While it’s true a large amount of your client base will come from referrals, you can be sure they’ll ask for a website address when considering margin contact.

As you design your site (or have someone design it for you), put yourself into the position of a potential client. What would someone want to know about you, your business and your services? Make sure you provide full contact information that’s easy to find – you’d be amazed how many people build a great site but leave no way to be contacted.

Your website will need a few key components that potential clients will be on the lookout for:

Contact Info:
As mentioned previously this should be easy to find so when people want to hire your services, they can!

Services:
Virtual Assistants provide a wide range of services so when people come to your website they will want to know what services you can provide. Have a clear, detailed list of what you are proficient at and explain the details if not obvious.

Rates:
This is a personal preference. Many VAs post there rates wile many others do not. Of course this may be a benefit for when someone is price shopping, but if you prefer to charge on a project-by-project basis (as I do) this may not work for you.

Portfolio:
If you do any web design or graphics work a portfolio is a must. People want to see examples of your work before paying you to do something for them. If you do things like sales letters and ghostwriting , having a portfolio of completed work is also a very good idea.

About You :
Your clients are not only buying your services, they are buying into a relationship with YOU. Let them know who you are and why you can be trusted to hold a portion of their business in your hands.

Policies and Privacy:
With all the privacy and internet safety issue out there you want to assure your visitors that their information is safe with you and always will be. Spell out your policies on collecting email addresses, collecting payments, work confidentiality, etc.

Testimonials:
Ok, so you’ve got up a great website with everything mentioned previously. Does that mean your visitors will trust you? Probably not. You see, they have no way of knowing what quality your work is or even if you’re a real professional running an actual business. Testimonials help to prove your credibility by showing that you have satisfied clients who are happy to sing your praises.

Now that you’ve learned some of the essential elements of a Virtual Assistant’s website, go back and have a look at your website (if you have one) and see if you are missing anything. If you don’t have a website yet then print this article out and use it as a checklist while your site is being developed to make sure you have used every advantage to create a site that sells your services!

About the Author:
Get advice, ideas and inspiration on working from home and outsourcing at www.angelawills.com. Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

A virtual assistant, or a VA, is an entrepreneur that supports other professionals and small business owners from a distance. VAs commonly work from their own home offices and communicate with their clients via email, faxes, instant messaging, telephone calls and other web based applications, such as Google Docs.

But before you slap up a website and call yourself a VA, you should closely examine your qualifications and evaluate if you have the right skills to be a virtual assistant.

If you have any of the following experiences, you may be able to turn your skills into a profitable VA business:

- administrative experience
- book keeping
- strong computer and technical abilities
- good communication and writing skills
- organizational talent
- legal assistant or paralegal
- office management
- professional organizing experience
- concierge experience

Many new VAs brush up on their skills before launching their businesses, so they can give their clients the most efficient service possible. You could take classes that improve your knowledge of commonly used programs like Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Access and Photoshop, or any other classes that would improve your marketable skills.

Depending on what services you want to provide, you could take classes on things like writing, organization or life coaching.

Several VA certification programs are also available to help prepare you for a successful career as a VA. Certification is not required to be a VA. However, having a VA certification gives your new venture credibility and demonstrates commitment to your business. Potential clients may be more willing to trust you because you’ve completed a training program.

Leaders in the VA industry have established VACertification.com, a voluntary certification program for the VA industry.

Training is also available through several other organizations, including:

The International Association of Virtual Office Assistants (IAVOA)
Virtual Assistance U (VAU)
VATraining.com
AssistU.com

If you prefer to learn independently, a possible training option is the Virtual Business Startup System created by Tawnya Sutherland. This 30-day program gives aspiring VAs daily steps and valuable resources to take to create a prosperous virtual business.

While VAtraining may be helpful and add to your professionalism, many successful VAs haven’t gone through a VA training program. Instead, they’ve found creative ways to turn their well-developed skills into a profitable business venture.

Ultimately, your unique experience and background will shape your own VA business. If you have the right skills, you can put what you know to work for you and your clients, and start living your work-at-home dreams.

About the Author:
D.L. Willms, the “write” assistant for home business owners, built her virtual business in 30 days with The Virtual Business Startup System. Learn more about starting your own virtual assistant business at her blog, Virtual Assistant Resources. Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

I always tell my coaching clients that it’s important to spend as much time looking for VA gigs or WAH jobs as you would be putting into your business. That means, if you want to work 20 hours a week, then you should be spending 20 hours a week looking for clients, gigs, and promoting and advertising yourself.

It’s that simple. Trust me I know how hard it can be to stay motivated when you aren’t getting any bites or offers (I have been there many times). I have also found myself in unwanted predicaments where I have had a client flake on payments, ect. I have been able to replace them quickly and easily by implementing my own promotional methods detailed below. If you put in the effort you will get a huge return.

Where do you get your clients?

This is by far the question I get asked the most by email and phone. It’s really easy to find clients if you know the right places to look and how to promote yourself. Here are a few tips and tricks you should always follow:

1. Have a Website

If you don’t have website then you are way behind everyone else in the game. This is by far the most important thing to consider when opening up your VA practice.

A website shows that you are a professional, you mean business, and you have established yourself in the industry. It also gives potential clients a starting place to check out your rates, abilities, and overall skill set.

A website doesn’t have to be fancy. I started off with a simple one page site hosted FREE by my ISP. If you don’t have the funds to get a hosted site, check out your ISP they usually have free pages you can use.

2. Check Out the Online Bidding Sites

I know there are a lot of established VA’s out there that suggest you steer clear of elance and guru.com. But let me tell you something…Guru.com is one of my best friends J. Without the clients that I have gotten from there, I would not have such a thriving business.

It’s a great way to get established in the industry and get some great paying clients. And the fees aren’t over the top. I personally have never used elance, but I have known a few VA’s who have received work from the site.

You aren’t going to get any clients if you don’t have any experience. And you aren’t going to have an experience if you can’t land a client. You know what I am saying?

A word to the wise: These are bidding sites, so be careful with the rates that you charge. That’s not saying that you can’t make $20 or even $30 + an hour with clients from these sites (because I have and do). But realize that there is higher competition out there and most people who post projects on here are going to want to pay between $8-$15 dollars an hour.

I have been on both sides of the picture posting jobs and bidding on gigs, so I have a pretty good understanding of going rates and how the process works.

3. Craigslist

I absolutely love Craigslist. If I could kiss Craig, I would, LOL Not only can you find clients, but you can promote your services as well. So you are probably asking, just how do I do that?

Simple, you post ads under the “services” and “small business ads” section talking about who you are, the services you offer, and your contact info.

Note: Make yourself stand out. You need to look and act like a professional at all times. What usually works for me is something similar to a cover letter stating who I am, why I am in the industry, my skill set, and my contact info.

Don’t post only 1 to 2 sentences saying something like “I am a stay at home mom that wants VA clients, please contact me blah blah blah. Clients and business won’t hire you or contract your services. They want to know you are a professional, you know what you are doing, and that you mean business.

I will give you a few secrets that I use when looking for clients, search in gigs, ecetera, computer jobs, admin jobs, ect. Use terms like work at home, virtual assisting, contract work, ect. You will get really good at coming up with search terms and spotting scams.

4. CrazedList.org

Crazedlist.org is an awesome resource when searching Craigslist. You can search all the cities in the US on the same terms. Like I stated above, be creative when using search terms and learn how to spot a scam. If there is very little detail given in the ad, it’s probably a scam. If it sounds too good to be true, it most likely is.

Remember, nothing ever comes easy. Sometimes it takes a whole lot of effort to get where you want to be and that includes tears, frustration, and sometimes the desire to give up. But if you continue on your path, and keep your eye on the prize, you will eventually get to where you want to be…Even if you have to get scratched and bruised along the way.

About the Author:
Stacey Wockenfuss is a professional virtual assistant who specializes in the advancement of internet marketers and online businesses. She can be reached at stacey@TheSuccessfulInternetMarketer.com or by visiting her website at www.freelanceclericalservices.com or www.thesuccessfulinternetmarketer.com. Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

Starting a Virtual Assistant (VA) business is an appealing option for moms who want to develop their careers while being home with their kids. It’s one of the most flexible home businesses you can own, and it can change and develop as your skills grow.

First of all, there’s flexibility in the kind of work you can do as a Virtual Assistant. Traditionally, VAs did only administrative work. Although many Virtual Assistants still offer administrative services, today’s VA can be a writer, web designer, marketer, programmer, public relations specialist, coach – you’re limited only by your imagination!

Unlike a corporate job where the work you do is defined by the title of your position, a VA can continually develop their skills, and can tackle any project that appeals to their talents or interests. As your skills grow, you can ditch the work you don’t like, and pursue new types of projects – no more being stuck in a rut and hoping for that promotion or a new job to rescue you.

There’s also a lot of flexibility in how much money a VA can earn. While most charge around $35 an hour, rates for specialized services can run over $100 per hour. When you’re a VA, how much you make is not dictated to you by a faceless Human Resources department, but decided on by you. You choose what you want to earn, so long as it’s in line with what your target market will pay.

To earn the dollars you want, or need, start by choosing a target market that is willing to pay what you charge, and then offer the services they need most. You can add to your income by selling affiliate products, creating and selling your own product, or by creating a membership site. A good combination of these can give you limitless earning potential.

Moms who want to become Virtual Assistants are usually looking for flexibility in their working hours, too. It’s wise to set regular office hours to help you keep control over your day and so your clients know not to call you during the supper hour, but these hours don’t need to be set in stone. You can shut the office down whenever you need to, and take the kids to the dentist or the zoo.

When you’re a VA, you can also choose the kinds of clients you work for. You don’t need to work with someone whose style doesn’t mesh with your own. Instead, you can interview potential clients and choose only those you will enjoy working with.

After all, the joy of being a Virtual Assistant comes from being able to make your own decisions and choosing your own path.

About the Author:
D.L. Willms, your “write” assistant, built her Virtual Assistant business in 30 days with The Virtual Business Startup System. Learn more about starting your own Virtual Assistant business at her Virtual Assistant Resources blog. Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

Have you experienced this? You find an RFP posted in your favorite VA forum or association website. You quickly research the business and determine that this is indeed your ideal client. You have just the skills the person is looking for, and you know that you’re a perfect fit for the contract.

You put together a beautiful proposal that describes your business, how you can help this person, and why your Virtual Assistant business is the best one for this contract. By the time you’re done, you’ve got one impressive proposal and, better yet, everything you wrote is true.

You click “Send” and wait for the phone call or the email that tells you you’ve got the contract, or, at the very least, asks for more information.

It never comes.

What went wrong?

Probably nothing. In fact, there’s a good chance you did everything right. The problem is that responding to RFPs is simply not the best way to get clients for your Virtual Assistant business.

Even though your business and your proposal may have everything a potential client is looking for, there are just too many variables that affect the client’s ultimate decision. Perhaps she was ready to accept the first proposal that came in, and yours was the third or fourth. Maybe she saw a familiar name in the proposals she received and decided to go with someone she had heard of before. It could be that the project suddenly fell through.

That only proposal guaranteed to win you that next contract is no proposal at all.

How does that work? Become the expert in your field for and potential clients will be coming to you instead of you having to hunt for them.

So, how do you become known as the expert?

Find the forums your target market frequents and let the members get to know you. Write articles about your field of expertise and get them published where your target market will read them. Create podcasts, tele-seminars and free classes for your target market and show them that, when it comes to contracting a Virtual Assistant for their business, there really is no other choice but you.

If this sounds like hard work, that’s because it is. Building relationships and achieving expert status is definitely hard work, but it’s much more rewarding than simply responding to RFPs and crossing your fingers and toes that someone will finally call.

About the Author:
Denise Willms is a professional article writer and owner of a busy article directory for www.wahm-articles.com”>work at home moms, WAHM-Articles.com. To learn more about starting your own successful home business, visit www.WAHM-Articles.com to sign up for her weekly Work at Home Moms Tips newsletter. Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

The next step is to select the appropriate name.  Take your time here as you want your business name to be an asset by appealing to your potential clients.  Your name needs to clearly express what services you provide and not limit you if you choose to expand your business into other areas.  Decide on a name that people would want to call if they have virtual assisting needs.

To operate a business you are required by law to have the appropriate licenses.  This is your permit to do business locally. It’s a simple procedure that doesn’t require a considerable amount of time.  Contact your city and county officials under occupational licenses for complete details or go online.  Most VAs start out initially as a sole proprietorship and then might change later.

Now it’s time to set up your bookkeeping. I find that the most important ingredient to keeping good books is keeping it simple.  If it’s easy to do, and doesn’t require a lot of effort, I tend it do it more regularly.  You will want to keep track of all your income and expenses.  Save all receipts and pay all your expenses out of your business checking account.  A software program such as Quickbooks is ideal for our type of business.  Not only does it allow you to keep accurate records, but it also enables you to track exactly where the most money is coming from.  This enables you to target your marketing efforts more in that area.

Now you must decide how much to charge.  Don’t undercharge your services.  Many make this mistake. They feel if they price their services substantially below everyone else, they’ll get more business.  That’s true–you might get more business, but you’ll also be working outrageous hours and not making the kind of income you should.  The average prices being charge today are between $35.00 and $100.00, depending on the specialty.  I personally recommend starting no lower than $35.00/hr.

Now you need to get those clients. The key to successful marketing is to tell clients what benefits they will receive by answering their main question, “What’s in it for me?”  Keep in mind, you’re not selling your services, you’re selling the benefits of your services.  What can you offer them that would make their business run more successfully?  An example of this would be accurate dependable service done on an “as needed” basis.

It is also important to have an impressive marketing piece. Your brochures, letterhead, flyers, business cards, etc., should look sensational.  Think back on what has caught your eye in the past. Now design your material with that in mind. The most important requirement is that it must be professional and convey that you are more than someone typing documents. Businesses want to deal with other professionals. They don’t want to risk their work, and possibly their clients, on someone who is not.  Let them know this is exactly what they will receive when they seek your services.  Places such as Vistaprints offer affordable printing.

Once established, word of mouth is your best advertisement.  When people get professional, accurate, and friendly service they tell others.  If you offer such exceptional service, you can be assured that you will need to advertise only at the onset to get your business started.  From then on, your repeat clients, and referrals from them, will keep your business thriving.

Recognition is also a key to success, whether it’s through the press releases, articles, message boards, newspapers, chats, your website, radio or TV, when clients see your business repeatedly, they become familiar with your company and when the need arises, they will call you.  Therefore consider where you can advertise that can keep your name out there.

Now that you’ve got the clients, you need to keep them.  The best way to do this is to always provide them with more than they ask for.  Go the extra mile on all assignments.  Let them know that you value their business and are eager to help them succeed.

And finally, enjoy your business.  Many start their own business to spend more time with their family.  It’s the perfect way to stay at home and still make an excellent income.  Firmly set your hours and learn to say no.  Remember it’s your business and often your dream come true.  By learning your limitations, you can keep it a wonderful experience that both you and your family will enjoy.

About the Author:
Diana Ennen is the author of numerous books including Virtual Assistant: the Series, Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA, available at Amazon and other leading bookstores. She specializes in publicity and book marketing and is president of Virtual Word Publishing, http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com/.  Articles are free to be reprinted as long as the author’s bio remains intact.

Following are several Do’s and Dont’s to keep in mind for starting and operating your Virtual Assisting business.

DO – Decide on a targeted market and initially focus your marketing efforts in that area.   By developing a “niche” in your field, your reputation spreads quickly and soon you become a recognized expert.  Several specialties include:  publicity, medical, legal or business transcription, resume consulting, transaction coordination — real estate industry, working with authors, academic typing, internet research, etc.

DO – Be creative about where you can find business.  The Internet offers a large variety of potential for clients just waiting for you to contact them. Actively network and don’t limit your marketing to simply sending out one press release or posting on a board or two. You want to find where there might be a need and go fill it.  Always present a professional image and network. Become the expert that everyone looks to when they need information on your niche.

DO – Offer exceptional services. Word of mouth can be one of the most effective ways to secure new clients as well as keeping those clients for years to come.  Always go above and beyond and let those clients know they were right in entrusting you with their business.

DO – Write a complete business plan and marketing plan.  Too many leave out this vital step and waste valuable time unorganized and without a clear-cut goal and direction for their business. When starting a business you will have tons of ideas floating around.  You need to materialize all these and put them into a workable plan of action.

DO – Develop a website that looks sensational! Your website is often the first connection a potential client has with your services.  It must immediately let them know that they are dealing with a professional.  Your site must then have the POWER to draw them to you and contact you.  Let them see that you value quality by the look and feel of it. Additional tips include letting them know what services you offer and why you are qualified to offer those services by mentioning your experience and education.  Be sure to include points on why you stand out among the rest and are the BEST!  For example, if you have been featured in articles, radio shows, etc., have add that to the press page.  Stand out and those clients will look to you first.

DO – Learn everything you can about starting a business.  Knowledge is power and the more you know, the greater your chances for success.  Look to online services and message boards and chats to talk with other Virtual Assistants operating a business. Remember these are often run by pros who have been in business for years and are willing to share their experience.

DO – Join associations that are targeted for our Industry.  By connecting with these associations and being active, you learn from them what works and what doesn’t and you are able to post your questions to associate members via list serves often getting answers to your questions within minutes.

DO – Read, read, read.  By frequently continuing to increase your skills and your knowledge of your profession, the end result is a more confident satisfied you.  Every tip you get from a book can be a new tool in your business.  I recommend highlighting areas from several books and adding them to your library.  Keep in mind that you might not use that idea today, but it might apply to specialties you might add down the road.

DO – Enjoy.   There’s no greater feeling than landing that first client or finishing your first big project.  Plus, wait until you get the opportunity to tell someone you own and operate your own virtual assisting business. It sure beats I’m a secretary at ….  Plus, when you enjoy your business it shows. Your clients will sense your positive attitude and want to be a part of your team.

DON’T — Underprice your services. The average virtual assistant today makes somewhere between $25 to  $100+ an hour, depending on their skills, services offered, location, and years of experience. Don’t make the mistake of assuming if you charge the lowest prices, you’ll get the most work.  You won’t.  Instead, you’ll end up working outrageous hours for peanuts!  Clients will pay more for professional services.  When a potential client discovers you’re charging a lower rate than standard, they often feel they will receive a quality of services that is also lower.

DON’T — Overextend yourself.   One of the common mistakes many virtual assistants make is to accept too much work and then not be able to accurately complete it.  Learn to say no or have a back-up helper who can assist you with any overflow work.  Remember one of the most important ingredients for success is keeping your clients satisfied.  If you overextend yourself and make a lot of errors, it will jeopardize your business.

DON’T — Get discouraged.  It takes time to get a business going.  Plan ahead and have money saved in reserve.  Don’t buy items until you have found the best possible price and there is an absolute need.  This advance planning takes the pressure off of having to make money NOW.  If things are slow and the phone just isn’t ringing … MAKE IT RING!! There’s plenty of work out there, you just need to aggressively pursue it.

Finally, the most important ingredient for success is your belief in yourself.  If you believe that with your skills and experience, you can own your own business, then there’s nothing stopping you.  DREAMS DO COME TRUE. SOMETIMES YOU JUST NEED TO MAKE THEM HAPPEN.

About the Author:
Diana Ennen, Author, Virtual Assistant: The Series, Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA, & Words From Home / http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com, diana@virtualwordpublishing.com.   Article is free to be reprinted as long as bio remains.  Stop by our site for a free booklet on obtaining clients.

Good for you!

But before you dive into the choppy waters of entrepreneurship, let me ask you this.

Are you sure you have what it takes to be a highly successful Virtual Assistant?

To many people, becoming a Virtual Assistant seems an easy thing to do: You post a quickie website, hand out your business cards, and wait for your new business line to light up. What else is there?

Aspiring Virtual Assistants (often called VAs) who take that approach to their new venture are bound to fail. They’re looking at virtual assistance as a job, not as a small business that needs to be developed, grown, and managed.

If you hope to be a successful VA, here are some of the qualifications you should have on hand before you start. If you don’t have them right now, don’t feel discouraged. These are all skills that can be learned and developed over time.

1. Business Acumen. You need to have keen understanding of and insight into business matters. As a Virtual Assistant, you’re the sales and marketing department, customer service desk, accounting, and production team. You have to hold it all together, and look great doing it!

If you don’t have a strong knowledge of business matters, start reading business books to learn what you need to know. You may find a Virtual Assistant training program helpful as well. There are several good VA training classes that teach how to build and market a sustainable VA business, from the ground up.

If you prefer to learn independently, a possible training option is the Virtual Business Startup System created by Tawnya Sutherland. This 30-day program gives aspiring VAs daily steps to take and valuable resources to create and manage a prosperous virtual business.

2. Computer Savvy. Since you will be supporting your clients virtually, you need to know how to properly use the equipment that helps you do your job.

Computer skills will be probably be taught in a VA training program. You can also take computer classes to ramp up your knowledge in certain areas. Until you have strong computer skills, you can hire a contractor or another VA to help you out.

3. Expertise. As a Virtual Assistant, you’re not limited to providing administrative services – although many VAs choose to do so. Use your own unique experience and background to shape your business. Take what you know and develop your expertise in that particular field.

Whatever services you decide to offer, you need to provide them at an expert level. Your clients are paying for expertise, and anything less will damage your credibility.

If your skills aren’t quite up to snuff, develop them now, before you launch your VA business. You can take classes to improve your knowledge of any programs you’ll need to use, like Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Access or Photoshop. Or, depending on what services you want to provide, you could take business writing, organization, or life coaching classes.

4. Determination. This is the most necessary quality of all. Without determination, none of the above even matters. Determination and perseverance are what will get you through the rough spots of owning your own business and keep you moving when it looks like you aren’t getting anywhere.

If you have trouble getting motivated, think about your “why-” the specific reasons why you want to be a Virtual Assistant.

Whatever it is that motivates you, write it down in big letters on a sheet of paper and hang it where you can see it everyday. Whenever you find yourself feeling unmotivated and ready to quit, look at your “why” and let it inspire you to keep going.

D.L. Willms, the “write” assistant for home business owners, built her virtual business in 30 days with The Virtual Business Startup System. Learn more about starting your own virtual assistant business at her Virtual Assistant Resources blog. Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

So, if you’re considering an at-home career as a VA or wondering to yourself if it might be the right career for you, tune in each day this week for fresh info on the topic!

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Virtual Assistants Globally Taking Clients To New Frontiers – The International Connection

You would have to live under a rock to not hear about the latest craze that is spanning the globe – Virtual Assistants.  With the economic outlook diminishing, and more and more companies working with fewer employees, businesses are flocking to find the right virtual assistant for their team.  The need is simple:  Someone that can do the work virtually, professionally, and with the upmost of confidentiality.  Fortunately, Virtual Assistants meet all those needs and more.

Virtual Assistants, like their clientele, are highly skilled professionals working as independent contractors from their home offices. Virtual Assistants use leading edge technology to communicate work assignments via the Internet, e-mail or disk transfer. Traditional methods such as regular mail and overnight shipping are also used. While most Virtual Assistants will never meet their clients, it is not unusual to find a VA providing pickup and delivery service in their local area. Many have found success in a combination of the two, local and virtual clients. And what is even more impressive, is that most Virtual Assistants now realize the amazing power of the Internet and their client base spans globally.

The ultimate goal of Virtual Assistants is to partner with their clients. By partnering the VA learns all they can about their clients’ business to become a trusted and valued member of the team—an extension of their organization. At the same time, the VA only charges for time on tasks so it ultimately saves the client in overhead expenses while affording them the necessary time to take care of more business.

A perfect example of a Client/VA partnership is the sole proprietor; let’s say a consultant, who charges $300 an hour for his consulting services. The consultant is spending time each week preparing presentations and teleseminars, rummaging through paperwork, marketing his business, keeping up with the social networks, generating mailings and sorting through the tons of email he gets on a weekly basis. Since the consultant is doing this work himself he is paying $300 an hour for these services when, in reality, it would benefit him to partner with a VA at a rate of $40 to $95/hr (depending on specialty) and save tons of money a year. Plus, he could be generating more revenue because he would have more time available for doing what he does best—consulting. See how it works? As evidenced in this example, clients can’t afford NOT to have a virtual assistant on their team.

In addition to the financial rewards for the client, the following list reinforces other areas clients benefit when working with a virtual assistant.

Personalized attention – The virtual assistant works one-on-one with clients and often knows their clients’ business better than they do. That personalized attention allows clients to keep things under control and more organized and often relieves the pressure of having to do it all and remember it all.  How great would it feel to just say to your VA, please handle this for me and know that it was done.

Exceptional service – Virtual Assistants are a proud bunch and take great pride in the Virtual Assistant Industry.  One of the ways that VAs protect the integrity of this Industry, is to always offer exceptional services.  Virtual Assistants want their clients to tell others about them and how having a VA on their team is one of the best business investments they have ever made. Therefore, most Virtual Assistants go above and beyond what is expected of them to make sure the work is done accurately, professionally, and successfully.

Experience in the latest technology – A virtual assistant knows that there’s always an easier and better way to do things and are constantly looking for those ways.  Most continue to update their skills and network extensively with others to learn the latest and greatest tools out there.

A colleague to brainstorm ideas with – Have you ever had this great idea, but just couldn’t bring it to fruition because you couldn’t get it all together?  Not anymore.  Virtual Assistants are there to brainstorm and work with you to help you bring those visions to reality.

No benefits/no equipment/no office space – That’s a given.  It’s obvious that clients won’t be paying for their Virtual Assistants’ office space or equipment.  But in today’s economy, think how truly important that is.  By not having to pay for someone’s electric and office use, that saves money.  Money clients can spend in growing their businesses.

Specific knowledge of your niche – This is perhaps one of the greatest benefits that a virtual assistant can offer – specific knowledge of a clients’ particular niche.  Virtual Assistants specialize in different areas, fine tuning their skills always striving to be the best in that niche.  Therefore, when you partner with a virtual assistant that specializes in the area of your business, you have someone who knows the lingo and knows the ins and outs and what works and what doesn’t.  It’s a win/win for all.

What types of services can a virtual assistant perform?  Sit back and be amazed.  Virtual Assistants can assist with tasks as simple as transcribing every day correspondence to as detailed as implementing an entire marketing campaign.  Virtual assistant services include the following:  publicity and marketing, article and press release writing and distribution, social networking updates, legal, medical and general transcription, bookkeeping, web design, administrative tasks, and so much more.

As Virtual Assistants become as commonplace in the workforce as the computer in everyone’s office is now, there’s never been a better time to analyze what your business needs are and how the right virtual assistant will meet those needs.  Stop by our site at Virtual Word Publishing, www.virtualwordpublishing.com for complete information on what a virtual assistant is and how you can find that virtual assistant to add to your team. Also, if you feel a career in the Virtual Assistant Industry is right for you, email me at diana@virtualwordpublishing.com for our free business informational package.  Today’s the day to start running your business better.

About the Authors:
Diana Ennen and Kelly Poelker are the co-authors of numerous books including Virtual Assistant: the Series, Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA and accompanying Virtual Assistant the Series Workbook, and Virtual Assistant – The Series: Working Virtually, A Guide to Working Remotely as an Employee.  For complete information on starting your own VA business, stop by  http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com.  Article is free to be reprinted as long as the author’s bio remains intact.

Here is a simple checklist of what you need to do before the party.

1. Prepare your hostess packets. You want to have a minimum of 5 hostess packets prepared and ready to go.

2. Fill out the invitations with your contact information and the host’s information. Stamp invitations and mail them out approximately 2 weeks before the party date. Call your host and let her know that the invitations are in the mail. Take this opportunity to build excitement about the upcoming party.

3. Prepare the catalogs and order forms. Stamp and label your catalogs, attach any inserts and get them ready to go. Fill out the order forms with your contact information. Pack all of your ordering supplies and make sure you have enough pens/pencils.

4. Prepare the games. Make sure you have enough games and prizes. I recommend 2-3 extra prizes just incase there is a tie or you need extra gifts.

5. Contact your host 24-48 hours before the party to confirm and get directions. This is a good time to ask your host to remind her guests about the party.

6. The day before, finish up the last minute preparations. If you are personally bringing any food or beverages, this is the time to prepare them. Before packing up your supplies and products, do a visual inspection of each item to make sure they are in perfect clean condition.

You can print out this handy pre-party checklist for your next home show. I can guarantee, when you’re organized and prepared, you will have an error-free and more successful home party.

About the Author:
Shelly Hill has been working from home in Direct Sales since 1989 and is a Manager with Tupperware. You can contact Shelly at: Web: www.classybusinesswomen.com Web: my.tupperware.com/Ravish30. Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

Being prepared to sell is both a mental and a physical preparedness in any sales business, direct sales or otherwise.

Mentally means that you are always in a selling mode whether at the grocery store or in your office. If you feel frumpy but you just dashed into the store for something, are you going to be able to chat up they lady in front of you in line? What about the friend you ran into? The kids are wild and she wants to place an order, are you going to be able to switch gears and become that professional you need to be? You have to be mentally prepared and know you will need to work your business every day, any time, any place.

Physically prepared means literally that. Can you pull a pen and business card out of your purse or pocket right now to assist a potential customer? If not, you need to be prepared. Do you have a brochure available? What about your product line? Do you know it? Can you flip right to the page that customer is talking about or direct her to it on your website? Is your website easy to navigate and up to date with current information?

If you answered no to any of these, you may need to get prepared to sell. Sometimes selling a product is an impulse. How many times has someone seen you and they say “oh, I have been meaning to call you”? Right there and then, you need to get that order or set a time to call them for order placement.

Being prepared may seem like a simple concept, but sometimes more often than not, we can get caught not being prepared and lose a sale or lose our professional image. Don’t let it happen to your direct sales business. Take some time right now to get what you need and find a way to have it available at a moments notice. Your customer will thank you for it.

About the Author:
Copyright Chris Carroll All Rights Reserved Chris Carroll is a sales professional that has made direct sales her business of choice and enjoys sharing with others. You can sign up for tips on managing and increasing your business at her site DirectSalesTalk.com .You can also find her at her business site ShopOnYourSeat.com. Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

When I speak of being consistent, you need to work on your business 4-5 days a week, for several hours a day. Sit down and draft up a business plan and schedule, stick to your schedule as much as possible. Let your family and friends know that your business is important to you and that you work between the hours of ____ and ____. This will eliminate distractions and keep you on track. A home business does not work itself. You need to dedicate your time to working the business.

If you are a new business owner, I recommend that you educate yourself on advertising, marketing and networking a business. You can do this by reading several books or magazines related to having a home business.

Here are several ideas to get you started.

Advertising

When it comes to advertising your business online, you can purchase button and banner ads on a variety of web sites directed towards your niche. You could also place free and paid classified ads.

When it comes to advertising your business offline, you can do print advertising in newspapers and regional magazines. You can hang flyers and catalogs on neighborhood doors.

Marketing

When it comes to marketing your business online, you can hold online parties or participate in online Direct Sales vendor events. I also like to sponsor contests on heavily visited websites that my target market audience visits. Here is an example: If you sell kitchenware, try sponsoring a few contests on recipe and cooking websites.

When it comes to marketing your business offline, I recommend participating in some local events such as craft shows, flea markets and trade shows. I like to print up tip booklets pertaining to my niche that have my business information located inside the cover. I drop them off at local businesses so that they can hand them out for free to their customers. This is a great way to build up a local customer base.

If you like to write, I would recommend article marketing. You can write business articles, short stories and how-to tips and distribute your articles to online websites or offline magazines and newspapers.

Networking

Online networking can be time consuming but its worth the effort. I recommend that you join Myspace, Facebook, Linked-in, Ryze and Twitter. Go to any major search engine and you can find those groups.

Offline networking can be a valuable business experience. Join your local chamber of commerce and women business owners associations. Networking is all about building relationships with like-minded business owners

Just remember, like any business owner…You need to do the work! Once you get into the habit of working on your Direct Sales business consistently, you will see your business continue to grow.

About the Author:
Shelly Hill has been working from home in Direct Sales since 1989 and is a Manager with Tupperware. When it comes to having a successful business, you need to be consistent with your advertising, marketing and networking efforts. You can contact Shelly at: Web: www.classybusinesswomen.com Web: my.tupperware.com/Ravish30. Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

What kind of questions should you ask your potential recruiter?

1. Location – If you have never been involved with a Direct Sales business, do you feel you need hands-on training and support? If so, you will need to look for a local sponsor. If you feel you can handle the business and learn from a distance, then by all means, check into joining an online team.

2. Business Experience – This can play a big part in your business success. If you are getting into a home business, do you prefer a recruiter who has experience? These days, you will find consultants out recruiting others before they have even received their business kits!

If you are new to Direct Sales, I recommend joining a sponsor who has been with the business for awhile. If you have experience and don’t require a lot of training, then you can consider joining someone with less experience.

3. Time – What are your potential recruiter’s business hours? Do their hours ‘fit’ with the schedule you want to keep? With some consultants, this can be an issue…with others, it doesn’t really matter, but it’s something to consider.

4. Support and Training – How does your recruiter provide training? Is this training via email, phone calls, teleconferences, webinars, chat rooms, local meetings and emails? Is the type of training they provide acceptable to you? Will it meet your needs?

5. Back Up Plan – When your recruiter is off on sick time, vacation time or family time, do they have another Manager covering their team? You want to make sure your potential sponsor has a back up plan. When they are off work, you don’t want to be left hanging until they return.

6. What Do They Expect From You? – There are sponsors out there who expect a lot from their recruits/consultants, so make sure you ask your sponsor if there are any requirements such as:

a.) mandatory team meetings
b.) mandatory amount of parties
c.) mandatory weekly communication

You don’t have to sign up with the first person that you contact, and it’s okay for you to shop around. Take your time and ask a lot of questions. There is nothing wrong with interviewing your potential sponsor, matter of fact…it’s a SMART BUSINESS DECISION.

About the Author:
Shelly Hill has been working from home in Direct Sales since 1989 and is a Manager with Tupperware. Shelly has been sponsoring new consultants to her team for the past 6+ years. You can contact Shelly at: Web: www.classybusinesswomen.com Web: my.tupperware.com/Ravish30. Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

What can you do to increase your self worth and get the price you deserve?

• Focus on your craft and your work. Become an expert in all areas of the business. This increases your customers trust in your abilities

• Give superior customer service. From the initial contact and through each contact after, be special and unique and keep the contact going. Follow up and follow through. Under promise and over deliver.

• Be the part – be professional at all times. Show yourself as a professional in your market. One way to do that is to…

• Take classes and increase your training to be a valuable asset to your customer. Whether it is in sales seminars or web design, increasing your knowledge is worth the extra price you should be charging.

These things will increase your integrity, your pride in yourself and your work and it will show through. Never be ashamed of what you do. You don’t have to discount yourself to find your customers. Those customers that are truly worth your time and effort will come to you regardless of your price.

If the lady down the block is discounting, do not apologize. Just keep your prices right where they are and show them the difference with your service and smile.

About the Author:
Copyright Chris Carroll All Rights Reserved Chris Carroll is a sales professional that has made direct sales her business of choice and enjoys sharing with others. You can sign up for tips on managing and increasing your business at her site DirectSalesTalk.com .You can also find her at her business site ShopOnYourSeat.com. Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

Let’s take a look at the benefits of hostess coaching.

1. When you are in proper contact with your party hosts and coaching them before the show date, they will be more excited about their upcoming party. This excitement will encourage them to work harder to make the party a complete success.

2. Working closely with your host reduces the risk of cancellation or rescheduling of party dates.

3. Hosts who are properly coached have higher guest attendance at their home shows. The more guests there are…the more sales you will make. In addition to the sales you make, your hostess will be satisfied because he/she will earn more free and half-priced products.

4. The more attendees that you have at the party, the more bookings you will receive. Keeping your booking calendar full equals a steady paycheck.

5. A big part of a Direct Sales business is building a team. Again, the more attendees at the party, means you can generate more recruit leads.

When you invest your time coaching your host towards a successful home party, you reap the rewards. Studies have shown that when you coach your hosts, they have higher party attendance which means higher party sales. Those higher party sales equals more commission for you.

If a host/hostess is completely satisfied with their home party experience, they are more apt to rebook parties from you in the future or refer others to your business. Do yourself and your business a favor…Take the time to properly coach your party hosts and you both will benefit.

About the Author:
Shelly Hill has been working from home in Direct Sales since 1989 and is a Manager with Tupperware. Shelly believe that coaching your party hosts is an important part of your Direct Sales business and guarantees a successful party. You can contact Shelly at: Web: www.workathomebusinessoptions.com/ Web: my.tupperware.com/Ravish30. Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

I recommend that you create a business schedule. On this schedule, you want to mark off blocks of time, where you will be working on specific tasks, relating to managing your team. Here are the 6 tasks you need to focus on.

1. Communication.
As a leader, it’s your job to communicate with your team. This communication can be done by phone, email, postal mail, and in-person local meetings. I recommend that you communicate with your team members once a week.

2. Motivation and Encouragement.
Dream boards are excellent tools for staying on track and providing motivation. Teach your team members how to use dream boards. It could be as simple as…when you wake up in the morning walk over to your dream board and say out loud with confidence while pointing to the items “I want to drive a Mercedes Benz”. “I want to put a down payment on a new home within 6 months,” and so on. When they are done, have them list their goals for today only. They are going to learn how to grow their business one day at a time, so the goals should be attainable. Encourage them to forge ahead to make it happen.

3. Professionalism.
As a leader, it is your job to set forth a professional example. A strong and healthy team is built on professionalism. I recommend keeping your relationship with members on a business level.

4. Share Your Knowledge.
If you are building a downline, it is your job to help train them. You can hold one on one or group training sessions at your home or at another location. The more time you spend educating and training your team about the business, the more successful they will be.

5. Time.
Give the gift of ‘time’ to your team. You need to realize that a certain amount of time every day needs to be spent on working with your downline. This can be in the form of training, answering emails, taking phone calls, publishing a newsletter, assisting them with parties and offering your help when they need it.

6. Reward and Appreciation.
Reward your team members for a job well done. When they reach goals or milestones within the business, reward them with a gift that you have personally selected for them. This shows that you appreciate them and their hard work. In addition, it can provide a great incentive for them to acheive the next level.

Managing a team isn’t hard nor difficult, it just requires your time and some organizational skills. If you build a strong relationship with your team, they will respond in a positive way.

About the Author:
Shelly Hill has been working from home in Direct Sales since 1989 and is a Manager with Tupperware. You can contact Shelly at: Web: www.classybusinesswomen.com Web: my.tupperware.com/Ravish30. Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

Well you are not alone!

So how do you get out of the rut of recruiting the small, personal use sellers verses the bigger “this IS my business” sellers that want to work with you and learn?

Here is a trick that I use. Pre-qualify your Leads!

What does that mean, you ask? Well what it means is that you are going to spend some time with your potential person and ask the a lot of questions about WHY they want to join this business.

Questions like:

HOW are they going to work the business.
WHEN are they going to work their business.
WHAT is their plan for their business.
WHO are they going to sell to.
HOW much knowledge do they have in the direct sales industry.
HOW involved will they be in your team?
WHERE are they going to sell, share or show their products and lastly
WHEN are they available to go to 3 parties with you as their training and/or HOW are they going to be trained if they are not available or your
business doesn’t do parties.

By asking lots of questions, you are not putting them on the spot, but you are letting them know that they are joining a team that is serious about their business. If they are going to be selling/buying for personal use, let them know that you are available as much as possible, but you do focus on those that are serious about the business and work it 100%. Your recruit may just see the light and become a serious business partner. Make them welcome to
email you or join your yahoo group for information, but know You as an
effective leader are spending most of your time with committed reps.

Are you going to lose some potential reps? Maybe. But the ones you end up with will be with you for a long time and will be committed to their business. They will have your time and focus because you are not off trying to help someone that is not committed that will leave your company in 3 months anyway. That in the long run will be more profitable for you and your business.

Take a look at your downline and see where you spend the most time and energy. Are you really making a difference to the personal use reps? Or can you make a bigger difference by devoting your time to those that crave your leadership!

About the Author:
Copyright Chris Carroll All Rights Reserved Chris Carroll is a sales professional that has made direct sales her business of choice and enjoys sharing with others. You can sign up for tips on managing and increasing your business at her site DirectSalesTalk.com .You can also find her at her business site ShopOnYourSeat.com. Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

When we work out of our homes, we often get distracted. There are soccer games, cheerleading practices, grocery shopping, meal planning, school functions and so forth. Don’t get me wrong, these things are important, but so is your home business.

A common mistake I see in network marketing is that people ‘think’ they can work their business around family time or other things. This type of schedule rarely works. If you worked outside your home in a corporate job, you would be working a minimum of 40 hours per week and have a set schedule.

I recommend that you sit down and come up with a business plan. Figure out how many hours you can spend working on your home business, then split those hours up into 4-5 working days. Another thing to consider is…what time of the day will work better for you? (morning, afternoon or evening hours.)

Example: Let’s say you want to spend 20 hours a week working on your business. You could work 5 hours per day for 4 days or 4 hours per day for 5 days.

Your next task should be scheduling in specific blocks of time that you want to work on advertising, marketing and networking your business. I recommend that 1/2 of your working time be spent on those 3 business tasks. (half of 20 hours would be 10 hours per week) If you are working a 4 day work week, 2 1/2 hours of your day should be focused on achieving those tasks.

The other 1/2 of your working time should be spent on: taking customer calls, filing paperwork, submitting customer orders, registering new team members, mailing out catalogs, demonstrating home parties and assisting your teammates.

Once you come up with a business schedule that ‘fits’ into your lifestyle, you will find that you will become more consistent with working your home business. The more hours you put into working your business, the more successful it will be.

About the Author:
Shelly Hill has been working from home in Direct Sales since 1989 and is a manager with Tupperware. You can contact Shelly at: Web: www.classybusinesswomen.com Web: my.tupperware.com/Ravish30 . Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

I find it best to line my countertop or tabletop, with some parchment paper. You will want to ‘drop’ your cookies onto the parchment paper or a non-stick baking mat, to let them cool. After they have cooled to room temperature, store them in an airtight container.

Here are 5 of my favorite no-baking involved cookie recipes.

Raisin No-Bake Cookies

2 c. raisins
2 c. Chinese noodles
1/2 c. creamy peanut butter
1/4 c. honey

Mix raisins and Chinese noodles in bowl. Put peanut butter and honey in a small saucepan. Stir over medium heat until smooth and hot (no need to boil). Pour over raisin mixture, toss with a fork until evenly coated. Shape rounded spoonfuls into size of golf balls pressing gently with fingers. Let cool.

Chocolate Cracker Cookies

Round Crackers (like Ritz)
1 1/2 lbs. almond bark
peanut butter
12 oz. bag of chocolate chips

Spread peanut butter on crackers. Top with second cracker. Melt almond bark with chocolate chips. Dip sandwich cookies into the chocolate mixture using tongs. Drop onto waxed paper and let cool.

Chow Mein Cookies

1 c. peanut butter
12 oz. pkg. butterscotch chips
4 c. miniature marshmallows
4 c. chow mein noodles

Place peanut butter and butterscotch chips in the top of a double boiler. Heat over hot water until melted. Combine with marshmallows and chow mein noodles. Mix well and drop by spoonfuls onto waxed paper. Chill for 1-2 hours.

Sunshine Cookies

1 box vanilla wafers
1 stick butter, softened
1 sm. can frozen orange juice
1 box of powdered confectioners sugar
shredded coconut

Crush vanilla wafers to make crumbs. Mix with a stick of butter, orange juice, and sugar. Roll in small balls about the size of walnuts; roll in shredded coconut. Chill for 1-2 hours, until firm.

Chocolate Oatmeal No Bake Cookies

2 c. sugar
1/2 c. cocoa
1/4 c. margarine
pinch of salt
1/2 c. milk
3 c. quick oats (oatmeal)
1 c. creamy peanut butter
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Combine the first 5 ingredients in a large pan and boil for 1 minute, stirring often. Turn off the heat and stir in the oatmeal, peanut butter and vanilla. Drop by the spoonful onto wax paper. Let them cool and they will harden as they cool.

About the Author:
Shelly Hill has been working from home in Direct Sales since 1989 and is a Manager with Tupperware. You can contact Shelly at: Web: my.tupperware.com/Ravish30 Recipe Blog: wahmshelly.blogspot.comArticle Source: . http://www.wahm-articles.com

Well, here are a few family fun in the summer ideas to do as a family.

Splash Day: Get the hose out or the sprinklers and let the kids have a blast. You can also let them make soapy water balloons and let them throw them at the car and then WASH it for you! LOL!!

Garden Fun: There are MANY things you can do with this option. You can make fancy stepping stones that the kids can paint and decorate, a peanut butter and nuts bird feeder, herb gardens, plant a tree, the list goes on and on.

Chalk the Walk: Buy some sidewalk chalk and let the kids make a welcome home Dad walk way. Another idea is that you can have them create pretty flowers and designs and then have a family sidewalk art show.

Summer Party: Why not have a summer fun party and let the kids make all the decorations. Children can be involved in the entire process or setting up the party. You can go to the dollar store and get most of what you would need for your summer fun party. Let them choose a theme. You can also use some of the other summer craft ideas for entertainment for your party! You could do the Chalk a Walk and have a art show when the parents come to pick the kids up. You could have a splash time…and even throw that sudsy balloons in just for fun. There are SO many ways to make a summer party fun, kid made, and CHEAP! Just use your imagination!

Moms, you will only have your kids for a short season of your life. ENJOY them while you still can. Laugh and have fun…get your inner kid out and have some summer fun!

About the Author
Copyright © Lara Velez, MommiesCoffeeBreak.com. Lara Velez is a Christian wife and homeschooling Mother of two. She enjoys cooking, writing, scrapbooking, and web design. She is a published writer, web designer (designedbylara.com), She is the owner of several websites including; (mommiescoffeebreak.com).  Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com