Virtual Assisting and Internet Marketing 101

Very Exciting Partnership!

2007-08-14T14:43:00.000-07:00

http://www.FreelanceClericalServices.com and http://www.TheSuccessfulInternetMarketer.com is very excited to announce our recent partnership with http://www.TheSuccessEntrepreneur.net. I am very pleased to be part of Terrie's team and I will be offering her clients much needed internet marketing, web design, and VA services.

Please feel free to check the website out and start a trial membership for only $1 dollar. There is tons of great information for budding entrepreneurs.

Stacey

New Website and Business

2007-08-07T11:43:00.001-07:00

Hello Everyone,

I am very excited about my new venture http;//www.TheSuccessfulInternetMarketer.com. I have heard time and time again that entrepreneurs want someone to simplify the entire internet marketing process for them.

Thats what I have done. I put together some great internet marketing packages and I want to help new entrepreneurs streamline the process. Make sure to sign up for my newsletter as well as I have am giving away 6 helpful tips to get your website internet ready.

Stacey

The Business Card

2007-04-10T15:00:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,

I hope you had a wonderful Easter weekend. Things have been hopping around here. I am busy with a very large project as well as finishing up my ebook for aspiring Virtual Assistants. Its very exciting and I hope to make it available by the end of April. So check back frequently.

I wanted to talk a little bit today about how important it is to brand yourself as a professional. I recently was invited to help out at an event in Los Angeles and didn't realize that I was out of business cards.

To my dismay, I showed up at this event and was promptly asked a ton of questions about my business, what I do, my website, how to get into the industry and so on. So what do you think the number one asked question was?

Do you have a business card? Ugghh I was asked over and over and unfortunately I had to tell them I was out and take theirs or write down my info.

This is a big no no in any industry. People want to feel connected to you and know that you are a professional. One of the best ways to establish yourself as a professional besides the all important website, is to have business cards handy at all times.

Think about it, you are a walking advertisement for yourself in line at the store, at your child's soccer game, school events, and trips to Staples and Kinkos, as well as business events. I have event left a few cards in certain aisles at Staples and at the counter. You just never know when you are going to meet your next big client.

Think you aren't ready for a business card? Well why not? You can get business cards from VistaPrint for free. You have to remember everything you do from this point forward is an investment in yourself and your business.

There is a big movement lately talking about "The Secret", and how thinking positively can change your life in another direction. I believe this theory. You have to be proactive in every aspect of your life in order to achieve the success you are looking for.

Maybe for you this means finding a VA gig to supplement your household income, or developing a multimillion dollar empire.

You have to decide what type of success you are seeking. To find out how to get FREE business cards for your business, Click Here!

Good luck in your journey and have a great week!

Stacey

Check Out This Video!

2007-03-05T10:07:00.000-08:00

Check out this Video from an event I helped put on in Los Angeles about a week ago. It was so much fun!

Next Up....The importance of business cards and networking.

How to Find Virtual Assisting Gigs

2007-01-05T14:43:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone,

I wanted to touch base with many of you who have joined my list as I have been getting quite a few emails asking for advice on becoming a virtual assistant, looking for online jobs, and just how to get started in the industry.

Today I am going to tell you a couple quick resources for finding virtual assisting and other WAH gigs whether you are just starting out or established in your niche market.

I always tell my coaching clients that it’s important to spend as much time looking for VA gigs or WAH jobs as you would be putting into your business. That means, if you want to work 20 hours a week, then you should be spending 20 hours a week looking for clients, gigs, and promoting and advertising yourself.

It’s that simple. Trust me I know how hard it can be to stay motivated when you aren’t getting any bites or offers (I have been there many times). I have also found myself in unwanted predicaments where I have had a client flake on payments, ect. I have been able to replace them quickly and easily by implementing my own promotional methods detailed below. If you put in the effort you will get a huge return.

Where do you get your clients?

This is by far the question I get asked the most by email and phone. It’s really easy to find clients if you know the right places to look and how to promote yourself. Here are a few tips and tricks you should always follow:

1. Have a Website

If you don’t have website then you are way behind everyone else in the game. This is by far the most important thing to consider when opening up your VA practice.

A website shows that you are a professional, you mean business, and you have established yourself in the industry. It also gives potential clients a starting place to check out your rates, abilities, and overall skill set.

A website doesn’t have to be fancy. I started off with a simple one page site hosted FREE by my ISP. If you don’t have the funds to get a hosted site, check out your ISP they usually have free pages you can use.

2. Check Out the Online Bidding Sites

I know there are a lot of established VA’s out there that suggest you steer clear of elance and guru.com. But let me tell you something…Guru.com is one of my best friends J. Without the clients that I have gotten from there, I would not have such a thriving business.

It’s a great way to get established in the industry and get some great paying clients. And the fees aren’t over the top. I personally have never used elance, but I have known a few VA’s who have received work from the site.

You aren’t going to get any clients if you don’t have any experience. And you aren’t going to have an experience if you can’t land a client. You know what I am saying?

A word to the wise: These are bidding sites, so be careful with the rates that you charge. That’s not saying that you can’t make $20 or even $30 + an hour with clients from these sites (because I have and do). But realize that there is higher competition out there and most people who post projects on here are going to want to pay between $8-$15 dollars an hour.

I have been on both sides of the picture posting jobs and bidding on gigs, so I have a pretty good understanding of going rates and how the process works.

3. Craigslist

I absolutely love Craigslist. If I could kiss Craig, I would, LOL Not only can you find clients, but you can promote your services as well. So you are probably asking, just how do I do that?

Simple, you post ads under the “services” and “small business ads” section talking about who you are, the services you offer, and your contact info.

Note: Make yourself stand out. You need to look and act like a professional at all times. What usually works for me is something similar to a cover letter stating who I am, why I am in the industry, my skill set, and my contact info.

Don’t post only 1 to 2 sentences saying something like “I am a stay at home mom that wants VA clients, please contact me blah blah blah. Clients and business won’t hire you or contract your services. They want to know you are a professional, you know what you are doing, and that you mean business.

I will give you a few secrets that I use when looking for clients, search in gigs, ecetera, computer jobs, admin jobs, ect. Use terms like work at home, virtual assisting, contract work, ect. You will get really good at coming up with search terms and spotting scams.

4. CrazedList.org

Crazedlist.org is an awesome resource when searching Craigslist. You can search all the cities in the US on the same terms. Like I stated above, be creative when using search terms and learn how to spot a scam. If there is very little detail given in the ad, it’s probably a scam. If it sounds too good to be true, it most likely is.

Remember, nothing ever comes easy. Sometimes it takes a whole lot of effort to get where you want to be and that includes tears, frustration, and sometimes the desire to give up. But if you continue on your path, and keep your eye on the prize, you will eventually get to where you want to be. Even if you have to get scratched and bruised along the way.

Good luck and have a great weekend!

Sincerely,

Stacey Wockenfuss
VA Coach and Owner of:
FreelanceClericalServices.com

Personal Shopping And Concierge

2006-12-12T12:34:00.000-08:00

Need more time during the busy holiday season? I have a few slots open for personal shopping and concierge services until early Jan 07. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to spend more quality time with your family and friends. Contact Me immediately for more information and a rate sheet.

Fall/Winter Special

2006-10-17T13:00:00.000-07:00

Freelance Clerical Services is running a fall/winter special for new clients. Rates have been slashed in half.

I have room for 1 or possibly 2 more clients (part-time).

Current Rate: $40 per billable hour
Special Winter Rate: $20 per billable hour (retainer)

Take advantage of this offer quickly as it will be increasing again shortly. Contact me today and I will be more than happy to discuss your needs.

Stacey

Being Busy, Traffic Ect

2006-09-28T14:04:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to post a quick note to say that I have been really busy lately and not able to post as much as I would like. I am coming out with a new product for potential VA's that I hope will help them tremendously.

So if I am not around a lot, thats why.

Also I just wanted to say how glad I am that I work at home. I got stuck in traffic yesterday taking my daughter to soccer practice for half an hour. It reminded me of how blessed I was that I am not doing that everyday!

Stacey

New Myspace Group

2006-09-15T13:04:00.000-07:00

Check out our new group on myspace. You can network, find out more about working online, virtual assisting and internet marketing in real time.

Come join us!

http://groups.myspace.com/virtualassistingandinternetmarketing

Have a great weekend!

Stacey

The Importance of Women Online (and never giving up)

2006-09-07T11:31:00.000-07:00

I was talking to a potential client the other day, and we got on the subject of woman working online, owning businesses, internet marketing, the VA industry, well you get the idea. Basically the importance of women developing a presence online.

This client was telling me how another marketer told her that if she wanted to market a certain product then she better come up with a pseudo name. I mean seriously, is this what its come to, that women can be the support system, but not THE SYSTEM?

So many intelligent, well educated women just don't realize their potential. We don't have to be just the support system that guides other marketers, or be an Avon sales rep (not that there’s anything wrong with that), or work for many of the online coding companies, or wahm type companies, but we can be the founders of real companies, the leaders in an ever growing industry.

We can go somewhere, do something, and be somebody. Not because someone else guides our success, but because we believe in ourselves as leaders and business women. I am so sick of the stereotype that only men can succeed online. I could count 10 successful women off the top of my head who are working online and making the same if not MORE money than their counterparts.

I really have my head swirling with various ideas to get the women movement online growing into a momentum. I just want each and everyone of you to realize your potential as a marketer, as a VA, or business owner of any type. Its time that we make an impact in the online marketing industry so women can be respected and don't have to do such silly things as use pseudo names to market their products, ideas, and companies.

So many people (women and men) have so many excuses as to why they can't do this or that. I don't have the money, I am tired, I don't believe it will work, it takes to much effort, I don't have a support system, I have young children and it goes on and on and on. These are just excuses. I know because I am the queen of excuses. Well let me tell you something, excuses never got me anywhere except down in the dumps.

I am a single mom who has been working and supporting myself online for 4 years now. It has not always been easy, but I am still here, strong as ever. You know what got me where I am? Not money, not support from other people, but the belief in myself. The belief that I was doing this not only for me by for my children.

I don't have to take a job that pays $6 an hour to take inbound calls, or code a document at 2 in the morning, or sell every product imaginable to my friends and family. You can put your own destiny in your own hands. Everyday wake up and look in the mirror and say I believe in me. Even if you don't believe it right now, you will eventually.

So you are saying okay, I want to make a difference, I have this idea for such and such product, or I want to market my services as a VA, what do I do next? You do what the rest of us do... get excited, panic, make excuses as to why you can't do it, and then eventually jump in feet first and start planning. Plan, plan and then plan some more. I always tell people that you can't just take one giant step to the finish line because it takes a whole lota baby steps to get you there.

Next you need decide what your success is measured by and reach for that goal. Personally speaking, I don't need a million dollars to make me happy, or a big house, or everyone in the room knowing who I am.

I need to be able to keep a roof over our heads and food in our bellies, buy my daughter school clothes in the fall, be able to pay for her soccer expenses and tournaments, I want to be able to go to the park and take a walk and enjoy the sun, hear my kids laugh at a movie or joke, and most importantly make sure that their mom is a success in their eyes. And if I can help just one person reach their potential and goals, well thats priceless in my book!

Stacey Wockenfuss

A Free Gift For You!

2006-09-06T08:57:00.000-07:00

Hi,

This is Stacey Wockenfuss.

I have gift for you today

- 3 Google Adsense website templates including
editable header graphic

- 3 Blogger Templates

- 3 WordPress Templates

- 30 Private Label Articles

- Three 10-page websites with content

You can get all this here:

http://www.adsensetemplates.com/amember/go.php?r=478&i=l3

Enjoy And have a great day!

Stacey Wockenfuss

An Internet Marketers Guide To Finding A Virtual Assistant

2006-09-05T14:19:00.000-07:00

So you have launched a great site with an awesome product/idea. You are generating new sales all day, everyday. You have people lined up to JV with you, your phones ringing off the hook, and you don’t know when the last time you slept a full 8 hours was. Congratulations and welcome to the world of a successful internet marketer! You’ve reached a plateau that most internet marketing newbies only dream of. You are on your way to guru status.

But what do you do next? Your email box is full, your brain is storming with ideas, the programmer needs your help with the next project, and you have 10 voicemails to return. It’s becoming extremely hard to focus on just one thing. You know you need to hire someone to help you out, but the problem is that you have no office space (as you work in your living room converted into an office), and don’t have the slightest clue about local, state, and federal laws regarding employees and taxes (nor do you have the time to learn).

You just want a reliable person who will focus on the projects at hand, complete the tasks in the time allotted, and be there to help you grow your business to the next level. Its time to hire help, it’s time to find a reliable and professional VA.

What Can a VA do For Me

Just what is a virtual assistant anyway? You know you’ve heard the term on marketing forums and through associates, but what exactly do virtual assistants do? A virtual assistant/personal assistant (VA) is considered to be an executives right hand person.

Virtual assistants handle many day to day activities including answering/returning calls, scheduling appointments and trips, research, answering emails and customer service questions, link exchange management, project management, scheduling updates for your website, managing your forums and blogs, building relationships with your JV partners, seeking out affiliate programs, copywriting (very important), creating and managing personas, registering and keeping active domain names, and basically making your life and business run much smoother.

They are a highly skilled group of individuals whose focus is on creating a win-win situation for their clients through effective time management. They save client’s countless hours, weekends, and overnighters by prioritizing their lives and schedule to accommodate family time, business trips, and overall sanity. So at this point, you must being saying to yourself, wow! I have got to get myself a VA. Where do I find one and how much is this going to cost me?

The Cost of Hiring a VA

There are so many different avenues to take when looking for a reliable VA. The first one being how much do you want to pay for a VA? The rule of thumb when looking for a virtual assistant is to know that cheaper is not always better. Simply stated, you get what you pay for. Are you looking for someone trained in the marketing industry? Or maybe you want someone who is going to offer more personal assisting services as well such as booking appointments and trips.

I have been in this industry quite a long time and have had clients who not only wanted someone who was spot on when it came to knowing how to navigate and manage a website and blog, but they also wanted someone who would call up and schedule their dentist and doctors appointments as well as find them a reliable cook and maid.
Typically speaking, if you are looking for an all around professional and experienced VA, you are going to pay between $30-50 (USD) per hour. Some VA’s charge more for specialized services such as SEO, e-book writing, ect. If you are looking for someone to just answer the phones and a few emails here are there, you are probably going to pay between $8-15 (USD) per hour. Be careful when hiring a VA in this price range and make sure that they are experienced (or you are willing to train) as they will most likely need it.

You don’t want to have a lot of turnover with your growing company as time equals money and you don’t want to train someone just to have to fire them and re-train someone else a few months later. Make sure you find out their short-term and long-term goals. Most professionals will tell you that this is their chosen profession or career.

Finding a Reliable VA

The great thing about working online is that there are many reliable and wonderful places to seek out contractors. You can check out sites such as Guru.com or Elance.com. It’s where potential contractors bid for your project or virtual assisting opportunities. Craigslist is another great place to find potential VA’s. They usually advertise in the services section as well as under resumes.

Another good way of finding a reliable VA is through message boards as well as word of mouth. Other marketers are going to know of or heard of a good VA. Most won’t want to give out the info as they don’t want to run the risk of losing a great asset to their business. A lot of internet marketers trade insider information and will pass on information regarding potential VA’s they have worked with and had bad experiences or poor work performance from. Make sure you ask a lot of questions if the VA has claimed to work with so and so but no longer does. There may be a reason that the marketer is no longer retaining their services.

Retainer and Work Agreements

Make sure you have an agreement outlined in the very beginning and both parties know the parameters of the work to be completed. A professional VA should have a work agreement, retainer structure and work portfolios ready and on hand for you once initial contact is made. This is a good way to weed out the desirable from the undesirable candidates.

What exactly is a retainer agreement? Just like a lawyer requires an upfront retainer so you can have access and reserve their services, so does a professional VA. They want to make the most our of the time that you allot to them. And by retaining their services for a specified period, usually over the course of a month, you not only have their undivided attention, but you also know that you will always come first in their business. Most VA’s will also offer a price break for retaining a certain amount of hours of work per month. Always ask a potential VA about their retainer arrangements.

Contracting a VA is Not the Same as Hiring an Employee

This is one area where internet businesses and marketers get a bit confused. Hiring a VA is NOT hiring an employee. A virtual assistant is running a professional business that offers a much sought out service. They want to make it a win-win situation for both themselves and their client. Therefore, they have set office hours, rules, and guidelines. They work on their time and schedule and will do everything possible to accommodate you, but they are not your employee.

Therefore, you cannot expect them to work strange and long hours, or be there every moment of your day (unless you are retaining them enough hours to constitute 8 + hours a day). If you are a micromanager, unable to be online frequently, or want an employee in your office or home, then you should consider hiring an actual employee who, in the end, will probably cost you way more in taxes, fees, and headaches. With a potential employee, you will pay for down time, sick time, bathroom breaks, socializing ect. Remember, a professional VA’s time is ALL productive time which helps your business grow, prosper, and reach new heights.

Stacey Wockenfuss

***Next up advice for women interested in internet marketing as a career.

Entering a whole new business world

2005-02-09T22:43:00.000-08:00

Well,

Here I am . Just found out today my main client is going to be closing up shop. So this leaves me with 1) Some major freedom to explore different business ventures and 2) Fear, yes I have a little bit of fear. Its normal, I'm human give me that.

My friends and family think I am absolutely crazy because I am not freaking out like I should be. I don't know if its shock or that my belief that things happen for a reason. Its wierd how things fall into place you know.

A few years back I worked as a temp for a couple of years at a rather large company. Well that company got bought out by a huge corporation. It was sick what they did to those people and company. They tore apart its spirit, the workers.

They laid off people to meet their quotas and luckily I was one of those people that were "let go" due to "the changing of their workforce structure."

I was the only one that smiled when they said they were going to let me go. I hated that job and you know why I hated it? Because it was just that, a job, a paycheck, the way I paid my rent.

Now I had always had the entrepreneur spark in me, but this job sparked a fire in my belly. A fire to succeed and make myself go somewhere, do something, and be somebody.

I've done pretty well at building my business so far, getting big name clients, creating a buzz and making myself known.

I also know what doesn't kill us makes us stronger. Every experience in my life may not be great, but at least I can learn from them and make myself a better person because of it.

All I can say at this point is thank goodness that I had the sense to gain more clients and grow my biz over the past few months. Thank goodness my sight is already up and running.

I have saved myself valuable time, money, effort, and energy. So thats a positive for the day.

So my next message will be my gameplan. Cyberspace, watchout because here I come.