It’s not an option anymore … Virtual Assistants who want to work with great clients, build a fantastic business and generate revenue MUST have ecommerce skills in their toolbelt.

In case you haven’t already heard, my friends Cindy Greenway and Tina Forsyth are running another Ecommerce Specialty Program, starting March 23^rd.

This program really isn’t optional.

No online based business can exist without ecommerce.

No traditional small business, as they transition to having (and needing) an online presence, can exist without ecommerce.

A Virtual Assistant who doesn’t understand and isn’t able to educate, implement and manage the ecommerce side of a business will not build a long-lasting, successful VA business.

It used to be a specialty …. But now it’s a required skill.

At one time you could literally leave your office job, set up a website and office, attract and start working with great clients in a relatively short time.   This isn’t the case anymore.

But now, as our clients raise their expectations and need for specific skills, it’s not good enough to just know the basics.

For just a few more days, you can take advantage of the early bird rate for this program (save $200).  The comprehensive 12 session, 6 week program, includes training in various areas related to ecommerce — with comprehensive training in the most common shopping cart used by our clients, as well as instruction in other areas that impact the ecommerce cycle of a business – customer service, blogs, product development, just to name a few.

Take my word for it, you don’t want to miss out on this ecommerce training program

You owe it to yourself to take this training, master these skills and confidently tell your current and potential clients that you DO have what it takes to help them build their business,  manage the shopping cart, implement autoresponders, send broadcasts, support the sale of products, create an opt-in,  and manage so many other things that relate to the ecommerce (aka growth) of their business.

Take a look at what we’ll cover in this ecommerce training program

Will you be in the program starting March 23^rd?

Proactive VAs are VAs that strategically seek ways to help their client’s business grow because of an invested interest in their business.
~ Tawnya Sutherland, VAnetworking.com ~

Monday Morning MotiVAtor – Motivating Proactive VAs to Success!

If one is master of one thing and understands one thing well, one has at the same time, insight into and understanding of many things.
~Vincent Van Gogh~

I feel like I am repeating myself over and over, but this point is something that needs to be given consideration as you build your Virtual Assistant business. Perhaps the most important thing you can do for your business is to niche yourself. Niche yourself by service or by client, but pick one thing and become the expert. There is nothing worse than someone that tries to be everything to everyone … this makes it very difficult to stand out. It is quite easy at times to become a jack of all trades and master of none. Today I encourage you to work on becoming a master … become the expert that everyone refers to.

Are you a ProActive VA? Choose to be one starting today!!

Proactive VAs recognize bad habits and work to replace them with good.

Everyone has bad habits, but the person that is able to recognize their bad habits and work on them will be truly proactive in their business. Did you know it can take about a month to break a bad habit and it needs to be done consciously before it can become an unconscious thing. Pick one bad habit that you have and make a conscious effort to change it. Perhaps you get easily wrapped up in emails, perhaps you spend too much time on twitter, perhaps you forget to take breaks throughout the day. Find that one thing and work hard at changing it and creating a new better habit.

Accountability – Something to do for your VA Business this week

Tomorrow we will be having a class on elevator speeches and I believe this is an important tool for each and every one of us. Many of us believe that we don’t network in person so we don’t need to have an elevator speech, but if you are in business you absolutely need an effective elevator speech. When you are first approached by a potential client you need to know how and what to say. Whether you believe it or not this is your elevator speech and can mean the difference between landing the client and them going elsewhere. Take some time for your business this week and attend the seminar and then work on your speech until it is “perfect”. If you can’t attend the seminar make sure that you listen to it sometime in the next month. For the booster members who won’t have access to this seminar take some time to work on your elevator speech this month making sure to keep this one thing in mind … answer the question why should I care?

Mastermind Discussions – What you Missed at the Forum

This week at the forum we started some great mastermind discussions on the following topics:

- handling unhappy clients
- tips for choosing a business name

We would love to hear what you have to say on these topics. To get in on the conversation

Upcoming Seminars – VAinsiders only

Tuesday, March 9, 2010 – 2pm EDT – ProActive VA Series – Advanced Getting Clients
Elevator Speeches
with Tawnya Sutherland and Yvonne Weld

Friday, March 12, 2010 – 2pm EDT – ProActive VA Series – Thriving Business Accountability
Contingency Planning – Technological Considerations
with Yvonne Weld

Tuesday, March 30, 2010 – 7pm EDT – ProActive VA Series – Internet Marketing
Topic to be Determined
with Craig Cannings and Tawnya Sutherland

http://www.vanetworking.com/seminars/

Be sure to login in to the VAinsider Club Only seminar room. Please use your full name [first and last name] as username and the password that you receive in an email on the day of the seminar. Please note that if you do not use your full name we will have no choice, but to boot you as we need to make sure that only VAinsiders can access these seminars.

RFPs Submitted this past week

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RFP – Submitted March 1, 2010 – Various Admin Assistance
RFP – Submitted March 1, 2010 – Various Admin Assistance
RFP – Submitted March 2, 2010 – Aweber Assistance
RFP – Submitted March 4, 2010 – Subcontracting – Wordpress / Squeeze Page
RFP – Submitted March 5, 2010 – Subcontracting – Various Tasks
RFP – Submitted March 5, 2010 – Online Product Launch manager
RFP – Submitted March 5, 2010 – Newsletter Assistance
RFP – Submitted March 7, 2010 – Marketing / Website / Blog Assistance
RFP – Submitted March 7, 2010 – On-site (Tyson Corner, VA) Event Assistance
RFP – Submitted March 8, 2010 – Speaking Assistance

Be sure to follow us on Twitter #VAinsider as we tweet these RFPs immediately after they are posted.

Make sure that you are putting your best foot forward when responding to RFPs. A quick email with “I am interested in your RFP” just won’t cut it in today’s competitive market. Make sure your response lets the potential client know exactly what you can do for them and why you are the best person for the contract!!

Here are some great references from our own VAnetworking forum on answering RFPs:

Inspirational

How to get email from RFP

• Virtual News You Can Use NOW
• VAinsider Club MotiVAtor
• eSEMINAR SCHEDULE – Mark your calendars!
• HOT Topics at the forum this past week
• Virtual Weekender FREEBIE

VIRTUAL NEWS YOU CAN USE

1) The NEW Social Marketing 2010 Program is now open for registrations.  Make sure you reserve your seat today!

If you want to supercharge your virtual professional career by offering the most sought-after skills that small-business marketers are demanding today…

Become a Social Media Marketing Specialist and get the certificate to prove it -> Guaranteed!

Discover the training that will have ideal clients banging down your doors in 2010, begging for your proven expertise and assistance!

Reserve your seat today!

2) I love my Computer Guy (and no I’m not leaving my partner, Arnold, HA!) but without Michael Van Ert on my tech team, I was having all kinds of computer troubles this past year. He rocks! My business has been up and running smoothly ever since he came on board. AND, he can make your business rock for too! My Computer Guy has an informative and free monthly newsletter that gives you news about what’s happening in the computer world that I find very informative as well as tips and reviews in the tech world.

PLUS for a limited time only, you can download for free his new ebook  here “How to Make Your PC Run Faster” (valued at $27) today!

3) Looking to start up your Virtual Assistant business quickly and easily? Check out my blog for up to date information related to VA start ups.  From tips and tactics to training resources, you’ll find it all here in one easy stop online.

Download my  F R E E  VA Startup Checklist too here.

4) BE SAFE with insurance for your virtual business. Look no further than our NEW protection plan for both Virtual Assistants and work at home entrepreneurs.  Put together with the VA in mind, you’ll find nothing else on this planet as affordable and perfectly adapted to the work at home business. From equipment coverage to liability coverage (even identify theft for those working online), we’ve thought of everything to include in this insurance package for you.

Get your free business insurance consultation by clicking here.

5) Want to know how to get the edge YOU need to secure more clients? Get VAcertified!

A VAcertified.com seal on your website shows clients and potential clients that you have met the standards and values as set out by an international panel of professionals. Business owners will feel secure that you not only have the skills and professionalism to do the job, but that you are guided by an internal ethic that compels you to strive for optimal results.

You do it right. You do it on time. And you do it with pride. In other words, a VAcertifed.com seal of certification means you are the person they are looking for.

Become VA certified today!

VAinsider Club MotiVAtor

Listen to an audio book or read a book that gives you inspiration; whether it is a business book, a spiritual book or something else. When you open your mind to those things that give you inspiration you open yourself to being everything you can be and everything you are meant to achieve will be within your reach.

Your VAinsider Club membership starts at only $7/mth. Not much to pay nowadays to help your business get the upper hand in the virtual service world.

What are you waiting for? Become a VAinsider Club Member (Starting at $7/month).

eSEMINAR SCHEDULE – Mark your calendars!

Get up to date information on our 2010 upcoming speakers at our eSeminars help educate, inform and entertain Virtual Assistants and online Virtual Achievers worldwide.

REGISTER HERE to learn more

HOT TOPICS AT FORUM THIS PAST WEEK:

In need of help for Anti-virus, spyware,etc.

Web Development Extensions for Firefox

Probation Rates for my VA company

Folder Organization Recommendations, Paperless Office

The Virtual Assistant Social Networking Forum is FREE to Join! What are you waiting for?

WEEKEND FREEBIE:

I just got my hands on this blog setup checklist from Tech Based Training. It is very nicely outlined, covering many of the bases of a typical WordPress setup. Lynette Chandler, who is behind the training center has kindly allowed me to share the checklist so you can enjoy it too. Thanks Lynette!

But before you download the checklist, I want to encourage you to visit Tech Based Training today. They have some solid training to help VA’s (or any marketer) expand their skills into the tech arena. If you opt for the Pro option, you’ll get your training for less and also unlock the door to their growing library of checklists just like this one, and more.

Lynette has informed me that the Pro option is currently being offered with an introductory pricing. This WILL end on March 8th. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

And now, here is the download link for your  F R E E  Blog Setup Checklist.

Until next week…

To Your Virtual Success,

Tawnya Sutherland, CIMBS
Founder of The Leading Virtual Assistant Networking Forum Since 2003 www.VAnetworking.com

Proactive VAs are VAs that strategically seek ways to help their client’s business grow because of an invested interest in their business.
~ Tawnya Sutherland, VAnetworking.com ~

Monday Morning MotiVAtor – Motivating Proactive VAs to Success!

When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.
~Alexander Graham Bell~

Have you ever been working with a client that just seems to drain your energy. You would love to fire them, but you need the income and the hours that this client produces. When you have a client like this that is taking all of your energy what is that doing for your other clients? What is that doing for your health and the health of your business? Instead of looking at it from the perspective of needing the client, open the door to replacing that client with other clients that do fit your ideal profile and are “easy” to work with. Remember you are your own boss and that you do not need to waste your energy with others that do not fit your ideal client profile. When you do “fire” a client simply send them to our RFP system because your unideal client is more likely to be someone else’s ideal client. This week I challenge you to do some cleaning … close the door to clients that are zapping your energy and open the door to happiness with yourself, your clients and ultimately your business.

Are you a ProActive VA? Choose to be one starting today!!

Proactive VAs are those that have an ideal client “type”.

When you are able to focus your business on an ideal client and know that client inside out you will also begin to be able to anticipate their needs before they even know it is a need. For example, when you niche your business and you work solely with people that fit that niche every client’s needs will begin to be the same. Patterns will emerge and you will begin to know exactly what these clients need and when. As one client tries a new approach you will be able to counsel your other clients on whether that approach works or not. This is simply called life experience and when you can take that life experience and provide it to your clients and offer suggestions and growth opportunities that is when you will truly be a proactive VA.

Accountability – Something to do for your VA Business this week

This week I want to stress the importance of patience. Patience is a skill that needs to be learned. We need patience with our clients, we need patience with projects that we undertake and we need patience with ourselves. As Virtual Assistants, in general we tend to be doers and we tend to be the type of people that want to get things done now. An idea comes into our head and we want it now. When you begin to practice patience you open yourself to less stress and greater production. Patience is the ability to break down projects and goals into small pieces that can be met today. Patience is the ability to be consistent and thorough in your projects. Patience is the ability to realize that a project won’t be completed in the next five minutes and you need to give yourself a break so that you can stay fresh mentally. Patience is the ability to show yourself and your clients that you matter, they matter and your business matters. This week I challenge each of you to be patient.

Upcoming Seminars – VAinsiders only

Tuesday, March 9, 2010 – 2pm EDT – ProActive VA Series – Getting Clients
Infomercials – Creating a 30 Second Elevator Speech
with Tawnya Sutherland and Yvonne Weld

Friday, March 12, 2010 – 2pm EDT – ProActive VA Series – Thriving Business Accountability
Contingency Planning – Technological Considerations
with Yvonne Weld

Tuesday, March 30, 2010 – 7pm EDT – ProActive VA Series – Internet Marketing
To Be Advised
with Craig Cannings and Tawnya Sutherland

Be sure to login in to the VAinsider Club Only seminar room. Please use your full name [first and last name] as username and the password that you receive in an email on the day of the seminar. Please note that if you do not use your full name we will have no choice, but to boot you as we need to make sure that only VAinsiders can access these seminars.

RFPs Submitted this past week

Login to Forum to view

RFP – SubmittedFebruary 22, 2010 – Research, Admin Assistance
RFP – Submitted February 22, 2010 – Craigs List, Social media, Website
RFP – Submitted February 23, 2010 – Various Admin Assistance
RFP – Submitted February 24, 2010 – Subcontracting – Wordpress/1SC
RFP – Submitted February 24, 2010 – Subcontracting – Resume Writing
RFP – Submitted February 24, 2010 – Various Admin Assistance
RFP – Submitted February 28, 2010 – 2 Positions – Trademark Assistance / Wordpress
RFP – Submitted February 28, 2010 – Subcontractor – Audio/Video Editing

Be sure to follow us on Twitter #VAinsider as we tweet these RFPs immediately after they are posted.

Make sure that you are putting your best foot forward when responding to RFPs. A quick email with “I am interested in your RFP” just won’t cut it in today’s competitive market. Make sure your response lets the potential client know exactly what you can do for them and why you are the best person for the contract!!

Here are some great references from our own VAnetworking forum on answering RFPs:

Inspirational

How to get email from RFP

How to respond to RFPs

Also, remember that we have a resource book on responding to RFPs available for free in the NEW VAinsider area.

Finally, for a daily listing, be sure to subscribe to this link.

To your success,

Yvonne Weld
VAinsider President

• Virtual News You Can Use NOW
• VAinsider Club MotiVAtor
• eSEMINAR SCHEDULE – Mark your calendars!
• HOT Topics at the forum this past week
• Virtual Assistant Trade, Barter, Sell or Just Giveaway
• Virtual Weekender FREEBIE

VIRTUAL NEWS YOU CAN USE

1) Have you been following the Olympic Events here in my home town of Vancouver, Canada the past couple of weeks?

?? ? GO CANADA GO  ?? ?     It’s wonderful to see everyone from around the world visiting our gorgeous city.  Do drop me a call if you are in the city.

I can’t even begin to imagine how much work it was to put this worldwide Olympic event together can you?  Amazing!

Speaking of setting up and managing events, here’s a  F R E E  video for you to watch from Craig Cannings on a great new service niche to tap into with your virtual assistant business -> Managing Virtual Events!

These may not be as hard to manage as setting up the Olympics but a very valuable tool to have on your Virtual Assistant service list in 2010.

Learn more about becoming a Virtual Events Specialist here.

Starting now…sign up before end of the month!

2) I’m often asked how I ever got into Internet Marketing as a service specialty for my clients. Well, I received my certification as an Internet Marketing Specialist at the University of British Columbia and it cost me over $12,000 at the time.

If only VAclassroom’s Internet Marketing Virtual Assistant Certification Program had been around back then, I would have had a much faster and cost effective way to learn about this niche for my VA business.  I personally give a thumbs up to this marketing program if you want to get started in learning about Internet Marketing not just for your own business sake but also for your clients!

I’ve been niched in Internet Marketing with my VA business for quite a few years ever since I realized I could be asking $125/hr for my time instead of $30. What a difference specializing in a specific area has done for the success of my business.

For $197, it’s a real steal compared to what I paid for my course back in 2002.  Internet Marketing services are a very “in-demand” support service requested by clients nowadays. Read more about this Internet Marketing training program for Virtual Assistants here.

Here’s a bonus…anyone that signs up before March 1st, 2010 for this course, I’ll throw in a half hour internet marketing consult with me to pick my brain on this topic!  Valued at $250.  Just order by midnight on February 28th, email me your receipt and I’ll honour a internet marketing consult with you.  ENJOY!

3) There is still time to sign up and attend The Australian VA Conference.

The location is Melbourne, Victoria and the date is 12/13 March 2010. Professional speakers and VA presenters make the line up for the 2 day event.  Here’s your opportunity to meet face-to-face many VAs you know online, visit a great location with fantastic shopping before or after the event. Organizers Kathie M Thomas and Anita Kilkenny are VAs who have been in the industry a long time and many will know their names.  Early bird bookings close soon so why not make plans now to attend and get your booking in?

4) Don’t forget, if you want to attend the Niche Affiliate Marketing System Working (NAMS) at Atlanta, in August, that the rates increase by $100 on Sunday night. Make sure you get in on the Early Bird Pricing!

I’ve attended the last two NAMS workshops and your business will definitely benefit from attending this start to profit 3 day workshop.

VAinsider Club MotiVAtor

Take the time to learn from others, those that are successful. If you want to be like someone or have your business look like someone else, the best way to do this is to take a good hard look at them and their business and then try to emulate them.

Your VAinsider Club membership starts at only $7/mth. Not much to pay nowadays to help your business get the upper hand in the virtual service world.

What are you waiting for? Become a VAinsider Club Member (Starting at $7/month).

eSEMINAR SCHEDULE – Mark your calendars!

Get up to date information on our 2010 upcoming speakers at our eSeminars help educate, inform and entertain Virtual Assistants and online Virtual Achievers worldwide.

REGISTER HERE to learn more

Upcoming Seminar Schedule:

Sorry for the technical difficulties with our seminar room this past week, hopefully everything will be resolved for this coming week. You will be advised via email of upcoming seminars, dates and times.  Make sure you register for this notification below.

REGISTER HERE to receive your password the day before the event. If you are already registered, you’ll receive speaker info automatically.

HOT TOPICS AT FORUM THIS PAST WEEK:

New iPhone – What iPhone apps do you love?

Satellite-based internet, Is anybody out there using this?

Online Transaction Management Software – recommendation needed

Affiliate Programs, Are They Worth it?

The Virtual Assistant Social Networking Forum is FREE to Join! What are you waiting for?

Virtual Assistant Trade, Barter, Sell or Just Giveaway!

This is a new area our readers have requested where you can trade, barter, share or just giveaway products or services. For example, maybe you want to trade your VA services for coaching for your business. We’ll post current listings from our forum area so if you want to be listed, make a post there:

Help with C-Panel, Tutor Needed – Exchange VA Services

WEEKEND FREEBIE:

Here’s a handy FREE report to teach you how to strike a balance between personal life and work.

Enjoy! Download How to Strike a Balance Betweetn Personal Life and Work

Until next week…

To Your Virtual Success,

Tawnya Sutherland, CIMBS
Founder of The Leading Virtual Assistant Networking Forum Since 2003 www.VAnetworking.com