Years in Business: Opened 2005, Working since 2008
Type of Business: Virtual Assistant Business
Works:?100% virtually
Facebook Page
LinkedIn
Twitter ID:? @ElectraFord
Ruth:? Today we?re welcoming Electra to The Naked VA blog. Electra, introduce us to Virtual Office Center.
Electra: My service is implementing online marketing strategies to increase Internet visibility to build brand awareness and profits. Internet Marketing, social media marketing, virtual events marketing, product launch marketing, author assistance, keyword research, podcast services, blog marketing service and email marketing are the various services being provided.
Ruth: How did you get started as a virtual professional?
Electra: I was surfing the Internet looking for a different way to use my administrative office experience and learned about this business model.
Ruth: Have you had a mentor to encourage you?
Electra: Yes, I joined IVAA (International Virtual Assistant Association) in 2007 and applied to their mentoring program. Jeannine Clontz accepted my application and worked with me in IVAA?s Mentoring Program.
Jeannine helped me build the right foundation for my business. Her questions provided clarity about who I wanted to work with and after I determined that I wanted to work with coaches, speakers, and authors. She explained to me what services I needed to provide. This clarity led me to take several courses through VAClassroom. After I started receiving those certifications I was able to talk to coaches about their needs and receive clients.
Jeannine also awakened me to be conscious of the way I use my time. I remember the first time she said, ?You have 168 hours per week, how are you using your time?? This question was the beginning of me changing the way I use my time. Our relationship continued to grow after the mentoring program. She referred me to prospects that became my clients and she invited me be a team member in her multi-VA firm.
Ruth: What a fabulous testimony for IVAA?s Mentoring program and the value and benefit of having a mentor can be. And now, I?ll share with the readers that you give back to the VA industry by coordinating IVAA?s Mentoring Program, matching VA prot?g?s to their mentor so they too can have the experiences you?ve had. I appreciate you and the dedication you put into this program.
I?m so glad you touched on how vital time management is for this type of service based business. Being both selective and efficient in time usage makes the difference in the number of projects and clients that can be taken on as well as determining how to balance everything. Prioritizing is everything. Electra, tell me what insights do you have for someone considering a virtual career such as yours?
Electra: My top three are:
1.?Join a Professional Organization ? I highly recommend joining a professional organization in the industry that interests you, first. I learned about virtual assistance on the Internet but attending the conferences made it REAL for me. I didn?t know anyone locally that was a VA so the idea was abstract until I attended my first conference. I could see that the VA business model was a practical and profitable business. I now believe it is extremely important to be around people that are doing what you are doing and going in the same direction.
I attended my first conference thinking virtual assistance was a new industry but I met VAs that had been working remotely for 17 years and more. Although the industry has gone through several different names, people have been working this way a long time and having that history made the professional real to me and made me believe I could do it.
My experience is it is extremely beneficial being around people that are going in the same direction you are going. When I first joined IVAA I attended the conferences, was meeting other VAs face-to-face, as well as learning. The results were that people referred me and offered opportunities to work with them. I have learned that it is important to actually write down the ways you receive clients and do that continually. I haven?t attended a conference since 2009 and I notice a difference in my referrals. Although I am still involved with the organization, I haven?t met VAs face-to-face in three years and my referrals diminished. So my advice is to keep notes of how you receive clients and referrals and continue doing that, exactly.
2.?Consciously Build Professional Relationships ? While you are building meeting people in the industry, be conscious to build relationships with people that have the same goals. People can start at the same time but the person that is ?trying something? or ?opening a business? has a different mindset than the person that has ?dedicated to developing a long life profitable business that serves and gives back to its community.?
3.?Continued Education ? Commit to continued learning. I am able to have meaningful consultations with prospects because I am able to share some insights with them and explain the work so they understand what is required to complete the task and reach their goal. I am also able to explain why and the outcomes to be expected. My experience has been that being able to explain and educate prospects and clients strengthens their trust in my professional skills.
Right now there are a lot of trainings to get a solid professional foundation. Once you decide the industries you want to serve, learn the skills needed to serve that industry well. When I was researching this profession, I read articles that said all you need is a computer and phone but that wasn?t true in my experience. I needed to professional skills to be able to talk to coaches about their email marketing, syndicating articles on directories blog marketing, social media marketing and video syndication. Real estate VAs have specific skills, VAs that specialize in supporting attorneys have specific skills so it is valuable to know what your clients will need so you can provide the skills proficiently and you can share ideas/advice when requested.
Ruth: Excellent insights. Number 2, in particular, resonates with me. Connecting with like mindsets (and those a bit ahead in vision) is a powerful catalyst for good things to happen in your business, and in turn, helps both sides to ignite fires for new development and the confidence to step out. What kinds of suggestions do you have for customers seeking a virtual professional like you? How do prospects and clients find their own virtual assistant?
Electra: There are several list serves that prospects can use to post their requests for proposals. Some I know of are: 1) IVAA, 2) Alliance for Virtual Business, 3) Thrive, and 4) VAClassroom.
Ruth: Any last thoughts or comments you?d like to share with our readers?
Electra:? I think the VA industry is one of the greatest opportunities available. I recommend learning from professionals whose businesses reflect what you want to experience. They can help you learn the most efficient way to build a healthy business and can help you identify and accept ideal clients so you serve those that can be mutually beneficial to your business instead of people that drain your resources.
Ruth: Thank you, Electra.
If you?re ready to boost your online marketing then don?t delay in reaching out to Electra at her website, www.virtualofficecenter.net.? She?s genuine, skilled, and all about getting results.
Source: http://www.thenakedva.com/meet-electra-ford-of-virtual-office-center/
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