From Ann: Be sure to read my comments to Sharon's post!
From Sharon: Happy Easter Ann, and thanks for spending a few minutes of your Easter holiday with me. Until I completed a bit of research about Vermont, I didn’t know it was called the Green Mountain State. One day, please share how it obtained its nickname. In the meantime, I’ve read your questions, and my replies are below.
1. Because Vermont is mostly rural and many Vermonters don't have access to high speed internet, I find that the VA profession is virtually unknown in this state. Approximately how many virtual assistants are in the state of Vermont?
I cannot provide an accurate count of the number of virtual assistants that reside in Vermont. Virtual assistants are not required to register with any certifying group, or industry organization, and may not have chosen, yet, to join the organized virtual assisting community. Generally speaking, your VA can reside anywhere in the world, as we run remote (offsite/virtual) businesses. However, I can identify four Green Mountain State residents who are active in the VA community: Sarah Spencer of Sarah Spencer Solutions, Hadley Rakowski of Alternate Solutions VT and Jackie Gamble of Jackie Gamble.com and Patti Walbridge of Walbridge Enterprises.
Even though Vermonters don’t have access to high speed cable, the major drawback with dial up internet connections is file download time. Working with a dial up, however, does not hinder a VA’s ability to work for her client, or communicate on a regular basis. VAs are very adaptable and if the client has a slow internet connection, the VA will take that into consideration and make the appropriate work process adjustments necessary to meet client deadlines.
2. How can I help spread the word in my local networking circles about the benefits of working with a VA?
There are several easy methods to promote the benefits of working with a virtual assistant, assuming you have 1st hand experience working with a VA. A few ways to promote VAs include:
- Praise your own VA, describing how s/he has helped your business, solved problems, is a resourceful and go to person.
- Showcase an actual situation (case study) where working with the VA resulted in positive outcomes.
- Ask your virtual assistant to provide industry fact sheets or post cards that describe the benefits of working with a VA for distribution at future networking events.
- Refer associates to Alliance for Virtual Businesses, the portal to the VA industry providing information about the industry, member organizations, and an extensive list of industries that VAs work with, along with descriptions of typical tasks VAs performs. Site visitors can peruse individual VA showcases and visit VA web sites for more details about individual service offerings.
- Email or share the link to A Virtual Solution for Business Growth, Stability & Profitability, a white paper that describes the benefits of working with VAs, to members of your local networking circle.
3. What kind of basic training/education is required for VA certification?
Currently there aren’t any industry-wide basic training/education requirements to become a VA. At this juncture, many VAs depend on their corporate, executive assistant, office manager, or administrative assistant background and experience as the springboard and foundation for establishing a virtual assistant business. However, various VA organizations and training groups offer generalists and niche/specialist certification programs, but VAs are not mandated to attend and each program has its own eligibility and completion requirements.
The Standards Committee of the Alliance for Virtual Business is drafting proposed basic standards and will present them for discussion at an upcoming VA Industry Workshop, scheduled during the 2nd annual Online International Virtual Assistants Convention.
3. What are some of the specialty areas a VA may focus on (i.e., legal, real estate, working with coaches, etc.)?
Well, you have already listed quite a few specialty areas that are popular amongst the industry – and these industries are familiar with and practice the “working virtual” concept. In addition to the already identified, I would include financial planners, association management, trainers, speakers, psychiatrists, authors, consultants, and many, many more. In essence, VAs can offer specialty services to any industry if it represents her target audience and she can fulfill their wants and needs. It is very important to research an industry, become familiar with its demographics, survey to determine its members’ wants and then determine if you can meet their needs and make a profit by doing so. The opportunities are endless.
5. What kinds of educational opportunities are available through the upcoming online convention?
Currently we have 27 presentations, 5 international networking sessions, workshops, and exhibitor halls open 24/7. Virtual Assistants will have the opportunity to attend seminars covering topics ranging from What You Can Do to Avoid Getting Squeezed Out of the Middle Class, Power of Positive Linking, How to Use Search Engine Optimization to Get More Clients Online, 5 Tips For Starting Your VA Business, Marketing Your VA Services on the Web and many, many more educational topics to help a VA business grow.
Ann, I forgot to ask about shortbread! I believe your product is a great thank you gift VAs can give their clients or recommend their clients present customers. Let’s hold a conversation about developing some type of collaboration between your business and OIVAC. Oh my, I’m getting a little off track – probably because I haven’t eaten my first chocolate marshmallow for the day – well, it is Easter, you know – and I promised myself a few. And, I must provide today’s clue, too! It is clue #8: ieacvter. Readers can find clue # 7 at Pam Ivey’s blog and tomorrow’s clue when I stop at Gillian Hood-Gabrielson’s site. If you are podcast and blog hopping with me, don’t forget to pick up the Clue Puzzle Board and join the fun. Who knows, you might win a fabulous prize. See you tomorrow, as I continue my journey around the Web outlining about the benefits of working with virtual assistants.
About Sharon Williams
Sharon is the Chairperson of the Alliance for Virtual Businesses and OIVAC, and president of The 24 Hour Secretary an administrative, secretarial and internet-based marketing support services company. She is the 2006 recipient of the Thomas Leonard International Virtual Assistant of Distinction Award and co-founder of Virtual Business University an e-learning environment for entrepreneurs willing to step towards their greatness.
Hey, I know 25% of the Vermont VAs! Okay, given that you've only listed 4, that's not too impressive...but Sarah Spencer of Sarah Spencer Solutions is a neighbor and friend of mine. I have not worked with her as a VA, but I think the world of her as a savvy marketer and wonderful human being.
In fact, I think the world of all the VAs I've met in my online networking.
Yes, indeedy, shortbread is a wonderful gift for VAs to send as thank-you's to clients. Lori Davis, VA extraordinaire in New York, frequently sends shortbread gift certificates as thank you gifts. I've known Lori to indulge in a few raspberry jam shortbreads herself, too. (It's her favorite for those of you itching to send her one.)
Donna Toothaker, of Massachusetts VA fame, is also a shortbread fan and frequent shortbread buyer. Donna tends to lean more towards chocolate when indulging for herself. (Shhhhh...don't tell her you read it here, but her birthday is coming up next week and she'd love nothing more than a manicure and a chocolate filled shortbread.)
Don't know or work with a VA? You can still buy shortbread for yourself. Mother's Day is just around the corner.
Sharon, thanks for this blog hopping opportunity and let's talk when you have a free moment. I suspect April is going to be a busy month for you!
Thanks for answering these questions on my blog Sharon. I hope it's a win-win for everyone involved. Stay tuned when Sharon answers more questions here on Sunday April 29. Of course, I'd love it if you visited again before the 29th. :-)
Happy "spring" from Vermont where it's been snowing all week,
Ann
Posted by: AnnZuccardy | April 09, 2007 at 10:30 AM