Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Getting Started as a Virtual Assistant

So you want to become a virtual assistant. You have done your research, written a business plan, and made the decision. Now what?

This is sometimes the hardest question that new virtual assistants face. A lot of new VAs get stuck on this and take a long time to get to the next step.

This is where the
VA "Getting Started" Package comes in. We have come up with the ultimate VA "Getting Started" package for just this reason. We do most of the work for you! From the Website right down to the marketing and advertising. Along with getting your "web presence" set up for you, we are also including a training program to help you "Attract a Flood of Traffic" to your practice and 3 one-half hour personal guidance sessions.

With a total value of OVER $970.00, this package is a STEAL at only $495.00 $450.00 (limited time offer) Check out what you get:

WHAT YOU GET

Normal Cost

1

Website – created from your content from a customized template that matches your business.

$250.00

Up to 5

Email accounts Setup – you can have professional looking email addresses that come from your domain.

$25.00

1

Logo – based on your desires from one of the many templates we have to offer.

$75.00

1 year

Web hosting (Other packages available if you want to register for longer periods of time or if you need more space.)

$75.00

1 year

Domain Name registration (Other packages available if you want to register for longer periods of time.)

$15.00

Up to 7

Set up of your Networking accounts at Facebook, Alliance of Virtual Assistants, MySpace, LinkedIn, Ryze, Tagged, Twitter, XING, Squidoo, Technorati, etc.

$50.00

1

Blog – customized to match your website.

$125.00

1

Press Release - Announce your new web presence to the world with a professionally written press release submitted to your local press and free submission sites online.

$50.00

2

Google Analytics setup. This will keep you on top of who is visiting your site and your blog.

$25.00

1

Website submission to DMOZ and the most popular search engines online.

$50.00

1

“How to Attract A Flood of Clients” Course – a step-by-step training is set up in 5 weeks of daily exercises. All exercises are practical to help directly bring you more clients. Written by Alexander Kohl, MBA

$40.00

1

“7 Essential Keys for Responding to RFPs” – Written to assist Virtual Assistants in getting those jobs from the RFPs that you respond to.

$5.00

1

“Essential Article Marketing Secrets” – A “how to guide” to writing articles that get noticed.

$7.50

1

“Article Submitter” software. Helps to automate the process of submitting your articles.

$20.00

3

Months "Featured Member" status - you will be listed in the first 20 members at the Alliance of Virtual Assistants.

$30.00

3

Months "Box" Advertising - A 125X125 ad on the Alliance of Virtual Assistants.

$30.00

2

Article Review - I will review and edit your first 2 articles and offer suggestions for change and improvement if needed.

$25.00

3

½ hour Guidance Sessions with Darrell Williams – "I will spend the time to help guide you through maintaining your web presence and getting your VA practice off the ground."

$50.00

TOTAL VALUE

$972.50


We also can tailor this package to suit your needs. If you already have hosting, or a website, or don't need something on the list, we can substitute for something else or reduce the rate accordingly. We want to see you succeed in your new business!


Thursday, April 24, 2008

Scams are Everywhere!

I recently responded to an ad in the local paper to conduct research survey from home. I went to the compny's website and filled out the form for more information. A few days later, I received an envelope in the mail from this company. Inside was a bank draft for $2,500.00, a letter explaining what to do with the bank draft and a customer survey to complete and send back.

I was supposed to cash the bank draft and go to my local Western Union office and send $2,100.00 to a certain person in Ontario and keep $200.00 for myself and pay the fees to Western Union. The first thing I noticed in the letter was that Western Union was miscapitalized in various ways throughout the letter. Then I noticed that the corporate logos at the bottom of the letter, from companies they supposedly have done reseaarch for, were all a little bit off. They looked real at first glance but when you looked closer, they were obvious fakes. My proofreading skills actually saved me from falling for this nasty scam.

I contacted the police and found out that a lot of local people had applied for this job and got the same response. One person actually cashed the bank draft and will be liable to the bank for $2500.00. These bank drafts are FAKE. They will get by the local teller, but when they get to the sorting office, they are found to be counterfeit and sent back.

The good news is that I did not cash the bank draft. I contacted the local television news department and they came and interviewed me today. I just don't want anyone else to fall for this scam. It comes in many different business names, but if you receive a bank draft or cheque in the mail and are asked to send some of it back, DO NOT CASH IT!

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Page 1 on Google - "Virtual Assistant Services"

I have finally made it to the first page of Google. If you search for "virtual assistant services" my website is at the bottom of the first page. This has taken a year of hard work, but it is worth it.

How did I do it? I didn't pay anyone to help me, but I did put out numerous press releases and quite a few articles. I added my site to many directories and joined a bunch of social networking sites. I used keyword and website optimization software to help me decide how my site should be designed and what words were the best to draw people to my site.

It does take a lot of work, but you can do it to. If you need some help, hire a VA to give you a hand.

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Administrative Professionals Week

Administrative Professionals Week starts today. It is an international celebration of the hard work and value that administrative professionals bring to the business world. It is celebrated during the last full week in April with Administrative Professionals Day falling on the Wednesday of that week.

If you are an administrative professional, celebrate yourself this week and the accomplishments you have had in the past year. If you are the recipient of the hard work that your administrative professional does, celebrate him/her every day, but especially this Wednesday.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

New Service - Page Peel Ads

I am now offering a new service -Page Peel Ads. These are the ads that appear as a folded back corner in the top right of your webpage.

Now you can advertise without taking up space on your webpage and without pop-ups or hovering ads. For only $50.00 I will create and implement an ad for your site based on what your specifications.

What you get:
a)Small Corner Ad
b)Custom Large Advertisement Graphic
c)Implementation of the Ad

If you just want the code to implement the ad yourself, the cost is only $35.00.

You can see a basic text option on my website - http://www.righthandmanva.com/

I will be adding a graphic ad to my travel website shortly.