Monthly Archives: July 2009

What is a Virtual Assistant?

ritajoblack1As an entrepreneur and small business owner, you’ve probably heard the term “Virtual Assistant (VA)” and know what it means.  However, there are still misconceptions that exist.  I’m going to attempt to clear that up in this blog post.

“A Virtual Assistant is a professional who specializes in providing administrative support and expertise,” says Danielle Keister of Virtual Assistant Chamber of Commerce in her blog post.  To read more of Danielle’s post, click here.  The business community is still conditioned to think of virtual assistants as administrative assistants.  This type of thinking can devalue the true worth of a Virtual Assistant; therefore, potential clients tend to focus on the cost of the services rather than the value a VA can bring to the table.

Since VAs are professional entrepreneurs, they are quite versed in business operations, marketing, bookkeeping, etc.  As Danielle points out in her blog post, a Virtual Assistant can help you move your business forward.  This is a very valuable skill to any entrepreneur and small business owner.

The qualifications and skills that virtual assistants possess as a professional enable them to be experts in their fields, as well as in their profession as an entrepreneur. You receive more than administrative support, you have someone you can consult with, bounce ideas off of, brainstorm with, as well as utilize some of their business practices.   If it works for your VA, it may work for you in your business.

These are just a few examples of the value your Virtual Assistant can bring to your business.  The benefits you reap as an entrepreneur from this type of business relationship outweighs any fees that you may perceive as being expensive.

If you choose to work with offshore virtual assistants to save a few bucks, you will not receive this type of  value-added service, mainly due to cultural differences.

I hope this helps clear up the misconceived notions that yet exist.  Feel free to post your thoughts and comments.

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What's Next for Your Business?

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If you’re an entrepreneur or service professional, you may be wondering “what’s next” for your business.

I want to introduce you to Maria Simone, an amazing woman who over the years has launched several businesses and has helped countless others do the same.

She’s appeared in the media in publications like Success Magazine, Business Week and many others.

Thanks to the help of her husband Michael Murdock, a 30-year technology veteran, Maria has also become an internet marketing and social media marketing expert over the past few years.

Starting July 30th, Maria will be offering a FR^EE 4-part Passionate Business teleclass.

Click here for more details:

During the series, you’ll learn:

*Instant revenue and funding strategies.
*Zero to low-cost marketing techniques that will help attract customers 24/7.
*How to create a solid online presence.
*Abundance strategies including creating multiple revenue streams.

…and so much more. Just follow the link for details and to register.

Karen M. Pina’s Virtual Book Tour

careerbizbookfinal_webRC:    Why did you write this book?

KP:    Rita, I wrote this book to see Christians arrive at the career destination God intends sooner rather than later. It took me 20 plus years of fumbling around in Corporate America. God knows I don’t want the same for my Christian brothers and sisters. If I can help them get there with less stress in half the time with the right tools and attitude, then allowing God to use me to write this book was worth it. Accomplishing this will fill me with unspeakable joy!

RC:     Tell me about yourself.

KP:    You know every time I’m asked this question I reflect deeply on how to answer. First, I am a handmaiden of God who is madly in love and totally surrendered to Him as a vessel fit for noble and honorable purposes. Second, I’m a virtuous leader in my home as a wife to my husband Stanley and a mother to our two beautiful girls.

RC:    What is the book about?

KP:    It is guidebook for those who are looking for career answers. It is for Christians who are sick and tired of being sick and tired of switching jobs every one to three years, tired of the annual slap in the face performance appraisal, and tired of not knowing what they don’t know to attain the career success they were created for.

This is accomplished through assessments, exercises, conducting research, and answering coaching questions. As you can see, Rita, it is a pragmatic hands-on career and business resource. It is definitely not a read from cover to cover and place on the shelf book. It requires the reader’s active participation in order to find their career stressors and the success God intends.

“Anyone who picks up this book, no matter what circumstances they’re going through on the job front, will automatically identify with it because it hits home, right where you are.”

RC:    What is the one take-away you want the readers to leave with?

KP:    My prayer and desire for all who read this book is a successful transition over the bridge into the enormous sea of discovery and realization of the power of God within them as the wind beneath their sails guiding them into their proper sphere of career influence.

RC:    How long have you been writing?

KP:    You know I have been writing in some capacity for over 15 years. At the same time, I have been writing creatively for only the past eight to 10 years. Over the last 5 years, God has taken me to new heights as the Holy Spirit has birthed articles, newsletters, e-books, e-courses, and paperback books. I have most recently discovered that I’m a scribe after the order of Ezra in the Bible.

RC:    What is next on the writing horizon?

KP:    A scribe is one who completes divine writing assignments as given by God. So, there are several things on God’s radar right now that He desires to release through me. Some of the upcoming assignments are completing a musical project of all the poems He’s given me, a character development book titled The Making and, as you know, the book we are working on together to help Christian coaches find virtual assistants who are best equipped to support the vision God has given them.

RC:    Karen, tell the readers how they can contact you if they have any questions?

KP:    Sure, if anyone has any questions, they can post them as a response to this interview. I will stop by periodically to answer questions. Additionally, my contact information is: www.findcareeranswers.com or kpina@godscoach.com.

RC:    How much is the book?

KP:    There are two delivery methods for the book. The printed copy is for those who do not mind waiting for delivery via snail mail and is specially priced at $19.99. The electronic version is for those who want to start receiving answers immediately and is specially priced at $10.99.

RC:    Tell my blog readers where they can buy the book.

KP:    We are accepting all pre-orders right on the findcareeranswers.com website. All orders will be shipped hot off the heavenly press within 4-6 weeks . . . just in time to give as a Christmas gift.

RC: Karen, thank you so much for stopping my blog.

KP:    You are most welcome, thanks for having me.

What is Niche?

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An interesting discussion was started on Twitter as to what is niche.  I have seen niche used to refer to a group of consumers with shared characteristics.  I have also seen niche described as a specialized service(s); for example, internet marketing.

Ten years ago, when I was in college, niche was described as a space in the market where the advertiser’s product or service will fit.  Merriam-Webster online dictionary definition is a place, employment, status, or activity for which a person or thing is best fitted.  Although marketing and advertising concepts and theories remain the same, the methods of delivery of advertising messages have changed.

These changes apparently have changed or gave new meaning to the word “niche” where now it can refer to a specialized service.  Join the discussion by posting your comment below as to what is niche to you.  I look forward to reading your thoughts.

Another Way to Use a Virtual Assistant

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Are you an author, published or self-published? If so, click here to learn how you can use a Virtual Assistant to help you with your book. Diana Ennen of Virtual Word Publishing talks about how a Virtual Assistant can help you with tasks such as proofreading, editing, listing your book on online bookstores, as well as other marketing strategies.

Authors who are looking for ways to compete with authors who work with high-level marketing professionals are able to because of the Internet and virtual assistants.