networking for virtual assistants

Do You Love Networking? or Do You Dread It?

Networking is a necessary part of owning a business. As a Virtual Assistant, is networking something you enjoy? Or would you rather do anything else? I talk with a lot of VAs about growing their businesses, and one of the biggest issues VAs face is where to find clients. I tell them they have to determine who their services are best suited for, and then they have to find those potential clients and network with them. The conversation often takes a bristly turn after that. Networking is not a favourite activity for many VAs because we have often been the reactive type of personality. The person who is the greeter of those who enter the building. The person who answers the phone… Read More »Do You Love Networking? or Do You Dread It?

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Why Everyday Conversations Are Important in Your VA Business

I am on the Board of Directors for our local business association, and many times I am called on to represent the association at local events. So that means in some of my networking I am not actually talking about my own business. I enjoy chatting with others about all kinds of business topics, though, so sometimes that’s even more fun for me. Do you ever get stuck when you are doing networking? Not sure what to say? Maybe getting out there at an event, and focusing on NOT talking about your own business is the solution for you. I had a conversation with a VA the other day about her marketing message, and how to promote her business. She… Read More »Why Everyday Conversations Are Important in Your VA Business

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Don’t Wait to Make That Connection

I recently hosted a conference for Virtual Assistants. When you plan an event, you call everyone you know to see if they want to attend, or if they can help or support you in some way. At least I do! It’s important to remember that everyone you come into contact with in your business can play some sort of role – to get the word out, to point you in the direction of great resources, to become your clients, etc. Building your business depends on the connections that you make. And yet, so many VAs I know don’t make those connections regularly. At least not consciously. So at the conference, I kept making a point of telling the people in… Read More »Don’t Wait to Make That Connection

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5 Reasons to Attend a VA Conference

Working as a solo virtual professional, we sometimes run the risk of having a little too much solitude. Sometimes networking mainly consists of water cooler-type conversations with our colleagues, and then jumping back to client work. That’s why it’s important to seek out opportunities to get out there in person. Live networking events are a great way to have actual conversations with people. It’s a great place to learn and grow, and basically refine your art of conversation. I am hosting the first VA conference in Ottawa, Ontario in May! Are you coming?   The VA Conference will be a great place to connect with your colleagues and take time to work on your business (instead of just working in… Read More »5 Reasons to Attend a VA Conference

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How To Start Conversations with Potential VA Clients

One of the things I see VAs struggle with is how to start conversations with potential clients. Whether it’s online or in person, a simple networking conversation is something that can stop a lot of VAs in their tracks. But when I teach someone how to start a conversation, a light often goes on. Why? Because once they know what they should be talking about, things become so much easier. Here’s an example: You are headed to a live networking event full of potential clients. You prepare your elevator speech and off you go. The first person you meet introduces themself and then asks you what you do. You launch into a one-minute rehearsed elevator speech that they have to… Read More »How To Start Conversations with Potential VA Clients

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100 Conversations to Grow your Business

This month I started taking part in a great challenge that my friend Sally Guest is doing in one of her Facebook groups. It’s called 100 Conversations in 100 Days and it’s basically a challenge to grow your business. Since I teach people to network by talking to 2 people each day about your business, I thought it was a great idea for me to do it for 100 days myself. And it’s only one person per day, so it’s ridiculously manageable. We are already almost at Day 10, and it’s so easy. I challenge you to start too – try it. Think about one person every day that you can speak with about your business. Maybe it’s someone who could… Read More »100 Conversations to Grow your Business

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7 Tips for Better Face to Face Networking Results

Here is a cool stat for you from a great infographic from Virgin Entrepreneur: 95% say face to face meetings are essential for long-term business relationships. Now I know we are all virtual professionals, and I’ve done my fair share of hiding behind my computer screen. ‘I don’t do in-person meetings.’ ‘I don’t do Skype or Facetime.’ ‘Thanks for the invitation to coffee, but I only do phone meetings.’ ‘You can only reach me via email. It’s how I work.’ I’ve said these things to my clients and potential clients. I still say them! BUT in terms of networking, there are many cases where meeting face to face (either in a small business setting or a large event) can really fast-track your business… Read More »7 Tips for Better Face to Face Networking Results

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Are You Still Getting VA Clients The Old Way?

Are you still doing it the old way? I mean getting clients. Are you still slugging it out at networking events, and spending endless hours on social media, only to bring in a new client every few months? Here’s what I mean: You go to a networking event. You collect a few business cards, have a few conversations, and then you come home. You probably don’t really follow up with the people you met because you didn’t really feel a connection with them anyway. So you decide that event was a bust and you hope that the next one will be better. or You log in to Facebook every morning. You stay logged in all day and you try to… Read More »Are You Still Getting VA Clients The Old Way?

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