I finally figured out how to get pictures in to my blog. So ladies and gents….this is me!
Now, when I have some time, I’ll introduce you to the rest of my family!
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I’m up and running! I have a website and I just landed a client. I hate to use the word landed, so I guess I secured a client. I’m up to two!
I was estatic when I opened my email and saw that someone was inquiring about MY services. The site’s only been up for 4 days tops!
It’s a simple job, however, I know that I have to treat it like it’s a very important job, because it is…to my client. Retiaing clients is the best way to build your client base. Happy clients talk…and so do unhappy clients, but when my name is mentioned, I want happy clients talking.
He said that this could be ongoing, and I’m hoping that he’s right. I want to build this. I never though it would be possible, but here it is…I’m on my way…and I couldn’t have done it without the wonderful people that I’ve met along the way…and Tim. He’s been amazing!
I should be in bed. I have a gazillion things to do tomorrow, but I’m still reeling with excitement.
For once, I feel like I can take on the world.
Until next time…
Heather
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Here’s another VA I found through my network group at ryze. Great information and articles.
Hope this helps…
I’m a little worn out from fighting all the spyware tonight, but I can say that I can now access MY site, like everyone else was able too…:)
Until next time…
Heather
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A few people have asked me the steps I’ve taken and here is my response…it’s not totally hashed out, but it’s a start. And this is what I am doing, feel free to modify…
If you need something explained in a little more detail, let me know…
H
Here’s the approach I took….
I got a business license…and then I started defining on paper what I wanted to do…there are certain things that I’m better at than others. I can DO transcription, but I hate it…so I decided my strengths were sales, marketing and new business development. That’s my niche. However, I’m not going to NOT do transcription…work is work.
After that, I needed to come up with a name…that was tough. I suggest a brainstorming session and carrying a notebook with you everywhere. Ideas will come at the oddest times…and getting a name is really hard! Once you think of one, you have to research it to see if it’s being used somewhere else, if it’s trademarked, can you get a domain name with it?
Once you come up with the name you need a catchy slogan…that’s tough too…
Now that I have all that (and while working on that) I am drafting my webpages…on paper…what pages I want, what I want to highlight. I’m also looking at other VA sites for ideas, what I like, what I don’t like…
I’m also making sure my home office is set up. I got a second phone line with just voice mail. Then I know that the kids won’t answer. I also set up an efax account (a free one) so that I had a free fax number to receive faxes.
When I get all that done, I go buy my domain name. I got mine thru yahoo and it was $5 a year. So now, I need a host and an actual site. Now, I know html and I know programs, but I didn’t have the time to put it all together. So I chose internetbasedfamily.com. It was simple and I had a 10 day trial to build it and get it straight before my trial period was up. You don’t need logos…you can if you’re good at that kind of thing…
So you have all that…
You’re open for business…
Now you have to market yourself…I don’t recommend going live until you have everything set up. Don’t get your business cards until you have a phone, fax and website…and you can get them at vistaprint.com for just shipping…
Now, once you have everything (and save all your receipts because it’s all write offs…don’t write off your entire internet bill because you use it for home too, write off a percentage of it)
What I’m planning on doing is sending out letters introducing myself in my community. I’ll start locally. I’ve also arranged to trade out services with a marketing company that is putting together a trade show…i get a booth in exchange for helping to organize the event.
This is kinda a rough outline…if you need more hashed out…let me know…
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Hey, it worked way back then, so why not now?
A few days ago, I linked my post on the wahm.com boards about a former co-worker and how he needed me. I proposed to him that I do his work for the real estate expo that he’s working on and in return, I get a booth at the expo. It’s not such a hard stretch, after all, many real estate agents need assistants. There are some out there that specialize in it!
I am soooooo excited. For numerous, obvious reasons. The exposure for one. I will be able to educate this area on what VAs are, and possibly find out if people know we exist! I’m willing to bet, most of them don’t.My boyfriend is so excited for me, but then again, he’s been helping me in this little venture. I told him that I was going to raffle off time, such as 2 free hours of my services and he thought I was nuts…well I got news for him…I have a fish bowl and people put their business cards in it, I have an instant database! DUH!! Of course, I don’t have to raffle off my time. I could easily give away a gift certificate somewhere, but at least with my time, I can prove to someone what I can do! Then maybe they’ll come back!I’m still waiting on my logo. Love my buddy to death, but he’s busy and my stuff is not priority! Oh well. The expo isn’t until the 16th of April, so I have some time.A list of things that I need for the expo…
- one sheeter about VAs and my services
- possible FAQ hand out
- brochures
- business cards
- table top display (and unfortunately, this is going to have to be home made as I don’t have the money to shell out on a display, but I think I can make it look classy)
- I’d like to find a partner to come and sit in the booth with me, so that I can also go out and network and not leave my booth unattended
- give aways…and i’ll need to look into pens, etc. I like the little neat stuff and if it’s got the company name on it and sitting on someone’s desk, then I have a better chance of being remembered when they are about to pull their hair out with something…lol
So I know what I need, and I have the time to assemble it all. I have begun keeping track of how much time I am spending on Dave’s project to make sure that I have “paid” him $350 (the cost of the booth) by the time April comes around. But he’s a smart business man, and I don’t think he’s the type to get screwed out of money…lol…but he’s also a dear friend of mine and I want to make sure he gets the best!
So it looks like things are up and up and I definately haven’t lost my marketing touch. Being out of the business for almost a year now started to make me worry a bit, but we’ll see…
Thanks for hanging in there with me and there will be more later…
Heather
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