networking
FoVA was Fantastic!
Well… I am back from Niagara Falls and the FoVA (Forum on Virtual Assistance) and have had a little rest to gear myself back up at work again.
What I find most different about this morning as I sit at my desk is that I have a new outlook on how I plan to run my business and work everyday.
The people I met at FoVA were so very inspirational and full of experience and insight into running a successful VA business! Virtual Assistant Leaders from all over the world came and shared and taught us so much invaluable information! I would like to thank each one of you for taking time out of your own business so that new people like myself could meet and learn from you.
As I said in my anticipation blog post about going to this conference, I was really looking forward to meeting so many people in person. People who I have been connecting with online for the better part of this past year, mostly at VAnetworking and CVAC, and they did not disappoint! I have solidified relationships that had already started and created new ones as well. And many of these relationships, I feel will turn into more than that – friendships developed as well.
I said it before and will repeat again – Conferences are so needed and valuable for any business owner, but even more so for those of us working from remote or home locations.
Off I go to start working with so much more motivation and ideas than ever before! Thanks FoVA and friends!
I can't join another Facebook group or page!
It’s a comment I hear a lot lately, people are getting ‘grouped out’ on Facebook. Personally, I don’t see the issue and there is a simple solution.
Let’s look at the problem first. What happens when you join a group or page?
Well.. for starters, you are now connected to many more people through the group. hmmm… that was kind of the point in ‘working’ Facebook for your business wasn’t it?
Then you start to receive updates or invites to events. Let’s see… if you respond, your update goes out to all the members… again, your name in front of many.
Now, when someone posts a note, wall post or link, on any of the groups or pages; their post will show on your wall. Which also means, if you make a comment on another group’s wall or page, your comment will be seen by all the group members or fans. Wow, so many people you are talking to.
The issue everyone seems to have is when they start to RECEIVE all these notes, invites, links and more on your Facebook homepage…that’s when most people become overwhelmed and stop joining anything.
Well… if you are like me, and have more than 100 friends on Facebook, you probably have lots of stuff already being posted on your wall from actual friends – not to mention the flower gardens, butterflies, IQ challenge tests, TV quizzes etc, etc, etc. Do you read all those? Probably not… that’s why everyone skim-reads now. Way too much to take in. You skim and only look further into items that catch your eye.
So… long before you joined any groups you had trouble brewing already. How do you deal with it and still remain connected to all the groups and pages? Read the rest of this entry »
Have you looked at your signature lately?
One very good place to market your business is right in your email signature line, yet many people never use this to their fullest. That’s right, this simple act of placing your information in there and having it automatically go out in every email you send, can actually bring you business.Emails, even personal ones, should should always be seen as a way to network and tell someone new about your business and how you help your clients. They are your elevator speech included in every email you send.
You’d be surprised how often people will make comments or ask you about your business when you do have something unique at the bottom of each email. I personally have had at least 10 inquiries this past year on what I do for a living, all from email contact.
One of the better Facebook changes
… but I don’t want to mix my personal Facebook with business.
This is one of the most common statements I hear when clients are talking about expanding into Facebook for their business.
You should know however, when Facebook made their upgrades and changes in February, they did some great things with their Business Pages.
They now run as a separate page from your own personal page. There is no longer a crossover and you do not see your name on the Business Page activity. Your personal page can remain very separate from your business.
To make it work well, you should try to move your ‘business friends’ over to your Fan Page by sending them a note and an invite to join you there.
The Pages have so many benefits for businesses; no limit to the numbers of fans who can join you, the ability to import your blogs, post events, send updates to all fans, have discussions, post videos, links to your YouTube account, badges and links for your Linked In or Twitter profiles and the list goes on…
Some businesses work with Facebook more than they do their website…and for some people that works well. It’s all dependant upon your business, your marketing plan and your ability to take some time and join in social networking.
If you need help setting up a proper Business Page, please get in touch with us and arrange a no fee and no obligation consultation.
Networking and Conferences ~ a Perfect Match
FOVA (Forum on Virtual Assistance) is only 5 weeks away, and I CAN’T wait! I’m ready to learn and network and this conference is a perfect place to do both.
I think I am most anticipating all the people I know I will be meeting. Since last summer I have been very active with my online networking (primarily at VAnetworking, CVAC and VAClassroom) and I am going to meet several of these people face to face. I love connecting a face with a name or a voice!
Generally you don’t attend any conference unless you have an interest in the topic and there are always many sessions available to learn new skills, ideas or trends and more. The agenda that Barb Lang and her organizers have prepared is chock full of great topics and speakers from all over the world, and topics that will help us Virtual Assistants in our daily work. However, in my humble opinion, the biggest benefit you get from a conference is the networking aspect of it.
So many opportunities are available at conferences to meet and talk with new people, to match a face to a name, or connect with old friends. Being virtual, a large part of our daily work is done online and by phone, Instant Messenging chat or email. To be able to meet in person all the “usernames” I deal with on a regular basis, really adds another foundation block to our relationship.
I almost feel like I need to make a list of all the people I anticipate meeting in order to ensure that I don’t miss them as to me that would be a tragedy.
No matter what your line of work, and especially if you work from home, I urge you to find a conference in your industry and attend it every year. You’ll return rejuvenated and having met many new contacts and with a brain full of new information relevant to your work. ALL of this will help you excel in your job and your life.
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