will not only appeal more to clients, but also help you make more money by trading value–not hours–for money.

I would really love to see you take your practice to an entirely different level in 2010 so you can earn better and stop struggling to find clients. As my gift to you this holiday season, from now until Sunday, Dec. 13, you can get this guide for $47 (a $20 savings).

GDE-38 Understanding Your Value

By Danielle Keister | Also posted in Cool Stuff, Virtual Assistant/Virtual Assistance | Tagged , , , | Comments (2)
September 12, 2009 – 10:00 am

2009 Virtual Assistant Industry Survey Underway

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Danielle Keister, Founder & Virtual Assistant Expert
Email: thevacoc@hotmail.com
Phone: 888.648.0566

TACOMA WA, September 1, 2009–The month of September 2009 marks year four of the annual Virtual Assistant Industry Survey, conducted by the Virtual Assistance Chamber of Commerce (VACOC). Over 10,000 Virtual Assistants from around the world have been invited to participate. Participants receive the compiled results report at the end of the survey period.

The goal of the annual Virtual Assistant Industry Survey is to take a representative, group snap-shot of those who are in the business of providing ongoing administrative support, how they’re operating, earning, marketing and where gaps in training and support might show up. The in-depth survey leaves no stone unturned, covering the categories of:

  • Individual Demographics
  • Education/Experience/Credentials
  • General Business Demographics
  • Employees & Subcontractors
  • Clients
  • Hours
  • Services
  • Marketing
  • Pricing
  • Success, Profitability & Entrepreneurship
  • Training & Continuing Education
  • Industry Organizations & Training Programs

Each year the survey has a different focus. This year’s theme focuses on social networking. Past years’ have focused on Virtual Assistant training and ethics and standards in the industry.

“Our annual survey lets Virtual Assistant see what others are doing, compare results and, hopefully, see where they might make changes in their own practice to improve profitability, make more money and better serve clients,” says VACOC founder, Danielle Keister.

There are 100 questions on the online survey with two additional free-form responses at the end. Questions are multiple-choice, making participation quick and easy. According to the software used in the survey, it is taking respondents on average only 14.23 minutes to complete the survey in full.

“Participation and support in the Virtual Assistant Industry Survey in past years’ has been tremendous. This year we’re shooting for 1,000 participants!” adds Keister.

Virtual Assistants are invited to spread the word and take the survey at http://www.virtualassistantnetworking.com/survey.htm. Survey period ends September 30.

ABOUT THE VACOC: The Virtual Assistance Chamber of Commerce is a professional association dedicated to helping Virtual Assistants and their clients grow smarter, more financially successful practices. Anyone interested in learning more about Virtual Assistants is encouraged to visit the VACOC at http://www.virtualassistantnetworking.com

By Danielle Keister | Tagged | Comments (1)
September 8, 2009 – 6:00 am

Take the 2009 Virtual Assistant Industry Survey

newssurv09

Hey, Virtual Assistants! It’s that time of year again!

Each year, the VACOC conducts an industry-wide survey with the purpose of taking a representative, group snap-shot of those who are in the business of providing ongoing administrative support. Virtual Assistants who participate get the survey results report absolutely free!

The theme for this year’s survey is social networking. Our goal is to have 1,000 participants by September 30. If we haven’t met our target by that date, we plan on leaving the survey open a bit longer. We’ll need all the help you can give in getting the word out and encouraging all the VAs you know to participate. This survey is for you guys after all! And the sooner we meet our goal, the sooner YOU get your report. :)

Once the official survey period has closed and the report has been compiled, we’ll email you a link to download your complimentary copy of the survey results. Judging from past years, we expect the report to be around 75 to 100 pages. It will definitely be chock-full of helpful, fascinating, eye-opening data. If you’ve participated before, I’m sure you’ll find it really interesting to compare with previous years’ results.

Here’s the skinny: This is an online survey (you take it right on your computer screen). There are 100 questions with two additional, optional questions at the end. But not to worry… everything is multiple-choice and it’s a total breeze running through it. In fact, in testing the survey, we show that for the average person participating, it will only take about 14 minutes, 52 seconds to complete. How’s that for being exact? LOL

Now here’s the caveat: Due to the in-depth nature of our survey, we use a special survey provider (not one of those free sites). The thing is, you must complete the survey in one sitting. You can’t start it and then come back later as it will think that you’ve already completed it. This is to help prevent duplicate submissions. No survey is 100% fool-proof, but we do our best to provide you with the most accurate results we can. Using this special provider is key in accomplishing that. So before you take survey, just make sure you can sit down and complete it all in one shot.

SUPER-DUPER IMPORTANT STUFF: You MUST follow the link provided at the end of the survey and sign up to the list in order to get your FREE copy of the results report. The survey itself is completely confidential because we want you to be totally candid in your responses. Since we don’t collect any identifying information in the survey, this is the only way we have to get the report to just those who participate and manage the huge task of disseminating the reports once they’ve been compiled. We really, really want you to get your copy so don’t forget that last step. :)

Be sure and blog, Twitter, Facebook and whatever else to encourage all your Virtual Assistant buddies to participate as well: http://www.virtualassistantnetworking.com/survey.htm

By Danielle Keister | Also posted in Don't-Miss-It Events, Virtual Assistant/Virtual Assistance | Tagged , , | Comments (0)
April 21, 2009 – 10:00 am

Special Limited Time Offer on My Virtual Assistant Premium Tools

37gdeYou may have attended my first teleseminar for Virtual Assistants last week. I had such a great time, and if you weren’t able to be there, I do hope you’ll join us next time around. Either way, I wanted to extend you a special, limited time offer on my Premium Tools for Virtual Assistants, which ends at midnight, May 1.

================================
SPECIAL LIMITED TIME OFFER
ENDS MIDNIGHT ON FRIDAY, MAY 1
================================

From now until midnight on Friday, May 1, you can get the Activity & Time Analysis Tool (GDE-37) and Understanding Your Value (WBK-38) for $47 each. Regularly, they run $67 each so you’ll save $20 if you get one (or $40 if you get both).

BONUS RECORDING: Both of these tools can be leveraged in your processes for educating new clients, properly setting expectations and taking charge of the delegation process. As a bonus, I’m including last week’s teleseminar recording on “Taking Charge of the Delegation Process (and Make More Money, Too!). The teleseminar covers ways you can take charge of the delegation process utilizing both of these tools, how you can use the Activity & Time Analysis Tool in your practice to better support clients and make more money, plus you’ll get lots of other great information as well!

PS: And if you sign up for my Virtual Assistant Business Forms VIP Mailing List, you’ll get a code to take an additional 10% off.

PPS: Offer ends Friday, May 1, at midnight so don’t delay!

By Danielle Keister | Also posted in Cool Stuff, Virtual Assistant/Virtual Assistance | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)
November 29, 2008 – 9:40 am

Pssst… Don't Tell Anyone

Since I got such a late start announcing it, I’m going to go ahead and run my Green Friday Half Off sale through midnight tonight for those who didn’t get a chance yesterday to take advantage of the savings.

To get your 50% off, just go to the Virtual Assistant Business Forms Store type this word into the Discount Code field when you check-out: GreenFriday

Happy Shopping!

PS: I recommend my latest guide WBK-38 Understanding Your Value: How to Craft Your Own Unique Value Proposition and Cash-In on Value-Billing Methodologies. If you are tired of trading time for money and want to learn how to focus clients on your value instead and have more effective, value-centered conversations, this guide is for you!

By Danielle Keister | Also posted in Cool Stuff, Virtual Assistant/Virtual Assistance | Tagged | Comments (0)
November 28, 2008 – 9:00 am

Green Friday Sale – Today Only!

Traditionally, today is called Black Friday. It’s the day that retailers offer special savings in order to boost sales and bring their books back into the black.

But I think it should be called Green Friday because of all the greenbacks we consumers get to save. With that in mind, I’m offering my own Green Friday sale just for you!

Until midnight tonight, purchase anything in the VACOC Virtual Assistant Business Store and get everything for half price! To claim your 50% off savings, just type this word into the discount code field when you go to checkout: GreenFriday

This offer expires at midnight tonight so don’t miss out!

By Danielle Keister | Also posted in Cool Stuff | Tagged , | Comments (0)
October 16, 2008 – 10:00 am

You Gotta Look and Listen

I received some positive feedback from someone recently on the products they purchased from the Virtual Assistant Business Forms store recently. However, they also indicated that they didn’t appreciate that the discount was extended aftter their purchase.

Unfortunately, they didn’t provide their name or contact info so I have no way of letting them know that is not the case. Here is what I would have let them know had I been able to contact them:

We offer everyone an opportunity to get a discount before they purchase products from the Virtual Assistant Business Forms. It’s a gesture of good will we extend to those folks who wish to remain in contact with us and continue the conversation. All they have to do is sign up to the Virtual Assistant Business Forms VIP Mailing List which is located in the upper right sidebar. Looks for the words “Sign Up and Save” in bold red.

Those who sign up get an email sent to them automatically with their special discount code.

If someone doesn’t sign up to the mailing list first, they don’t get a discount. However, once they’ve purchased something, we give them a second opportunity to join the mailing list and get a discount toward a future purchase.

That’s what happened in this case. The person did not sign up to the mailing list before ordering. Once their order was received, our autoresponder service sent them a second invitation to sign up. We didn’t withhold the discount from them; they just neglected to sign up for it themselves.

Hope that clarifies things for everyone. :)

By Danielle Keister | Also posted in Cool Stuff, Virtual Assistant/Virtual Assistance | Tagged | Comments (0)
July 24, 2008 – 10:00 am

Virtual Assistants: Are You Earning What You'd Like to Be?

As Virtual Assistants, I think I can safely say that most of us LOVE, LOVE, LOVE our work.

We love helping people. We love working on computers and using technology tools. We love our craft and putting our administrative talents to use. And we really love when we can actually see our clients grow as a direct result of our support and administrative expertise. We know we are making a real difference in our clients’ lives and businesses.

But running a business isn’t all peaches and cream, is it? Marketing can be a chore and daunting task. It’s often difficult to get clients to understand what you do and why they should work with you. Finding the right clients isn’t always easy. You might even be wondering, “Freedom? What freedom? I barely have time to sleep at night with all the work I have to do.”

Perhaps the biggest frustration of all for Virtual Assistants is that they can work like dogs and still not make any more money.

At the root of all these issues is the fact that Virtual Assistants are still trading hours for dollars. Part of the reason they stay stuck there is because they don’t know how to articulate the true value of their service to clients. They end up using the same, ineffectual script on their Web sites that everyone else in the industry does. The problem with the “script,” however, is that it only emphasizes money:

“Save money on this…” “Get a discount on that…” “Here’s what you’ll save…” “You won’t have to pay for…” “Do this and get 50% off…”

Do you see what this tells clients? It focuses them on nothing but cost. It says to them, “My service has no other benefit except that you can get off cheaply.” These are the tactics of those who don’t have an understanding of the very real value they offer beyond mere time and think clients must be bribed into working with them.

If you remain stuck on the idea that you are selling hours, and incentivizing on top of it, there most certainly will be a cap on how much money you can feasibly make because you only have a finite number of hours to sell. Plus, the better and faster you get, the less money you’ll make — while none of the value and benefits the client receives from your work is reduced. Is that profitable or fair to you?

If any of this is speaking to you…

If you would love to stop watching the clock and make way more money than you are now without having to work harder or longer hours…

If you have difficulty finding your own creative voice and articulating the value of what you offer in a way that is entirely unique to you and your business…

If you are ready to take your business to the next level and learn of a better way of operating, one that allows you to create a smoother-running, easier to manage, more profitable business that requires far less administration than you ever imagined possible… then my latest workbook is for you.

In this 21-page tutorial, “Understanding Your Value: How to Craft Your Own Unique Value Proposition and Cash In on Value-Billing Methodologies” (WBK-38), I will help you identify and gain a deeper understanding of what it is you really offer your clients and the greater implications of that value in their businesses.

Step-by-step exercises will walk you through the process of crafting your own unique value statement, one that will have more attractive, tangible meaning to your prospective clients and have your message standing heads and tails above the crowd. You’ll also get easy-to-do, practical ideas and how-tos for implementing value-billing methods and strategies that frame your service in new ways and allow you to work less while making more money.

==LIMITED TIME INTRODUCTORY OFFER==

Regular visitors to the Virtual Assistant Business Forms Store will purchase this workbook at the introductory price of $47. However, you can get this guide at an additional 30% off the introductory price for a limited time until midnight, July 31, 2008, by signing up for our VIP Status mailing list. Simply fill out the form below. Once you verify your subscription, you will be sent a message containing the special discount code.

I can’t wait to share this with you and watch the revolutionary changes that can take place in your practice!

By Danielle Keister | Also posted in Business Savvy, Cool Stuff, Marketing, Virtual Assistant/Virtual Assistance | Comments (0)
July 1, 2008 – 10:00 am

Back By Popular Demand

37gdeAfter much deliberation and your very persuasive appeals, I’ve brought back one of my most proprietary premium tools, the Activity & Time Tracking Analysis Tool (GDE-37) for Virtual Assistants. Plus, it’s improved and more streamlined than before.

One of the most difficult aspects of getting started with new clients in your Virtual Assistant practice is the time it takes to get a feel for the client’s business and all that they have on their plate. Most often, we simply ask clients to keep a pad and pencil with themselves for a week or two and write down their activities.

Well, this tool is evolutions beyond that, and takes your Virtual Assistance consulting with clients to an entirely different level–one that puts you in control of the delegation process and your role as the administrative expert in your own Virtual Assistant practice!

Not only does this tool help you more quickly and effectively ramp up with new clients, it gives them a clearer, more “scientific” visual of their business and activities. It helps you analyze their time and energy busters, see where their core strengths and weaknesses are, identify where key systems and processes can be developed, and allows you to make more informed recommendations about where your services can be most strategically utilized as you begin working together.

The Activity & Time Analysis Tool will add value to your processes and systems, and clients will be “wowed” by the invaluable, eye-opening business data and charts you will be able to present to them.

==LIMITED TIME OFFER==

From now through July 4, you can get the Activity & Time Analysis Tool for a discounted price of $49.99. After that, it goes back up to its regular price of $64.99.

Order yours now at  http://www.virtualassistantnetworking.com/virtual-assistant-business-forms.htm

By Danielle Keister | Also posted in Cool Stuff, Fab Ideas, Virtual Assistant/Virtual Assistance | Tagged , , , | Comments (2)