Find out more:  http://bit.ly/dieUee

What would it take to grow your VA business and make a good income? is a post from: VA Business Coaching Blog

VAClassroom Special Offer for Summer Camp is a post from: VA Business Coaching Blog

The International Virtual Assistants Association (www.IVAA.org) yearly Live Summit is sure to be a great place to do some LIVE networking, learn from some incredible speakers, rub elbows with some of the most successful VAs in the industry, and learn new technologies and resources to grow your business.

Mark your calendars for April 20-23, 2010 in the beautiful Embassy Suites Biltmore in Phoenix, AZ.  Wait until you look at the lineup of speakers, and all the incredible sessions, not to mention the new networking with local businesses event that could connect you to new clients.

This is such a NOT TO BE MISSED event, that registrations have already topped 60!  There is a maximum capacity that is sure to be reached very soon, and if you don’t take the plunge and at least register for the event, you’ll also miss the Early Bird, $100 discount, which expires at Midnight this Sunday.

Don’t miss this opportunity to build a strong and profitable business.  There will never be a better time or greater investment in your future.

I certainly don’t want YOU to miss this opportunity so remember…‘get yourself to Phoenix’!

Go check it out and sign up TODAY!  http://www.live.vasummit.org  

Get Yourself to Mars is a post from: VA Business Coaching Blog

In this session, we’ll not only create the profile (it’s really so much easier than you might think), but we’ll also discuss:

• Why it’s important you have one
• How you can use it to interview prospective clients
• What elements within your client profile might be used in your marketing message
• AND, as a bonus, since I won’t have someone to interview, I’m going to discuss the Client Relationship and how it’s changed since I first started in 1998.
• How that relationship may struggle being virtual
• How to add several key pieces to what you’re already doing to deepen the relationship
• Referring and promoting your client’s products and services in a way that makes you valuable

Of course, we’ll still have time for me to answer any questions you may have about whatever is challenging you at this time – whether it’s how to get that first client, how to fire a client who no longer fits your client profile, or how to raise your rates. 

Not only will you benefit from my knowledge and resources, but from other established VAs participating in the call. 

BUT THAT’S JUST THE BEGINNING!  As a member of my Elite Virtual Assistance Insiders, even if you’re in your 2-month trial (not applicable to Coaching Club members), you’ll receive a CD (Coaching Club, too) of the session, a verbatim transcript, and the option to contact me privately to discuss your business and help you take action to move your business forward. 

Find out more and register here:  http://vabizcoach.com/free-test-drive.html

To attend the session and receive a copy of the CD, join our Coaching Club here:  http://vabizcoach.com/vacoachingclub.html 

Isn’t it time to invest in yourself and your business?  You have incredible talent to share with the RIGHT clients.  Take some time to develop systems that will build a profitable business by participating in our Virtual Assistance Coaching Programs. 

Whether you’re just starting out http://vabizcoach.com/starters.html or have been around for two or more years:  http://vabizcoach.com/index.html we have programs to provide a fresh perspective for your business. 

We hope you can make the call.  Remember, REGISTRATION is required:  http://vabizcoach.com/

Please share your comments below.  Always welcomed, and appreciated.

I’m Making Lemonade! is a post from: VA Business Coaching Blog

The committee has decided to entice you to take advantage of our Early Bird pricing available to IVAA Members Only with an exciting drawing for a Logitech Clear Channel Wireless USB Headset – a $100 value.  Already registered, no problem, you’ll be included in the drawing, too!  

The Early Bird pricing, a $20 savings, expires at Midnight, Eastern, Wednesday, September 30, 2009.  Where else can you get this type of opportunity to learn and grow your business for ONLY $60. Register here:  http://online.vasummit.org/registration.html 

The drawing will be held on October 1, 2009, and the headset will be shipped to you in time to use it on November 6, 2009 at the IVAA 4^th Annual Online Summit. 

Not a member, but still want to be in the drawing?  Register by the September 30 deadline and you’ll be in the drawing, too. 

Better yet, join IVAA TODAY, and save $35 off the non-member registration rate, be eligible for the drawing, and enjoy all the other benefits a membership in IVAA allows.  Find out more at:  http://www.ivaa.org/join/index.aspx

IVAA Online Summit – $100 Headset Drawing for Early Birds is a post from: VA Business Coaching Blog

I just spoke to one of my clients in Florida recently, and he reminded me how enjoyable it is to do business together.  He always seems to have fun projects that fit perfectly with my expertise and his positive outlook seems to extend from his business to his life!

This made me stop to think about my other clients, and they too have the same positive attitude, are fun to work with, and we share a mutual respect and appreciation for each other.

WOW, how cool is that?  This all makes me wonder, how did I get here?  How did this happen?  Could it be the law of attraction?

I think that has a lot to do with it, as does my attitude, and the fact that many of my new clients come to me as referrals.

But I think it’s also something else; I think it’s the brand I’ve created for myself.  I believe that along with the logo, website, tagline, etc., that creates my brand, so does my appearance, professional and personal image and ethical standards.  And I want to do business with people who appreciate my expertise and with whom I can share a mutual respect.  Don’t we all?

So I think my brand is also firmly grounded with me personally, even with my name, so to speak.  If I’ve learned nothing over these past few years of re-invention, I’ve learned that it’s better to have a personal and professional brand that I can carry into any particular niche I may expand into as the VA industry continues to evolve.

Today’s real estate VA could be tomorrow’s shopping cart VA.  If I spent all my branding on a professional ‘real estate’ focus, it could be difficult to transition any of that experience into the newly developed niche.

After being in business more than 11-years, I’m grateful for all the clients and colleagues who have helped make me such a great success; and helped me to establish such a personal, professional, and enjoyable brand.   I wish you all the same!

Jeannine Clontz, owner of Accurate Business Services, a VA practice, is an author, writer, speaker and VA Business Coach specializing in providing professional business coaching to established and start-up virtual assistants (VA’s).  For her FREE audio CD “What’s Holding Back my Business Success?” or a 2-month trial in her group coaching program visit:  http://www.VAbizcoach.com; or contact her at: coach@VAbizcoach.com.

What’s a Brand Got to Do With It? is a post from: VA Business Coaching Blog

Face it, closing a sale with a prospective client can be a challenge.  On the open market you have to compete with every other VA they have researched, who responded to an RFP, or who they may have chosen from an online Directory.  Is this the BEST way to get leads?

NO, it’s not.  The best way to get leads is to get QUALIFIED leads.  How do we find good qualified leads?  Through networking and referrals, that’s how!  These referrals come through not only online and on-site networking and your current client base, but through social media marketing, peers, acquaintances and more.  CURIOUS?

LAST CHANCE – you must register by Monday, July 13, at 5:00 PM Eastern in order to get the dial-in information!  Are you an established full-time Virtual Assistant?  Have you taken advantage of your 2-month trial?  Find out more at:  http://www.VABizcoach.com   

Do you seem to do nothing more than collect stacks and stacks of business cards at networking events? Do you seem to find the wrong types of prospects to connect with? Still find that people don’t seem to understand what it is you do? Are you getting a good steam of referrals from current clients and prospects?  If not, you will want to attend my next Elite Virtual Assistance Insider Teleconference.  You’re sure to find this session very helpful in growing your business. Find out the answers to these questions and more.

Please mark your calendars for Wednesday, July 15th, beginning at 7:00 PM, EASTERN where I’ll be interviewing networking guru, Sue Kramer Harrawood of Peace of Mind Virtual Assistance (www.VApeaceofmind.com) on the topic of Networking and Referrals.

You’ll also get a chance to ask me and Sue any question about your business, and networking or referrals, or anything that might be causing you a challenge in moving your business forward. If there’s time left after the Q&A session, we’ll have an open discussion on a topic of interest.  Mark your calendar for Wednesday, July 15, 2009 beginning at 7:00 p.m. EASTERN. 

You also get a CD of the session and a transcript – so you can check back anytime you need a refresher.  You also have an opportunity to speak to me one-on-one about your business.

Don’t miss it! Registration is required – go to:  http://vabizcoach.com/free-test-drive.html

Effective and Affordable Way to Market Your Business is a post from: VA Business Coaching Blog

First, it goes without saying that Barb Lang is an incredible organizer.  Even with all of the challenges she faced this year, which she handled with complete professionalism, she pulled off an awesome FoVA Conference.  Thank you Barb for all you did to make the event so full of great information and resources, and by bringing together some really long-time leaders of our industry.  I was truly in awe.

In no particular order, I would like to acknowledge some of what those of you who didn’t attend FoVA missed, and what those of us who did, enjoyed.

Kathie Thomas, of A Clayton’s Secretary, not only came all the way from Australia to wow us with her Social Media and Blogging session (my head is still spinning Kathie), but Kathie is one of those pioneers of our industry who was promoting VAs in the early ‘90’s, when we weren’t even called VAs yet.  While she began in Australia, it didn’t take long for her seeds to spread into Europe and ultimately the U.S.  We are very fortunate to have someone like Kathie out there promoting us, and coaching and training new VAs to help solidify our industry and create business standards.

I was so touched to find out that during the giveaway of my One-on-One Coaching program, that had been narrowed down to three newbie VAs, she stepped up (as did one other savvy industry leader) to agree to coach one of the other newbies at no charge.  You ROCK, Kathie!

Stacy Brice, visionary and founder of AssistU.com, is someone who really stands out in our industry for all the ways she gives back, and for the standards she sets and maintains with VAs who graduate from her program.  While we all know that the late Thomas Leonard is the person attributed with coining the phrase, ‘virtual assistant’, did you know that the VA he was speaking of was Stacy Brice?

Stacy, with Dawn Goldberg by her side, are a great team who support, promote and educate clients, as well as budding VAs on the advantages of working with us.

Tawnya Sutherland really doesn’t need much of an introduction.  If you don’t know who Tawnya is, you’re not really trying.  Tawnya is one of the most giving people I’ve ever met.  She finds ways to connect with every single participant at these conferences, and gives so much of herself in the way of knowledge and resources, it’s staggering.  Her VANA (vanetworking.com) forum, VAInsider group, and training system are very well respected in the industry, and with clients.  With a forum membership of over 10,000, need I say more? At both the FoVA and the IVAA Summit she gave every participant a one-month trial in her VAInsider program – so incredible!

Sharon Williams of the Alliance For Virtual Business (www.allianceforvirtualbiz.com) has been a long-time supporter of the industry.  She is always willing to go out of her way to help someone in need, and runs a very active VA practice on top of all of her other endeavors.  She established the first ever Virtual Assistance Day (even registered it), and is the founder and organizer of the Online International Virtual Assistance Conference (www.oivac.com).  She is the other person who stood up and offered to coach a newbie when there was a drawing.  I’m just really overwhelmed by these wonderful ladies.

Pam Ivey (an avid supporter of VAs in the real estate niche, and beyond), Mary Lou Ashton (who offered each attendee $50 off her coaching program and had several very nice giveaways), Kristi Pavlik, and on and on.  Sitting among these women on the panel Saturday was truly an honor for me, and really made me think about how unique our industry is.

I hope that you will support and promote these women, and their programs, as you network with others throughout the industry.  Without them, and their kindness, we would not have such strength and support for our entire industry.  These are truly your leaders.

I want to thank each and every one of them, and anyone I may have missed, for all you do, and know that whenever someone approaches me about ‘how to’, I proudly promote you all and give them the most incredible opportunities to connect and grow within the VA industry.  Thank you, thank you thank you.

And I couldn’t close without saying how much fun I had meeting and connecting with everyone in attendance at FoVA – it is a time and place I will not soon forget.

Support Your Local Sheriff (Leaders) – Insights from FoVA is a post from: VA Business Coaching Blog

She got laid off about three months ago, so she’s trying her practice full-time now, while continuing to try and find a corporate job.  For the past several years, she’s been taking low pay projects from places like eLance.com and working with VA teams who aren’t able to pay much more than $10-15 an hour.

She was really jazzed after having read the book, and was ready to really give it a go!  Needless to say, we’ve started working together and things are going well. 

I hear this all the time – people have tried for one, maybe two years and are getting frustrated because they can’t seem to move beyond sub-contractor, or low-pay project work that isn’t helping them to establish a solid and profitable business.  They have one or two clients but can’t seem to find more. Or they’re brand new to the concept and just looking for a leg up in establishing a good business model.

There’s so much more to having a successful VA practice than just having great skills, you have to really work hardest on setting up and managing a small business.  That’s not as easy.  But, there is help!

I’ve owned and operated my own VA practice for almost eleven years.  About two years into it, I was ready to throw in the towel and go back to corporate America.  Luckily, a competitor I had done sub-contractor work for told me something incredible…she told me not to give up.  She said that I did great work, had wonderful skills and that I really presented myself very professionally.  And so I didn’t give up, I did whatever was necessary to become successful.

I’ve taken all those mistakes I made, and all those lessons learned, and with the use of my co-authored book, created a 10-week program to start and grow your OWN Virtual Assistance Practice.

The Business Essentials Teleclass for a Virtual Assistance Practice is getting geared up for their next 10-week program.  Beginning June 25th, each 60-90 minute weekly session takes you step-by-step through the process of starting or growing your VA practice.  Utilizing the wildly successful book, Entrepreneurial Freedom, and the companion workbook (included with your paid registration) you’ll get hands on support to formulate your ideas, plans and dreams.

But there’s MORE!  Here’s what I promise you this WILL be!  This is a hands-on, no pitch (there won’t be other people on the call trying to sell you ANYTHING), get ‘er done program.  It’s going to be high-content with everything you need to get your business going and get out of your own way getting there.

This program is geared ONLY toward entrepreneurs and solopreneurs working together, laughing together and growing together.  You will create amazing relationships and networking opportunities that will help you build your confidence and build a business where you can make more money and have more time off to enjoy it all.  We also keep each other accountable for doing the work, and getting you moving outside your comfort zone.

The next 10-week program starts June 25th and will be completed August 27th.  Find out more and register here:  http://vabizcoach.com/starters.html.  We have a limited number of people allowed per class to keep the sessions cozy and filled with the individual time you’ll want and need.  So, don’t wait!

Still not convinced?  Want MORE?  How about 2-EZ installments?  And…we lowered our course pricing $100 – plus, if you’re a member of IVAA (www.ivaa.org), you will enjoy an additional 20% Preferred Partner discount.  With all the discounts mentioned, it works out to just over $21/hour to participate in this 10-week program.  But that’s not all.

How about some BONUSES?  In addition to receiving a copy of the Entrepreneurial Freedom book and workbook, every person who signs up and completes the program will also receive:

·         Free 30-minute private coaching session with Jeannine (a $150 value)

·         Free marketing plan strategy session 60-days after program completion  (a $75 value)

·         Free follow-up 90-minute Q&A phone session with your class 90-days after program completion (a $225 value)

·         Free copy of my CD, “What’s Holding Back My Business Success?” (a $24.95 value)

·         Free 2-month trial in Jeannine’s Elite Virtual Assistance Insiders after program completion  (a $194 value)

·         20% discount on Jeannine’s One-on-One Coaching program (a $400 value)

Don’t let another month go by without investing in your business success!  Get inspired; work on organizing the business you’ve always dreamed of; and take action!  Find out more at: http://vabizcoach.com/starters.html today!

Don’t Get Frustrated – YOU CAN Build a Profitable VA Practice! is a post from: VA Business Coaching Blog

I have been seeing increased numbers of home-based business schemes online.  Please remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.  People trying everything, including paying somebody who tells them they have work.  So what alternatives do we have?  What opportunities should be considered?    

More and more people are looking at starting their own business as a viable option.  Virtual Assistance is one of the fastest growing industries around, and offers incredible freedom to build a real income.  With a lot of hard work and good business skills, you CAN create a profitable business.

I’ve owned and operated my own VA practice for almost eleven years.  About two years into it, I was ready to throw in the towel and go back to corporate America.  Luckily, a competitor I had done sub-contractor work for told me something incredible…she told me not to give up.  She said that I did great work, had wonderful skills and that I really presented myself very professionally.  And so I didn’t give up, I did whatever was necessary to become successful.

I’ve taken all those mistakes I made, and all those lessons learned, and with the use of my co-authored book, created a 10-week program to start and grow your OWN Virtual Assistance Practice.

The Business Essentials Teleclass for a Virtual Assistance Practice is getting geared up for their next 10-week program.  Beginning June 25th, each 60-90 minute weekly session takes you step-by-step through the process of starting or growing your VA practice.  Utilizing the wildly successful book, Entrepreneurial Freedom, and the companion workbook (included with your paid registration) you’ll get hands on support to formulate your ideas, plans and dreams.

You’ll also have access to the results of our VA survey, and sample documents and contracts. Everything you’ll need to get your small business off the ground and/or growing in the right direction.

Each week we will go in-depth covering all the information in each Chapter, while assisting you in developing your workbooks. Two full sessions will be completely devoted to Q&A.

The next 10-week program starts June 25th and will be completed August 27th.  Find out more and register here:  http://vabizcoach.com/starters.html.  We have a limited number of people allowed per class to keep the sessions cozy and filled with the individual time you’ll want and need.  So, don’t wait!

Still not convinced?  Want MORE?  How about 2-EZ installments?  And…we lowered our course pricing $100 – plus, if you’re a member of IVAA (www.ivaa.org), you will enjoy an additional 20% Preferred Partner discount.

How about some BONUSES?  In addition to receiving a copy of the Entrepreneurial Freedom book and workbook, every person who signs up and completes the program will also receive:

·         Free 30-minute private coaching session with Jeannine (a $150 value)

·         Free marketing plan strategy session 60-days after program completion  (a $75 value)

·         Free follow-up 90-minute Q&A phone session with your class 90-days after program completion (a $225 value)

·         Free copy of my CD, “What’s Holding Back My Business Success?” (a $24.95 value)

·         Free 2-month trial in Jeannine’s Elite Virtual Assistance Insiders after program completion  (a $194 value)

·         20% discount on Jeannine’s One-on-One Coaching program (a $400 value)

Don’t let another month go by without investing in your business success!  Get inspired; work on organizing the business you’ve always dreamed of; and take action!  Find out more http://vabizcoach.com/starters.html today!

Startup Business Teleclass Offers Good Option is a post from: VA Business Coaching Blog