Cindy is a virtual assistant living in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She offers services such as bookkeeping, social media marketing, graphic design, web design, and more. She has been a valued member of VAnetworking since February 2006.

Thanks to all of our members who contributed their singing talents (?) or photos of their virtual offices…ENJOY the fun!  Not a member yet?

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View her award by clicking here.

Candy Beauchamp is the owner/operator of OffAssist and brings to it a background heavily steeped in bookkeeping for small to mid-sized businesses. She grew up near Charleston, SC and spent several years in Honolulu, HI before moving to Austin, TX in 1998. OffAssist began as a concept in 1999 and officially opened its doors in 2002. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and spending time with her two children. Candy credits her success to her amazing family and friends, who have stood by her while growing OffAssist into what it is today. Candy served on the Board of Directors of the International Virtual Assistants Association from 2005 to 2008 in a variety of roles: Historian, Vice-President, and President.

The problem is, you’re too busy for that. When you’re working in your business you don’t have time to spend on things like “twittering“! Do you even know the benefits of networking online? Perhaps you’ve heard you should be, but have no idea why!

There are scores of Virtual Assistants who can help you create a social networking plan, set up profiles for you at the sites which will benefit you the most and your VA can even help you maintain your accounts.

If you’re not spending any time networking online, you’re missing out on some of the easiest money you can make. Partner with a VA, one of us can help!

Sheila is a virtual assistant living in Downers Grove, Illinois, who offers such services as administrative assistance, event/meeting planning, concierge services, appointment scheduling, and more. She has been a valued member of VAnetworking since September 2008.

We had a lot of discussion around that and before our chat, I hadn’t realized what a mental block that could be for many people who could really benefit from the services of a Virtual Assistant.

We all know who Sam Walton is and in case you don’t, he’s that guy who founded Wal-Mart. Do you think Wal-Mart would be a household name if Mr. Walton was managing stores, working as a cashier, stocking shelves and greeting people by himself?

Obviously that would never work. He has fleets of people who do the work it takes to keep the chain of stores running. Does that make him any less of a visionary business man? Is he any less successful because he has so many people working at all of his Wal-Marts?

Of course not.

If you choose to partner with a Virtual Assistant to unload your administrative burdens, you won’t be any less of an entrepreneur than if you were doing it all yourself. You’ll just have more time to dream up more business ideas or go to the movies once in awhile! Don’t be stubborn! Let go!!

Leisa is a virtual assistant living in Front Royal, Virginia. She offers services such as general administration, writing, graphic design, web design, and more. Leisa has been a valued member of VAnetworking since February 2006.

While this alone might not be enough to excite you as someone interested in (or currently) working with a Virtual Assistant, check out what the judges (who included Adam Lowry, co-founder of Method Products, Howard Behar, former President of Starbucks North America and John Jantsch, founder of Duct Tape Marketing in addtion to StartupNation staff) had to say about us:

“Boomers are a whole different ball game than the 20-somethings of today, and that’s partly why they make great assistants. They’re wise, dependable, and professional, have a pre-dotcom work ethic, and have just enough work experience under their belts to know that working from home rules.

VAnetworking.com is a boomer-run business whose success is undeniable. Tawnya Sutherland, based from home of course, has created the world’s largest online social network for Virtual Assistants to gather, learn, share, and grow successful virtual assistant practices.

With outsourcing, time management, and home-based business being hot trends of the day, VAnetworking.com fills a great big need and was a clear stand-out winner for the 2008 Boomers Back in Business award.”

Of course that’s not to say that someone younger or older than Boomer age wouldn’t be a perfect VA for you! The point is, Boomers are Back in Business at VAnetworking.com and we think that’s worth blogging about!

Jocelyn is a virtual assistant living in Toronto, Ontario, who offers such services as event/meeting management, travel and concierge services, contingency planning, marketing support, and more. She has been a valued member of VAnetworking since May 2008.

Recession is no longer “looming.” It’s at the forefront of everyone’s mind pretty much all of the time now. The uncertainty is manifesting itself all over the place and the Internet is not immune. Ask anyone working online right now and they’ll tell you the fear is palpable. Prospective clients are taking two steps backward for every one step forward. It’s both frustrating and understandable. Hey, we all have budgets to mind, and knowing you can Google just about any thing or service you want for your business is an ever present temptation. Now it feels downright necessary. As if you’re somehow being irresponsible if you don’t shop a quote around before settling on one virtual assistant or consultant.

I’ve said it so often it’s become a mantra I’m known for by my colleagues. When I say “it’s never about price” I’m saying that you cannot evaluate how much is too much without first looking beyond the piece of paper the quote is written on (okay, or the email it’s typed in). Some services are worth more than others for sure. The point is, think about not only what you’re paying but what you’re getting in exchange for your money. Is it time, peace of mind, a sense of organization and focus, or a very straightforward task finished and delivered, no strings attached?

Then ask yourself how much you charge per hour and decide if the exchange is a profitable one. If it’s not, maybe there’s wiggle room on either the rate (some VAs do not negotiate and that’s completely acceptable by the way), or how many hours a month you want to begin with (most VAs are reasonable and don’t want to commit long term any more than you do until you’ve had a chance to test each other out).

If you already know the exchange could be a profitable one, then take action and hire the VA you’ve got your sites on. I’m not trying to spend your money by saying this either. I’m saying this is not the time to wind down your marketing effort or let administration slide. This is the time to be proactive, whichever side of the VA-Client equation you’re on. We all want to make money and as such, we’re in this together.

So go take a look at the strategies I ask you to consider at Search Engine Guide, even if you don’t sell widgets, you probably have a service you deeply want to sell and profit from. But chances are you’ve been a wee bit too hung up on the price.