Standing Out

Hi everyone,

this is the last post for this blog until January 2009! My business model has changed completely - so I’m taking a short break from blogging and newsletters until then. In the meantime, catch up with me at my new blog, Intuitively Speaking.

I’m splitting my business into two parts: my portion which is website & blog maintenance, and All American Admin, which when it is re-launched, will be a free directory of US-based virtual assistants. In this way, I’ll be keeping the page rankings for All American Admin (which for now is temporary re-directed to my new website).

If you’re interested in getting listed as a US-based virtual assistant, please send me an email at tia[at]allamericanadmin.com so I can update you when it is ready!

The site may actually be launched sooner than January; if so, there will be a way for you to go and submit your listing and upload a photo. There will also be a groups feature and a forum. All of this will be free to you.

Looking forward to January!

Warmly,

Tia

I first became aware of Joe Hage on Biznik (which I’ve talked about many times on this blog before and if you’re still not joining me, well…) and he’s now a client of mine.

He’s a Marketing Guy. That’s not his official title, of course, but he knows his stuff. Just look at his resume or testimonials to figure that out.

But I’m writing because I was reading a marketing article of his and I am compelled to share it! Never mind that it says Seattle Marketing Strategy - the advice is actually completely independent of Seattle (he probably did that for SEO purposes - learn it!).

Virtual assistants, marketing assistants, etc - we’re as in demand now as it’s ever going to get, so if you’re not getting business, you really need to re-think your marketing strategy.

Read Joe’s article here and if you’re brave and/or smart, you really should join me on Biznik and follow my lead so you can get clients (good paying ones), too. I am a paid member but didn’t start out that way. A Biznik membership is completely free. Even if you just want to learn from some experienced folks, you need to be networking.

Have you developed a brand image for your practice yet? What sets you apart from the pack and makes you different?

Have you noticed…there are what seems like a bazillion virtual assistants out there! Your clients are looking for a solution - how is it that you meet their needs as opposed to the next VA?

If you haven’t given any thought to this yet, I suggest getting out a sheet of blank paper, or a white board, and start working on it.

My company brand image is “the know-how all American virtual assistant.” I came up with the brand AFTER I started my business, not before. You don’t have to do it that way, but it does help. I decided on “know-how” after I realized that I had a lot of skills many other VAs didn’t have.

(more…)

To go along with my new website, I’ve decided to give this blog an overhaul as well. Not just in design but in platform & audience.

A lot has happened in the past week. Most of you know by now that I’m a virtual assistant and work from home mom. The whole reason that I even started a company was so I could go beyond just myself and possibly change the lives of other single moms by providing work from home opportunities for them through it. Well that vision is finally becoming a reality and I’m THRILLED about it. I have another VA on board with me named Stefanie and I’m glad to help her get on the road to success.

There really is nothing better than the feeling you get by helping someone else!

So that said, I’m going to be focusing mainly on Virtual Assistant and Home-based success in this blog now. I’m very excited about this new direction and am hoping the reach will grow and many more women like Stefanie will come to know financial freedom through working for themselves.

To success!

Cheers,

Tia

Yesterday I thought I just didn’t have any time at all to devote to re-doing my website. But since Fridays are my “light” days - you know, the days to do laundry and go grocery shopping - I spend the last, oh, maybe six or seven hours on and off re-doing my website.

Check it out: http://www.allamericanadmin.com. It still needs a ton of SEO work and probably another makeover but I’m happy with it so I’m leaving it be for now.

Just FYI, All-American Admin is my virtual assistant company. You can read more about it at the URL provided above.

Cheers!