South Florida Virtual Assistants

Hi

We were thrilled to be interviewed for a segment on virtual assistants. In South Florida, there are so many people out of work, and looking to increase their income that starting their own virtual assistant business is a perfect alternative. I received calls non-stop! My hope is that I can help these VAs get started. I hope I can make a difference. I truly believe in our Industry and know that the ability to work globally is what makes it work. I was talking to someone today and they said that even the temp agencies here were saying that there just isn't work. Oh ... but there is! Clients are out there. I hope to help those VAs that called me connect to those clients.

Anyway, here's the link. I'd love your comments!

http://cbs4.com/consumer/economy.job.home.2.792216.html

Diana Ennen
Author: Virtual Assistant the Series
www.virtualwordpublishing.com

Virtual Assistant High Heels Day

Hi

Virtual Assistants around the globe are having a little fun and I for one just love it. It's summer -- we work hard -- and it's great that we can sit back and enjoy ourselves. Thanks to Tawnya Sutherland of VAnetworking.com, VAs are celebrating Virtual Assistant High Heels Day and helping out a good cause. See below for details. And if you are a VA out there, come on, it's not too late. Get those heels on and send in your photo! I know I did.

Celebrate Around the World... (From VANetworking.com)

Virtual Assistant High Heels Day!
July 9th, 2008

Are you a Virtual Assistant (VA) who works from home and misses the high heeled corporate days?

Want to rally together and show the world that Virtual Assistants are here to stay and ready to take over the corporate world?

Do you wish to support a really good cause that benefits the kids?

Join in on the fun today as Virtual Assistants from around the world celebrate... Virtual Assistant High Heels Day!

THIS VA MISSES WEARING HEELS! View More...

I don't know about any of our members here but one of the things I, Tawnya Sutherland, after leaving the corporate world to become a Virtual Assistant (VA), sorely missed (literally) is that I don't wear high heels much anymore!

No doubt much better for my now healthly feet but for that womanly "feel good" feminine moment we all need now and then to pick us up, there is nothing better than slipping your foot into a sexy heel!

To our minority men VAs out there (we know who you are!) when you reach the majority in this industry then we'll have a workboot day okay?

Well, today while working out at the gym to keep that computer chair butt of mine in half decent shape, I watched the Regis and Kelly Show.I watch this show ritually every morning at the gym since I've been a fan of Regis for years and enjoy the variety of guests on it. And yes, Kelly with her healthy figure is incentive for me get my body back into a healthy form and one of the reasons I watch it while dutifully sweating out my gym ritual since I need the inspiration...please don't take that personal there Regis!

Anyhow, today they were having a contest called the High Heel-a-thon with all proceeds going to the March of Dimes.

All I could think of was getting finished with my workout and going home to sport my new heels I bought yet never wear! At the same time I thought of challenging our over 10,000 members to to do the same to help raise more donations for the March of Dimes.

So I challenge every Virtual Assistant worldwide to share with me in this new "Virtual Assistant High Heels Day"

We will celebrate this special day every July 9th forthwith with all proceeds going to March of Dimes.

So VA's? GET OUT THAT CAMERA, take a picture of you in high heels in your Virtual Assistant office and send to us to post here!

Again, send in your photos to www.vanetworking.com

***
Thanks!
Diana Ennen / Author: Virtual Assistant the Series, www.virtualwordpublishing.com

Virtual Assistants Globally Taking Us To New Frontiers

Hi
Hope you enjoy our article! Feel free to use it on your blog, website, newsletter, as long as bio remains intact. I'd welcome your comments!

Virtual Assistants Globally Taking Us To New Frontiers - The International Connection

A Virtual Assistant, like many of their clients, is a highly skilled professional working as an independent contractor from their own home. Virtual Assistants use leading edge technology to communicate work assignments via the Internet, e-mail or disk transfer. Traditional methods such as regular mail and overnight shipping are also used. While most virtual assistants will never meet their clients, it is not unusual to find a VA providing pickup and delivery service in their local area. Many have found success in a combination of the two, local and virtual clients. And what is even more impressive, is that most VA’s now realize the amazing power of the Internet and their client base spans globally.

The ultimate goal of virtual assistants is to partner with their clients. By partnering the VA learns all they can about their clients’ business to become a trusted and valued member of the team—an extension of their organization. At the same time, the VA only charges for time on tasks so it ultimately saves the client in overhead expenses while affording them the necessary time to take care of more business.

A perfect example of a Client/VA partnership is the sole proprietor; let’s say a consultant, who charges $400 an hour for his consulting services. The consultant is spending two hours a week generating mailings, preparing presentations, rummaging through paperwork, and sorting through the tons of email he gets on a weekly basis. Since the consultant is doing this work himself he is paying $400 an hour for these services when, in reality, it would benefit him to partner with a VA at a rate of $50 an hour and save tons of money a year. Plus, he could be generating more revenue because he would have more time available for doing what he does best—consulting. See how it works? It’s not rocket science but it can feel that way when trying to convince clients that they need you. As evidenced in this example they can’t afford NOT to have you on their team.

In addition to the financial rewards for the client, the following list reinforces to the client what they get in return for their investment. This list is just a sample and not meant to be all-inclusive. You need to customize your benefits and features list for clients to reflect your service offering, ethics, and level of expertise in addition to your business goals and objectives.

Personalized attention
Exceptional service
Experience in the latest technology
A colleague to brainstorm ideas with
No benefits/no equipment/no office space
Accurate/professional/experienced
Knowledge of the latest equipment
Freedom to allow you to grow you business
Pride in our profession
An interest in helping them achieve growth in their business
Specific knowledge of your niche

In closing, it’s up to us as Virtual Assistants to get the word out and there’s no better time than now. Get active and talk more, blog more, and just do more for this Virtual Industry that we are all so proud of.
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Diana Ennen is the co-author of numerous books including Virtual Assistant: the Series, Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA with Kelly Poelker and Words From Home: Start, Run and Profit from a Home-Based Word Processing Business. She specializes in publicity and book marketing and is president of Virtual Word Publishing http:www.virtualwordpublishing.com. Email us at diana@virtualwordpublishing.com for a free business informational package. Articles are free to be reprinted as long as the author’s bio remains intact.

Corel Word Perfect Virtual Assistant Pack

What could go better, virtual assistants and Word Perfect's expertise! Corel Word Perfect is coming out with some major new programs now, which will bring them even more into the spotlight. As many of you know, I authored the Virtual Assistant Solution Pack with the help of my co-author Kelly Poelker.

81 pages packed full of how to information on starting your own virtual assistant business or jumpstarting your existing business. Plus, over 71 templates from sample contracts to letters to send out. http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite/us/en/Product/1152796546494

Get your copy now! Email me when you do, and I'll throw in any book in our Virtual Word Publishing store at 1/2 price!


A Complete Solution for the Busy or Aspiring Virtual Assistant.
WordPerfect® OfficeReady® Virtual Assistant Solution Pack


For years, businesses have complained of needing more help around the office to meet the ever-increasing demands of running a successful company. The answer has finally arrived. Highly skilled Virtual Assistants are now on scene offering a global solution to the daily challenges of doing business. As the demand increased for qualified virtual assistants, so did the need for proper training and books on how to become a Virtual Assistant (VA). Corel has stepped up to plate to meet those needs with the release of their latest, WordPerfect® OfficeReady® Virtual Assistant Solution Pack, now available at http://www.corel.com.

The WordPerfect® OfficeReady® Virtual Assistant Solution Pack has been designed with the small business owner in mind. It enables entrepreneurs to successfully open their doors immediately, easily managing their time, while expanding their client base. What makes the Virtual Assistant Solution Pack especially beneficial is the unique combination of its 81-page E-book and workable templates that assist everyday users in creating everything from Expense Budgets and Corporate Brochures, to Consultation Forms and Marketing Letters. The ability to rapidly craft impressive documents, spreadsheets, or presentations hassle free makes this an valuable tool for all VA Businesses.

The Solution Pack offers advantages for both those wishing to start a virtual assistant business and word processing businesses alike. Just some of the benefits include:

1. The ability to establish themselves as an expert in the Virtual Assistant and Word Processing Industry.
2. The information to help them prosper in their own niche, such as publicity, medical or legal transcription, web design, bookkeeping, and so many more.
3. The access to all the tools they need to succeed right at their fingertips. No need to reinvent the wheel every time they need an example of an invoice, etc.
4. Excellent information for the already established VAs to further expand their businesses.
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The WordPerfect OfficeReady Templates were written in conjunction with Corel to assist millions across the globe in the ever-growing virtual assisting industry. The Virtual Assistant Solution Pack was designed with great care and precision by Diana Ennen, an VA Industry Leader and president of Virtual Word Publishing, http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com, with valuable contributions from several professional virtual assistants including her co-author of numerous other books, Kelly Poelker.

Virtual Assistants makes it easy for busy executives and small businesses to get the most out of their time without hiring part-time or full-time assistance or having to accommodate an additional person in their office. For Virtual Assistants, working from home means more flexibility in their schedules, and the ability to put their vast skills and experiences to use, earning a greater income.

The OfficeReady Virtual Assistant Solution Pack gives its users the proper tools to turn their independent small businesses into successful enterprises. So start your business today or grow your existing business by ordering your copy at the Corel site. http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite/us/en/Product/1152796546494

Academy of Virtual Professionals Class

I'm pleased to announce .... from Kelly Poelker, my co-author of Virtual Assistant The Series ...

Academy of Virtual Professionals new class offering...

Can using a Mac really work for your business? This two hour teleclass will give you the foundation you need to make an informed decision on whether or not switching to a Mac is the right thing for you.

*Topics Covered:*

* Why Switch? How to Make and Informed Decision
* Overview of the Mac Product Line
* How is the Mac Operating System Different (Under the Hood)
* Using the Mac Operating System Basics
* Using the Mac Operating System from a PC Users Perspective
* Mac Applications for the Virtual Professional
* Running Windows on a Mac
* Cool Mac Tips
* Q&A

*Who should attend:* Anyone that wants to learn more about what the Mac Operating System has to offer for business owners or what all is involved in switching from a Windows PC to a Mac.

To find out more and to register go to: http://www.academyvp.com

Virtual Assistants In the News

It's absolutely amazing the amount of press the term "Virtual Assistant" has received in just the past two weeks. I've seen it mentioned on the Today Show, Woman's World, (with excellent quotes from Michael Russer and one of the authors of the Two Minute Commute) and now today in US Daily News.

In the article today it mentioned if you are looking for a virtual assistant, type in Google the term Virtual Assistant. Isn't that incredible! That is great news for all VAs. How many businesses are going to do just that and hopefully find the perfect partnership.

I am so proud of our Industry and where it is today and that we (virtual assistants) are getting this recognition. It's been a group effort and I think all virtual assistants should take a minute and say, "Well done!" we are doing it.

In 1997 I was quoted in USA Today on a story on home-based businesses and I mentioned about becoming a virtual assistant. I can remember how many comments I got from everywhere, "WHAT!! What's that!" It was like back in 1985 when I started working at home and people would say to me "Sure you're working at home, cough cough, thinking I was really watching soaps and pretending to be working.

It might have taken ten or so years, but we did it. Virtual Assistants are front and center.

So, if you are as proud as me and would like to leave a positive comment on the Virtual Assistant Industry, please do. Also, please make sure to leave your website too. Why make it hard for clients to find us through Google. Blogging is so much easier.

Thanks!

Diana Ennen
Author: VA the Series
www.virtualwordpublishing.com

Holiday tips, time management ideas

Hi

I thought you'd enjoy my new article on time management for the holidays! Diana Ennen

Tis The Season To Be Jolly –
Fa La La La La – I Don’t Have Time

But you do. We’ll help you! Let this season be one of joy and peace. A time to laugh with friends and share precious moments with family. A time to visit with clients and show your appreciation. You can sing those carols, shop with ease, and most importantly relax. Sound too good to be true. Well, try a few of these holiday time management tips and see if they work for you.

1. Plan ahead: Who says you have to buy the holiday meal the week before. Each time you go to the grocery store, pick up those extra cans of cranberry sauce or Jell-O and jot it down on a list. With your business, buy those 2008 calendars, Daytime Planner refills, client gifts, etc. Keep a list and as you get things, mark it off.

2. Gift Certificates: This is magic to the ears of relatives who don’t know what to buy family members and for us with clients who we aren’t sure what to buy. Not only are they well received, but instead of paying $5.00 or more S&H, you pay 41 cents. Best yet, you don’t have to worry about the cut-off date for getting it there on time for those out-of-state packages.

3. Organize: It’s crucial. You don’t have the time to be looking for things. If possible before the holidays, spend a day or two and totally organize your home and office. What a tremendous feeling to go into the holidays feeling on top of things. If that’s not possible, grab every spare minute you can, whether talking on the phone or waking up early.

For your holiday wrap, scissors, tape, find a place for it and be sure to put it back each time. Your holiday catalogs arrive daily; you are going to need a place for them as well. Find the best place now and then always put them there.

For business, start the New Year out right. Clean out those files and file the important papers away. Get the trash can out and with lots of courage, toss out those things that aren’t important. Be brave! If you haven’t used it in a couple of months, chances are you won’t miss it. Do it!! Go ahead and while you are at it, set up your files for 2008.
4. Schedule Your Time Well: It’s a glorious time of year. Church and kids plays, office parties, holiday shopping, friends, family, etc., etc., etc. Yes, it’s overwhelming, but with the right scheduling, it can be tremendous fun. Write everything down. A calendar on the wall with family events is a must. You don’t want to miss a thing. Get the haircuts, the holiday dresses/suits, and the family portrait now. Also, now is not the time to add on any extras. If it can wait until after the first of the year, let it. (Oh, and don’t forget to arrange for those babysitters.)

For business, this can be an extremely busy time of year for many. Clients need to finish up yearly tasks and might be sending you a lot of work. For the seasonal clients, it’s even busier. Stay focused. Don’t let your mind constantly drift to the night’s activities. Use your Daytimer and schedule your day precisely. Use e-mail instead of the phone whenever possible. Concentrate! You can do it!

5. Delegate Tasks: Your time is valuable. Is there someone else who can do the job for you? Let them. You might find they actually enjoy helping and often can use the money.

6. Break Tasks Down: For those of us in business, many tasks are doubled. You have your gift giving, sending out cards, etc. Do a certain amount each night. You’ll enjoy it more and won’t rush to complete the task.

Group your errands both business and pleasure. Make every trip count. You’d be amazed at how much time you can save by planning ahead. When you think, gosh that would be perfect for so and so buy it. Why wait and have to come back and worse yet, have to think about where you saw it.

7. Learn to Say No: This is a good business and personal practice all the time, but around the holidays it’s essential. This year, think of you and your family first. What would bring them the greatest joy? Do you really need to do it?

8. Avoid the Rushes: We work from home. We don’t have to be at the post office or bank at noon or after hours. Go at 10:30 a.m.

9. Avoid Guilt: It’s outta there! No, your house isn’t the cleanest. So what! So you didn’t finish all the marketing you wanted. Big Deal! What you have is more precious. If you can enjoy this holiday, even for yourself, isn’t it worth it! Aren’t you worth it! Plus, how much better will you be as a mom and businesswoman.

10. And Finally ENJOY!! Not just that one night or several days, but the whole holiday season. Too many plan for the main event, the holiday itself, but instead, this year enjoy the journey getting there too.

Tis The Season To Be Jolly –
Fa La La La La –
I FOUND THE TIME!!

***
Diana Ennen is the author of numerous books including Virtual Assistant - The Series: Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA and accompanying Workbook and Corel Word Perfect Virtual Assistant Solution Pack. This year she celebrated her 23rd year in business as President of Virtual Word Publishing. (www.virtualwordpublishing.com. She has been featured in numerous books and magazines including Readers Digest, Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur Magazine, USA Today, Home Business Journal, Woman's World, etc.