Standing Out

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.

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Recently I came across a blog, Virtual Assistant Report. Yelena McManaman - the VA behind the blog - is running a short VA survey. This survey attempts to develop a clearer picture of VA industry - about our projects, rates, sources, plans for and concerns about the future of VA industry in general and our individual businesses.

But don’t get scared - there are only 10 questions in the entire survey.

Why would you want to share? To be heard, of course! But also, to hear about others - all participants in this survey will receive a FREE copy of the results.

I’m starting a new “site review” series where I’m going to be reviewing websites that I think are valuable to virtual assistants. If you’re interested in having your site reviewed (it’s a great way to increase quality incoming links!), leave a comment with the link or send me an email: tia@allamericanadmin.com

Also - see my updated comment on this entry! In response to Kimberly.

Virtual Assistant Site Review #1: VAClassroom.com

Every now and again I come across a resource for
virtual assistants that I think is of extraordinary
value. I found such value in VAClassroom.com’s
training center.

(In case you’re wondering, YES, I have personally
experienced paid membership at VAClassroom.com)
so I am qualified to really review it!)

Today’s top virtual assistants excel by assisting
their clients in a number of tasks related to
internet and technology. Neither needs to be scary!
I’m naturally inclined toward internet, technology,
software, etc, but even if you aren’t, it’s not
something you should shy away from.

VAClassroom offers a number of training modules
geared toward increasing your knowledge of some of
the hottest trends in virtual assistance today:
internet marketing, blogs, shopping cart assistance
and more.

Here’s what Craig, co-founder of VAClassroom.com has
to say:

“Our primary mission at VAClassroom is to provide
skill-based Training Programs that equip Virtual
Assistants with the exact skills and knowledge
businesses are seeking today. I am sure you all can
relate to taking a course only to discover that it
did not provide the relevant skills needed to find
tangible work opportunities. At VAClassroom, our
courses are created based on the input of our network
of Internet Business colleagues who regularly hire
Virtual Assistants. This gives us the confidence that
we are providing the right kind of training that will
translate to real work opportunities for VAs.”

Congrats to VAClassroom.com on a job well-done!

As I write this, it’s Sunday night (almost midnight) and it’s the end (too short) of a very, very long week. The week’s are just getting longer - my client list is growing and my clients are growing in their businesses, too, meaning more work for me - which is great. But there’s the nagging pressure: can I handle it all?

I subscribe to Lisa Taliga’s Virtual Assistant Life blog and get her posts via email. Today’s post striked me - her email subject line is “I Felt Like Giving Up, Tia.” I opened the mail and clicked the link to the entry.

It’s a simple message - nothing too complicated or involved, but there’s something that happens when you share your challenges, fears and disappointments that does something mysterious: it motivates.

Here is the link to her post.

So that’s some motivation for Monday. As you put together your to-do list for the week, no matter how long, short, simple or complicated it may be, find the motivation you need to keep going. And know this: I’ll be digging deep for that motivation as well!

Happy Monday.

Cheers,

Tia

This post is more of a request for clarity or information than it is an accusation.

Please note that I am trying to be as sensitive as humanly possible while at the same time being poignant and true to my thoughts.

I’m aware that some of you may not like this post but I encourage you to speak up, then, and support your opinions boldly.

I’m just wondering, have you ever run into cases of phony virtual assistant certification? Do you disagree with my entirely that there is such a thing as phony certification?

Or, rather, who is doling out certifications and is it right that just about anybody can put up a “certification” program with a neat web graphic and sell it for money? Should there be one set of criteria to certify a VA and if there is, can someone point me to it because I’ve been all over the web and it doesn’t appear to exist.

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